Fire and Trials

Sparks Fly

Delilah sat at her desk, idly doodling in the margins of her history notebook. She was a senior in high school, counting down the days until graduation. It wasn't that she hated school – she actually enjoyed learning – but she was ready for a change of scenery. She had spent her entire life in this small town, and she was ready to see what else the world had to offer.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Delilah grabbed her books and headed out into the crowded hallway. She wove her way through the throngs of students, her eyes scanning the crowd for her best friend, Lucy.

As she turned the corner, Delilah collided with someone. She stumbled, her books flying out of her arms. When she looked up, she saw a boy standing in front of her, a sheepish grin on his face."I'm so sorry," he said, bending down to pick up her books. "I wasn't looking where I was going."Delilah felt a blush creep up her cheeks as she took her books from him. She couldn't help but notice how handsome he was – he had jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes.

"It's okay," she managed to stammer. "I wasn't paying attention either."

The boy smiled at her, and Delilah felt her heart flutter. She was suddenly very aware of how close they were standing to each other.

"I'm Haden," he said, holding out his hand.

Delilah shook his hand, feeling a jolt of electricity run through her body. "I'm Delilah," she replied, smiling.

Haden seemed different from the other guys at school. He was confident but not cocky, charming but not fake. They talked for a few minutes before he had to go to his next class. As he walked away, Delilah couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest.

The rest of the day went by in a blur, but Delilah couldn't get Haden out of her head. She found herself daydreaming about him during class, doodling his name in her notebook, and even imagining what it would be like to kiss his soft, pink lips.

As the final bell rang, Delilah headed to her car, lost in thought. She was so lost in her thoughts that she almost didn't hear someone call her name.

"Delilah!" Haden yelled, jogging up to her. She turned and saw a handsome-as-ever Haden breathing a little harder than before, leaving her to wonder what it would be like for their breaths to mix between passionate kissing. She suddenly snapped out of it, realizing she missed something Haden had asked her. "Repeat that for me?" Delilah asked as heat crept into her cheeks. Haden, smirking, asked, "Would you maybe want to go out with me tonight?"

Delilah's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected Haden to ask her out so soon, especially not caught in a moment of embarrassingly private thoughts, but she didn't hesitate to say yes.

"Sure," she said, smiling. "Where do you want to go?"

Haden grinned. "It's a surprise. Meet you at your place at seven."

Delilah watched as Haden walked away, feeling a rush of excitement. She couldn't wait to see where their date would take her.

Delilah arrived home and couldn't stop thinking about Haden. She had to pick out the perfect outfit for their date tonight. She tried on several different dresses before finally settling on a black dress that hugged her curves perfectly. 

Delilah has always been called pretty, even though most of the time she didn't feel that way. She had all the features she found beautiful in her mother, they just didn't look right on her. She had warm, tan skin that seemed to ooze a golden glow. Her freckles splayed across her face made her bright, blue eyes that much more vibrant. Her honey-colored hair was long and wild, she often had to keep it out of her face with some braid or updo. 

All her features seemed to contrast Haden's, but she found that made it that much more appealing. His paler skin was the opposite of pallid, it seemed to glow. His bright blue eyes almost made hers look dull in comparison. She wished she could reach out and touch his hair, its onyx appearance had such a shine to it, making it look so soft. 

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she gave herself a once-over. She was petite but had gentle curves, so the dress she picked out really emphasized her figure. The black was in hopes to match what she noticed he seemed to prefer, she normally dressed in bright colors. 

She normally didn't bother with the boys at her school, but the boys at her school were not like him. She also didn't want to graduate high school without ever having a boyfriend. This would be perfect if her first boyfriend was a cute, charming guy like him. 

As the clock ticked closer to seven, Delilah felt her nerves begin to bubble up inside her. What if Haden didn't like her in person? What if they had nothing to talk about?

But all her worries faded away as soon as Haden pulled up in his sleek black sports car. He got out and walked around to her side of the car, opening the door for her with a small smile.

"You look beautiful," he said, his eyes running up and down her body.

Delilah felt her cheeks flush as she thanked him. She couldn't believe how effortlessly charming he was.

Haden took her to a fancy Italian restaurant in town, and they spent the evening chatting and laughing over plates of pasta. The spark Delilah felt made it seem like they had known each other for years, and like they were the only two people in the world.

After dinner, Haden drove them to a secluded spot overlooking the town. They sat on the hood of his car, gazing up at the stars. His jawline was as sharp as can be, and she found herself having to keep from tracing it with her finger, partly afraid doing so might draw blood. The thought alone sent heat right to the pit of her stomach. 

"This is amazing," Delilah said, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. "Thank you for bringing me here."

All Delilah could think about was how did she get so lucky. She just happened to bump into this guy, and he just so happened to want to take her out to dinner. She knew nothing could ruin this year if it kept going the way it was. 

Haden smiled, taking her hand in his. "I'm glad you like it. I just wanted to spend some time with you, away from everyone else."

Delilah felt her heart skip a beat as Haden leaned in to kiss her. Her palms grew sweaty, she had never done this before. She knew what to expect from her friends telling her all about it. Some said to be prepared for a lot of tongue, she'd seen her parents just do little pecks. She was hoping it was somewhere in between that, and it was. It was a soft, gentle kiss that left her breathless. 

As they pulled away from each other, Haden looked deep into her eyes. "Delilah," he said, his voice low and serious. "There's something I need to tell you."

Delilah's heart raced as she waited for him to continue. What could he possibly have to tell her?

"I'm not who you think I am," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Delilah felt a sense of unease settle in her stomach. Who was Haden really? What was he hiding from her?

But before she could say anything, Haden leaned in to kiss her again, and all her doubts melted away. In that moment, all she cared about was him and the way he made her feel.