The Greatest Gift

I didn't like him at first. He acted dumb and played too many pranks. He was immature, and loud, and I was in no mood to deal with an idiot like him.

He was too bright, even his looks reflected his personality. He wore bright orange clothing, his spiky hair was the color of sunshine, his eyes, deep, bright blue. So blue it made your brain melt a little, warmed your heart a little.

But my heart is made of ice. It couldn't be warm. It was frozen, and I planned for it to stay that way. Having a person to love is having a person to lose, like when I was younger. I lost my world that night.

He hated me right back. I didn't see him as an equal, he wanted to prove me wrong. After we were put on the same team, we became less than enemies. We became friends. His eyes were always smiling, and it warmed even my icy heart. I guess I know what the term, "heart melting" means now.

Now that I think about it, our looks matched our personalities. I was dark and cold. I had black eyes, black hair, and I guess the pale complexion would represent the ghost of a human being I had become, wrapped up in dark colors. He was bright and happy, or angry, but he was always lively. She, another teammate, was… preppy. With bright green eyes and silvery pink hair. She was a peacemaker (even though in the beginning she made peace by taking my side and yelling at him, which in the end didn't really make peace, only more war).

He was a friend, a brother, a companion who understood. He understood what hopelessness felt like. When it felt like the whole world turned against you, and your life was crumbling beneath your feet. He understood what it felt like when nobody really understood you, or your feelings. Even though they might say they do. He understood, and that gave me comfort.

He gave me a rival. He gave me someone to test my strength against. He gave me someone to have semi-friendly spars with.

He gave me a teammate. Someone to help, to cooperate (not often the case) with. He gave me someone to train with, and fight alongside.

But the greatest gift he gave to me… he gave me my heart back.

And I'll always regret throwing it right back, without a second's thought.