Ablaze

Three

Ashling's POV

How am I supposed to explain my injuries to my Mom? She's gonna freak out. The nurse is a professional healer, so I sat in some special water and she was able to heal my burns. But I still have cuts all over me and I'm still in some pain from all of Kaen's hits.

"Hey, how ya' holdin' up?" Akita comes through the door and asks me.

"Oh, hey. I'm not too bad. Thankfully the burns were healed in time that they won't leave scars, but I still feel like shit, honestly. Why are you here?"

"I just wanted to check up on you before we all left for the day. I'm so sorry about Kae, I didn't think he'd go so hard... especially on someone without an affinity."

"I know... everyone keeps saying that. But it's okay, really. I'm not mad at him or anything... I literally asked for it. And honestly, I feel like I understand him a bit better now."

"It sucks you're hurt... I was gonna ask you to hangout after school today."

I smile at her, "Really?"

"Totally!"

"Aw, well I promise, as soon as I'm feeling better we'll definitely hangout."

"Yay! Do you need a ride home or anything?"

"No, my Mom should be here soon."

My phone buzzes, "Speaking of which, she's here right now."

Akita walks with me to my Mom's car and introduces herself, then walks to her car.

"I'm so happy you have a friend, but I am so mad at you right now."

"What? Why?"

"How could you get into a fight on your second day of school? What's the matter with you? And fighting someone with an affinity, too? You're lucky I even let you come to this school in the first place."

"I'm sorry, okay? It was just... something that I had to do."

"You and your damn stubbornness. Next time something like this happens, you're done here. I mean it, Ashling. I don't need you getting hurt like you did in Frostford." She drives off and the rest of the car ride home is silent.

I don't blame her for being angry with me. It was stupid of me to fight Kaen, I know it was. I didn't want to tell her who I fought, it was entirely my fault and I didn't want Kaen to get into more trouble than he probably is.

What happened in Frostford... it was bad. I got into a street fight with these older people, and they almost killed me. One of them had an affinity that blocks other people's affinities, so I wasn't able to use mine. The fight started because someone told them I snitched on them, when I didn't. I didn't even really know who they were. And the only reason they stopped beating me up was because someone saw them, and they ran.

I don't remember much... I was hurt so badly that I blacked out. I didn't have any serious permanent damage... but I do get frequent headaches and migraines now. Fighting with Kaen... I can tell it took a toll on my head. I haven't told anyone... but my head feels like it's going to fucking explode. The accident happened about a year ago, which is honestly why I think my Mom looked for a job out of town in the first place. She wanted to get me out of there and away from anyone that could hurt me. Guess that didn't work out too well.

When we get home, my Mom examines the rest of my body to look at any of the cuts and bruises that I have.

"You're not going to school tomorrow."

"What?! Mom, seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously. I want to speak with whoever allowed this to even happen in the first place."