-Nine chapters, nine moments, nine simple contemplations.

Some chapters will be short, some will be long. All are different moments that in the end form a story between the two poor souls.

-Norse mythology recognized nine realms of existence. Eight of the realms were embodiments of opposites: fire and ice, heaven and hell, creation and destruction, and light and darkness. These realms all converged on the center realm where humans lived out their lives.-

Part 1 Fire

There was an undeniable fire the two shared. Everyone could distinguish it. But the beholders… they just denied it. Even if it was a subtle shove, or an under-the-breath remark that made the fire, it was also the way his eyes danced when they saw her.

And the way hers did the same.

Neither would ever admit having any attraction to the other one, and they always denied it to themselves. But the eye language said more than any words would ever.

Words weren't a necessity between the two of them. They could communicate through their eyes; a talent neither one recognized.

It was the fire that burned to the very core in both of them that kept their motivation going. It was the quickened heart beat- the head spinning, and altogether the sudden flushed face.

Of course it was all blamed on loathing.

Not any type of attraction. Oh of course not.

His arm brushed up against hers, and it suddenly felt on fire. In her mind she claimed it was because he had some lethal disease on it- but in the back of her head she really didn't mind that blazing feeling that shot throughout her entire body.

In fact, she enjoyed this burning fatal disease.

He was the fire.

Her cheeks would turn a bright shade of red but she blamed it on the weather.

The only problem was that it was only 70 degrees, if that…

"What are you so dressed up for?" Her voice had hints of sarcasm but behind it all, she was sincerely curious. In some sort of out of body state she felt.

"My hot date tonight," he replied. Everyone else around the table groaned, but she pushed the subject further.

"Oh really, who is it this week? ...Or should I say, day?"

"Amber," he answered ignoring her remark but smirked at the same time.

There was a feeling she didn't recognize in the pit of her stomach. It felt like she just swallowed an elephant- and her middle was all mixed up everywhere, like it was going to burst.

"I have to go," she said getting up but saw everyone's curious looks and finished, "history paper…" while leaving her food and walking away. She could hear footsteps behind her but she kept her focus straight ahead.

"What's with you?" He asked, and she knew it was him.

"Nothing."

It was left at that, and before she knew it he had grabbed her shoulder while spinning her around. The touch of his hand was too distracting and way too heated for her to pay any attention to anything that was happening that before she knew it she was on the ground.

And laughs were heard.

As she laid there on her back, she vaguely lifted her head to see a slightly cocky boy standing before her with a helping hand extended.

In a sense she felt like if she grabbed his hand, that it just might burn off.

But she was willing to take that risk.

XXX