Alex waited for a moment, breathing in the cold night air while mentally preparing himself. Skyla's PTSD was difficult, but nothing he couldn't help her with. It was that combined with the fury raging inside her that he feared. Nothing good could come of it and she could potentially end up with the same fate her older brother had met. Finally, he knocked and was greeted by an awkward Skyla, her long black hair resting against her shoulder. She waved lightly and welcomed Alex with a quiet, "Hey. Thanks for not bringing your sister..."
Alex stared at her, not really knowing how to respond to that. Even if he had something to say, she was quick to comment on his change of clothes and escort him inside, "Looks like you changed your shirt." He laughed and removed his jacket, placing it on the back of her couch, "Looks like YOU changed your furniture. No red couch, huh?"
Skyla's brows furrowed a little and she went into the kitchen. Alex continued, "So, Skyla. What did you want to talk about earlier?' She groaned quietly and leaned forward against the counter, covering her face for a moment. Of course he would follow up, he always does. Not that she didn't want to continue. She watched his hand grip the entryway to the kitchen, his smile kind but almost forced? Sky smiled calmly back before nervously speaking, "Oh, I... I was just checking to see how you were. It's been weeks since we last spoke."
"Thanks! Yeah, I'm okay..." Alex stepped one foot into the kitchen before sighing and leaning against the edge of the wall, "But is that really all you wanted to kn-"
"YEAH?! WELL WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK I WAS THERE FOR?!" Skyla had snapped, anger finally welling over. Unbeknownst to her, her eyes had started to glow as well. Alex tensed up, almost fearfully but she continued on, "You know exactly what I wanted to know! First of all, you skipped out on the gala my father set up for you. Second of all, you ignored every call and message I sent you in the past two weeks as if I don't exist."
"Before you get to the third," Alex piped up, it was his turn to interrupt, " l didn't speak because my enemy was the one to set the fire. I didn't want to be more public than I already was."
"Enemy??" Skyla's face changed to that of angered confusion. Alex replied, "That fire wasn't an accident."
Skyla was silent for a moment and walked to the kitchen table across the room, she turned back to him and spoke while gripping the table, "How would you possibly even know that?" She hopped up to sit herself on the table and stared at him, waiting for an answer. She watched as Alex drew a nervous breath, swallowed hard and looked away. After a moment, he spoke quietly, almost depressed, "It was a set up to draw me out. To purposefully put that family in harm's way and get me on national television."
"Who would do that to you, of all people?" Skyla scoffed, folding her arms for a moment. Her eyes dimmed back to their normal brilliant green. 'This has to be some kind of sick joke. Alright, I'll entertain him,' Skyla thought before speaking aloud, "Was this an enemy you had before you became an exchange student here? Ha, oh God, is this the reason you came to the United States all those years ago?"
He spoke before even thinking that it might piss her off, "I'm being serious." Her eyes sparked up again and her face grew grim and dark, "Tell me, then. Who is this "enemy", Alex?" He tried to convince her she didn't need to know but Skyla persisted. Best friends were supposed to tell each other everything, right? Or at least be told whether they were in danger or not. Nodding, Alex slowly moved to point at Skyla's family portrait. With her mother and brother gone, and herself never being a threat, one could quickly deduce that Alex was pointing at no one other than Mr. John Fletcher himself. Billionaire CEO of Hunters Global, loyal to his career, always working, and dedicating his free time to insuring his daughter's health and advancement through the company. Rage now filled her again but all she could do was laugh. There was no way. That would be too stereotypical, wouldn't it?
"I'm telling the truth!" Alex was loud but no anger came from him, just concern. His tan face was somehow paler than normal as he stared at her. She balled her fists tight and screamed back.
"AND I," She was too busy staring directly at Alex and too filled with rage to notice her hands had set ablaze, "I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT MY FATHER WOULD DO THAT TO MY ONLY FRIEND." She slammed a fist down, HARD, on the table before a cracking sound echoed against the walls.