Not so perfect after all (KOTLC)

Chapter Five - REWRITTEN

I winced at the bright lights as I opened my eyes. The face of Livvy, behind the mask of Physic, loomed over me.

She turned to someone I couldn't see. "Can you grab the tissue regenerator? She woke up."

I nearly had a heart attack as the familiar face of Foxfire's resident physician came into view. Except he had darker hair. And freckles.

He chuckled as he poured an elixir down my throat. "I know what you're thinking, and I'm Azra, Elwin's younger, and much more attractive brother."

I suddenly felt my face heat up. "I'm Izzy."

"Nice to meet you Izzy," He smiled.

"Y-y-yeah, you t-too."

Why was I stuttering? And blushing?

"So um, h-h-how old are you?"

"I'm 36."

"I-I'm 33," I told him.

He smiled for a second then his brow furrowed. "Hold on, you're looking kind of flushed. I have two elixirs that I need you to drink together."

I obliged, and immediately regretted it as I started gagging. "Ew. That combination was terrible."

"You know what wouldn't be a bad combination?" He smirked. "Me spending the night here with you. Kind of like a hospital date."

I felt my cheeks heat up again. "I-I'm unmatchable."

"Okay?" He raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't change the fact that I wanna go out with you."

I bit my lip and looked away, blushing.

"I've never seen Izzy this boy crazy," Livvy pointed out.

I noticed that she'd ditched the mask.

"Shut up," I muttered.

She chuckled and had me drink a few more awful-tasting elixirs before leaving me alone with Azra.

"I like your necklace."

I looked down at the silver chain. "Oh, thank you. My best friend had the same one."

His brow furrowed. "Had?"

I looked away.

"I'm sorry for asking," He said. "I wasn't thinking."

"No it's fine," I assured him. "She um- she passed away in a fire a while ago. It's just . . . hard to talk about."

"I'm sorry."

"She would be your age, actually."

"Oh?" He asked. "What was her name? If you don't mind me asking."

"Jolie Ruewen."

His eyes widened. "No way. She was one of my only friends while I was at Foxfire."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I actually went to her planting."

"Oh."

He grabbed my hand. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"It's okay," I assured him.

I didn't pull my hand away, though.

"You're a hydrokinetic, right?" He asked.

I nodded.

"And apparently a pyrokinetic," I muttered under my breath.

"A pyrokinetic?"

"Crap," I muttered. "You heard that?"

It was his turn to nod. "I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to."

"Thank you."

"No problem," He smiled and squeezed my hand gently. "So, Izzy, tell me about yourself."

"Well, I'm 33," I started. "I'm an orphan, which makes me unmatchable. I've worked with the Black Swan since I was 15, and I'm the prank master."

He chuckled. "Or so I've heard."

"Your turn."

"Okay," He said. "I'm 36. Elwin's younger brother, and I've worked with the Black Swan for about 5 years. And I'm a conjurer."

He snapped his fingers and a tray of mallowmelt and custard bursts appeared on my lap. I giggled and took a bite of a mallowmelt. He snapped again and two mugs of cinnacreme appeared. A mustache of foam appeared above my top lip as I sipped it. I giggled, blushing slightly, as he wiped it off with his thumb.

What is wrong with me? I mentally scolded myself. What is it about him that makes me so flustered?

He smiled softly at me. "How is a girl as perfect as you still single?"

I bit my lip and looked away, a blush spreading across my face. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it gently.

"You're really cute, you know that?"

I felt my face heat up even more, but I didn't pull my hand away.

He chuckled. "I guess what I'm trying to say is: will you go on a date with me?"

"I um - yes, I will go on a date with you."

"Great," He smiled. "Does tomorrow work?"

I nodded. "That um - that sounds great."

He smiled softly at me. "It's getting late. We should probably get some sleep."

I nodded. He planted a light kiss on my cheek and stepped out of the room. I smiled softly and leaned back on my pillows and fell asleep soon after.