HEFESTO- Fury

The high school hallways were bustling as usual, but everything felt muffled, distant in my head. I was standing in front of my locker, rummaging through some things while Beatriz talked nonstop.  Her voice, always full of authority and sarcasm, was something I even enjoyed listening to, but at that moment, my mind was somewhere else. Still, she was one of my best friends, so I tried to pay attention.

Beatriz had that unique way about her. Black, with an afro power that seemed to defy gravity, full of shiny, colorful accessories that drew attention wherever she went. She looked like a magazine cover model, which only made it harder to ignore her presence when she wanted to be heard.

— You heard me, right? — she said, for the third time, banging the door of a locker next to mine to get my attention. — Fifteen thousand dollars for one race. Fifteen thousand, Nora. If you win…

I turned sharply, interrupting her with a smug smile.

— If? — I repeated, raising an eyebrow. —  The question isn’t if I’m going to win. I’m going to win. I’ve never lost a race, Triz. Why would this be different?

Beatriz crossed her arms, tilting her head to the side as if trying to convince me to be more cautious.

— Because you know how that son of a bitch Willow plays dirty — she countered, firmly. — He caused the accident…

I raised my hand, cutting her off once again. I didn’t want to hear it.

— No one caused any accident, Beatriz — I interrupted, slamming my locker shut. — And, if anyone did, it was the idiot who was drunk driving with him. Willow isn't to blame if the other guy drove like a cripple. With alcohol in that tiny brain of his, the difference between him and a turnip was almost nonexistent.

Beatriz let out a disapproving sound but didn't answer immediately. I knew she hated it when I downplayed the dangers of racing, but for me, it was simple: either you go in ready to win or you shouldn’t be there at all.

I closed my backpack and started walking down the hallway, ignoring the exasperated look she threw my way.

— Damn, Nora! Where are you going now? — she yelled, following me for a few steps.

— Get off my tail, Triz! — I retorted, without looking back.

She snorted something I couldn’t hear, but I didn’t care. I had other things on my mind. As I walked down the hallway, I greeted a few familiar faces, throwing a smile here and there. My goal, however, was clear: I was looking for a pair of blue eyes. London.

He hadn’t answered my messages since early this morning, which was irritating me deeply. London had always been attentive to me, almost too much at times. So, his silence was strange, uncomfortable. My stomach churned with a feeling I didn’t like to admit: suspicion.

London and I had been together for about a year and a half… Our relationship was complicated, but it couldn't be otherwise. I doubt I could maintain a relationship with someone saner or more well-behaved than me. I was sick, I was fully aware of that, so I stayed with London because he wasn't good either... we were similar in that sense. I wasn't a good person, and he wasn't either...

London was a handsome guy, the typical womanizing cliché high school boy. He had wealthy parents, was emotionally empty, spoiled, a womanizer, an athlete... He seemed good enough... It wasn't someone I fell in love with for his intelligence or character, definitely not...  Sometimes I caught myself wondering if I wasn't with him out of convenience...

As I walked down the hallway, doubt consumed me.  I knew, deep down, that something was wrong. London wasn't the kind of guy who would just ignore messages or disappear without a trace. Not because he was attentive, but because he loved to be in control. He liked to know where I was, what I was doing, who I was with. It was his way of maintaining superiority.  And maybe that was what made me so irritated that morning. It was as if, all of a sudden, I was the one being ignored, not the other way around.

I passed the hallway that led to the courts and looked around, searching for that messy, unruly blonde hair, the blue eyes always with an air of mockery. Nothing. Just a group of girls laughing loudly as they watched some players practice. I rolled my eyes and went back to the main hallway.

I hated it when London made me feel like that. Suspicious. Vulnerable. It was a feeling I avoided at all costs. That’s why I always kept people at a distance, except for Beatriz and, for some inexplicable reason, him. Not that I was a fan of feelings—far from it. But London... he had something that made me want to play the game, even knowing he cheated.

The truth is, as much as I liked to pretend otherwise, London was like a mirror. He reflected all the things I hated about myself. My coldness, my selfishness, my inability to form real bonds. We were both like fire and gasoline. And maybe that’s exactly why our relationship was so intense and destructive. I knew that, sooner or later, one of us would end up burned.

Suddenly, I heard laughter coming from outside. I approached one of the windows overlooking the parking lot and there he was. London. Leaning against someone’s car hood, with that carefree smile that irritated me as much as it attracted me. Beside him, a girl I didn’t recognize immediately. She was leaning in too close, laughing at something he said. My blood boiled.

I wasn’t the type of girl who made scenes. At least, I liked to believe I wasn’t. But, at that moment, something inside me screamed to act. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door leading to the parking lot and walked towards him, each step echoing like a drum in my head.

— London! — I called, my voice firm but laced with venom.

He looked up in my direction, the smile disappearing for a second before returning, now with a hint of nervousness. The girl beside him also looked at me, confused, as if she hadn’t understood why I was there. As if my presence was a mistake.

— Nora — he said, awkwardly, moving away from the car a little. — What are you doing here?

— I should be asking you that — I retorted, crossing my arms. — You ignored all my messages, but it seems you’re too busy… socializing.

The girl looked from me to him, clearly uncomfortable. London scratched the back of his neck and tried to hold back a laugh. He did that when he was nervous, as if he thought he could control the situation with a stupid smile.

— Relax, Nora. This is nothing — he said, pointing to the girl. — We were just talking.

— Just talking? — I asked, taking a step forward. — Funny, because it looks like more than that.

The girl finally decided it was time to leave. She mumbled something like "I’ll leave you two to talk" before disappearing into the parking lot. London sighed, putting his hands in his jeans pockets.

— You know I hate it when you do that — he said, looking at me with that fake patience. — You act like I’m guilty of something.

— And you know I hate it when you make me feel like an idiot — I retorted, my voice louder than I intended. — Ignoring my messages, disappearing out of nowhere, and now this? Seriously, London?

He shrugged, as if he didn’t care. That was the problem with him. Nothing seemed to really affect him. He was an empty guy, like a beautiful container but with nothing inside.  And yet, there I was, arguing with him in the middle of the parking lot like an idiot.

— Look, if you came here just to fight, I’m not in the mood — he said, finally. — I have more important things to do.

I laughed, not believing what I was hearing.

— More important? — I asked, incredulous. — Like flirting with other girls in the middle of the parking lot? Is that important to you?

He rolled his eyes, as if he was tired of the conversation.

— You know that doesn’t mean anything, Nora. Stop being paranoid.

Paranoid. That word echoed in my mind like a punch. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was paranoid. But, at that moment, I didn’t care. I just knew that I was tired of being treated like something disposable.

— You know what? — I said, taking a step back. — Do whatever you want, London. I’m not going to waste my time with this anymore.

Before he could respond, I turned my back and started walking back to the building. My heart was racing, my mind spinning. I knew that argument didn’t mean anything. Tomorrow, we’d probably be fine again, like always. But, at that moment, everything felt like it was on fire. And I was in the middle of the flames.

As I walked away, I heard London call my name, but I didn’t stop. I needed space, I needed to think. Because, something inside me said that we were coming to the end...