The Hothead and The Ice Queen

Fifteen

"Are you gonna be okay?"

My eyes scanned the lunch room for my friends. A smile spread on my face when I saw the rainbow in the lunch line. "Yeah, I'm a tough girl. Tie my own sandals and everything."

"Such a dork."

I waved him off as he chuckled. "Oh, you love it." Then my smile turned smug as I turned to him. "Are you sure you can handle not carrying my bag for me?"

He chuckled and gently transferred the bag into my hand. "I'll do my best. See you later, Cass."

"Don't miss me too much."

Again he set my cheeks aflame, and this time, with just two simple words: "No promises." Standing alone, they had little significance, but when strung together by his deep, sultry voice, it was like fireworks.

The astonished, dazed look on my face didn't falter, even when I joined my friends in the lunch line. I accidentally bumped into someone before purple suddenly flooded my vision. As Magenta snapped her fingers in front of my face, I blinked rapidly and leaned back. "You good, Cass?"

"I– Stop!"

A flash of green overpowered Magenta, and I felt Layla's hands on my cheeks and forehead. I groaned at the invasion, but she didn't care, holding me firm. "You're really warm, Cassie. And your face is flush."

"I feel like her of all people shouldn't be this warm," Zach said, joining Layla in feeling my face. "You sick?"

This time I growled and shoved their hands away, which was difficult with only one working hand. "I'm fine! Stop touching my face."

"Excuse us for caring," Magenta snarled. "You walked up in a daze with a tomato-red face. What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I chuckled at their concern. "I promise I'm okay. I was just talking to Warren and–"

"Say no more," she relented with a smug smirk.

My gaping eyes shifted between my friends. "What?"

"It's obvious you have feelings for him," Ethan said, and my brows pinched together.

"So completely obvious, Cassie," Zach said before ruffling my hair.

I slapped his hand away and scoffed. "Obvious? What– I– Okay, more or less obvious than Layla with Will?"

"Hey!" The challenging look I sent Layla made her inclined to agree.

Then my eyes shifted between my friends again, waiting for an answer. Magenta didn't waste a beat. "More."

Contemplating her words for a second, Zach nodded and agreed, "More."

"Definitely more," Ethan chuckled.

I gaped, demanding an explanation, which I got from Magenta. "Unlike Will, Warren isn't oblivious."

"He totally likes you back, Cass," Ethan added. But seeing the heartbreak on Layla's face, he stammered, "Not– not that Will does– doesn't like you, Layla. It's just, um– Like Magenta said, he– he's oblivious."

I reached out and clutched her hand. "He doesn't know what he's missing."

She smiled at me and squeezed my hand. But suddenly, Zach captured me in a choke hold. I groaned and immediately tried to break free. "Don't worry your frosty little head, Cassie-Girl. You're so obvious, it's only a matter of time."

I grunted and tried to break his hold, but it was useless; he was surprisingly strong. Height was definitely a factor here. Switching from brawn to brains, I said under my breath, "Kinda like you with a certain shape-shifter."