Fire and Ice

Chapter 5: New Friends

After one whole hour of my mind rattling between Mrs. Fallen and the strange connection that was urging me to rush closer to Seth the bell finally grants me the freedom I have been praying for. Only it isn't just me who is relieved by this. Seth immediately throws all of his things into his bag and runs out of the class.

Wow, am I that bad? No, Vega, don't let this idiot get to you.

With my heavy bag slung over my shoulders, I leave the classroom and walk out into the hallway which feels like walking into a traffic-riddled street. The loud noise of people shouting bounces off the wall, bashing into my eardrums and a few people nudge me to the side so that they can get past me.

I take out my schedule and scan it for my next lesson. A wave of relief washes over me when I see that my next lesson is English. Most people don't enjoy it but I do. Next to art, it is my favourite subject, but only when it comes to writing, poetry, and the books we have to read. The rest of the stuff we learn like grammar can burn in the pits of hell for all I care.

I take a mental note of the classroom number before I slip the paper back into my bag. Once it's tucked away safely I take a shaky and nervous step out of the doorway and into the busy corridor. As I join the chaos someone bolts past me, their shoulder hits mine and the force knocks me off my feet and sends me tumbling to the hard floor beneath me. Even while I am on the floor nobody stops what they are doing to help me and as I try to get up, the people that are still rushing past me knock me down.

Just as I thought that I was going to be trampled to death I see a pair of hands push through the crowd. They latch onto my upper arms and pull me up and out of the chaos surrounding me. As my feet touch the ground I come face to face with a solid chest that nearly knocks the breath out of my body.

"Don't worry, darling, I've got you," my saviour whispers comfortably into my ear.

I push them back just slightly so that I can turn my head up so that I can get a glimpse of my saviour. A gasp pushes past my lips when I see Toby looking down at me. He looks like a giant at this angle but to be fair he is over six feet tall. 

"Thanks, Toby, but I have to go now."

I try to push him back but to my horror, he doesn't budge and his arms stay locked tightly around my waist. One of his fingers has somehow found itself settled on the bare skin under my shirt and he idly brushes it back and forth, each one sending an intense rage of cold through me.

"Why the rush, darling? I'm quite enjoying this position. Aren't you or would you prefer we find a different one?" He smirks, and I can't help but feel sick by the comment.

I don't know what else to do. I'm not strong enough to push him away and I feel like anything I say won't affect him in any way. Also, nobody seems to be paying me or the clearly uncomfortable situation I am in any attention.

Suddenly, a voice breaks through all the other noises in the hallway.

"Lay off her, Toby, or I'll break every bone in that face that you love so much," Jade growls at him as she reaches out and pushes him back against the wall. The impact of the hit causes him to groan in pain but this only affects him for a few seconds before his smirk returns.

"Hello Jade, it's always a pleasure to see you."

If looks could kill then Jade's glare would have killed Toby and eliminated his corpse all at the same time.