4. Celestia

Not edited.

I was burning up. Burning up to such an extent that it felt like every part of my body, deep down to my organs and to my finger tips, everything felt completely ignited and any moment I would just melt and die. I somehow got out of my bed in which I was peacefully taking a nap after school. I felt my clothes sticking on my body due to the immense perspiration I had on account of sudden raised temperatures of my body.

I moved to my bathroom and looked in my mirror. My eyes were bloodshot and my hair were sticking in all random directions. I opened the shower and stood beneath it. Even the water got heated up by my body to such an extent that I could feel cold water on my head and warm on my feet.

I stood there for god knows what time. The cool droplets of water began to calm me down as I spent some time savouring them. After some time it felt that everything had come back to the normal temperatures. It seemed almost fine except for the fact that I felt like I literally was on fire a few minutes ago.

Still, I was feeling sick and and utterly exhausted by the sudden 'incident'.  My body wasn't fine and I knew that because something like this didn't occur on a normal basis. I decided that maybe I should consult the school nurse about it as that was the nearest thing I had as any medical help without the use of money.

I should have told Silena and William but then they would take me to a doctor and spend more money on me. I didn't want that to happen. They were just fosters and after almost one and a half month I'll be eighteen and on my own. I should learn to take care of myself.

I wanted to go back to sleep but I didn't think Silena would like that. So I slowly paced towards Sam's room. His room's door was painted a soothing shade of baby blue. I knocked lightly and opened the door, peeking my head inside. Sam was seated on his desk, doing his math homework. I silently took his surroundings. His room was themed blue and white.

Silena and William were big fans of having multiple colours, they gave me a room which was purple and white while theirs was yellow and cream. Not to mention their living room which was a beautiful crimson and beige.

"Well you look like you were run down by a truck.", Sam commented looking at me.

"Bad dream."

Liar.

"Well then help me up with this...this...ugh.", he said pointing at his book with a disgusted expression on his face. I chuckled. The boy hated math with a passion.

We both worked on it for about an hour. I helped him with his problems and instantly felt good. And for a kid who hated math, Sam was pretty good at it. He understood things quite well. After sometimes we were called for dinner.

I helped Silena setting up the table and then all four of us were seated enjoying the lasagna. I had been to many foster homes, the food there was just fine. But Silena on the other hand was a magician. She had tricks on her sleeve because everything she made was absolutely amazing.

"I love this! It's so yum!", I told her. She gave me a warm smile.

"I'm glad you liked it. So, how was school today? Made any new friends? Cute boys?"

I was reddened by the mention of boys. Even though no one in particular caught my eye at school but since it was Silena, who I had known just for a couple of weeks, had asked me such a question and that made blood rush to my cheeks.

"Well a girl whose name is Ardia, helped me a bit. I also sat with her at lunch."

"Oh that's good. She seems like a nice girl to me.", William commented.

The image of Ardia popped in my head with her rocker chick attire. Yeah, she's definitely not a nice girl.

"Well if you're done with your new kid I would like to tell about this awesome food fight at school today.", Sam said. We all laughed and he told us about the insane food fight which broke out at his school and how they were punched.

I, on the other hand, just felt that warm cuddly feeling, almost bitter sweet in my stomach. It was something I had always craved, a loving family. Where people care about each other. There were people who just took their families for granted. The teenagers grumbling about their strict moms, it just made me feel how ungrateful they are. But I didn't blame them. They had never felt how it was to be unloved or uncared. How it felt to not have a mom who loves you, cherishes you. I didn't even know my mom. I was never able to hear her voice scold me or encourage me.

And then I just sat there, on a table with people who almost cared and boy did I feel like the luckiest person? Because, I did.

But then I felt a bucket of ice water splashed on me as I remembered what happened to me an hour ago.

Maybe I am just over thinking it, I thought. It might never happen again. I gave my self some hope that everything was normal. William looked at me worriedly.

"You fine, Celestia?"

"Yeah, no problem.", I told him.

Sam chided in, "She had a nightmare."

We all went to talk about other random things until we all retired to our rooms. I completed my homework and got my reading done for English. We were doing The Winter's Tale and I was pretty glad because it felt like it was the only play which wasn't as intense to give me a headache.

Even though I loved reading, I wasn't the biggest fan of Shakespeare. When I was small I would run away to the nearby library to escape my stepfather and read books. Those were the bad and grim days.  But now everything around me felt fragile. Beautiful, one reckless move and everything might break.

I decided to skip studying and sleep early. I thought that some good amount of rest would bring my physiology back to normal. With that I switched off my lights and was engulfed by peace.

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I kept on running. Running in the  emerald evergreen forest. Panting and trying to get away. Get away from the big wolves that were trying to probably eat me alive. The dried twigs crunched beneath and light steps as I ran for my life. I felt bright blinding light all around and everything around me caught fire and it was as if I could feel all the tiny leaves and twigs burning. I was engulfed by the fire as well and I screamed, loudly but no one heard.

And then I woke up.

"Oh, this is just getting better and better.", I rubbed my temples and felt the moistness of sweat. I saw the clock on my nightstand and it showed the time to be six in the morning. I decided to get ready early so that I can walk to school today. Maybe fresh air and all will refresh my mind.

I was also hoping that Ardia would talk to me. I mean maybe her friends were good today and she might decide not to even acknowledge me. I really liked that girl and she had that vibe around her which just made me want to jump and dance. And I wanted to befriend her as well and not remain friendless for the entire school year.

Making friends in senior year is difficult. Everyone is so stuck up to the hip and in desperate need to make memories with their friends and all.

After having breakfast with everyone I told William I'd like to walk to school. He asked me to recall the way to him and I did it correctly.

"I don't want you to get lost or something. We will give you Silena's old phone so that you can contact us anytime.", he said.

"Hey! No fair, I want a phone too!", Sam argued.

Silena sighed, "Now Sam, we just discussed this last week. No gadgets yet."

They both argued a bit more but I decided to get going or I would have been late. I wore my coat and wrapped a scarf. November winds were quite chilly this time. I paced briskly on the side path and enjoyed it. There were other kids too and the amazing smell of coffee as I passed the cafes on my way. Little kids with their moms or dads and people going on work. After a few minutes I could see the familiar red building in front of me and I felt excited.

I made my way to the hallway to find my locker. It was a bit far but I found it. I took my books and looked around to find the familiar dark hair and a set of golden eyes which belonged to Ardia, but I couldn't see her. I thought maybe I should just look around for her and say 'hi'. I walked a bit and found her wearing almost everything black. But she was accompanied by a boy. I remembered him from Ardia's caller ID.

I felt a bit nervous. Now, that her friends were back, maybe she won't even acknowledge me. I still took my chances and moved towards them. I could hear them having their conversation because Ardia was too loud. Let's face it, both of them were.

"I'm telling you, you don't understand. Well of course you don't because you're stupid.", she said.

"Shut up! You and your whacko tracker genes!", he retorted.

"Oh for fuck's sake! Where is Ryan I swear... ", she inhaled deeply as if smelling something weird and then looked straight in my direction. She twitched a smile.

"Hey, C! How you're doing?", she waved at me. Everyone around looked at her like she just suddenly had eight legs.

I walked closer and told her, "I'm fine you tell?", I said. Well apart from burning from invisible fire I was completely fine.

The boy gawked at her and smirked, "Did you just behave like you had some manners in you?"

"Fuck off. By the way Celestia, this is Franky", Ardia said pointing at the boy. He had dark hair too but his eyes were grey with dark specks in them.

"The name's Orlando Franklin but just Andy would be fine.", he said and extended his palm. I shook his hand politely.

"Or you may also call him Andy Franky.", Ardia commented.

"Or you may shut up.", he said.

"Well you guys seem like the best of the friends.", I said. And they did. I could tell that they were those kind of best buddies who wouldn't stop bickering till the end of the world but would take a bullet for each other.

"Obviously, or who would befriend this wad.", Ardia rolled her eyes.

"Oh please. We literally grew together.", Andy said explaining me.

"Ardia and Ryan's families were really close to mine. We had been friends and tolerating Ardia since the day we were born.", I noticed he used 'was' but I didn't ask. I wouldn't be too nosy too soon.

"Where is Ryan by the way?", Ardea said as she looked around trying to find this Ryan dude. I had heard his name a couple of times now and I'd like to see him.

"Restroom.", he said giving Ardia a look which I bet meant something completely different with no significance of restroom.

"Well, he's here!", she said motioning Andy. I was facing in the opposite direction and so I turned to look at him.

And damn! He was breathtaking. He had the most beautiful colour of blonde anyone could have for hair. It was dirty blonde edging towards brown more. He was tall and I knew there were a good set of muscles behind that white t-shirt he was wearing followed by a black leather jacket. But apart from anything, the most captivating thing were his eyes. Even though he was far away, I knew they were green. So deep that I could have drowned in them and still feel the most alive.

And he was looking at me. So intensely that I would have melted in his stare. I couldn't understand but he seemed to have a certain pull over me. Like I just wanted to run away to him and never let him leave my side. It was weird and satisfying at the same time.

Then he ran towards me.

And then he hugged.

He hugged me. Like all of a sudden a super cute and handsome boy was hugging me and well who was I to complain because it felt so good. It felt like I was completed.

He took my face in his hands and pressed his lips to mine. My stomach did a judo flip and millions of butterflies erupted. I enjoyed. I enjoyed his touch so much but then it hit me.

It hit me hard. This was wrong I didn't even know him and neither did he  What was he doing to me. I pushed him back with all the strength I had. And it felt as if he had this utterly pained expression on his face like I just turned off his oxygen supply. Well he did mine so yeah, whatever.

"Okay you're hot and all but that's just downright wrong! You can't just shove yourself and kiss a girl like that! Who do you think you are? Well I know, you're an asshole!", I was fuming. Why does all the hot guys have to be complete jerks.

He looked confused at me. He smelled me.

Oh, well he's a weird dogly human as well. Wow!

After he smelled me he looked even more confused if that was even possible. And that made it even more infuriating for me. A look of utter sadness spread across his face and he was trying to withhold all his feelings.

Then he said, "I'm not an asshole. I'm your mate."

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And they meet finally. I had so much fun writing this I hope you had fun reading it as well.

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