Smoke and Mirrors | Heath Burns x Jinafire Long

Chapter One

  New Salem was nothing like Fanghai. Jinafire missed the intricate architecture of her home. New Salem was alright, but the buildings held no history. To her, they all looked the same.

  She looked out the window and frowned. Her stomach was in knots, which was unusual for her since she was typically able to remain calm and collected. If she were at home, one of her brothers would have brewed her a cup of tea and her troubles would have been forgotten. But they were not with her, so she was left on her own to worry about her new school--Monster High.

  Part of her was worried that the decision she made to transfer was a bad one. Save for a few of the ghouls she met in Scaris, she didn't know anyone, and the school change would certainly have an impact on her grades.

  She shook her head and took a deep breath. It wouldn't do any good to get anxious. This year would be amazing. She would carry herself like a professional and earn a good reputation. Above all, she would get good grades. This she silently vowed to herself.

  "You alright back there?" Deuce looked into the rear view mirror.

  Before Jinafire could respond, Cleo tapped a fingernail against the steering wheel and clicked her tongue. "Deuce, hush! You're getting her all frazzled."

  "I just want to make sure she is feeling welcome at New Salem," Deuce raised his hands, glancing at Cleo with a smile.

  Cleo hummed and shrugged before grinning. "This is so exciting. She came all the way from Fanghai to attend Monster High." She was quiet for a moment. "Do you think Headmistress Bloodgood will give me an award? I'm technically responsible for her. I am delivering her and hosting her, after all."

  Jinafire shifted awkwardly. Cleo was talking about her like she was some sort of shipment that was being delivered.

  Deuce would've lowered his sunglasses at Cleo, but since he was a gorgon, he decided this would not be the best course of action. Their relationship would also not be doing too well after that. "Well, even if you don't get an award, I'm sure you will feel the satisfaction of doing a good deed for someone!" he offered.

  "Unlikely," Cleo replied.

  Jinafire watched as Cleo's house--it was more of a palace, really--came into view. She wasn't used to lavishness. Her home in Fanghai was modest.

  As Cleo pulled into the driveway, she said, "Welcome to New Salem, Jinafire!"

____

  Cleo led Jinafire down the halls of Monster High, pointing out different classrooms as they walked. "And that's Mr. Where's classroom," she said, nodding towards the door to their left. "All of the ghouls think he is screamy." Quietly, she added, "Myself being one of them."

  She snatched Jinafire's schedule from her hands and examined it. "Home Ick should be right around the corner. The teacher is kind of a bore, but you like sewing so maybe you won't snore through it."

  Jinafire nodded, feeling vaguely like she was in a daze. There was a lot to take in. Her thoughts were so clouded that she forgot to watch where she was going and slammed into the person in front of her.

  Heath had been scoping out a ghoul who was walking down the hallway before he was bumped into. He turned around, expecting some rude manster, but was met with a ghoul he had never seen before. It was almost instinctual to smirk and wink at her. He then followed the action with finger guns. "Are you new here, babe?" the fire elemental glanced at Cleo and his finger guns lowered in defeat.

  Jinafire furrowed her brows in confusion. Was this some sort of Monster High greeting ritual, or was he just weird? She wasn't sure. Either way, she decided to say, "Sorry," and walk away.

  Heath glanced at her walking away. He frowned, shoulders slumping. Maybe she was new and not aware that Heath was the hottest manster in school. He decided to shrug it off and find his class.

  Cleo grabbed Jinafire's wrist and hurried away, wanting to put as much distance between them and Heath as possible. "That was Heath Burns. You're better off ignoring him. Everyone else does."

  Jinafire felt like that was rude, but Heath didn't exactly leave a great first impression so she nodded.

  Cleo stopped in front of a classroom door and gave her a look similar to that of a mother dropping their child off for the first time. "This is Home Ick," she said finally. "I will find you later in the creepateria. Make good decisions. Don't ruin the de Nile name, please." And with that, she spun around and strutted off.

  Jinafire walked into the classroom, talking herself out of her nervousness. From what she had heard about it, Home Ick was focused on sewing, and she was excellent at that. She had nothing to worry about. With that in mind, she sat at the first empty desk she saw and listened as the teacher--Ms. Kindergrübber--gave instructions.

  Jinafire felt confident, up until Ms. Kindergrübber announced their first assignment would be to cook something. Her cooking skills were limited to making tea. She panicked.

  She looked around the class, expecting to find other students that were just as nervous as her, but instead they all seemed to be partnering up. Since she didn't know anyone, she just sat rigidly, trying to remember a simple recipe that one of her brothers might have taught her.

  She thought she might have remembered something, but her train of thought crashed when the door flung open and none other than Heath Burns walked in.

  Heath burst open the doors and made a grand entrance. He glanced around. None of the ladies were swooning. He frowned. The fire elemental then regained his smile. "I had to fix my hair. It is a delicate process," he announced. Heath glanced around for a girl to sit by. It seemed so lucky that the girl he'd bumped into was in this class. He sat by her. "I will be your partner." The fire elemental then looked at his nails.

  Jinafire had no other choice, so she simply nodded and flipped through the recipe book that was on the table. She pointed to a chocolate chip cookie recipe. It seemed the easiest. "What about this recipe?"

  Heath had not listened to this girl, although she was a babe. He had already started throwing ingredients together and hoping for the best. The fire elemental was hungry, so he decided to make something spicy.

  Jinafire flinched as he randomly combined ingredients. She inhaled sharply as a drop of hot sauce landed on her cheek. "What are you doing? There is a recipe." She pointed to the cookie recipe and tapped on it for emphasis.

  He momentarily stopped to look over at her. "What's your name?"

  "Jinafire," she replied, slightly irritated. This manster was in the process of ruining the whole assignment.

  "Well, Jina. Trust me, babe, I know exactly what I am doing. I am practically the best chef in Monster High. But promise me you won't tell Deuce I said that." Heath then continued to make a hellish mess.

  Jinafire quietly panicked. She fumbled with the hem of her shirt, watching as Heath created chaos.

  Half an hour passed, and Jinafire was shocked that Heath's mess had actually turned into something presentable. She inspected it, her heart lifting. "Did you make Bon Bon Chicken?"

  Heath, at some point, had put on a weird red apron. Too bad it did not do him any good. He looked like a bird's nest. "Yes, I did. I heard Ms. Kinde... Ms. K likes it. I am trying to get us a good grade."

  Jinafire couldn't help but smile. Ms. Kinderbrügger stopped in front of their desk, adjusted her spectacles, and examined the chicken before sampling a piece. "Splendid! A+!" She patted Heath on the shoulder and moved on to the next desk.

  Jinafire picked up a fork and tried a piece. Bon Bon Chicken was her favorite food. Her brothers would always make it on her birthday. Heath had clearly added a lot of hot sauce and her tongue was undoubtedly burning, but Jinafire preferred spicy food anyways. She looked up at Heath. "I am sorry that I doubted you."

  Heath had his arms spread as she tried it. He smiled and brought them together in a clasp. "Yes. See? I got us a good grade. I am not that bad, I promise, huh?" He smirked, putting his elbow on the counter as he looked at her, his other hand on his hip.

  He was a little odd, but also sort of funny. Jinafire found herself grinning. She wondered why Cleo had told her to ignore him.