Flames to Ashes (TnF Trilogy Book 2)

Chapter One: Spark

Cole POV
I hid behind a rock, carefully making no sound. I lifted my hand, and took the shot. Yes! I hit him! I heard an angry growl across the battlefield. I guess I didn't hit the head, where I aimed. I scrambled out from behind the rock and rolled behind a tree. My eyes scanned the area. Someone was there. They stood up for a second and tried to hit me. I dropped down just in time to avoid the flying projectile. Ha! I am so good at this! I sprinted (as fast as I could, given the weather) to the boulder they were hiding behind, and found... no one. Crabsicles. I felt someone hit my head from behind, laughing.
"Dang it, Nya! Why are you do good at snowball fights?"
Nya dropped another snowball on my head and snickered. "Practice," she explained vaguely. "Go on, I'm pretty sure the losers are all back at the monastery."
"I'm pretty sure that Jay is still in the game."
"Finally, we will see who is the better snowballer!" Nya laughed maniacally and ran off.
As I walked back home, I stuck my hands in my pockets. It was still there, safe and sound. You gotta do it soon, Cole! Or he's going to first, I thought to myself. I kept brainstorming about what I should say. Nothing was coming to mind. Well, nothing that wasn't corny or sappy. But, a few months back in the mindscape, Kai did improvise his speech, and it was really amazing. Suppose I should too, huh? I opened the gate to the monastery to see Lloyd and Kai speeding through the training course. Lloyd actually beat Kai, two days ago. Kai was proud of him, but ultimately wanted to crush him all over again. So, they've been training every day since then.
"Hey, Cole! I'm guessing Nya got you," Kai shouted as he was drying his face.
"Yup," I nodded. "Another loss for me. I swear, she always gets me somehow!"
Lloyd took a big gulp of water. "You know, you should never swear. It's a sign of weak verbal skills."
Me and Kai both stared at him. "You still remember that?"
Lloyd shrugged. "I don't remember who I heard that from, all I remember is that I heard it once. Anyways, I gotta go shower."
"Me too," Kai said. They could both take showers now. Since we were getting older and needing to take showers at the same time, Sensei Wu turned an extra room into a bathroom. Lloyd and Jay shared one, and me and Kai shared the other. Nya had her own and Zane... well, Zane doesn't shower, because he's a nindroid. I walked to my room. It was the same as always. I don't know why I expected anything else. Honestly, I keep expecting something to go awry and catch me off guard. I took my jacket off and hung it up. One pocket was lower than the other, because it held something in it. I was about to pull it out, but someone knocked on my door and nearly gave me a heart attack.
"Who is it?"
"Jay! Let me in!"
"Sorry." I opened the door. "What do you want?"
"Dude, I thought you wanted my help." I slapped my face. Right, I forgot. I shoved Jay inside and closed the door.
"Jay, I can't come up with anything to say!" I fell on my bed. "Nothing is working!"
"Cole..." he sat down next to me. "Just, like, improvise."
"I'm terrible at that."
"Didn't Kai improvise in that weird dream world or something?"
"Yeah... but it was Kai, not me!" I stuffed my head in my pillow. It felt nice and cold.
Jay gently punched me in the shoulder. "I mean, Nya said yes to me. Me! I'm such an idiot sometimes and I make stupid jokes! If someone like Nya can love someone like me, someone like Kai can definitely love someone like you."
I felt my heart crinkling into a ball of aluminum foil. "That was the most wholesome thing you've ever said!" I sat up and gave Jay a big hug. "And you're not an idiot. Your jokes are stupid, yes, but that's what makes you, you!" Jay hugged me back. "Thanks," I said, looking him in the eyes. "You're an awesome friend."
"I know! Now, there are two options. Near-death, and romantic dinner."
"Yeah, I dunno which one I pick."
Jay stared at me for a moment. "Was that sarcasm or not? I- I couldn't tell."
"Me neither!"
"I think I'll probably wait for near-death." I smiled. "It's more romantic, in my opinion."
"I don't think I agree with you on that one, Cole."
"Well, it worked for you, didn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess..." Jay's phone started beeping. "I gotta go. Keep at it, okay?" Right before he left my room, he looked back at me. "And, Cole. Whatever happens, is supposed to happen." And he left.