HEART OF FIRE (On Hold)

The teddy and the plushie

Intermission
Guess what, an update. I know it's been a while, and it will probably be a long time before the next one. School is still a priority for me and with finals coming up I have been really busy, but I did want to get an update out before then and since I have rewriting this chapter twice already I figured I would just bite the bullet and upload it, so I am sorry if it is not the best but this was somewhat of a rush job. With that all aside, I hope you enjoy.

CHAPTER 11

Pov: Nicholas

I spent a lot of time reaching Cape Town last night and learned a lot of interesting things about it, but the most important thing is that it is found in South Africa. Justin might be from there, but I have no evidence, and I couldn't really find any either, but I am finally getting somewhere.

However, that is not what is on my mind right now. I can't stop thinking about that hug and why my fox reacted the way it did. "Hey, pip squeak.".

I didn't have to look who it was, I already knew. Whenever Lora isn't around, Mark likes to... well, let's just say it's not pleasant for me. He likes to take advantage of his social position in the Wildcat clan whenever he can. "What can I do for you Mark".

He gave me a devilish smile and shoved a pair of books into my hands. "I need you to finish my homework for me." I looked at the books and immediately noticed that this is dew for today, like in ten minutes.

"What, how am I supposed to finish this in time?" To finish this, I will end up arriving late to physics class, and I remember a rumour about a surprise test. If I am late for class, I will have less time to write. Doing Marks homework now will leave me no time to revise my notes, and the teacher will subtract marks if I am late.

Mark walked off and said, "Good luck pip squeak, and I better good all those answers correct or there will be hell to pay." He regrouped with his, um, let's call them friends. They are more like minions if you ask me.

I got Marks homework finished but as expected I got to physics late and there was indeed a surprise test. Since I got there ten minutes late, Sir Mansfield subtracted five marks, not to mention that instead of a full hour to write, I was only given 50 minutes. Which doesn't sound too bad, but trust me, I could've used the extra ten minutes because I didn't finish all the work.

The whole day was a mess. Normally, people ignored me, but without Lora around and Mark picking on me, just about everyone took the opportunity to make things worse for me. I lost count the number of times I got pushed, shoved to the floor, and had books/lunch slapped out of my hands today. Not to mention the comments and insults and slurs from everyone. The humans mostly ignored me, but all the other supernatural people at school did not. At the end of the day, Mark found me and through all his homework at me with the intention of me doing all of it. So now I have to do the project which is dew on Friday, which is only 3 days away, my homework and now Marks homework.

As I was walking out of school wondering how I am going to do all of this, I looked up to see Justin leaning against his Telsa in front of the school, and I must admit the outfit he is wearing, paired with those sunglasses just make him look hot. I walked up to him, a massive smile drawn across my face as I came up to him. Justin smiled back, and all of a sudden, it started to get really hot out. "Justin, I wasn't expecting to see you today,"

"I thought before you go to the library, we could do something together." Even the way he sounds is just driving me crazy and how can I say no to his smile. So all I did was nod, and Justin motioned for me to get in the passenger side.

I had no idea where we were going, and I honestly didn't care. It was just nice to talk to him. He is really sweet and kind, and I don't see how anyone could hate him. We stopped only after ten minutes at the Badger Green Park. It is not massive and is found on the edge of a forest, but this park is really beautiful.

"I hope you don't mind, but I thought we could walk across the park, go to the arcade, and then head off to this pizza place I saw." Justin turned off his car and waited for my response but I was so surprised that he had actually planned this out just for me that it took me a few minutes to respond but he waited patiently for me, "it sounds like fun, but I don't have money for the pizza or arcade".

Justin's smile only grew, "I know that, so to make things easier in the future. Every time I go somewhere with you that will cost money, I will pay for everything. No matter how much it may cost or what it is, if I am around, I will pay for it and don't even try to argue with me on that because it will get you no where".

"Justin, you really shouldn't do that. I don't want to be a- . I don't want to sponge off of you, Justin. " I already sponge off enough people as it is.

Justin lifted my head, so I was looking into his eyes, and as I did, I noticed they had a very light orange glow, and I don't know why, but I couldn't look away. His eyes were just so beautiful, and the orange glow was so amazing. "I-, I want to, I am choosing to pay, that does not make you a sponge. In fact, you will never be a sponge in my eyes."

All I could do was nod slightly. However, I was still entranced by his eyes and their orange glow. My fox urged me closer to Justin, I could feel his breath as our lips got closer, only inches away from one another. My heart was racing, my cheeks were getting warm, and my fox was going mad, now pushing me to close the gap between Justin's and my lips. Thankfully, that did not happen.

Pov: Justin

His lips were so close, we were looking into each others eyes, and my dragon was pushing for me to close the gap, but I held back and instead pulled away. I need to be patient, I might know Nick is my mate, but he doesn't know that about me yet, and I don't know if he wants it to be special or not. I know the wolves normally make a big deal out of the whole event, and I don't want to ruin that for him, not to mention I have actually put effort into planning his birthday thing. I wouldn't want to ruin all those plans.

I looked back at Nick, and he seemed both relieved and upset. Is he upset that it almoat happened or that it did not. That doesn't matter right now, I have an afternoon planned, "well, Tiny. Now that it is sorted, let's get going."

We walked and talked for about an hour, maybe more, I wasn't keeping track. We fed some ducks while we were at it, and once we were done at the park, we went to the arcade. That was lots of fun two, I won most of the game I played or broke high scores. I ended up with lots of tickets. Nick had fun there too, although he really enjoyed the typical dance games you would find in an arcade. I, however, sucked at it, but it made Nick laugh. It was a playful laugh that I loved to hear. When we were done, we went to cash our tickets, and there was a whole range of prizes. I looked at the at all the prizes and as I was about to choose one, another caught my attention. In the far corner, hidden behind the rest, is a small dragon plushie. It is not even slightly accurate, but it seems to be the only one they have, so I will take it.

I gave the dude my tickets, and he gave me the plushie, I read the tag, and it said it was from a game called Dragon Rage. I've never heard of it, but that's fine. "Justin my I ask you a question"

I looked back at Nick, and he was holding this small fox teddy. A sad expression on his face and seeing it really hurt. I can't stand to see that expression on his face. "Of course, anything."

"Would you take this fox. I mean, do you want this fox teddy? It's okay if you don't want it, I know it's a bit of a cliche what I am doing." I interrupted his rumbling, bent down so we were eye and took his free hand. "Let me interrupt you there. I will happily take it and cherish it, but only if you take this plushie. "

Nick nodded, and he took the dragon plushie while giving me the fox. I wonder if this is what Nick looks like when he shifts. I stood back up straight and said, "Now let's go get some pizza. "