The Pause

Chapter 8

The next day began practical training began. Students gathered in the courtyard, targets were lined up, artillery was handed to the students, pellet guns for the time being. Team 1, now known as 'The Fleeted' carried an orange flag were first in their training. Pellets flied at great speeds, dashing all over. Never a direct hit but the agility of this team was admirable.

Nathan, Elliott, Emily and Roberto stood and watched in awe. There was no way they thought they could live up to that. Nathan and Emily hadn't spoken since the night before, they briefly made eye contact and smiled. Nathan began blushing again, though no one noticed. The Fleeted finished their rounds and were redirected to another part of the court whilst Andrews noted down their scores. The next Team were called on, 'Omens' they were known as. Yet before they came up to the stand, one of them walked over to Roberto. He had a similar build to Elliott yet seemed a lot more confident. His dark fringe went down to his cracked glasses. He wore his team's colours proudly, dark green shirt with camouflage cargo pants and moss coloured boots.

"So these are the people unlucky enough to have to endure your company" he remarks to Roberto whilst gesturing at the others. "What do you want Simon?" Roberto replied rolling his eyes. Simon laughed to himself. "I just wanted to know how my old friend was doing" Simon put his hands on Roberto's shoulders. Immediately he shakes them off "old friend?! You made my life miserable since my family moved here, all the remarks all the assault. I've had enough!" Roberto charges forward, fists clenched, bloodlust in his eyes. Nathan rushes towards Roberto holding him down. Roberto screams and swears at the top of lungs, shaking violently in resist.

"What the hell is going on over there" Andrews shouts. Elliott stands at attention "nothing sir, just a little disagreement" he replies. Emily walks towards Simon and pushes him back causing him to fall to the ground, the entire courtyard sees this and laughs. "Here's a little bit of advice, stay away from me and my friends or everyone will be laughing at more than just a simple push" she flashes a sarcastic smile as Simon runs off to his team.

Roberto breaks free from Nathan's hold standing up staring at him with disgust. "I could've taken him" he scoffs dusting himself off. Nathan rolls his eyes "no, what you could've done is get us suspended or kicked out, at the very least it would go on your record. And I don't know about you, but to me that doesn't sound too good applying for a medical position". Roberto sighs "I guess you're right"

The Omens finish their target practice performing well despite Simon's shakiness after being threatened. Mike's group that went by the name Goliaths. Big surprise there. went next. Nathan and Elliott had become estranged from Mike since the teams were put in place and to be honest they had no complaints. They still shared a dorm with him but by the time they finished working with their groups all that was on their minds was rest. They still had to experience his company in the courtyard and occasionally if they passed him in the abandoned school building. He still had an insufferable ego but if Nathan had to compliment one thing about him it was that he was mostly harmless. He may be in love with himself but that was about it, after his experience with Simon today and hearing of the pain he put Roberto through. Nathan was glad Mike's problem was just his ego, however annoying it may be.

The Gambits were called up the the stand once Mike's Goliaths finished. "Um... Nathan" Elliott whimpers, Nathan turns his head, curious. "Yes?" He replies. Swallowing, Elliott looks around trying to muster the courage to say what he wants to. "I kinda.. don't know how to use a gun" he mutters. Other students heard this and began to laugh before Emily gave them a threatening glare, similar to that of which she gave Simon. They all shushed in fear. "I don't know how to use one either" she boldly stated, no one dared laugh at her, she didn't need a gun to make them cower. Nathan sighed and turned to Roberto who had already loaded up. They took the other two and guided them on how use a firearm. Roberto took Elliott, and Nathan took Emily.

Nathan guided her arms up slowly standing behind her. Holding her to protect her from any recoil. She pulled the trigger. The pellet flew and splattered right at the highlighted area of the target. Emily's smile after that was something Nathan had never seen before and was impossible to describe. The joy, excitement and pride lit up her face all at once as she embraced Nathan.

Nathan caught a glance of Andrew looking on true seriousness and disapproval in his eyes, it made him feel slightly uncomfortable but he couldn't let it ruin such a happy moment and he wasn't going to let it effect Emily's joy.

Elliott soon pulled the trigger and hit just off centre, his look was one both similar and different to Emily's. Elliott had a grin that showed excitement from doing something he hadn't dreamed of before. He had a sense of thrill that rubbed off on the others. Nathan and Roberto then took their shots and the groups were dismissed from target practice to work on studies.

The Gambits began to head back to the school but a voice called out to them asking them to stop. It was Andrews. Emily sighed and turned around "listen whatever you want to lecture me on I'm sure it can wai-" but she was cut off. "This isn't about you Emily, I'm here for Mr Hendrix". Nathan gulped, he felt his works begin to spin. He knew exactly what this was about and he was not prepared.

The others went inside whilst Andrews began to speak to Nathan. "Mr Hendrix as I'm sure you're aware some of the actions taken by you and your team was incredibly inappropriate and violates many policies" Nathan, still panicking barely managed to get a word "yes I know but. But-" Andrews cut him off just as he did to Emily "however I am willing to put them aside, if you do one simple thing for me" Nathan guessed what the condition would be. He knew it immediately from the look Andrews gave him earlier in the day. "Stay away from my daughter"

Nathan's heart sank, he was torn. This position means the world to him, but he simply couldn't give up on Emily. "Now unfortunately I can't do anything about you working together. I'm not in that position of power. Hell if I had say I wouldn't even let her be here. But please, she doesn't know what the world is really like, it's dangerous out there." Andrews continued. Nathan looked up to him "you don't give your daughter enough credit. She's insanely smart and can handle her own, she may need some backup but is that really such a bad thing? I promise you sir, I will protect Emily with my life". Andrews sighed. "If anything happens to her, so help me God I will-" but Nathan is now the one that cuts him off "I know" with an arrogant swagger Nathan walks into the school building to rejoin his group and continue their plan to make it to the top.