Flame and I were sitting alone on the top of the roof of my house; for some reason it was actually effortless for me to get up there. Flame offered me his hand to climb but I didn't need it, my balance and strength could handle it on their own. That surprised me because I've never really been good at those types of things. My body was seriously doing some weird things but it's not like they are negative things. Unless they have some kind of negative side effect I'm not aware of, ignorance is truly bliss if that is truly the case. I have a lot more energy and am a lot stronger than I have ever been. Just before when I was turning off a light in my room I accidentally broke the switch. The plastic just shattered under my finger. That was a bit annoying and I didn't even press it that hard. I guess I just had to be more careful. Anyway, I was sitting on the roof with Flame and the sun was setting casting beautiful colours across the winter sky. I had my hand in Flame's as we gazed up at the sky. Deep purple clouds loomed but no rain, it was as if they were waiting for us.

Flame looked at over me, "You know the vampires have been getting worse lately."

I shivered and to be honest, I was really scared that something would happen to him while he is fighting the vampires. It also reminded me of the night Mr Pan disappeared.... well maybe that was a dream maybe Mr Pan was just a big strange math-related dream but it still reminded me of that, I can still remember the fear that had filled me that night.

"Don't worry I will protect you Victoria," Flame whispered in my ear as he hugged me.

"I'm worried about you," I told him.

"You shouldn't be worried it would take more than a few leeches to take me down," he told me in a calming voice "You've seen what I did to Frank," I giggled, "I was going easy on him too."

"Yeah I know, you're amazing," I told him looking up at him, " I shouldn't be worried."

But I was. How couldn't I be? If he was going to keep secrets from me I suppose I could keep this one from him.

He smiled down at me, "behind every great man there is an even greater woman."

I blushed, "I'm not that great...."

"You are, you just haven't realised it yet," he told me then kissed me.

There was a hint of something in his voice but I couldn't pick up on it because of the kiss that melted away all my concerns and worries. Still though, those words spoke to something deep within me.

***

I was getting ready for school when I noticed how much lighter my left I had become. I looked at it closer. It was barely purple anymore.... this was weird. The other one is fine. I sighed.

I look even stranger now.

Oh well I had to press on, as weird as my eyes were I couldn't just stare at them all day in the mirror. I picked up my bag and walked out of the house saying goodbye to my mum. I remember before I met Flame I had prayed that my eyes would change colour, maybe I hadn't put enough emphasis on the plural. 

As I walked out I saw Flame on his motorbike outside my house. "Flame?" I exclaimed with probably the biggest smile on my face.

"I'm taking you to school," he told me as he chucked the helmet at me. I caught it and put it on excitement tingling through my body.

"Thanks," I got onto the motorbike.

He started it and it sped off along the road... but it wasn't fast enough. I could run faster than this!

"Go faster!" I yelled over to wind to Flame.

I heard him laugh to himself and he turned the accelerator making the bike go faster. Now, this was better. I laughed enjoying the speed, everything was a blur around us. The wind was in our ears rushing past making a whirring sound. It was peaceful.

***

Eventually Flame stopped his motorbike at the front of our school. I got off and handed the helmet to him, he took it and went to put his motorbike away.

"Victoria!!!" I heard a familiar voice shout. I turned to see Griffin running through a crowd of year seven girls knocking the books out of their hands. They didn't seem to care though, they were too busy looking at how cute he was. They just giggled to each other. I agree to disagree on that matter. After getting through them he ran up to me and hugged me very tightly.

"Hello Griffin," I said but my face was squished in his chest so he probably couldn't hear me too well.

"Shouldn't you say meow?" he asked letting me go so I could breathe again.

"Why would I say meow? I'm not a cat," I questioned raising an eyebrow at him, just waiting for some kind of punch line.

"Ummmm.... yeah you're right," he told me rubbing the back of his neck. Unusual for him not to have some kind of pun or joke or one-liner or anything. 

Before I had time to think about it Flame walked back over. He glared at Griffin. Griffin gave his usual friendly and goofy smile back. Flame put his arm around me.

"Let's go to class," he said and all three of us started walking. The year sevens were still staring at Griffin as we walked past them, they had completely abandoned their books.

As we walked down the corridors we got stares from everyone but I could not care less. In fact, I didn't mind the stares I think some people might have even been jealous of me and Flame and then there was Griffin who was smiling at winking at the girls he thought were cute. I didn't really care though I was too focused on Flame's arm around my shoulder and his body heat that was warming my side. Everything seemed right and for me everything was perfect.

I smiled up at Flame and he smiled down at me. Yes definitely perfect.

***

"....her eyes are even more weird now," someone said behind me. I knew that they were talking about me. It's still tiring to be the 'her' in people's conversations. I tried to ignore them but my hearing has become really good lately so I can't.

"They almost look like they are two different colours," a girl said.

"I know right, her eyes were weird before but now they are even more weird," another girl replied.

"She might have a disease," one of them whispered in a low voice.

"It could be contagious!" one squealed. They all squealed and then they all moved their tables away from mine, squeaking the legs against the floor; which hurt my ears.

"Do you think we will catch it from here?" one of them asked the others. I rolled my eyes. Blonde idiots. I'm pretty sure this isn't a disease if it was that would be an easy way to explain it. It would be some weird disease if it was one...

Though I doubted I would get any useful answers I asked Flame at lunch "Do you think there is something wrong with my eyes?" 

He looked at me "there is nothing wrong with your eyes they are beautiful."

I blushed. Not the answer I wanted but sweet anyway.

"Your eyes look weird, the left one is changing colour, you should go see a doctor," Griffin told me his head popping out from behind Flame's shoulder.

Flame elbowed him, "idiot they look fine."

"No they are definitely different," Griffin said smiling.

Flame glared and him and he stopped smiling.

"You really think they look weird?" I asked Griffin feeling self-conscious. Though perhaps Griffin would be more honest, there was something to be said about the honesty of fools... or something.

"They..." Griffin was cut off by Flame saying, "are very beautiful you have nothing to worry about."

"She asked me," Griffin whined.

"Well, you were going to say something stupid and upset her," Flame growled.

"You didn't even hear what I was going to say," Griffin complained.

"Somethings I can just tell," Flame muttered then grabbed my hand and pulling me away from him. He tried to follow us but Flame glared at him. I glanced back at Griffin giving a look of apology, he just shrugged. 

But honestly, I did really want to talk to Griffin.

Once we had gotten to a quieter place away from Griffin and other people Flame stopped walking and hugged me.

"Sorry about him," Flame whispered in my ear.

"It's ok, I'm used to him and at least he is honest," I replied.

"I'm honest too but I don't think you could call him honest," Flame said.

"What would you call him?" I asked.

"Stupid," he answered simply, I giggled and he continued "he lacks the ability to think before he says something, so we are pretty much hearing his thoughts."

"What about the times he is quiet?" I asked.

"Since when is Griffin quiet?" Flame questioned.

I giggled, "true."

He smiled down at me, "you're so cute Victoria." I blushed bright red and he leant down and kissed me. Everything melted away and I just forgot about all of the burning questions I had for Griffin. But as I leant into Flame's kiss Frank turned the corner to see us....

Published -  24/5/2014

Edit 1 - 1/12/2016

Edit 2 - 13/11/2020