No…I place the old photo back in my drawer. It’s all in the past.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzlgwhwuq2
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3mdYFvHcG
I get ready for school and go downstairs to see Nell cooking. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMtkd7EdOb
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ftA3kyCc8
Nell: “Good morning honey.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QcyLc6Gwv
Alyson: “Good morning Nell. How’s…work?”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQKXMPm6UA
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluu917EK0D
Nell: “You don’t have to worry about it. We get by and I can handle it.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7auvJhZqJb
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCys6rRSiw4
Alyson: “Why don’t you tell Nao? If all three of us-”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcxBQWC4IU
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5q5IodHEZu
Nell: “I’m not blind, I know that there’s something going on with Nao. I don’t know what it is but won’t burden him with this too. I didn’t want to do that to you either but…*smile* you just don’t take no for an answer.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFi1x66771
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSUivjC7HD
Alyson: “Don’t worry Nell, when I graduate at the top I can help out.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQV2cpCaOJ
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6kJLnoiEi
Nell: “You shouldn’t burden yourself Alyson. You should focus on what you want to do with your life, we’ll be fine.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt7PK0OpOt
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2Y5wdmSOq
Alyson: “That won’t last forever and besides…it’s the least I can do.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyV02UNQ4A
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBADCOT9eIV
Nell: “Will you…stay for breakfast.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrytQtM2cLb
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tcQlH9Yhe
Alyson: “No I…okay.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbCRhlyqA9
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwwPmHtOPd
She beams a tired smile and I return the gesture as best I can. We eat a quick meal together, just the two of us. I don’t know why I don’t do this more often.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQW5W1EaLXq
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmW5phQNdf
I really have been focusing too much on work and my image. But it’s for a good cause, I should do more. I enjoyed that relax day with Alphon and sleeping in but I can’t make it a habit.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxSNRLDy1e
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3FeBNFXSh
I finish up and head to another normal day at school. I ace every class but I can’t be too careful.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh61LuNtoO
Always look at the bottom of the class, don’t be like them.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVzxRtY5ES
Always look at the bottom of the class, don’t be like them.
Always look at the bottom of the class, don’t be like them.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSzFvzTiuv
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFqbyCHPzw
Yes, where Nao used to be….
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCUSZ1MP9d
No! He’s still down there, it’s only a matter of time before he realizes his mistake. People can’t escape from where their born abilities put them. That can’t…otherwi-
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSAHxcU9ko
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQHthXyA44
“Excuse me class, I have an announcement. You’re seniors and you’re about to graduate so it’s time for you to start thinking about university or a job.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgARFge9At
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5gvsvPM8t
“Here’s a paper that you’ll give to your counselor. Place down your top 3 universities and top 3 dream jobs. Afterward, your counselor will help you achieve those goals so be truthful.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4apmU8SeWV
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4vQZmkslj
I look down at the paper and know exactly what to put down. Whatever makes the most money.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A4MEHRcgZ
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NnnuTATS5
Class ended shortly after and it was time for lunch. I took some study materials, can’t be wasting time so close to the finish line.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuMpJGAaxS
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RjjtzuzeO
I look around and notice that Nao is gone again. He’s off the black list so why is he still with those bottom dwellers? Didn’t he learn his lesson with Anton, stop trying to shake the boat idiot.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk1Lmdn0YI
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKHPO8FPqW
???: “Hey Alyson, how’s it going.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHKEcyhM2b
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74xzR6Yhtq
For God’s sake.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eeWjQGvMH
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QVpHGt30M
Alyson: “Trevor, don’t you have more important things to do?”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XaUFhVJSj
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlBuih7nDT
Trevor: “Nothing is more important than getting your number. Besides, I’ve been hearing disturbing rumors.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONIbq9J6YR
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hd7x4o73W
Alyson: “Oh, what rumors?”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HEdoTjT2t
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3cPF1I46I
Trevor: “Someone, I mean can you believe this, said that you were with a guy at the Crimson Battlefield.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgWSoOiPYJ
Alyson: “…Do I look like someone who would waste time at a kid’s game?”387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7ATjSW5xW
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzQrLwgfF9
Trevor: “No, but I had to make sure. I’ll remember to pay back those lairs later.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR7kSDJ53o
*Sigh*387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5ZrMb2wSI
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKpwiatBYU
Alyson: “Why do want me so much anyway?”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3D8eUkUOW
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFPsGFuzWg
Trevor: “Haha, you always ask the same question babe.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAvFxVIlRF
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64XUPUhtdY
Alyson: “Because I still find it hard to believe a battle junkie like you would care about dating.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP5MJDCRf1
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWeapKlB2D
Trevor: “You’re hot, I’m hot. You’re the queen, I’m the king. I never dated, you said you never dated. It makes sense to me.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Op43DSYhM
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHgM1jHc5G
Alyson: “Yeah, and compatibility means nothing in a relationship right?”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOdIvWqn5g
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJF2w0qwKK
Trevor: “Right!”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j8MPGrFEc
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauDngWPqGv
Sarcasm Trevor, will you ever learn it. As I cup my head in annoyance, I notice Nao running outside the cafeteria like a mad man. What is he doing now?
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWDMr4MLLr
Alyson: “Sorry, I have to go check on my brother.”387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZZMLAlDTC
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkn9A2qbIj
Trevor: “Oh, then I’ll come with.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ySsdorjS8
Why can’t you take hint?387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrXMNt6iAx
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3BtplJ9tH
Trevor: “I have business with him anyway.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyzkmMiR0l
What does he…387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53z24Vbjld
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SWpJe6bKC
Whatever, it’s between them. As long as he doesn’t fight Nao I don’t care. I leave the cafeteria with Trevor in tow following Nao’s trail.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qVfl3fLnJ
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZAq8e6ewG
Trevor: “I’m surprised you care all of sudden.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBt8iOS5nS
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUUAiRiYnb
Alyson: “He was ineffectual before but him acting up now would ruin my image.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio5GsqeVzs
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgdyeduUEa
Trevor: “Yes yes, perfect queen must remain perfect. I wonder if university would even care about your queen status.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XADETj8Hz
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKhOc9Y71J
Alyson: “Staying queen, a real one, says volumes about my academic and athletic ability.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjetUDE6t7f
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LVYMGuofK
Trevor: “If you say so. I’m sure they’ll still see you like Deanna but who am I to judge. All that stupid stuff annoys me anyway.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAasMZhWmA
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ807IjwrsH3
If it wasn’t for your ridiculous strength, you’d be like just like those bottom dwellers. You have no right to insult my hard work.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6Fl8H5vA6
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovcMHAy6Hi
I try ignore his presence along the way to wherever Nao is. Eventually, I follow the likely trail outside and to…a group of students. I push past them a bit worried if those bullies went too far but…it was worse.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA6nl3Z6eL
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5ua4GBAoA
Nao was covered in blood, but not his own. The Black Listers and 3 bullies. All bloody and broken with only Nao standing. Despite the mumbling crowd, Nao doesn’t stop what he’s doing. As if the outside world didn’t exist.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBct0YC07Kc
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnL6PZFACF
He was on top of one of the bullies and beating him into…nothing. Could that even be considered a face anymore? There was only a mound of flesh and bone where a human face should be. I feel…sick.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPCwChKwiV
Alyson: “Nao…”387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCmh4WxpHk
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuatOjhbJnz
At the sound of my voice, he finally looks back, and his eyes…I can’t stop shaking. The anger and hate are tangible from all the way here. It threatens to consume me if I look any deeper.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu12OUiKoLd
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiQu5PJPuz
What the hell happened here? What have I…let happen?
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5bId5wHwd
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOYKmQGuQO
Suddenly, the anger in his eyes slips away after a moment. Now he’s shaking too, on the verge of tears.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2du7yyydmK
Trevor: “What’s this?”387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6Rk2CaJvC
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwBCRtasFn
His words break our eye contact. I look at Trevor and I instantly know what’s about to happen. I…can’t watch anymore. I run away from the bloodbath not knowing what to do.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpRFG7pPnW
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp91ODlZ8x
I travel aimlessly, not knowing what to make of what just happened. Nao looked taller and actually beat up those bullies? How did this happen and why?
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r7hTsZMm0
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd7QnRTzHU
Was he pushed too hard? I never wanted it to come to this. I didn’t know it would go this far. Did I make a mistake? If Nao could do that then maybe-
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sVlmP285O
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW67OnfZL32
NO! REMEMBER MY TEACHINGS ABOUT THOSE WITH THE GIFT AND THOSE WITHOUT!
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnJElj2aSh
Well, maybe he does have the ability? Yes, that’s it! I just misjudged him, I had to have made a mistake. Just because Nao was lazy before doesn’t mean he’s a failure, he hid his ability. He’s even doing better in class.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1a3cXZGmA
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgZCk0IVjp
NO! HE’S A DESTINED FAILURE LIKE THE REST OF THEM. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO HER WHEN SHE TRIED TOO HARD.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4bFkSnoZo
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUH2AVMlaO
…You’re right mam. Your words are always right. That was just a fluke. But even so…I won’t let Trevor break my brother.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLbKOqzDtR
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE53L6nS3tJ
I run to the nearest teacher and force them to come stop the fight. I rally more nearby teachers along the way just in case Trevor doesn’t back down.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvHc6lxJJk
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EkMCyLH4u
When we get back to the fight, both Trevor and Nao are hurt. But Nao…he’s much worse off. As soon as Trevor backed off, Nao collapsed hard. I watch the teacher carry the wounded to the nurse’s office and disperse the crowd.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaiCHhheDZ
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMzcfBOAlI
I follow them all the way to the office where they laid Nao down. They patched everyone the best they could but the wounds were severe. The one Nao was on top of had to be sent to the hospital.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzBA0VQDRX
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0N0514qJH
But the one I really cared about right now was still here. He’s wounds are terrible but apparently Nao is quickly healing.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZp8bcw9Sy
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbLQ9sYWlo
Alyson: “Can I stay with him?”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbZoQZIsbK
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS69Mqqm1iQ
“Of course. Hey, are you his sister?”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0sHsK4SDG
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIAezthdV8
Alyson: “Y-Yes.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmDZ78Y3mY
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y5YgsrpUI
“You must be so disappointed. Sorry you had to have a delinquent brother.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2LIVkEdxm
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA60JXeuVp
Alyson: “…Yeah.”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5DtwMJpgC
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH9rWBtmFh
I sit down beside the bed and wait for the nurse to look away. I push Nao’s hair away from his eyes and caress his face.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7oywIJG5e
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmUm6aFy4T
Alyson: “I’m sorry….I’m so sorr-”
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCcRCedYBQ
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNCT5wdmG1
YOUR IMAGE AND SUCCESS, LEAVE HIM!
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLGNjtT4Je
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGETM6ywQak
NO! Not yet. Just once, just once! I want to forget about constantly aiming for the top.
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwdn6LwDb5
387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IEnQUuS51
After everything I did back then, I finally got a family. I don’t want to lose it now.
ns216.73.216.190da2
