Burning Eyes

By Jasmine Gibson

Lexi lived a regular teenage life until there was an attempt to murder her. This changed her life and forced her into a new lifestyle. While investigating her adversary, Lexi learned that she gained an ability to materialize fire from her body, which was a direct result of the attempt on her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483549927

Book preview

Prologue

About every day, we wake up to change. Whether we grew half an inch, there’s a new freckle on our face, or we’ve discovered a new pimple on our nose, change happens. My change was nothing of the sort. The change I was going through almost killed my brother and set the house on fire. It’s definitely not your everyday teenage drama. My change was intentional; it was an act of jealousy. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people.

The change I was going through could either save the world or burn it.

Chapter One: The Calm Before the Storm

Lexi, hurry up! Mary honked the horn of her shiny Jeep Wrangler; fresh out the wash.

She was picking Ellie and me up today. It was supposed to be my turn, but Old Betsy – my 1975 Volkswagen – broke down on me not ten minutes before I had to pick them up.

I grabbed my keys from the counter. I’m coming! I yelled out the open door.

Jake, I’m riding with Mary. Do you want a ride? I called up the stairs.

Jake yelled back, Unlike you, I got a decent working car that isn’t a piece of crap and brakes down every other morning. I’m driving. Jake owned a 2008 Infinite g35. Even for a used car it was stunning.

I called up the stairs to Jake, It’s just too cold for her.

Right, okay Lex.

I only bought the piece of crap for its antique look. I had a fetish for vintage.

Mary honked the horn again. I hope your car breaks down. I screamed before closing the front door and running across the front lawn to the Jeep. The rush of cold air bit at my face and I internally cursed the harsh December weather.

I jogged up to the back seat of Mary’s car and was grateful that the heat was blasting. Ellie took shotgun and her legs were crossed on top on the dashboard.

Good morning. Mary sang as she peeled off down the street.

I looked at Ellie. What’s with little Ms. Sunshine?

It’s Mrs. Sunshine to you. Mary corrected as she pulled off.

Oh, so it has something to do with Mr. Sunshine. But, I wouldn’t really call Mary’s boyfriend, Trevor, Mr. Sunshine. He was more of a night time person, given that he was too hung-over in the mornings to be happy. Trevor wasn’t a bad guy or anything. He was actually really smart and played lead in his band, The Racketeers. They’re definitely not the best band you’ve ever heard, but the music is tolerable. At least that’s what Mary tells Ellie and me.

She’s excited for tonight. Ellie informed.

Tonight was the famous bonfire that Matt held every year since freshmen year to start off winter break. It was held at his house and always made the title Party of the Year. Matt lived in a rural neighborhood, where everyone was spread out. The next house from his was miles away. His parents were also always out. Mary, Ellie, and I never really thought big of the party. It was just a place for us to hang out and get a little drink. None of us were heavy drinkers, so we did more holding of the cup than drinking from it. But tonight, tonight would be a big deal for me too.

You and Trevor have any plans for tonight? I asked Mary, not wanting to rush into telling them about my ideal night tonight.

Nothing big, I’m just excited to finally have a night with him. We’ve both been so busy. It’s like every teacher wants to give projects and packets to finish during the break. Just because they don’t do anything with their lives doesn’t mean we don’t. I have a party to attend. I have a boyfriend and friends. Mary was going on her rampage. If we let her continue she’d probably ram the jeep into a car thinking it was one of her teachers.

Ellie laughed. Chill, Menopause Mary. That’s what Ellie called her whenever Mary went bipolar on us.

I’m fine. Mary laughed. She glanced at Ellie and me. I had a moment.

Mary Ann Waters and Elizabeth Smith were my two best friends. Ellie and I grew up together since we were four and Mary came into the picture about a year or two later. Ever since then, we’ve been attached at the hip.

Well, now that we know Mary’s plans for tonight. I guess it’ll just be you and me, Ellie? I asked Ellie, knowing this couldn’t be true. I mean… its Ellie, she’s bound to find and flirt with some guy.

Mmm. Ellie’s eyes shifted.

You have someone on the side that you didn’t tell us about? Mary asked.

I wish! Ellie exclaimed. I’m going to get Matt back.

Mary and I groaned. Matt and Ellie broke up last year because he was cheating on her with another girl named Ashley from the end of sophomore year, through the summer, until the first half of junior year. That’s when Ellie finally opened her eyes – and ears to the numerous rumors – and broke up with him. Ashley was actually a huge slut in the school and rumors have it that she and Matt still hook up from time to time. So, there was no questioning why Mary and I groaned when Ellie announced that she still wanted to talk to him.

Stop doing this to yourself, El. I pleaded. You’re going to get yourself hurt.

Lexi is right. Just let it go and move on. Mary agreed.

"Matt was mines first. We were going out for over a year until that skank came into the picture."

Matt was a total jerk from the beginning. Mary mumbled.

You just never liked him, Mary.

I had a bad feeling about him and I was right.

Ellie stayed quiet.

Exactly.

Come on guys, no fighting. Ellie, there will be plenty of guys at the party. You need to show Matt what he’s been missing. I encouraged.

And what about you, Lexi? Mary asked.

Well…Mike’s going and…

You’re finally going to tell him you love him? Ellie asked with enthusiasm.

"I don’t love him, Ellie. I just want to tell him how I feel about him. How since the day I met him I swear there was something between us."

Alright Juliet, return from daydream nation. Mary commented.

This was usually how I always was. I was constantly in daydream nation as Mary and Ellie called it. It was my escape from the real world and was much better than reality.

I thought you said you were going to keep your head out of your ass this year. Ellie said.

That’s not exactly what I said. When the three of us first stepped foot on the worn down pavement of the school, I vowed that since it was our last year in high school – and the most important one – I’d focus on the important things and just deal with reality instead of making up my own story for everything. I said that I was going to keep my head out of the clouds.

You can’t keep a romantic from expressing their love. Mary mocked.

But of course, she was right. I stuck my tongue at them and thought of Mike and me together at the bonfire until we reached the school.

Mary parked in her usual spot and we made our way inside the school. Neon orange and green flyers of the bonfire colored the hallways and lockers. Ellie ripped two off her locker. She waved them in the air as if they were trophies.

"See he put two on my locker. That’s how much Matt wants me to go to this bonfire." She observed.

Mary and I looked at each other, then we observed the surrounding lockers. There were three flyers seven lockers down and every other locker after that had two or three on them. But of course we wouldn’t say that to Ellie.

Yup, El, you’re right. I said trying to sound as convincing as possible. I guess he’s just not really over you.

Ellie put the flyer up again. And after this bonfire he’ll never forget me.

That doesn’t sound good. Mary said.

Oh it will be. Ellie let the flyers fall from her grasp and she grabbed her books from her locker.

After stopping at Mary’s and then my locker, I separated from the group.

Tell Mike we said hi. Ellie said with a mischievous smile.

I waved her away and walked off to meet Mike.

Ellie, Mary, and I weren’t that surprised that the last two years we had less classes together than we had freshmen year. Every year we’ve had less classes than the year before. Freshmen year we had almost every class together. Our electives were different. I had orchestra, Ellie had art, and Mary had marketing. Why she chose that elective, Ellie and I will never know. Her knowledge sure does come in handy with math and shopping, though. Our sophomore and junior year, we only had three classes together. This year we have math and lunch together. We still make it work. In between every class we meet up at Ellie’s locker since hers is in the center hallway of the school. Lunch was the highlight of our day. All of our senior friends – and enemies – had lunch with us.

The enemies were Reese and her Barbie shadows, Leah and Dianna. Now and then we would catch them staring at our table. They remind us so much of the Plastics in Mean Girls. There was the rich girl and her two servants that did everything in their nature to make sure their queen was perfectly happy. They were pretty fake, so that just gave us another reason to call them the Plastics. Reese was usually showing off her number one prize; her boyfriend Luke, when she was actually his number two hoe. The whole school knew he was messing around with the school slut, Ashley. I really do wonder if Reese knows and just ignore it or if she’s really that stupid.

While that was happening over at Reese’s table, Mary, Ellie, and I were too busy gossiping or flirting. Mary and Trevor were the king and queen of Public Display of Affection. Ellie would just flirt with any guy that decided to sit at our table that week. Ellie’s not a hoe, she’s just taking advantage of the single life and trying to make Matt jealous. Mike and I would secretly flirt with each other or at least that’s what Ellie and Mary call it. I call it long-term-friends-talking-over-a-lunch-even-though-I-am-completely-in-love-with-him. Lunch wasn’t the only time I got to ‘flirt’ with him.

Mike walks me to my first class, History and while we wait for the first bell to ring, we walk around the halls and talk or just enjoy each other’s company. Today I met him by the cafeteria doors. When I turned the corner, his back was facing me. I snuck up behind Mike and squeezed his side to make him jump. I laughed and he turned around to see my smiling face. I had to stretch my neck to look at him. He shined his white teeth at me.

Hey, Lex. Mike said.

Hey, so are you going to the bonfire. I pointed to a poster on the wall.

Yeah, I’m Trevor’s ride.

So if you weren’t his ride you wouldn’t go? I asked as we began to walk.

Mike shrugged. I mean he’s going to be with Mary the whole time. Don’t get me wrong, I love Mary. She’s like a sister to me. But Trevor’s also a brother to me. I just don’t want to be at a party alone.

I’ll be there. I volunteered.

What about Ellie?

I blew out some hair. Ellie is planning on getting Matt back.

I hate that guy. Mike shook his head.

I laughed. He was your best friend when we were in middle school.

Yeah, but then he played Ellie.

Mike and I walked through the foyer and waved to our friends.

After a minute of silence, Mike spoke. So I guess you’ll be by yourself and I’ll be by myself…maybe we should just be by ourselves together. Mike shrugged.

I smiled, then cleared my throat and straightened my face. I shrugged. Yeah, that sounds like a plan. To make myself look even more casual, I pulled out my water bottle to take a sip. While taking off the cap, it slipped through my fingers and fell to the floor. At the same time Mike bent down, telling me he got it, I was doing the same, causing up to bump heads. We both cursed and rubbed our foreheads. Our faces were only two inches away from each other. I couldn’t help but look at Mike’s lips which were ajar. I looked back up to see that Mike was doing the same. When our eyes finally met, Mike cleared his throat, grabbed my cap, and we stood.

Here, Mike handed me the cap without meeting my eyes.

I returned the cap. Thank you.

The warning bell for the first class rang. The hallways began to flood with people as they all made their way to their classrooms.

Mike still never met my eyes when he told me he had to go see his coach to ask about any weekend practices. I knew he was lying but after that awkward moment, I wouldn’t want to walk with me either. We awkwardly hugged each other as he told me he’d see me in lunch and then we walked in our separate directions.

I walked into my History class right before the late bell rang. I went through the class barely paying attention because I was too busy kicking myself for being so weird. He said he had it and was going to get it. Just let the boy pick up the cap next time, Lexi. I shook my head.

Are you disagreeing with something, Lex? Mr. Cole, my History teacher, asked me. His face was confused.

My life, I answered inwardly. I shook my head again. No, just having a mental argument. I smiled.

Well keep it to yourself. I turned around to Reese’s smart mouth. I can almost see the smoke coming out your ears. She joked.

No Reese, that’s your smoke. Stop trying to think so hard, it’s not your thing. You’re going to hurt yourself.

Her face grew angry, and she began to stand. The only thing that I’m going to hurt, Garcia, is –

Your grade if you don’t sit down. Mr. Cole finished her sentence. He turned to me and slightly smiled. Lex, less arguing and more listening. He then turned to Reese and his face tightened. Less tormenting and more actual passing grades. I won’t allow threats or failing in my class.

He turned to face the board again; the class went on as normal. Mr. Cole was probably my favorite teacher here. He was the only teacher who secretly helped me stand up against Reese.

When it was finally over, I walked out to see that Mike was not waiting. Was the cap thing really that bad? I didn’t wait to see if he was just running late. Instead I walked to Ellie’s locker alone.

Where’s Mike? Mary asked when I got there.

We had an awkward moment before class and after that we went our own ways. He said he’ll see me at lunch. I explained.

What kind of awkward moment? Ellie asked.

I told them what happened with the bottle cap, maybe with a little more emphasis on how close our lips were than needed.

You guys could have kissed! Ellie exclaimed.

But we didn’t.

And now you’re disappointed.

At the moment the warning bell rang, saving me.

I gotta go. I said, heading towards my second period, gym.

Honestly, I love gym. Which is why I’m still taking it as a senior. Every guy fought over me to have me on their football team. I was no MVP, but I was a pretty decent wide receiver. When gym was finally over, I went on to English without meeting Mary and Ellie again. I made the excuse that I got held up by my gym teacher, Mr. Saint. I knew they knew I was lying, but it was worth trying.

I have AP Lang with Jake so I met with him on the way to class. Jake and I try to associate ourselves with each other during school as little as possible. Which means sometimes it’s every man for themselves when it comes to homework. When the teacher asked for it when we walked into the classroom, Jake wasn’t surprised by my reaction.

Why didn’t you tell me we had homework? This makes me look bad. How do we live together and you have better grades than me? I hissed at Jake as he laid his completed homework assignment on her desk.

Remember that test you forgot" to tell me about? Dad yelled and lectured me for two hours because I failed. My ears were ringing, Lex."

I groaned.

No homework, Alexandria? Ms. Smith asked.

I shook my head. If I had homework it would be on your desk by now, but I kept that thought to myself. There was no need to make matters worse.

I don’t know what I expected. It’s either both of you don’t have your work or one of you. I guess that’s just the way of the Garcia family. It was a simple assignment that I gave you a week to do. How hard is that?

I couldn’t hold my tongue anymore. Instead of staying on my back about the work you give us a week to do, why not get started on grading those essays we gave you now a month to grade. I shot at her.

Lex. Jake sighed.

Ms. Smith’s face turned red. To the back, where you belong.

I carried myself to the single desk in the back of the classroom. The desk was its own row. I had sat back here so many times, I usually left a bag of chips taped under the seat. It’s not like I’m a bad kid. Ms. Smith just gets on my bad side a lot. But I sat quietly in my seat and listened to the lesson. When the lunch bell finally rang, Jake walked up to me.

Why do you do that? He asked.

I like to see how red I can get her face to turn. I said as I packed my book bag.

Just watch it, Lex. Your mouth is going to get you in trouble.

It has a mind of its own. I said.

Well control it. And with that, Jake turned and walked out the door.

I left the room afterwards and felt that it would be weird if I didn’t meet with Ellie and Mary this time. There were no questions asked when I came up to Ellie’s locker but she gave me a look like I still didn’t get an answer. And I’ll be waiting. We walked into the