"I was totally there."

"You were not."

"I was!"

"You were not," I repeated.

"How would you know anyway?" My best friend Penny asked. "You were not there. I'm the big fan here. You're not."

I rolled my eyes in a way that said I was bored. I truly was whenever she started talking about the city's famous Cinder Girl and Ice Phantom. And my best friend had a knack for them--the city heroes and villains. She had even once forced me to sneak inside the Agency headquarters with her. Good thing the guards spotted us and we ran away.

Was it strange that I was forced to sneak into a place that was home to me? Penny didn't know that.

"I watched it all on the television." I wagged a finger in her face. "I didn't see your face amongst the crowd at the top of that building."

Penny huffed, her dark red hair framing her face. She looked rather cute when she was angry. But if you told her that, there was an 89 per cent chance that you'd end up getting impaled.

"And anyway, even if you were there," I continued with a little frown, "don't you think that's dangerous? You could've gotten hurt, Pen."

"I wouldn't have. Cinder Girl would've saved me." She said it like she was sure. I should've been happy with that, with the fact that my best friend and almost all the people of this city trusted me. But I wasn't. Penny's words were like spiders crawling up my arms. Scary.

"She won't always be there," I said.

Penny ignored me as much as she was ignoring her lunch tray right now. I sighed and looked around the busy cafeteria of our college, with students bustling in and out. Then I picked up a cold french fry from her tray and chewed on it.

"It was rather tragic when she fell off the building, though." She added, shaking her head. "I wonder if she's all right. Ice Phantom looked pretty smug."

I sighed again, wanting to rub my still-bruised shoulder in comfort. I didn't, though. Yes, I'm all right, Pen, I wanted to say. And yes, Ice Phantom is a smug little shit.

"So you didn't get to make a video of them fighting. No new post on your blog. I don't think your fans would die without it."

"They will!" She exclaimed with her wide hazel eyes. Penny was by far one of the prettiest girls in town. She was studying journalism here--was enthusiastic about it--and was a cheerleader alongside it. Most of the boys swooned at just the name of her. I wasn't necessarily called a loner, but it was still surprising that she became friends with me rather quickly. "If I miss out on any latest updates, they're gonna think I'm falling behind. And I'll lose the followers!"

I furrowed my brows. "I don't think Cinder Girl appreciates your blog."

Penny's eyes widened even more. Then narrowed. "How would you know? Did she tell you that? Wait! Do you know her real identity? Is she your sister?"

I blinked at her. "I don't...I don't have a sister, Penny."

Penny's face reddened just a little. "I didn't...sorry, I didn't mean it like that. To sound so insensitive. Sorry?"

I waved it off with a smile. Really, because it didn't bother me. Penny was one of the few people I knew who had intentions as pure as a newly born butterfly. Besides, I didn't remember my family. Why would I be pissed about it?

"It's fine," I told her. "And I don't know who Cinder Girl is anyway. I was just saying. Wouldn't you hate it if someone was constantly stalking and recording your every public move?"

Penny moaned. "You're boring. Why did I not end up with a friend who loves Cinder Girl and Ice Phantom as much as I do?"

I grinned, knowing fully well she wasn't petty enough to give me up for a nicer friend. "Luck." Then my eyes widened excitedly. "Though there is something you might find interesting."

That perked her up. "Tell me! Tell me!" She splayed her hands flat on our table.

"Jimmy talked to me today." I gushed quietly, afraid someone might hear me. "He talked to me. And God, his eyes are the bluest of blues out there. Have I ever told you that?"

Penny grinned back at me. "Yes, you have. Just about a million times."

"And he's got dimples!"

She laughed. "Dee, it's embarrassing that you still call him Jimmy."

"I don't know his name."

"It's been four months since you've been living there. Almost three months since you've been roommates with him." Her hazel eyes widened again. "You're telling me that you never once asked him?"

I shrugged.

Penny groaned and slumped her forehead on the table. "God, you're hopeless."

I laughed at that.

"Hopelessly in love."

"I'm not in love."

"'Course you are." She frowned. "You talk about him like he's your fucking boyfriend. It should be annoying but it's pathetically endearing."

"It's not love," I told her with a small smile, feeling that familiar pang in my chest. Like when I'd visit my parents' graves. Or when I'd stare at their photograph for a little too long. The pang of longing. "Just a crush."

"Four months," Penny said. "You know, I can do some dirty research on him. I've got ways."

"Ew, no."

"I can't stand you calling him by that obscene name!"

"What's wrong with Jimmy?" I crossed my arms defensively, frowning.

Penny rolled her eyes and said something in response. I didn't hear her, though. Not when my attention was diverted towards the curious whispers from one corner of the cafeteria. I looked over and saw a small crowd gathered at a table, a little far from our own.

Then I tuned back to what Penny was saying. "...he's hot, to be honest. Like I agree with you. The dimples? Hell yes. The smile? Killer. He's got the whole mysterious-new-stranger-in-town vibe going on."

"What's going on there?" I asked her curiously, nudging my head towards the crowd.

Penny looked over and her eyebrows nearly rose to her hairline. She looked back at me and her eyes were wide. I knew that look. Her 'I've got some juicy tea up my sleeve' look.

"Apparently, Neo's been spreading this rumour around that he knows Ice Phantom personally."

It took me a few seconds to digest what she had just said. Clearing my throat, I leaned towards her. "What?"

She nodded. "Yes. He's been going around since this morning, saying exactly that to everyone."

"He doesn't know who Ice Phantom is," I told her.

Penny shrugged.

"You think he's telling the truth?" I asked her quietly.

"Why do you look so horrified?" She asked me with a funny look. "Don't you think it's about time we get to know of their identities?"

My mouth went a little dry at that. Then I laughed--just as dry and nervous. "Right," I said. "Everyone would love that."

"I think he's lying, though," she continued. "He's been spreading the rumour but he hasn't told it to anyone yet. I think he's just jealous of Ice Phantom or something."

Neo wasn't one to get jealous, I wanted to say. I would know that because he'd been my best friend since middle school (ever since I started school when I convinced Orias that I didn't want to be homeschooled anymore). Neo had been one of my first friends in this town. He'd shown me what it was like outside the Agency walls. He'd shown me what real friendship was like.

And then last year, right on New Year's Eve, he'd confessed that he liked me (loved me) and I think I broke his heart.

Ever since then, Neo hasn't been my best friend-Neo. This Neo was one who acted out on anger, who I think hated me, and who gave me nasty looks whenever we crossed paths. Not like I could blame him.

He'd confessed his heart out to me and I'd said no. Because he was just a friend to me and I didn't feel the same way. I didn't think I ever could.

"Or maybe he does know who Ice Phantom is," Penny added. "Should I try finding out?"

I cleared my throat again, a little uncomfortably. "Yeah, maybe no. What if Ice Phantom finds out and you know, like, zaps all of you with electricity?"

Penny frowned. "He doesn't zap people, Dee."

I grinned. "No?"

"No!" She seemed exasperated now. "He's got ice powers. Don't you pay attention at all?"

I laughed despite her glare directed at me and looked around the cafeteria. I liked pissing her off sometimes.

"Oh my God, there he is!" Penny exclaimed all of a sudden.

I raised my brows and followed her gaze, only to find them getting stuck on Jimmy--my beautifully hot, blue-eyed roommate.

"Go, go, go!" She made a shooting gesture at me.

"What?"

"Go and talk to him!" She hissed. "Maybe even ask him his real name."

"Heh. No. I'm not doing that." I don't know why I suddenly felt shy. "That's embarrassing."

"Do it or I will." Penny threatened.

"You won't."

When she made a move to stand up, I rose my hands in peace. "All right, all right! Geez. Calm the fuck down. I'm going!"

She seemed rather satisfied as I got up and grudgingly started making my way towards the food stall where Jimmy was. He was by the napkin stand, one hand over the pile of napkins, and the other busy typing something on his phone.

I smiled. "Jimmy."

He faced me and his eyes widened. Then they narrowed. "Still not my name."

"I know." I stretched it out dramatically and leaned against the nearest wall. "What is then? Your name, I mean. People laugh at me when I talk about you and call you that. It's embarrassing." Not people, just Penny.

His eyes were back on his phone, but when I said that, they darted back to me and he raised a brow. "You talk about me."

"Well, of course. You're my roommate."

"I don't talk about you." He frowned.

"Ouch."

"It's Jamie."

I blinked at him. Then blinked again. And then my mouth formed into a small o. "Wait a goddamn second," I said. His lips quirked up at one corner. "So all this time I've been saying the correct name?"

He sighed and I had a feeling he rolled his eyes. Not really sure since he looked down at the napkins, picked one up, and slid his phone into his back pocket. The hem of his black shirt rode up a little and I did not stare at the lightly tanned skin of his stomach. Well-defined stomach, I mean. "Not exactly."

"Yes exactly!" I grinned. "This is hilarious."

"Clearly, our levels of humour don't match."

I might've even clapped my hands in glee. Jimmy--Jamie--looked like he wanted to leave without insulting me any further. But I was just happy and amused. Who knew I had such name-guessing superpowers?

Jamie opened his mouth to say something when a voice interrupted us both.

"Dahlia!"

My smile faltered when I turned around and saw who it was.

"Neo," I said, unsurely, hesitating. He was walking towards me with that confident stride of his, dark curls and grey-eyed glory.

"It's been long." He grinned. A grin, I remembered with a pang of nostalgia, that old Neo used to give me. When we used to be friends.

I didn't quite understand why he was talking to me right now. Didn't he hate me? Was this a humiliating prank? I looked around for any cameras or hidden props. There was nothing. The cafeteria around us was as busy as usual. Even Jamie, I noticed, was back on his phone, totally ignoring Neo and me as he leaned back against the napkin stand.

"Yeah." I cleared my throat, forcing a tiny smile. "How've you been?"

He shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "Eh, in and out. What about you? Still the same old boring lifestyle of yours?" He laughed at that and I think I laughed too, more awkward and forced. God, why was he even talking to me?

"What brings you here?" I cut to the chase, shifting a little on my feet. I could strangely feel a stare at me from behind. Knowing that it must be Jimmy--Jamie--didn't help my racing heartbeat.

"Something tells me you've been out of the latest gossip chain."

I licked my lips. So that's what this is about. "You know I don't give a fuck about all that," I whispered. "Heroes and villains."

"Well, you should." He raised his brows. "You might need help getting out of a rather burning mess someday."

I furrowed my brows. "A burning what?"

He leaned closer with that same boyish smile that most of the girls here fell for. Even Penny had simped over him for a while. I remembered those days. "I think you're the first person I should disclose the top-secret to. You were my first real friend in town. The perfect person."

"I..." I faltered. "Look, I really don't care who Ice Phantom is." A few napkins fell behind me. I glanced over my shoulder at Jamie and he raised an unconcerned brow at me that seemed to sum up as a nonchalant 'what?'.

"Aren't you curious though?" Neo tilted his head. "A lot of them are."

"Why should I be curious?"

"Like I said, hot mess." He replied. I frowned at the barely concealed, excited glint in his eyes. He seemed so different from the Neo I used to know. Tanner in complexion from the pale boy I knew. Even his eyes looked sharper, darker, grey-er--almost as if offering me a challenge. A darker and a much natural grey than Ice Phantom's.

"Well, who is he then?" I asked him, crossing my arms. I think I felt the napkin stand rattling a little behind me.

Neo smiled almost as if he pitied me. Not a good look on him. "No need to force it," He said, leaning closer until he was just whispering. Until I saw his eyes boring into my own. I wanted to pull away, but something didn't let me. "You'll come to me, Dahlia. You'll ask me then. You'll want to know. I can assure you that."

I frowned again. It wasn't really his words, but the tone of it that made an alarming chill run down my spine. A warning, Neo meant it as a warning. What the hell was up with him?

I didn't, however, get to ask him more about it when I felt my phone buzz with an incoming text. I excused myself to a corner and took it out, glancing down at the screen. It was a live notification from the Agency sent to me at times of need.

Like right now.

There was an emergency in town. And they needed Cinder Girl.