PYROKINESIS

Fire Unleashed

The next day was already going badly for Pyra.

She walked across the school courtyard slowly, her mind still heavy from everything that had happened with Lena.

Students passed by laughing, talking, living their normal lives.

But Pyra felt like she was walking through fog.

Then she stopped.

Ahead of her stood Derek.

He was laughing.

And beside him was a beautiful girl with long braided hair.

Her name was Aria.

Derek had his arm casually around her shoulders.

Pyra walked closer.

Aria noticed her first and smiled politely.

“Hi.”

Pyra forced a small smile.

“Hi.”

Derek suddenly stiffened when he saw Pyra. His face turned pale.

“Pyra… I can explain—”

Pyra raised a hand.

“Explain what?”

Derek blinked.

“Well… I mean… this is—”

Pyra cut him off calmly.

“Why do you need to explain?”

Derek froze.

Aria looked between them, confused.

“Wait… Derek, you know this girl?”

Derek stammered.

“I… uh… yeah… she’s—”

Pyra suddenly spoke again, casually.

“Relax.”

She shrugged.

“It’s not like we were dating or anything.”

Derek looked stunned.

“I was just spending time in your company to ease off,” Pyra continued. “And honestly… I already knew you were good for nothing.”

Derek’s mouth opened.

“So there’s no need to think you cheated on me,” Pyra added. “We were never together. Okay?”

Aria raised an eyebrow.

Pyra then looked at her kindly.

“But I don’t want you doing that to this pretty girl.”

Before Derek could react, Pyra gently grabbed Aria’s hand and pulled her slightly away from him.

Derek immediately tried to grab her back.

“Hey! Wait! She’s my girlfriend!”

But Aria suddenly pulled her hand away from him angrily.

Her eyes narrowed.

“So this is what you’re like?”

Derek blinked.

“Aria, listen—”

“No,” she snapped.

“I’m not waiting for you to dump me later.”

She crossed her arms.

“Looks like you just got outplayed by a girl.”

Derek stood there speechless.

Aria then turned to Pyra.

A smile slowly spread across her face.

“Nice one.”

Pyra smirked.

Aria grabbed Pyra’s arm.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

And just like that, the two girls walked away together, leaving Derek standing there completely confused.

He scratched his head helplessly.

“What… just happened?”

---

Lunch time arrived.

The cafeteria buzzed with students.

At the high table, Madeline and her group of girls were laughing loudly while eating.

Madeline tossed her hair proudly.

“You know Pyra is totally finished without Lena,” one of the girls said.

Madeline smirked.

“Obviously.”

Across the cafeteria, Pyra and Aria grabbed their trays.

Pyra scanned the room.

Her eyes found Lena immediately.

She was sitting alone.

Quiet.

Aria followed Pyra’s gaze.

“Is that who you’re looking for?”

Pyra nodded.

They walked over.

Aria sat down first.

But the moment Pyra tried to sit—

Lena stood up.

Without a word.

She picked up her tray and walked to another empty table.

Pyra sighed heavily.

Aria looked at her.

“Friend of yours?”

Pyra gave a sad smile.

“Best friend.”

Aria blinked.

“What did you do?”

Pyra rubbed the back of her neck.

“I just… pissed her off a little.”

Aria leaned forward.

“Well then go apologize.”

Pyra hesitated.

Then she stood up.

“Yeah… you’re right.”

She walked slowly to Lena’s table and sat down across from her.

Lena immediately grabbed her tray as if she wanted to leave.

“Lena.”

She paused.

Pyra lowered her voice.

“I’m sorry… okay?”

Lena didn’t respond.

Pyra swallowed.

“I was unfair to you.”

She took a breath.

“I’m sorry for judging you because of your father.”

Another pause.

“And I’m sorry for saying I couldn’t trust you.”

Lena slowly looked up.

Her eyes were still hurt.

“Well,” Lena said quietly, “it still hurts.”

Pyra nodded sadly.

“I know.”

Lena sighed.

“Maybe you should go talk to your other friends.”

Pyra shook her head.

“I don’t want other friends.”

She looked directly at her.

“You’re my best friend.”

Lena cut her off instantly.

“Was.”

She raised a finger.

“Point of correction.”

Then she stood up.

“I’m leaving.”

She walked toward the cafeteria doors.

Pyra sniffed quietly.

Her chest tightened.

Just then—

Madeline’s voice echoed across the room.

“Well well well!”

Everyone turned.

Madeline was pointing dramatically.

“Oh look! The two losers finally separated!”

Her table burst into laughter.

Pyra’s head lowered.

Her fists clenched.

Suddenly—

Her eye lenses turned red.

At Madeline’s table, one of the girls suddenly grabbed her own head—

And SLAMMED it into Madeline’s food bowl.

Madeline jumped up.

“What are you doing?!”

Then another girl did the same thing.

Splash.

Another.

Splash.

Soon all of Madeline’s friends were stuffing their faces into their bowls one after another.

“STOP! What are you doing?!” Madeline shouted.

Across the cafeteria—

A plate suddenly flew through the air.

CRASH.

Food exploded across the floor.

Students gasped.

More plates lifted off tables.

CRASH.

CRACK.

Students ducked and screamed.

Lena, who had reached the door, slowly turned around.

“What…?”

Food trays began sliding across tables.

The food counter suddenly burst into small flames.

Students screamed and ran away.

Chairs began heating up.

People jumped out of their seats.

“It’s hot!!”

“What’s happening?!”

Lena’s eyes scanned the room.

Then she saw Pyra.

She was still sitting.

Head bent.

Tears falling.

Her eyes glowing red.

“Oh no…” Lena whispered.

She immediately ran toward her.

Aria saw it too and ran after her.

“Pyra!” Lena shouted.

Another plate flew past her head.

CRASH.

She reached Pyra and grabbed her shoulders.

“Pyra, look at me!”

Pyra slowly lifted her head.

Her eyes burned red.

“I’m sorry, Lena…” she sobbed.

“I’m sorry…”

Aria stared in shock.

“Holy crap… what is THAT?!”

Lena quickly turned to her.

“Calm down!”

Then she looked back at Pyra.

“Listen to me.”

More plates smashed around them.

Lena took a deep breath.

“Okay… I forgive you.”

Pyra blinked.

“You’re my best friend for life.”

More chairs rattled across the floor.

“But I was only testing you again.”

Pyra’s tears slowed.

“Your emotions are causing a disaster in the school,” Lena said gently.

“So can you please stop?”

Another tray flew across the room.

Lena grabbed Pyra’s hands.

“Listen to me.”

She smiled softly.

“I love you, Pyra.”

Those words cut through everything.

Pyra’s eyes slowly returned to normal.

The red glow faded.

Plates dropped.

Flames vanished.

Chairs cooled.

Madeline’s friends stopped face-planting into their bowls.

The cafeteria fell silent.

Lena exhaled deeply.

“Phew…”

Pyra looked around in horror.

“Oh my gosh…”

Students stared at her.

“I’m sorry… this is a mess…”

Lena rubbed her forehead.

“Yeah… maybe I shouldn’t have pushed your emotions that far.”

She smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry about that.”

Pyra laughed weakly through tears.

Then the two girls hugged tightly.

Aria crossed her arms.

“Um… excuse me?”

They both looked at her.

“Pyra…” Lena said slowly.

“This friend of yours just saw everything.”

Aria pointed at Pyra.

“Yeah… WHAT ARE YOU?”

Pyra wiped her eyes.

She stood up.

“Come on.”

“Where?” Aria asked.

Pyra smirked.

“I’ll explain later.”

Lena nodded.

“Yeah… definitely not in here.”

The three girls quickly walked out of the chaotic cafeteria while hundreds of shocked students stared after them.

Behind them, Madeline stood frozen.

Her face still covered in food.

And somewhere deep inside Pyra…

The fire was only beginning to awaken.