The First Symptom

I rushed to my next class, panting as I grabbed a seat in the back of the room. What had just happened? No, I didn't care what had just happened. I slid my book out of my backpack and began reading again to hopefully banish any thoughts of those two.

It was impossible. The dream, at least I'd convinced myself it was a dream, from last night had just replayed itself in front of me in the exact same voices of the intruders in my room. But...if someone had been in my room, what was the green light? I froze. That's where I had seen the color of Blaze's eyes before--the green light in my room was exactly the same. What the hell? Pondering every possibility, I finally settled on the only one that seemed plausible: I was psychic. That was the only explanation because people were always saying how dreams are like foretelling what's to come. Oh my God! I was going crazy!

Blaze and Amara walked into the classroom. I glared at them only I don't know why. Maybe they had been in my room last night, and that green light was some...hypnotizing thing to get me to pass out, and now they were trying to do something to me. Suddenly, I laughed aloud. Some people around me looked back to see what I was laughing at, and fortunately, I still had my book open. What was I thinking? They're high school students for heaven's sake. I read way too much and was definitely over thinking this.

Blaze sat in front of me again, and he gave a smile that would make any girl melt instantly. He flipped a long strand of hair over his shoulder and pulled the dark brown silk into a ponytail.

"Hey," he said, smiling as he held out a hand to me. "I'm Blaze Karsh."

I know, I thought sullenly, unable to form the words. Instead, I said, "Danyka Sword," and shook his hand politely.

His hand was amazingly warm and tan. I felt a warm blush creep into my cheeks at his touch, jerking my hand away for fear that was the reason. He laughed. I wondered at what and turned to see him still staring at me. Of course it was me. Who else? 

"Are you Italian?" I blurted without reason.

Again, he laughed. "Yes, why do you ask?"

"Well..." I began, "your dark hair and really tan skin was a pretty good give away, but your emerald eyes don't fit the description so I had to ask."

"Then what are your origins, Dani?" Blaze asked.

I barely registered the question for all I heard was the name he'd used. "What?"

"I said 'What are your origins'?"

"No, I heard that," I said somewhat angrily. "But what did you call me?"

"Dani..."

I took a deep breath. There was no reason this should anger me so much. Blaze had no idea that I had a brother who'd gone away to college and hadn't been home in two years and who was also the only one who ever called me Dani. "Please don't call me that," I commanded as calmly as possible through clenched teeth.

"Why not Dani?"

I tightened my fists under the desk, unsure of the reasons behind the anger surging in me.

(Note: I realize this doesn't seem to go anywhere, but I do have a reason that I will get to in future posts, if not the next one.)