Chapter 2: Out of the Fire

"Please, my dear childhood friend, just help me, okay? Just tell a little white lie—tell my parents I went to the library with you."

Her voice was right in my ear, unmistakable. It was the familiar lilt of someone I'd known my whole life, but suddenly, it felt like I was underwater, slowly surfacing.

I jolted awake, head snapping up. The cheap fabric of my hoodie scratched my neck as I scanned the room.

The burning agony from the fire faded away in an instant. My skin, once blistered and raw, felt whole again—just a faint ache where memory lingered.

Seeing the pretty face in front of me, I instinctively took a step back. Rachel’s hazel eyes searched mine, worry flickering across her features.

Rachel immediately scowled. "Eric, if you don’t want to help, whatever, but can you not look so freaked out? I’m not gonna bite."

Her tone was part teasing, part annoyed, exactly like when I’d make her wait too long at the bus stop.

I stood there, stunned, finally realizing—I had actually been given a second chance. The edges of the world felt sharper, colors brighter, like someone had turned up the saturation on my whole life.

Noticing something was off, Rachel grabbed my wrist and shook it hard. "Eric, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me."

Her palm was warm, grounding. The worry on her face didn’t look fake.

But ten years from now, she’d set me on fire for Jason. The memory cut through me like a knife between my ribs.