The Fire Starter

by Misty Wright

  Beside me, Reid was humming softly as we walked down the stairs and straight to the corridor to our right, where I could already hear voices. That must be coming from the dining hall. I braced myself. Reid coughed, entering the hall with as much confidence as a prince entering his court. I followed wantonly in his stride, hiding myself in vain. Most of the students had noticed me, and someone wolf-whistled. Someone shhh-ed, and another one laughed. There were some noises, but when Reid cleared his throat, everyone fell silent.

  I looked at the circular tables filled with students busy with their food. Had I imagined they were talking about me a minute before? Because they didn't seem interested in my arrival at all. Well, at least most of them, since someone came up to me and sniffed shamelessly. Instinctively, I inhaled deeply, wondering if I smelled. But that's impossible. I never smell. Or if I did, I was pretty sure I didn't smell bad.

  Everything in the hall was normal, just like a typical school. I dreaded the arrival of the mean girls, who I'm pretty sure, would make my life a living hell. I knew that from experience, since I did that to any newcomer in our school. I was one of the mean girls then. And we usually sit at the center of the room where everyone could stare at us freely and we could stare at our dominion without straining our necks. I noticed that Reid was walking ahead of me, and I followed cautiously, looking for the central table where the rulers of this school sat, waiting to devour me.

  But it wasn't a throng of shrieking girls that greeted me. They weren't copy-cats of each other in pink frilly outfits. Instead, they were a group of five, four boys and a girl, all except one looking at me with interest, their eyes curious and inquisitive. But no one looked mean, thank God. Or were they just pretending? Or maybe I'm looking at the wrong table. Reid stopped in front of them and I felt my heart stop beating. Was Reid feeding me to the vultures already on my first day? And I thought he was kind!

  He pulled up a chair and put it beside an empty one, motioning me to take my seat as he sat on the other unoccupied chair. He was on my left, smiling around the table with a patronizing, yet commanding stare. "Everyone, this is Kayleigh."

  "No one told me she was pretty," came the greeting of a black haired boy with a confident smirk on his lips. He was eating what looked like quesadillas, and he winked at me boldly.

  I returned his compliment with a steely smile, one that said I wasn't interested. He smirked even wider and actually chuckled, as if I had made a joke. "I'm Blake, by the way," he introduced himself. Between him and Reid was a boy of about his age sitting scowling for an unknown reason, his plate already empty and his glass almost out of beverage. They looked like twins, with their green eyes and black hair, but Blake's eyes were clearer than those of the one beside him. "This is my cousin, Xander," he introduced.

  The guy called Xander smiled at me wryly, as though it was a burden just to curve his mouth upwards. I smiled back, telling him I knew how he felt. I felt queasy with the presence of so many strangers around me. I could barely recognize myself. When had I begun to start losing confidence in myself? I used to be able to talk to people even when I didn't know them. I shrugged it off, meaning to contemplate it later on.

  Reid pointed at the person sitting beside Blake, a girl with a beautiful face, her long black hair tied in a ponytail high above her head, her face adorned with a mischievous expression. Unlike the other girls I noticed in other tables, she dressed casually in a shirt and pants. And she was devouring what looked like a cheeseburger, abandoning her dinnerware and eating with her bare hands. She waved at me dismissively as she continued to attack her food. "That's Kyle," Reid introduced.

  The girl called Kyle acknowledged me once again with a tip of her head, her mouth full.

  "Kyle? What a cute name for a girl," I commented, trying to be friendly.

  "It's actually--"

  Kyle elbowed the boy sitting beside her, who winced with pain. She gave him a long stare, and then turned to look at me with a wide grin. "It's just Kyle," she clarified. "And this one's Evan."

  Evan was massaging the area where Kyle had elbowed him. He had dark-brown hair that stuck up on ends, messy yet still stylish. His hazel eyes were moist with the onset of pain caused by Kyle's elbow connecting with his ribs. "Hi," he greeted, and then looked beside him. "Since we're introducing each other, this is my brother, Spencer."

  The final boy happened to be sitting beside me, who managed to take his eyes off the book he had been reading to look at me with what looked like a mixture of shock and dread. I looked back blankly, though aware of his brown eyes that danced in the light, his brown hair less messy than his brother's. He also had well-shaped, sinful lips that beckoned anyone to come nearer.

  "Hi," I greeted, suddenly aware that everyone was looking at us, a faint blush creeping on my face.

  "Hi," came his low voice, before he returned to what he was doing. For some unknown reason, I felt put out, my energy drained. But it didn't make any sense.

  "Let's get you some food," Reid offered, standing up already. I stood up after him and saw that a buffet table was setup where the students were filling their plates with anything they fancied. Suddenly, I yearned for cheesecake, my emergency food, the one I always ate when I felt sad--wait, why do I feel sad again? I don't even know.

  Chapter 2 - Outsmarted

  My first night at Draker was rather uneventful, thankfully. After lunch, Reid deposited me back to my room and handed me some papers to sign, then he left me alone to unpack. I reveled in the comfort of the room I would stay in for the school year, and hopefully after that. Every time I heard a noise in the hallway, I dreaded that my parents had already found me and were going to drag me away. But thankfully, there wasn't any knock, and no one disturbed me.

  After unpacking everything, I hopped into bed and slept peacefully, which I rarely do in new places. I hoped this would mean that I was getting used to my new school already.

  The bell woke me up the next day, jolting me awake from a dream I couldn't remember. I groaned, seeing that it was just six thirty. But since I had a class at eight thirty, I figured I should get started preparing. I wouldn't want to be late to my first class.

  By eight fifteen, I was already waiting outside the classroom Reid had pointed out to me to last night. There was no one else around, so I opened my book and studied the lessons, eager to catch up with the other students as quickly as possible. I had never been an honor student, but I prided over being more intelligent than most people at my school. I'm pretty sure I'll do well in this school too. Maybe, with no scheming and backstabbing friends to distract me, I can even make it to the honors list.

  "What's that?" came a baritone voice from somewhere behind me. I looked sideways, only to realize that Spencer was peeking at what I was reading. In that instant, his face was close to mine, his lips dangerously inches away from the corner of my mouth. But he pulled back before I could. I was starting to think that he had something against me, since he clearly didn't want to be anywhere near me. So why was he bothering to chat me up anyway?

  "It's a Physics book," I answered, since it would be rude to flip him off without any reason. It's rude, though he had done it to me the night before. I'm not holding any grudge, really.

  "Do you like Physics?" he asked, his eyes lighting up with interest.

  "Not particularly, but I see that you do," I noted, realizing that his mood has brightened when he heard of the subject.

  He nodded his approval just as the bell rang the time, and the teacher, a squat, elderly man with balding hair walked inside the room along with the students. I sighed deeply, preparing myself for my first class. How different would it be from the classes I had before?

  "Everyone, settle down," the teacher commanded, but most students ignored him. He patiently waited as the students finished speaking animatedly with each other, and then finally talked again. "Alright, go back to your groups; we will have a group discussion today."

  That's the problem when you enter a class two months into the s
emester. You are behind in the lesson, plus you have to raise your hand to tell everyone that you don't have a group yet because well, you had just arrived. "Sir?" I asked, embarrassed already.

  "Yes, Ms. Woodcomb?"

  I was surprised that he knew who I was, considering that he didn't bother looking for me before classes to introduce me to everyone. They must all know me already. "I don't have a group yet."

  "Oh, right. Which group had only two members last time?" The teacher asked the crowd of uninterested students.

  "Us, Mr. Landover," Spencer spoke, raising his hand. "And there are three of us, though I don't know if Asher will actually show up."

  "Right, Ms. Woodcomb, sit with Mr. Michaelis and Ms. Longchamp," the teacher--Mr. Landover--spat.

  Spencer pointed to an empty seat beside him and I noticed the red-haired girl sitting on his other side who was giving me a once-over. I smiled at her, but she didn't return the favor and instead rolled her eyes at me. I sat in the chair offered to me and turned my book to the page the teacher mentioned, listening to him instead of the sensuous voice Ms. Longchamp was using on Spencer.

  "Honey, you need to loosen up a bit," she was saying, her hand snaking its way to his shirt, attempting to unbutton it.

  "Could you take your hands off me, please?" Spencer asked politely. It irritated me that he was politely asking her, though he knew well enough that she wanted him. It was as plain as that. The girl didn't respond, but instead continued trying to unbutton his shirt. Without even looking at her, Spencer reprimanded in a steely voice. "Alice."

  "Alright, alright," was her only answer, irritation evident on her beautiful face. "But you can come to my room later, if you want…" She then whispered something in his ear that I was thankful I couldn't hear.

  Spencer looked scandalized for a second, but he resumed his composed stance and acted like nothing happened. Beside him, Alice had resorted to making small circles on his forearm, trying to catch his attention.

  I couldn't help but snicker at her pathetic personality. She must have heard, since she looked at me with dagger looks, her gray eyes menacing. "Do you have a problem?"

  "Oh nothing," I snorted. "Do continue making a fool of yourself, will you? It's quite entertaining."

  After that, she kept her body--that means all parts of it--to herself and pretended to listen to Mr. Landover drone on and on, but I know deep down that she's planning to kill me already. I glanced beside me to notice Spencer throwing me a curious glance, the ghost of a smile playing on his lips.

  ### "Kayleigh! Wait up!" I turned around to see that Kyle was running towards me. Physics had just ended and though she was my classmate too, she was in a separate group and wasn't able to speak to me.

  I smiled and stopped walking, waiting for her.

  She reached me in no time, though she was panting from exertion. "Is it true?" she asked, her eyes dancing with delight. "Is it true what they say?"

  "What?" I asked, unaware of what she was pertaining to.

  "That you outsmarted that bitch Alice," she whispered the name, but she was more than happy to repeat the word that came before it. We had resumed walking but she was still chanting it repeatedly. Apparently, she liked how it rhymed with the name.

  "Oh, I didn't really outsmart her. I didn't think she was smart anyway," I joked, and Kyle laughed boisterously. "I mean, no smart person would throw herself onto a guy who clearly isn't interested, right?" She nodded, her eyes tearing up from too much laughing. "Anyway, who told you?"

  "Spencer," she answered, gulping down another wave of laughter as we reached the dining table. "You must sit with us and tell us what happened."

  "There really isn't anything to tell…" I trailed as she pulled me to a chair in front of Evan and Spencer, who seemed to be teasing each other good naturedly. When I sat down, both of them straightened up like two children caught red-handed.

  "There she is," Blake shouted, and Kyle shushed him quickly. "So what happened?"

  "I…" I looked at Spencer, seeking rescue. He caught my eye and pursed his lips. I didn't speak, thinking that he didn't want me to.

  Evan and Blake were looking at me with interest, waiting for me to speak. Evan made a cutesy face, which looked adorable, only I was imagining his brother doing it. They looked so much alike that it wasn't hard to mistake one for the other except that Spencer's hair wouldn't be caught in a mess that was Evan's.

  "I don't think we should talk about it," I replied, much to their disappointment.

  "What's happening?" Reid asked just as he sat down with a loaded plate. I forgot that mine was still empty.

  "Nothing," I answered before anyone else could tell on me. I stood up, making an excuse to get my lunch. No one protested and I dashed off to the buffet table, a heavy plate in my hand.

  I didn't notice that someone had come up to me, his shadow blocking my view momentarily. "Thanks for earlier," Spencer whispered, scooping spoonfuls of mashed potato into his plate inconspicuously.

  "For what?" I questioned, not knowing which part of the conversation with or about Alice he was referring to.

  "Alice needs someone who can show her how irrational she is. Thank you for doing it," he clarified.

  "It's nothing," I shrugged. "I just hate people who act like that. They're disgraceful." I winced at the word, since it could have applied to me just a few months ago. But not now, not anymore.

  "Me too," Spencer muttered, already done filling his plate. But he didn't leave yet. He hovered, waiting for me to finish. "Here, you should try this," he took a serving spoon filled with what looked like potato salad and scooped some onto my plate. He had to lean forward across from me to reach the dish, causing his arm to hover in front of me, and I resisted the urge to touch his strong forearms, wanting to know how it felt against my skin.

  "Kayleigh?" I was pulled back from my daydream when he was done spooning the salad to my plate. He was already looking at me curiously. I must have looked like a stupid person, staring at his arm like a zombie.

  "Sorry," I mumbled, turning away from him back to the table. We returned to the table without further ado, and I attacked my food silently, trying to clear my mind off Spencer. But it was hard, since my senses were aware of his movements beside me, and I was straining to smell his cologne. It was an invigorating smell; I stopped myself from leaning over, suppressing all of my instincts.

  How many guys had I seduced before? Countless. But none of them ever resisted. It was all just a game, a game I always won in the end. They were just too hormonal to resist a girl who was giving them the go signal. But Spencer, he was different. He didn't seem interested, not even with Alice who was blatantly telling him to sleep with her. I highly doubt he had any interest in any girls at all.

  "Alice deserved what Kayleigh did earlier," Kyle was commenting, the conversation unforgotten. "I really can't believe you went out with her, Spence."

  That made me cock my head up and look at Spencer with surprise. "Did you really date her?"

  He looked at me quizzically, and I realized I must have asked the question like a possessive girlfriend. "Yes," he answered, causing me to stop breathing for a few seconds.

  That means he does have an interest in girls, and he had liked being with Alice once before. Her innuendoes weren't empty. He had been hers. It was a disgusting sight in my head, one I couldn't comprehend. Thinking how unreceptive he had been, I knew he didn't have any more feelings for her, but the thought of him kissing her in the past made my stomach churn violently. "I think I'm going to be sick."

  "See? Even she's revolted," Blake laughed, a clear, intoxicating laugh to most girls, but highly irritating to me. He had this air of arrogance around him that suffocated me, but he also had this friendly aura that drew me closer. He had an extreme personality, I guess.

  "Guys, give Spencer a break. As intelligent as he is, he commits mistakes too," Kyle guffawed. "But it's over, right?"

  Spencer nodded his head slowly. "Yes, it is."

  Cha
pter 3 - Comfortable

  I sighed at the beauty that was unfolding before my very eyes, with the sun setting in the horizon and the skies changing color. I was supposed to have a class this Friday afternoon, but it had been cancelled due to a teacher's meeting. I looked overhead, the huge full moon greeting me like an old friend, making me sigh with content. I stood just outside the door of the castle, wondering if the bridge was pulled up at night, thinking if I should go out and explore. I needed all the change that this offered.

  I took a hesitant step towards the bridge, then another, and before I knew it, I had already crossed past the moat and reached the land on the other side. I could see the moon being masked by some dark clouds and I walked, trying to find a better view.

  There was a crack; I looked down and realized I had stepped on something, probably a twig, as I walked towards the side of the castle, meaning to see the entrance to the forest at the back. I could already imagine a clear path running inside the forest back up to the road beyond the bushes--a longer, probably winding path--that would ultimately lead outside without having to pass the gates. All around me, everything was already darkening, giving in to a chilly evening. I hugged myself, cursing as I realized I had not put on a warm jacket. The wind was biting at my bare arms and I wasn't even wearing proper boots.

  Maybe I should go back, I thought again. I twirled around, my arms swinging on either side of my small body, eager to get back to the comfort of my room. But that was when I felt something touch my back. Not a physical touch, but I looked around to check, scanning the darkened forest to see if someone was hiding and looking at me. I could feel goosebumps running down my arms and at the base of my neck. From somewhere in the distance, I heard a weird sound, somewhat similar to a howling. I gasped, practically scared. I could feel my own heartbeat quickening and my mind telling me to get to safety. But then again, there was another side of me that wanted to see what it was that had caused the sound. I gingerly took a step forward, looking all around me with extreme caution.