Heina: The Red Demon Dragon

A Best Friend

HEINA

"If I smell or see you within thirty feet near Aslan, be rest assured your days in Black Flame will not be a good one." Sirra threatened just as Falin drove into the school compound the next morning.

She pulled roughly at my hair and slapped the nape of my neck so hard I could only yelp in pain. When she finally let go, I massaged that side of my neck.

"Fat, ugly b***h!" She spat, shoving my head before stepping out from the back of the car.

Falin barely paid me a glance, I was just getting out of the car the same time he was driving off. I lost my footing and fell, drawing laughs from other students who were present.

This was the second time he was doing this. Why? Did he have a personal vendetta with me or he was under Sirra's payroll? Or maybe the twins'?

What was I doing here? I blinked back tears, pushing myself off the ground and dusting off the back of my blue denim.

After I'd gone to my room yesterday, I'd refused to come down to avoid Sirra and her brothers. But Sirra had gained access just to torment me for talking to people at school. By people, she meant the guy she liked — Aslan.

Adjusting my bags, I slowly entered the school premises, ready for today's class even though I didn't understand why I was here.

Learning Dragon language? Speaking Draki? Becoming a dragon instead of a doctor? Both were thrilling concepts but being a dragon wouldn't help me achieve my dreams. This wasn't even my dreams but I had no where to go.

No family members. And I suspected that the twins would not allow me even if I wanted to go back to Jertrix.

Maybe someday. For now, I just needed to tag along and pretend I understood whatever it was that was going on.

My eyes, on their own accord, searched the long, wide hallway for Aslan while hoping I'd avoid him for Sirra's sake.

Then I spotted him. For some strange reason, my heart sank. While girls still wanted his attention, there was a particular one he was giving all of his time.

She playfully jabbed him after he said something I couldn't make out, he held his ribs and laughed. He whispered in her ear and she wound arms around his waist.

Maybe it wasn't Sirra, but I found I wasn't happy seeing him all lovey-dovey with another girl. From my view here, she was slim with curves apportioned on the right places.

The bright lighting in the hallway illuminated the glossiness of her long, golden brown tresses. It was a deep, convenient contrast to Aslan's thick, dark brown.

She went on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, he rolled his eyes, pretending to push her off.

People walked by but I only had eyes for Aslan and his girlfriend, not understanding the jealousy. We weren't even dating.

They suited each other. Him tall, she small — though not that small. I hadn't seen her yesterday at school. Maybe she was absent and he had been bored and decided to help me or... I didn't know.

The one thing I did know was reality was right in front of me. And whether I liked it or not, I couldn't do anything about it.

Someone bumped hard into me from behind. "Leave the road, fatty."

It was a guy. I thought I saw him with the girl Sirra had strolled off with yesterday after mocking me, during the field thing.

From the snickers coming from him and his friends, I realized he'd bumped into me on purpose. Great! Sirra was most definitely cut from the same cloth as Jocelyn.

Still I muttered an apology and started walking towards their direction, not to go disrupt him and his girlfriend public display of affection, but it was the only way to the Year One students' teaching hall.

I bowed my head, not wanting to attract attention. But I couldn't stop myself from stealing a look whenever he chuckled at something the girl said. She must be really funny or he must really be into her.

Well, he had been helpful yesterday, I would always remember that. As soon as I neared them, I lowered my head and walked past them, a part of me was expecting him not to call me.

I mean, why would he when he was with...

"Heina."

Well, the other part had won this round. He had called me. Slowly, I turned and flashed a smile. "Hi, Aslan."

"I almost thought you'd not be in school today after what happened yesterday." I didn't want to believe his eyes brightening as they trained on me.

"Oh." I adjusted my bag, not that it needed any adjustment.

"I've been waiting for you." I recognized sincerity when I saw one.

I blinked, not expecting that. "You have?"

"Yes. How are you?" He ran a hand through his head.

I followed the movement, a absent frown on my face. "Uh..." This was not how I'd thought it'd go after seeing him with this very beautiful girl I couldn't bring myself to look at directly right now.

But she was looking at me. I could tell from the corner of my eye.

"I'm guessing this is the girl you've been talking non-stop about, eh, Aslan?" She nudged him, a teasing wink crinkling the corners of her eyes a little.

"Huh?" He's been talking about me? What about?

"Shut up, crazy." He chided, but it didn't carry any malicious or angry weight.

She giggled and came to me, extending a hand. "Hi, I'm Irana. Aslan's sister."

For the first time, I let myself look at her. "S-sister?"

She nodded, a curious smile on her face. "Why? Oh... You thought I was his girlfriend?" Before I could deny, she was already faking gagging noises. "Being his sister is enough."

Feeling stupid for my few-minutes-ago thoughts and jealousy, I took her head. "Nice to meet you, Irana."

"My brother tells me you're a fresh dragon, just like me." Her smile was really pretty and eyes, now that I could see them, were a beautiful pair of hazel.

And the resemblance was quite there. Nothing uncanny but just enough to let you know they came from the same parents. Beauty must run in their family.

"Yes. And he was a big help yesterday." I said, feeling oddly comfortable with her.

"I heard all about it, including the heroic measures taken to protect you. My, you've become a celebrity." She teased.

I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped. She was funny.

"You already have an enemy barely twenty four hours in Black Flame. I'd really like to know about you but Aslan said you aren't ready so I'll let you be ready." She was so friendly.

Not used to this attention from another girl, I shyly nodded.

The bell chose that moment to ring.

"Lecture is about to start." She tucked her arm around mine and began walking us to class, waving at Aslan. "See you later, baby."

He rolled his eyes and waved to me. "Have a nice day, Heina."

"The middle finger is for you." Irana stuck out her middle finger at Aslan. "Don't talk to my friend if you won't respond to my very benevolent greetings."

Aslan's friends came up to him and they started towards their own class.

Excitement had wrapped itself tight around my stomach, churning other emotions. My friend. She'd referred to me as her friend.

I raised my head up. "Y-you mean that?"

She bounced her shoulders. "Yeah. Unless you don't want to be." She noticed the glossy shine in my eyes and frowned. "You've never had any friend before? The school you came from? Your former home?"

"Aslan is my first."

She blinked like she couldn't imagine having such a life. Why should she? She was very pretty.

"Wow. You've had some shitty people." She mused after few seconds. "And I thought our world was bad. Hm."

She removed her arm from mine and proceeded to fix her fingers in between mine. I looked down at our clasped hands and smiled, feeling utterly grateful. "Thank you."

"Awn. Don't cry, bestie."

Bestie? A happy tear escaped and I quickly wiped it away as she teased me. And for the first time in ever, I actually laughed at being teased.

Just as it was the first time I'd met two people who didn't make snide remarks about my weight and glasses.