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The Adventures of Teenage Weirdos II |
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"Opening your eyes is one thing; but actually seeing with those open eyes is another."
"So, Ryan..." Ashley stopped to clear her chest outside of their shared English class. The cold winter air made its way up her spine, but she managed to add, "What did you want to talk about?"
Ryan rubbed the back of his head, nervous. Ashley loved how it was easy to tell he was uneasy: the downward look, the blush, the tap of his toe. Nothing was hidden, and he openly expressed his feelings.
"Well... I was just wondering if you were busy this Saturday. Do you have any plans?"
Ashley's face felt red. "I, um... no, not that I know of."
Then, out of the corner of her eye, Ashley caught the eye of her arch-enemy: Rafael. Rafael Sisneros. The taller boy (about six three) looked at her, and Ashley's light brown eyes shifted back to Ryan. If she had let her eyes linger, she would've noticed Rafael hadn't changed the direction of his head.
The Sisneros boy was Ashley's ex-boyfriend: her only ex-boyfriend. Her first in everything. Kiss, boyfriend, hold her hand, enemy. Everything like that. But he was the one who broke it off, (over the phone, no less!) and Ashley had to admit she was broken for months. She was long over him now, but sometimes the past just came to haunt her, like now. And she was still very bitter about everything, though she tries hard to contain her hurt.
"Ashley? Are you okay?"
Ashley snapped back to Ryan, and she stuttered out, "Oh, no! I'm perfectly fine, sorry. I was dazing out."
"No, it's all right. So, how about a movie this Saturday at seven?"
That's when Ashley felt it: the orb. It was warm -very warm, and it was getting very hot. And within a second, it was scorching, and Ashley yelped in pain.
"I, um, sorry Ryan! I have to go!" And Ashley ran off towards the bathrooms, leaving Ryan with a look of perplexity and hurt.
"You stupid thing..." Ashley muttered. Her hands were starting to get numb from the cold water of the sink. And despite all the coldness, the orb was still burning! "What the hell is wrong with you?"
The sound of footsteps caught her ear, when a voice came from outside.
"Ashley." Said girl stiffened. It was Rafael. "Ashley, you there?"
Ashley realized he couldn't see her from the doorway of the restroom. "Yeah. What do you want?" she held back the harshness of her snarl.
He seemed to feel the ugly tone of her voice. "Hey, I'm only asking because you practically screamed back there with Ryan. And here I am, worried if you're hurt, and you bark at me?"
Ashley took the liberty of feeling bad. "...sorry. I'm fine, just cooling off." Literally. Ashley reached down to the retrieve the orb, and immediately snapped her fingertips back: the orb was engulfed in flames! Ashley was thrown back in shock, as she half-yelled, "Oh my God!"
Her call was only heard by the person outside. Rafael came running in, despite the gender of this particular restroom.
"What?! What happened?"
Ashley pointed to the small stream of smoke coming from the sink regardless if Rafael was someone who wanted an orb. Apparently he wasn't, as he almost automatically went to her first instead of the blazing sphere in the water. He bent down to her level, and asked, "You okay?" in which she gave a nod in response.
"What the hell is that?"
"A-An orb, you dumb*ss."
"I known that, but what kind, stupid?"
Ashley glared at him for calling her stupid, but then she replied with, "I don't know! Find out yourself!"
The boy took her advice, and stood. Mustering the courage, Rafael dove his hand into the water, and suddenly, the entire room was enveloped in smoke and steam. Ashley coughed, and the sound of Rafael's normal hacking told her he wasn't dying. As the gases cleared through the vents and the doors, Ashley's eyes examined her ex.
"Woah," sounded from the boy.
Ashley's eyes widened at the sight before her. Her orb had stopped burning, and now was giving off a mellow glow in Rafael's palm. She blinked before standing, and asking angrily, "What did you do?"
"Nothing! I just grabbed it, and suddenly it just freaking released some steam, and now it's glowing!" Rafael defended. "And why the hell do you, of all people, have an orb? Aren't these things expensive?"
Now it was Ashley's turn to get defensive. "Hey! My mother's friend gave it to me!" Ashley lied, "And besides, why is it glowing in your hands when it was just fine this morning?"
"Because the orb accepted him."
Ashley turned, and sighed in relief when it was only Vladimir. If anyone else came in, it would be trouble. But why was he there?
"Vladdi... why are you here?"
Vladimir didn't say anything before standing before Rafael. The older-looking man gave the boy a good look: walking around him, tilting his chin, lifting his arms, and just giving him an overall. By the time he was done, the bell had already rung, but the intense look in Vladimir's eyes were enough to keep both teens rooted in place.
"I see..." Vladimir closed his eyes, then smiled warmly. "That's why the orb chose you to protect Ms. Ashley."
Ashley could have sworn Rafael's jaw dropped slightly. Before the boy could argue, Vladimir continued.
"Rafael Sisneros, correct?" Vladimir didn't wait for an answer, "By the power invested in me, I decree that you have been granted the Orb of Fire: to be true, fiery, and warm, but, in return, you must protect the keeper of the Orb of Judgement," the ogre gestured to her, "Ashley Smith."
And this time, her jaw dropped as well as his.
 Ukeire · Sat Jan 31, 2009 @ 11:11am · 0 Comments |
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