The Chronicles of Fire and Ice_The Revealing Read online

  His hands trembled at his sides. “We should really get back to the party, right?”

  “That party can wait. What happened? Something scared you and something apparently still has you freaked.”

  “You wouldn’t believe me.”

  “Try me.”

  “I think, I think,” he said as he gathered up the nerve. “I think Marcus was making the water heat up.”

  He was right, that did sound crazy. How could a person generate enough heat from their body to heat up a pool?

  But who was I not to believe?

  Was it not I who had their eyes change from brown to blue and back to brown instantaneously? What was going on today?

  “Come on, man, that does sound a little far-fetched,” I said. To be honest I don’t think that Marcus understood what was going on in the pool.

  “I know it does, but…” He stopped mid-sentence and walked off grunting.

  I walked around to the back to find that the party was ending. Marcus was staying at my place tonight so he was leaving with me. I didn’t want to rush him and his conversation with Monica, but I was ready to leave. I grabbed my shirt off the ground, wrung it, and walked past Marcus on my way back to the front of the house.

  “I'll be in the car, Marc,” I said.

  When he finished, he took his time walking to my car and got in. “I'm ready,” he said.

  I sat there for a few minutes in silence staring at nothing. I desperately wanted to ask him about the water. I contemplated real hard and decided to let it go. I started the silent engine and the drive home was the same. We pulled up to my house a little after midnight. Marcus opened his door and got one foot out. I didn’t care anymore I had to know.

  “How did you do it?” I said. My hands tightly gripped the steering wheel for his protection.

  “What are you talking about?” He got back in and closed the door.

  “I saw the water bubbling and Trey said he felt it heat up. Did you feel it too? I mean, Trey looked like he saw a ghost when he looked at your face.”

  “What happened in the bathroom today?” he snapped back.

  “Really? Really?” My hands gripped tighter, taking my frustration out on the steering wheel.

  “So it’s fine for you to interrogate my life, but when it comes to yours, it becomes an issue?”

  “Just tell me.”

  “You sound real crazy at the moment. How do you expect to believe that I made water heat up and boil?” He got out of the car and my shoulders shuddered as the door slammed.

  Once he said it out loud, it sounded insane but my eyes didn’t lie. I didn’t want to dwell on it. I dismissed it and followed him into the house.

  “You hungry?” I offered as a truce.

  With me following him towards the stairs, he said, “Bro, am I not always hungry?”

  I rerouted to the kitchen and grabbed some munchies then headed up to my room. As I walked through the door, Marcus was bent over picking up papers and books from the floor.

  “Looks like you left your window open. Wind must have knocked some things over,” he said.

  Dazed, I stared at the window. “My window wasn’t open.” I went half-crazy for a moment because I was positive I closed my window this morning. I walked over to the window and looked out. I'm on the second floor so it wasn’t like someone from outside could open it.

  “No wind.” I stuck my hand out the window for a second.

  “What’s that?”

  “Marc, there’s no wind tonight and hasn’t been any all day.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.” He looked at me with one eyebrow raised.

  I closed the window and Marcus headed to the guest room. I turned the lights off and hopped in the bed. I closed my eyes.

  What a weird day, I thought to myself.

  Chapter 4

  Decisions

  The following Monday when we returned to school, everybody gave us funny glares like we had spinach in our teeth as we walked through the crowded halls, more so focused towards Marcus than me. It felt as if we were a caged freak show at a circus, and people were waiting for us to do something weird and unexplainable: Meet Marcus, the kid who can increase his body temperature at will, and Dylan, the kid who can randomly change eye colors.

  I laughed at the scenario as it ran through my head.

  Walking over with her posse of brainwashed blondes, Jessica said, “Hey, freak.”

  Marcus killed her smile with one look. She turned and reached for a hug, but I threw a hand up. I was exhausted from telling her about her unwelcoming behavior.

  “Apologize,” I calmly said to her.

  She barked, “Sorry, Marc,” like he was a disobedient dog.

  My body went numb, temper rising.

  “It’s Marcus,” he whispered, eyes focused on the books in his hands. He always said she had a deadly stare like Medusa. She looked at me wide-eyed for instant approval and shrugged. I crossed my arms and squinted my eyes with a stare so cold it could freeze the sun over. She let out an aggravated sigh and turned back around to Marcus.

  “Marc, Macchiato, it’s all the same.” She glanced at me, my expression unchanged. “Sorry, Marcus.” She threw her hands into the air as she forced the two words from her lips.

  “Forget about it,” Marcus said. She turned back to me and walked over slowly.

  “Now, hug?” She shrugged with an accomplished grin.

  She gave me the sad puppy-dog face. Like the Poison Ivy she was, I gave in. I cracked a smile and slowly opened my arms. She crashed into my chest and snuck a peck on my cheek. She pulled away slightly and caressed my face, gently making circles on my cheeks with her thumbs. Her smooth skin caused me to vibrate whenever she touched me. She reached and gave me a kiss on the lips. I could taste the strawberry flavored Chapstick as her lips pressed lightly against mine. A tingly sensation ran through the inside of my body as my ankles got weaker and weaker. Her kisses had me under a spell once again.

  “Catch you in class.” I heard Marcus say as he and Jessica’s friends walked off in opposite directions.

  She continued to kiss me as she ran her fingers through the hair on the back of my head.

  “I love you,” she whispered slowly in my ear.

  She leaned away from me leaving one hand on my chest while the other rested on my back. I knew she wanted me to say it back, but my feelings paralyzed my lips. She leaned back a little more and cocked her head slightly to the side. She gradually approached my face.

  “Jessica,” I said. Her face was hypnotized. I’d seen that look before.

  “How’d your eyes get blue?” Jessica asked.

  She reached in for my face. I swiftly turned away from her. I buried my face into my hands. I wanted to cry. I can’t believe this was happening to me again, I thought. I had no answer for my eyes changing colors. I didn’t know where to even begin to search for the answers or why this was even a question.

  She repeatedly cried my name and tugged on my shirt. I snapped backed around once I heard the sound of metal clinging together. Jessica stood there facing me, silent, looking right through me.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  “It—it was the lock—locker,” she stuttered.

  “Why did you slam the locker?” I demanded.

  “I didn’t.” Her voice shuddered. We both stared at the locker. Confused by everything, I just kept repeating how.

  “Dylan,” Jessica called out, pulling me back into reality. She gave me this look of fear and remorse, as if she wanted to save me from whatever.

  “I have to go, Jessica. I'm going to be late for class.” I started to sprint off but was stopped when her hand interlocked with mine.

  “Let me walk with you,” she cried.

  She walked me to class and hugged me tightly at the door like she would never see me again.

  “Dylan,” she smiled. “Your eyes are brown.”

  I turned around and walked into class right as the bell rung.

  Marc
us snorted when I took my seat. He leaned over the side of his desk and whispered, “We’re in for a long day.”

  I opened my book and zoned out, focusing on the dirty chalkboard. “I think I want to break up with Jessica?” I didn’t know what possessed me to say those words, but I said them like I needed his approval. I faced him, his dark eyes expanded and he was quick to respond.

  “I support you one hundred percent. This is one subject I'm not going to argue with you about. But can I ask why? Why now? Why not, oh I don’t know, three years ago?”

  “I think we’re just growing apart. She plans on going to school in Ohio and me, well, I have no clue where I’m going.”

  I smirked because he was right. Why not three years ago? A part of me does like her and wants to be with her, but the other side is telling me that she’s just a little girl with a nasty, spoiled personality.

  “I've been putting some thought into it and to be honest, she just isn’t doing anything to better me like Monica is for you.”

  “Whoa, time out.” His hands formed a “T” across his chest. “What does Monica have to do with this? We’re just friends,” Marcus said firmly.

  We must have forgotten where we were because the teacher stopped and stared at us, as well as the class. We straightened up for a moment and then went back at it.

  “Well you two being friends is a better relationship than Jessica and I as a couple. I guess you can say that I wish we had whatever it is you two have,” I said.

  I guessed my comment triggered something in him because he buried his eyes in his book. I did the same and tried to follow along with the lesson but my mind was scattered on Jessica, college, and being a freak.

  “Wait until after prom,” Marcus whispered as he wrote in a notebook.

  I turned to him. “What?”

  “Don’t dump her until after prom. You won’t have time to find a new date and coordinate everything together.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at his thoughtful suggestion. Here he was telling me to practically save his archenemy from embarrassment. Although I really didn’t care at that moment, I understood where he was coming from. Class was over and we rushed into the non-stop traffic in the hallways.

  “It’s a good decision,” Marcus said over all the noise.

  “Which one? The decision to break up with her or the decision to do it after prom?”

  “Well, both,” he laughed.

  “Move it, shrimp,” Big Mike yelled as he walked by and slammed his shoulder into Marcus. He caught himself before he face planted on the floor.

  “Big Mike!” I turned around and yelled, throwing both my arms into the air.

  “Dylan, Aye, I’ll catch you later.” Big Mike ran off.

  “You OK?” I asked Marcus.

  “I’m fine.”

  We got to our lockers to exchange books.

  “Catch you at lunch,” I said as I headed to my next class.

  I took a seat and got settled before the bell rang. The class size was small compared to my others. People only took this class for one of two reasons: they really love chemistry, like myself, or were proactive about their college credits. I threw on my lab coat and goggles and went to the table with my lab partner. I felt like a professional superhero every time I wore them.

  Time flew and before I knew it, class was dismissed. As I walked out the door, I spotted Trey from a distance. I hadn’t spoken to him since Friday night.

  “Trey,” I yelled out. “Trey!”

  He turned around, caught glimpse of me, and sped off. I shuffled my way through, bumping into everyone as I raced to catch him.

  “We need to talk.” I grabbed his bag slung over his shoulder.

  “I have to get to class.” Trey resisted.

  “Not until you talk to me.” I grabbed his shoulders and spun him around.

  “Fine, just not now,” he said, avoiding eye contact.

  “When?”

  “Free period. Meet me at the outside eating area.” He walked off and didn’t look back. I’ve never seen a big jock like Trey so terrified.

  “Hey, is everything OK, Dylan,” Monica asked. She startled me a bit. “When did you start wearing contacts?”

  My hands flew to my temples like a magnetic attraction. “Ahh! Stupid migraines.”

  “Do you have your migraine medicine? I can walk you to the nurse if you like.”

  “No and no thanks.”

  She pulled out a half empty bottle of water and some Tylenol from her purse. “Here, take this and take it easy.”

  “Thanks, Monica.”

  “I’ll walk with you to class. Where you headed?”

  “To the theater.”

  My head felt like a jackhammer going to work. The pain was excruciating and it felt like my temples were about to burst. I walked the whole way with my eyes closed to avoid any light. We walked into the theater and she sat me down in the audience. Heading towards the stage, Monica called out the theater teacher, Mr. Felt.

  “Dylan’s not feeling well, Mr. Felt. He just needs a little rest and he will be fine,” she reassured him.

  “Mr. Perry should be in an infirmary, not my theater,” Mr. Felt shouted. His thick British accent flooded the theater. Monica walked back towards me, gathered her things and made her way to the exit.

  “Thanks,” I whispered, still with my hands on my head.

  The whole class was on the stage practicing some improvisations for the day. Everyone who has taken an acting class with Mr. Felt knew that improvisations were the most entertaining part of his class.

  Mr. Felt was kind enough to allow me to sit in the audience and watch until I felt better. I attempted to get up but with every slight movement, my head pounded a little harder. Might as well rest my eyes while I sit here, I said to myself. I slumped down in my seat, closed my eyes and soon found myself struggling to stay awake. Minutes later, I fell asleep.

  “Dylan … Dylan … wake up, sleepy head.”

  I woke up surrounded by my classmates, poking at me like I was a frog being dissected.

  “You were snoring, Dylan.” Someone said.

  Lies. I don’t snore.

  “Loud.” Another person added in.

  OK. Maybe I did.

  My eyes blinked repeatedly until my vision came into focus. “Is class over yet?”

  “Yes, I'm sorry I failed to entertain you today, Mr. Perry,” Mr. Felt called out, looking down at me from the stage.

  I stopped at the vending machine and got a drink before heading outside. I took a seat and waited for Trey to show up. I shot him a quick text to let him know that I was waiting, but I got no response and felt I was being sent on a wild goose chase. I waited for a little while then called him.

  “Trey, where are you?” I yelled through the phone.

  “Something came up. I can’t make it. Can we talk at a later time?”

  “Sure.”

  I hung up. I was getting slightly aggravated. With all that took place today, I just wanted to relax and eat. I went back in the Cafe, grabbed a plate of food and took a seat alone at one of the benches. At least I thought I was going to sit alone, until someone walked up and put their tray down in front of me.

  Jessica was there when I looked up from my plate.

  “You look tired, Dill Pickle.”

  “Head is killing me. Left my pills at home,” I mumbled.

  “So, I was talking to the girls this morning and they were telling me how Macchiato was acting all crazy and weird and stuff at the party. I even heard him and Trey aren’t even friends anymore.” She smiled wide, her eyes gleaming. She leaned in waiting for me partake on the latest Poughkeepsie Senior High gossip.

  She continued rambling. I tried my best to ignore her. All I could hear was blah, blah, blah. Before she could get another meaningless word out her mouth, I interrupted her.

  “—Do me a favor.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Stop listening to your friends.”

  “I don’t
know what is going on with you lately, Dylan, but I suggest you fix it and it better be before prom.”

  Her eyes slit, skin wrinkled at the corners of her eyes and mouth tight all around. Our neighboring table turned to spy on us. I paid them no attention. She got her tray and stormed off. I picked at my food for a little bit and got up.

  “Leaving so soon?” Diana asked. “Looks like you’ve seen better days. Mind if I sit with you?”

  “No, go ‘head,” I said, putting my tray back down.

  “What’s on your mind, Dill Pickle? I just saw Jessica storm out of here like she was trying to catch a sale at Gucci.”

  “Who you going to prom with.” I laughed and finally gained my appetite back.

  “Sorry, Dylan, I already have a date. You’re stuck with the Wicked Witch of Poughkeepsie.”

  “So with who then?”

  “Well, as you know I got many offers, but I decided to let Rich take me.”

  “Rich. I really haven’t talked to him since—”

  “Since you left the basketball team.”

  “Yeah since then.”

  Her fork played around with the food on her plate. “Why’d you quit? You were great at it.”

  “Long story. Can we save it for a rainy day?”

  “Sure. We can make it a date.” She giggled as she reached out for my hand.

  “Your hands are a little rough,” she said.

  “So why are you still holding on to them?” I asked. She quickly snatched her hand back.

  “So, Monica and Marcus going to prom together?”

  “From my understanding, yes.”

  “Well I did hear him say Friday night that they were just friends, so fair game?”

  “I have to go, take it easy, Diana.”

  I walked back to the building. I honestly didn’t know what her sudden interest in Marcus was or what her plans would be if she actually got him.

  At the end of the day I met Marcus at my car and we picked up our little brothers.

  “How was school, guys?” I asked as they hopped in the back seat.

  “Boring,” Elias said.

  “OK,” Dalton chimed.

  “What are you two, robots?” Marcus asked. “Can we get more than a one word answer? Don’t forget to drop me off at work, Dylan.”