Aura turned to look at him, drawn by the rare sincerity in his voice; even his usual grin had faded, leaving behind something surprisingly vulnerable. His expression defeated all the resistance she had.
"…We can be friends," she muttered, clearly reluctant but honest.
Fenix's face lit up with pure joy. Without hesitation, he threw his arms around her, knocking her off balance, back on her bed.
"Thank you!" he said, laughing and squeezing her tighter.
Aura shoved him away with a scowl. "That's enough hugging for now. Let go of me, you moron!" she snapped.
But Fenix just laughed harder and nuzzled his cheek against hers.
"I've never had a friend before," he said, almost too cheerfully.
"I can see why!" Aura growled, twisting and pushing at him more aggressively now, her cheeks tinged red with both embarrassment and irritation.
A month of this friendship slipped by faster than either of them had expected.
Despite Aura's prickly exterior, she and Fenix had become—undeniably—close. Anyone with eyes could see it.
"Good morning, sweetie!" Fenix called out, leaning casually against the hallway wall as he spotted Aura leaving her room. He was waiting to walk her to class, which had become their routine.
Aura's expression twisted in horror. "How many times have I told you not to call me that?! You're so annoying..."
Fenix tapped his chin, pretending to think hard. "Let's see... this makes it around... hmm... twenty-six times now?"
Aura stomped up to him, stood on the balls of her feet, her face inches from his. To glare at him and say, "And you still have the audacity to say it anyway!?"
He stared into her furious eyes, biting back a laugh, his grin wide and playful.
With a sigh of exasperation, Aura turned away. "You're... Unbelievable," she muttered, no fight left in her voice, and marched toward class.
"You look pretty today," he added casually, bouncing along beside her.
Aura swung a fist at him without even looking, a reflex because of her embarrassment. Fenix dodged like a pro, laughing.
"Ha-ha!"
"Don't give me empty flattery, shut up, and go straight to hell!" she snapped.
"You say that every day like it's your personal mantra," he teased.
Aura scoffed, eyes forward. "It is—when I'm talking to you."
Fenix clutched his chest dramatically. "Oof. Brutal."
They entered the classroom together. Despite the month that had passed, their classmates still gawked. Seeing Aura with anyone, let alone someone she seemed to tolerate, was nothing short of shocking.
"Aura, I had the weirdest dream," Fenix said, plopping into the seat next to hers. "Wanna hear it?"
Aura said nothing, but her lack of refusal was an invitation enough.
"I dreamt that you initiated a hug with me."
Aura froze for half a second, a faint blush brushing her cheeks. "That'll never happen," she said, quickly turning her face away. But oddly enough, the idea didn't bother her as much as it used to. She even felt faintly curious about it now, though her pride wouldn't let her admit it.
"And then I was so moved by your affection... we got carried away. Before I knew it, we were naked, and you were saying stuff like, 'Yes!~ Harder, Fen—'"
"WHAT KIND OF DREAM WAS THIS?!" Aura shrieked, face exploding into full crimson.
Fenix burst into uncontrollable laughter, tears in his eyes. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"
Aura smacked his hand away, flustered beyond belief. "Yeah, you better be. You're not allowed to dream about me ever again!" she muttered, furiously rubbing her cheeks.
Moments later, Ms. Emerald strode into the classroom with her usual dead-eyed disgust.
"Good morning... You detestable wastes of space," she announced.
Half the class got up and left right then. They weren't willing to take her verbal abuse today.
Once the room had settled and only the brave and studious remained, she began distributing graded papers.
"Excellent work as always, Aura," she said dryly. "But don't delude yourself—just because you can regurgitate knowledge onto a sheet of paper doesn't mean you're any less of a worm than the rest of this class... You will never amount to anything; no one in this school will."
Aura clenched her jaw. She was used to Emerald's venom, but that didn't mean it didn't sting.
The teacher then handed Fenix his paper.
"Remarkable work," she said, with an almost admiring tone. "I'll refrain from insulting you today... since ... you're cute."
Fenix gave her a sharp, sarcastic salute. "Thank you, ma'am."
As soon as she turned her back, he crumpled the paper and lobbed it into the trash.
"Creepy bitch," he muttered darkly.
Aura chuckled under her breath, a rare smile tugging at her lips. Even Fenix couldn't stay all smiles when dealing with someone as chaotic as Ms. Emerald.
At 4 PM, it was time for MMA. Combat Class.
"Alright, who's first?" Janx barked, pacing back and forth.
Aura and Fenix raised their hands at the same time and turned to smirk at each other like two rivals who couldn't wait to clash.
"Of course. The usual suspects," Janx sighed. "You other cowards could learn a thing or two."
He gestured them to the field.
Fenix loosened his tie and tucked it into his vest, rolling up his sleeves to get comfortable for their match. Aura slipped out of her uniform with efficient grace, revealing her sports bra and spandex shorts underneath.
They took their places.
"And... begin!" Janx announced,
They collided with such force that the shockwave rippled through the room. Students stumbled back. Janx didn't flinch.
Aura struck first, throwing fast and ferocious punches—but Fenix moved agilely. Somehow dodging each attack with acrobatic ease. When she swept low, aiming for his legs. He flipped backward, barely missing the blow, and returned with a sharp mid-kick to her ribs.
Aura brought her guard up just in time to deflect it.
Their exchange went on, the fight gradually became faster and fiercer... until finally:
"Time's up!" Janx called. "It's a tie. Zero points each."
Both stood panting, flushed, grinning at one another, and satisfied.
"That was fun," Fenix said with a tired but contented smile. He straightened his clothes like nothing had happened.
Aura wiped sweat from her brow and got dressed in silence. They were allowed to leave since their spar was complete. Aura left first, and Fenix followed her out with his hands folded behind his head, eyes turned up toward the ceiling.
"Alright! Who's next?" Janx yelled.
Their classmates, now less intimidated, stepped forward enthusiastically.
Once they were out of earshot of everyone else, Fenix asked,
"Aura, can I hang out in your room until next period?" As they walked.
She paused before answering. "...There's not much to do in my room."
"I know," he said with a grin. "But it's quiet... and when I'm with you, I'm not bored."
Aura's cheeks flushed pink. She kept her head low so her hair could hide it.
"Alright... just don't make a mess."
Without warning, Fenix hugged her shoulders from behind. "Thanks," he whispered.
Aura reacted instantly, her hand swiping through the air with a growl. "I've told you—no touching!"
She slapped her cheeks, trying to calm her blush. Spotting her door ahead, she ducked out of his arms and bolted for it.
"I can't help it," Fenix called out from behind, laughing. "You're just too huggable!"
"Silence!" She demanded,
"You're so warm," he added teasingly.
"Silence!" she repeated, fumbling with the key in her shaky hands.
"And really soft." He whispered.
He was behind her again, too close. Both of their hearts were racing with anticipation. He leaned forward, wanting to nuzzle her cheek, but as soon as his skin brushed hers, a soft sizzle crackled through the air.
Aura gasped, recoiling with a cry. "Ahh!"
She touched her cheek, skin tingling and lightly burned.
Consideration for her own pain vanished when she saw his face, though. Fenix looked horrified, more shaken than she'd ever seen him. "I... I'm sorry," he whispered, trembling. "I didn't mean to— I thought I was getting better... I thought I was under control, but I hurt you. I burned you. I burned my only friend. I shouldn't be around anyone! Even though I—I really like you, I still—"
Aura slapped him, not hard, but firm enough to stop his spiral and get his attention.
"Hey. We're friends, right?" She asked, holding his cheeks and forcing him to look into her eyes.
He nodded slowly, ashamed.
"Then do you know what that means?" Aura inquired, her eyes fierce.
He shook his head no.
"It means no matter what happens—no matter what—as long as I'm alive, I'll forgive you. Always. Got that?" Aura declared passionately. She meant what she said, not wavering at all in her resolve at that moment.
Fenix's eyes widened. His breath caught. Then a real, honest smile spread across his face—something soft and radiant, deeper than his usual grin.
"Thanks, Aura…" he said, barely above a whisper. His eyes moistened as if he was close to tears.
Aura grabbed his hands. He stiffened, heat rising in surprise. His temperature spiked, but she didn't let go, even though she felt it searing her skin. Aura wouldn't make him experience the same despair again that night.
It hurt, but she didn't let it show and stayed still.
"You're not hurting me," she whispered.
Not with this. A few burns were nothing compared to the heartache that came with seeing his sadness.