Skipping school is a bad thing, education is important and should be regarded as something with high power. But, I kind of ignored that when running on the treadmill during what would have been third period. It was not responsible of me to skip school, especially when the days of school were diminishing. Summer was upon us and with summer, graduating from the hell hole that I had been attending for the past four years.

Sweat beaded down my forehead as each huff from my mouth exploded into the air. Besides the blasting music in my ears, I heard my heart pound. Maybe it was pounding because I was running a hundred miles per hour, or maybe because I was worried. Old people that were on the treadmills surrounding my own, smacking their lips not freaking out like I was.

I'll admit it, I was scared at what was to come since the little show I had just to put on. There's some parts that I regret and some parts that I do not. I don't regret kissing Thorin, a boy who a lot of people want, in front of everyone. What I do regret is how I did it. It wasn't like me just to go into a crowd and practically scream 'He's mine! Back off!' like I did that day. That is what I regret, how I pretty much yelled to the whole world that Thorin and I were indeed dating.

Something in the corner of my eye moved, taking my attention away from my little fuck up to the treadmill beside me. Sandals, one of the few fashion choices that should be made when being in the gym, came into my view. My eyes traveled up from the opened toed shoes to the khakis that wore them and up to the business jacket and tucked in buttoned up shirt.

An old hand waved at me. An old hand that shouldn't have been at the gym. I mean, I shouldn't have been there either, but still. At least I wasn't a teacher that should have been teaching science or pretend he wasn't helping Thorin with the underground fighting.

"What are you doing here?" I tried to keep my huffing to a minimum but I did just run two miles and my ass was tired. My lungs had been working hard so the huffing was inevitable.

Mr. Louis gave me a sheepish smile. "I could ask the same, Flora."

I was shocked. My feet tripped, nearly taking me down from the treadmill but I continued on with my semi fast walk. "I'm shocked that you remembered my name, twice." Then again, maybe he and Thorin talked about me because obviously, they're buddies.

"Why, you're my favorite student?" He said, pausing his treadmill. The old man next to him continued to power walk, swishing his loud sleeves back and forth. I didn't know what was louder, the sound of his feet pounding or his sleeves.

Again, I was shocked and forced to pause my own treadmill. With disbelief, my eyes stayed on the man. "If you're just saying those things just to make sure I won't snitch, you're wasting your time. I'm not going to snitch."

Mr. Louis turned on the treadmill again, continuing to walk with a grin on his face. "I'm serious Flora, you're my favorite student. No brown nosing here."

There was no reason for me to be his favorite. I didn't talk, let alone to him and I left constantly. If anything, I should have been one of his least favorite students. "Why?" I said slowly, furrowing my brows and continue with my own walk.

"Because Flora, just because I have glasses, doesn't mean I can't see."

I'm all for philosophical old men, but not really at the gym. This is where I got my sweat on, burn the calories and forget that anything besides dumbbells existed. The gym wasn't somewhere I wanted to hear something that would change my way of thinking. But then again, Mr. Louis didn't really talk to me so when he's speaking, maybe it's something that should be heard.

"And?" I wanted him to keep going, just so maybe this conversation would end a little sooner.

"I've watched you grown into a fine woman." He readjusted his glasses.

"Mr. Louis, I'm pretty sure you didn't know I existed until a few days ago."

His finger went up, quieting me. "That doesn't mean I didn't see you grow up. I saw you walk up and kiss Thorin. The old Flora wouldn't have done that, that I know. You have grown."

I scrunched my face, cringing at the fact that teachers, old teachers, had seen what I had done. That just made me regret it even more. Not kissing Thorin, I'll never regret that but the whole doing it in front of everyone.

"I just wanted to kiss my boyfriend, that's all." I snorted.

"You're skipping school because you wanted to kiss your boyfriend?" The old man was spot on, that's exactly why I was skipping school and walking my ass off with old people. I wanted to be a show-off and kiss Thorin in front of everyone. I had a plan, to go through the year without anyone noticing me and not knowing my name.

Now, there was a picture of drunk me going all around.

"That's exactly it." A sigh came out of my mouth. "I'm skipping because now, I'm not invisible anymore." It was true, my invisibility was down. It was down when some girl wrote on the stall about me, when the kid pushed me down and of course when Jace smiled at me. The invisibility I had built up died the moment Thorin moved across the street from me.

The old teacher chuckled. "Flora, you give yourself too much credit. You were never invisible, you were just too ignorant to notice those around you."

I got off the treadmill, saying screw it to the exercise. Instead, I went to Mr. Louis to look at the man who obviously didn't know what he was talking about.

"You don't know what you're talking about." I sounded harsh but it was the truth. Mr. Louis had this idea that he knows everything when he didn't.

He stopped once again, leaning over the treadmill. "Oh trust me, I do. You're afraid to come to school."

"I'm not afraid of going to school." I snorted.

There was a loud 'flop' made by the man's sandals as he hopped onto the floor, facing me. He was only a few inches taller than me, allowing his eyes to meet mine with ease. His eyes squinted, showing the wrinkles that carved the old face. "Let's go to school then, it's not done yet."

"No." I said shortly.

"And why not?" He grinned. "If you're not scared then let's go. If you're scared then we can talk through it." His hands went on his hips.

Other people that were around us began to stare at us. Probably because they wanted the treadmill but they were still staring. I on the other hand, only stared at Mr. Louis who found the need to challenge me. He just wanted me to admit that I was a coward.

"Because. I'm afraid of what they will say about me."

"Oh no." He made a loud slapping sound when smacking his hands to his sagging cheeks. I bit my lip, trying to keep it from moving and telling him to screw off. "They're going to talk about you."

He made me feel stupid but I couldn't help it. I didn't want anyone to talk about me, that was scary. "You wouldn't understand."

"Honey." His voice was full of sass. "Kids talk about me all day and how stupid I am. Little do they know, I'm making bank outside the class. Do you think I care? Helllllll no."

"But you're an old guy, I'm still a young girl."

He paused for a moment. "A young girl who has worked harder than a lot of them and can kick their ass." His head began to nod when I blinked at him a few times, thinking of how crazy he was. "You're not invisible Flora, you're tough. There's a difference."

"To think you're wiser than you look."

"I used to be an actor." He said, grinning. "Before I became a teacher."

"Before you became Thorin's fighting agent and assistant?" An eyebrow of my rose while my arms crossed over my chest. I wanted to get the full story from Mr. Louis instead of Thorin just piecing around the whole truth.

"Actually, yes. The fighting came last as I found the group and decided to put Thorin in there."

"Why Thorin?" There were football players in the school who were built like tanks. But for some reason, he chose Thorin.

His shoulders shrugged. "I sensed he was a good fighter, plus I knew it would keep him out of trouble. You see, if you bring them the fight, they won't be looking for a fight. Just make sure you keep that one kid away from him, he's a wimp who is willing to sue."

"You don't have to tell me twice."

It was then I realized that maybe, Mr. Louis was actually a good guy who knew what he was doing. He acted stupid but deep down, he was one of the smartest people in the school.

*******

I huffed, bouncing on each foot against my wooden floor. My fists pierced through the air, pretending it was Jace's face, Delia's face and of course, my father's. The air didn't do anything, but it was the only thing I could punch and not feel bad about. Sweat beaded down my face like how it did in the gym, this time, I was in the comfort of my home and no one could interrupt me. Then again, I was wrong at sometimes.

"Flora, what the hell are you doing so early in the morning?" Mom said with furrowed brows. I could see why she was furrowing so much and frowning because I was floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee so early in the morning.

I really took what Mr. Louis said to heart. I was tough, and I was going to be tough and try to not be bothered by what others say. So, what do tough people do? Punch the air to get themselves ready to take on the world. Well, that's what I did. Was it working? A little bit until mom came into my room with her hands on her hips.

"Getting ready for school, mom." My knuckles popped underneath the pressure of my palms and continued to punch through the air.

"By punching the air? Are you going to fight someone?" She sounded concerned which was appreciated but not needed. I was going to be tough and be able to take anything.

"If I need to, sure." I sounded like Melody and I'm sure she would have been proud had she heard me talk about fighting.

"Flora, what's going on? The school called the other night and said that you've missed a couple of days." Her hand went onto my shoulder, like pressing a pause button on me and forcing me to freeze. "What happened?"

I took in a deep breath. "Promise to not be mad?" She nodded. I took another deep breath, not really wanting to say but it had to. "Okay so Thorin and I are dating which we've been keeping on the down low but these people were annoying me and kept asking Thorin for his number so I kissed him in front of almost the whole school." The words spilled out in one breath.

"Wait." Mom said, squeezing my shoulder, something that a lot of people in my life had been doing. "You and Thorin are dating?" Her concern turned into hurt. I could see why, and I did feel bad. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Well... Like I said, we were keeping it on the down low and I was waiting for the perfect time to tell you." My index fingers pressed up together, playing to keep each other busy. "And now, everyone is going to make fun of me." I whined. "So that's why I'm trying to prepare myself and being tough."

Her lips frowned. "I'll help you."

The tops of my sock covered feet were pressed down by my mother's hands as my torso bent forward to meet with my knees. "So this girl Delia was trying to get Thorin's number?" Mom said as I raised my body.

"Yes." I grunted.

"And this boy Jace has been giving you trouble all year long?"

"Yes." I grunted again. She didn't know about me getting drunk at that party nor will she ever know. Another thing she wouldn't know about was the app that Thorin and I talked on the for the longest time.

"Flora, you know how I'm not about violence..." She trailed off. "If you get into a fight, do not throw the first punch. Your ass better throw the last one."

I stopped with my chest to my knees. "Are you condoning violence?"

"No, no." She laughed. "I'm just saying if you need to finish a bitch, finish a bitch."

"You're crazy." She truely was. She should have been freaking out like I was and tell me to not fight. But no, she was channeling her own Melody and Thorin and telling me it was okay.

"And you're not going to take shit from some kids." She grinned. "Now, let's talk about you and Thorin." Her eyebrows raised, letting more wrinkles to be shown.

Fuck.

Ayyeeeeeee. Omg I'm so excited for next chapter. Anyyyywayyyy, remember:

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