Fire Stones - By Kailin Gow Page 0,12

you later?” I said to Chance. He gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. Then, his eyes clearly fixed on Varun, he leaned into me once again, kissing me deeply, making it perfectly clear to Varun and Brandon alike that it was he who held my heart. I tried to respond in kind, but my embarrassment somewhat dulled my customary passion.

“I'll see you tonight, Mac,” said Chance in husky tones, his eyes blazing with desire as he stalked off.

I turned to Brandon, judiciously avoiding eye contact with Varun. “So, uh, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“Sorry – didn't want to intrude. I'm actually in a rush – need to change out of these clothes. But I just wanted to let you know that my mom asked me to pass along the message from yours – we're both on Cleanup Duty next Thursday at the Hotel after the Bowerman party.” He rolled his eyes. “Sorry, I'm sure you're not thrilled about Haven's birthday! But what can we do? Follow the money, right?” He laughed and took a step towards the door. “Right – anyway, I've got to change.”

“Wait!” I called out after him, but I was too late. He sauntered out, leaving me alone with Varun. I looked down at my shoes, not wanting to make eye contact. “What are you doing here, Varun?” I muttered. “Brandon could have delivered the message without you.”

“I wanted to see you,” he said, taking a step towards me. “I came by your house yesterday, but your mom said...”

“Yeah, I was sick,” I said, feeling a bit defensive. “I wasn't feeling so good, after...”

“I just wanted to see how you were doing. Is that so wrong?”

I sighed. “No, Varun, it isn't – and I appreciate you caring, but...”

Before I could finish, Varun had stepped towards me, pressing me up against the wall, his hand against my cheek. “I know you think you're with Chance,” Varun began, “but you must know that I care for you. You almost died out there – in the cave, with the shark...if you're going to risk your life like this... I know you want to prove that you're Vesta. I know you feel like you have to be her in order to fulfill your destiny, but you don't. I don't want you hurt, Mac. I don't want you killed. And especially not for him.” His eyes grew dark with envy. He leaned into me, pulling me toward him.

Instinctively, I pulled away. “Varun, please...” I raised my voice, growing angry now. “I know what you are – you're the Water King. Of course you're going to try to convince me to abandon all this...”

“You think that's what this is about?” Varun growled.

“I don't know what to think!” I sighed. “Please don't try to convince me not to. I want to be your friend, Varun, but not if you don't take no for an answer. You need to respect that...you're Water, I'm Fire. We're not meant to be, and I hate hurting you.”

“But do you feel nothing for me?” Varun was so close to me, so painfully close. “You do care, don't you?”

I could say nothing, but only wrest myself from his arms. “I have to go,” I heard myself saying, before I rushed into the girl’s locker room and closed the door behind me.

Chapter 5

I was furious as I changed out of my gym clothes and into my dress. How dare Varun refuse to take no for an answer? How dare he try to make things more complicated than ever... My cheeks were burning with anger. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My eyes were blazing bright and my cheeks were crimson. My whole body was glowing with the flame-like force of my anger. And yes, I thought, flame-like was the word. As if the whole energy of Fire were flowing through me. I recalled the flames at the celebration on my first night at Aeros – how I had seen the blazing tongues of yellow, white, and red; how the sight of the fire had inspired me, had filled my whole being with an ineffable sense of power. There was no denying it, I thought; whatever I was, it was the element of Fire that suffused my entire sense of self.

Did this mean I really was Vesta?

I refused to think of Varun, willing myself to forget his words all day long. How dare he tell me to abandon my quest? Was he speaking as the