Ocean of Wildfire Chapter VI

Ocean of Wildfire
Chapter VI: Inspiration

Days have passed since my first kiss with Rose. I felt that we were getting closer and closer each day. She made me a stronger person since the last time she came over. I felt indestructible and a bit conceited for a while. Mikey and everyone else noticed but they felt happy that I was showing improvement. Richard was happy that I as improving but he still felt like most of it was his fault. I don't blame him at all really.

It was in the middle of the week. I usually hate these days but somehow today I was able to bare with it. I walked out of the pharmacy and jogged happily to the car to pick up Mikey. I passed a nearby smoker at a corner. The smoke was somewhat thick. When I inhaled it flashbacks began running through my head like a projector. I thought about Rose and the smoke became more tolerable. I didn't need my medication. All I had to do was think of Rose and everything would be fine. I got into the car and backed up from the parking space and headed to Anderson High. With the windows down; and the wind flowing in, I could see everything better and smell everything better. I've never felt so comfortable driving.

I arrived at Mikey's school and saw him in the same spot. Unfortunately, he was with the same guy from before. Brian took one glance at the car and knew it was me. I saw his hand relocate itself to his pocket. I thought he was going to take his lighter out and wave it in my face again. I revved the engine to intimidate him. I think he got the point. I got out of the car with the breeze blowing locks of my dusky hair over my nape. Rose saw me walking over with my hands in my reefer jacket pockets.
"So you and Rose?" a girl points out to me. I nodded a yes.
"Yeah…"
"Oh my God! Stand next to him!" she commanded Rose. Rose stood up and hopped down the steps to stand next to me as her friend examined us both.
"I think you two look good." Mikey gave a thumbs up.
"I think you two need a reality check." Brian laughed at Rose.
"Shut the hell up, Brian." Rose was annoyed.
"C'mon! You're with a pussy who's afraid of a tiny little flame." Brian jeered. My fists clenched at the sentence he just uttered. I gave him the most heartless stare I could possibly give. He stared back. I stomped up the steps and put my hands on his shirt.
"Call me that again." I taunted with my heart racing. Brian looked up with confidence.
"Pussy." he called me. I shook my head in disgust. The group backed up from the scene as I lifted him off of his feet and slammed him against the brick wall of the school building. Rose gasped at the amount of strength I displayed. I noticed a faculty member coming in our direction. Mikey put both of his hands on my arm to warn me.
"Jeremy…" Mikey encouraged me to stop, "that teacher's gonna see!"
"Let them see! I'll put on a fuckin' show!" I pulled my arm back making a fist and punched Brian in the face. He put his hands on the arm that was holding him up as a sign that he wanted me to let go. There was no way in hell I was going to let go.
"Jeremy!" Rose put her arms around me and I stopped moving. She walk holding me tight.
"…What?"
"I think he gets the point." She told me. I let go of Brian and he fell to the ground hard. I stated feeling around the area where I punched him. Thank God Jay wasn't there to see that. I would have been in some serious trouble. Rose grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the crowd. Mikey picked up their things and we walked away from his friends to the car.

I sat in the back seat with Rose as Mikey waved goodbye to his friends and sat in the driver's seat. I calmed down and rubbed my eyes. Mikey was driving and Rose was brushing my hair back. I looked outside the window as we drove away. Brian was still feeling his face as his friends were laughing at him.
"Way to tell him, Jeremy!" Mikey smiled. Rose patted me on the back.
"Thanks." She told me as she kissed my lips. I pulled back in wonder.
"Why are you thanking me?"
"He made fun of us!" she explained, "Everyone wants to punch Brian."
"Yeah, he's a douche." Mikey said as I recall Rose saying the same thing. I felt proud.
"Yeah, all of my friends must like you now." Rose smiled as she held on to my arm.
"Nobody calls me a pussy and gets away with it." I said to them with a smirk.
"Pussy." Mikey said looking into the rearview mirror at me. I sat up and put my hands around his throat in a tight lock. He swerved a little.
"Call me that again." I taunted.
"I'm sorry!" Mikey said back. I let go grinning as Rose laughed at Mikey while he shook his head. Rose put her arms around my arms as we sat in the back of the car, snuggling. I could smell the fresh scent in her hair rush into the back of my nose. I exhaled out of glee as I put my head down to lock lips with her. Mikey looked back into the rearview mirror again. "AHEM!" he exclaimed at us. Rose and I both cleared our throats as we backed away. '

Mikey drove on. I was ecstatic for some strange reason. I felt like I could do pretty much anything as long as Rose by my side. It was even better knowing that I taught Brian a lesson he would never forget. I never wanted to let anyone pick of me for my condition. I kind of wanted to go back to the school to redo everything that just happened, but that will have to be another time.

I can honestly say that I've grown attached to Rose. Over the past month she's been helping me. She was coming over every weekend and giving me all sorts of tests and asking me all sorts of questions. It took me a long time to improve but I must say, I did improve a lot. I felt somewhat selfish because she had been spending more time with me to work on my condition than she had with Mikey to work on their psychology project. It's kind of exciting to wake up knowing that there's one more person to add to your list of people that care about you. I started to think less and less of my condition. It was almost as if I had finally gotten over my fear of fire; and I wouldn't have done it without Rose.

There at the counter was where I sat, staring at the stand with my parents ashes on it. I was hopeful and determined to make this day, the day I overcome my annoying fear of fire. My fingers were tapping on the counter like crazy. I saw Rose walk out of the bathroom and made her way to the counter to sit beside me. Richard was just as anxious as Mikey was. Richard stood with his arms crossed waiting to see how far I've come because he was never there the other times to see me. Mikey's seen it a few times so he's been with Rose and I since the beginning.
"Ready?" she asked me sitting at the kitchen counter holding her purse in her lap, ready to take something out. I thought to myself for a few seconds before answering.
"Whenever you are." I nodded and took a deep breath. She lit a flame in front of me with a lighter just inches away from my face and I stared at it. My head started spinning images of my parents around but I was used to it by then. I tried to not think about them; I tried to not have the situation revolve around them. I then felt my heart began to beat fast but I didn't look away. I refrained myself from putting my hands on the counter to hold the edge. To Rose, it was almost as if it didn't bother me. I looked at Richard from the side of my eye. He seemed very impressed by the situation.
"It's a fucking miracle!" Richard exclaimed.
"I'm impressed!" Mikey smiled as Rose put the flame away.
"Catch!" Rose tossed the lighter at me and I caught it.
"Hey, you didn't dodge it." Mikey pointed out, "few weeks ago you did, but now you didn't."
"Yeah. I think my condition has nearly lifted itself off of me." I crossed my arms.
"Well, not entirely." Rose said. I looked up.
"What do you mean?" Richard asked.
"Lately, we've been working with small flames; but now you can finally move up!"
"Yep. I think you're ready." Mikey put his arms at his sides and smiled.
"Ready for what?" I looked at both of them.
"Oh, you'll see." Rose grabbed my hand and walked me out of the apartments. Richard and Mikey followed along as we all went into the car. I got into the back seat with Rose and Mikey and Richard sat up front. Mikey started the car and he backed up and started driving. I had no idea where we were going.
"What's going on?" I wondered.
"Don't worry, hun, you'll see." she gave an excited expression on her cute face. I was hoping that they weren't going to throw me into a fire. Mikey and Richard were the type to think of things like that.

I could tell where we were going by the turns Mikey was making. We were on our way to Adam's house. I looked at Rose, confused and in wonder, but she paid no mind to my curiosity. When we got to Adam's house, Rose walked me inside and there was Jay.
"I heard." Jay smirked.
"You heard right." Richard acknowledged. I stared at Rose, Jay, Mikey and Richard and took a few steps to see who was in the kitchen, at it was Adam. He wore his apron and had finished dinner. There were fatty juices left in the pan. He turned around and smiled at me viciously.
"Let's kick your phobia's ass!" he cheered as he grabbed cooking ingredients within his reach.
"You have GOT to be shitting me…" I shook my head. Mikey patted me on the shoulder.
"If you really want to stand up to your father then you might as well." Rose insisted.
"Jeremy, I never really knew your dad well but I fucking hated him anyways." Adam spoke out, "I especially hated him when he was fuckin' drunk."
"I don't think you've seen him drunk." I recalled.
"He threw up on the new rims I bought for my truck and took a piss on the door handle; That bastard was drunk off of his ass!" Adam exclaimed waving his arms.
"I second that." Richard spoke out.
"You do?" I asked.
"Yeah, I stepped in his vomit while trying to open the door." he scratched his head. Adam and Jay pointed and laughed.
"So, who's going to overcome their fear today?" Jay put his arm around me.
"Um…eh…" I responded as Adam poured an alcoholic substance into the pan. He was ready to set it ablaze. Mikey, Jay, Richard and Rose were watching me. They were waiting to see if I was ready but I wasn't sure if I was. Rose was making a hopeful face for me. All of the hard work she did for me so kindly. She was my inspiration, my motivation. I wanted to please her so much. My biggest critic is myself; my lack of ethic and many stories shelved. My horrid prose and ungainly speed. It was Rose I knew I would need in order for me to show my ass of a father that I am, too, a normal person. Rose and Mikey were staring at me, just waiting for a response.
"Light it." I commanded as I stood by Adam at the stove.
"Jeremy," Rose said with her hand on my shoulder, "instead of your mom, try to see your dad in the flame." Rose advised as she backed away. I thought about what she said. It may just have what it takes to completely cure me. I took a deep breath.
"Alright, fire it up, Adam." Jay yelled.
"No, I'm leaving this one up to Jeremy!" Adam smiled as he awaited for me to light the pan. I stood still in front of the stove. I looked back at everyone else and I could see Jay dancing in excitement. I turned to Adam and lit the pan ablaze. Rose jumped and Mikey pulled her back. I felt an immense heat run up my upper torso. Even though it only lasted a few seconds, it felt like forever to me. I tried my best to imagine Dad's face in the bloody-pink inferno. I tried to picture the flames taking him away instead of taking Mom away. My heart was racing and my hands were trembling. The second the flame died my hands were trembling and I felt like I was almost smiling. I stood there and Rose put her hands on my shoulder.
"Jeremy…are you okay?" she looked at my face.
"I saw Dad…" I turned to Mikey.
"And…?" Mikey wanted to hear more.
"I saw the flames take him away; I pictured him dying…" I said. Adam killed the stove and Richard and Jay stared at each other in confusion. I turned to Adam, "light it again…"
"What?!" Adam shrieked, almost dropping the pan.
"Again? Jeremy, you're over it?" Jay asked. I nodded.
"I…think I am…" I said. Jay took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. He took a lighter out and lit it his cigarette in front of me. He waved the lighter as close as he could in my face and blew a puff of smoke at me. I inhaled the smoke yet I did nothing; I felt nothing. It brought back no bad memories. Richard and Mikey were thrilled. Rose rushed up to me and embraced me with her arms. Adam and Jay gave a high-five to each other. Everyone was ecstatic about the situation.
"Let's celebrate with sirloin steak!" Adam cheered as he got out plates for everyone. We all sat around his table. There were three chairs on one side and three on the other. Adam, Richard and Jay sat on one side and Mikey, Rose and I sat on the other side. Jay took out several alcoholic beverages and started serving to everybody except Rose and Mikey. We all made a toast to my recovery and I. Rose and Mikey clapped happily for me.

We feasted on Adam's dinner with joy. We were finally back to the fun little group that we were; except now there was a girl there to spice things up. Everyone liked Rose and her distinct personality. She was accepted into the group. She wasn't too girly at all. She fueled me; she was my stimulant; my impulse. Rose was almost like one of us. She made us smile and she made the group ten times stronger than we were before; and the best part was she was mine. Rose was mine. That little spark of hope finally helped. I was finally rid of my curse; I was free to never dwell on my parents' death ever again. I was able to prove to my father's spirit that I am better than him.