The Fire That Keeps Us Together

Chapter 2: Burden

That night, I thought about that naïve boy. I thought about what had happened and how I reacted to it—most importantly, how he reacted towards me. I just decided to accept the fact that he was new and didn't know anything about me—yet. Soon enough, after he finds out, he will be just like the others. I immediately stopped thinking about him and decided to just continue to the way things were but the next day wasn't one of those usual days. Fate, again, decided to continue taunting me.

I didn't know that he grew curious of me. I didn't realize that he wanted to find out what the others meant by me being cursed and dangerous. He wanted to dig deeper—an idea that was definitely crazy!

As I opened my locker to get some things, I had this uneasy feeling of being observed. I turned to look at my left and there he was! He was on the other side of the hallway, watching me. Questions filled my head as I wondered what he was doing. I quickly slammed the door of my locker shut and turned around to leave. Surely he must have found out about me already. Oh well, he must be scared or regretting bumping into me now. Ha!

Lunch came and I went to the cafeteria. I was the only one who was silent in that place. The whole area was cramped with students who were making loud noises even if they were in the middle of eating. How could they talk so loud? Of course, none of them acknowledged my presence just like in the past years. I quietly took a tray and some food then went to my usual table wherein I was the only occupant. It wasn't a big table—it was circular and more likely built for 3 people but it was just perfect for me. I picked up my fork and was about to start eating when my eyes suddenly spotted something at the other side of the room. It was that boy again and he was just standing there, staring at me. His face was painted with curiosity but it wasn't cold or at least, not yet. I shook my head and focused on my meal. The more I thought that it was nothing, the more it turned out wrong when he suddenly placed his tray on my table and sat down on the vacant chair right in front of me.

"Hi!" he said, "Hope you don't mind if I sit here."

His face had a cheerful smile but mine was hard to draw. I froze, watching him bite a huge piece of his burger. I was dumbfounded and so were the rest of the students. The whole cafeteria slowly quieted down as all eyes were darted straight at the two of us. What was this boy thinking?!!

"What are you doing?" I seriously asked him in a tone of a whisper.

"Hm? Me?" he replied, still in the middle of chewing, "I'm eating. You should too."

I looked at him with a bit of irritation this time.

"I mean what are you doing sitting here?!" I said, "Don't you know it's dangerous?"

He smiled at me and gave out a chuckle. He then proceeded to swallowing what he was eating before answering me. "Dangerous? What could be dangerous with just sitting down and eating?"

I hurriedly stood up, infuriated auburn eyes glaring at him.  "You'd stay away from me if you know what's good for you!"

I left my food, the table, and the cafeteria. I knew that when I was gone, the students rushed to him and bombarded him with warnings about me. If he wouldn't listen, bad things would surely come his way.

I lazily walked through the empty corridors all by myself. That incident in the cafeteria sure plucked one of my nerves….and now another since I left my food. I sighed heavily, trying to ignore the hungry feeling. It was a little while when I felt another presence from behind me. I immediately turned around and looked.

"You?!" I said, looking strangely at him.

Yes, it was the exact naive person. I didn't realize that he had followed me.

"Why are you following me?" I asked in upmost confusion with a dash of irritation.

"Following you? I was simply heading to where you're going, to the lockers." he said, smiling again.

There was something about that smile of his. It was something I haven’t encountered before—it was warm and I dunno why my knees weaken every time he does it.

I looked around and yes, we were indeed in the middle of the hallway where the lockers were placed. I admit that I had been paranoid about this guy that I failed to imagine that he could also be here to get his books. Nevertheless, I had to be careful.

"You must be Saya," he said.

"Yes...I am," I replied in a plain voice, "Who are you?"

"My name is Hero," he said, "I'm new here."

That part I already figured out. Just the newbie who didn't know anything about the town and especially about me.

"Oh," I said in the most uninterested voice, "Welcome to Riverwood."

With that, I motioned to turn around and leave. I wanted to end the conversation as fast as I could.

"I've heard things about you,"

I stopped after hearing that statement.

"Oh really?" I slowly spoke. "Like what? I'm cursed and you should stay away from me?"

He only stared in silence.  

"You should." I turned around to face him again.

"I don't believe them."

Those words sank deep into my brain and probably my heart. What was he saying?? I guess since because he was new, he only heard of what I could do but not actually seen it. Hmmmm….. I felt my heart drop with burden; I already knew what do to. I looked at him straight, chesnut irises meeting crystal blue. I raised my left arm. With one heavy breath, I summoned flames that enveloped my whole arm. He stood still, frozen—probably shocked. His gazes were intensely planted on my burning arm.

"You should believe them." I told him, "This is why you should stay away from me."

There was a moment of silence between us until finally, I made the flames disappear. I lowered my arm and waited for his response but none came. I guess that meant he understood; I guess he was going to leave me alone now. The bell rang and slowly, students began filling the halls. Our eyes met one more time then I finally turned around and left.

AN: Goodness this boy is persistent! hahahaha poor Saya had to shoo him the hard way. XD Will he finally stop?