Ice to Fire

Chapter 2

A/N: 

Goooood  morning! (It's morning where I am lol) 

Absolutely couldn't wait to update this chapter for you, guys :) Because this means you're just one step closer to chapter 3 eeeek. ITS LIKE THE MOST INTENSE CHAPTER EVER okay I need to calm down. 

I hope you enjoy this chapter. Its kind of short, so it should be a quick read :) 

Love, 

Elaina. 

P.S. The gif above is Alex Pettyfer as Xander Rowe ;)  

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Chapter 2

Panting, I halted to a stop next to Xander and tried to steady my racing heart. Sweat was pouring down my body, plastering the dress to my back. Xander ran his hands through his hair, making it stick upwards in a cute way, as he looked around.

We were at the Tower; now we just needed to find the others. Xander whistled loud and fast into the empty place. I went over and sat on a piece of broken bolder. We called our meeting point The Tower, because once, in the World Before, we think that here stood a tall structure, but over the years it collapsed, sending rubble and pieces of boulders around. Half of the structure remained standing though, making an ideal hiding spot for gangs.

Xander whistled one more time before figures finally emerged from the ruins behind me. They were talking loudly, joking and messing around. I looked around the group, counting, making sure everyone was here: Fallon, Flynn, Caleb, Rico and Opal. Two were missing and instantly my senses were on alert, but then I remembered that Talia stayed back at camp with Meera.

"What took you guys so long?" Caleb yelled and then added, excited, "Do you know how much stuff we were able to get because of your little stunt? Rico -."

"You done?" Xander asked, crossing his arms over his chest, making the veins pop out.

The boys glanced at each quizzically before focusing back on Xander.

"What's up with him?" Rico murmured, as he came to stand next to me.

I shook my head in response.

"So it seems that you were able to get more then what we came for?" Xander asked, looking around the group.

Murmurs of "yes" and nods followed.

"I got two extra melons!" Chirped Flynn, beaming from ear to ear, as he looked at Xander for approval.

They all looked to Xander for approval.

"You could've been caught," Xander snapped.

"Xander!" I hissed.

He didn't even look at me. Flynn's head sunk. "I just wanted to help Meera," he murmured.

My heart constricted in sadness. Xander exhaled loudly, shoving his hands through his hair in frustration.

"Hey, what the hell is going on with you, man?" Caleb shouted, coming to stand next to Flynn and placed a supportive arm around him. Caleb was the only one in the group who could speak to Xander like that. Well, him and me.

Xander looked at him long and hard before sinking onto a bolder. I moved from my place and came to stand next to him, rubbing the back of his neck to calm him down.

"We ran into The Crows back there, so that's how I pulled my 'stunt'", Xander said after a pause.

Everyone started whispering and murmuring to each other feverishly.

I dropped my hand, "What?" I whispered, shocked.

Xander lolled his head to the side and glanced up at me, his gaze intense.

"The Crows?" Rico asked, eyes wide.

"That can't be," murmured Flynn.

"Are you sure?" Caleb asked, dropping down on the ground in front of Xander.

"Of course I'm sure," Xander snapped.

"Dude, I'm only asking cause we've never actually met them. We only know their names, so relax, will you?" Caleb said, annoyed.

"Exactly. We only know their names," murmured Xander, resting his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. His back muscles rippled, as his shoulders tensed. I placed my hand on his back slowly, as if he were a wild animal ready to spring at the sign of danger. Rubbing small circles on his shoulder blades, I saw him visibly relax.

"Tell us what the hell happened!" Caleb exclaimed, as the rest of them gathered closer to us. I didn't miss Opal's quick glance at us, Xander rather, as she positioned herself on a bolder, tentatively sitting on the edge as if it was contaminated, and even muttering something under her breath.

I rolled my eyes at her. We were living in a rundown building where we had to share showers and whatnot, and this girl couldn't sit on a piece of rock without causing a scene.

"So, I presume you didn't know it were The Crows, Mar?" Opal asked, looking at me, and crossed her arms across her chest.

"No, I didn't," I murmured, but looked at Xander.

"Why were you fighting in the first place, may I ask?" Caleb asked, crossing his hands.

The faded grass under my feet suddenly became very interesting.

Xander cracked his knuckles, as he stared at his hands. "Ash did something that pissed me off so I snapped," Xander said with a shrug.

"So you snapped," repeated Caleb.

Xander stared him down, but Caleb didn't back down, continuing, "So you casually snapped and attacked the leader of one of the most powerful gangs in Emedridon who right now, is probably coming up with a way to find us and murder us all for something you did. They greatly outnumber us; physically and numerically, probably know our location and a whole load of other information. They probably have support from other gangs, The Kings or worse. So tell me, brother, isn't this one messed up situation, huh?"

We all glanced worriedly between Xander and Caleb. The two were basically like brothers, flaws and all, but still loyal to each other. I didn't remember a time when Caleb wasn't there, helping Xander with everything. Seeing them fight wasn't uncommon, but what was unraveling before my eyes made me worried.

Xander, tired and defeated, dropped his head.

"You know, I never thought you'd do this to us, Rowe!" Caleb growled, standing up. "And you might have your own reasons, which you don't want to share with the rest of the group, your family," Caleb hissed the last word through gritted teeth, "but do you understand what you did, putting us under the radar like that? There is just not enough of us to protect the others, so what happens when they come? Have you thought about that? Have you-."

"Of course I thought about that!" Xander roared, pouncing from the bolder, causing me to yelp and stagger back. "I think about how to protect all of us every. Single. Day. Don't you dare accuse me of such things, Caleb," Xander growled, jabbing his finger into Caleb's chest, "And believe me when I say this, if you were in my place, you would of done the exact same thing." Xander finished, staring hard at Caleb.

Finally, Xander broke the contact and turned to look at the others. We were all staring at him.

"Grab your things. Lets move," he barked and turned to go.

Everyone started getting up one by one and retrieving their things. Since I had nothing to carry, I walked around and asked if anybody needed help. I stopped next to Caleb, who was still rooted to the spot, staring of into space.

"Hey, I'm sorry about him," I said quietly, placing a hand on his arm.

He nodded. "You have nothing to apologize for, Mar. I just wish that whatever he got into a fight for was worth it."

"It was," I whispered.

He looked down at me with a small, knowing smile. For a seventeen-year old, he already outgrew the eighteen-year-old me by a whole foot.

"Lets go," he said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

I wrapped my arm around his waist and let him lead me away from the Tower, the fight, the market, and into a new tomorrow, a day, which I had no idea that it would change my life, forever.