Fire Meets Ice

Chapter 3: Caught Me By Surprise

Alexa was one step away from going to the police station to catch the blue-haired mohawk thief for attempting to steal her wallet. She told herself bumping into Marcus wouldn't occur after their first short feud, but somehow she's glad she did. While she was home, she thought about all the things they talked about walking together.

Actually, he's not that bad, she thought, the memory of Marcus's earnest expression softening her earlier annoyance. Marcus—what a solid name for a headstrong lion. 

She paused in her stride, mulling over their conversation as they walked together. Maybe I shouldn't judge a book by its cover...

Her thoughts drifted further. On the inside, he's genuinely nice to talk to. I'm really glad he stood up for me. A warmth spread through her at the memory of his protective stance. Guys rarely do this.

In that moment, Alexa felt a flicker of hope; perhaps she had misjudged not just Marcus but the whole situation.

While Alexa was inside her apartment daydreaming about Marcus, he was at the gym for another workout session. Oscar was motivating him to do 20 reps by lifting a heavy weight on the bench press for the afternoon. Marcus was tired, but was determined not to give up because he didn't want his energy to go to waste.

"Come on, bro... You got this!" Oscar shouted, his voice a blend of encouragement and excitement. "Two more, and you're done!"

Marcus, already feeling the burn in his muscles, gritted his teeth and focused on the heavy barbell resting on his chest. "19..." Oscar counted, his eyes locked on Marcus's face, ready to help him if he needed it.

With a final surge of energy, Marcus pushed through, declaring, "Aaaaand... 20!" He placed the weight back on the bench press, a victorious grin spreading across his face.

"Whoo... Yeah!" he exclaimed, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'm glad I didn't give up on those last reps."

Oscar clapped him on the back, a proud smile on his face. "You're getting strong. Even I struggle to do 15 reps sometimes."

Marcus chuckled, feeling a rush of pride. "Did you say you ran into that kitty girl at McDonald's this morning?" Oscar asked, curiosity lighting up his expression.

"Yeah, I did," Marcus replied, recalling the encounter vividly. "Alexa was alone, and some shady-looking guy tried to steal her wallet. I stopped him just in time before he could escape."

Oscar: You've been single for 3 years now and I never see you hung up on a new girl ever since.

Oscar raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You've been single for three years now, and I never see you hung up on a new girl. Normally, you wouldn't care if a girl raised her paw at you."

Marcus shrugged, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "She didn't say much, but I can tell she has a lot to reveal about herself. Her face alone screams Yuki-Onna to me, but she's not completely used to the cold in the North."

"Who knows, man? You and her might become a thing," Oscar said, grinning as he teased his friend.

Suddenly, Oscar's phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the moment. He glanced at the screen and answered, his tone shifting as he spoke to his girlfriend. "Hey babe... How are you?"

"Yep, I'll be there soon. I missed shopping on weekdays with you." He hung up, turning back to Marcus with a lighthearted expression. "It's my girlfriend. She wants me to shop with her at Chanel."

Marcus laughed, shaking his head. "Haha, we both know she has expensive taste. Don't you ever get tired of girls who don't hesitate to spend every dime they get?"