The Lighter That Shone Like A Star (Story of The South) by Dan Cash Read Free Book Online Page A

friends. So they’re happy for me, that’s something , he thought. “We sneaked around the school towards the yellow meadow so nobody saw us and we sat behind a tree until we knew classes had started again. We just chatted really, about anything and everything. It was strange because even though it felt like I kind of knew her, I knew nothing about her. She told me about when she lived in Terexe and what it’s like there. Apparently her family used to live near the Fiery Mountains and got to use their magic all the time. But then they moved to Hurburt because her dad got a job here,” he finished.
    The last part was not exactly true, in fact Sofia and Freddie’s dad had broken the law and was forbidden to practise magic in Terexe. Thus, he was banished and forced to move to a non-magical land. Hurburt wa s the only non-magical land in The South. Although Sofia had divulged these details to Max quite freely, he did not feel that she would want others to know.
    “What did you do afterwards?” asked Matthew, eagerly.
    “We went to my house, because my folks were at work. I made us lunch and we just chilled in front of the telly,” Max told his friends. He could see their disappointment. “We just talked a lot.”
    Russell broke his silence, “Did you kiss again?”
    “Yeah, we kissed quite a lot, too, actually,” replied Max, honestly. “It was really weird.”
    “The kissing?” w ondered Matthew.
    “No, like, whenever we kissed, her hair got brighter and sometimes it was like her hair was on fire. I guess it must be a Terexian thing. I ran my hands through it a few times but the flames didn’t burn at all!” Matthew and Russell shared Max’s bewildered expression, before exchanging looks of approval.
    Max had forgotten how his hair had also changed, although he would have kept this from his friends even if he had remembered. While flames had risen from Sofia’s hair, drops of water had surfaced from his head. He had not felt any wetness on his head, just as Sofia’s flames were not hot to touch, but as their kissing became more passionate, the water extinguished Sofia’s flames.
    He had assumed it was because of Sofia’s Terexian magic and did not think much more of it. When he next recalled the moment, it would make much more sense.
    “That’s so cool!” Matthew exclaimed. “ Hurburtan girls are so boring, their hair is just hair.” Russell and Max both laughed.
    “Yeah, but Hurburtan women are much more intelligent than Terexians,” Russell told him.
    “Who wants a clever woman when you can have a sexy Terexian with fiery hair?” Matthew said, making the boys laugh again.
    Max did not totally agree with his friends. While it was true that Sofia and Freddie seemed to be more attractive than their Hurburtan classmates, Max was sure that it all boiled down to confidence. Besides, they were equally as intelligent as anyone else in Hurburt. In fact, Max was certain that Sofia and Freddie could have been the top of every class if they wanted to be.
    “Anyway, tell us what else you did.” demanded Russell.
    “Not much, really. It got late and my parents were about to come home, so we left and walked along the river. Then I walked her home and went home myself.” Max realised how uninteresting his afternoon may have sounded to his friends, but to him it was perfect.
    “Sounds nice,” Matthew said. “So what now? Are you going out?”
    Max told him he was unsure. He and Sofia had not discussed it, but Max hoped they would continue to see each other.
    “Just see how it goes, it sounds like she likes you quite a lot.” Russell offered. Why is he being so nice all of a sudden? Maybe now I’ve kissed a pretty girl I’m worthy of being his friend , Max thought. He hated himself for being so negative, but who could blame him?
    After being close friends for so many years, Max did not understand why they had drifted apart. He was convinced it was due to Russell, though.
    The boys continued their