Paranoia

Holes, about five bullet wounds hidden behind tape indented into the renovated camper van. A balding man asking a man about said wounds as a generic comic book hipster asks the same bald man how he would know about them before stating they won’t be harassed then ending with a curse word that was interrupted by Maya’s dad’s hands over Maya’s ears.

Maya laughed at this anyway, understanding the joke as she snuggled up to her father as they continued the show. She watched but as she was only five years old her eyes shifted and drifted until the episode was over and her dad made a loud groan.

“Alright kiddo, it’s nine at night, it’s time for bed” Her dad said, lifting her head off of his blue denim jeans that he always wore which Maya hated the feeling of and standing, reaching down to pull her up as well.

“Ok dad, but will you read me to sleep first?” Maya asked, eyes barely open, looking to her father, though she only saw his lower stubbled jaw and messy white shirt.

“Yes, of course sweeti-” Suddenly her father is interrupted by a violent robotic scream coming from a miniature radio he always charged in the kitchen. A voice screamed some address and number like it always did, however Maya always hated when they were at night.

“Ah dangit, sorry kid but duty calls.” Her dad said as he ran around the house putting on a vest, badge, and utility belt. As he was running out the door however, Maya stopped him in his tracks. Causing him to look down with a little hasty somber.

“Are you sure you’ll come back tomorrow to read?” Maya asked tears forming up because she knew the risk her father took.

“Of course sweetie, if you listened, it’s just two people arguing that turned into a fist fight.” He said, holding the girl’s hand as he walked to the police cruiser that was parked at the front of the apartment complex. She of course didn’t listen to the call because of the amount of static hurting her ears forcing her to cover them as it went off. The noises were bad and bad always brought more bad. As such, Maya stopped her father one last time and held out the highest declaration of a five year old’s trust and values.

Her pinky. Her father chuckled at this, crossing his left pinky with her right one and pushed her aside as he got in his car, pulled out of the parking lot and drove away. Her left pinky, then ring, then middle, then index, then thumb. This shook as well as the other parts of her hands, shoulders, knees and toes when she heard the news that next morning. Her father, shot in the head, and found dead at one fifty six in the morning.

“That was the last I can remember doc.” Maya said, a man in a white coat writing on his board as he turned around in his chair and smiled a courteous smile towards her face. “That’s alright, you remembered more than last time and that’s all that matters, I mean heck” he scooted forward and slapped his knees,

“Most patients just come by and never can figure out why they’re here but you” The doctor pointed towards Maya.

“You’re a more interesting specimen.” Maya just laughed at this, though the tenseness of her memory still ached her on and on. She tried to calm her nerves when she realised what the doctor just said. She normally would be repulsed by anyone, saying something as strange as calling someone a specimen, but the doctor it was… different. Anyways, the clock on the doc’s wristwatch finally went off and he breathed a slight chuckle.

“Alright well, as much as I would like to talk more, you have to go but I’ll make sure to see you next week.” The doctor then stood up and walked towards the door opening it for Maya to leave. She finally stood up and left the spikes on her back still raised from the conversation they had earlier. When she finally entered her sister’s car she imagined an invisible figure sprinting across the building’s roofs.

Closer yet closer, the buildings, the walls of the backyards, everything. Got closer, then further, then closer again. The only thing that stood still long enough was the walls. The white walls that held him, the numbers besides doors that defined him, the woman distracted on her computer behind a wall of white was ever still, but once light burned, once again did everything start to move again, the path under him moved, the blurry bugs of incredible speed moved and the woman in front moved ever so closer to the distance.

As distance itself became blurry, the room started to smell of food, but still it was blurry and blurry.

“Earth to Maya, do you want some rice or not?” A very snarky voice came into the void, it seems Maya spaced out again and without overthinking it she nodded her head.

“What? Are you a mute again? Come on, you gotta tell us beforehand if you are.” This snarky woman was Maya’s sister Aneko. She always wore something bright, which always countered with her snarky and sometimes loud ways of life. Though most boys just noticed her eyes and heart because of her beauty which Maya never obtained herself.

After some rice was mushed onto Maya’s plate, she sat down and tried her best not to space out again. She instead started to remember the words The Doctor had told her about her getting anxious.

“When you start feeling those uhh… spikes again, just try counting downwards to calm your brain.” he spoke then started to think some more.

“Then try to concentrate on your surroundings, after a while it should bring your mind back to working order…. and if the spikes stay, then try it again” The Doctors voice felt so familiar in Maya’s brain so without a second thought she started to do just that.

‘One, two, three, four, five, mothers undershirt is a pinkish red and her vest has roses on it. Her hair is grey with time though some of the brown hair from pictures still peaks its head to say hello. Smiling at the world like a mother is right now. Wait.. mother isn’t smiling. She’s staring right at me.’

“So? Maya do you think that’ll work?” Maya didn’t know what she was talking about but decided to agree anyway with a quick nod. This sparked laughter from Aneko who grabbed her chest as her eyes filled with tears and banged the table with her fist gently.

“I knew you were a little weird girl but actually agreeing to wearing a cowbell is something else” Aneko laughed at this more and more which only brightened Maya’s face in embarrassment.

‘She is so annoying, I, I gotta go, it’s her laughter, her laughter is everywhere, it’s way too close, it’s moving on the walls with the eyes, Eyes?, who’s watching me?, everyones watching me, my face feels funny, is it on fire? Did my own sister set me on fire? How could she do this?My face burns, the walls are closing, where’s the light going, I gotta get to my room, I have to go.’

In a blur, Maya ran and consequently slammed the door to her room causing the thin walled house to vibrate ever so slightly. She quickly ran through her bedside dresser and grabbed a small green figure of a dog with stitching and a goofy tongue, it was made of some type of gel that when squeezed made the rest of the toy expand and feel roomy on the inside.

‘Six, seven, eight, nine, ten. The walls, there not filled with laughter or eyes, my face, is not on fire, my hand, holds a green room that expands and implodes before going back into place, the room felt kind and cool, it sounded as if everything at once was squished into a liquid puddle then reformed again, this room felt of peace and tranquility’

A knock ruined this tranquility as the little green doggy was quickly put inside of Maya’s pocket. The door of the yellow walled room she called her own was slowly opened to reveal her mother standing there, a look of joy drawn on her face to mask a hidden worry. “I’m sorry about your sister’s temper, princess” her arms opened for a hug but quickly shut again because of the rules perplexed in her mind.

‘Rule 1, No physical touch from anything with a weird texture or color’

She just stared blankly at her mother as this rule ran through her own mind again and again although she did wanna feel some love again. “What’s got your mind in a tumbleweed honey?” Maya looked around before giving an answer as to not be attacked again.

“Father…..” That word made her hand gravitate towards her pocket to squeeze the green room again and count her breath in silence. This word had an equal amount of effect on her mother as her weary smile drawn on her face was replaced by the true worry she felt but she quickly drew it back on, as to not worry Maya anymore.

“What about your Father are you worried about?” Her face looked puzzled until she seemed to change her expression to a returned calm once again.

“Would you like, if I told you the story again?” This would be the forty fifth time in recent memory that Maya would be told this story again but the story always seemed to make her mind come back into ease once again so for the forty fifth time she nodded her head.

“Alright, but get dressed for bed and throw your dirty laundry in the basket” This made Maya nod her head again though with a smile on her face. Though her mother knew that she was sixteen she had a funny way of showing it. As she got undressed out of her blue jeans and white top with designs on the collar and put on a white plain shirt or as she called it her jamies, she noticed her mother’s head while peaking through the door whispering something that Maya couldn’t hear.

‘What is she saying? Is she talking about me? Did I do something wrong, she must be talking to Aneko, they’re making fun of me aren’t they, everyone must hate me,she has to love her more than me, I must be nothing but a burden or something’

Maya went to her bed and layed down as her mother kept a crack in the door open for whatever eyes to make fun of the poor mute girl hiding in her sheets. After a while of waiting, her mother returned and sat on her bed.

“Are you comfortable sweetie?” Her head peaked over the invincible cotton walls of her domain. A shy nod met this intrusion and the giant left the wall unharmed. A low cough sounded, as if she were to clear her throat or maybe allow someone to enter and watch the stupid girl’s story time.

“Your Father was a fantastic man sweetheart, a fantastic man who loved his family and his country more. Though we’re not from this country originally, but that’s another story entirely” A low chuckle sounded and a small pat met it.

“He was a police officer and always helped those in need, but one day… your Father responded to a call on his pager and found it was the gas station was being robbed” Her voice then choked for a moment, she always got emotional when thinking of the past.

“You were only a little sprout at that time, it was so difficult to explain to you what happened that night but….. we had to, and ever since you’ve….” She cleared her throat, rubbed her leathery face against the blankets, her stuffy nose giving away her true feelings on the matter.

“Well…” mothers voice went silent, her throat catching limited breath.

“I’ll let you rest honey.” The dark soft blanket had pressure against it for a moment, a step, another step, a croak of a door, then a click.

Click, click, click. Fathers here, here in my soft blanket? No, of course not. Blankets are not large and show the reflections of water from the roof of a cave. Although, both have a type of safety in the form of Father’s signature. Whether that be his signature in writing on the handmade blanket or his signature stance where he looks like one of those fighters in those Japanese comics found on the side of Molote stands of our hometown.

“I know you’re not here Father, this is but a dream.” Father then looked at me with sadness, his uniform and badge standing proudly even if he wasn’t anymore. He then disregarded what I said as he jumped down from his rock above me and landed on his feet.

“I am here!” he said a silly, arm pumping pose struck which was meeted with a scowl I would give him before.

“But that’s just it, you’re not.. You’re dead and… and mother has told me to let you go.” His brow lowered as he looked at me again.

“We both know that’s not true, I’m in a coma and I’ll be awake soon, then I’ll fight for evil once again” My eyes filled with tears once again.

“I mean, if you’re in danger, then who are you gonna call?” He sang, though Maya didn’t respond with her line as she did when younger.

“I know this is a dream, and I know that these are lies. So please.. Stop.” I open my eyes again, do a quick prayer that I don’t return again. I close my eyes but find myself in the dark cave again. It’s night this time, and my father is there, soaking his feet.

“Look, before you leave again, and get told that same story again. Please hear me out.” I always wondered if people had such a vivid imagination as I did but I know it’s not my imagination doing this. It’s my conscience.

“No!!Please, Father, stop. I’m not gonna hear you talk about how you’re actually in a coma, and no I won’t listen to you tell me to believe in you.” Father keeps his eyes on the water, his reflection phasing in and out with the ripples.

“Then… Can you at least do one last thing for me?” My heart dripped blood and my eyes beat with a somber melody.

“Listen to me. I will be back, and I’ll start my journey as soon as you see the snakes.”

‘What snakes?’ I thought she was laid from overhead. The ripples of the waters reflected off the moonlight and onto the roof ahead, the ripples all slithering across the rock and into the opening, but not all of them as one fell into the water. Then another and another.

From the walls were the serpents’ curse, they looked down at me, watching me, their eyes wide as they stunned me. Medusa’s stare caught my legs until they let go.

A snake slithered up through the water and stared as well. As long as I stare at it, it won’t move. A contest regarding life and limb. A standstill of sounds, rattles, judgement and competition. Whoever loses will forever regret it for the rest of their life. Father then sighs from beside me, walks up and sits next to me.

“Sorry kid.” He then punches me in the stomach making my gaze fall down upon the snake. The snakes all together rush towards me, a gelatinous blob of fangs and eyes coming towards me. I manage to struggle and fight off a few until one finally lands its fangs on my leg. It grabs and shreds my skin like a knife through butter, as other snakes grab onto it to pull me into the water. The victor lay dead, torn to worse shreds than I. But I won’t allow myself to get that bad.

In the water I first push away the invaders at my arms, legs, and whatever’s around me. Another battleground where once again the land is always the victim. This fight is only momentary as my arms are the first to lose their battle. Gnashing and gnawing my skin like a peeler to a side dish, my flesh is devoured. My hands look like gloves as its flesh is the only to remain,the bones feeling the effects as the snakes play with my veins as they take my hands in tow.

My legs and chest are next to be invaded flanking from beneath the wine red waters. The starved go for my upper legs, gnawing at the meat off my bones, some even biting the bones and hurting their fangs.

The angered go for my achilles, grabbing it and pulling me, making me trip as the pressure in my feet tighten and tighten until it pops and they fight for the trophy as my feet hang and soon after my skin stretches to thin, it rips away. My screams are drowned as I fall and my lungs are filled with water. My eyes sting as they’re plucked from my skull. My final thoughts through the pain being.

‘THE WALLS THE WALLS THE WALLS WHY AM I ALIVE’ My fight to be safe has ended long ago and I start my fight to survive. As my consciousness gives way and is pushed away. Fangs grind against bones, tissues and layers of skin swim with me in this river of wine. But that’s the last observation I have as I’m pulled into the water, the oxygen being stopped from blood flooding my lungs as more and more snakes enjoy their feast. The only thing people can hear from the outer shell of the cave is the waves crashing.

Crashing would be a blessing if not for the hardened wooden tile that held my room falling into the living room below. Instead the crashing thud resulted in my mother coming into the room and, after seeing my still slumbered state, lifted me into bed once again before swiftly leaving. Or she stayed, it was hard to tell after a fall like that.

The next morning was filled with the normal amount of controlled hustle and bustle that came with breakfast. Mumblings from all angles as my family talked about their plans were throughout the day.

“Snakes” the word made me jump in my seat catching the attention from almost the entire table. Except my sister who spared me a joking scolding about my newfound fear of snakes.

“As I was saying, they’re all a bunch of snakes, but self defence training like that may be good for Maya.” My sister then ate the rest of her eggs and left for the sink to rinse it off. Trying to piece together the mumbles to snakes my sister snuck past and only an audible click was my hint that she left for work.

“So what do you think?” My mother side eyed me when asking, still chewing on some bacon that was left over. Without knowing what she meant, I rewarded her with a shrug.

“About taking self defence classes I mean.” Once she ended, Maya rewarded her with a stern look.

“Dear, it could be good for you, and if it’s the trust thing or the snakes that you seem to fear, your sister works right next door.” After a moment of silence, her mother decided to try an old trick.

“And hey, if they get in trouble, and bad guys fill the scene, who do you call??”

“Ghost busters?” Whispered Maya. Which made mother laugh like she used to when they were both wearing young clothes.

“No no, seriously.” Her mother caught her breath in an exaggerated manner and asked again.

“If you get in trouble, and bad guys fill the scene, who do you call?!?” She said in a higher pitched tone which got Maya’s attention. She then gently raised her hands to the roof, only going higher than a foot above her own head of scraggly morning hair.

“Woo-op woop, I shall call-a da police” She said in a soft silence, her smile only showing for a moment as it disappeared.

“That’s as good as I’m getting.” Her mother laughed herself into a positive manner and loaded up her car.

Though Maya didn’t know why they were taking the car anyway. She would remember a time when Maya and her father would just walk wherever they went. Her father would always explain that it was calmer or in his words.

“It’s good exercise, plus if the future will be full of these floating cars anyways. Then we better respect the sidewalks by using them before they start flying too.” He would always then pick up Maya and hold her by her under arms. Asking what she was doing up there? Which she would always respond with “walking on the sidefly that’s all.” Which always brought upon a great start to every outside adventure. Whether it be to get medicine, food, school, or even if it’s just nice out. He would always try his best to stay away from driving, just something he did.

But he isn’t here, he’s gone and Maya hates it. She hates it when she enters the car, she hates it when she buckles her seatbelt, she hates it most though, when she looked outside and saw the perfectly sunny day, going to waste in a car.

The sky turned kind and gave aid to calm the burning on his skin. He thought to turn towards the land that isn’t written, Instead he turned towards the bridge above the clouds. He walked towards and climbed the steps besides, losing balance as he climbed the mountain of calcium oxide, the volcano’s heat burning his feet under his robe, though the strings attached to his arm did not catch fire. Once atop the spire, he traversed forward, watching as schools rushed past him towards third grade, or would she be in high school by now? His strings seemed to drag behind him, almost as low as his heart, the man looked down to find it but instead found a new hurdle ahead, spikes of modello riddled the pavement ahead.

When they arrived, Maya knew what was coming next, she tried to stay in the car, thinking of something she tried to stay perfectly still so maybe she wouldn’t be noticed. But that just didn’t work as her mother opened the back door and looked at her.

“You’re a big girl now sweetie. You gotta come out on your own, I can’t unbuckle your seatbelt for you anymore.” Mother said as she caressed Maya’s head with her palm.

“Though I wish I could.” She said as she unbuckled her seatbelt and held Maya’s hand out of the car, Aneko looked on in disbelief.

‘EYES STOP WATCHING ME!!!’ Maya just kept her head down though felt a spike starting to peirce her mind, and her breathing became just a little harder. Though she knew it would increase as they went towards the front entrance of the drug store. Her sister being the first to enter on her phone without a care in the world, Maya looked on to see her turn to a corner inside the store, going towards the candies as she always did because of her strange addiction to Dum Dums.

Maya still backed away as her mother walked inside of the drug store, the sliding doors opening for her like a gentleman. Or that’s what Maya’s mother told her to calm her down but Maya knew the truth. She knew that they could malfunction with improper installation and many others. When she was more naive, she would walk right through it, but that’s when she had her father, her father is gone, gone and left her behind. So she had to live, learn, and understand, Maya knew all of this to survive, she knew of the eighty four year old who was crushed by one of these doors and died the same night. Would Maya even live to eighty four? Would Maya even live to tomorrow? Rule #2, Always be wary of the things around you, if you don’t trust it, don’t go near it.

Maya started breathing rapidly as one of her spikes started to arise, her mother rushed outside and grabbed her hand, promising that the door wouldn’t hurt her or anything. Maya could barely hear her, it felt as if her breath was being stolen from her as she stood there drawn to her mothers eyes. As her mother shushed her, Maya regained her consciousness, what was around her? Remember the Doctor’s orders. Remember the Doctor’s orders.

‘One, two, three, four, A blue sky with not too many clouds, the clouds are a quartz white and stone gray, five, six, seven, eight, there’s gum on the pavement below me, once pink, maybe, ummmmm, nine, ten, eleven, twelve. Uh there’s um.’ Maya’s mind went into hyperdrive causing her to breathe even more rapidly than before but she did remember the first visit she had with The Doctor which seemed to calm her nerves.

“Can you say that one more time, sir? I don’t believe I heard you right” Maya said, now leaning towards the Doctor instead of just simply laying down on a nearby red sofa that she thought she would be doing.

“I apologize Ms, Maya. I only meant it as a suggestion, it seems to be the only reason people come in here, so I only ask one more time, are you trying to push your problems onto someone else, or do you wanna truly face your fears.” Maya still was very confused and her face seemed to have shown it because the Doctor corrected himself.

“Or I’m lame men’s terms, do you want therapy, or go sky diving?” Maya still was confused but decided to answer genuinely.

“Therapy.” Maya answered, her voice still and honest.

“Perfect, but to first do therapy, you must promise me you will do a few things.” The Doctor stated, twisting a chair and sitting onto it backwards. Maya only nodded, confused why someone in a perfectly tailored lab coat would threaten stretching the fabric.

“First” He stated indicating with his pointer finger. “You must always listen to me, and remember what I say,” Maya nodded though she thought the point of having any type of doctor was to learn and memorise their teachings for better health.

“Second” He indicated with both of his pointer fingers for whatever reason. “You must be ready to face any and all fears you have with or without me, then tell me about it next time we meet.” Maya then smiled at this nodding again, she didn’t know at the time all the things she truly feared when she agreed because she was in too good of a mood.

“Third, you lay there in that sofa and truly tell me what you’re feeling, what your problems are, let your….. Emotions run free.” He said she looked down to the red sofa couch she laid on, its headrest felt strange but at the same time soothing, like it was apart or even attached to her somehow. She, in this regard, agreed again.

“And finally” He started doing circles in the air in front of Maya which she followed in a hypnotic trance. “You must never bring the same problem twice, I dislike specimens who make the same mistake twice.” Maya didn’t nod at this which made the doctor laugh.

“Only kidding, almost no one ever nods at the third request so you’re at least mentally normal as I know you now.”

Maya smiled at this man, he was cheerful and did he just call her a specimen? That didn’t matter to Maya, as he reminded her of Father. Though he didn’t act, look, or even resemble him, she just trusted him that much for some reason. So she thought of it and after a bit of laughter subsided the room fell quiet.

“So do you have any questions for me, Maya?” The doctor asked as he grabbed his clipboard and titled the page something Maya wouldn’t see.

“Just one.” Maya held up her pointer finger, making fun of the doctor.

“What should I do if I find something I’m physically scared of?” The doctor smiled at this and put his two fingers together imitating a man with legs with only her fingers running towards a wolf hand on the other. The hand man ran towards the wolf then away then towards again.

“No matter what, face it head on!”

“No matter what, face it head on!” ‘That’s what I had to do, face this door head on. Nine, Ten, eleven, twelve, the door that she feared looming above, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, a set of couplings that hold the door up and steady so even if it were to malfunction it wouldn’t fall. Seventeen, Eighteen, nineteen, twenty. I walked through the doors and into the store, mothers hand in mine as I caught my breath.’

When they entered a loud ding sounded behind them alerting the store clerk that they entered, who then gestured a wave and welcomed us inside. Beside his desk was a small colorful fridge, Maya liked the colors but inside was even better. Inside was an assortment of icecreams, yogurts, and sweets. Though Maya wanted one, she noticed her mother walking away towards the medicine and the last thing Maya wanted was to be abandoned in a drug store.

She swiftly rejoined her mothers side and waited beside her. She looked over at her sister who had a bag of Dum Dums in one hand while texting with her available hand. She never understood the need for having such a device like a smart phone. Her father had a saying with everything and when it came to newer and newer phones he always commented on that.

“They’re going to become so thin and advanced that they’re gonna be put in our eyes as contacts.” Which always made Maya wonder why anyone would want a phone in their head at all. It all stems from the time she learned about smartphone batteries while being in the car with her father while they drove to a nearby city for some materials to build bird houses. He said that

“Those batteries in phones can create a lot of radiation and can hurt the body badly, and plus being so close to the stomach can hurt the body and even prevent pregnancy.”

Though Maya didn’t think of having kids she didn’t want anything bad to happen just in case she did. She remembers after that car ride that she wrote Rule #3 as Don’t let electric things near or on vital organs, it could cause serious damage.

But every time she would say something to Aneko, she would always make some comment about Maya’s looks which she didn’t like. Speaking of, Aneko looked over towards Maya and frowned in some unknown frustration.

“You look like a dog on a leash when you’re that close to mom, it’s weird” Maya looked at her sister with a destroyed look.

‘Why would you say that? That’s not even called for, maybe she’s right, I do look like a dog here, everyone looking at me knows it’ Maya’s breathing started to speed up as she looked around and saw the clerk look over at her, as well her mother and Aneko. Who quickly said sorry and walked away with a little groan. That was before Maya ran towards the car and started to calm down. Remembering the Doctor’s orders as she did.

After getting the medicine, they drove across the street to the dojo and walked into the building. Her sister went next door to her job at the small city bank. Besides that, Maya went with her mother to a building which wore a cartoon man’s face that had big eyes and wore a red bandana, his lips making a crooked excited smile that stated he was in mid swing. This man seemed to come to life before her eyes as a similar man bounced out of the facility’s front entrance and lunged towards Maya.

A volley of swift punches, kicks and chops were performed around Maya as her mother backed away and giggled at the sight. The volley stopped when the man chopped at Maya’s neck and barely glanced at it, causing Maya to back away awkwardly. The man then stood, did a stance and then bowed.

“If you were my enemy you would’ve been destroyed. YAH!!!” The man stated before doing a kick into the air, the man’s full white gi moved with him. Maya thought this man was very strange, but found something familiar in him.

The man welcomed them inside stating his name was Mr Seonsaengnim but his students called him Sensei Onsa which Maya found a lot easier to pronounce. Because she couldn’t understand how to pronounce.

‘See on?, Say on?, sean saen? Whatever.’ Maya thought as she observed the large room beyond the front desk placed near the front doors. The walls that held the doors showed the parking lot letting in a nice glow of the sun. Every other wall held yellow wall paper depicting coins with different designs ranging from dragons shooting fire from their noses to taijitu’s made of liquid as Maya will soon learn.

In front of these walls are red pillars all with golden tops and bottoms that hold symbols to a language Maya didn’t recognise. The floor was checkered and made of tile, some pillars near the very back held mirrors between them. In front of them were boys with hands behind their backs observing the people in the middle play and making exaggerated pain noises while shadow boxing. In the very middle of the back wall held a chalk board which was dusted with old chalk from lessons past.

Once all the grown up stuff was taken care of, some that Maya will soon have to learn as she is going into the tenth grade next year, her mother tried to walk out of the door which Maya observed and stopped her with a hug.

“Oh? Honey…. It’ll be ok, I will be shopping for a few hours then I’ll be right back to pick you up.” Mom’s hand petted Maya’s hair as she comforted her. Maya didn’t hear any of it and hugged even tighter.

“If you’re that afraid, Aneko is just next door working at the bank, so if you have any problems go to her alright?” Mayas spiked started acting up again, she didn’t wanna be alone, she was a high schooler sure, but being alone was one of her biggest fears. She once read of a man’s body who was found eaten by wolves, he couldn’t call for help because he was alone. Maya can’t be alone, in a room full of bushes and eyes that could be wolves or bunnies. Maya wasn’t a gambling girl so she didn’t wanna take that chance. Watching as her mother’s face turned into dismay, she finally gave in and sighed.

“Fine, but let me get my money back first, then you can go home and hide like norma-..” Her mother looked around.

“Where did that funny man go?” Maya’s mother pondered as she looked around the room, it wasn’t until a whistle blared around the room did they eventually find him. He was standing in the middle of the room, jumping off one foot to another clapping his hands like a chimp. The boys from the back of the room sat down and grabbed small drums from behind themselves and started to drum a booming cheerful melody.

“Radish and fried tofu

*Drum drum drum clap*

“Some chillies and fish eggs too”

*Drum drum drum clap*

“Watch it boil, Eat it up with me”

“Eat it so it doesn’t spoiled”

“Because it isn’t oden unless it’s boiled”

*Drum drum drum Drum clap*

Watching this strange man dancing around and singing this with the accompaniment from the boys in robes behind them was so amusing to Maya she didn’t even notice her mother left minutes ago. After singing the same melodie over and over and watching some of the people try to join the strange man’s dance, they all gathered and sat down in front of Sensei Onsa, signaling the first class has started.

Onsa stopped at once and fell down into a criss cross position immaculately. Everyone’s energy seemed to vibrate with him sitting at the back of the room, the class facing him. His smile widened as he waved at everyone individually, parents soon left the room laughing at the strange man they left their kids with. The teacher then raised his hands up which had everyone stand, then lowered and sit. He did this till everyone was a giggly mess except Maya who found the exercise exhausting. Once he stopped, he laughed and clapped with his feet.

“Hello everyone!!!!!!!” He said waving like a maniac.

“Hello, Sensei Onsa!!!!!!!!!” The class said in unison loudly which Maya covered her ears in retaliation. Rule #4 of the trade. Stay away from loud noises, as it makes it hard to think. Though she was forced to sit so covering her eyes sufficed, which didn’t stop her from hearing the room cracking crash of a wooden board against Sensei Onsa’s foot. His face was one of pure rage and anger, though he kept his body composed in his furious state.

“I AM NOT SENSEI ONSA, MY FAMILY’S SURNAME ISN’T SENSEI ONSA, THERE SURNAME IS SEONSAENGNIM, THE NEXT PERSON TO USE ONSA WILL BE DISRESPECTING MY FAMILY AND AS SUCH WILL BE THE NEXT BOARD I BREAK IN TWO, UNDERSTAND?!?” The whole class hung their heads low as Maya was doing prior and nodded their heads.

“So??? What’s my name?” Sensei Onsa said, looking out to the class as some of the higher ranking students that were around the room gathered the shattered wood and fragments.

“Mr Seonsaengnim” is what they were exposed to say but a mixture of see them anglisms, and seance gnims filled the room instead, with only a few students saying his name properly. Maya snuck in the words Sensei Onsa under her breath hoping no one noticed. She thought she was caught when he looked down towards the class and found Maya’s eyes. Instead he just jumped back and wrote on the board located at the very back of the room.

“Ok, the first lesson will be about the basics of Wu Foo, first of course being.” He wrote the words on the board the words.

“How to honor your family name.” and slightly underneath in smaller writing wrote, how to say Mr Seonsaengnim’s name, which made Maya laugh.

The three hour class went by with Sensei Onsa trying but failing to secretly teach the class how to pronounce his name. Eventually everyone was able to as long as he pointed at the parted Seon-saeng-nim written neatly on the board behind him. Underneath was the words sung - saing - nyem which was an easier way to say it in Maya’s opinion, though she would still and always call him Sensei Onsa instead. Which she did, when he came up to her and asked her what his name was. He did this after asking and therefore dismissing a multitude of students for the day.

“S-S…” Was all Maya could say as all of her jokes and vigor escaped out of her head and ran for the hills. The teacher just looked down at her with an angry expression then knelt close to her, whispering so no one else could hear. The people who stood around her backed away as her judgement seemed to begin and her life ended.

“Hey kid, look if you don’t wanna chat, it’s ok, I’m not actually angry, I’m just doing it to get some of the bad kids to listen and be off their phones, it’s ok, I promise I don’t mean harm” Sensei Onsa then tapped her hand which surprisingly didn’t invoke rule one. Instead she found warmth and calm when he did that, he then stood and nodded, turning back into the angry man before her eyes.

“Now you know how your life will end, tell me my name.” Maya smiled at the man, a proper smile, she hadn’t smiled this wide since her fifth birthday when her father got her that Barbie set. Though she still slightly smiled at the cherished memory because of it being the last time she saw her father. Finally returning from space, she faced the man who looked angry but secretly had a heart of gold like her father and said his name outloud.

“Sensei Onsa” She stated outloud, smiling as she did expect him to do the same but instead his face was stern. Maya made the wrong choice.

“With me, NOW!!!” The man said loudly, which made rule #4 come to play quickly. She did as she was told, however her eyes filled with tears as his arm seemed to crush her shoulder, spikes appeared again as everyone in the dojo looked towards her. Eyes, everywhere, ones she didn’t know, the bushes held wolves after all, all looking at the girl who did wrong, her breath became unsteady and rapid as everyone stared. She tried counting but the dojo wasn’t one to look at.

‘One two three four, the dojo’s walls have red pillars that fill the sides, the glass towards the front entrance has spider webs at the corners, everyone outside is looking….. NO!!! Five, six, seven, eight. The peoples’ gis are white, they’re all wanting me gone, they’re all going to make fun of me, I’ll be the laughing stock of the dojo, nine, ten, eleven, twel-.’ Her thoughts were interrupted by Sensei Onsa grabbing her hand and lifting it in the air, her tear filled eyes and rapid pace stopping at the strange action. Once her hand was in the air she looked towards Sensei Onsa and found his eyes darting towards his free hand making and unmaking a fist rapidly.

His lips read “make a fist” as he did this and in a confused state that Maya was in, she did just that. The man then seemed to smile and wink at her, as he let go of her hand and jumped back from her and crashed into the ground. Everyone gasped at what had just occurred including Maya.

“SO!!! You not only disrespect my family but you embarrass me in front of my dojo????” Maya saw this man, faking his injury and grabbing his chest, coughing as he did, then he raised his fist with her, as she hadn’t lowered hers just yet.

“I-.... uh I-” Maya was stunned.

“No, No I understand clearly.” He then stood up and clapped his hands, getting the attention of everyone including entering parents, and siblings, Aneko being one of them.

“Everyone!!!!, We need to clap for this young Wu foo fighter right here as she has passed the first test!!” Everyone looked towards Sensei Onsa in confusion as he looked around.

“Well??? CLAP!!!!!” He said while clapping towards Maya, one by one, everyone else did the same. For the first time, Maya was the center of attention and it wasn’t in vain, she didn’t know what to do in this situation so she just smiled once again and just stood there awkwardly.

“She passed the first test I put upon you all today and unfortunately everyone else has failed.” Everyone looked on, some groaning, and some laughing.

“Though don’t worry, I will never trick anyone ever again and this lesson was more of a challenge. Though…” He looked towards Maya.

“That doesn’t mean you don’t earn anything today Ms Maya.” As he said this, he walked over towards the small chest on the side corner and held a band out for the rest to see.

“This is the sensei’s apprentice band, this will go home to the person who impresses me the most at the end of every day, and today!! It goes to Maya!” He made a stance and punched towards Maya, the band in his hand. She took the band from his hand and tied it around her forehead, awarding another set of applause from the students which made her smile and her chest feel warm as she took pride in the cheer and this time waved.

-=--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ALICIA STARRPPPPPP

On the walk home, Maya waved at her classmates goodbye as her sister took her hand and started walking down the sidewalk away from home. Apparently, their mother was caught up in something and needed to meet them across the bridge.

“Well, you seemed to be having fun, huh?” Aneko said, smiling at Maya as she nodded her head in agreement. Though once she realised it, her frown returned home and the bandana on her head felt cold and uncomfortable Rule#1. She swiftly took it off and handed it to her sister, wiping her hands from the sweat it held.

“Huh, this thing isn’t that bad of quality, sis.” She stretched it to its limits then stopped, placing it on her head before pushing it away swiftly.

“Ew, girl you sweat a lot.” She laughed, giving the bandana back to Maya as they came to the corner. Ahead of them was a large stone bridge that was over a canal full of water, usually at least. When it comes to summer, it never seems to be full, just a dry open cut in the world. It separated houses, built tunnels underneath them, etc etc. Maya always wondered what was down there but always feared of what germs would be there. Her father always joked that there were pizza loving turtles down there, but Maya always laughed at that, turtles don’t like pizza, or karate.

“But yeah, what did you think of your first class of karate?” Aneko asked as they crossed the street. Maya checked three to four times that the light was actually red and gave the pole a few taps for stability before crossing, Rule#2. Maya then pondered the question.

“It… was nice… I guess.” Maya’s mind then swiftly panicked.

“But if it costs you or mom too much money then I don’t have to go anymore, anything to keep up afloat in our house, and and and and and.” Aneko just looked down at Maya then shook her a bit. This seemed to calm Maya down for a second before Rule #1 came into effect and she pushed her sister’s hands away.

“Look, it’s a free thing and you seem to enjoy it, don’t worry about the itty bitty stuff like money or how the house is holding, worry about what makes you smile girl.” Maya looked up to her sister, no spikes ever came but her sister’s words did.

‘ What do you mean don’t worry about you guys, you’re my family and I love you. And money isn’t itty bitty, it’s what makes the world go around and around, without it, we wouldn’t have the nice things we have, I do worry about what makes me smile, you and mom have me going to a therapist about it anyways, which in turn is an even bigger waste of money!!’ Maya thought.

“T-Thank you” Was all Maya said, her voice low and sad. Aneko groaned at this and went back on her phone, Maya looking around her to make sure she didn’t do something like walk into traffic as she researched and found that 23% of cell owners have bumped into something or someone due to being distracted by their phone. Instead Maya herself got distracted when she looked out towards the canal.

Maya saw the sun setting on a beautiful day, across the canal looked like the sun was going to fill it with liquid rays. It was a beautiful sight, if only she had a way to capture it on. That’s when Maya chased after Aneko and asked for her phone.

“You mean the brick you force me to hold? Sure.” She reached into her back pocket and grabbed a small flip phone then handed it to Maya. Maya then ran towards the middle of the bridge and held out her phone towards the picasso in front of her. It took a second but she got the image, then sended it to her sister’s phone. Maya stared at her sister until she gave up and showed the image which was a little pixelated but still was beautiful. It was until her phone made a noise and a message from Mom, came down and she snatched her phone.

“Oh, well mom told us we have to walk home tonight, apparently her work called and now she has to stay a little.” They both groaned at this and started their trek back. Before going Maya looked at the other side of the bridge. Off the bridge, past the dojo which held people sitting on their phones outside of the dojo waiting for a ride home. Until they got to the familiar winding path that led them to the cul de sac that held their two story home.

Here they walked the winding road and Maya had time to think of her day. How everything felt like it happened so fast. How she actually was able to smile and express herself. She enjoyed the time she had there truthfully but if it cost too much she wouldn’t wanna do that to her mother. She already works two jobs so why have her work more? Maya frowned at this but found that she couldn’t do anything. Not until she’s old enough to get a job herself that is. She looked across the road and saw a fast food place with a sign saying they were hiring. Once she starts the tenth grade she will get her first I.D. and work there.

Maya looked down to her flip phone and sighed. Placing it back in Anekos back pocket and watching the trees around her. She remembered when her father gave her that phone, saying it was one he had when she was born. Always telling her that when Maya was a baby she always grabbed at it and put it in her mouth which always made her father laugh. Maya could never do something like that, or even that she did do that at all, the idea sent shivers down her bookcase full of information on germs, Rule #3 and Rule #1.

But she still keeps it, it’s something to remember her father, she then thought of that dream she had last night. After everything that has happened today it has crept to the back of her memory. It’s silly anyway, but terrifying. She read up about snakes the night before. How they don’t attack unless threatened, if only she could’ve gotten a look of one before they… chewed her to pieces. Her death and all the pain she felt wasn’t even the worst, it’s that her mind still thinks her father is coming back. She wishes he did, she misses him every day.

With that final thought Maya and Aneko turned the corner and walked home, no dinner for tonight so Maya’s sister heated up a stromboli and headed to bed. Maya on the other hand looked at their kitchen, then their sofa located across the bar. She missed sitting there and watching shows with her father, how she felt when something happy happened and they made fun of it, or something sad happened and Maya always had tissues because of her father. She missed spending time with him, but most of all, she missed him.

She then sulked and walked up to her room, laying down and pondering what to do next. It was too early to sleep yet too late to start studying one of her many books located in the bookcase next to her closet. She still grabbed one of the books and read its contents. It was an informative book on dog breeds and their individual positive and negative trait’s as well as their history. She always wanted a dog, maybe a basset hound or a golden retriever. Though with her mothers allergies she would be lucky to even receive a cat. After reading the fascinating history of basset hounds and how they affected the france civil war she heard a car pull up to the home and a car door slam.

‘Mother never slammed the door’ Maya thought as she tried to look out towards the driveway but found it improbable, only seeing a small corner as her window was on the side of the house. She didn’t see any car or the hood of the small van they owned. So who was it at their door? A murderer, a thief? Whoever it was, each new iteration of the threat outside filled her with more and more fear. She ran over to the hallway and rushed down the stairs but stopped her quick pace to preserve that she was downstairs the whole time. The last thing she needed was the killer to hear her.

She looked towards the front entrance, there was the door, painting and a keyholder drilled into the wall. If it were a few years ago the small pouch located on that key ring would hold Maya’s father badge and under it his belt. But no such luck as Maya looked and saw the door handle vibrate. She saw it jiggle then jiggle more. Then came the knocking, the knocking on Maya’s skull as this masked murderer sips on wine while her head is used as an ash tray.

Maya’s breath started to become rapid, the stakes raised under her skin and pierced the fabric of her outer layers. She felt as full of needles as a haystack, everything feeling wrong and hurting, she had to do the top lock and save the house but did she believe in herself? Maya froze, watching as the banging got rapid and then stopped. Eyes, two of them in the cover of darkness, watched Maya and knocked on the window.

She wished her father was there, he would’ve taken care of this, like in one of the tv shows they watched, he would grab one of his guns and fight the bad guys then win. He would be done with and finally they would go back to watching tv. But instead Maya has to face this head on, she wasn’t her father, she will end like she did, she will die here and now. But then she stood up, she thought of her father and how he died. He heard the story over and over again, and how he died fighting for what he believed. She thought of the day she had, how she was actually able to smile again, she wants to live for that, she grabbed a nearby bat, unlocked the front door, then as it slammed open swung with all her might.

One swing and a few ice packs later Maya reawoke on the sofa. An icepack holding up her aching head as her mother was in the kitchen. She looked towards Maya and smiled.

“Goodmorning my baseball star” Maya’s mother said, handing her a bowl of ice cream and sitting next to her.

‘Did I have another one of those crazy dreams again?’ Maya wondered looking down at her icecream as its bowl seemed to freeze Maya’s legs in place. Maya then looked at her mother and then the front door, a noticeable dent in the wall near the door stopper was there and Maya knew what she did.

“So you wanna explain why the front porch light was off and you tried to hit me with a bat before passing out?” Maya’s face was cherry red, she was so embarrassed her eyes started to fill with tears once again.

“No No No it’s ok baby it’s ok” Her mother hugged her but Rule#1 came in effect and she ran up the stairs and went to sleep. Her ice cream, never being able to be eaten as the night came to a close.

The week went by in a flash, another weekly visit with the doctor and it was complete. The day came again when Maya went into the dojo. Today there were some pieces of wood and small black boxes were located on the tables that surrounded the center, the words Wu foot extensions put onto a sign from the side of the table’s tarp. Maya didn’t understand what they could be used for but quickly the class started, though this tim with no music just a loud cymbal attached to a wooden post via rope called a gong.

“Goodmorning class, when this gong sounds at the beginning of class I expect the holder of the senseis apprentice band to come up and return it to me.” As he stated this he eyed Maya. She looked towards Sensei Onsa as he stated this then quickly walked the band up to her teacher who took it from her hands and placed it back in the box behind the chalkboard.

“Good, now. What is my class name?” The entire class stated Mr Seonsaengnims name outloud with Maya saying Sensei Onsa as given permission to. After his face twitched, obviously hearing Maya he sighed.

“Good, now today we are going over the basics of our class, now raise your hand if you ever heard of Wu foo before?” Maya sat there and pondered, she only ever heard it from this class but saw everyone else raise their hand around her.

‘What if they make fun of you for not knowing? You’ve lost all your friends before you even made a single one? Such a loser is what they’ll say, they’ll never let you live it down so raise your hand’ Maya feared so she was about to raise her hand the same until the teacher made a loud audible buzzer noise.

“WRONG!!! For everyone who raised their hand, do 15 push ups, for the few of you who didn’t that’s good, you didn’t succumb to common peer pressure. I had a few of my elite students you see standing at the back purposefully raise their hand so I can get a judge of character from each of my students.” He looked around as one by one they all went down and did fifteen push ups though some did better than others. He walked up to Maya and a few of the other classmates who didn’t raise their hands and put them in a group.

“You all didn’t succumb to such peer pressure, and as such I’m proud of you all, after everyones done we will start our class properly with stretches and such, Maya” He said all of a sudden walking up to her with a smile.

“don’t think I didn’t see you start to raise your hand, it’s ok to wanna be like others but sometimes being yourself is the best answer of all, so live your best life girl friend” He said that last part in a swoony tone doing strange hand gestures as he did which made Maya and the others laugh.

“Alright!” Sensei Onsa said walking back to the back of the room once everyone was done.

“Today we will be learning the basics of Wu Foo.” He walked up to his chalk board and wrote the word in bold letters.

“Wu Foo is something I made up when I was studying with kung foo masters, it’s the art of using Kung foo with basic weapons you have, or can make inside of your purse or area around you.” Maya looked at the tables and saw that the once perceived nun chucks were actually two pieces of wood from chair legs tied together with some type of twine. Though she couldn’t understand what the small black plastic brick could be used for.

“In this class you will learn to create, use, and safely maintain your weapons made.” He stated grabbing the makeshift nun chucks he flung around himself while he spoke.

“But before any of that all of you must learn that Wu Foo has three basic rules that must be followed in order to be allowed to master it because knowing this power is very dangerous.” Maya found this hard to be true because the weapons on the tables were mere pieces of wood and packed plastic, how hurt could someone truly get? Her father would know, she assumed.

“First, only ever use Wu foo in deadly self defence, This isn’t normal kung foo here, you can seriously injure and possibly even kill someone with the information you gain in these next couple classes. So if that makes you scared then leave now.” Maya panicked hearing this, she didn’t wanna hurt people and the idea of killing never even crossed her mind as an idea, it disgusted her thinking of it now. She almost stood then and there if not for the fact she would be wasting her mothers money. So she stayed seated and stayed silent, the class doing the same.

“Good, Second rule is that learning this doesn’t make you some type of super hero or another jackie chan, don’t start using this to save or help others, again with the damaging and killing part, leave that heroism to the police department.” Hearing that made Maya slouch down a little more, memories of her father all rushing in at once bombarding her mind, causing her to sniffle and panic. The teacher caught note of this, listening to the groaning of Maya and the people around her and quickly changing the subject.

“I apologize but thats how it is, Third and final rule you must understand before learning Wu foo. Never, EVER, have it be your first option. The reason why it’s an add on to Kung foo and not its own separate thing is because you must let weapons be the last thing you think of when defending yourself, always try and subdue the target before using a weapon.” Hearing that made Maya calm down a bit. She can’t do much anymore, have good grades, keep a decent schedule, eat three meals. Maya thought if she didn’t have her mother she would probably be starved to death by now.

“Today, we will study and understand these rules as follows until everyone can recite them in similar or simpler terms, once that is done we will go around and observe some of the weapons you can create or hold. But first, we need to stretch.” Sensei Onsa stated, rolling out a mat in front of him, he pointed to multiple rolls on the side of the facility behind a table and everyone rushed over to get one.

After stretching and the memorizing of the three basic rules which Maya used a notebook she brought with her. She found the stretching a little taxing, especially when she had to stretch her legs for minutes on end. Her inner glutes started to burn but she was up and moving before she had time to even wonder complaining about it. The rest of the day went by fairly quickly. He showed off the multiple different hand crafted weapons such as the nun chuck made of chair legs, a sharp fragment of a broken pot tied with tape to prevent cutting the user, and finally he ended on the small black box. He asked for a volunteer to test the strange box. One of the men a guy in his mid forties volunteered and stated he knew what he was in for. He stepped up, had two of the assistants grab his arms and was quickly used to demonstrate the small plastic box.

Electricity, about fifty thousand volts went into that man’s stomach and caused him to fall over, salivating in pain on the floor as he laughed. At once everyone either backed away or looked closer in interest. Though fear clouded her mind Maya was with the ladder, the small plastic was in fact a cover for a small taser held within. Maya wrote down in her notebook that she would need to obtain one once she could trust herself, after all, it is a self defence class. She jotted down, though she didn’t wanna actually get one, her mother always read her notes so she didn’t wanna seem like she was wasting her money.

Sensei Onsa ended the class by teaching the starting basics of stances, stating that.

“Without proper footwork, you couldn’t even do a proper kick without falling over” which he demonstrated by kicking the air then falling on his bottom which caused the class to chuckle. Though Maya still chuckled she remembered the week prior where she did something similar with a bat so she quickly quieted down. That day went by fast and Maya wished she learned how to do this stuff sooner. She expected to be tired at the end of her class but she felt sort of energized. Sensei Onsa stated that the next week they would study grabs and kicks, whatever that meant and the class ended with Maya smiling once again.

Anekos and Maya’s walk was peaceful as ever and the night ended calmly as well, the next week flew and Maya learned of kicks and grabs. She learned proper grabbing techniques as well as kicks. She couldn’t wait to show her sister what she learned as her sudden interest from the days prior made Maya feel confident.

The first person she ended up grabbing was a boy named Amoureux, a french boy who once lived in Canada and was Maya’s designated partner for the rest of the course. Maybe it was because the last names were so close or maybe he was the only person who was the same age in the entire class as Maya, she never found out. Though the first thing he did was apologize and stated the name everyone calls him is Armor. Both because he always laughed when people tried to say his name before and that he remembered Maya preferred nicknames.

She had to do a simple grab that she was training on a long sand bag for the better part of half the class. The grab consisted of grabbing their arm while they swung it towards them, then counter attacking at the lower abdomen. This counter attack ended up severely bruising and scratching Maya’s knuckles because she put her full body into the punch. But when she had to do it to a person she couldn’t. She backed down and Armor equally didn’t want to do it to a girl. Sensei Onsa frowned at this and walked them over to the side.

“Look, I understand both of your view points but if you wanna learn you’re gonna have to do stuff you won’t wanna do, what if it’s a girl who mugs you or you get mugged at all?” They both understood what Sensei Onsa was saying but both couldn’t bring themselves to do it. That’s when Sensei Onsa had an idea.

“Alright, you and you” He pointed towards two of the elite students Sensei Onsa had in the back. They both stepped up and bowed towards him.

“Demonstrate the simple grab using each other, no double counters, just one attack and one counter, GO!” Like Machines they both did a similar stance, bowed at one another and both swung but one did the technique with adequate speed to the other then stood up, bowing towards their teacher while the other struggled to stand but did the same. He then looked down towards us to find the same faces painted on our canvas, he then sighed but quickly thought of another idea while looking at Maya’s bruised knuckles.

“See? Easy, but maybe don’t punch that hard, watch, Armor… Ar.. you know who you are, swing at me.” Without question Armor agreed and swung towards Sensei Onsa, in breakneck speeds he was under Armor and his fist connected with his stomach, though when Armor started to tense up he stopped, looking down to see where he was punched yet never connected.

“I never said you had to go full force, just make the connection thats all, does that make sense?” Maya found this such a simple answer and then felt bad for the sand bag she punched full force earlier before. As they both understood they both did there stances and bowed.

“I still don’t like the idea of hurting a girl, especially one as pretty as yourself” Armor said mid swing, Maya was going to speak but then stopped dead in her tracks of the counter.

‘Did he just call me pretty?’ Maya thought as a punch connected and a body hit the floor. Not Armors though, it was Mayas, who was just punched in the face by the boy who called her pretty.

Maya reawoken in the dojo though later in the day, with her sister Aneko above and yelling at Sensei Onsa. He reassured her that this was bound to happen as stated by the contract there mother signed off on. Aneko wasn’t having any of it and Maya normally would stay out but she stood up and did her stance again against what Aneko tried to stop.

Maya was aimed straight at Armor, whos tears filled his eyes so much that Maya found it unfair to fight but didn’t stand down. She knew what Sensei Onsa was right, and that showing her sister that doing this simple grab would be the way to proof her that she was ok. In fact her face hurt so much that when she dashed for Armor her eyes started to fill with tears as well. Aneko tried to stop Maya, thinking she was going to beat the kid senseless but was swiftly blocked by the teacher.

Once Maya reached Armoureux she tapped her feet, he looked at her strange taps but saw she was in the stance they learned last class. But he saw her face full of tears and snot starting to drizzle down her nose and above her bruising cheek which he punched.

‘She must hate me so much that she wants to beat me up, I deserve it, she will never wanna speak to me again’ Armoureux thought, stancing and getting ready for the counter attack to come as he swung towards her cheek once again. This time some lady that Mr Seonsaengnim was blocking screamed for him to stop but his arm was swiftly grabbed, pulled and he was flicked in the abdomen. Surprising himself and the students who started to gather once she went down.

She then stood up and laughed at him, somehow, Armoureux made the pretty girl laugh, and it was by punching her? ‘Americans are definitely strange’ Armor admitted to himself but ran with it. She was the only person his age in this class after all. Once she stopped laughing she collapsed on the floor and was carried out of the dojo.

“It seems one of our pupils used to much of there energy” Mr Seonsaengnim stated, everyone in the dojo at this point looking at Mayas sister carry her out while placing a water bottle on her chest so when she awakens she can have a drink.

“Let this be a lesson class, don’t use all of your energy on one feeble attack, it’ll leave yourself open for the enemy to counter attack.” Everyone nodded towards Mr Seonsaengnim’s teachings and Armoureux was assigned to one of the Gi wearing jocks in the back, who were surprisingly gentle on him at first for the rest of the day.

Maya awoken inside of a hospital bed. Looking around to see she was alone.

‘What the heck happened’ Maya thought as she reached towards her head. She didn’t feel to hurt, besides a bruise that formed on her cheek shown by the hospital mirror beside her bed. A small tray had flowers and some fast food. Though she didn’t care much for the flowers she sat up and ate the fast food, turned on the tv and watched some cartoons which she couldn’t do at home since cable was expensive.

‘How did I get this bruise on my cheek’ Maya pondered, thinking of the day as she sipped sprite from her cup. She slowly but surely remembered the days events and the cute boy who punched her. Armor, and how he called her pretty. it’s the only thing Maya could think about for a little while as she watched cartoons and felt her heart fill with butterflies. The episode of the cartoon ended and advertisements filled the screens corners. She was at piece for a moment before her skin started to sting suddenly. She realised where she was and started to panic, about the food she just ate, the people who stay in hospitals, the cost of a room. SHE WAS IN A HOSPITAL.

Maya then quickly jumped out of bed, ripping all the strange electronics that attached to her arm and ran for the door. She then looked down to her sweaty and dirty clothes as well as her unwashed hands.

‘GERMS, EVERYWHERE, GERMS, MUST GET OFF OF ME.’ Mayas mind panicked, as her breathing became heavy and rapid. She read once that hospital acquired infections occur in about 1 in 31 patients. She dashed for the nearby sink and washed her hands. Though she knew it would do her no good as these infections were often caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can be found on surfaces, equipment, and even in the air. Once she remembered the air part she stopped cleaning her hands and sat down on the dirty grimy floor. Rule#1.

‘I MUST CALM DOWN AND CALM MY BREATH’ Maya thought as she tried to count to the places around her.

‘One, T-two threeeeee four. The white bacteria covered wall, the uhh, floor that im touching, eww, when was this last cleaned, and the shower…’ Maya thought, her eyes dropping dead as she looked in the white shower. Underneath the showerheads neck was a blood splotch of gray, from over use of water causing water damage to a over use of cleaning chemicals it all spelled the same problem. MOLD. Maya swiftly sprinted out of that bathroom, holding back vomit as her head became dizzy and her body started to lose balance. Her breathing becoming more rapid, her mind filled with a million different facts about mold and the human body. All the health issues that can arise, as small as a common cold to the loss of a liver. She didn’t wanna lose any of that and started to cry because she was just in a room full of the stuff.

“The walls’ Maya thought, panicking even more.

‘What are the walls hiding? More mold more bacteria? THIS PLACE IS HORRIBLE’ Mayas already rapid breath exceeded further as she started to cough more and more, her laying on the maintained carpet. Her grabbing her chest before passing out once again, a nurse entering as she did.

Armoureux was given the senseis apprentice band that day for being one of the first students to take on one of My Seonsaengnim’s elite students and still stand. Though his body payed the toll once the grabs became more complex and he became the test dummy. The rest of the day was talk of a tournament and teaching of more grabs. A prize of three thousand dollars as well as a vacation trip to hawaii was given to the student who one. Though his mind wasn’t on that or even the band. It was on Maya, the pretty lady he made faint.

‘I knew I made all the ladies faint but that was a bit much’ Armoureux chuckled towards himself. His false persona swiftly changing as his mind started panicking about seeing her the week after.

‘What if she hit her head so hard she ended up cracking her skull? Or heart one of her lungs from laughing to hard? Will she even like me after everything is said and done?? Will she hate me’ Armoureux feared, though he couldn’t understand why, they just met only three hours prior and hes worried about her?

‘Love at first sight I guess’ Armoureux argued, though with himself than anyone else, he just took the answer at head value. No need to get paranoid about it after all. But that didn’t stop his mind.

‘Should I see where she is from Mr Seonsaengnim? Is she in the hospital? If so which one? The one across the bridge? Maybe because it’s so close but where else’ Armoureux pondered before putting his faith in her. After all, she did stand back up after getting sucker punched by…. Him. Armoureux didn’t feel good about that last part as he left that dojo for the day, planning on giving her something when she returns next week, if she still wanted to talk to him that is.

When she reawoken she found herself in a wheel chair, sitting as her mother talked to the lady behind the desk.

“And it looks like shes awake now mam” At the lady’s word Mayas mother twisted swiftly and embraced her in a hug.

“My baby, my sweetie, my princess, what happened in class? Who was the boy who hit you? What was his name? WHO IS HIS MOTHER?? IM GOING WITH YOU TO THE NEXT CLASS AND I WILL GIVE THEM A PIECE OF MY…..” Mother went from sentimental to angry real quick. The room filled with her angry rage, until she realised where she was and corrected herself.

“My apologies, if I may have the bill, Ill be by tomorrow to pay it” The lady behind the desk handed it to her mother by her request and they left the hospital. Finally out of that germ jail Maya immediately looked towards her mother.

“Clothes?” Her mother helped her out of the wheelchair as if she was in serious injury and then looked shy.

“I….. Forgot them, Im sorry sweetie” Maya then frowned and told herself to not touch to much of the car on the way home. She looked out the window thinking of what her mothers temper brought out. Watching as they turned right and went across the bridge, the other side showing the dojos somewhat empty lot.

‘What do I think of him? Armor is just a boy who happened to be chosen with me,not much else, so why cant I get him out of my head, him and his pretty blue eyes, and and’ Mayas mind went crazy as she felt her face flush, must be the medicine she thought.

“Armor” Maya said aloud, her mother listening in.

“Armor? Well, you may have been bruised but you don’t need armor honey.” Mayas mother said giggling a little bit to herself. Maya wanted to correct her but her mind slowly went spikey again as she thought of the bill that sat on the dashboard. But he wouldn’t escape her mind so she spoke out.

“No…. His name is Armor, and hes… my friend” The rest of the drive was silence, Maya had another spike that night and the week went by relatively quickly.

Armoureux looked towards his phone after getting done playing conflict of countries on his phone. His calender showed it was the 9th of june which meant the next dojo class was tomorrow. He looked up from his phone to see he and his mother was at DWT, the drug store that also doubled as a last minute gift service.

Though he wanted to be there sooner his father was busy with work and couldn’t help him. So he went today and had to run in and grab something quickly. He grabbed a card, a envelope, and a singular scented plastic flower, he paid and walked to his car. When he entered his father chuckled.

“Whats her name slugger” He joked, poking at his son as he locked him out of the car which was a ongoing joke between them.

“Her name is Maya if you so have to know” His joking deminor changed as he unlocked the door for his son.

“Wait… an actual woman? You??, Ha!!! Your barely in Amerloque land and you found a woman, you are my son after all” He then looked down to his sons hands.

“Is that it?” His father asked, making him ponder and panic.

“Is this not enough??” Armoureux questioned before his face went full flushed and defensive.

“And it’s not like that père” Armoureux defended swiftly, he didn’t mean to sound so angry but it suddenly bounced out of him. His father looked towards him in a sort of shock but smiled a half second later.

“Ohhh so it is?” His father then looked down in Amoureux arms.

“And thats all your gonna give her?” His father asked, pointing at the bag full of stuff.

‘Isn’t this enough? WIll she like it? Is this to much? Is this to little?’ Armoureux panicked, thinking of all the ways this isn’t good enough but his father intervene.

“Well, lets go inside together and while we get better gifts, you can tell me how you met this girl Monsieur tout ça” His father said while exiting the car. Amoureux always disliked when his father would say american sayings in their native tongue but he never minded cause it always made him laugh.

When Maya awoken that morning she expected to get the same nonsense she got the morning before. So she breathed, walked down the stairs and sat at the breakfast table to see her Anekos eyes brighten and her mothers smile show.

“Im back from being home husband, you wanna kiss me with your fist to show our love is true” Aneko mocked, looking towards there mother as she giggled and did a dramatic pose.

“Only if you punch me back in a kiss of love, then we can punch each other with our ring hands and be punching bags for life.” Her mother said, making dramatic poses as she did. After both got done lollygaging they both started to giggle at the inside joke that Maya was sadly the main character of.

Ever since Maya spoke about Armor as a friend her mother and Aneko have been teasing Maya about them becoming a couple. Maya at this point is used to it after having to deal with it for the past week. Though she had noone to speak to about it as they skipped this weeks therapy session with the doctor for ‘health reasons.’ Though Maya always assumed it was so she could be made fun of more.

“So you excited to return honey?” Mayas mother asked as she put sausage and pancakes onto her plate.

“Yeah I bet your husband is just dying to see you again.” Aneko stated never letting Maya get the next word out. Once they got done with there giggle fit Maya finally got the words to speak up.

“it’s not…. Like that… and yeah, I guess” Maya answered in a shushed tone though they wouldn’t stop talking about it through the car drive. But Maya wasn’t too bothered, the boy she flicked, the boy who punched her was the only thing on her mind for those days. When she had the few spikes she had while they teased her all she did was listen to there words about Armor and it all suddenly seemed to go away. She didn’t need to focus on much except imagining what the pair was saying about him and her. She actually liked the idea somewhat, as if this boy she just met made her feel safe.

When they arrived to the dojo her mother insisted on coming in as well because she needed to ‘See the classroom’ which Maya knew was a excuse to meet Armor. When they entered they found Sensei Onsa talking to some of the other students about throws and how to use them but stopped when Maya entered.

He rushed over to Maya and her parents then dove to the floor in front of them bowing as if they were royalty.

“I am so so so so so sorry for what had happened yesterday, I must first excuse my apologies as my behavior was unacceptable but also that it was written in fine print that this may have happened but not to the point of her passing out, I hope this is understood and if you wanna take her out of the program I 100% understand.” He said in a rush, as if he said it any slower he would lose his tongue. Though all three looked down to him in confusion and scruffed it off.

“Uhh were just here to make sure she arrives safely” Mayas mother said which made him shoot up and apologize again for looking like a fool. His apology was cut short however as the door behind them opened swiftly and the whole class looked in awe of what they saw. Maya swiftly started to feel spikes under her skin as everyone looked at her.

‘Look towards the girl who passed out, oh shes such a fool, who would ever be friends with her’ Her mind started sprinting towards every horrible thing everyone was thinking as they looked at her with discuss, it caused her to bundle onto the floor and tear up. She wanted to go home.

“don’t tell me the boy at the door is Armor, is it really?” Maya heard her mother say after gasping, Maya who was wallowing in despair was tapped on the shoulder which made her stand. When she turned to look at the supposed boy she was confused, there wasn’t a boy just a hand holding a bouquet of flowers. But when she blinked and looked again her world went still. There was Armor, wearing his gi and a shy expression which complimented his flushed face. In his hands were a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates though not heart shaped as expected and a envelope with the words, TO MAYA written atop them.

So everyone’s eyes weren’t on Maya, they were on the boy who just brought her a lovers test. Maya saw the display in front of her, and her heart started to race. It wasn’t a spike like normal, no it was the feeling she felt all week, her stomach felt light as if she was about to throw up. But she never did, her legs shook as if she were a woman in a dress being proposed next to a lake. Her eyes filled with tears her mind with questions.

‘Why would he ask in public like this, why would he ask at all, we only just met so why di he think she would even say yes?, What is it hes tryna ask her by doing this? But most importantly, who was this guy?’ Mayas mind pondered as her mind went from frantic to calm.

‘A boy, a boy I just met, is asking me out like this? Me?? Why, Im not pretty or cool, im a failure at everything I do, so why would anyone wanna ask me..’

“Yes, I….. I would love to” Maya said aloud, though not asked any questions she said it with pride which she never seen before. Neither did his mother, sister, or even Armor who’s flushed look turned to confusion.

“What? OH!!! No No No, not like that, I mean” Armor looked down at his hands and to what he was holding and looked as if he started to panic.

“I would love to really, it’s just… This was…..” Armor stuttered and panicked where he stood, trying to find the words in his throat but never could find them. Or maybe he did, Maya didn’t listen all she heard was one word echoed in her mind.

‘no…..No? Of course it was No. Who would ever wanna date me, or even wanna be seen with me, I should’ve figured, all it was is a apology thats all, he would never wanna date me or anything else, all he wants is to apologize….. He said no to me…… he said no’ Mayas eyes filled with tears at this point, this boy she didn’t think of as a love interest rejected her on the spot, with flowers that petals danced at a never again seen joy, the classmates behind hers eyes all stabbing into her back, spearheads going through her heart and held high like a torches flame. All her joy, her confidence, her newly found smiles, destroyed, for all to see. And it was Armors words that displayed it in a wooden case.

Armor seemed to sense this, through roses and tears Maya assumed his words were on a conveyer belt towards a fire, not real, just fantasies of what could have been. But her mothers words knocked her out of her depressive transe and Maya heard properly.

“Would you… like to go out with a guy like me?” Armor said, though Maya couldn’t believe him.

‘After all that, after getting my hopes up, after all of the emotional trauma you put me through you expect me to just say yes? Boys, Aneko was right about them, they only wanna be with themselves and brag to there buddies about yucky stuff, he doesn’t like me, he just doesn’t wanna see me sad, he just doesn’t wanna seem like the boy who made the class idiot cry, there all staring at me, does he think this gesture will work?, is he that foolish, ima give him a piece of my mind!!!!’ Maya brought to life as her fist went through the other side of the roses and landed straight on Armors cheek.

‘What is it with this girl and punching’ Armoureux thought, as her fist connected with his cheek and the impact started to follow. As it did he fell to the ground and he could hear people gasping around him.

‘First she asks me out, then she sucker punches me after I get flustered and don’t have the words to say yes, I mean, shes been on my mind all week, thats why I got her this stuff like dad wanted’ He angrily thought, catching himself before standing up swiftly, though he didn’t mean to make his stance look so angry.

‘Sure, maybe flowers and chocolates wasn’t the best im sorry and sure, maybe father is waiting for me in the car just in case something goes wrong but it’s the best im sorry he could think o-’ Armoureux realised what his father had planned. He realised the situation he just put himself in.

’She didn’t just ask me out by saying yes, I just embarrassed her by looking as if I was about to ask her and said NO!!!!. Mec, je suis un idiot” Armoureux thought as he swiftly switched from standing ready to fight to bowing down. It was something close to an apology which he learned while being taught japanese culture in school.

“Im Sorry Maya, take these flowers as a showing of it” Armoureux stated, to worried about her next actions as he didn’t dare lift his head from the floor.

It was thirty minutes later and class started with some new drama, Maya just exited the car after telling her that it was ok if she didn’t wanna do class. Maya didn’t wanna go, after all she did just get humiliated in front of the whole class and punch the boy she had a crush on but her mind kept going back to what he said.

“Would you… like to go out with a guy like me?” Armors vision stated, seemingly on loop in Mayas mind as if she was watching a movie in a theatre.

’What did he mean? Was it not his intentions on asking me out? Whats the use, like he would want me anymore anyway, I punched him and then forced him to give me chocolate when he apologized, why did he even apologize to a stupid girl like me?, why did he even show up with a box of chocolates if not to ask me out?” Maya thought as her eyes burned from all the crying and her knees stung from hitting the floor in front of him. When he bowed Mayas legs gave out and for a moment, she laid next to the boy on the floor, not knowing what to say or do. In fact, it was her mother who took the flowers and sister the chocolate, though she didn’t know where the letter went.

’I wonder what the letter said, I wonder if Sensei Onsa will let us be partners any more. Probably not, but theres only one way to find out.’Maya thought as she cleaned her eyes the best she could, opened the car door and looked towards the dojo.

“Are you sureee you wanna go sweetie? You don’t have to be in the same room as that jerk Armor” Mayas mother protested as she shut the door behind her and called for her out the car window.

“Yeah sis, if you want I can punch him and see if the name Armor really is used for something other than a stupid name“Aneko said, close behind to her mothers response, which gained a small giggle from her mother.

“Yes…… Love you both….. See you both later” Maya said as she walked into the dojo and waved to her mother, and sister behind. She didn’t remember when was the last time she said she loved them aloud, but she wanted all the love she could get at this point forward. As the doors bell overhead ringed, and she needed to find her own love to.

Class, went by as normal, and surprisingly Mr Seonsaengnim didn’t separate Armourex and Maya. Though the tension between them seemed to become warm and unluckily it was the third week of the nine week program, which meant it was sparring day.

“Alright class, today is one third of the way there before the big tournament is to come up, that means it’s sparring day.” Mr Seonsaengnim stated, looking around the classroom as some students shrunk and others stayed calm.

“There will be only one more sparing day and by then you will all be able to use the martial arts part of Wu Foo, then for the final three weeks you will learn the weapons portion of it” Mr Seonsaengnim said though Armoureux wasn’t paying much attention because his eyes were glued onto Maya and her reaction.

‘She looks…. Sad, or maybe stunned? I cant tell, but when he said weapons it must’ve surprised her, I hope she is alright’ Armoureux thought as her once calm and quiet expression was now one of seriousness and thinking.

“Alright everyone, your sparring partner will be your training partner, you must teach each other and learn from each other, you cant just expect to grow up eating noodles then becoming a Wu Foo master, here we have no pandas, only warriors.” Mr Seonsaengnim said as he raised his hands for everyone to stand, which they did then all walked there own ways.

As they did though it was Maya who walked up to Armoureux and looked at him in what seemed like anger. Though she never spoke a word, she stanced and waved her hand, taunting him to test her. Armoureux watched this girl with shock, she looked battle ready and afraid all in the same time. He remembered the last class and how he knew more throws and grabs than she did, and yet she stanced like she knew every move he would make. He was about to stance as well and assuredly lose the fight if it wasn’t for Mr Seonsaengnim stepping in and blocking the two.

“I understand there is some anger from both side of this fight yes?” Mr Seonsaengnim asked, though both heard and stopped stancing both didn’t agree or disagree.

“So why this tension? This is both not the ways of Wu Foo and distracting to the other students.” Mr Seonsaengnim showed as every classmate was in there stances but looked towards the both of them.

“If you both don’t first apologize, then you wont spar. Plus, this fight is unfair so I have a job for the both of you today” Mr Seonsaengnim stated, first doing a dance then ending it by pointing at Amoureux.

“Your gonna teach her what she missed, meaning the two other throws, and the tournament at the end of the classes.” Mr Seonsaengnim stated before dancing and once again ended it by pointing but this time at Maya.

“And you, Your job is to listen, learn, understand, and for the love of everything don’t knock out our sweet angel Armur…. Arrrrmorrr…. This guy” He said, grabbing Armoureux’s face and squishing it, which is something noone had done since his mother in france. Though, that was only in a picture he saw once, apparently the baby smiling in front of the Arc de Triomphe being him as a baby and the woman with long brown hair being his mother, squishing his baby face and smiling.

“Well… first… uh…, We learned how to-” And then Amoureux taught her everything she missed that day, her gaze never leaving his eyes which intimidated him, never speaking a word as he explained to her the techniques and how to do them properly. She stayed silent until he spoke of one of the grabs that they rehearsed that will immobilize there opponents next.

“So. Let me try on you then” Maya said, frightening Amoureux as all the blood from his face flushed down the drain.

“Alright” He sighed in defeat, he got in his stance and she did the same, though he knew what was coming, he didn’t expect her to not stop. His arm was twisted and in pain, his other arm flayed uselessly as he started to groan in pain.

“What was in that letter you threw away?” Maya asked, her voice stern with anger. Amoureux strained and was in so much pain he didn’t hear her which caused her to twist a little more causing more pain.

“Where is that letter you threw away” That time Maya’s words connected with him which caused him to tap his hand on the mat below him.

“I Give, I Give, I don’t know what you’re talking about” But instead of letting go she held on longer and longer, causing him more and more pain. Amoureux looked around for help before finding Mr Seonsaengnim watched over and called students over to observe his knowledge.

“This is a situation you may find yourself in class, and there is two ways to go about it. First, you can lift your body using your free arm which will make it harder for your opponent to hold on, or you can flip, dislocate your arm and be able to fight again. No matter what, your opponent will need a lot of will power to do this.” When Amoureux heard this he did as told and lifted his body, he hoped by doing this she would release fairly soon but she never did. She stood there, struggling, sweating, tearing up, her muscles tightened and her face of anger turned to pain swiftly. But she never gave up, never stopped. The teacher looked on in aw as she did this.

“This….. Isn’t how this is exposed to go, the muscles in your body when in situations like this excerpt seven times more pressure than available to lift. If Armorex is able to lift lets say ten pounds only, Maya is feeling seventy pounds of pressure. And as he was the teachers apprentice last class it’s safe to assume Maya is holding a lot more than seventy pounds of pressure. MAYA Let the boys arm go” Mr Seonsaengnim said as she finally released Amoureux’s arm which winced in pain and hurt to move. She then bowed and sat next to him, poking his cheek.

“So where is the letter” Maya said casually, as if she didn’t just torture Amoureux for half a hour. He just grabbed his arm in pain and looked towards her, for some reason he still thought her expression cute.

“it’s in my pocket, on my broken side thanks to you.” Amoureux said wheezing in pain, when she then knelt down and grabbed the envelope out of his pocket she stopped short and was face to face with him. She just stood there for a moment before just standing up and pocketing the letter for later. Amoureux just watched as she walked away and Mr Seonsaengnim followed suit after telling everyone to get back to there respective spars, he let Amoureux rest for the rest of class and thats exactly what he did.

“How did you even do that? That must’ve hurt you as well as him you know” Sensei Onsa stated to Maya as she sat down, the envelope in her pocket sitting heavily in her pocket.

“I don’t know, I just…… it was like I was in some strange area, like it gave me sudden energy I guess” Maya explained, grabbing her now throbbing arms which slowly distributed the pain she just went through. She knew where she was, she knew the actions she was doing, but she didn’t mean to, she smelt blood in her nose and her arms were burning even before she did the grab.

“Well, you’ve sure impressed me Maya, not even my personal pupils have that much mana” Sensei Onsa stated, sitting down next to Maya before his face seemed to light up.

“Mana Maya, that should be your nickname,” Sensei Onsa said, laughing at his own joke before standing back up and walking towards two people who were sparring a few feet away.

This gave Maya ample time to reach for the envelope, open it inside was a piece of paper with writing. Maya looked around to see everyone was busy with there own thing which left Maya all alone in the corner of the room, a place Maya mastered in. When she opened the envelope she at first skimmed for some key words before just reading it fully.

To Maya

My father wanted me to write you a letter with the roses and such. Though I don’t know why exactly I will make this as brief as I can. Honestly I wanted to give you this stuff in the hospital, well not this exactly, it was originally gonna be just a card and a plush bear but my dad said it was indigne d’une dame. OH I forgot you don’t know french, basically it means it’s not fitting of a girl, though I don’t know how this is but maybe an American custom? Sorry Im rambling and running out of room on this page. Basically Im sorry for punching you in the face and even wonder if you wanna be friends? I don’t have much room left so just answer me in person ok?

From Amoureux

Maya read the pages and figured maybe she misread it. After reading again however found she just injured a person who in fact didn’t just dump her or try and embarrass her but instead wanted to be friends. She felt different after reading the page, It felt like her skin was being pulled back, and it wasn’t from her throbbing arms or eyes that hurt too much to cry, she felt awful, and a horrible person. She swiftly stood up and located where Armor was, his arm cupped the other as he sat there and occasionally drank water with his free hand.

When she approached him he looked up to her with a pain filled expression.

“Came for the other arm I presume?” Armor said, frowning and sighing as he did, he lifted his other arm, being more like a limp toy than a body part. She just stared at him, she wanted to tell him she was sorry but she couldn’t do it so she sat next to him instead.

“Soooo? Did you read the letter?” Maya heard Armor but didn’t know what to say, she just nodded her head and handed it back to him.

“Keep it, as a memento of your first win in sparring, im sorry that we couldn’t have become better friends.” Armor said as he pushed the envelope away and frowned.

“N-no I…. I wanna be… friends” Maya whispered, her emotions not letting her speak louder as spikes ran her body, she didn’t know why she did anything she did, it was like someone else took over.

‘Whats the use, he wont ever wanna be friends with me after what I did, who would, he will probably just call me weird and go away from me, I cant be loved, I cant be befriended, it’s my own fault’ Maya thought as she looked over to Armor whos gaze never left hers, she was the first to cower and decided to hide her head against her knees, hoping he would go away. Instead he did something she never would’ve expected, he laid his hand around Mayas back and hugged her. He then held her against him for a while, not in a normal hug sense, not pulling or pushing her but instead just laying his arm on her back.

‘Ew Ew Ew, I need to move now, his arm in on my back and hes a boy who knows where it’s been, but… It feels, nice, and warm, I feel, safe.’ Maya realised. Around Armor, or even thinking about him makes her feel nice, she realised she didn’t even have much spikes while thinking of him this past week. In that moment or maybe many minutes that passed, Maya realised that Armor made Maya feel safe, and those spikes that rose earlier on, only went away because of him. Maya smiled as she rested her head against her knees. For once, she didn’t worry about what others thought. She just sat there and it felt like they were the only two on earth.

That moment or minutes, came and went as Sensei Onsa blew his whistle and everyone ran over to him. Maya rose her head from her self made cavern and looked to see Armor on a smartphone playing some game while still resting his arm. He looked over to her and turned off his phone, putting it away.

“Ready to go over there….. Friend?” Armor asked Maya as she smiled and fought back tears. She nodded her head and went to there meeting which ended with some kid getting the apprentice band or sparring excellently. When the class ended Maya and Armor walked together outside where he stayed waiting for Mayas mother to show up or even Aneko, though she wasn’t working that day. It wasn’t a few minutes later that Maya heard her phone vibrate and she picked it up hesitantly as Rule #3 and #5 took affect.

“Hey honey, I know you’ve had a stressful day already but can you be a big girl for me and do something scary?” Mayas mother said, some hesitation in her voice as she said it aloud.

“W-What?”

“Can you walk home tonight? Ill bring home any fast food you like if you do and you can uhh…. Get some icecream for dinner tonight”

“Aneko?”

“She hasn’t answered her phone for some reason so safe to assume it’s dead” Mayas mother explained which Maya understood, Aneko wasn’t good about charging her phone.

“it’s easy sweetie, just go down the twisty path and take a left, walk down the street and our house is there, Ok?” Mayas mother said in a sort of desperate explanation. Maya really didn’t like being alone letting alone walk home alone in the dark but she didn’t know what else to do.

“Ok mom” Maya said her silence answering the tension question.

“Alright sweetie, Im so sorry but If you do this everything and more will be given to you when I get home, Call me when you arrive home and we’ll talk more” Mayas mother said, Maya still imagined the vault full of icecream if she could have anything.

“Love you sweetheart”

“Love you to mom” And with that Mayas mother hung up the phone and she had to walk home for the night.

“Whats was that all about?” Armor said, looking out towards a minivan that pulled in.

“Oh… My.. Mother wants me to walk home.. Alone.” Maya said sort of embarrassingly, though she didn’t know why.

“Oh…. Well, do you want someone to walk you home??” Armor scared Maya with his words which properly were placed.

‘We barely just became friends and he wants to go to my home already? Shouldn’t that wait till later chapters of the story?’ Maya thought, remembering a few books she read while pretending to sleep.

“Sorry, uh.. I don’t mean to be to forward… I MEAN… like, we just became friends and uh” Armor babbled on, Maya knew what he meant and just wanted to watch him continue until he mumbled and apologized, Maya found it cute at least.

“I mean… sure. It is getting a little dark… but wont you have to ask your dad first?” Maya said, secretly hoping he denies it.

“Yeahh, but thats his mini van so ill go ask him and then be right back ok?” Armor stated as he stood up and started a small sprint to the vehicle before sprinting back to Maya mid trip.

“Oh… Um… whats your address?” Armor said sort of sheepishly. Once Maya looked to old text messages from her mother and her she found it and told Armor, before releasing the phone was on and in her hand and quickly powered it off. Rule #3.

“So son, how did it go?”Amoureux’s father stated as he looked towards where he was sitting on the curb previously. Seeing a slightly heavy girl with a ponytail and a sad expression.

“Oh my… Is that her mon petit oiseau d’amour?” He said with a little twang in his voice near the end. Though Amoureux didn’t laugh this time around he just stared at him with a angry glance.

“What? Something I said?” His father sort of cowered but stayed firm.

“More like, something you did, but thats not important now, I wanna walk her home and for you to pick me up, afterwords we will talk” Amoureux said in a slightly aggressive tone. Though he never would talk this way to his father he sort of deserved it.

“Well… Alright, but only because it’ll be dark soon, whats her address?” Amoureux’s father questioned, reminding himself to not publicly scold his son for his attitude. After getting the address he pulled out of the parking spot and rolled down his window as Amoureux walked back to the curb.

“Oh and son” He said, foot on the break. Amoureux turned to see what his father had to say.

“Im sorry for whatever I did, and we will talk about this later” He said, making a comically large circle as he did. Then he drove away. When Amoureux approached Maya she stood and looked at him in a way of confusion and with a somewhat pouty face.

“So… What did he say?” Maya said in a hushed tone, she isn’t much for speaking aloud Amoureux assumed.

“He said he would meet us there, so would you like to lead the way?” Amoureux gestured his hand for her to stand which she took and started there walk down the windy path away from the dojo. On the walk there they spoke only of class and apologies came from both sides for their actions. They then spoke about class and genuinely what she missed, her eyes seem to light up when hearing about the tournaments prize pool but he never questioned her on it. When they turned the bend towards her house Amoureux realised, as friends in america, he should ask her for something.

“In my time studying about america, I learned that friends exchange phone numbers… I was wondering if I could have yours?” Amoureux stated though once he said it he knew it sounded wrong and so he tried to defend himself. It was something he did on occasion and always annoyed his father, remembering that he should breath and think before he speaks, though it was hard with a cute girl next to him. She just watched him mumble and freak out with a look of curiosity before he stopped and apologized.