Chapter 5
As Anna walked from the cafeteria to the courtyard of Reefside High, she spotted a very familiar figure dressed in blue.
She made her way over to the table and sat down next to him.
"Hey Ethan."
"Hey Anna. What's up?"
"Not much, I just felt like, eating lunch outside today. "How about you?"
"Whenever I'm not with Conner, I eat out here. He went to the field to practice and who knows where Kira's at."
"Hey was it just me, or did Dr. Oliver seem different today in class?"
"Yeah, he was different. It was almost like he didn't want to teach today, he seemed very distant."
"That's what I thought, which is why I went and talked to him, he seemed like he could use the company."
"Speaking of talking to him, you've been doing that a lot lately. Is there something you're not telling the rest of us?"
"He would probably kill me if I told you and if he didn't my mom would."
"So there is something you're keeping from us."
"Yes, and let's leave it at that."
With that, Anna started eating her lunch, and humming a tune to prevent Ethan from getting in any kind of response.
"Are you always this musical when you eat?"
"No, I'm just trying to tune you out." Anna said with a laugh.
"Oh, thanks."
"Anytime."
Although, he was very interested in Anna's secret, Ethan knew he wasn't going to get it out of her anytime soon so he decided to change the subject.
"You know, I just realized something. In all the time you've been with us, this is the first time that it's been me and you talking and I don't know that much about you. It's weird, I know, but think about it, you've been with Conner a lot and you just started a friendship with Kira but this is the first time that you and I have had an actual conversation."
"I never realized that Ethan, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to neglect you."
"Don't be sorry Anna, I don't communicate with people very well anyway. People look at me as an outcast just because I spend my time in front of a computer screen. I am who I am and that's that. Conner and Kira have accepted that and look where the three of us are today. But enough about me, there will be time for that later. Right now, I want to know about you."
"Okay. I'm Anna Hutchins, born and raised in Miami Florida. The only place I've ever known until now. Grew up with just my mom
because my dad left when I was three, or so mom says. Don't remember a thing about him, I don't have any pictures of him and
mom never mentions him. If I saw him on the street, I probably wouldn't even know it was him. Moved here to Reefside because
my mom got a job coaching gymnastics. I'm currently living with my mom and her high school friend Jason. To top it all off,
I'm talking to a person who I think will become a really good friend when everything is said and done."
"Hmm. Intersting."
"I've got a question for you."
"I've got an answer for you."
"How did you, Conner and Kira meet? Neither of them will talk about it. I'm just wondering because you seem so different."
"Well, there's a reason that they won't tell you. They won't tell anyone but that's what I'm here for. We met in detention."
"What?"
"As odd as it sounds, we met in detention."
"What did you guys do?"
"Well, Conner was playing on the soccer field without a permit and called our principal just another girl and that he was not
afraid of a girl, not knowing that she was standing two feet behind him. Kira was singing on school grounds, which is prohibited.
And I..." He trailed off, looking at her drinking her soda.
"What did you do?"
"Well, I'll tell you after you set the soda down, I'm not getting a shower."
With that, Anna put her soda on the table.
"I rigged the sprinklers and they came on as everyone was sitting outside eating and Conner and the principal happened to be right in the middle of it." Ethan expained with a smile.
"Look at you, proud of it."
"Oh yeah, that will go down as my best work here at Reefside."
"You'll have to teach me some things."
"Sorry, a magician never reveals his secrets."
"Obviously, you've never watched FOX."
Looking at his watch, Ethan realized that lunch was just about to end.
"So, you're helping Conner and Kira realize their feelings for each other, huh?"
"I knew that was coming. Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because I'm tired of watching them dance around each other."
"How do you think I feel. I've had to watch it for months. It's disgusting."
"How is it that you haven't locked them in a room already."
"It's just that, no matter how much I may want to see them get together, I've always felt that if it was going to happen, they would do it on their own. Don't you think you may be interfering?"
"You know Jason said the same thing the other day and it's like I told him. Normally I would stay out of it but there are sometimes when all you need is a push, and if my interfering will start that push, then so be it. I'ts like you said, I am who I am and that's that. I'm just not sure if the spark that they have has the potential to turn into a fire."
"Anna, it's already a fire. You can see it in them, or at least I can because I've seen the whole thing."
"Maybe, but we'll see tonight just how hot the fire is."
"Yeah, we will."
Ethan and Anna shared a quick, understanding smile as the bell rang signaling the end of lunch.
"Well Ethan, it was great actually talking to you for once."
"Yeah Anna, it was. Hey, quick question before you leave, what do you and Kira have planned for tonight?"
Anna shook her head and laughed.
"No way. Dr. O tried that same thing. I'll tell you what I told him. Show up tonight to find out."
"Hey, you can't fault a guy for trying."
"I'll see you tonight Ethan."
"See ya Anna."
As he looked around, and saw the students start heading to their respective classes, he said to himself.
"When you put Yellow and Red together, you get Orange. The color of fire. Tonight, one of two things will happen: The fire will ignite or we will go down in flames. Either way, Reefside will get a very strong heat wave."
With that, he searched out Conner and Kira and made their way to their next class.
TBC.