Author's notes:
This story has significantly less grief than the last one. "I love you too, Papa" was fun to write but also sometimes emotionally taxing, so this will be a nice break. Doesn't mean you won't cry at some point. Probably not in this chapter though.
Please enjoy.
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Pyrophilic
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Chapter 1
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Some species of trees have evolved to depend on forest fires to proliferate. Trees such as the Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palustris) have cones that only release their seeds and germinate after a fire: the intense heat melts resin pockets in the cones to allow the seeds to be spread, and the resulting ash bed and lack of competition allow the seeds to flourish. This aspect of relying on the destructive power of fires to facilitate growth is known as Pyrophilic.
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A bright, full moon hung in the sky on this brisk fall night, shining over the numerous fleeting orange wisps as they flew about. Each wisp lived their entire life in a few moments before blinking into nothing. Only to be replaced when another crack from below shot more into the sky.
A pillar of dark smoke started to occlude the moon's light, growing thicker as new noxious fuel was found. Though you could barely notice its absence; shimmering shades of orange casting more than enough light as it was.
Fire poured out of almost every window of the Eden Academy dormitory, as a soot faced Damian Desmond sat in its courtyard watching it burn, wrapped in a blanket someone had given him at some point that night.
Damian could only stare in wonder as another window burst open, flames dancing outward and upward to slap against the side of the building. If he ignored the fact that he was abruptly awoken and rushed out the hall under harrowing circumstances, he could almost say the experience was pleasant.
Yes, he was still in his night wear, yes there was a river of fire on the ceiling as he ran out, yes he had a decent burn on his arm from falling debris, and yes his bed and almost all of his earthly possessions were currently being unceremoniously atomized.
But at that very moment? The dull roar and occasional crackle was relaxing in its own way. The heat that radiated from the inferno was enough to ward off the autumn chill, and the blanket just multiplied the experience. Cozy, in a way. In a life upending sort of way.
Damian was impressed the dorm had lasted as long as it did. On cue, the roof of the south wing collapsed, its momentum bringing down the rest of the floors under it.
All of the serene destruction was ruined by the incoming wail of sirens. Typical, Damian thought, Salvation arrives at the exact moment it was rendered useless. Oh yeah great work guys. Good thing you decided to walk here, you're just in time. You let the fire burn itself out enough, now you only have half a campus dorm to extinguish.
He was much too far from his father's estate to go home tonight. They wouldn't appreciate the inconvenience anyway. Heaven forbid they lost an hour of sleep for a silly little thing like the fiery displacement of their youngest son.
He had to fend for himself in elementary school, why should high school be any different?
Damian sighed and pulled the blanket around him tighter. The bandages around his left arm pulled on the rough spun threads uncomfortably. At least they'll probably cancel school tomorrow.
He slept on an emergency cot in the cafeteria that night.
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It was a rare occurrence to gather the entirety of the high school student body in one room for assembly. Ever since the incoming students were split into 'arts' and 'sciences' tracks in freshman year, they were generally treated as separate schools. Aside from the occasional core or elective class that they had in common, students from each track barely interacted.
So it was not a surprise to Anya, as she took her seat near the center right of the auditorium, that the conversations in the room had shifted away from the fire three days ago. Now the room was alive with the reunion of old classmates and introduction to new ones.
The clashing of new and old cliques was not always a pleasant event. Nor peaceful.
"I swear if George Glooman is here I'm going to punch him right in the wienie." Becky Blackbell confessed to Anya, throwing air punches to demonstrate.
"You haven't seen him in 3 years, how are you still mad at him?" Anya smiled despite her friend's threats of violence.
" He asked me to be his date to the closing ceremony dance, then had the nerve to no show and act like it was my fault the next day." Becky narrowed her eyes at Anya. "I didn't even want to go with the dweeb in the first place, but he talked me into it. To do that and just never talk to me again? I mean what?"
Becky threw her hands in the air. "Then word goes around that I stood him up? No, there is no world where I forgive him for that."
Anya sighed. "Well I hate to break it to you but I think he is here. Everyone is here." Anya scanned the room. "I think he's in class 3A, so that should be over in that section." Anya points towards the front left of the room.
Becky punched her fist into her other hand. "Great, it's wienie punching time."
Anya pulled her back down to her seat. "Stop, you don't even know what he looks like these days."
"Why does that matter? I'll just punch wienies until I find the right wienie. I'll get it right eventually. Plus I'm sure most of those boys deserve to get their wienies punched."
"You can't just assume that, Becky, and stop saying wienie."
Becky scoffed. "You mean to tell me you don't think Damian deserves a few?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Anya faced forward and crossed her arms over her chest. "I doubt he even remembers me."
"Now who's assuming?" Becky leaned her head on Anya's shoulder. "You two were inseparable before highschool."
"That's not true, we fought so much they were separating us constantly." Anya smiled at the memory. "Remember when I was able to empty that entire bottle of ketchup in his pocket before they pulled us off each other? He was so angry." Anya leaned her head on Becky's head. "But he deserved it for the egg in my shoe."
Becky snorted. "Yeah, he for sure forgot about you."
The whine of microphone feedback got everyone's attention, and the housemaster Henry Henderson arrived at the podium.
Henry cleared his throat. "Good morning Eden Academy. As you are all aware, there was a fire in the Class 2 and Class 3 campus dormitories several nights ago, leading to their complete destruction."
All of Class 3? Is he okay? Anya thought to herself.
"While the cause has yet to be determined, the effect is the same. Currently there are 287 students affected by this catastrophic event, many of whom cannot return home and still attend Eden, as their commute would be prohibitively long. These students have been staying at temporary housing or off site hotels up to this point. However, this arrangement is unsustainable.
"Of course, the tradition of housing students from across the country has been a long standing tenet of Eden's educational services, and has allowed us to attract the best and brightest minds of tomorrow. It wasn't just a dorm that was destroyed, but an environment that nurtures learning, fosters a sense of community and provides a safe haven for minds to grow and flourish. This is not something you can recreate alone in a hotel or temporary quarters. And to overlook this aspect would be tantamount to abandoning these young minds. No, that will not do at all."
Henry signaled to his left and two workers brought a table to the side of the podium and placed a large box with a square hole in the lid.
"After meeting with the parent teacher alliance, we have reached a unanimous decision. Until such time that the new dormitories are completed, each displaced student will be assigned to a family of a commuting student, with whom they will temporarily reside."
Whispers and murmurs bubbled up among the crowd.
"While this is not an ideal replacement, it will serve as a suitable interim solution. The parents of Eden Academy students are some of the greatest leaders, artists, and innovators in this country. I have no doubt these arrangements will yield unexpected opportunities for growth and learning.
"All parents of commuting students have been notified, and I will now ask that the affected students come up when their name is called and pick a slip of paper from this box." Henry pointed. "When you pull a name you will hand it to me to announce who your assigned family is. The hosting student will then meet with their assigned guest student at the end of the day to facilitate transport."
Henry looked around the room. "This arrangement is intentionally random to avoid biasing the pairings to favor one class, track, or social standing over another. I expect that both host and guest students will exemplify the very best standards of Eden behavior during these tumultuous times."
Anya turned to Becky as Henry began to call students one by one. "Did your dad tell you anything about this?"
"No way, I would have staged a coup if that happened. What about you?"
"Nothing either."
Surely they would have said something to me, right?
Satisfied that this probably didn't concern them, they took out their phones and occupied themselves while each student was assigned a family.
Henry announced the next name on the list. "George Glooman!"
Becky perked up and punched the air. "It's happening!"
The man that walked up onto the stage was not the George Glooman they remembered. This George was much taller. He had a chiseled physique and broad shoulders that stretched out his uniform shirt. His facial features were sharper, more pronounced without being glaring. He still had the eyes and expression of that soft spoken boy from years ago, but now he walked with intent. George was the person that embodied the phrase glow up.
Anya and Becky were both silent to this new revelation as they watched him walk across the stage and pick a folded piece of paper from the box. He handed it over to the housemaster, who unfolded it and read aloud.
"Becky Blackbell!"
Anya whipped her head around to gape at Becky, fully expecting to see the middle of a tantrum, but instead saw Becky just staring straight at the stage, eyes following George as he went to sit down.
While Anya was more in awe at the transformation than the person himself, Becky was clearly affected at a much different level. Something Anya quickly picked up on and decided to explore.
"So… I guess your dad signed up to be a host without telling you?"
"Huh? Oh… uh… yup." Becky's brain was stalling.
"Guess you're going to get plenty of opportunities to punch him in the wienie now right?"
"Yeah… sure… wienie…"
Anya's teasing was just getting started when an announced name stopped her.
"Damian Desmond!"
Anya spun forward, just in time to see Damian walk on the stage.
Damian was taller than she remembered. He was certainly taller than her by now, by at least a head. Gone were his kid-ish features and profile. He now had a face that seemed more mature, more streamlined, and a lean runner's build that his uniform neither clung to nor hung off of. He walked with a casual air of authority, maybe even borderline aloof, and his hair was slightly unkempt but not in an unhygienic way. He had one arm wrapped in gauze from the palm to just below the elbow.
Anya arched an eyebrow as he picked a slip from the box. I guess it would make sense that he's changed too.
Damian was already walking down the stage when Henry read the next name. "Anya Forger!"
Damian spun around while Anya shot to her feet. In near perfect unison, they both exclaimed: "I refuse!"
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Chapter 1: End
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End notes:
What's this? Second story ever? A few days after finishing the first? I'm developing a severe case of hobby.
I have a (mostly) full plan for this story, but there's a lot of points in the plan where it's just like 'cohabitation shenanigans ensue' so I have no clue how long this will be.
Also technically the name for the aspect of trees that germinate after forest fires can be referred to either Pyriscence Serotiny or Pyrophilic. But the former doesn't roll off the tongue nearly as well as the latter.
As always, comments and critiques are encouraged. Hurt me gently.
ALSO, they gave me a shout out so it's my turn.
If you're looking for something new to read. Give this one a shot: "Somewhere I Have Never Traveled" by Katsumi Star
