Chapter 14: Fire and Ice

-OLIVIA-

[Performing Arts Club Room]

“You’re late.” Like de ja vu, Stephen said it with a grim scowl and furrowed eyebrows

But he wasn’t talking to me. He was talking to-

“Oh C’mon! I’m ten minutes late. That’s like five whole minutes of improvement compared to last time!” Apollo reacted with exasperation and rolled his eyes at Stephen.

Stephen’s glare at Apollo gets colder and colder by the second. Those two remind me of fire and ice. Apollo’s fiery spirit and Stephen’s icy glare are not on my list on how I would spend my clubtime on.

It’s a good thing that I managed to make it in time. Just barely…

I thought I was late.

“Knock it off, you two.” and there’s Alejandro, our kind president who tried to ease down the tension.

I heard Stephen click his tongue and Apollo deeply sighed in surrender.

“Okay, fine. I’m sorry. I’ll try my best to be more punctual.”

“Don’t try and just do it.” Stephen snapped and I think I saw a vein popped out of Apollo’s temple or maybe it’s just my imagination.

“I appreciate that, Polo. And now, we need to discuss the upcoming contest. We have a few more months left to practice for that. Goodluck to our representatives!” Al clapped enthusiastically and so did Apollo. Meanwhile, the actual representatives were silent and still.

I don’t know about Stephen but as the female representative of this contest, I have absolutely NO idea what I am going to do. I’m on my wit’s end here.

Best of luck they say

I wonder if I’m enough

I don’t want to fail

I felt someone’s touch on my shoulder. It was Stephen’s. “Hey…What’s wrong, Olivia?”

Huh… he doesn’t call me Liv like used to the other day. Speaking of the other day, I almost forgot-

“Thank you.”

“What?”

“I said thank you for saving me. If it weren’t for you, I’d have drowned to death.”

There it is. I saw Stephen’s warm smile. A great contrast to his icy glare earlier.

Dear Drip,

I found my courage to practice for the contest. The bullies are quiet for the time being which is odd. Like a calm before the storm feeling. Stephen smiled at me and it gave me this fuzzy feeling. He’s always there to save me in a pinch. He reminds me of Snuggle Bunny. But there’s no way it’s him, is he?

Sincerely Yours,

_______