Chapter 20 - How far will you go

"I don't know Em, it's so complicated, I mean he's not horrible to be around but he has a dark side to him that I just don't want to get into with someone." Clara confessed, stretching her hamstrings. She grabbed hold of her sneakers and brought her torso to her knees. She rested there for a long while, feeling the burning sensation of her pulled ligaments. Sleeping in a car for most of the night had her usual cat-like flexibility feeling more like the rusted Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz.

"Girl, you have a dark side too you know. You can be a down-right mean girl. You're very feisty and don't forget, extremely selfish." Emily candidly answered.

"First of all, rude. Second of all, that's kind of my point. If he keeps on this way, then there's nothing stopping me from doing the same and giving into my own dark side." Clara explained. She thought of last night and how Cyra almost killed a man and the only thing Clara could think of at the time it was happening was how the man had bound and beat Cyra and how he had every right to be electrocuted.

" Between me and you, Cyra has a temper. And I also have a temper. We shouldn't be tempting each other's fire like that." She released her toes repositioned herself into the splits and grabbed her toes once again.

"Temper? He's not violent with you is he?! Because I'll kick his skinny ass." Emily threatened but Clara just smiled.

"And THAT fire of yours is why I love you Em. He isn't violent with me. He is always kind and gentle when it comes to me." Clara smiled as she thought about it and Emily smiled even brighter as she stretched her long tan arms over her head and grabbed her elbow.

"Then you are crazy! You should at least give him a shot, nobody is perfect, we all have our dark side and maybe we just need to find the right person to change that for us. Make us be better. Right?" Emily begged. They continued stretching and Clara rubbed her temples.

"Ok yeah, maybe, I don't know but can we talk about something else? All of this Cyra talk is giving me a headache."

"Sure. How is your anxiety doing? Are you taking anything for it?"

Clara shook her head. "I think I'm starting to get control of it, actually. It use to come on suddenly and when it was happening I couldn't stop it. Now I can kind of figure out what triggers it and be more careful." She knew that Emily would know if she was lying so it's best to tell her as much of the truth as possible without giving away everything about her secret powers.

"That's good Clair Bear, I hate seeing you suffer and anxiety is a bitch."

"Anxiety is DEFINITELY a bitch!" Clara agreed.

After Aerobics class was over Clara looked around for Cyra. He said he would be here today and he was the one that had the project saved. "I have to remember to ask him to email that file to me."

After a few moments she seen a familiar black head of hair bobbing about the corridor between the crowd of students. "Cyra!" She called.

Cyra turned and faced a smiling Clara waving her hand in the air. He eyed her tight workout clothing and even her hair that was in a messy, high ponytail looked sexy. He smiled back at the adorable, peppy face.

"You're in good spirits I see." He complimented.

"And you're as weird as ever. Who says good spirits? Like, do you mean friendly ghosts? Top shelf alcohol? I can totally go for a tall glass of some good spirits right now." Clara teased.

"Wow is Clara Lovesteen making jokes?" He teased back and she hit him jokingly. He offered his arm to her and she rolled her eyes but took it anyway, still smiling. She inhaled his warm aroma and squeezed his arm a little tighter.

He held the door open for her and they took their seats.

Clara watched Cyra and pictured how life could be if the strange complications didn't exist. If Cyra wasn't a criminal mastermind. If she didn't have super powers. Or if a dangerous king pin wasn't potentially looking to kill her and her would-be boyfriend. But maybe she could change one of those things. Maybe her would-be boyfriend didn't have to be a criminal mastermind. Maybe she could convince him to change, just like Emily said. Then maybe she could actually see herself with him. After all, surly she could forgive his past if he promised a better future. She thought about all of these pleasant things and smiled at Cyra.

"Ok Darling seriously, what has gotten into you?" He cautiously asked, afraid of rocking the boat but he had to know why his beloved was acting so out of character.

She opened her mouth to speak but got interrupted by Professor Floz who was starting class. She glanced once more to Cyra and shrugged at him. She looked down at her desk and smiled knowingly.

He wanted to get out of his seat so badly and pick her up to his face and make her tell him what she was thinking.

When Professor Floz gave the ok to break up into pairs, Cyra couldn't have gotten out of his chair sooner and was at Clara's side in an instant.

"Ok, tell me what is going on with you. Why are you so peppy and loving to me all of a sudden? Is the moon gem changing your personality because if it is we have to figure out how to stop it. I like you much too much how you are, I don't want you to change."

Clara stared at him intensely. "No, it's not that. Sometimes change is a good thing right? Like when someone changes for the better." Clara answered.

"Impossible. You are already perfect my Love."

"There's not one little thing you'd change? Everyone has one thing!" She insisted.

Nope. I wouldn't change a thing." He smiled.

"I don't believe you. Everyone has something they hate about someone else. It's human nature to want to fix people." Clara explained.

"I definitely do not. Would you change anything about me?" Cyra wasn't liking how the conversation was turning.

"Well I mean, I don't think it's a bad thing to change. But yes, there are some things I would want to change about you. And then we could be together. And personally I think if you care about me you'd want to do anything for me. Including change for me." Clara stated.

"Sorry Princess, I don't agree." Cyra was noticeably offended. "I believe if you love someone, you love all of them, including their flaws and you wouldn't want anything about them to change."

"Can you just let me tell you what I mean. It's for the best. I just think that if you..." Cyra stood up and cut her off mid sentence. "I'd rather not know how you plan to fix me Clara. If you'd excuse me." He collected his laptop and left the classroom, a wave of air wisping by with his stride.

"I knew her mood was off, what the hell was that." Cyra thought as he exited the classroom. The bright sunlight burned his eyes as he opened the door. He put his sunglasses on and headed towards his car.

"Cyra! Wait!" Clara called behind him. He stopped and waited for her to catch up.

"I'm sorry Cyra, look, can we talk? About us. Please?" Clara asked apologetically.

"No, I'm not playing your mind games. You either accept me and join me or you don't. You have your guard up, I get that, I understand and I'm more than willing to take the time and effort to bring down those walls and gain your trust, but now you are trying to toy with me and I won't stand for that. I'm not a broken object to be fixed Clara, I am a cold blooded criminal." He ripped off his sunglasses and moved closer to Clara. "I've done unspeakable things. I could take you right now if I wanted!" He grabbed her by the shoulders. "And you wouldn't be able to do anything about it." His voice spit poison as he spoke and Clara looked as if she might cry. "You can't fix my level of evil."

He released her and turned away. He replaced his sunglasses and walked to his car but stopped for a moment. Without looking at Clara he spoke coldly. "I no longer have need for your services Ms Lovesteen."