LOVE IS STRANGE

(A TIGER'S CURSE FANFICTION)

DEDICATED TO ANNALISA

EMMA'S POINT OF VIEW

I stare at the back of Nik's head in class, my chin resting on my palm. His normally tousled black hair is casually gelled back with the smell of sandalwood. He bends over his work, and I can just glimpse the familiar loopy curve of his handwriting. Nik is diligently taking notes of the history teacher's lecture, whereas my notebook lies regretfully blank. History is in fact my favourite subject, but when you know every important date in the course of history, there is no need to hear it being explained again.

'Emma?' My head snaps up when I hear my name, and glance at the teacher who is expectantly waiting for my answer.

'Uh, sorry, what?' I say, hastily scribbling something on my page. He smiles.

'When did the Titanic ship sink?' He repeated, as sniggers spread across the classroom. Nik turns around to face me with his eyebrows raised, but I ignore him.

'April 15, 1912,' I answer automatically, and the teacher nods, impressed.

'Very good,' he said approvingly. 'Now as we know the Titanic is…'

I drown out his words and stare out the window until the bell rings, thinking about what it would be like to have sunk on that ship. Families, children, loved ones that never returned. Drowned in the deep, empty chasm of the ocean. Nik would be the right age to go to war. I glance at him. He is strong, determined and brave; a good soldier.

I catch Nik's eye from across the hallway and he waves, grinning. I smile back and walk towards him as people crowd out of the classrooms. He grabs my hand when I reach him and tugs me along as he expertly manoeuvres himself through the mass of people.

'I want to show you something,' he whispers in my ear once we are out of the building. Nik's hair is messed and dishevelled as he impatiently flicks it back. His golden eyes are piercing, a hint of mischief visible behind his excitement. He drags me toward his truck and we get in as I shoot his a quizzical glance. I gave a nervous laugh.

'Where are we going, Nik?' I see him smile out of the corner of my eye and he reverses out of the car park.

'Patience, Emma,' was his vague reply as we head out of town.

Anik has been my best friend for as long as I could remember. I glance at him now and wonder how he has grown so much without me noticing, because to me Nik will always be the same skinny black-haired boy with glasses he was all those years ago. But even now I can feel his well-developed muscles flex as he slings his arm around the back of the chair, his features shifting into those of a handsome man.

He catches my eye in the mirror and smiles. I reach out and tune the radio, listening to the words. It's a slow song, a sad one. Heartbreak. I suddenly wonder what it would be like to have your heart broken by someone. I wouldn't know.

I just stare out the window, my mind wandering aimlessly. The song goes on forever, the same depressing words repeating themselves, tattooing into my brain. Nik begins to sing hesitantly to the chorus and I close my eyes, noting how beautiful his voice is. Pure, sweet and meaningful.

I don't know how long we drive for but is seems like mere minutes before Nik turns off the highway down a narrow bush track. Trees stretch out above us, creating an archway. It's the start of autumn; orange leaves are beginning to fall. Sunlight filters through the gaps of the branches. It's beautiful.

'Wow.'

'I know.'

We keep on driving in silence as I admire the view just outside my window. Birds flit around, chasing each other, free and full of spirit. It's like we just entered a new world.

Nik lets the car roll to a stop on the side of the road and gestures for me to get out of the car. We both slide out and Nik grabs his backpack.

'Come on. This is nothing,' he said and starts walking into the forest.

We walk for what seems like hours, but I'm not tired, but more and more awake as my gaze falls on something new. I feel like an intruder in the forest, everything has a purpose, and I am just getting in the way. Twigs crunch underfoot and my hand in Nik's is sweaty. I have no idea which direction we are going in, and how Nik seems so confident that he knows where he is going.

'How did you find this place?' I murmur softly, as if afraid I will frighten away the birds. Nik shrugs.

'Accident,' was his abrupt reply as we fall back into silence. That is until I hear the noise of running water. My eyes widen and Nik grins, tugging me forward into a slow jog. The sound is deafening, pounding in my ears. We enter a clearing and I see it: a massive waterfall. My jaw drops as I stare. The crashing sound of falling water shakes the ground. It collects in an immense pool of crystal, shimmering water eventually following the stream that flows down back through the forest.

Nik merely watches, amused as I stare open-mouthed at my surroundings, speechless. I turn to stare at him and I can't stop the grin that spreads over my face.

'Like?' He asks, taking a seat on the damp grass. I shake my head.

'Love.'

I walk over and join him, tucking my knees under my chin.

'Why haven't you told me about this place?' I question, not accusatory, but intrigued. He shrugs.

'I liked to think it was a place that was mine, that know one else knew about,' he said indifferently. 'But you and I are basically the same person, so there isn't any difference.' I smiles at that. I reach over and take his hand. 'Three Questions,' I suggest. This is a game we invented when we were kids. I lean forward and stare into his amazing, shining eyes, waiting for him to go first. They were the colour of pirate-gold, and had the ability to knock girls off their feet within a ten-mile-radius. 'What are you thinking?' he asks finally, and I blink.

'How beautiful your eyes are,' I reply honestly and he smirks. I clear my throat, and lean back.

'What do you wish for?' I ask and Nik doesn't hesitate.

'To decide how my story will end.'

I lie on my bed, homework spread out in front of me. I tap a pencil thoughtfully against my lip as I consider the calculus question before me. My black hair is in a messy ponytail, a chopstick holding it in place. A knock on the door startles me and my arm jerks, knocking my book off the bed with a thump.

'Come in,' I mutter loud enough for them to hear me as I reach down to grab the fallen textbook. The door opens. I sweep awry hair out of my face and glance up. It's Anik.

'Hi Nik. What's up? Mum let you in?' I ask, sitting up and adjusting my shirt. Nik nods and sits beside me, taking my hand in his.

Nik seems tense. His jaw is locked and he sits right on the edge of the bed, as if ready to stand up in a moments notice. His muscles are tight and flexed, apprehensive.

'Hey,' I murmur, sweeping his hair away from his face. 'What's wrong?' Nik tries to smile at me, but it's a useless attempt. I see straight through it and he knows it. Nik sighs and runs his hand across his face.

'I don't know,' he admits. 'I feel tired, drained. Exhausted.' I frown as he says this, squeezing his hand in reassurance. I reach out and feel his brow with the back of my hand.

'Wow, you're really hot,' I say, shocked. Nik smirked.

'You only just noticed?' he questions with mock offense, glancing down at his muscled body, but even his lame attempt at humour is weak.

'I'm serious-'

'So am I-'

I slap him playfully.

'You must be coming down with something. Maybe you should see a doctor.' Nik already is shaking his head.

'I'm fine. Honestly,' he insists, lying down with a sigh. 'I will be, anyway.'

ANIK'S POINT OF VIEW

My stomach heaves, though nothing comes up. I retch, a foul taste of

bile rising in my mouth. My mind feels sluggish and blurry; I grab the basin for support. I shakily glance at my reflection. My face is pale and thin, dark shadows resting under my eyes. There's a knock on the door.

'Everything okay in there?' My mother asks, concerned. I don't trust myself to speak. My arms are trembling as I hold myself over the sink.

'Nikky?'

'I'm fine,' I force out, my words raspy in my parched throat. I rub my eyes and open the bathroom door. Mum stands there, almost a head shorter but her brown eyes determined and unyielding. She studies my face, displeased at what she sees.

'You are so not going to school,' she mutters, standing on tiptoes to kiss my forehead. 'And you have a fever.'

'I have to go to school,' I insist. 'Emma…'

Kelsey raises her eyebrows, the corner of her mouth twitching. '…Shouldn't see you like this,' she finishes for me and shoves me towards my room.

The doorbell rings. I've slept most of the day, exhausted. My muscles feel tight and sore, even though I have done no exercise. I glance groggily at the clock by my bed: 3.45. No doubt the person ringing the bell is Emma. I hastily swing my legs out of bed, groaning as they burn in protest. I stumble towards the staircase and overcome a wave of dizziness. I throw open the door and Emma stands there, school satchel slung over one shoulder dressed in jeans and a hoodie. Her eyes study me up and down.

'Still sick?' She asked. 'You missed another one of Mr Bertram's shouting fits.'

'Yeah? How crossed the invisible line this time?' I replied, leaning against the doorframe. Emma shrugged and looked over my shoulder, avoiding my question.

'Oh, nobody really…' she answered dismissively.

'Uh-huh. It was you, wasn't it?' Emma just smiled and ducked under my arm entering the house.

I wearily sat on the corner of my bed as Emma collapsed onto the beanbag she had bought me for Christmas last year, mostly for her benefit I suspected.

'So,' she said tossing a ball against the wall before catching it once it rebounded. 'Stats?'

'Vomited eight times last night, massive migraine and burning fever,' I replied, knowing exactly what she meant. Emma whistled in astonishment, throwing the ball again. Thump.

'You've never become this sick before,' she remarks. I shrug. 'Stress probably. Trials are coming up.' Emma glances at me as she said this, and I smirk.

'Been studying up? I have a feeling I'm going to beat you this time.'

'Uh-huh. You wish.'

Emma and I have had an academic rivalry since the beginning of time. She beats me usually, but there are some occasions I manage to pull it off. She throws the ball again. Thump.

I watch as if mesmerized as the ball bounces backwards and forwards, the movement making me dizzy. I feel sweat trickle down my spine and my vision goes hazy. I feel as if I'm going to faint. I gasp and Emma's head immediately snaps up to mine, and her expression changes into something of concern.

'Anik, are you-'

My body spasms and my eyes roll inside my head. My brain is screaming, shouting instructions but my body refuses to obey. I barely hear Emma yelling for my parents or see her run to my side, holding my hand, begging me to say something. I try to move my mouth, but my muscles won't respond. Then I cry out in pain as every bone stretches and breaks, my back contracting and expanding. Emma was sobbing, and my last thought was her smiling face at the waterfall before darkness collided with me and I collapsed.

EMMA'S POINT OF VIEW

Anik screams in pain and a knife stabs my heart. Hysterical tears stream down my cheeks as he writhes and jerks on the bed, as if having a seizure. I yell for his parents, but I can hear them already thundering up the steps.

'Nik,' I sob, my voice breaking. 'Don't leave me. Please don't leave me. It's going to be okay.' But I don't know that because I can't see his reassuring golden eyes. They are now hidden from me, veiled behind sickness and pain. And suddenly I start to panic. What if I never see his eyes again? Or his smile?

I cry into the sheets as he goes still just as his parent burst into the room. I don't hear their frantic yell of instructions; just squeeze Anik's warm hand. So soft, yet firm. Don't leave me. Please don't leave me. I need you…. I love you.

Suddenly everything went quiet, except for my sobbing. Why wasn't the ambulance here? Why wasn't everyone screaming? Why wasn't the whole world burning down? But out of the corner of my eye I saw Kelsey and Ren just staring at Anik, looking stricken. That was when I noticed Anik's hand was softer than usual. I couldn't feel his fingers. Almost as if it was was covered in fur…

I glanced up in shock and choked out a strangled scream, backing away. On Anik's bed was a massive, black tiger. I screamed again, stumbling backwards against the wall. I couldn't take my eyes away from the animal…because it was staring straight at me. And it's eyes were the exact same colour as Anik's.

A.N. HOPE YOU ENJOY. ALL RIGHTS TO COLLEEN HOUCK