The Elementals

You can do lots of things with a government badge, even if it is technically not legal anymore. You can do lots of things, such as get two sixteen-year-olds plane tickets on a private jet straight from Nepal to Hawaii.

We managed not to break the airport.

And now I’m standing on the front steps of Coal’s orphanage, looking up at the rain-washed wood under the shade of overgrown foliage. Coal has been acting weird ever since I suggested we stay here, especially since the psychic is in fact at this place. I step up onto the porch, wood planks creaking under my feet.

I knock and it seems to break Coal out of a daze. “So,” he turns to me, eyes a bit wide in panic. “There’re a few things you should know before-”

The door opens, revealing a tan skinned woman wearing a fingerprinted apron. Her face has many wrinkles on it, but they’re laugh lines. Her chin length black hair has grey streaks in it, but for some reason that makes her seem younger, not older. Her brow furrows for a moment before she suddenly smiles so broadly I don’t think her mouth could go any farther.

“Coal?” she asks incredulously, voice low and musical.

He nods curtly. “Um yeah, hi -”

He doesn’t get to finish because the woman crushes him in a huge hug.

“Coal!” she exclaims. “My baby boy you’ve come back!”

I smile automatically. Coal looks pained but I can tell beneath his embarrassment is happiness.

After a few seconds, the woman lets go and turns to me. “And who are you?” she asks warmly.

“Oh yeah,” Coal says. “Meet Mrs. -”

“Just call me Makuahine.” The woman says. “It means mother. We are all ohana here.”

I’m slightly ashamed that the only reason I know what ohana means is from Lilo and Stitch. But I just smile and hold out my hand. “I’m Tide.” Instead of shaking my hand she engulfs me in a bear hug. She’s friendly and welcoming and smells like every sort of good food you can imagine.

“Tide.” She breathes. “What a beautiful name.”

I look down, surprised. “Thanks.”

She smiles. “Come inside keiki, come inside.”

Coal hesitantly steps into the doorway and I follow after him. The place smells like cooking food and the beach. The main room serves as a kitchen, and there’s a hallway leading down to other rooms, presumably for the kids, off to the right. Straight ahead are double doors leading to a porch looking out at the best sunset in all history.

Food is laid out on the counter leading to the back porch and Makuahine motions to it. “Help yourself.” She says kindly.

Coal looks hesitant so I grab his hand and drag him over. “What’s that?” I ask, pointing to pieces of some fish on a stick with grilled vegetables.

“Mahi-mahi.” Coal replies flawlessly. He still looks like someone might jump him.

“Cool.” I take a piece and taste it. It’s really good. Really, really good. I take a shish kabob and devour it.

“Coal?”

I hear a young voice and turn to see a small boy of about nine or ten standing in the doorframe, soaking wet, covered in sand, and holding a large crab triumphantly.

“Kenny?” Coal steps forward. “You’re so tall...”

The kid named Kenny grins. “I’m five foot two.” He announces proudly.

“Still a little squirt though.” Coal replies in a way that shows this was a routine for them. He walks over and ruffles the kids spiky black hair.

“Hey!” Kenny shouts across the beach, where other small forms are kneeling, hunting for sea life in the tide pools. “Jacob! Sarah! Coal is back!”

Immediately, heads pop up. Then a stampede of little feet are running up the steps and tracking sand into the house.

“Coal?”

“Coal is back?”

“Look, he is!”

“Coal is back!”

I watch hands tug at the hem of Coal’s shirt, asking for attention. Instantly, the cautious Coal is gone, instead replaced with a smiling big brother who knows each kid by name.

“Jacob! Your hair is blonde!” he says to one boy. “Jack, I told you your tooth would come out.” He gasps loudly and lifts up a small, red haired girl. “Sarah!”

Sarah beams, hugging Coal tightly. Then she notices me. Pointing, she asks, “Who’s that, Coal?”

Coal turns, seeming to just remember my presence. “Oh that’s Tide.” He places Sarah down awkwardly. “Tide, meet my...siblings I guess.”

I wave shyly, intimidated by the overwhelming response they gave Coal. A chorus of loud “hi’s” come from the kids.

“We were swimming.” Kenny says.

“And you’re finished.” Makuahine comes up to us. “No swimming at night, remember? Wash up for dinner now.”

The kids make slight protests but file after Makuahine to their rooms.

I walk forward to Coal. “Someone’s popular.”

He shrugs deferentially. “Yeah...I don’t know.”

“They really love you.” I insist. “How long have you been gone?”

He looks pained. “Well two years ago the government took me.” He checks behind his back. “They think I got adopted.” I nod. “I escaped, eventually, and then wandered a bit. I had never been off of Hawaii before so I got lost and then you found me.”

“They obviously missed you.” I say and he looks down. I duck my head to meet his eyes. “That’s a good thing.”

He smiles a tiny bit.

~

“So this is your room?”

I observe the worn rug on the floor, the faded wood walls, and the amazing view out the window. It’s on the very end of the hallway, the door with suspicious looking burn marks around the knob.

Coal traces his finger along the dust that’s collected on the shelves. “I shared it with another kid but he moved.” He motions to the two empty bunk beds along the left wall.

I walk over and climb up the ladder, flopping on the top bunk. At Coal’s look, I shrug. “I never got the top bunk before.” I bounce a couple of times, sending dust everywhere.

Coal blinks, and then has about twelve rapid fire sneezes.

I stare at him. He shakes his head and looks up. “What?”

“You sneeze like a kitt -”

“Shut up.” He mutters before I can finish.

I giggle and climb back down to the floor. I loved this place, you could go barefoot everywhere.

Looking out the window shows a clear night sky. It’s almost ten and its lights out for the orphans. Dinner was amazing, though I had absolutely no idea what I had eaten. Hawaii officially had my seal of approval. But we had come here on serious business.

“So do you know the psychic?” I ask Coal. “Her name is Caroline. She’s nine.”

Coal shakes his head. “Afraid not. There’s lots of new kids here I don’t recognize.”

“Well, there’s always tomorrow.” I sit down on the bottom bunk. “What should we do now?”

Coal drops next to me. “I can think of a couple things.” He smirks to himself, knowing things I don’t.

“Like what?”

Before he can answer, there’s a knock at the door, but almost as soon as it’s finished the person barges in. Or persons. Or girls.

A bunch of giggling girls.

A bunch of pretty and fashionable giggling girls.

A bunch of girls that look at Coal with dreamy expressions on their faces.

I shrink back into the shadows of the bunk as one girl steps forward. She’s tall, with wavy black hair and smooth, tan skin. Her eyes are a soft shade of amber, wide and friendly.

I hate her instantly.

“Coal!” she cries, rushing over and hugging him. “I missed you so much!”

The rest of the Barbie posse behind her choruses with “me too’s” and another round of giggling.

“Hi...Kenna.” Coal says slowly. She lets go of him and smiles.

“I cannot believe you’re back!” she says. Her voice is annoyingly not annoying. It’s very pleasant actually, low but not too low. I despise her more.

“Yeah, I’m back...” Coal glances at me. “With Tide.”

Suddenly I’m the center of attention. All the girls turn to me, eyes narrowed, though their demeanor changes as soon as they see my lazy position, torn jeans, plain tee shirt and ruffled hair.

“Hi...Tide.” Kenna says, and her Barbies echo the greeting. She turns back to Coal with an air of dismissal, filing me as not a threat. “Anyway, we were going to sneak down to the beach to go swimming and we were wondering if you’d like to come?” She asks, tilting her head and making her eyes even wider. “It would be really great of you. Everyone is going.”

Coal pauses, glancing at me again but I’m sitting in the corner seething. I nod curtly to him. If he wants to go, he doesn’t need my permission.

“Sure...” Coal still stares levelly at me. “I’ll come.”

Kenna smiles with perfectly straight, perfectly white teeth. “Great!” she says and then hugs him tightly again, kissing him quickly on the cheek before leaving.

No.

That is not okay.

Only I can do that.

I grit my teeth as all the girls giggle and follow Kenna with awe like she’s a god.

“You coming?” Coal asks, sounding slightly dazed and confused.

“I think I’ll stay here.” I reply, though it sounds like a hiss.

“I thought you loved swimming.” Coal says.

“Maybe you don’t know me as well as you do Kenna!” I snap angrily, standing and starting to walk out the door to somewhere away from here.

Coal grabs my hand. “Flippers, listen-”

“No!” I pull away, stomping off while Coal chases after me.

“You’re not planning on killing her are you?” he asks.

“She’s not the one I want to kill.” I snap, but if she and her Barbie gang happened to get eaten by sharks I wouldn’t be disappointed.

Coal sighs behind me and then I’m backed up against the wall, trapped between his hands. I glare straight into his eyes, though my heart is beating out of control.

“Flippers,” he says gravely. “Calm down.”

“I am perfectly calm!” I whisper furiously to keep from yelling, trying to duck away from him.

"Tide.” He stops me, taking my right wrist and pinning it against the wall. His other hand goes to my face, cupping it and tilting my chin up to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

I’m so surprised by the gesture I forget why I’m mad, though the anger comes back soon enough.

“Just. Leave. Me. Alone.” I growl and wriggle out of his grasp, dashing down the hallway and out of sight. I don’t stop there; instead just continue out the door quietly and around the house. I see a shed by the side and I clamber up, then from there go to the roof.

Once I’m up higher, away from perfect girls and confusing friends that are more than friends, I breath out, looking up. Here, away from city lights, there’s an endless amount of stars, making it seem like I’m drowning in the sky. I almost wish I could.

I curl my knees to my chest, pushing my nose into my arms. The smell of salt water doesn’t soothe me as it usually does. Maybe because I can see the light of a bonfire and hear the shrieks of girls getting splashed in the water. There’s laughing, both masculine and feminine.

I’m in Hawaii and yet I’m sitting on top of a roof feeling like I want to cry and break something at the same time.

I lie on my back, the rough shingles rubbing against my skin and tangling my hair even more. I rub my palms over my face, making a noise half way between a sob and a moan.

It occurs to me that I’m getting jealous over nothing. It’s not like Coal and I are a thing. I love him but so what? That doesn’t mean anything unless he feels the same way. Which he doesn’t. Kenna must’ve been his girlfriend or something. He’s probably down there with her now, laughing and smiling, having fun...

I groan again, ending in a whimper as I cover my face with my hands.

“Are you okay?”

I jump and flip over onto my stomach at the inquiring voice. I turn to the source and see a guy climbing up onto the roof from another side. He looks about my age, fifteen or sixteen. He has shock blonde hair - almost white - spiked up like a hedgehog decided to sit on his head. His light brown eyes flash in the moonlight as he settles a bit away from me. I straighten into a crooked upright position.

“I’m fine.” I cough.

“You wouldn’t happen to be Tide, would you?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I say warily. “Why?”

The guy shrugs. “Coal is looking for you. He’s kind of worked up.”

I frown. “Don’t tell him I’m up here.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” he replies easily to my rather hostile introduction. “You’re mad at him?”

“You seem surprised.” I note after nodding.

The kid looks out at the beach, watching the shadows of laughing people dance around the fire. “I just didn’t think it was possible for a girl to be mad at that smile.”

At my look he shrugs. “Jensen, Mr. Heartthrob’s best friend, at your service. You get used to the female posse that follows him around.”

I crack a smile, though it isn’t a real one.

“He’s really not that great.” Jensen continues mischievously, getting a glint in his eye. “He’s afraid of cats, you know.”

I have to snicker at that one. ”Cats?”

“Yep, won’t go near ’em.”

I smile for real this time.

“He can sing too.” Jensen adds. “Lullabies to the little kids. And the radio when he thinks no one is listening.”

I almost choke. I was right! He does sing!

“He can bake pretty much anything: cupcakes, cookies...brownies are his favorite.” Jensen thinks. “Hmm, let’s see, what else? Oh! He loves hamsters. Was infatuated with the one we had when we were seven.”

“You’re enjoying this.” I observe.

Jensen grins evilly, closely resembling Coal’s. “Oh, I’m just getting payback for a few things. Next time he’ll think twice before putting Kool Aid in my shampoo.”

I like this guy.

“So what brings you up here?” Jensen asks lightly.

“Kenna.” I mutter with distaste before then grumbling, “Nothing.”

Jensen nods in understanding. “So you like Coal.”

“No.” I growl. “He’s an idiot.”

“Glad you think so too.” Jensen laughs. “But I know you’re lying, and for the record, Coal likes you too.”

I stare at him. Jensen shrugs. “He doesn’t just light his hands on fire in frustration for anyone.”

I stiffen. “You know about his powers?”

Jensen nods. “I was his roommate. Almost burned the place down in his sleep till I, um, interfered.” He opens his left hand, revealing a faint burn scar across his palm. “And I’m guessing you’re not called Tide for the heck of it.”

“You got me.” I put my hands up. “I’m the water one.”

Jensen smiles wryly. “No wonder you hate Mushu.” He says, playing along with my pretend animosity with Coal.

“Mushu?”

“Yeah, come on, don’t you have a slightly insulting, stupid, and overall demeaning nickname for him?”

I shrug. “I called him Firefly once.”

“Well I bet that went over well.”

“What do you mean?”

Jensen looks at me with confusion. “He nearly decked me when I called him a small red dragon from a Disney movie, and you’re saying he did nothing when you called him a bug whose butt lights up?”

I snicker and shake my head. “No. He just glared at me.”

Jensen makes a face and mutters, “Favoritism,” under his breath.

After holding back more laughter, I say, “He owes me a lot. I taught him how to swim.”

Jensen whistles. “See? I’ve been trying to get him surfing for years and he wouldn’t touch the waves. Neither could Kenna.” He adds and I perk up, even if all the times I’ve gotten him in the water was by force.

“Kenna was bunked in the room next to Coal and me.” Jensen says, seeming to read my mind. “She and him were pretty close.” He says, glancing at me as he does so.

Once again, my lifted mood drops like a fifty pound weight into a chasm.

Jensen senses my annoyance, or possibly sees the steam coming out of my ears, and changes the subject direction. “He has a high status here. The little kids love him because - well face it, he’s a marshmallow who sings lullabies, tells stories and bakes brownies - and the older kids respect him ’cause he can hold his own in a fight. He’s rather godlike.”

“Sure, until you realize he’s an idiot who has an oversized ego.” I mutter.

Jensen smiles. “Yeah, but we’re the only two people who know that.”

“Jeez, I feel so special.” I say, doing a good job of being whiny, sarcastic, and an overall pain.

“You should. He doesn’t open up to people just like that.” Jensen says.

It annoys me that I do feel special.

“Coal is like my brother. We know everything about each other.” Jensen says. “And that means I know when he’s in love with someone.”

"What?”

He makes a salute and stands without answering. After he hops off the edge of the roof, I hear a window opening and curious, I crawl over to the spot he disappeared. Looking down reveals an open window where I can see the room Coal had shown me earlier.

“-wait here. She’ll come back eventually. Besides, it sounds like you really ticked her off.”

I duck behind the cover of the roof when I hear the door open and Jensen’s voice reaches my ears.

“But-” Coal starts to object.

“Trust me,” Jensen says, “If you can’t find her, then she doesn’t want to be found.”

I peek over the edge of the roof again. Jensen is running his hand over a black spot on the top bunk with Coal trailing behind.

“Remember when Makuahine thought we were launching fireworks off in the bedroom?” Jensen asks, brushing the dust off yet another black scorch mark on the furniture.

Coal smiles grudgingly. “It was your idea to see if I could explode a can of shaving cream.”

“Oh yes, and you’re so innocent.” Jensen scoffs. “Mr. Let’s See If I Can Cook Stuff With My Hand.”

“I’ve mastered that technique, thank you very much.”

Jensen raises his eyebrows. “I got E. coli from that steak you undercooked, thank you very much.”

“That’s only because you complained so much about the burnt one before.” Coal retorts. “And it was stomach flu.”

“Eh,” Jensen shrugs. “Same thing.”

“No it’s not, idiot.”

Jensen grins. “I’ve missed having you around.”

“Oh no, don’t you go on with that stuff.” Coal shakes his head. “I’ve had enough of that.”

“Two years is a long time.”

“Tell me about it.” Coal sits on the floor below Jensen, who’s on the bed.

There’s a silence where I’m pretty sure they telepathically communicate because the tension vanishes.

“I’ve missed this place.” Coal says quietly.

Jensen smiles sadly. “It’s missed you too.”

There’s another silence, until Jensen leans forward to look at Coal. “So-” he starts.

“Not a chance.” Coal interrupts.

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say!” Jensen exclaims.

“Yes, I do, and I’m not telling you about Tide.”

“I just want to know...” Jensen pauses. “Everything.”

“You’re a gossip, you know that?”

Jensen looks affronted. “I am a gatherer and spreader of information, thank you.”

“Otherwise known as a gossip girl.”

“Did I not tell you about the plan to take the gas out of the boat and strand you so you’d have to swim?”

“Yeah, you told me...when we were on the boat."

Jensen shrugs, smiling. “I forgot.”

Coal shakes his head, trying not to laugh while muttering something about having to paddle all the way back with one oar.

“Please?” Jensen asks. “Just tell me like it’s a story. You know, the ones you told to the little kids.”

“Jensen, you’re fifteen.”

“Almost sixteen.” Jensen mutters. “But still technically a minor.” He points out. “C’mon! I just wanna know how you ended up running into her.”

“That’s it.” Coal says.

“That’s what?”

“That’s how I met Tide. I ran into her.”

“What, like in a coffee shop?”

Coal shakes his head. “The woods, just outside of New Hampshire I think.”

“On purpose?”

“Kind of.” Coal explains, looking at the floor. “She was going to go with two other girls with powers like us, and with the signal we give off they’d be found instantly.”

“So you ran into her.”

“I didn’t want her to get hurt.”

“So you ran...into...her.”

Coal stays quiet for a few seconds before muttering, “Yes.”

“So what you’re saying is,” Jensen grins. “You smashed into her? That’s how you two met? I mean, a simple “hey, what’s up, don’t go with them or you’ll die” would’ve worked just fine you know.”

Coal sighs, eyes scrunched closed in embarrassment. “She was pretty, and I liked her, so I panicked.”

My eyes widen, and I try not to fall off the roof.

“Aww,” Jensen coos. “Was it love at first sight?”

Coal chokes out a laugh. “No! She hated me! And, you know... I might’ve come close to setting her on fire constantly.” He has the grace to look guilty.

Jensen shakes his head. “Moron.”

“Yeah, I know.” Coal sighs, leaning his head back. “I screwed things up. No need to rub it in.”

“Then why am I here?” Jensen asks innocently.

“I thought friends were supposed to help.” Coal says.

“What’s the fun in that?” Jensen shoves Coal lightly. He retaliates with a weak push back and Jensen frowns. “You’re really upset about her?” It’s more of a statement.

Coal slouches farther down. “Yeah...”

“All those years, you trying to get away from your female paparazzi and now you’re the one freaking out over a girl.” Jensen muses. “Who woulda thought?”

“She’s mad at me!” Coal says in exasperation. “Usually all she does is yell. She’s never actually run away before.” He stops talking and glares at the ground. “You probably want me to shut up.”

Jensen smiles, “For once, no. I love hearing about other people’s drama.”

“Yeah, I bet you do.” Coal mutters.

Jensen reaches over to the dresser and grabs a baseball. Throwing it up and down, he asks, “So anyway, why is this Tide mad at you?”

“I don’t know!” Coal throws out his hands in frustration, and they suddenly catch fire. He closes his fists and tucks them under his arms, putting out the flames.

Jensen chuckles. “That is so cool.”

“Sure, cool.” Coal says, but then he grins and snatches the ball from Jensen, and when he tries to get it back, Coal lights it on fire and tosses it back forth lazily. “What’s wrong Jenny?”

“Nothing Colette.” Jensen replies, using his sneaker to kick the ball from Coal’s hand, putting out the fire and then he grabs the burnt ball triumphantly.

They argue for a while, until Makuahine opens the door and tells Jensen to go back to his room, and for both of them to go to sleep. It’s hilarious how all of a sudden the two pyromaniacs turn into polite boys that follow the rules.

I shuffle back onto the roof. My insides are light and fluttery and happy and everything in between. He called me pretty and said he liked me! Technically not to my face, but still. That has to count for something, right?

I’m not sure what to feel though. He did not say he loved me. He did not say he didn’t love me either. And Jensen really pried the information from him. I sigh, heart going on a roller coaster.

I flip over onto my back, watching the moon move slowly across the sky until it’s almost three AM.

“Tide.”

I lift my head, alarmed for a moment until I look over the roof edge and realize Coal is sleeping.

“Tide.” He turns over on his bed roughly. The sheets are tangled, having been disturbed before.

I climb down onto the window sill quickly and slip into the room.

“No.” Coal reaches out blindly.

I walk slowly over to him. “Hey, shh, it’s okay.”

“Tide!” he yelps.

I rush the last few steps and sit down next to him. I feel his forehead first, but he’s a normal temperature for a boy who can light himself on fire. I trail my hand down to his shoulder, resting it there in an attempt at comfort.

“Tide...” he mumbles into his pillow.

I lean in closer, whispering. “Coal, shh, I’m right here, it’s okay.”

He calms down, so I try getting up. Immediately, Coal shifts restlessly.

“Tide!” he jerks awake, eyes snapping open in panic. He sits up, breathing hard and looking around wildly.

I put my hand on his and he locks eyes with me. “It was just a dream.” I soothe.

“You’re here!” he says, eyes wide and filled with relief. He rubs his eyes with his palms, hunched over. ”Five hours - I didn’t mean - I just don’t get -” he can’t form a complete sentence. “I’m sorry.” He finishes weakly, glancing back at me with a mixture of worry, guilt, and a sort of pleading that makes my heart melt.

“It’s not you...” I trail off, rubbing my hand over his shoulders, feeling the tense muscles. Why can’t I stay mad at the moron? “Not totally anyway. But you’re fine. I’m back, now you can go to sleep.”

He nods absently, not answering. I stand up to leave. He tightens his grip on my hand, eyes lighting with panic once more.

“No!” Coal doesn’t let go. He drops his gaze. “Please stay.” He begs, wincing at the words. “I -” he swallows. “I need you to stop the nightmares.”

I sit back down without argument. It’s worrying to see Coal so unsettled. Normally, he’s composed, but now he’s a hyperventilating, wild eyed mess that needs help. My help.

I sit cross legged, pulling him towards me and play with his curls before I know what I’m doing.

“Thank you.” He whispers hoarsely.

Not sure what else to do, I hug him. “No problem.” I reply. “Go back to sleep, I’ll stay awake.”

Coal nods again, but doesn’t move. It’s when I push him down gently that he seems to break out of a daze and he pulls me down with him, turning me so my back is in his chest. “As long as you’re here I can sleep fine.” He says. “You don’t have to stay awake.”

This is the first time I’ve voluntarily fallen asleep with him. I don’t mind - I love it - but with people around it suddenly seems wrong. I feel safe like this, warm and comfortable and protected. And there’s still the fact that he needs me to stay with him, and that alone is making my heart go ballistic.

“Coal?” I ask quietly.

“Yeah?”

“Do you have those nightmares every night?”

He waits before answering. “Yeah,” he sighs. “Most of the time.”

“You didn’t have them in the snow.” I point out carefully. When I was next to you, I add silently.

“Like I said, most of the time.”

It makes me happy. Not that he has the nightmares, but that they go away when I’m there.

“Coal?” I ask.

“Yes?”

“I -” my voice fails me.

Just say it!

I can’t.

“You what?” Coal asks, voice sending tingles down my spine.

“I’m sorry.” I amend quickly. “For the nightmares.”

He chuckles, and I can feel his chest rising and falling. “It’s not your fault Flippers. Go to sleep.”

“Okay.” I comply and close my eyes. Then I get another thought. “Coal?”

“What?”

“Were you really that worried? I mean, it’s Hawaii, how much could actually happen?”

“Of course I was that worried! And you’d be surprised...” he replies darkly. “Now go to sleep.”

“Coal?” I still have one more question. Irritated at the subject, I shift restlessly, turning over and ending up face to face with Coal. We’re centimeters apart, a distance I’ve grown comfortable with lately, and he seems to have as well, though his eyes light with surprise at my movement.

“What?” he asks quietly.

“Did you...” I’m having trouble remembering my question. “Um, did you...date...Kenna?”

He starts laughing.

Laughing.

“What?” I demand testily.

Coal glances at me. “Is that what you ran off about? Kenna?”

“You kissed her!” I snap, wanting more and more to bury myself under the covers but Coal won’t let me.

“She kissed me.” He corrects, serious. Then he smiles. “Are you jealous Flippers?”

“No!” I lie, turning over to shun him.

“You are jealous!” he says, laughing out each word.

I ignore him, staying silent. That is, until Coal turns me over easily. I glare at his smile and push my face into his shoulder to hide it. I expect him to snicker, to laugh at me, but he lets his hands rest on my shoulders cautiously. When I don’t stop him, he runs his fingers through my hair. The gesture makes me feel better, which is beyond annoying. How can he be the reason I’m mad, yet still be the solution?

“No.” Coal murmurs in my ear. “I was twelve and an obnoxious little pyromaniac. I didn’t date anyone.”

“You still are an obnoxious little pyromaniac.” I reply, trying to keep the giddy relief out of my voice.

“Pyro, yes.” Coal says. “Little, no. Obnoxious...most of the time.”

I laugh softly and Coal smiles. We’re as close as is humanly possible without actually kissing. Just the thought sends tingles and butterflies running through my stomach. Coal is still smiling at me lopsidedly, like he forgot he was doing it.

“So we’re good?” I ask.

He nods. “We’re good.”

With that I don’t bother turning around, just bury my face in his shoulder and let myself fall asleep.

~

“Wake up Coal -” the voice stops abruptly. “Aaaand Tide.” I recognize Jensen speaking.

“Shut up, she’s sleeping.” Coal replies. I can feel his hand on my shoulder, warm and comforting. He’s sitting up, surprisingly awake before me.

“Nice to see you too, Mushu.”

I scrunch my eyes closed harder, as if that’ll block out the noise. It doesn’t.

“Breakfast isn’t until eight.” Coal says.

“Yeah, but its pancakes.” Jensen explains. “Better to be early.”

I sit up slightly and grab my pillow, then hurl it at the sound of Jensen. “Shut up Jensen.” I mumble and shove my face back into the covers.

Coal snickers as Jensen yelps, the pillow hitting its mark. Then he stops dead. “Wait, you’ve met him?” There’s a touch of horror in his voice.

Realizing that I won’t get any more sleep, I sit up and nod groggily. “Last night. Roof.” I giggle suddenly. “Cats.”

“Jensen!” Coal growls. He turns back to me. “What else did he tell you?” he asks, almost frantically.

I giggle some more and he groans, falling back onto the bed with his hands over his face.

“Is your favorite song “Girl On Fire”?” I ask.

Jensen cackles while Coal glares at me. “One: that’s not funny. Two: that is not funny. Three: that is probably the least funny thing I have ever heard.” He throws his own pillow at Jensen as he has to lean against the door to keep from falling he’s laughing so hard.

“What -” I try to get it together. “What about “Set Fire to the Rain”?”

"You are not helping.” Coal says.

“I’m not here to.” I reply. “My job is to annoy you.”

“Hey!” Jensen says. “That’s what I’m here for.”

Coal rolls his eyes and stands. “Yeah, well you’re both doing a fantastic job.”

“Glad to be of service.” Jensen bows.

“Hello?”

I stiffen at the pleasantly melodious voice. Kenna brushes past Jensen, who has by now straightened, and walks over to Coal.

“You weren’t there last night.” She pouts and I feel a twinge of satisfaction before my fists clench under the covers.

I glance up and see Jensen in the doorway mouthing ‘catfight’ with waaaay too much excitement. I stick my tongue out at him.

“Anyway...” Kenna says and I turn to see her staring at me. I close my mouth and bite my lip to keep from yelling at Jensen, who’s almost crying he’s laughing so hard. Kenna faces Coal again. “I was wondering if you wanted to come to the café down the street for breakfast. You know, away from the immature kids.” She says, eyes shifting briefly but pointedly to me.

I look down, because otherwise I’ll say something awful.

“What do you think Flippers?” Coal asks. I glance up to see him watching me.

“Immature people are more fun.” I say and stand.

“Alright then.” Coal follows me out the door. I let him take the lead to the kitchen, relishing the look of annoyed shock on Kenna’s face.

“Did he just call you Flippers?” Jensen asks.

I don’t bother turning around. “Yep.” I sigh.

“Like Flipper, as in the dolphin?”

“Dolphin?”

Coal has noticed our hushed conversation and glances back at me with a questioning look.

Jensen smirks. “The TV show. You know, that one from the sixties?” he asks loud enough for Coal to hear and to make him go a shade paler.

Coal opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off. “Are you saying you dubbed me after a dolphin on a TV show?”

He doesn’t meet my eyes. “Um...maybe?”

“You’re a jerk Firefly.” I punch him good naturedly.

Coal rubs his shoulder. “I blame this on you.” He glares at Jensen, who just smiles and starts belting out the theme song of the show all the way to the kitchen.

When we get there, it’s full of small, hungry orphans. Getting food is a feat in its own, though seats are easy because people part out of Coal’s way like Moses and the Red Sea. It does not help however, that Jensen and I keep bothering him with more songs that have something fire related in the title.

It’s when Jensen suggests “Picture to Burn” that I give him a look. “Country?”

He grins. “I was born in Tennessee. Stayed on a farm until I accidentally set all the cows free. Broke a few more rules in some other places and then got sent here.”

“Big fan of Taylor Swift.” Coal says. “Named our hamster Ronan.”

“Because you wouldn’t let me get a cat.” Jensen retorts. “And you loved that hamster.”

Coal looks down. “Yeah, so?”

I glance back and forth between them as they banter. “You’re just a big old softie!” I push Coal gently.

The entire room, which had been a cacophony of voices, suddenly goes quiet. I glance behind me to see all eyes trained on Coal for his response. Obviously, I’ve crossed some sort of line. I tilt my head, watching Coal as he checks behind his shoulder too. He looks back at me and I bite my lip to keep from laughing at his deer-in-headlights expression.

The silence waits expectantly, I’m assuming for Coal to growl out a threatening response. Instead he looks at me and then down at his plate, stabbing a piece of pancake. “Oh shut up.” He mumbles, shoving the large bite into his mouth.

I smile at him as the younger kids giggle and the older ones smirk. Soon enough the chatter is back. Jensen forms his hands in a heart shape, nodding to Coal and then to me when no one is looking. I roll my eyes. Watch, he mouths, and then turns to Coal.

“Hey Mushu,” he coos in a high pitched voice. “You’re just a softie, you know that?”

“Jensen, I have a fork in my hand,” Coal growls, “Don’t make me use it for purposes other than eating.”

Jensen shuts up, but as soon as Coal turns again he looks pointedly at me. I stick my tongue out at him. He ignores me and makes some more complex gestures, trying to be as obnoxious as possible. I can see the resemblance between friends.

“We’re here to look for the psychic Elemental.” I say, making Coal look up and Jensen stop.

Jensen frowns in confusion. “Is that like a street gang or something?”

I roll my eyes, trying not to laugh because that will only goad him on. I’ve learned with Coal. “No, it’s what people like Coal and I are called.”

“Psh,” Jensen scoffs. “How boring. Anyway, your psycho Elema-what’s-it is over there.” He points rather obviously to a girl who looks to be about seven or eight.

Her skin is dark, hair black and frizzy like a pompom. She laughs at something someone says and I see one front tooth missing.

“Caroline.” Jensen says. “She’s from Ethiopia. Can predict the weather and stuff down to the second it’ll happen. Some people think its magic.” He snickers. “We have a pretty good act. Better than your pyro show.” He nudges Coal.

Coal narrows his eyes competitively before glancing at me and exclaiming, “What?” defensively. “So I’ll set some stuff on fire for a Klondike bar. They’re good." He goes to assault another piece of pancake but then realizes he’s done. “C’mon.” he says and stands.

“Street acts?” I ask Jensen.

He shrugs, smiling evilly. “I went to a boarding school in New York City for a couple of years. You learn to survive.”

I’m guessing if I had parents, Jensen would be considered a “bad influence”.

Coal walks to Caroline’s table. People get out of his way, but not from fear. He has a sort of respect that has to be admired, considering it lasted through the two years he was gone.

He taps the young girl on the shoulder and she jumps up eagerly, following him out to the porch. Jensen and I have to fight our way out of the crowd of kids to meet them.

“Come on, please?” Caroline is saying.

“I told you, there are people around.” Coal replies.

She sticks out her bottom lip. “No, it’s because you don’t want to scare Tide.”

Coal looks surprised. “Either way, no.”

Caroline sits down on the floor. “Then I’m not coming with you to the Himalayas.”

Okay, mind reader it is.

Coal sighs, knowing he’s lost. “Fine.” He says. “On the beach.”

“Yes!” Caroline pumps her fists and jumps up to run to the sand.

“She’s been bothering me about you ever since the little twerp read my mind.” Jensen says, though he uses “twerp” with a brotherly fondness.

Coal nods, following Caroline down to the beach. “She’s rather demanding.”

Jensen and I walk after them, where Caroline is waiting excitedly. Coal’s shoulders are hunched and he glances at me briefly.

“She’ll be fine.” Caroline insists, reading his mind. Coal glares at Caroline, but she doesn’t seem to care. “Go on.” She says impatiently.

Coal does a three sixty sweep of the area, making sure it’s just us. Then he takes a breath and bursts into flames.

I step back automatically, surprised. Usually, he starts with his hands and goes from there, not just lighting up into a ball of fire all at once.

Coal notices my movement and immediately his body goes out like a light switch. He looks at me with concern. “Sorry.” He says, his gaze dropping to the ground.

“It’s fine.” I assure him quickly.

Before Coal can remind me of my terrible lying abilities, Caroline pokes him. “Did that hurt?” she inquires, and I realize she’s holding a lit match.

“Did you -” Jensen checks his pockets. “You stole my matches, you little - little... how did you do that?”

Caroline smiles deviously, lighting another match and jabbing Coal again. “How about that? Did that hurt?”

Coal shakes his head, looking bored. Caroline keeps poking him everywhere she can and asking him if he feels anything. After about the twelfth match she goes through, Coal takes the box and hands it back to Jensen. “If you hadn’t already noticed, heat doesn’t bother me.”

She jumps up and down. “That is so awesome!”

Again, Coal glances at me. “Yeah, sure, awesome.” He mutters.

I take a step towards him. I saw the flash of pain in his eyes as he looked at me. I want to ask him what’s wrong - though I’m pretty sure I have an idea - but it feels like I shouldn’t with people around.

“Coal!” a shout interrupts me.

Kenny races up to us, a curious expression on his face. He’s hopping from foot to foot like he has to go to the bathroom. “There’s someone here for you. All of you.”

“Who is it?” Coal asks warily.

Kenny shrugs. “I dunno. He said his name was Shylock.”