Later that night, Maia found herself entering the busy mixed club known as The Sinema. They were having a blacklight themed rave organized with the bowling alley next door, and found herself standing at the bar alone and feeling out of her element. Donovan said she could go out with the others, but warned not for long. They both secretly scheduled to meet back up in his room later, but Maia wasn't so sure after his panic attack that morning that he needed her right now.
"Hey, cute outfit!"
Maia turns around to look up at Josh.
"Thanks. I guess."
"Very sexy."
Maia chuckled.
"It was hot, so I just wore what felt comfortable."
"You don't seem comfortable."
Josh stares at Maia.
"More like anxious..."
"So? We should we dancing right?"
"Why do you feel that way? Is it because of Donovan?"
Maia didn't respond, and grabs a shot of alcohol placed in front of her by the bartender.
"Doesn't matter! Who cares?"
She chugs the drink, taking Josh's hand and dragging him on to the dance floor.
"We don't have to dance, you know."
"No! I want to!"
Maia began dancing awkwardly while Josh's moves came out smoothly.
"Here. This should take the edge off!"
Josh slipped something into the palm of Maia's hand.
"What is it?"
"Just take it and find out."
"I don't know. Will this stuff even work given what we are?"
"I tried some the other night."
"How long did it last?"
"About an hour."
Maia sighed.
"What am I doing here?"
Josh noticed how uncomfortable Maia was with her surroundings.
"You came to have fun! Remember?"
"I've never done anything like this before."
Josh took Maia's hand now, and guided her over to a few tables set up in the distance. There were people decorating each other with bioluminescent paint, or dyeing their hair with the stuff.
"Wanna try this out?"
"What did you have in mind?"
Maia picks up a paintbrush, and a can of neon purple paint.
"I think you know what I want."
Josh smirks, slightly showing off his fangs.
"Alright. Here goes..."
Maia took the paint brush, and made lightning bolts on each side of Josh's face. He rips off his shirt revealing his bare chest, and Maia could've sworn she saw electricity fly off his body. She continued to paint more lightning bolts from his shoulder across his torso with the tips nearly meeting just above the belt of his pants where his waist was.
"Need any help?" A painter asked.
Maia handed them the paintbrush, and the professional took over. She managed to make realistic looking lightning bolts over the rest of Josh's chest and back, making it seem like he was surging with electricity (which he was, but she didn't know that).
"That what you were thinking?"
"Yeah! Cool!"
The painter nodded, and turned towards Maia.
"What would you like?"
"She's definitely a floral kind of gal!"
Maia stares up at Josh.
"Floral with fire!"
"Fire? I can work with that."
Maia awkwardly nodded, taking off her silk blouse to reveal her breast. Josh didn't take his eyes off of Maia while she was being painted on. The artist managed to make a floral looking sun over the top of Maia's left breast, and have it connected to a matching one she painted over her lower right hip. The connecting vines traveled throughout her body including her arms and legs, and had painted flowers around her eyes reminding Josh of Día de Los Muertos Calavera. The artist even dyed a few of the curls of her hair orange, reminding Josh of ramen noodles and making him laugh out loud.
"What's so funny?"
"Your hair is making me hungry."
Maia laughed.
"All right. That'll be a 100."
Josh took out his wallet and paid the artist.
"Rave on, my dudes!"
Josh drags Maia back onto the dance floor, and pulls her into him.
Suddenly, everything around her felt like it was in slow motion. Maia wasn't worried about people staring at her, or the way she moved as long as Josh was in sync with her and he was. She had her arms wrapped around his neck, and Josh's arms were wrapped around her waist and holding her close to him.
They both swayed to the upbeat rhythm of the music playing in the background, and their faces were so close that they could feel each other's breaths gently warm their cheeks. They were both grinding their hips against each other, and Maia placed her forehead against Josh's to notice his eyes glowing purple.
"Am I high right now?"
"No."
"Then why is everything so slow?"
"I don't know."
Josh seemed confused, but he didn't seem to care either.
"...but I don't care."
"Me either."
They both close their eyes and kissed. Their hearts beating fast due to the fast paced music, and the rush of hormones and pheromones they were letting off. Suddenly, a chill slithered down Maia's spine interrupting her and causing her to let go of Josh.
"What's wrong?"
She looked around the room, scared.
"Maia?"
"I have to go."
"Hey, wait!"
Josh tried to chase after her, but she took off running out of The Sinema. Maia stared down at herself to find her skin glowing, and steam emerging out of her pores. She needed to cool down, and that feeling she felt earlier… something dangerous was here. Maia shrieks when a hand touches her shoulder, and turns around to find it was only Josh.
"I'm sorry!" He apologized, arms raised.
"D-Don't do that!" She yelled, and smoke falls out of her mouth.
"What's happening to you?"
"Listen to me! We can't do that again."
"Why not? It felt great!"
Josh noticed the worried yet embarrassed look on her face.
"Didn't it?"
"I just can't. You know why!"
"No, I don't."
Josh was getting frustrated, and held her hands in his.
"What are you?"
"I'm… I'm a chimera–"
"No! What makes you a chimera?"
Josh was staring into her eyes which turned gold.
"Your eyes…"
"No! Too hot! Too hot!"
Suddenly, Theo came out of nowhere and tackled Josh to the ground. Maia screamed allowing all the heat inside of her to burst from her skin and cause a massive fiery explosion right where she use to be standing. Josh watched on horrified as the flames continued to grow until there was nothing left but a large pile of ash.
"What the hell happened to her?"
"Calm down." Theo says. "She's sleeping."
"What? Are you insane?!"
"Look!"
Theo gestured to the ash, and Josh noticed it was moving. He got on his knees and dug through the pile only to find Maia underneath, her skin was stained with soot and her hair covered in ashes from the supernatural flames. She even felt hot to the touch, but that didn't bother Josh considering he was use to handling hot electrical wiring.
"What is she?"
"She's a Phoenix hybrid."
"HEY!" Donovan's voice roared across the road.
He came storming over to the pile of ash, and picks Maia up in his arms.
"What did you assholes do to her?!"
"I didn't do anything."
Theo noticed Josh's guilty expression, and sighs.
"Neither did he, so back off."
"I told you," Donovan whispers to Maia, "you shouldn't have come."
"Why not? She was having fun."
Josh stood up across from Donovan, eyes glaring at him.
"Did you give her something?"
"She's not high."
Donovan rolled his eyes.
"I said I didn't!"
"Enough." Theo interrupted, stepping in between the two of them. "Donovan, take Maia back to the house where she can cool off. Josh, I think you've partied enough for tonight. You should meet back up with the others, and bowl a few rounds."
"Yeah. Maybe I will."
Josh walks away before he could do something he'd regret.
"That moron needs to learn his place."
"I think you both do."
Donovan looks away from Theo.
"Now go, and we'll discuss her condition later."
"Maybe that vet could help?"
"He can't! We're not supernatural, so he doesn't know how to treat us like Scott and his pack. We're not naturally born or gifted, we're science experiments gone wrong. We have no other choice but to help each other, and that makes you all my responsibility."
"According to Scott–"
"According to me, and only me!"
Theo's eyes glow yellow, and he snarled at Donovan.
"Take her home. I'm not gonna ask again."
Donovan did what the chimera said despite his own protests.
A few hours later, Maia was slowly waking up inside of her bathroom's tub filling up with lukewarm water. Donovan was knelt beside her with his hand resting in the water. He thought it wasn't too hot or too cold, but a perfect temperature for Maia to clean herself up in. Donovan noticed the scared and confused look in Maia's eyes after they opened, and caresses her cheek with his other hand.
"It's okay. You're safe." He says.
"W-Where am I?" Maia asks, stuttering.
"You're back in the house."
"What? How…"
"Theo told me to take you home after your meltdown."
"Oh God. Is Josh okay?!"
Donovan scrunched up his nose.
"He's fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! Why do you care about him?"
"He's my friend."
Maia wraps her arms around herself and shivers.
"You're cold."
"No, I'm not. I'm fine."
"Don't lie."
Maia didn't respond to Donovan.
"Let me grab some clothes for you to change into, and we can go to bed."
"No."
Donovan raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm going to bed by myself in my own room."
"You shouldn't be alone…"
"I won't be. I have friends who live here."
"They're not your friends."
Maia turned to face Donovan with golden eyes, and shoves him into the wall.
"GET OUT! Now!"
"Whatever."
Maia watched as Donovan slams the door to her bedroom.
After draining the bath tub, Maia steps outside her bathroom and pulls out of her drawers some comfortable shorts and a crop top. The lights were already off, but she hadn't realized how cold it was inside the house due to her usually being hot because of her Phoenix based powers. She crawled into bed, covering herself with another thick blanket to make sure she wouldn't freeze to death in her sleep.
"Hey, Maia." A voice whispered.
"Huh?" She mumbled.
"You okay?"
Maia didn't want to move after finding herself comfortable, so she glances over to the mirror in her line of sight. The reflection showed Josh had slightly opened the door.
"I'm trying to sleep."
"Oh?"
Josh came inside, and closes the door behind him.
"I didn't say you could come in."
"You look pale."
Josh leans over to get a good look at Maia.
"Can we talk?"
"Right now's not a good time."
"Are you sure?"
Suddenly, her body shivered again due to the cold.
"Y-Yes. Now go to bed."
"You're cold. How are you cold?"
Josh placed a hand over Maia's forehead, and she exhaled. It was warm.
"Geez! You're almost as cold as Beth."
"Beth is a Yeti."
"Half-Yeti and Half-Snow Leopard."
"W-W-Whatever!"
Now Maia couldn't stop shivering, and Josh removed his hand. She found herself snatching his wrist before he could return it, and placing it back on her forehead to keep herself warm. Then she made Josh's hand travel down the side of her body, and he could feel her talons scratching into his skin.
"Hey, I thought you said we couldn't do this?"
"I-I'm just t-t-too cold…"
Maia's eyes were droopy, and she could barely make out Josh's face.
"Hey, Maia. Don't fall asleep."
"I-I c-c-can't…"
Josh was growing concerned for her, and looks back at the door.
"I shouldn't. I promised."
"P… Promised?"
Josh looks back down at Maia.
"It's nothing."
"P-Please! Keep me w-warm…"
Maia found her hand reaching out for Josh's face. He couldn't leave her there by herself knowing how much pain she was in, but Josh and the other guys of the pack had all made a promise. A promise he knew if he broke would cause more chaos to the already chaotic group of chimeras (which he knew Theo would hate having to deal with afterwards).
"I can't explain right now."
"P-Please!"
Maia's face was slowly turning gray.
"I'll go get Donovan–"
"NO!"
Maia's talons dug deep into Josh's hand, and he winced. Except the look of desperation on Maia's face was what caused Josh real pain. Finally, after using his heightened sense of hearing to realize Donovan had left Maia alone in the house, he decided to crawl into her bed and wrap his arms and legs around her body.
"There. Is that better?"
Maia sighs in relief as warmth started to fill her body again.
"Y-Yes." She replied softly.
Josh nuzzled his head against hers.
"Damn, you really are cold!"
"Don't worry. T-This is normal after… after a meltdown."
"Meltdown? You mean when you exploded?"
Maia managed a laugh.
"Sure."
"That was scary."
Maia felt Josh squeeze her tight.
"I thought you died."
"I don't think I can. Phoenix's don't die, remember?"
"So, what? You're immortal?"
Maia never actually thought about it before. Perhaps that's why she decided to spend most of her nights with the fugitive chimera known as Donovan Donati. Because just like him, she had no one left to remember her by, and if she was going to out live everyone she's ever known than why try having a normal life? That life was taken away from her thanks to the Dread Doctors who placed those Phoenix genes inside of her.
"I haven't thought about it."
"I don't think you are."
"What makes you say that?"
"Cause you're only half of a Phoenix."
"But… But I still burn."
"Maybe that's how you heal, or maybe your powers are more connected to your emotions. Who cares?"
"I kind of care."
"Oh."
Maia sadly looks up at Josh.
"Don't you?"
"I never cared about what I was, and besides."
Josh managed to get himself comfortable by sliding off his jeans.
"I live everyday like it's my last anyways."
"I've never done that."
"Really?"
"I have too much anxiety."
The warmer Maia's body got the more awake she felt.
"Hey, can I ask a question?"
"Sure. What?"
"Do you like movies?"
"Course! Who doesn't like them?"
"Well, I prefer older scary movies. Like the classics."
"You mena like Dracula, or something?"
Maia nodded.
"You want to watch one?"
"Why not?"
Maia gave him a small smile, and quickly reaches for the remote sitting on top of her bedside dresser. She turned on the television, and went to a special list of old classic horror movies she made. Usually after a meltdown, Maia would cuddle up with Donovan while getting warmed up... but neither of them could get through an entire movie without having sex with one another.
"So why don't you choose?"
"Don't you want to?"
"Surprise me."
Josh scanned the list and came upon one movie that interested him.
"How about 'The Birds'?"
"Oooh! A classic of Hitchcock's."
"That's the guy who made the 'Psycho' movie, right?"
Maia was impressed by Josh.
"How'd you–"
"I know some things!"
Maia pressed play on the movie, and soon Josh was watching an old 1960's black and white film about a town overrun by vicious murdering black birds. Then he found himself watching Maia's reaction to the film, and perked up each time she was startled by a scene and shrunk down closer into him. Even though Josh knew Maia wasn't scared, he could smell that she was finally relaxed.
"Why are you jumping? You aren't scared."
"I'm just surprised."
"Haven't you seen this before?"
"Yes, but not for a while."
Josh took in the scent of Maia's clean hair. It no longer smelled of ash but something fruity. He couldn't quite figure out what kind of fruit, but he was enamored by the scent so much that he ended up loudly inhaling the calming aroma.
"What are you doing?"
Josh's eyes grew wide, and he started to panic.
"Sorry! I didn't mean…"
"No. It's okay."
Maia grabs one of his hands, and slides it down her thigh.
"I don't mind."
"Yeah?"
She could feel Josh's breath hit the nape of her neck.
"What else don't you mind?"
"Um…"
Maia lifted her hand up to stick her fingers through his dark brown hair, and Josh continued to breathe in her scent from her neck. She was starting to heat up, and could practically feel the intense ball of fire forming within her chest.
"S-Stop!"
Maia separated from him.
"I'm sorry!"
Josh turned his head away to hide his flushed face.
"I should go home."
"Home?"
"My parents saw me tonight."
Suddenly, Theo came storming into the room looking very upset. At first Maia thought this was because of her meltdown outside The Sinema earlier that evening, but instead his eyes darted over at Josh placing his jeans back on. Would he scold Josh for trying to seduce her? Theo never seemed to care about any of their personal business before, but something seemed off about him tonight.
"We need to talk in my room."
"Is this about–"
"Yes."
Josh nodded, and walks out the door to Theo's. Neither of them said a word as Theo gave her a quick look to check and make sure she was doing all right, and closed Maia's bedroom door. Maia sighed in relief, and decided not to worry about Theo until the next morning. She turns off her TV completely, and crawls back under her bed sheets and falls asleep.