Look, I got my chapter done! *Crickets chirp* Fine, I'll just read it to myself. It's another short story - sorry! I had this wrote a while back, and forgot to post it. I'm working on the next chapter of the storyline right now - hint - it's Kinkajou next. So yeah, a bundle of colorful story plot coming up. *More crickets* Fine, I'll keep my weird jokes to myself. I'll bore less people that way. ANYWAYS, have fun reading!

Peril's POV

Yes, she knew she was cursed. Yes, she knew it wasn't her fault. And yes, she did still accidentally burn people.

"Hey, watch it fire-touch!" Snapped a dragon as Peril went by. She ducked her head, trying to hide herself in her black hoodie. She wanted to pull the strings tighter, but she didn't want to take her hands out of her pockets. As she walked, people cleared away from her, casting her scared glances.

Well, she thought, at least no one expects me to be social. She felt with her fingers for her phone, hidden safely inside her hoodie pocket. She pulled it out, and walked over to a stone fountain. Even though she was wearing jeans, there might be an accident, and she didn't want to get sued for burning down the school.

She put in her letter coded password, fsleam, which was the word flames scrambled up, and then started to text Clay. Then she stopped, erased the message, and put her phone back into her hoodie pocket.

Stupid, why would he want to text you when he has work to be done? Buffets to fill, hungry college students to feed. Even though he's the only person you can text, that doesn't mean you actually text him. Shut up Peril, she thought to herself, and got back up. Her hoodie sleeve had been pushed up a bit, so when she walked back into the crowd, she accidentally touched one of them with her arm. The Sea cussed, and glared at her.

"Frick, watch where you're going! You're gonna kill someone, and I don't want to be that unlucky dragon." Peril shrugged, pushed down her sleeve, and then walked towards the door of the college. When she got there, she didn't go inside, but skirted around to the back of the building. There was a landing halfway up the brick wall, and she climbed up the stainless steel steps to the top. When she took the last step, she felt the presence of someone else, and clenched her fist inside her pocket.

"W-" she started, looking up, but stopped when she saw Clay standing there, a small smile on his tanned face. "O-Oh, hi Clay." His grin grew, and he shuffled his feet.

"Hi Peril. I thought that, y'know, you could use some company. And since no one seems to be talking to you, or at least talking to your face anyways…" Peril snorted and carefully walked by him, splaying herself on a couch that was outside. It had burn marks, and was also a tiny bit damp, but Peril didn't mind.

"Well, it's not exactly my fault everyone either hates me or is scared of me because of something I was born with." Clay blew his brown bangs out of his face, and sat down on a chair that was also burnt, but wasn't damp.

"Hey, I don't care that you were born that way. It makes you you." He looked down at the floor. Peril felt her heart soar, then tugged it back down, imagining it burned when she touched it.

"Yeah," she said lamely. She tried to make up for it by asking him a question. "Aren't you supposed to be helping kids and stuff?" He looked back up at her, his air of uncomfortableness lost.

"Oh, I let Sora fill the buffets, and Deathbringer came by, so the people at the counter have plenty of help." Peril nodded and absent-mindley pulled on her sleeve.

"What are you gonna to tonight when everyone is settled?" Peril immediately wanted to take the question back. To her it sounded like if he wasn't doing anything (if movies were anything to go by) then she would have to ask him to a date, which she was not brave enough to do. So she quickly scrambled to make up for it.

"Like, I mean, not what are you doing, but like, do you have plans or... Wait no, I meant-" Clay cut her off with a laugh.

"I was thinking about seeing if Starflight needed help with the books, and if not, then I was just gonna go out and get some more food." Peril quickly nodded, and unconsciously pulled her hood slightly tighter.

"That's cool," she said lamely again. Wow Peril, she thought to herself, you really can't help but saying lame things to him, can you?

"I might not have to buy any food though, depending how much the guys eat tonight. If I don't, maybe…" he trailed off and kicked the ground a bit sheepishly, "Maybe, I dunno, we could hang out…?" Peril had to reign in her frantically beating-of-joy heart again.

"Sure!" She said quickly, then reprashed it.

"I mean, yeah, if you want to…" She almost smacked herself in the face. And you wonder why he doesn't like you, her thoughts intoned, and, feeling slightly mad/disgusted at herself, she got up off the couch.

"Do ya' want a soda?" Clay thought for a second.

"Sure, whatcha got?" Peril went over to her small steel refrigerator and opened it up, looking inside. She recited what she saw.

"Water, Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Orange Crush, and Peach Fanta." She saw Clay out of the corner of her eye looked mildly surprised when she said the last flavor, but quickly hid it and answered.

"Uhm, Pepsi, I guess." Peril grabbed a Pepsi and a water bottle. She handed the soda to Clay, careful not to touch him. Even though he was mostly resistant to fire, she knew it still hurt. Returning to her couch and making sure not to melt the plastic, she took a drink of her water. Clay popped open his soda and chugged it, then wiped off his mouth with his arm. Peril indicated he should throw it to her, and he tossed it lightly over to her. It was a bit high, but her hand shot up and gripped the aluminum.

"C'mon," she whispered very quietly to herself. She had been working on a trick. If she concentrated enough, she could flare up the heat inside of her, and melt softer metals. Once, she had accidentally melted a rod of steel because someone had kicked her in the shins without getting burnt because she was wearing jeans. Peril had maybe "accidentally" set him on fire, but there was fountain nearby, so he didn't die.

Focusing, the aluminum started to melt, and soon she had a puddle of metal in her palm. Bored, she swallowed the rest of her water, and melted the plastic too. With a finger, she swirled the aluminum around, making sure it stayed in its liquid form. SHe sculpted a small tree with twisting branches that was surprisingly artistic, and Clay smiled at her.

"That's really cool. You should help Celestial teach metalworking. I'm sure the students would love it." Peril shrugged, but then thought again.

"Are you sure?" She asked, setting the tree down on the couch beside her.

"Positive. If you want, I can have you start tomorrow so everyone would know who you were. Of course," he added hurriedly when Peril begun to look doubtful, "You wouldn't have to be there all the time, just drift in and out whenever you wanted. Like a special guest type of thing?" Peril thought about it. Yeah, it would probably be fun, and it was obvious Clay wanted her to. Before she could think of anything to dissuade her from her decision, she spoke up.

"Yeah, that sounds really cool. If you don't mind though," she added, looking a bit embarrassed, "Could I not go tomorrow? I just don't want everyone to quit the class because they think I'll be their teacher."

"Sure, if you want. Although I'm sure some of them would appreciate you being there," he reassured with a small smile.

"Thanks," Peril said, smiling back a little. Clay got to his feet.

"Well, I better go make sure Sora didn't blow the kitchen up. See you later?" Peril also got up, and hid a slightly disappointed look.

"Yeah, see ya'." She waved, and watched as Clay retreated down the metal steps, and went back around the school. Well, she thought, sitting back down and realizing what happened. Looks like I'm a part time teacher now.

Wooo, teacher Peril let's go! I'm not sure who is going to be in that class - if anyone. I'm currently accepting OC's (Own Characters) for some random dragons I'll be adding. If I get none - there will be no random dragons, and I'll just go by the book. The OC time line will probably end quickly if I get none. You're free to continue your day - have a good afternoon!