It wasn't until the following week that I realized that Layla and Magenta were up to something. I think Kimmie might have been in on it too, but I couldn't prove it. All of us girls had gotten together over the weekend, just to hang out, and I couldn't remember them hanging out by themselves for long, but I couldn't be sure. They were whispering together at the table when I got there.
"What are they up to?" I whispered to Will and Warren.
"I don't know." Will sounded bemused.
"Who knows what you chicks talk about." Warren muttered with his normal nasty attitude.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to find out. I mean it's fine if they want to plot and plan, I just hope it has nothing to do with me. Should have wished harder. "Marina, have you thought about who you're going to the Homecoming Dance with?" Layla asked only moments later.
This startled me. Homecoming Dance. "Well, actually Layla I wasn't planning on going." I told her honestly.
"We all go Marina." Magenta told me matter of fact. "Last year it was Me and Zach, Layla and Will, Ethan and Louisa, and Warren and Steffi."
"Who's Steffi?" I asked not recognizing the name.
"Steffi's Warren's ex girlfriend." Where the question about the dance startled me, that Warren ha a girlfriend through me for a loop. "You know the blonde ice chick from Algebra?"
"Maybe if I heard her."
"Yeah, that's Steffi."
"Do we have to talk about this?" Warren said snidely.
"I'm sorry Warren. Magenta if he's not over her then we shouldn't talk about this." I directed to the other girl.
Will snickered, and looking at Warren's outline his aura had turned pinkish. "I'm so over her." he informed me haughtily. "I just can't believe how stupid I was to go out with her for so long." His voice had taken on a disgusted quality, and his aura was a very bright pink now. Definitely embarrassed.
"Wait a minute." I said, a memory dawning on me. "Is she the one who orders that Deke guy around constantly?"
"Yep, sounds like her." Layla told me.
I grimaced. "Wow Warren, I think you're better off without her. You could find a much nicer girl I'm sure." I told him with a pat on his hand. I really didn't touch Warren much in the past two weeks. One, there was really no need to, and two I think we both found the hot sensation both exciting and troubling. I couldn't explain, and neither could he so I think we'd both just decided to ignore it. Worked for me.
"Anyway, back to the dance." Layla could be quite determined. "This year neither you nor Warren have dates, so we were thinking you should go together."
We spoke simultaneously. "Oh Layla, I don't think I'm gonna go."
"I think I have to work that night." As soon as the words left our mouths we started laughing.
"Oh, come on you guys!" Layla sounded distressed. "Warren you HAVE to go! We've all gone together every year. And Marina, you have to go too. I'm sure your Dad would want you to. It isn't like we're saying you have to go steady or anything. Just go to the dance together. Marina, we can go shopping and pick out an awesome dress. And Warren I know for a fact you have a tux."
I sighed. "Fine, if Warren wants to go, or at least doesn't mind going, and he needs a date I'll go. But only if he doesn't find a date that he really wants to go with. If he does, then all bets are off."
"Ditto." he added.
Layla squealed in excitement. "This is so great! We are all going to have such a good time! Much better than last year, and totally better than our first year!"
"I sort of like how our first year ended." Will protested.
"True." she agreed and I saw their auras turning that vivid blue and getting closer. "You learned you could fly, we defeated Royal Pain, and we started dating." She sighed happily.
"Wait a minute." I was confused. "Will, if you can fly why do you ride the bus to school?"
"Because I want to hang out with everyone." he told me simply. I guess it was pretty simple. At least it made sense to me. Although if he ever missed the bus he had it made.
I didn't really think of the Homecoming Dance after that first conversation. I mean it was a month away, and I was pretty sure that I wouldn't end up going. I heard the girls at school talk about Warren. Sure they said he was scary, but they also sighed over him and talked about how gorgeous he was. So why would he need to be set up with me as a date when he had the entire female population of our school, minus a handful, to choose from.
About two weeks from the dance I was at my locker by myself. Layla had forgotten a notebook back in class and had told me she'd meet me at the lockers before we headed out to the buses. I felt him coming and turned to meet him. "What do you want Max?" I'd felt like I'd been being watched recently, and I was starting to wonder if it was Max or his friends. They were all creepy enough. Not that I would ever catch them.
"I just haven't talked to you in awhile Marina." he said and tried to use an injured tone. "I was wondering how you were doing?"
I relaxed only slightly. I didn't believe a word coming out of his lips. "I'm good. Real good."
"That's great." he said enthusiastically. "You look as beautiful as ever. Your eyes are such a striking shade of lavender. Really quite lovely."
"Thank you Max." I told him politely.
"I was actually hoping to catch you alone since I know your friends don't like me very much."
"Well, from what I understand those feelings go both ways. I heard that you don't like them very much either."
"It's true, we don't really have that much in common." he said politely.
"What did you want to talk to me about Max?" I was getting irritated. Hopefully Layla would show up soon. I didn't want to miss the bus, although I didn't think Gary, the driver, would take off without me.
"I was hoping we could start over. I was hoping you'd accompany me to the Homecoming Dance. I know we don't know each other well, but we could use that time to learn more about each other." He spoke in a charming voice, and I'm sure he found himself quite charming.
"Oh…" I began but didn't get to finish. A familiar red hue had come into my limited vision, followed closely by several blue hues.
"Sorry Von Schilne Marina already has a date to the dance." Warren almost sounded smug.
Max must have turned to face him because his voice wasn't as clear. "Oh, who with Peace?"
"Me."
"I didn't think you and Peace were together like that?" he almost sounded accusing.
I shrugged. "We aren't, but we made the plans two weeks ago. I'm sorry."
"I'm getting real tired of you getting in my way Peace." Max hissed.
Once again, as if in slow motion I felt him hurl the sphere of fire. I know it couldn't have gone that slow, because it was unexpected. I know that my friends were startled by his actions. I thought one word. 'Stop!' I heard Layla gasp and somehow knew the fire had listened to me. Max uttered an expletive. I moved around him focusing on the orange and red ball hovering in the air in front of Warren. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt him, but still it's almost like it was like an instinct. I scooped the fire into my hand, and it came willingly. It danced along my hand and tingled with its path. I turned back to face Max.
"We belong together Marina." he spoke quietly. "With my power, and yours. We compliment each other."
I tilted my head slightly. Did he truly believe that? "We're too different to ever compliment each other Max." I spoke softly, and I really didn't know where the words were coming from. "I see you. See who you are and what you are. I see your thoughts in waves of color that you can only imagine. Your thoughts and dreams color your soul, and the color isn't pleasant Maximillian. Keep that in mind when making decisions." His entire aura went incredibly pale and without saying a word he hurried away.
"What was that?" Layla whispered.
I still held the flame in my hands. "I don't really know." I told them truthfully.
Warren moved up to me. "Let me see your eyes." he murmured. I looked up to where I thought his face would be. The outlines were much clearer. "Your eyes are the way they were that day. Black with flames." He almost sounded as if he was in awe. "Make the flames go away Marina."
I held my hand out palm up. "Go." I told it. The flame burned low and winked out. The outlines that had been clearer went back to the fuzzier vision I'd had before. "Are you all scared of me now?" I asked, and it was almost tearfully. Heck, I was scared of me now why wouldn't they be?
Layla moved up and hugged me. "We're your friends Marina. We know you don't know the extent of what your powers are. You'll get it all figured out and we'll help all we can."
"Yeah!" Ethan chimed in. "I know I can only melt, but I'll melt any time you need me to!"
"And I'll glow." Zach added. They all started chiming in with how they'd help and it made me feel much better.
"I'll help too Marina. You obviously have a lot to do with fire, and that's something I definitely know about." Warren told me quietly.
Maybe I hadn't been able to go to my high school this year, but I'd been lucky to end up with such a great group of friends. "Thanks everyone."
"We'd better go." Will reminded us with a laugh. "I don't really know how long Gary will wait for us!"
Gary had waited, and we were extremely grateful. I couldn't wait to head home and tell my parents what had happened today. Of course I probably wouldn't tell them that Max bugged me, but I could tell them everything else, right?