Behind The Masks

Chapter 13 - The Fire

"Inescapable love comes without a warning" - Inayah

Flashback

"Mom please let me light the christmas lights! please please plea-"

"I said no Kylie! Stop insisting," Elena scolded at her fourteen-year old stubborn daughter. Kylie sat besides the wooden table and let out a disapointed sigh. She looked at the wicked, pale candle placed on the table and quickly swiped her finger at the bottom of the flames. The golden orange waves danced in delight because of the caress of her finger. Kylie chukled gaining Eleonor's attention.

"Oh you and your fascination for flames," Eleonor rolled her eyes at her granddaughter, it was an attitude Kylie had inherited. Kylie smiled and stuck her tongue at her.

"Just let her light the lights Elena," Chuckled Eleonor. "Grandma is cooler than you mom. Be like grandma," Kylie remarked and received a wink from her refined grandmother. Elena huffed and allowed Kylie to go upstairs and light the christmas decorations but under one condition, "Grandma should go with you," she offered.

Eleonor and an exuberant little Kylie walked upstairs whilst Elena finished decorating the christmas cake.

"Thank you grandma," Kylie hugged Eleonor. "And who is the coolest?" Eleonor teased.

"Hmmm, the coolest is me and you're the greatest Grandma," Kylie chuckled. "I love you Grandma," she added earning a wrinkled smile from Eleonor. The girls began to set up the lighting and the candles. The dead and dull room was being replenished with life. Kylie took her favorite pink candle from her drawer and lit it up. She swiped her finger across the flawless flames. She wanted to be like them. Fierce and minacious, radiant and precious.

"I am home!" Boomed a voice downstairs. This startled Kylie. Her hand accidentaly hit the candle causing it to faint and land on her bed. Within a few seconds her bed was being devoured by red flames. Kylie and Eleonor let out a scream when the fire reached the bulbs of the christmas lights, they exploded one by one in a competitive manner causing the majestic fire to expand and reign.

Present

"Hey!" Chase's large hands held my cheeks. His blue eyes pierced through mine. They say the eyes are the windows of the soul. It was as if he could see through me. "Youre pyrophobic," he whispered, taking his hands off my cheeks like it burnt him.

"Its okay," he awkwardly patted my back.

"What the hell is pyrophobic?" I asked, my voice came out shaky and weak.

"Someone who has a phobia of fire" he replied. I nodded, except that what I had was worse than just a phobia. It was a problem no therapy could solve.

"Hey, what did your mom tell you about my mother?" Chase asked changing the topic. The salty-water brushed our bare feet as we dipped them on the soaked cream sand whilst we walked.

"Just that she disappeared. Started missing schools days and eventually disappeared to England with this guy when she was five months pregnant," I replied, trying to shake off the tormenting memories that followed me like a shadow. Chase's eyebrows knitted in deep thought. We stayed silent and only the sound of crashing waves could be heard. I liked this silence.

"I presume the guy she ran with was your father right? Shouldn't she be at the party?" I questioned.

"My mother gave birth on England. A month after I was born she ran away." He muttered. No saddness laced his voice, causing me to be cautious about what to say next.

"Im sorry that you grew up without a mother," I sympathised.

"No, my grandmother filled that role," he replied. A small smile crept across his face. If only I could take a picture.

"Has she ever contacted you?" I asked and he shook his head. "I have been looking for her for the past five years and never found a clue about her," he said."But that is going to change now because you are going to help me find her," he added and now it was my turn to raise my eyebrow.

"I dont remember you ever asking me for help" I joked.

"Please," he stopped walking and turned to look at me.

"Please help me find my mother," We stood at the shore staring at eachother in a beautiful silence. He did that thing which made me feel that he could see through me. It was hard not to stare back at his hypnotising blue eyes. I seemed to forget how to breath and felt a tingling sensation in my feet. I didnt even feel something crawling up my bare leg. When I looked down I jumped in surprise to see a big crab. I kicked the air and lost my balance.

Can we all just agree that Chase gives me bad luck?

Almost everytime I see him, I fall. Worst of all he lets out that contagious laugh of his, it weirdly gave me a sense of bliss. I could feel my cheeks burning and my lips longing for a stretch but I pushed water to his face instead.

"Hey, cease what you are doing right now!"His laughter was fading.

"Stop!" I did not stop until he was all wet. And just like little children we stood in the waves of warm blue throwing water at eachother. I laughed, he laughed. We felt alive.

☆

Ughh! My bad it is a short chapter but its definitely my favorite chapter until now.

With love, Inayah