I hate summer

Self defence

I'm good at everything. Well, almost everything. I can cook, clean, solve equations, win any game, you name it. But when it comes to anything physical other than running, forget it. So this self defense thing being hard, wasn't a shocker.

Kick

"Ugh!" Tyler groans, falling to the ground.

"Make sure you keep your legs in check." Mr. Banner chuckles, offering a hand to Tyler. Her takes it, then slowly walks towards Ashlyn, Logan and me. "Alright Logan, you're up next.

Logan sighed, getting up from hugging his knees to his chest.

"Hey, you got this." I smile sympathetically, knowing Logan is about to get his butt kicked.

"Your dad's brutal." Tyler groans to Ashlyn, rubbing his head.

"No one in the real world would go easy on us, so he's not going easy on them either." Ashlyn chuckles.

THUD

We all practically jump out of our skin, looking over at where Ben lay on the ground, Mrs. Banner's grip on his arm.

I begin to sweat nervously, my chest tightening.

"Actually... I think I'm more afraid of your mom." Tyler admits.

"Okay, how about we stop he for today?" Mrs. Banner suggests, stretching her arms above her head."

"Actually, I think it'd be good for the kids to fight each other." Mr. Banner thinks aloud. "We're obviously much stronger than them, I'd like to see how well they fight with others their own size."

Mrs. Banner leans her head on her hand. "Hmm... alright. Let's pair them then."

My face drops. I moan into my hands, not excited to be hanging around like a punching bag.

"Ashlyn with Ben since she has the most experience, Aiden and Taylor, and Tyler and Y/N. Logan, you can fight me or we can give you some tips." Mr. Banner smiles.

Hearing that I'm going to be fighting Tyler makes me stomach do a flip for some reason. I look up when I notice someone standing in front of me, and I look up to see Tyler.

"You scared?" He teases with a smile.

"On my count..." Mrs Banner calls. I stand across from Tyler, along with the others with their opponent. "One... two... three!"

I hear whacking and kicking in the background, but Tyler and I are moving slowly. Er- rather I'm moving slowly. Tyler is the first to move.

He goes to kick my side, but I quickly move my arm and block it. I shake my hand and the sting, and gasp as I land a punch to his cheek.

"Sorry!" I apologize.

"We're supposed to be fighting."

I nod, deciding I need to step up my game. I kick my leg up, aiming for his stomach, but he grabs my ankle. I pull my caught leg, causing Tyler to fly towards me. I jump, wrapping my other leg around his waist, but he loses balance. I fall on my back, gasping in pain as the air is knocked out of me.

"Y/N-" Tyler starts, but I quickly interrupt.

"We're fighting!" I choke.

I kick him off me, but he quickly stands up. I stand up too, coughing. Tyler punches my arm, though I can tell he's being gentle with his swings. I punch his ribs, causing him to jump back, clutching the area. I go for another hit, but I'm too slow. Tyler grabs my wrist, spinning us around. He kicks my ankle, making me falls to the ground.

"Hey-!" I cry, but I know I've about lost.

Tyler's legs are on either side of me, trapping me. I go to punch him with my free hand, but he grabs it easily, pinning both of them above my head. I groan in defeat, slumping under his grasp.

"You alright? Did I hurt you?" He pants, and I blush realizing his position and how close he was.

"Uh, yeah. Peachy." I mentally face palm at my response. "Er- you won."

Tyler's eyes widen slightly, realizing the position he was probably in. He quickly stands up, his ears burning red. "Sorry." He offers a hand.

I grab his hand but he pulls too hard. I fly up and into his chest, stumbling but he grabs my shoulders, stabling me.

"Let's head to the others." He says. When was the last time I saw him look so flustered?

Taylor smiles at me and Tyler as we head over, patting a spot for me and her.

"Haha, Tyler crushed you back there." Aiden giggles.

I sarcastically laugh, "ahahahaa, yeah I totally lost. I could win against you, peanut brain."

Aiden scoffs dramatically, then wraps around my throat jokingly. "Win against this?!"

I laugh, wrapping pinching his arms.

"Calm down, Aiden and Y/N." Mrs. Banner warns, giving Mike the same look who was also choking Logan. "You kids want to come in and play some board games? I'll make sandwiches."

"We can't... we have to study for our midterms." Taylor apologizes.

"Ah... sorry about that. We'll just, uh- bring you the sandwiches then."

"Study hard!" Mr Banner smiles as he and his wife leave the graveyard.

"Haha, that midterms joke was great." Aiden laughs after they were gone.

"It wasn't a joke you idiot- they're next week. And get your hands off of Y/N." Tyler warns.

Aiden releases his arms from my throat, raising his hands in surrender.

Suddenly Ashlyn stand up, abruptly walking towards a bus.

"Huh, Ashlyn?" Taylor calls.

I look at Tyler who gives me an unconcerned look. I follow Aiden who's already headed towards Ashlyn.

"What's up? Did ya hear something again?" Aiden asks, looking over her shoulder to find an innocent crow.

"I thought I did, it's just a bird though."

"You got worked up over a crow?" Tyler chuckles slightly.

"It didn't sound like a crow. It sounded like a footstep." Ashlyn argues.

"Maybe you just got it mixed up with your parents walking away?" Taylor suggests, sweating slightly.

"Never mind, let's just finish setting up the traps." Ashlyn walks away with the others, but I stare at the crow.

I hear someone walk up behind me. "C'mon," it was Tyler. His voice was comfortingly smooth and he gently grabs my hand, leading me away from the crow.

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