Chapter 17 CHAPTER: 017
This time, when Asher arrives at the rooftop, Xavi is already there, sitting at the edge with one leg held up while his other swings off the edge, a cigarette trapped between his lips as he looks into the distance and at the stars while the cold breeze blows through his blue hair.
Asher freezes, his heart suddenly racing as he looks at the boy with a mesmerized look, and once again, Asher realizes the boy is beautiful with sharp features that could outshine even the gods. If that makes sense.
Asher swallows greedily while his hands ball into fists at his side. He should leave. He doesn't like the feelings that surge through his bones whenever the other boy is near, doesn't like how his heart feels like it's about to rip out of his chest, and despises how he's a blushing mess whenever the boy smiles at him.
Swiftly, he turns to leave, but then Xavi's voice cuts through the night, puncturing his eardrums.
“Leaving so soon?”
Once again, Asher swallows, and then he turns, but a little gasp escapes his lips when he sees how close Xavi stands to him, only three feet apart.
“What are you doing?!” Asher finds his voice, and luckily, it doesn't tremble as he feels inside while he fights the urge to retreat. He should retreat.
He's standing too close to an ice elemental. It's forbidden. Asher could die but it's like something has him rooted where he stands, and he's unable to step back, especially when he gets a sniff of the other boy's cologne mixed with the smell of cigarette—the same smell that's on the jacket Xavi gave him a month ago, a scent that has slowly become Asher's secret addiction; he refused to return the jacket even when the smell had already faded.
The mere presence of the boy makes Asher feel things he has never felt before. He doesn't know whether he hates it or likes it yet; Xavi appears unaffected. Perhaps because he's a fuckboy who flirts with anything that's breathing. Asher is nothing special when he flirts with him.
The thought leaves a bitter taste in Asher's mouth, and he scowls without realizing.
“A penny for your thoughts, pretty boy?” Xavi tilts his head.
Asher looks at him with a blank stare. “You're standing too close to me."
Xavi shrugs. “I don't see anything wrong. We are not touching, and we're definitely still alive, so…you're simply paranoid. So, what are you doing here this time, fire boy? Can't sleep, or perhaps you're here because you missed me?” He winks.
Asher’s heart skips a beat, but his expression stays unchanging, cold and blank as a sheet.
Xavi sighs dramatically as he continues to speak. “You and your little fire elemental friends discovered our party site, and now, all ice elementals who attended the party are being punished. As a heads up, they are plotting revenge. I don't want your feelings getting hurt,” he smirks, and then, slowly, his gaze drops to Asher's lips, and his eyes darken slightly.
Asher notices his gaze, and his breath catches in his throat. “I-I think I should go,”
“Do you think we could have been boyfriends if we could touch and not die?” The question leaves Xavi's lips like a boob.
Asher's heart drops to his stomach almost instantly, and a lump forms in his throat while his hands twitch at his side. “Why would we be boyfriends when we don't even like each other?”
Xavi's lips twitch into a smirk. “I like you,”
“No, you don't,” Asher counters, his jaw clenching a bit. “I think you simply want a new plaything and you're only thrilled because you can't have me even if you want, and that sucks for you,”
Asher doesn't know where that came from, even though it's the truth, and certainly doesn't know he could talk that much. Xavi brings out a new personality in him.
Xavi's eyes twinkle. “Where did you get that idea, pretty boy?” He inquires, dropping the half-burnt cigarette on the floor and crushing it under his boot. He looks up at Asher to see the red-haired boy giving him a blank look. Xavi chuckles in amusement. “If you knew that, why do you look like you want me?”
Asher’s brows furrow. “I do not want you!”
Xavi snorts. “Then you shouldn't look at someone you don't want that way. It leads them on, but shame, you're right, I can't have you, but that doesn't mean I can’t flirt. Flirting doesn't hurt, right?” he smirks, and without a word, he walks past Asher.
“See you some other time, pretty boy,” he throws over his shoulder, and with that, he leaves, leaving Asher standing there with a lot of ‘what if' questions, but instantly he shakes his head to get rid of those thoughts and walks over to the edge of the rooftop and sits, staring up at the sky and hoping the night ends faster and for some reason, he feels he's getting better at living even though he rarely sleeps at night.
A small smile curves on his lips as he counts the bright stars.
~
Five days later, Asher gets summoned to the principal’s office. He finds the woman behind her desk, and she pins Asher with a stare that sends a shiver down his spine.
Asher is almost sure he hasn't done anything wrong since he started training with Ms. Rina. He hasn't burnt a classroom and hurt anybody.
“Principal Selene,” he acknowledges, and the woman hums in response.
“I've been informed you have taken quite a liking to the rooftop late at night,” she starts, and Asher's heart starts beating in his throat. “Before you panic, I want you to know I find nothing wrong with that; however, what I find wrong is who you're always with.”
Asher’s eyes widened. “Ms. Selene—” he starts, but the woman cuts him off with a raise of her palm.
“You have been in the academy for more than a month, Asher, and I want to believe you're already aware of what happens when a fire and ice student touches. I expect such careless behavior from Xavi, but from you, it's quite the surprise.”
Asher lowers his gaze, staring at the floor. “I'm sorry,”
“You don't have to apologize to me, Asher. You should be more worried about keeping your life. Xavi is reckless and enjoys breaking the rules even if it gets him killed, but I expect you to be more rational and understand the consequences. I understand you young people are impulsive and rebellious, but I won't let any student lose their lives on my watch, especially a fire and an ice student.”
She leans back on her seat and continues, her eyes as cold as ice. “I won't punish you this time, but from now on, you're forbidden from going to the rooftop. This is to stop every encounter between you and Xavi. Do you understand, Asher?”
The rooftop. The only place Asher seems to find solace during sleepless nights? The only place Asher doesn't have to hide. Asher can't believe he's not allowed to go there anymore.
Suddenly, a lump forms in his throat, and his heart clenches painfully as he forces the words out of his throat. “I understand, Principal Selene,”
“Good. You may return to your classes,” she dismisses him, and with that, Asher turns and walks out of the office with a heavy heart.