Chemistry class had never been Bridgette's forte. She usually just st back and let Sabrina instruct her on what to do, especially after the Paper Dragon Incident of 2013. It was a system, and it worked well.

Today, however, Bridgette was quite distracted. She was spacing off in the general direction of Felix and Nino, who were arguing about what chemicals to use and in what ratios, as always. Sabrina was carefully measuring out their own chemicals, eyeing Bridgette every now and then to make sure she was staying on her side of the lab desk.

Bridgette wasn't paying attention to that, anyways. All she could think about was Felix's words from the day before. 'I promise, I'll definitely ask next time.'

Next time, next time, next time, Bridgette thought over and over again. What did he mean next time?

"Bridgette?" A voice broke through Bridgette's thoughts, startling her into flinching violently. This, in turn, caused Sabrina to flinch as well, anticipating some spastic movement from Bridgette.

The chemicals Sabrina had been handling clamored onto the heated burner where another beaker was heating up, instantly causing flames to erupt widely. Bridgette tackled Sabrina down as the ginger screamed, along with their other classmates. Something hot singed Bridgette's left wrist as they went down.

Multiple voices screamed the girl's names as Kim and the teacher, Ms. Mendeliev, raced past them with a cloth and a fire extinguisher.

As soon as the fire was gone, a crowd circled around the girl's who still lay sprawled on the ground where Bridgette had tipped them over. Sabrina was trembling violently, bottom lip trembling.

She was a bit of a drama queen, Bridgette decided as two hands appeared in front of her to help her up.

She grasped them, Felix's strength tugging her up without strain. Bridgette felt warm at his touch. Kim pulled Sabrina up to her feet as well, glancing at both the girls as of making sure they were alright.

His eyes landed on Bridgette's left forearm, and he winced like he was in pain. "Oh, yikes, Bridgette."

The class's eyes all went to Bridgette, who looked down. Her left arm's blazer sleeve was burned, the edges still smoldering a bit, no doubt in part of the chemicals involved in the fire. Behind the hole in her blazer was her puckered, pink skin where the fire has kissed the paleness. Bridgette almost gagged at the sight of the blisters already beginning to form.

Alya and Marinette had shoved their way to the front of the circle and were now fawning all over Bridgette, much to her dismay. She hated being the center of attention, especially in a class as big as this one.

Sabrina was practically bawling her eyes out. "That could've killed me!" She kept repeating, eyes filling with over dramatic tears.

Ms. Mendeliev was not happy, to say the least. "Bridgette Cheng, you head to the Nurse this instant! Class, let this be a lesson to never be distracted while handling harsh chemicals!"

"But I wasn't-" Bridgette tried to protest. Felix put a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head at her quickly.

"I'll take her," he volunteered, steering her away from the crowd. Once out of the room, Bridgette cast him an annoyed look.

"I wasn't the one who almost set the school on fire," she insisted. Felix shot her a look of his own.

"No, but you did burn yourself pretty good there. Just take this one as your punishment."

Bridgette let out an indignant noise. "I was saving Sabrina, Felix!"

Felix's eyes flashed. "Well next time, don't do it at the expense of your safety!"

Bridgette was taken aback at his reaction. She couldn't remember the last time Felix got fired up on her behalf- if that's what this even was.

He quickly looked away from her, walking down the hallway a little faster, grey eyes fixed intently on the ground. "Hurry up, Bri. The longer we dawdle the more it'll hurt."

She hurried to catch up to his long strides, mind still replaying his words over and over, trying to figure what they meant to him.