Imdalind 01 - Kiss of Fire

odd attempt to break the silence, “can you come over tonight? We never got to watch our movie from Monday, and Ilyan will be home so you can see how non-freaky he is.”
    “I can’t. I’m doing pie with Ry.” I said. I was sad I couldn’t go. As much as I was looking forward to the evening with Ryland, I was still terrified at what might happen.
    “Pie? Is that code for something dirty?”
    My voice rang out in noxious laughter at Wyn’s comment. I was so happy we were in the middle of the lunch room where no one would notice the noise.
    “No!” I said through giggling, “It’s just pie.”
    Wyn stared at me in confusion.
    “You know,” I prompted, “we get together, we eat pie, and we talk.”
    Wyn sighed as if that was the stupidest thing she had ever heard.
    “We have done it for as long as I can remember. When we were little, it was just a way for him to get away from his dad, and we would hide in the bushes behind the pool.”
    “How romantic,” she grumbled.
    “Not my boyfriend,” I reminded her.
    “So you hung out in the bushes with a boy who may or may not be your boyfriend?”
    I decided to let that one slide.
    “I was six and bushes were cool.”
    “Well, if I ever see a cool bush, I’ll point it in your direction.” Wyn gobbled up a handful of fries in an obvious attempt not to laugh at her bad joke.
    “Gee, thanks. Anyway, once he figured out how to drive and steal the Aston Martin, we started going up the canyon, which is where I’ll be going tonight.” Not to have a make-out session with my best friend, I reminded myself.
    “So, you’re going up the canyon to have pie with your boyfriend…”
    “Not my boyfriend,” I grumbled.
    “Whatever. So you’re going up the canyon with Ryland to eat pie. What a romantic date.”
    “It’s not a date either, Wyn.” She stared at me as if waiting for me to admit it.
    I shook my head at her in frustration. No matter what she thought, this was not a date; it was only pie, which was still part of the problem.
    “Well, how about tomorrow night, then? We could even make it a sleepover!” I had never had a sleepover before, and the idea got me excited, but, I knew with all I had to barter for to get permission for Saturday, and now pie, a sleepover was out.
    “I can’t do a sleepover, but I can come over for a movie.”
    “And dinner,” Wyn added.
    “And dinner. We better get going,” I said. “They are supposed to run through Act Two today with the set pieces.”
    “Do you think if we write ‘Cynthia McFadden wears boy’s underwear’ on the side of the castle, she would get offended?”
    “I doubt it, but all the boys might get in a fight trying to figure out whose underwear she’s sporting.”
    “So, still worth a show then?” Wyn wagged her eyebrows at me in excitement. I knew she wouldn’t, but part of me hoped she would. I could do with the laugh today.
    It was the first time I would be seeing Cynthia since our bizarre altercation in the hall. After the first day, the terrified stares and catcalls from the students had died down. I hadn’t seen Mr. Ray since then either - which left Cynthia.
    I opened the door, expecting the worse. Class had already begun. The actors were already in their costumes, so Wyn and I went right into action. Wyn, Jamison and I moved set pieces on and off the stage, as the cast worked through their lines and blocking. At least once in every line, Cynthia would forget something, giggle like a maniac, and then proceed to mess up the rest of the line. It wasn’t even worth it to mention that I knew to whole show by heart. Hamlet had always been one of my favorites.
    I had thought I was in the clear; the show was almost over and the last of the royals were dying rather poorly-acted deaths in the middle of the stage.
    “I know what you did, you little freak.” I spun around to face Cynthia, her face almost maniacal in frenzied excitement.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said with as much confidence as I could muster.
    “I think you do. You’re a freak. I’m going to find out why, and make sure everyone knows.”
    I just froze, her acidic voice washing around the space.
    “Knows what?” Wyn bounced into the conversation. I could have kissed her for arriving with such perfect timing.
    Cynthia flinched a bit, her resolve lessening at my added support.
    “Freak,” she repeated before strolling off to join the cast for the curtain call.
    “Ugh. She bugs me,” Wyn