Rainbow Stripes

three

Tomorrow, at 3:58 pm, Noah Elliot was standing outside Emma Hunt's house with Harry Taylor.

"Just go in already," Harry grumbled.

"It's 3:58, she'll think I'm desperate or something," Noah argued.

Harry shot him an incredulous look. "You're here to tutor her, not take her out. And speaking of that, do both of us a favor and stop being such a pussy and just ask her out. Before she decides to date someone else."

Noah glared at him, but that didn't stop Harry from continuing. "Your crush is showing," he sang.

"Oh fuck you." Noah shot back, but not before a slight blush colored his cheeks. Harry guffawed at the sight, while Noah simply stared, unamused.

"Okay, I'm going in now," Noah said. "Shoo. Go away."

"Not until you're over the threshold, you baby." Noah rolled his eyes, and made his way up the driveway, when he heard a crash and a loud feminine yell from inside the house.

Noah shared a panicked look with Harry, and in unison, the both of them rushed to the door. Noah pounded hard. "Emma, is everything okay?" He shouted.

They got no response, and the sounds of crashes continued. Noah frantically tried the doorknob, which complied and opened the door.

Both of them rushed in, and beyond the small foyer, to their right, was a spacious living room. All the furniture had been pushed to the side, it seemed, and the two of them found two people fighting in the middle.

The blonde girl was definitely Emma, and her opponent was not a man in a ski mask, as Noah had expected, rather he was a sweaty man wearing body pads. In confusion, he looked over at Emma, who was also dressed in training clothes.

So it wasn't a robbery. Emma was learning martial arts.

Or at least, one of them was. Though the other man was obviously older, he looked like he was getting schooled. Each one of Emma's throws landed on the man, and all of his offenses, Emma perfectly sidestepped.

It was when Emma kicked her opponent straight in the chest and sent him flying to the ground that the fight ended.

"Enough?" Emma huffed.

"Enough," The other man breathed. "Fantastic job, Emma."

"Thanks, you're a great teacher."

"Na, you're a good student."

"Are you seriously denying a compliment from me?"

The man lying on the floor laughed. "Right, sorry, I forgot, everyone must accept Queen Emma's compliments."

"Damn straight." Emma said, while ripping off the gloves she was wearing. When she turned around and faced the two shell-shocked teenagers watching her, she took a double-take.

"What are you guys doing here?" She questioned.

"It's four o'clock." Noah replied.

"Right. And what's he doing here?" Emma said with an icy tone, referring to Harry.

"Came to drop him off. It would be nice if for once you addressed questions about me to me." Harry replied in a snarky manner. Emma just gave him a pointed look.

"Well, it seems like you have company. I'll be going now." The man who Emma had thrown down was now standing up, shouldering a backpack. He was a good-looking man, no older than twenty-one, Noah assumed.

"Alright, see you day after tomorrow." Emma responded. And with that, he left.

"Who was that?" Noah asked.