Two Worlds Apart

Chapter 9: Distraction

"Burn me once, and I’ll rise from the ashes. Burn me twice, and I’ll bring the fire that no one can extinguish." -Bri ❦
                                
                      Brielle

School the next day was unbearable. Every step down the hallway felt heavier, every whispered conversation seemed louder, and the worst part? He was everywhere.

I spotted him near his locker before he noticed me. He was leaning against it, talking to some friends, a smirk on his face as if nothing had happened last night. As if he hadn’t looked at me like I was his entire world.

I should’ve kept walking. I should’ve looked away, but I didn’t. And that’s when he glanced up and caught me staring.

For a split second, our eyes met, and it felt like the air was sucked out of the room. But then, just as quickly, he turned his back to me, his laughter carrying down the hall like I was nothing more than a stranger.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to keep moving, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to keep it together. This was what I wanted, right? Distance. No distractions. So why did it feel like someone had just twisted a knife in my chest?

“Brielle!” Stella called out, jogging up to me with Rune trailing behind her. “Where were you last night? You disappeared before the party even ended!”

“Just wasn’t feeling it,” I muttered, pretending to rummage through my bag even though I wasn’t looking for anything. “You know how it is.”

Stella frowned, clearly not buying it. “You and Theon didn’t fight again, did you?”

“Of course not,” I lied, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. “We’re fine. Why would you even think that?”

“Because he’s been avoiding you like the plague all morning,” Rune cut in, crossing his arms. “Usually, he’d be following you around, trying to get under your skin, but today he’s… different.”

“Well, good,” I snapped, more harshly than I intended. “I don’t need him or his stupid games. I have better things to worry about.”

They both exchanged a look, one of those knowing looks that made my blood boil. “Okay, if you say so,” Stella said, though her voice was tinged with doubt. “Just… don’t shut us out too, okay?”

I nodded, but I could barely process what she was saying. The bell rang, and I used it as an excuse to escape, rushing down the hall to my next class.

                          Theon

The moment I walked into the potions lab, I felt a wave of irritation wash over me. Brielle was already seated at our lab station, flipping through her notes like I wasn’t even there. I should’ve known we’d end up paired together for this assignment, and I hated it.

I dropped my bag on the table with a loud thud, but she didn’t even look up. Great. Just great. As if the tension between us wasn’t thick enough, now we were supposed to work together while pretending the other didn’t exist.

“Try not to blow anything up this time, okay?” she finally muttered, barely glancing my way.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep my distance from your fire magic,” I shot back, crossing my arms and trying to keep my voice steady. “Wouldn’t want to end up in the burn unit.”

She rolled her eyes and turned back to her notes, clearly unfazed by my jab. I fought the urge to snap at her again. I didn’t want to engage; I wanted to focus on the potion in front of us and pretend she was just another student.