Tempting Fire

The calm before the storm

For once I'm not looking forward to school, my legs carry me down stairs "morning sweetheart" my mums voice sounds from the kitchen where I go to join her. "how are you feeling" she looks back at me, like everything is normal, which I'm thankful for.

Our morning routine goes along normal, I keep looking over at my phone knowing all the questions Jen will have for me. I had put it on charge last night but I wasn't ready to look at it, I need to now though as I was hoping for her to take me to school, I don't remember the last time I had to take the school bus. She had her licence but before that her mum always took us.

I unplug my phone and I am not surprised with what I see. 44 messages, 26 missed calls and 11 voicemails. I laugh nervously not really knowing what excuse I was going to tell her; would she believe that I fell asleep?

*ALIVE! SCHOOL TODAY! MISSED YOU!!!! Xxxxx*

A message sounds instantly * on my way!!!!*

I turn to my mum as she eats her yogurt, she was in her nurse's uniform. I know she works hard and it's for me, all she deserved was the truth but who would believe me? Because I probably wouldn't.

I say my goodbyes and she kisses me, I can tell there is worry behind her eyes but I don't say anything and leave as normal. Closing the front door behind me, Jen pulls up instantly. I prepare myself for the barrage of questions.

I was right, question after question. The normally 10-minute car ride felt like an hour. I gave her the same excuse I told mum, fell asleep, met at party but I also told her I didn't want to upset her after she had just split up with what's his face. I think she believed me.

Pulling up to the school now and I sigh in relief. "we have three new people at school" she sounded excited. I only expected two? Cain wouldn't join, too would he? He would not get away with looking 17 or 18. "3?" I asked

"Yes Aiden" she sounded dreamy as she said his name. That must be ace? "Elise and lily."

We made our way up the steps to school entrance, I felt nervous and suddenly wanted to turn around and go home. I knew I couldn't.

I made it to my class, I don't even know what I was expecting but either way nothing happened.

I forgot all my thoughts though when I walked in and saw Elise sitting at my desk with ace to her side. I laugh without thinking which rewards me with a glare from Elise. "You look good" I say as I reach them. "Don't, I can't even believe I agreed to this" she looked different more like her age with her hair high up in a ponytail with a pink long sleeve top. I wonder if she has tattoos and was hiding them? The only thing I noticed that looked like her was her silver ring on her middle finger, it was pointy and looked extremely uncomfortable to wear. " remember we aren't meant to know each other" I whispered as more students filtered In. "Yet" Elise said as I sat down in between them.

Considering Elise and ace were in every class, it was still a relatively normal day. I hadn't heard anyone talk about Rhys, I was too afraid to ask.

The bell rang for lunch and I couldn't get out of the classroom quick enough as I handed back the work book to Mr Ryan's desk.

I made my way to the lunch hall where I knew Jen was waiting for me.

"I heard Aiden sat next to you in science?" this was her life, talking about a boy sitting next to a girl in class. This was her normal and it made me jealous, I would give anything for this to be my normal.

She never mentioned Elise did too but I didn't bring that up as I sat across from her. She had her face in her phone and only glanced up.

"We didn't speak" I lied as I took a bite of my sandwich waiting for her to finish whatever she was doing. Jen looked up straight away as soon as ace was walking towards me and shouted my name. Well that goes against my story.

"didn't talk huh?" now she decides to pay more attention.

"can I sit here?" he says as he takes a seat. Why even ask? Jen looks confused looking back and forth at us. So much for us not knowing each other. I needed to think of an excuse.

"do you have notes on the science homework? I didn't and I saw you write it down?" he says as he reaches into his bag and takes out a sandwich. I wonder who made it?

"Hi" Jen interrupts as she introduces herself.

Twenty million questions later and I can tell ace now regrets taking that seat. The bell goes signalling the end of lunch. I try to leave without either of them noticing but Ace stands just as I am a few steps away, ending my escape. I sigh and turn as I see him take a quick step toward me "you are not leaving me with miss talk a lot" he whispers before Jen approaches.

"PE next" I say breaking the awkwardness. Jens phone rings and she walks off. "thank god" ace says as we reach the gym. "see you in a bit" I say as I leave for the changing room.

The next two classes are uneventful, ace and Jen don't bump into each other again to ace's delight and Jens annoyance. I love Jen but she's a talker, I always welcomed it as it hid how quiet and awkward I was. I am.

Even though Elise was in every class, she had kept her distance and I was glad.

I spot Jen and make my way to the school entrance. Time for home, I was exhausted and I wasn't sure why. PE wasn't even that bad, tennis which I'm not that bad at.

"Your different mads" Jen said as we walked down the steps. "Happier?" I ask, because I am. I hadn't stopped thinking about Rhys, Cain or being damned but knowing I was going home to have a full night of sleep and wake up in no pain was massive for me. She didn't reply but instead linked my arm.

"I was thinking, how would you feel about a sleepover?" I asked, we hadn't had one since before everything. I tried to keep walking but she had stopped, I turned to look at her and her eyes were wide, she jumped towards me and hugged me so quickly I'm even not sure it happened. The squealing started and I wish now I had waited until I got in the car to tell her. I look towards the school entrance and I see Elise standing as if she was stuck and staring like she was trying to make sense of this person jumping around like a 6 year old.

"Jen people are watching" I said dragging her to her car.

"Maddison Mears, do you even realise how long I've waited to hear that?" I did but I wasn't going to say. "oh my god" she kept repeating herself and I was starting to think there was something wrong and I had broken her. She finally took a deep breath calming herself as we got in the car.

I wanted to get home alive.

"Friday night?" she asks containing herself. I just nod, too scared to set her off again. Maybe I should have started off small.

My mum was just as shocked when I got home. "I will be able to leave you girls to it, I am on night shift for the next 6 days" she hugs me tightly, I sigh in relief as worry no longer shows on her face.

I started to hope that a normal life could be possible.

I went to bed early tonight after dinner, my mum had to go to bed too for a few hours before work. She had made chicken curry which tasted amazing as usual. She had tubbed up the rest for my dinner tomorrow and for her to take to work. I was waiting on Elise or Ace for a change, ready for bed before them.

Elise.

"I can't believe I have to put you to bed" I didn't get to hear the rest as her hand was on me before I could even blink. I was asleep within seconds.