The Academy: Ashland

Late Night Conversations and Training

            I woke up because someone shut my music off. The person was standing a few inches from my bed and, without thinking, my arm shot out. I grabbed the person's leg and pulled them down to the floor. The person yelped as they hit the floor and I pushed myself off my bed and landed on their chest. After a minute, I was fully awake and I looked down to see Seth.

            “I could have killed you,” I said.

            Seth groaned and gave me a half smile, “Sorry,” he said. “Could you get off?”

            “What are you doing here?” I asked, ignoring him.

            “Turning off your music. It's after curfew and you’re keeping us up,” he said.

            “Sorry,” I said.

            Seth shrugged, “Can you get off now?”

            I stood and sat on my bed, crossing my legs and looking over at Seth, who was moving to lean back against my bed. “Why do you listen to your music so loud?” he asked.

            “I don't like thinking,” I said, leaning against the wall.

            “Oh...”

            “What time is it?”

            Seth checked his iPod, “Nearly one.”

            “Great,” I said as I stood.

            Seth tilted his head, “Where are you going?”

            “Training area,” I said. “I need to shoot something.”

            “Mind if I join you?” Seth asked.

            “Don't care,” I said, walking over to the door and opening it.

            Seth grinned and stood as I walked out the door, to see Kelsey and Trip outside.

            “Thank god,” Kelsey said to Seth as he pushed the call button for the elevator. “I've got a killer headache,” she turned to me. “As much as I appreciate your taste in music, I don't appreciate it that loud this late.”

            “Thank god!” came a voice from the room marked 2.

            Kelsey slammed on the door, “Justin, shut up,” she yelled.

            Trip raised an eyebrow, “Where you headed?” he asked.

            “Training area,” Seth said.

            The elevator doors opened and I walked in, with Seth following me. Seth pushed the button for floor 14.

            “Have fun,” Trip said as the door closed.

            “We will,” I said, smirking as the doors shut.

            “What else do you fight with?” Seth asked.

            “Everything. Anything can be a weapon in the right hands, even words,” I said.

            “How did you learn how to shoot like that?” Seth asked.

            “I don't know,” I said shrugging. “The first time I shot I was eleven, we thought it was beginners luck, but it never went away so we figured I was taught how to and forgot.”