In the party, the smell of thick smoke suddenly surges from around the host of the party.
Akeelah.
For a second, no one could see where the fire is that there is so much smoke but right after the fire sprung up.
Raging like it had always been there. The cool night air is adding fuel to the already hot fire.
Immediately, everyone around Akeelah scatters and she is left standing alone in the middle of the garden.
Her eyes are wide with fear and she keeps turning around while trying to put out the fire while stamping on her gown.
Suddenly, someone runs over and puts his suit jacket over the fire.
Aaron.
It was looking very gloomy for Akeelah as covering the fire meant it got very close to her skin. But the fire died few seconds later.
The crowd sighs comically at the same time and they start to regain their senses.
Aaron grabs Akeelah by the waist and carries her bridal style and leaves for the main building with Akeelah breathing heavily in his hands.
Amidst the crowd but in the same spot as before the fire, stood Andrè.
He pulls out his tie from his neck and seems to breath a bit better than before when he saw the fire.
Andrè had a past related to fire as well. When Andrè was twelve years old, their home was attacked by armed robbers and right in front of him, his parents and sister were all burnt to death.
He was hidden by his mum under the kitchen cabinet so he survived the massacre. He could smell the smoke from where he hid. The smell of roasting meat. Smell of Burnt human flesh was nauseating and since, he can't stand grilled or roasted meat.
It makes his space out and hyperventilate sometimes. This time, he just spaced out and had no idea on what to do to help Akeelah when he saw the fire.
He suddenly thought back to his family and stood rooted to the spot until the fire was put out.
#
Aaron gently put Akeelah down on her bed. She simply rolled off his hands, still shocked at the incident.
"Are you okay?"
She does not reply and keeps thinking back to the fire that could have burnt her to death in front of all those people and they wouldn't have done anything save for Aaron. Would Andrè have watched me burn too just like that?
Aaron shakes her gently and she snaps out of her reverie.
"Are you feeling well?" Aaron asks her again
"Y..Yes. or so I think." She replies, trembling.
"You should get some rest. It would go a long way for you."
"Yes. Yes, I will."
She mutters and looks straight at him. Straight in the eyes. Her sea coloured eyes on his emerald coloured ones. They seemed to never want to leave each other alone.
Aaron, feeling suddenly attracted to this woman reached out his hand for her face and stroked her cheek. She leaned in to his hands and breathed out a sigh of relief. She looked just like a scared puppy that has just lost his way home. Aaron pushed back stray hair from her face and smiled reassuringly at her. She smiles back weakly as well.
Suddenly, the door barges open and in comes Leo.