Like A Flame {Warren Peace}

III

The Paper Lantern was a newly built restaurant, in classic Chinese style diner. He heard some students speak of how amazing their food had been, deciding to try something different. Already he received looks from others. One woman in particular. Nancy Hinshaw. She bullied his mother, apparent when they went to Sky High. Her pair of cronies-friends, whispered at once that he walked in.

"Dorian, dear! So lovely to see you." She gushed, waving him over.

"Hi...Miss. Hinshaw." His eye twitched. A habit when he's annoyed. "Yeah, it's been a while."

"Far too long dear. How's Ami doing?"

Not too well and you damn well know it "She's actually quite well," he stated. Hands clenched in his pockets.

"Really?" Nancy's face fell. He could tell a fake a mile away. "That's...wonderful news. We heard she got into alcohol, again, after your father and all that."

"Like I said, she's fine and well. If you'll excuse me..." a cup on their table started to shake. The lights on the ceiling, flickered. One of Nancy's friends muttered of an earthquake, possibly to cause such incident. Deep breaths...one in. One out. Another in... "Oh. Lovely, Mr. Smiles it is." He muttered.

His dark eyes at once caught Dorian's. "You. Again?"

"I could say the same to you, I'm here for an order."

"Then can I take your order, Your Highness?"

Anger. Control it. Control your emotions.

"One bowl of wonton soup, a thing of Thai Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk, Cashew Chicken, Thai Chicken with peanut sauce and one fortune cookie."

Though they whispered, he could still hear them due to his sensitive hearing. Mocking his mother. They always laughed behind his mom's back.

A bulb from overhead burst. Dorian's hands trembled, within his pockets. His chest rose and fell with each gasp emitted, from shocked customers. "Shoot," he cursed ever low to himself. The moment Warren returned with his food and before he even looked, at shattered pieces of a glass bulb, Dorian fled from the scene.

Upon returning home, he found he could not eat a thing. He didn't even look his mother or Ava in the eyes, heading back for his room.

Amethyst Talbot knocked once on his door. "Sweetheart? Are you certain, you're not hungry?"

"No...I'm really fine, mom."

"Ava's worried about you."

"Tell her I just need time to rest, is all. Then I'll eat."

He exhales slow and steady. Deep breaths in as his objects, in his bedroom shake. As if an earthquake were in occurrence. His head pounds harder than before, it's not the kind that goes away anytime soon. The kind that lingers and lingers. Until his abilities kick in.

Amethyst heard the rattling and pushed his door open. "Oh sweetie," she breathed out. Pulling him in an embrace at once. Her weary hands run through his long locks, muttering something under her breath. His own trembling had stopped. Tears almost fell from his dark eyes, gripping her wrist tight.

"Thanks. I-I'm fine now."

"Maybe you should take tomorrow off and relax."

"On my second day? I don't think that'll fly, with my teacher's mom. It was only a hiccough, a bump in the road. Before I know it, everything's fine again like it should be."

She did not buy his lies. Not normally and not ever. When he joined Ava at dinner, he smiled his sister's way hoping to ease her worries.

As night fell he did what he could not to look at his clock. His fingers clutch either side of his blankets. The shadows on his walls seem to grow and take shape. Monsters should not scare him anymore, his father used to always assure that they were easy to keep away. But tonight, they came in the form of nightmares he believed were abandoned.

~*******~

Once his mother had taken Ava to school, Dorian left at the same time of six thirty am. His eyes were dark and heavy but he still made conversation with Ethan on their bus. He liked him in all truth. Perhaps a little too complimentary. An over all nice kid, like Zach and...he assumed, Magenta.

"I'm dreading Medulla's science class. I've heard he's real strict, on grades." Ethan grimaced, as they shared schedules.

"I've got Miss. Galaxy at nine for history, then Mr. Boy."

"Hey cool, we're not separated too much it seems." Zach chimed. "How's Will doin'?"

"Not too well, afraid to say. His dad's 'strict' let's say on all of them, being heroes in his family." Dorian said in between yawns. Not even the slight cold air could keep him awake. Maybe I'll try that dreamcatcher tonight. Grandpa and dad believed they work

"Sounds like a real hardass. I don't know how Will puts up with it." Magenta said, looking with her soft brown eyes.

As the bell rang, Dorian looked about for his journal, to see if anyone had it under their arm somehow. His breath caught in his throat when a hot hand grabbed the back of his white jacket. He could not cry out to his friends, whom were already so far ahead for a hand took hold over his mouth.

He's dragged far away. Until his back makes harsh contact, with the school's brick walls. Far from sight.

It's a struggle not to find Warren Peace's dark brown eyes a threat. His jaw clenched. Unable to muster up even his shield, as he closed his eyes. Bracing as a gloved hand curled into a fist.

"Take it out on me...just don't hurt him."

Warren said nothing. The blow was painful as to be anticipated. Dorian dropped to his knees, coughing and gasping. Tears threatened yet none are shed. He couldn't bring himself to cry in front of someone like Warren.

Fire. Red hot punches continued against his abdomen. At least four times before Warren had enough himself.

He sneered down at his self dubbed enemy. Shook his head and left. Leaving Dorian to pick himself up.