Fight With Fire

23

"I don't understand." Adrian says trying to keep up with me. I look up to the sky to see the light fading quickly. I sigh in frustration.

"You can't just walk out the front door. That ruins the whole point." Now Adrian sighs in frustration.

"I thought the point was to find a way out of the building." He says motioning the building behind us. "The door, by definition, is a way to get in and out of the building."

"Yes but most of the time that won't work. The point is to be able to get out of the building any time you want. If they were checking or there was any kind of security, then you'd get caught."

"But there wasn't any security." Adrian says this slowly like he's trying to figure something out.

"It's a pride thing. You don't deserve to be here unless you can make it here."

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" I stop, spin around, and push him in the chest. "What the hell?"

"Do you want to be here?" Adrian doesn't respond. "Do you want to be here?" I say it slower this time hissing the words at him.

"Yes."

"Then shut up." Then I turn around and walk to the circle. I walk around it under the trees and enter on the other side. As soon as I enter the clearing a few people start applauding me and I put a hand up. "I got enough of that in the theater."

"Because you deserve it." Finn says while wrapping his arms around me. I immediately tense up but try to relax as Finn's words from the stairwell ring in my head. I feel Finn's arms tense squishing me into his chest. I squirm out of grasp and follow his gaze to see Adrian walking into the clearing. I sigh and walk into the middle of the clearing.

"Okay everyone." I say motioning for everyone to go sit on the rocks. "Congratulations to everyone that got a shout out. But we only have two months until placement and this year is very different from most. Because of the way that the examiner did the testing, the council has no guide for placement. Anyone-"

I am interrupted by a set of loud coughing. Everyone turns to Adrian who is bent over with an arm wrapped around his head to cover his mouth. The few people sitting near him slide away. My annoyance is soon replaced with worry as his coughs become louder. I know there is nothing I can do for him but I feel myself being drawn towards him. An instinct to take his pain away because he has enough already. But before I can do anything Finn puts Adrian's free hand over his shoulder and pulls Adrian away. Finn brings Adrian to a spot slightly under the trees. I realize it is the same spot that I brought Finn to when we figured out his Aerdell.

"Okay everyone," I say still distracted by Finn and Adrian. "The council is going to need a way to know who to place. Just brainstorm." Before anyone can question me I turn and walk towards the rock. I notice them deep in conversation and decide not to intrude just yet. I walk a few feet into the tree line and crawl in the shadows until I can hear them.

"Here, I can help you." Finn says reaching for Adrian's arm. Adrian immediately flinches and Finn holds his hands out on either side of his head in surrender. "My Aerdell does good as well. I don't just take away people's Aerdells. I can take away pain. Or I can try anyway."

Finn reaches out slowly and grabs Adrian's hands. I watch as his face scrunches up and he bites his lower lip in concentration. Finn breathes heavily while Adrian waits patiently. This feels different from when Finn took my pain. I could feel the pressure building in my veins. I was his point of concentration. Now, it's hard to follow what's happening.

Finn lets go of Adrian and looks slightly ashamed. "I'm sorry. I couldn't find... anything. There was nothing for me to take, only empty space." Finn looks to his arm to see the line of his iae has grown onto the bottom of his wrist. "It seems that I have drained you of your Aerdell. I'm sorry I haven't quite figured out how this works." Finn laughs awkwardly and scratches the back of his neck. "Here let me give it back."

"No, no." Adrian says pushing Finn's hands away. "You keep it. It'll come back anyway." Finn looks unsure but Adrian gives him a reassuring nod. They sit in awkward silence until Finn breaks it.

"Are you sure you're okay?" You can hear the sincerity in Finn's voice even though he isn't Adrian's biggest fan. I can't help but smile knowing that this is who Finn is. Helping someone out just because it's the right thing to do with no ulterior motive.

"Yes, I'm just tired. Coming here probably wasn't a great idea." Adrian laughs slightly but you can hear the strain in his voice.

"You get used to it." Finn says also laughing a little. "Why did you come?"

"Because Ella practically dragged me out here." Adrian sighs clearly regretting his decision to listen to me. I don't know why he said that I dragged him out here. I just invited him.

Finn goes tense when Adrian mentions me and Adrian notices. "I'm sorry if I've made you jealous by spending so much time with her." Finn looks up at Adrian surprised. "It's obvious that you like her. I respect you man. I see all that you do for her. It's especially impressive because you don't pressure her about it. If I loved someone that much then I would scream it from the rooftops."

"Well I'm glad at least one person noticed." Finn smiles sadly and my heart shatters into a million pieces. It's one thing for him to tell me he loves me but now he sounds so defeated. I had never appreciated how calm Finn has been about his feelings. He has always done everything for me and never asked for anything in return. "C'mon, let's get you back to your room."

Finn helps Adrian into the forest leaving me crouched on the ground alone. I feel like someone has skinned me down leaving me bloody, ugly, and burning under the sun's rays for the first time.