Chapter 4: The Pond
"You are truly amazing," Wade said as they walked away from the pond. "And beautiful in every color, might I add."
Ember laughed nervously. "Your rainbow was pretty amazing too," she complimented.
Wade smiled at her and she smiled back. A moment of tension grew between the two and then he broke away, staring at the ground again.
"Why do you do that?" Ember asked with a laugh.
"Do what?" Wade asked with a frown, holding his hand to his chest, afraid he had done something wrong.
Ember laughed again. "You always look at me funny and then pretend like you're looking at something else," she observed.
Wade laughed nervously. "Well . . ." he started, scratching his neck again.
Ember's smile faded as Wade came to a stop, his face suddenly going serious.
"Wade?" she inquired, turning to him.
"Ember," Wade said, turning towards her. "This is wrong."
Ember felt her flame flicker. Then she looked down. "Because I'm fire and you're water?"
Wade shook his head in confusion. "What? No, that's not what I meant," he responded.
Ember looked back up at him. "Then what did you mean?" she asked, feeling her flame faltering.
"Ember," Wade started, stepping closer to her, "it isn't right for us to keep seeing each other without me speaking my mind. You are one of the most beautiful, amazing, strong, selfless, and hardworking women I've ever met. When I'm with you, I feel something I've never felt before. I feel . . . alive. I have feelings for you, Ember Lumen, and I can't go on without letting you know that. If you don't feel the same way, tell me now, and I'll stay out of your life."
Ember felt taken aback. "What," she said defensively, her flame momentarily flickering to purple, "you can't stand to hang out with me if you can't date me?"
Wade shook his head, holding up his hands. "No. No, that's not what I meant. I just mean . . . I've tried to think of us as only friends, but I can't ignore how I feel. Staying in your life if you don't feel the same way is unfair to you. And . . . I can't pretend that it wouldn't be hard for me to be around you knowing that my feelings for you are only going to grow, and you not reciprocating would only be too painful."
Ember found herself again unable to find the words to respond with. What she said next would determine the future of their relationship. She tried to deny that she felt anything toward him, but she couldn't lie to herself.
"Wade," she started softly, "are you sure about this? We can't even touch."
Wade smiled softly. "Ember, I don't have to be able to touch you to know that it is a privilege to be in your life."
Ember studied his face, feeling as if something inside of her were melting. He had this way with his eyes, and he had this way of making her feel special in a way she'd never felt before. She realized she was staring and he was waiting for her to respond.
"You can't deny that we have a connection, Ember," Wade said, watching her hopefully. "A strong one."
"Wade," Ember said, wringing her hands nervously. Wade braced himself for rejection. "I . . ." Ember met his eye again and knew that she had to speak from her heart. "I think I feel the same way," she said slowly, feeling again as if she weren't in control of her words.
Wade started to beam, water pooling in his eyes, but Ember held up her hand.
"And that terrifies me," she finished.
Wade nodded slowly, his smile fading. "It terrifies me too," he responded. "But . . . you're worth the fear."
Ember felt her flame falter again. She grunted in frustration. "Gah! How do you do that?"
Wade shook his head in confusion. "Do what?" he asked, his brow rippling.
Ember exhaled. "How do you make me feel . . . so valuable? You have this way of just . . . making me feel like I'm melting inside," she said softly, rubbing one of her arms and not meeting his eye.
Wade smiled softly, admiring how adorable she looked when she was nervous. "First of all, you are valuable. And I plan on spending every day making sure you don't forget that."
Ember looked back up at him, her flame flickering a little bit hotter.
"And secondly, it's an honor to make someone so hot feel like they're melting," he said, fiddling with the hem of his shirt.
Ember's eyes narrowed coyly. "Which hot are you referring to this time?" she asked suspiciously.
"Which meaning keeps me from being evaporated?" Wade asked with a lopsided smile.
Ember started laughing and Wade joined her. When they finished laughing, they held eye contact for a few moments.
"Well," Ember said, turning on her heel and starting forward again, "I should get back to the shop."
Wade quickly moved forward to keep up with her. "Wait, you never really made a final decision. Can I . . . see you again, then?"
Ember hopped onto her firecycle that was parked on the side of the road. She put her goggles on and started the engine, then looked over at him.
"You still have to keep me updated on the leak," Ember reminded him with a small smile.
Wade smiled back and nodded. "I'll let you know as soon as I know more. See you later, Ember Lumen."
Ember revved the engine of her firecycle. "See you later, Wade Ripple."
With that, Ember sped off in the direction of Fire Town. Wade admired her flame once again as it trailed behind her.
He felt his body ripple with excitement and cried with joy over his new flame – pun fully intended.