Fire and Ice

She smiled again. Not at me, but I wish it was. She was beautiful, quiet and gentle. Her hair was a soft, light browny-red, behind square, nerd glasses, her eyes were an orangey-brown and her skin was a freckled rosy-pale. Everything I've ever wanted. But no one could know that. No one should know that. I never shared anything with anyone, not even my best friend, Mark. If I was brave, I would have gone to talk with her, but I'm a wimp. Mark says I'm "cool because I'm the most mysterious guy in school". I had ashy black hair and cold, icy blue eyes and I always wore my dark, navy blue hoodie. Yeah, as if. I'm the loner, the loser, the lonely. She could never love someone like me.

Especially when we're polar opposites and happen to have families that hate each other. She's a Flame and I'm a Frost. Our families have been fighting over god knows what for god knows how long! She and I have never really talked but we've met. It was nice, for me at least. She has fire powers, that's what makes her personality so warm, but I'm sure she's got a dark side. Everyone does, everyone has a snapping point. Because she's a fire I'm sure it's got to do with anger. I've got ice powers, ice, snow, frost, you know the usual stuff. My personality is cold and reserved, but as you can see on the inside, I do have feelings.

She stopped talking to her friend, Angie and looked over at someone behind me. She waved and I looked to see who it was, but there was no one there. I looked back at her, confused as to who she was looking at. I pointed at myself questioningly. She smiled and nodded. I blushed and hid deeper in my hood, trying to hide from the world. She strutted over and smiled directly at me. "Hi, Nick. How are you?" her voice was so warm and soft. Her eyes were big and round behind those nerdy glasses. She made them look perfect.

"I- uh. I'm good, I guess. How are you?" I looked away. We weren't supposed to talk, if my parents found out, they'd... she'd would be very unsafe. She smiled again. "I'm great. Angie was just telling me about a party Perry is throwing and I was wondering if you wanted to come with us?" I stifled a gasp and looked directly at her. I looked around, no one seemed to notice us. I pulled her into the janitorial closet. "Phina, we can't be seen talking to each other or my parents will..., they won't be happy" I was very worried for her. I, well, kind of loved her.

"Nick, relax. I'm sure it'll be fine. Just as long as Tobias doesn't find us" she giggled. She was so carefree. I wish I could be like that. I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Fine, I'll go with you. But! On one condition, Tobias can't, and I mean can't find out" She nodded, smiling the most I had ever seen her, obviously proud of what she had accomplished. "We'll pick you up at the front of the school at five" she hugged me tight and left. I sat down and waited for my heart to slow. 'What have I gotten myself into' I thought. My parents were powerful people and if they found out about this, they could do some horrible things.

Time skip to the party
It was loud and stuffy, too many people. But it was better because no matter what, Seraphina would not let go of my hand. She said it was so I didn't get separated from them, well them until Angie left to go say hi to someone. Since then she's been dancing with me all night, a drink in one hand and holding mine with her other.

When we stepped outside for a breath of air, I gathered the courage to ask her a question. "Phina? Why did you ask me to come with you tonight? Why did you want to hang out with me?" I looked away, embarrassed. She grabbed my face with both hands, which were so warm and very soft. She held my head in place, forcing me to look at her. "Because. I. Like. You. Is it so hard to imagine that a Flame could like a Frost?" she laughed humorlessly and started pacing the porch. "I've liked you since forever and I love my parents, but this whole feud is dumb and pointless. Like me back, we could be together and leave one day. They would never find out!" she seized my hand and her eyes shone brightly in the moonlight.

"Seraphina Flame! Is that the Frost boy you're with?" an all too familiar voice called. It was her overprotective cousin, Tobias. He was very much like my parents, dangerous and protective of what was theirs. "Tobias, please don't do anything" her voice was slightly shaky as if she was trying to hold back fear. "Phina, you were supposed to come here to meet Perry. He's the one you want" Tobias' voice was getting closer. "But instead, you're here with this freak!" he growled. "Oh, shut up. All of you are like this, every one of you. Except for Phina, she's the only normal one" I smirked, still not facing him. I felt heat sear my back. I jumped forward, hissing. I turned around into a jaguar-like crouch, ready to pounce.

There stood Tobias, a smile stretched on his stupid face. "What? Can't handle a little heat?" he chuckled. He was playing a game, but he didn't know that I'd played before. I threw an ice blast towards him, taking him off guard. He was knocked backward. I growled like a feral animal, it surprised both, Seraphina and myself. He stood back up, "Is that all you got?" he masked the pain well, but not well enough. "Stop this nonsense, Tobias please" I slowly straightened myself. But he didn't give up, he threw a fireball at me again. I dodged and threw the biggest ice blast I had ever conjured.

When it hit him, I knew he was dead before he hit the ground. "Tobias?" A tiny voice called. I turned to see Phina, hiding in her turtleneck sweater. "Phina, honey, we need to leave. Or at least I do" She looked at me and I expected to see the fear in her eyes, but all I saw was confusion. "Why?" She tilted her head to the side, like a puppy. "Because he's, uh, he's d-dead, so I need to go before someone comes" She nodded, but her eyes seemed to stare into space. "I'm sorry, I've got to go" I kissed her and ran down the street, disappearing into the night.

Two nights later

There were wanted posters all around town and I hadn't been home in two days. I was tired, hungry and I missed Seraphina like crazy. I picked up a poster, it said: Nicholas Frost wanted for the murder of Tobias Flame. If turned in, the reward will be discussed. I had to make a choice, my parents were looking for me too. I made a decision. I called the phone number on the page. "Hello? This is Victor Flame" he said through the phone. "Yeah, hi. This is, uh, Nicholas Frost. I want to make a deal"

I was in the huge, clear field we set for the meeting. I was going to turn myself into the Flame's, but only if they stopped feuding with the Frosts. So both families were going to meet in this field. I saw both of them coming up on opposite sides of the field. When they were in earshot, I signaled for them to stop. "What's this about, Nickie?" I heard my mother call out to me. "I've made a deal with the Flame's, I will turn myself in for the murder of Tobias Flame, but you need to make a deal too. I'll only turn myself in if you stop fighting" I explained to both parties. "Nick!" I heard the beautiful voice shout. I looked towards the fire users. There she stood, elegant and exquisite like the purest angel. Seraphina. "Phina!" I smiled, relieved.

But then I remembered that she witnessed me kill her cousin. She must have seen my face fall because she smiled at me encouragingly. She looked at her parents for a moment and I turned to look at mine. My mother, Eira Frost, a cold and beautiful woman. She was strong, but she was still a mother. Then my father, Jack Frost. I kind of want to meet my grandparents on his side, just so we can laugh at his name. But he was the strongest person I knew, he'd be ok.

I looked back to Phina, just in time to see her smile and begin to run to me. I was just about to stop her when everything seemed to slow down. I heard her happy shout until it was twisted into a mangled scream of pain. I looked to see what had caused it, my father had shot her down with rock hard ice. "No!" I shouted, running to where she had crashed on the ground. I heard more shouts, most likely coming from her family. I didn't look up, I just got to her. I grabbed her hand, it was so cold I almost had to drop it. I held her in my lap, rocking myself back and forth. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no" I muttered still holding her close, her head laid limp on my shoulder.

I looked towards her family, they looked afraid to move towards us. I looked right into Victor's eyes and nodded. Tears that stained my face dripped down onto Seraphina. He nodded back and I thought I saw a tear, but I couldn't tell with how far we were.

I looked back at her face, "It's ok, I'll be with you again in just a minute. It's ok, honey. I'll see you soon" I dipped my face down to hers, kissing her lips before the terrible feeling of the hot flames engulfed the both of us, eating away at my skin faster than I thought possible.

For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
The End.