Fire and Ice

3- Friend?

"Theodore hun!" His mum yells as he walks in the door. "We have visitors!"

He simply drops his bag, not bothering to change out of his uniform and walks into the living room. "Then please save the embarrassment of my full name."

"Oh its a beautiful name." The strange woman across the room states. "I wanted to name Charlotte here Theodore if she was a boy."

"Mum!" The girl says, looking at the floor. She grins up at him sheepishly. "I'm Charlie."

"Theo." He suddenly goes back into silent mode as he observes his feet.

"Theodore darling Charlotte here is going to the academy in a few days. I'm friends with Melissa here and I suggested your school." He nods, smiling slightly.

He looks at the girl. She has blond hair, but unlike his own, its a more golden colour, with the tips dyed blue. Her eyes are a deep blue green colour, and she has a dimple in her cheeks. She's pretty I suppose Theo thinks to himself.

"I've got homework." He tells his mum, walking up to his room. He briefly notices footsteps behind him and turns around. That girl, Charlie, is behind him.

"Can I join you?" She asks, making him shrug.

She takes a seat on his bed, as he pulls the folder out of his back pack. "What kinda homework you got?" She asks him, looking over his shoulder.

"Physical and Mental control." He shrugs.

"Ooh cool! What are you?" She asks. He shrugs, gesturing for her to tell him first. She grins.

"I'm water." Her smile shows her teeth. "My spirit animal is a dolphin!"

"Ice. White wolf." He simply says. She starts asking him questions about OEA.

"Do you have any friends?" He goes silent. I suppose maybe Azarlea might be a friend right? Nah we only worked together and we've only talked once. He thinks to himself.

"No I guess not." She smiles, hugging him. He jumps startled.

"Well you do now!"

Theo is almost sad when Charlotte and Melissa leave. He's also almost relieved. And scared slightly. Shes gunna wanna talk to me at school. In front of the other kids! Oh this is going to be painful.

At school the next day, Azarlea is surprised when the teacher introduces a new student the next week. Mrs Loft introduces this girl as Charlotte.

"Charlie actually." She interrupts. "Charlotte is so damn formal."

Mrs Loft looks at her shocked. "Charlotte is on the role, so I will call you Charlotte."

"Imma have to change that later." The new girl mutters.

But what is most surprising to not only Azarlea, but the entire class, is when she looks at the back corner. "Theo!?"

Azarlea looks over at him, to see his figure half hidden under the desk. Theo isnt surprised to hear a series of mutters. 'Whos Theo?' 'We have a Theo in this class?' Theo simply glares at Charlotte and signals for her to not sit anywhere near him. She frowns, but gets the memo.

Suddenly his iPhone 4 starts to blow up.

From: Charlie

To: Theo

whats up?

From: Charlie

To: Theo

Did i do something to offend you!?

From: Theo

To: Charlie

No. I just enjoy not being noticed by most people -.- i told u this yesterday

From: Charlie

To: Theo

oh shit im so sorry! i saw a familiar face and it slipped out! 'o' please dont be mad!

From: Theo

To: Charlie

its all good

Theo sits back in his seat. Azarlea cocks an eyebrow at him. "Friend of yours?"

"Eh something like that." He mutters, shrugging.

"I thought you didnt want friends. Delaying the inevitable? Ring a bell?" She asks, flicking her tongue.

"I met her through my mum I guess." He shrugs at her.

"Cute!" She gushes at him, laughing slightly. He looks down, shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't see how that's cute..." He mutters to himself. Azarlea smiles, poking his cheek.

"Its adorable! You two are gunna grow up and get married and have little ice babies!" He looks at her with his eyes wide.

"Woah woah woah! I only met her yesterday!" She giggles, a beautiful sound in his opinion.

"I know silly! I'm only teasing." He decides to let it slide, sighing when she continues to mess with him.

After class ends, Azarlea waves goodbye to Theo and runs over to Marissa, leaving him alone. He packs up his stuff, jumping quickly when he notices a figure in front of him. He looks up, smiling slightly at the blue green eyes.

"Hey Charlie."

"Who was that?" She asks, grinning. "Your girlfriend!?"

I wish! He thinks to himself. "No. Shes just a friend."

She giggles slightly. "Whatever you say playboy."

He rolls his eyes at her playful grin, shoving her slightly. The two of them make they're way to the courtyard, where Theo starts climbing his tree. Charlie follows him, sitting on the large branch next to him.

The 2 of them talk about random things, Theo's never had so much to talk about before. Charlie really brings out the talkative side of him.

"So my mum told me that we might be having dinner at your house Friday night. Think that'll be okay?" She asks him.

"Obviously!" The two of them continue talking, until they hear a gruff yell below them.

"Just tell me! Tell me honestly Azarlea!" Kenneth yells at her. "Are you sleeping with the silent freak or not!?"

Theo almost falls out of the tree, but Charlie grabs his shirt.

"NO!" She cries. "I don't even know why you'd think that!"

"You refuse to sleep with me, you always defend him! You stopped telling Marissa things! I had to hear it from Ashley!"

"You believe Ashley over me!?" She stomps her heel. "Shes a total bitch!"

"She'd make a better girlfriend then your being!" That hit her like a ton of bricks. Theo climbs down from the tree.

"C'mon man that was uncalled for." He says to Kenneth calmly.

"Theo go away!" Azarlea exclaims. "I got this! Its fine!"

"No its not Zarli! That was mean!" He's surprised by the pain in his cheek. He falls to the ground, seeing Kenneth tower over him.

"Stay away from Zarli!" His gruff voice exclaims. Charlie also climbs down from the tree.

"Woah ok calm down big guy!" She exclaims, leaning down to help Theo up. "C'mon Theo." He takes her hand, but is pushed back down as Kenneth jumps on him, throwing punches that Theo takes. He can briefly hear Charlie and Zarli screaming for the guy on top of him to stop. But he doesn't.

Eventually, the weight on him leaves, and the pain starts to subside. A new pain starts though, in his brain, splitting his head open. He yells, feeling the snapping pain run throughout his body, breaking and grinding his bones, tearing his muscles. This must be the first changing. He can almost feel someone holding his hand, but the agony is too much. He blacks out, the last thing his eyes can see are the colour of the ocean and amber.