Fiery Chaos (Book #1 Of The Sylin High Series)

Chapter 9

"I want you all to be in groups of threes, you're free to choose whoever I don't care, just be three..." Harvey was saying in his thick voice, looking around with his piercing blue eyes as he studied us. I wasn't listening though, no, I was patting the dirt off my behind and also adjusting the straps of my bag at the same time as I got ready to bolt.

"...give me something different, fresh, exciting, and you should know that this project is your test," Harvey stated with an evil grin, "do have a good day." And with that he was gone.

I also followed suit, or tried to, when someone caught up to me. It was a girl with a bob haircut, her chestnut hair blowing in the breeze. I recognized her immediately, she was one of Harvey's favorites. I couldn't help checking her out, from her neatly pressed gray pinafore that stopped mid-thigh and vanilla-colored shirt, to her white ankle socks and black platform shoes. Then I looked down at myself and let out a sigh wondering why I looked like a sore loser.

Her green eyes twinkled as she stood in front of me, several inches shorter. "Could we be partners?"

"What?" I asked dumbly. What was she saying?

"I'm Calen." she said, stretching out her hand to me.

Perplexed, I shook her hand. "Leo."

"I know. So could we be partners?" she asked eagerly, moving to the side so a couple of students could pass.

"Why?" I asked, tightening my grip on the straps in anxiousness. I truly couldn't understand why she wanted to be partners with. For all I knew, it could be a set-up.

"I like you."

Alarmed, I moved a couple of steps backwards. "I'm straight. And you don't even know me."

"No not like that! God no, not like that. I meant I like your look." Calen looked extremely flustered as she quickly explained. "You remind me of my sister, you have her eyes too so I just thought we could be partners." she finished, giving me a hopeful look.

I studied her for a minute trying to get her angle but seeing the sincerity in her eyes, I caved in. "Alright. I'm in."

***

"Aren't you going to eat that?" Hailey asked quietly, watching as I played with the food in a trance. I just grunted in reply, tentatively putting a forkful of spaghetti into my mouth, immediately feeling put off after the first chew. It wasn't bad, no not at all, it was delicious even but I just didn't have an appetite. I couldn't even remember the last time I had an appetite. Probably when I was fifteen.

"Are you okay? You don't look too good?" Nati asked worriedly, sliding into the seat beside me, placing her tray on the table.

I thought about the events of the day, from the Pyro 101 class, thought about Calen and Noah, her best friend and apparently our third partner, thought about English class which was...alright, I mean Megan, seemed okay. Maths class was...good, if you ignored the stupid stares and all. It was now lunchtime and I was exhausted. Tired of it all.

I forced a smile and continued playing with the food. I swept a look around the full cafeteria and mentally cringed, anxiety already settling in the pit of my stomach. "I'm fine, just overwhelmed. Do you know Calen?" I asked, by way of distraction.

Nati scrunched up her nose in confusion as she stuffed her face. "Who's that?"

"Freshman. Chestnut hair, green eyes...-"

"Oh Harvey's star student!" Nati interrupted Hailey who was scowling at her. "She's one of the top students here, with an IQ almost as high as Hailey's." she explained as she swallowed a mouthful.