Pyrrhia High, a Wings of Fire as Humans story

Chapter Nine

(Qibli's POV)

I was sitting in the cafeteria at school, next to Winter, with Moon across from me, and Kinkajou across from him. Turtle was on my right. It felt a bit like a boys-versus-girls arrangement, but really it was just awkward because no one was talking. My mind, meanwhile, was racing.

She's so beautiful, the way her hair falls around her face like that. Brilliant, too. I know that she's been acing all her classes. I could learn a few things from her, probably. Maybe I could get to partner with her on a project one time, then I could learn about more about how that amazing mind of hers works. But why would she ever choose me, especially when I can see how Winter looks at her-look at her, she's looking at him now. They'd be good together, I suppose-I just wish I weren't quite so worthless... Ah, but maybe I could still hang out with her sometimes, just as friends-that would be acceptable, I suppose. But would it be awkward, with Winter and all- I tried to cut off my thoughts. I was going way too far ahead. Stay here in the present, Qibli. Don't forget to pay attention to what's happening around you.

I ended up being the one to break the silence. "So, Moon, how were your classes today? Are you liking Pyrrhia High?"

Moon looked up at me, with a bit of a surprised look on her face at being addressed. "Um, yeah, it's great. History is interesting, and I've always liked science."

"Science is awesome," I agreed, glad that this didn't just end up being a one-word conversation that ended after five seconds. "I'd like history, but I'm afraid that Webs can be so frightfully boring sometimes. It's the only class I've ever managed to fall asleep in."

Moon gave a soft murmur of laughter. Winter snorted. "As if. Remember that time in P.E. in fifth grade?"

I did remember. And it was a subject I tried to avoid. I had fallen asleep in P.E. one time, and when I came home late from detention, my mother had been furious. It wasn't the best night of my life, to put it mildly.

"Winter, I though that we had all agreed that we weren't going to talk about the P.E. incident?" Kinkajou broke in. Winter had the grace to look ashamed.

"Sorry, I forgot." He mumbled.

"Um.. I get the feeling I shouldn't ask this, but what was the P.E. incident?" Moon said tentatively. "You don't have to answer."

"No, it's fine." I said, cutting off whatever Winter was about to say. "Here's what happened: I fell asleep in P.E. one time, got detention, and came home late and had to explain the whole thing to my mom. She threw me out of the house for the night and turned my siblings loose on me. It wasn't a pretty sight." I finished, glancing at her to see how she might react. In truth, I was kind of gentling it a bit. By 'not a pretty sight,' what I really meant was that I came to school the next day with a black eye, more large bruises all across my face, including a particularly nasty one on my lower jaw. "It's fine, though. Used to happen sometimes. Is that enough for you?"

Moon looked a bit guilty. "Sorry I asked, I didn't mean to intrude."