A/N: sorry for the long wait. you see, there were these aliens... anyway, here's the next chapter. i hope you enjoy...

Chapter Five: Playing With Fire

Rain fell from the sky. But it wasn't normal rain. It was coated with red-orange flames. They destroyed everything around. I was encircled by flames. But I heard a voice calling me.

Carson... Carson... Carson… Carson!

I sat up in bed. Sweat caressed my forehead. It had been raining steadily for three days. And for three nights, I had been waking up at two in the morning from this nightmare. I couldn't decide which was more dangerous, the fire or the water. As of late I had just decided to avoid both as much as possible.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and took out the dream journal I had been keeping for about three weeks.

Tuesday March 3. 2:12 am

I awoke from the same dream again. I'm still trying to decide which is stronger, water or fire. I think both are destructive and I'll avoid both as much as humanly possible. God, I don't even take showers that last longer than thirty minutes. This fear of mine is becoming highly irrational. I've been spending a lot of time inside avoiding the rain. I don't know what good it'll do. If it rains hard enough, it can still flood. I don't have much to worry about when it comes to fire. True, my mom likes to light candles every now and then. But I've gotten into the habit of blowing them out when she's not looking. I'm sick of this. I need a hobby to take my mind off of this. I'm becoming one of those obsessed creepy people who end up robbing banks and whatnot. God, I'm a freak...

"Carson, did you hear me?" Kitty asked the next day at lunch.

"I'm sorry, what?" I had been staring off into space, hardly aware of her existence.

"I asked if you realized that John's eyes were boring into you."

"Oh." I turned around and sure enough, John smiled and motioned for me to come over. I stood up.

"You're not seriously gonna go see what he wants, are you?" Kitty asked with an incredulous look.

"Why not?" I asked.

"I don't like him," Kitty said.

"Do you even know him?"

"He's in two of my classes. I don't like him."

"Well, I'm gonna go see what he wants anyway." I walked over to his table.

"She doesn't like me," he said when I sat down.

"Who, Kitty? She just thinks you're one of those 'bad boys'."

"Nope. I'm pretty sure she doesn't like me."

"What would give you that idea?"

"The evil glares she's been giving me since she got here might have something to do with it. Why do you hang out with such a judgmental person?"

"Ok, ok, I know you didn't call me over to criticize my friends. So what do you want?"

"Nice. I invite you to sit with me and automatically, you assume that I want something. You know what they say about people who assume things. I don't know if I even want to talk to you anymore." He grinned. I started to laugh. "Anyway, I wanted to ask if you wanted to attend the Spring Fling next weekend."

"I don't know, John," I replied. "I don't really know you that well."

"Well let's get to know each other," he said. "Hi. I'm John Allerdyce." He held out his hand. I smiled and took his warm hand in mine.

"And I'm Carson Laine." We shook hands.

"Now we know each other. So how about that dance?"

"John, give me the week to think about it and I'll get back to you."