Their Flame {ON HIATUS UNTIL MY WRITER'S BLOCK GETS HIT BY A TRUCK}

Chapter 2: Katrina

After first period, I walk to my next class. Jack walks in right after me. Students begin to enter the classroom and take their preferred seat. Jack sits beside me so I turn and smile at him, waving a little. "I'm Katrina. And I know you're Jack. It's nice to meet you." He grins, "It's nice to meet you too." Then the teacher walks in and I turn back around, grabbing my notebook for the lesson.

***

Third period ends and I head to lunch, sitting at my usual table. There is a nice view of the field where people are usually playing soccer, but it's drizzling today so I just stare at the drops on the window.

I hear a tray hit my table and look at the person who sat down, then I realize it's Jack. "Hi um, I was wondering if I could sit here." He asked me. "Sure, that's fine." I say so he sits down across from me.

We talk a bit, getting to know each other, he tells me how he's never been to a normal school before but has wanted to since he moved to America.

He still has an accent and it suits him. I tell him the names of my favorite books and he says he'll try to read them sometime.

We end up settling back into a comfortable silence until we finish our food. We get up and toss our trash, walking outside to wait for the bell to ring.

As I'm walking, I hear a thump on the ground behind me. I turn around to see Jack on the sidewalk surrounded by Matthew Petterson -captain of the football team- and all his minions.

"So, you're the new kid right?" Jack nods and I bite my lip, this isn't going to end well. "I just wanted to let you know that the new kids don't get left alone. You have to earn your place here, just like everyone else."

Jack tries to get back up but Matthew just pushes him back down. I don't like getting involved in other people's issues but Jack doesn't know how to handle people like Matthew.

So I walk over and stand in front of him. "You guys can leave now. He hasn't done anything so just leave him alone." I say to them. "And why would I listen to you Mute? Speaking of which, this is the first time I've ever heard you speak." He replies.

The Mute thing really sets me off. Yes I'm quiet but no one's going to call me names. "Just leave him alone." I am really fighting the urge to jump on the guy.

"Fine Mute, come on guys, let's go." He says as he and his crew finally leave. I look down at Jack and he looks back at me.

I put my backpack down and grab both Jack's hands, prepared to help him. But as I'm pulling him up something happens.

I can't explain it exactly, but something like a surge of energy flows through me, followed by a burning sensation.

My eyes snap shut and my knees go weak. I want to scream, or cry, or something, but nothing happens except that I fall to the ground.

Jack yanks back his hands and the feeling immediately disappears.

Everything is blurry for a second, but when it clears up I see Jack looking at me, now laying on the ground as well. "What just happened, a-are you ok!?" He asks me.

"I don't know what happened. It... it was almost like something was electrocuting me. And then something burning me." He looks at me, puzzled. "I felt that too."

I try to stand, leaning against a bench, but just fall down again. Jack tries too, and fails. So we help each other sit down on the bench and then he stares at me.

"Are you sure you're good?!"

"Um I'm fine." I say and try to stand again, this time succeeding but on shaky legs.

"Are you sure? I-I don't know what happened."

"I'll be fine." I say with a grin. "But are you ok?"

"Yeah I think I'm good."

Then the bell rings and I grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. I start walking, my movements a bit slower than usual though.

I turn around to see Jack staring at me. "Are you coming or what?" I say to him. I motion for him to follow me and he does. We walk to class together and barely make it, the bell ringing as soon as we walk in. I take my seat and pull out my things.

***

At the end of the day, I get on my bus and head to my house. I'm still debating whether or not to tell my foster parents what happened. I decide I won't as I head inside.

They don't need to worry about me, I'm distant enough. I go to my room and sit at my desk, open my journal and start working on my stories, pen against paper.