Imdalind 01 - Kiss of Fire

still felt stiff and heavy. I straightened out, cursing beads, Mexican food, and useless fathers for my endless illness.
    I had fallen asleep right after my shower last night, meaning my hair had dried as I slept, resulting in an endless tangle of black hair. I flattened it around my right ear as much as I could, making sure the mark was covered, threw a hoodie on over my cami and shuffled to the door, Scooby-Doo pajamas dragging on the floor around my ankles. I yanked the door open and walked away leaving it ajar so he could let himself in.
    “Good morning!” Ryland’s voice was loud and happy, as always. He bounded in, slammed the door and threw his arms around my waist lifting me up in an attempt to tackle me to the ground.
    “Put me down!” I pounded on his hands, trying not to smile. It was no use; his grip only tightened around my mid-section. “I’m going to hurl!”
    He dropped me and came around in front of me, inspecting the probability. He smiled at me impishly, sending my stomach into a pattern reminiscent of a roller coaster.
    “Doesn’t look like it to me.” His blue eyes sparkled, his smile widening to a grin. He was enjoying this game too much.
    “I’m sick, remember.”
    “Not according to your mother, you little faker.” He smiled wider and tweaked my nose. My stomach did a flip at his touch.
    “Traitor,” I mumbled as I shuffled to the kitchen. Ryland bounded behind me, full of more energy than usual.
    “Well, I had to get my information somewhere, seeing as someone wouldn’t return my calls.” He raised a brow at me as he settled into one of the two kitchen chairs, crossing his legs regally and looking out of place sitting at the tiny table at the end of our galley kitchen.
    “Yeah, sorry about that. Sick or not, I did sleep all day yesterday.” I pulled down a box of Fruit Loops and a bowl, carrying them and the milk over to the table where he sat. I could feel his eyes on me the entire time.
    “People only sleep like that when they’re sick. You okay?”
    “I’m fine,” I lied. His eyes widened in disbelief. “Do you want some?” I shook the box of cereal at him, trying to break his gaze. He shook his head and continued to look at me.
    “You know, when I was ten, I snuck into the kitchen and had some Fruit Loops from the box your mom used to keep in there for you.”
    “And?”
    “They were disgusting!” He made a face like he still remembered the sugar-sweet taste and it revolted him. I couldn’t help but laugh; the idea of Fruit Loops being disgusting was funny to me. But, of course, Ryland had been raised on a whole higher class of food, so it made sense.
    I looked up to find him studying me.
    “I’m worried about you. Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine.” I stuck a spoonful of cereal in my mouth, making it clear I didn’t want to elaborate.
    Ryland leaned forward and exhaled. “That’s obviously a lie, Jos.”
    I ignored him, and continued to scarf down my cereal at an inhuman rate.
    “I was worried,” Ryland continued, his voice low, “that after I gave you the necklace, you thought I was looking at you differently, that you thought I wanted to be more than friends…that I scared you…” His voice trailed off and I dropped my spoon into the bowl. We stared at each other.
    I had no idea how to respond. I felt hollow at his words. Somewhere, deep inside, I knew he was right; I did feel that way. It was obvious he was trying to make it clear that we were friends and nothing else. I sighed, realizing that I did, in fact, feel something more for him, but now I felt guilty, too. I should never have let myself feel that way. Ryland was my best friend, and somehow I had let my feelings change without even realizing it. It almost seemed like a betrayal of trust.
    “No, Ryland, it wasn’t that at all!” I tried to force a smile. “I love the necklace, but I know we’re… I mean I understand…” I looked up to him in a desperate attempt to find the right words and felt my heart sputter again. He was looking at me, bright blue depths boring into mine with a look I had never seen before. His face screwed up in a heart-stopping half-smile that revealed a tiny dimple. I could feel my face fall again.
    I grabbed the necklace from underneath my sweater and tried to screw my face back into a smile rather than the shocked disappointment I am sure I displayed.
    “I can give it back, Ryland. It’s okay.” Ryland’s hands shot across the small table to land