Ember (#Wattys2015)

Prologue

~EMBER~

I look up at the cartoon Tweety Pie clock and groan when I see the time, still forty minutes left of Mr Scout droning on about algebra and exponents. Honestly, in what job does it require you to know what x x y + 34 equals? A chef certainly doesn't and that's all I care about.
I feel an elbow jab me in the ribs, and I turn to face the brunette beside me. Dark green eyes stare back at me and my best friend raises her eyebrow in the usual River fashion.

"Em," she whispers. "Mister is staring at you." I flick my eyes up to the front and sure enough, our maths teacher is glaring at me. He must've heard my fake snore. I raise my arm and wave at him. His glare deepens but he goes back to boring the class with his mindless drivel.

Towards the end of the class, Mr Scout announces that there will be a test next Tuesday, and I make up my mind to jot down some notes off of the board. Considering the fact that I wouldn't study because why would I when I could tumblr, I decide to only write up one question. River rolls her eyes at me as I write down the date and one of the equations, no doubt knowing that it would never be seen again. River has always been the nerdier one, hence the full page of notes in front of her. Finally the damn bell rings and I literally gap it. I need food and I need it fast.

River finally catches up with me while I'm finishing the remainder of my burger. She holds a tray full of salad greens and water while mine is coke and fries. What, food matters a lot to me and I'm not gonna risk it to be healthy.
"Are you going to the carnival?" River asks setting her tray down beside mine. I nod, because my mouth is too full with deliciousness for me to bother with speaking. Her entire being lights up as she starts talking animatedly about what we'll wear and what we'll do and who would be going. I think it's safe to say that River is far more sociable than me. If I had it my way I would sit in my fat pants all day and watch Netflix. But River won't let me, so I can't. Wow my friend is so heartless, looking out for me and making sure I actually have a life and don't fail all my tests.

Fingers click in front of my nose, making me jolt from my thoughts. I look up and see River glaring at me. I give her my best puppy eyes and pout my lips at her. River flattens her rosy lips and looks away. "Honestly Em, you're lucky that I'm ace, or else those eyes would've been the death of me a lot sooner. Either that, or we would have been making out in the cleaning cupboard for months now." I laugh at River's brutal honesty. River is asexual, which means she never has to put up with useless crushes or worrying about possible boy/girlfriends. She came out to me when we were fourteen, and she's so perfect that I wouldn't have it any other way.

I grin at my friend and stuff some more burger in my mouth. We get into a conversation about hockey, the sport we are both majorly obsessed with. Hockey. Now this is one thing we can come to terms on. I eat unhealthy as, seriously, I could live on cheesecake, whereas River is vegetarian and makes these super delicious quinoa and pine nut salads. I watch gory TV shows and adore horrors, River prefers comedies and romantic movies. Despite our numerous differences, we still get on like a house on fire and are as close as sisters. It probably helps that we live together because my parents adopted River when she was six, but then they died in a train crash coming back from a business trip two years ago just after we turned fourteen and left us in the apartment on our own. I'm not saying that we haven't had our fair share of arguments and on numerous accounts we have narrowly missed murdering each other, but we always, always, get over it because there is no one else that would care for us like we care for each other.

Getting deeper into our hockey chat we started discussing tactics for next weeks game. I am a forward and River is a mid. The big bitch of the school, a.k.a Madison Turner always hogs the damn ball so River and I always have to work out ways of stealing it off of her before she gets it turned over. Speaking of Madison, here she comes looking all high and mighty with her clown makeup and short skirts. I swear if her skirt was any shorter, it'd be the length of a toddlers skirt. Not saying that girls can't wear what they want, but seriously? She has this grudge against me since I had the same crush as her in primary. See how petty she is? And now because I apparently screwed her over because Frank chose me, she's always trying to sabotage my relationships. Where's the fellow gender love at? Madison actually succeeded in sabotaging one of my relationships. In year six I went out with Dennis Posy and he was a sucker for girls in dresses. I don't actually recall why he went out with me, because I sure as hell have never worn a dress voluntarily, but of course in true Madison style, she started wearing dresses to gain his attention. Stupid idea really, because she may have wanted that attention back then, but since then he has been obsessed with anything Madison. One day River and I came to school with Madison's perfume on (because according to Dennis and Natalia Kills you can't possibly wear the same thing as their precious SO) and he literally got the hose and sprayed us down. Oh, and I know what you're thinking. Yes, we have the perfect revenge lined up. (Muahahahahaha)

As for Madison, I think Dennis stalking her is enough punishment. Or is it? She smiled evilly at me and sat at the populars table, even though too they are sick of her.

For the second time that day, River flicks her hand in front of my face to grab my fast escaping attention span.

"Sorry, sorry." I apologise to River who stares at me before continuing on about the girl in her fashions class who had purple and blue hair.

"You're gonna wear that dress you got the other day right?" I ask the brunette beside me.

"Yeah, the blue and silver one, I take it you are wearing the usual? Shorts and a shirt? Or are you wearing a singlet this time??" River replies and forks the last mouthful of poison into her mouth before reaching over me and chucking the container and plastic cutlery in the bin.

The bell rings shrilly and we groan simultaneously. It's fair to say that we made a bad decision when we decided to take Physics. Good thing we sit at the back of the class or else Mrs Patel would have our heads on a double spiked pike at the front of the classroom.

We arrive to a deserted classroom. River stares at me.

"Have we missed something?" I ask her. She shrugs for a moment before her eyes light up.

"Oh! It's an early finish because of the carnival. I was wondering why the art teacher gave me a funny look," She laughs before yelling, "Race you!!" and sprints off down the empty hall. I chase after her, my bag bumping awkwardly against my back.

***

~RIVER~

Ugh, they're so disgusting. I know I don't get attracted to people but I think anyone would agree seeing your almost sister swapping tongues with some random dude she just met is disgusting. Ember gets all the guys, while if anyone dares to even touch me I bite them. Apart from Ember of course.

"Do you guys mind?" I half yell. Worst of all they're blocking my view of the stage. I actually want to watch the school band play Fall Out Boy. They're quite good, but I think their name 'Swim' is pretty stupid for a band. Fuck it I don't care if it's FOB I'd rather eat my right arm than have this view. I decide to go to the woods, we always found it so peaceful yet exciting and spent hours upon hours exploring. 'Centuries' rings out in the distance as I become engulfed in the greenery. Even without paths, Ember and I know our way just about everywhere. I decide to go to the river. Haha, River's going to the river. Don't blame me it's actually my favorite place to go. There's a small waterfall at the clearing, with a huge conifer tree beside the bank. It has a branch that's perfect for sitting on and watching the night sky. A rustling noise alerts me and I turn around to see Ember crawl out from underneath a bush. Wordlessly, she climbs up onto the branch next to me and together we watch the galaxy pass by. A loud pop sounds, making us jump. Reds and blues explode in the sky above us and a loud 'aah' comes from behind us in the carnival. More fireworks shoot up and burst, showering the inky darkness in bright white and purple and green.

I look at Ember and see she is missing the show so I jab her in the ribs. Ember jumps and gives me a half-hearted glare,

"Look," She gasps pointing to the sky.

I follow her finger up to where a shadowy silhouette sits hovering in the sky.