Dear all,

Here comes the edited and improved version of chapter 2 and you will see more into their thoughts, emotions, interaction.

Once more, this time I hadn't added much, for there was not much need and, the chapter was OK as it was. In chapter 1 we learned more about Travis's past and why they had to move to New York.

However, I really hope you'll enjoy this new version and feel more in tune with the characters. I think Travis is quite the sassy one and I am having very much fun in reviewing the entire story. As you can see, he found new ways to describe and call John Collins 😊

Wait for chapter 3 and enjoy this one!

"We met for a reason – either you're a blessing or a lesson," by Frank Ocean

TRAVIS POV:

Great, just freaking fantastic.

A wonderful day was ahead of me with all chances and in a way, I wanted to kick myself. What had I said before about lack of luck and troubles following me more than my own shadow? I avoided groaning out to attract even more unwanted attention and I swallowed silently while looking again at him, the ice-made beast of the school, Aleksandr Lebedev. He sure was really hot. Hot as hell and I just couldn't stop staring at him, even if I tried to look away. This was not very smart, Travis, and definitely not the moment for that.

I wasn't very good at remembering names, surnames and stuff like that, and it wasn't because I was lazy, or my memory sucked big time. No, I simply selected a lot of information. Hell, I wasn't even good at remembering faces if I thought they were not interesting or not worth my attention, which also was part of the natural selection process. But his face and his name were impossible to forget and ignore, not even if I tried with all my best. And not because he was considered a dangerous and icy beast or because most of the jockass-idiots in this school feared him. No, absolutely freaking no. That wasn't the reason. He wasn't an idiot or a jock, that I already knew and appreciated myself some time ago.

My eyes ranked him once more and then, I really wanted to kick myself. I had to stop that asap, but my eyes refused to listen to me.

The reason was very simple and plain: he was the hottest, sexiest, wildest, most handsome and mouth-watering and mouth-drooling guy I have ever seen. My blood boiled in my veins as we quickly exchanged a look, more like a glare in his case, not matter how icy and cold that was; and the blood rapidly ran south, making me internally cringe at my current state. But seriously, Aleksandr was hot as fuck. His eyes concentrated on mine for a couple of seconds and I felt as if I were struck there on the spot, frozen even, dazed by the intensity of his searching, glacial eyes.

People had to believe me when I say that I have seen and met many, really gorgeous guys, men and girls during my life, and still saw them during practice or such. It was normal in that environment, as many of us took great, almost obsessive care of our body, and sometimes looks. I had to be honest and admit to my great satisfaction that I also was with few of them. But the first time my eyes at school set on Aleksandr Lebedev, I realized nobody was like him; not to mention, nobody seemed to spike my horniness as much as he did. There was something in his way of walking, in his attitude or whatever the hell that was, that anyway turned me on. Oh, great for real. I mean, just because I didn't want to attract attention and preferred my lovely, crazily-music-filled I-pod's company didn't mean I lived in a bubble where I could see or notice nothing. What was interesting and attractive automatically registered in my brain and memory and well, Aleksandr registered not only in my brain, if you know what I mean.

He looked at me sort of annoyed, even if I didn't understand the reason; I mean, it wasn't my fault if I bumped into him. That slow ass – who thought himself as super-hot but in truth was super-mediocre and a gigantic, jackass bully – had just pushed me. I repressed another groan of irritation, keeping my temper in check, for just the mere idea enraged me a second time.

However, it was too late now to turn back, because the damage was already done. What happened and the annoyance triggered by entire situation unleashed my rather stupid tongue, which often seemed not to want to listen to my brain.

"What?" I asked with quite a defensive and hard tone to Aleksandr, somehow challenging his glare, my eyes set on his without lowering them of one tiny bit. "It wasn't my fault I bumped into you. Some moronic jockass just pushed me into your way. Got a problem with that?"

Damn.

I didn't just say that did I? Awesome, I just did blab out. Worse than blabbing. I just barked at him pissed-off. Oh great, that was absolutely perfect.

Damn. Double, triple damn.

Way to go, Travis. I just talked back to him with quite a touch of feisty temper and even dared to challenge his glare. Oh, my sweet Lord. I was so, so done today. What did I do wrong this morning when I woke up? Nothing, as much as I could recollect. I had my usual breakfast, no junk food, nothing unusual, mom and I even helped an old lady with a bag. Argh, maybe I should have read my horoscope? Hell, as if that ever counted for me. Complete useless stuff.

While I felt his attention and stare on me, which did something rather contrasting to my body, I bit my tongue, as if to punish it to stay put next time, but I should have simply slapped my face probably. Once again: so much for wanting to keep a low profile. Was I really a human magnet for troubles?

He looked at me slightly arching his perfect black eyebrow, without changing or possibly softening his expression, which remained hard and annoyed and seemingly carved into ice. Our eyes met again for a very brief moment, just silently staring into each other, not sure I was exactly breathing normally, and I felt a chilly shiver slowly slithering down my back, almost like invisible, very cold fingers leisurely sliding lower and lower. Something passed by his icy blue eyes and I couldn't put my finger on what was, but it didn't take a huge guess in seeing that for sure he wasn't happy someone talked back to him in such way. He wasn't used to it, but then again, I wasn't the most normal person out there.

I looked at John, the slow ass that was still blocking my locker. He had brain issues, for all I could think, and I glared at him, deciding whether I should say more or not. Just move from there, you moron, instead of...Oh no. No, no, no. What the hell had just happened? After seeing Aleksandr' glare at my answer, that jockass was smirking in my direction in a way that made me feel sick. I controlled my breathing and quickly glanced around. Seriously, what the hell did I do wrong this morning?

Did I just dig my own grave? Just freaking, triple damn perfect. Argh, whenever anxiety got me, I swore more than normal and that was really something. Lucky me, mom didn't mind it at all, or it would be quite an issue.

And right then I was not nervous. Nope. Much, much more than merely nervous. I was about to freak out big time, as a slimy voice began to hiss in my ear and an image flashed in front of my eyes plunging me back to my personal nightmare. I swallowed hard, trying to regain some calm. Not now, please. Not now, please, I kept chanting in my head, and it made the trick, for my pride decided that being smart was a far better choice. I didn't want to back down and coward away with the tail between my legs, hell, I'd rather slap my beautiful face rather than do that. But I surely needed to get the fuck out of there in that instant, because things didn't look the best for me.

Alright, one big football player wasn't a real problem for me. I could take one alone, two as well if I really was pissed-off big time. But one jockass plus one beast of an ice-hockey player like Aleksandr, more used to rough fighting and hockey stick beating, plus a friend of him approaching...well that was way beyond me.

Also, I had to remind myself that when something like this crap happened, I started to freak out and enrage at the same time, which all considered was not a nice and smart combination. Let's not forget, I couldn't get involved in any more problems, or things would be a real pain in the ass. My teacher had been crystal clear about it, explaining that it might affected my curriculum and she had been adamant on the matter. So yeah, I had to get the hell out of there and do it at once.

But, damn it. I felt like trapped.

I looked again at Aleksandr, who was now glaring at that idiot named John, having possibly a peanut for brain, and I suddenly relaxed letting go of the breath I didn't realize I was holding. I might have passed out if I hadn't breathed in another two seconds. I was not being a crazy masochist. Nah. Absolutely not, for that was far from my nature. My anxious state slowly smoothed away and I managed to slightly relax, because that hot beast of a hockey-player was now glaring at the moron jockass with such an annoyed and irritated look that could have stabbed him right away. Hmm, not actually; it would have punched him right away and let him pass out. Yeah, that was more likely.

The John guy froze his smirk and shift uneasy, suddenly being the one checking the surrounding and clearly looking not very happy at the turn of events. Oh, that was pretty much amusing, for I just understood how that piece of bully crap was quite afraid of Aleksandr Lebedev. I bit my tongue not to laugh at that, knowing it'd very stupid indeed.

Aleksandr took a couple of steps in his direction, before his friend, whose name was Derek - yeah, he was worth my attention and memory, that was absolutely right - moved beside him with casual and quite easy going attitude, as if being used to that and not exactly caring.

"Alex dude, I was looking for you. What's up?" He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and smiled broadly, dimples appearing on his rather handsome face. He clearly wanted to ease the atmosphere and I was more than glad and grateful for his effort.

"Nothing, just another annoyance," the hot ice-made beast replied, and I mentally kicked myself, because his voice moved something inside of me. It sounded calm, quite even, and apparently it didn't hold any emotion. But, as I said, apparently only, for there was a touch I did not miss. Yeah, I was sure his voice had a strange effect on me, for it caused shivers down my back. Again, I had to get the hell out of here before I said something stupid that I would definitely regret.

"What did you just say, Lebedev?" John retorted back, this time trying to look cool and not so scared as before, and I swear, a groan escaped my mouth as I rolled my eyes. He really was a complete lost and idiotic case.

"Just move from there, Collins," Aleksandr ordered piercing him with his eyes from side to side, making him feel like a little and stinky piece of crap.

In that moment, a thought crossed my mind and thus, I pressed my lips together before letting it be voiced out. How would he sound in bed? Of course, my brain could not refrain from that path and of course my body responded to it. Oh no, Travis hold it, would you? That was not the time to think about wild fun.

Wild fun...yeah...wild, rough, hard fun.

Oh my, Aleksandr sure would be some really wild and hot, devastating fun, and the very idea rendered me quite hard. I shifted stance without being noticed to hide my issue and began to think about gross stuff to repress it. But my eyes trailed to him and another shiver ran down my back, feeling something getting restless inside of me as I checked him out.

He had the typical Russian strong jaw, strong chin, as if carved in solid stone. His nose looked like a boxer's nose, like it had been punched and broken and put back in place yet still showing the sharp angle of the fracture, but in my opinion, it was its natural shape and it was terribly sexy and manly. It just added more to his dangerous and hard-looking aura. His entire face had rather sharp and squared features, giving it a hard and rough allure in the complex of it. Black short hair, almost in a military style, contrasted his bright and icy-blue, clear eyes. They almost looked transparent for how pure and light the blue was, really giving the idea of cold ice. How much was he tall? I bet more than 6 and 2, because we were inches apart. The image of a Greek God would not do justice to his body and his muscles and it wasn't an exaggeration. Then my eyes locked on his lips...full and strong lips, which I would gladly...Stop. Before being caught staring at him with devouring eyes and before getting myself painfully hard, let's just drop it.

I shifted my glare elsewhere and sighed. What a great morning, wasn't it? I needed a break already and the day in school still had to begin.

"Why should I move? You don't own this place, you know that, right?" Honestly, he was still there creating problems. What the heck was the issue with his brain? Maybe, the lack of it, that might explain it.

However, his words and rather pathetic attempt at threatening did the trick. It was like you could almost hear a switch clicking in Aleksandr' mind, and this time, I just enjoyed the view of it fully. He took another two steps until he was facing that douchebag, his friend looking at that with an amused expression. I glared at him, not understanding why he wasn't going to do anything. Was he letting the beast getting in trouble for a piece of junk like the John dude? Well, maybe he needed a lesson, but like this? Derek then shot me a playful smirk, as if he had read my mind. He winked and silently chuckled, so I shrugged, getting his message very clearly.

"Collins, I should have dealt with you way before, but now I don't have time to waste, so consider yourself very lucky. Now, move from my sight. You are in my way." He placed a hand on the lockers, and it seemed he was about to leave a dent on them. I bet he was thinking of crushing that moron's head against them, just as I fantasized a moment earlier. But then, it would be a waste of lockers. Imagine cleaning his blood and brains...gross, very gross.

"You got way too arrogant, Russian." The way he said it did not please me, even more because his voice was no longer confident, and it let out all of his distaste and not so well repressed hatred. In general, any sort of prejudice just irked me and got under my skin. Though, Aleksandr didn't flinch to that, as if he had not heard those words; he simply smirked a you-are-so-fucked grin and went to reach for his neck. The situation was getting out of hand and I didn't want to find myself involved. To be completely honest, I didn't want to see someone like Aleksandr getting into troubles for that waste of space named John, and thus, my tongue struck back once more.

"Can't you just move your ugly ass from there so we can all get to our damn lockers and go to class? You seriously are slow and annoying...was it Joe or John? I swear, I cannot remember it."

Obviously, my tongue beat my thoughts once more and so did my sarcasm. Alright, whatever, he wasn't going to die because of that, and it actually served the purpose, considered Derek burst into genuine laughter, just like a madman. And I found myself also smiling. The all situation was starting to move from annoying to extremely ludicrous.

"Dude, the sexy emo here is right. You are in the way of everyone this morning." He couldn't stop laughing. Was that funny what I said? Then something else registered in my brain. He got my style very wrongly and I had to immediately correct him.

"Hey, I am not an emo," I said quickly, for I was a sexy, hot rocker. People shouldn't get me wrong, as I had nothing against emo or their style, which was rather cool, and I highly appreciated their use of black and eyeliner. However, I wasn't one and Rock was my second skin. Punk-rock, glam-rock, metal-rock. My entire look screamed Rock. Then in a second moment, I registered the first part. Sexy. Oh, he found me sexy. Very nice to know and he was already forgiven for the mistake.

"Sorry, sexy rocker is better?" Derek asked winking and he got it right this time.

I chuckled and eyed him in a flirty way, and he didn't mind it. He wasn't gay, you could bet your neck and money on that, but sure his mind and sense of humor were wide open. Something I always highly valued and respected in people and a trait that made me look at a person with a different and more open predisposition.

Aleksandr looked at his friend with an amused frown and shook his head. So, he wasn't really made of ice as everyone claimed around the school, and for sure, it wasn't ice what he inspired me.

"Move Collins, I won't say it a third time," he repeated the order harder and letting him see the difference in strength, for I had not the slightest doubt Aleksandr could kick his ass without much effort. John Collins glared quite outraged and maybe stupidly trying to think about some comeback, miserably failing under Lebedev's pressure. Well, he tried to glare, since it was clear he was scared. What a crappy coward; it was easy to bully someone smaller and super sweet looking, but no longer so easy to stand alone in front of someone bigger and stronger. Could I just kick his useless ass? That would make me feel so much better and the day would definitely improve quite a lot.

"I am out of here," he barely managed to answer, for then looking at me with a pointed expression I did not like. "I'm out of here, before I throw up, disgusting queer." I rolled my eyes: for crying it aloud, also his vocabulary was lame to hopeless levels.

When he finally moved out of everyone's way, I opened my locker, trying with all my force and will to ignore the stares I felt on my back. Actually, only Derek's stare. Aleksandr had pulled open his own one and grabbed a couple of books, ignoring me completely. I didn't like it and I didn't even know why, yet what was I expecting? But that wasn't the point, for I had just discovered another new thing today. Fantastic. His locker was pretty much beside mine. Why haven't I noticed that before? Troubles' magnet. Troubles' magnet. I definitely was one.

"Alex man, why did you change place?" Thanks to Derek for his question, because I felt dumb not having seen that before, but apparently it was something recent.

"If you remember the former one broke down," he answered with an irritated sign.

"You mean, you broke it. Yeah, now I remember." He laughed again. Hell, he sure was a cheerful guy and I definitely liked that. Aleksandr just shrugged at his friend's joke and began to walk away, not sparing me even half glance. Ice beast was a title well deserved indeed.

"Are you coming or not, Derek?"

"Yeah," he replied, but hesitating a moment as he turned back to look at me. "It was nice to meet you..."

"Travis," I just said, and he nodded pleased.

"Derek here, dude." He smiled and his light brown skin brightened up with that. I couldn't help but smile back, for he really was quite contagious in a nice way. "See ya around, Travis."

I did not answer directly but simply nodded as he walked away to catch up with his friend, and my eyes of course studied his figure and body. I just couldn't help it. Uhm, nice and firm ass. I rolled my eyes to myself and silently snorted. I concentrated back to my locker and selected a few needed books, for then making a few notes in my mind.

The plan had suddenly changed. Now extra caution was needed and just a mere lower profile was no longer enough, especially after the exchange of this morning, for I already guessed what to expect. I had to avoid that John waste-of-space at all costs and become possibly invisible, a real hard task given my looks and style. Well, a man could dream, and I could try to find inspiration from Kuroko, making an effort to become a shadow like him. I quickly evaluated that my beloved and precious I-pod needed more albums and more music, since the plan was to spend most of the free time in the library or wherever it was quiet and empty.

The day went by without any other funny episodes or troubles and even my classes were interesting, keeping my attention engaged all the time. At lunch I avoided the cafeteria like it were the worst plague ever and ate my meal, the lovely and yummy meal my mom prepared for me early in the morning, sitting in an empty class. Backyard Babies' "Diesel and Power" played in my ears and screamed "Bad to the bone", while an image of Aleksandr flashed my mind. I had to swallow down hard and breathe deeply in the vain hope to chase those thoughts away.

Thinking about him while listening to "Diesel and Power" did not help one bit, as I felt something tingling my inside and then running through my lower parts, awakening my blood and desire. My eyes closed a moment as I gave in to the tempting thoughts, entirely aware they were thoughts and harmless fantasies I could indulge for a few moments, forgetting reality just for a sweet very short while.

I could see his strong hands gripping my hips, me straddling him and in the meanwhile licking and grazing with my teeth every inch of his neck, slowly lowering down, making him breathe harder, rougher and making him growl. He had to growl, just like a beasty wolf, like a wild beast he must have been in bed. The song in the background would unleash me even more, for it always had that effect on me. His hands and arms must have felt incredibly strong and his muscles made of pulsing rock, right there on my body, on my hips and then sliding up to my back and gripping my hair, demanding my entire and full attention. Still growling in pleasure and lust. In my head and imagination, he was an untamed, demanding and quite destroying beast who would not hesitate grabbing and pulling my hair, give my ass the right attention and care, screwing me in the most wild and rough way.

A moan almost escaped my mouth and it was about time I got a grip on my horny state. I softly slapped my face. Got get a grip Travis, seriously. The bell rang and I flew like a shadow to my last class, glad indeed the day was nearly over. I longed for practice, my body and my mind in dear need for it in order to forget about everything else, to let me drag them both into a different world.

Luckily enough, I managed to avoid everyone for the rest of the day, for then grabbing my bag, raincoat keeping such a low profile that even Kuroko would be proud of me; Backyard Babies still played in my ears, this time making my blood boil with "Making enemies is good". I quickened my steps to the exit, walking as usual with natural grace and elegance, which really could not be avoided considered what my passion was.

I pushed everything in the locker of the changing room, quickly eyeing myself in the big mirror we had hanging on the wall beside the door. I shook my head and fixed my hair, cracking my neck, for then suddenly stopping as my mind took me to Aleksandr Lebedev. I inhaled deeply and forced myself to not think about him, to scatter the imagines now crowding my mind in the air, because a hard-on was the last thing I needed right then and had he not been clear enough in how much he cared about me? Zero, granted how he blatantly ignored me, and honestly, why should he have not ignored me? I was a guy and he definitely was not gay or bi, or anything else I could think of, so yeah, cool it down Travis and get your ass ready.

My feet took me to the main room, and someone was already there waiting for me, going through some papers and tapping the tip of one foot following the music softly playing around.

"You are earlier than usual, Travis," Natalia, my wonderful and absolutely beautiful yet rather sadistic from time to time teacher, greeted me with a quick smile, her eyes studying me with curiosity. She knew me too well, but however I tried to play it cool.

"I just couldn't wait any longer to get my sexy ass here and get it whipped by you, because you'll make us spit blood today, am I right? Last night my crazy brain came up with some ideas I have to try and..." she cut me off by waving a hand in the air and getting up, quickly and gracefully stepping in front of me like a cat.

"Is everything OK with you?" She observed me from head to toe with her brilliant green eyes and I smiled back when they concentrated on mine, narrowing as if wanting to drill a hole in my mind and read what was really going on. Although I hated to admit it, the issue was that the episode of the morning had left me slightly bothered, bringing back memories I gladly would have forgotten. I took a deep, very silent breath and chased everything away. This wasn't the usual crazy Travis. Natalia's eyes stayed on mine longer and this time, I gave her a very flirty wink, to which she chuckled and playfully slapped my shoulder. "Don't play the flirty card with me, Travis, I know you too well and it doesn't work with me as it works with everyone else. Now, do tell me, is everything OK or do I need to kick somebody's ass?

Oh, I would love to kick that idiot's ass and then maybe sink my hands and teeth in somebody else's ass...yeah...Aleksandr's perfectly round and sure to be hard-as-rock ass. Hell, I had to stop it. She could sense things and chew you in and out like a used gum if she was in the right mood, aside the fact she could beat the living crap out of you with monster-like trainings and drilling. No freaking kidding. Yet, Natalia was a real sweetheart and had taken a blessed liking into me, but definitely not in that way. She was like a sister and I liked her, too. A lot.

"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine, in my usual fantastic mood. Let's say I just need to vent out some frustration." That wasn't a lie, because sweating out my desire and rather lustful thoughts might have been a way to stop my brain from keeping slipping on him.

Natalia looked at me with a serious expression at first for a short moment, for then face-palming dramatically enough to make me smile and chuckling like a windchime. I loved her way of laughing and I loved she honestly cared about me.

"Why did I even bother asking you? I should have guessed at first." I winked amused, seeing indeed she had partially imagined it right. "Some hot guy in your school? Who's the victim?" She joked and I was the one dramatically reacting to that, faking outrage as she said "victim", but it all resulted with us both laughing. She knew I was gay, and without doubts I guess everyone knew it, because I sure didn't make it a mystery or a secret. I had been lucky and blessed enough to have a mother who completely supported and accepted it, pretty much saying there was nothing to actually accept or understand for I was her son.

"More like a hot wild beast," I answered, recalling Aleksandr's eyes burning my thoughts and making my blood boil. Yeah, Natalia and I had this straightforward and very open bond and we talked about everything, which meant I did not have to watch my mouth or language with her. But I believe nothing would scandalize her, making her the perfect teacher for a crazy case as I was.

"Oh, how interesting...a wild beast and a horny sexy rocker, what a combination," she joked and at her words, my mouth dropped wide open. Horny? "Don't play innocent or dumb with me, honey, you just said yourself you needed to vent out some frustration. Which means today I'll make you sweat blood and make you work your ass so much tomorrow you'll hate being alive, and for a while you won't think about having this hot beast, as you called him, enjoying that sexy ass of yours." What did I say? Nothing would scandalize her and often we commented on men together. Her boyfriend was a real hot piece of art and she knew that well.

"You always do that," I pointed out, leaving the fact it was exactly what I needed.

"Ready?" She asked, ignoring my previous comment and I nodded, my blood already roaring for the excitement and my mouth widening in a smile.

"Yeah, absolutely ready."

Author's chit-chat:

I don't have much to say or ask in here to be honest, aside saying I really do hope you appreciate this edited version and the adding of details and such.

From Chapter 3 we will have more new parts none of us has ever read in "Fire and Ice", so happy and magic reading to you.

I must say, as I see the amount of comments, reads and votes this story received that I never imagined so when I posted the first chapter and it definitely prompted to write more and more, giving my best. Even if, honestly speaking, I love writing and I would still it even under different circumstances. But yeah, receiving many votes and comments is always a wonderful gift for every author, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Stay tuned for more ^-^

Lots of Love, Magic, Hugs & Meows,

-TheWitchAndTheCat-