It was a waste

Nyla's room was exactly what I expected organized chaos. The walls were painted a deep crimson that seemed to absorb the dim light of the room, giving it an otherworldly, cozy glow.

Posters of bands I didn't recognize lined one side, their dramatic poses and sharp fonts screaming edgy rebellion.

On the other side, shelves crammed with books of all sizes and colors leaned precariously, threatening to topple at any moment.

There was a desk by the window, cluttered with open notebooks, pens, and an empty cup that probably once held coffee.

Her bed was a four-poster monstrosity, draped with gauzy black curtains and piled with mismatched pillows. A single stuffed bat sat perched in the middle of the chaos, its beady eyes glaring judgmentally at me.

"Welcome to my lair," Nyla said with a dramatic flourish, collapsing onto her bed and spreading her arms like she owned the world. "What do you think?"

"It's... very you," I said honestly, stepping carefully over a pile of clothes on the floor.

"That's what everyone says," she replied, grinning. "Come on, sit down. Spill the tea. How was your first day at high school?"

I hesitated for a moment before sitting cross-legged on the edge of her bed. The mattress sank slightly under my weight, and I picked at the edge of a throw blanket as I tried to gather my thoughts.

"It was... eventful," I began cautiously.

Nyla raised an eyebrow, her fanged smile widening. "Eventful? That's vague. Details, Ren. I need details."

"Well, the classes were intense," I started, keeping my tone neutral. "And the teachers are... interesting."

"Interesting how?"

"One's literally crazy and makes poison in front of her students. Another doesn't care about injuries during training. Oh, and my fire magic might've accidentally set someone on fire during a fight."

Nyla's laughter erupted, filling the room with its sharp, musical sound. "Ren, you've been there one day and you've already set someone on fire? Classic."

"It wasn't on purpose!" I protested, though a small smile tugged at my lips.

"Sure, sure," she said, waving me off. "So, what else happened? Did you make any friends? Or, you know, mortal enemies?"

I hesitated again, my mind flicking to Mirra, the chaotic potion class, and the group of girls I'd met. And then... Xyra.

"Well," I said slowly, "there's this one girl who's kind of... intense."

Nyla's eyes narrowed, her predatory instincts clearly kicking in. "Define intense."

"Uh, you know, the usual," I said, trying to sound casual. "She's strong. Competitive. A little—"

"A little what?" Nyla pressed, leaning forward slightly.

"Just... a lot," I finished lamely.

Nyla's eyes locked onto me like a hawk spotting prey. She sniffed the air once, her brow furrowing slightly. "Ren," she said, her tone turning suspicious. "Why do you smell like someone else?"

"What?" I asked, my stomach dropping.

"You've got someone's scent on you," she said, sniffing again like it was the most natural thing in the world. "It's faint, but it's there. Someone's been really close to you today."

I froze, heat creeping up my neck and settling in my cheeks. "Uh... no idea what you're talking about."

Nyla's grin returned, this time sharper and far too knowing. "Ren Khasar, are you holding out on me? Did someone get really close to you today?"

"No," I said quickly, but my voice cracked slightly, betraying me.

"Oh my god," Nyla said, sitting up straight. "Someone kissed you, didn't they?"

"What?! No! I—"

"Someone kissed you!" she practically shrieked, her eyes wide with glee. "Ren, spill! Who was it? What happened? Oh my god, was it that intense girl you were just talking about?"

I buried my face in my hands, groaning. "Nyla, it's not a big deal."

"It's a huge deal!" she shot back, crawling closer to me on the bed. "Who was it? Tell me everything!"

I peeked at her through my fingers, her excitement infectious despite my embarrassment. With a heavy sigh, I mumbled, "It was during a fight. And yes, she kissed me. But it wasn't romantic or anything. It was just a distraction tactic."

Nyla's jaw dropped. "A distraction tactic? That's... wild."

"I know," I said, my voice muffled by my hands.

"Wait," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Who was it? Was it someone I know?"

"Her name's Mirra," I admitted reluctantly. "She's... something."

Nyla burst into laughter, flopping back onto the bed dramatically. "Ren, you've got the most chaotic life. A fight kiss? Only you."

"It's not funny!" I protested, though a small smile tugged at my lips.

"Oh, it's hilarious," she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "But hey, congrats on your first kiss, I guess?"

"It doesn't count," I said quickly. "It was a waste. If anything, it's just annoying."

"A waste?" Nyla repeated, sitting up again. "Why would you say that?"

I hesitated, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest. The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

"Because the only person I'd want to kiss is Xyra."

The room went silent. Nyla stared at me, her mouth opening and closing like she was trying to find the right words.

"Ren," she said finally, her voice slow and deliberate. "Did you just say you want to kiss Xyra?"

My cheeks burned, and I avoided her gaze. "I mean... hypothetically."

"Hypothetically?" she repeated, her voice rising an octave. "Ren, are you out of your mind? Xyra? The ice queen who literally bullies people for fun? That Xyra?"

I groaned, flopping onto the bed and burying my face in a pillow. "I know it's a bad idea, okay? I'm not saying it makes sense!"

"It doesn't make any sense!" Nyla exclaimed, gesturing wildly. "She froze my hair, Ren. My hair! She's a menace!"

"She's not that bad," I mumbled into the pillow.

"Not that bad?" Nyla repeated, her voice dripping with disbelief. "Ren, she's the definition of bad! She's mean, arrogant, and—"

"Cool," I said before I could stop myself.

Nyla groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "Oh my god, you've got it bad. Ren, this is worse than I thought."

"I don't have it bad," I said defensively, sitting up. "I just... think she's interesting, okay? And maybe a little... mysterious."

"Mysterious?" Nyla said, raising an eyebrow. "Ren, she's not mysterious. She's just rude. There's a difference."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know. I know it's stupid. But I can't help it. She's... different."

Nyla stared at me for a long moment before shaking her head. "You're hopeless," she said finally. "Completely and utterly hopeless."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I said dryly.

She laughed, nudging me with her elbow. "Hey, don't worry. I'll be here to knock some sense into you when Xyra inevitably breaks your heart."

"Comforting," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Anytime," she replied, grinning.

Despite the teasing, I couldn't help but feel a little lighter. Even if my feelings were a mess, at least I had Nyla to keep me grounded.