Blaze

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

The week passed as slow as it could. It was as if the universe was on the Rooks' side. Everyday felt like an eternity, every class passed like a snail, every moment I grew more and more impatient.

The only thing that could draw my attention away from boredom was Helena. But not in a good way. She bawled her eyes out everyday. The teachers couldn't care less, but the girls crowded around whenever they could, consoling her. I knew it wouldn't help.

Helena wasn't what she seemed like on the outside. She was strong, until now. She didn't care what stupid politics or rumors others held, even though she pretended to so her life was much easier. Her facade was total rubbish, and only I and her sister could see through it, but yet now she showed her weak side.

On Friday, she was crying again. I knew enough about her that she wouldn't tell anyone what was wrong or what had happened. But that didn't mean she couldn't take her mind off it. I nudged her with my elbow and offered her my fist, with my thumb sticking up. She knew the gestured. She hooked her fingers on mine and stuck her thumb up.

We tapped our thumbs against each other. 1, 2, 3. She smiled and bit her lip at the same time as she concentrated. Thumb-wrestling was one of the few things we could do during a boring class to get her mind off what had happened.

Later on during P.E, we were running laps around the track. She looked down again so I slowed my pace to jog with her and a bunch of other girls and guys who were part of their little clique of performing arts people.

"We'll be coming round tracks when come! We'll be coming round tracks when we come!" I started singing.

Very honestly, my voice was horrible for singing, but the others caught on and joined in. A lap later, nearly the entire class was singing along as a group. The teacher, Mr Crawford who was also in-charge for track-and-field club, watched us baffled.

By the end of a second lap, Helena joined in, singing her lungs out while still jogging to keep pace. I loved seeing her smile. It was a rare sight nowadays.

At the end of the day, we had home economics together. We baked chocolate chip cookies. Clumsily, when it was time to take the cookies out of the oven, I opened the door and reached in to retrieve the pan, without a glove whatsoever. Helena's eyes bulged as I placed the pan on the table and shut the door.

"What? Why're you staring?" I asked as I turned the dials back to their original positions and switched off the power. "You look like you saw a ghost."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me to the sink, running it under the water. "Aren't you hurt? You just grabbed the pan!"

I swore on the inside. How was I supposed to play that off?

"I'm fine, that wasn't so hot, and I only touched it for a while." I said with a nervous laugh.

She touched my palm and withdrew her hand instantaneously, inhaling sharply. "How are you not burnt?"

"I've got strong skin, that's all."

She stared at me with worried and baffled. "Are you sure? People can't feel it when the burn is really bad."

I smiled easily. "Aww, you care for me." I turned the tap off and tapped her nose with my hot hand.

"Ouch! That hurt you know!" she punched my arm, then returned the smile.

The day ended lightly, and the two of us walked home together. Her house wasn't far from mine, but I rarely saw her outside because she spent most if her time in school. She was the student leader of String Ensemble, making her a part of the Student Council, which busied up her days.