Always

Chapter 1

LISSA

        "Let's get this over with." I muttered to myself.

        I walked through the glass threshold of Fitness Gym. I finally had mustered the courage to finally do it. I'd been frightened by how weak I was, and wanted to learn self-defense and intended to do so and then never see this place again. Although, I felt ashamed to be in this place, I needed to do this. I stiffly asked the receptionist where my classes would be.

        "Right down that hall and on the first door to your right, miss." said the receptionist, who was a good looking man that you could tell was full of himself from one look into his amber eyes. I almost curled my lips in disgust at his smirking lips and wandering eyes. I straightened myself and proceeded to the classroom. Before I walked in I heard grunts and muffled hits. I cringed mentally.

        Then I opened the door and surveyed the large room. It had wooden floors covered in soft mats. A large mirror covered the entire wall across from the door and I, almost like a ballet studio. And an IHome was playing dubstep and pop in a corner. I realized that I would have to get the two men who were battling it out to stop so I could start my lessons. They were the only two other people in the room so I guessed that I was probably a little too early.

        "I'm here for the self-defense lessons." I said with a straight and determined face. The two boys looked up from their quarrel. One of the boys had dark brown curls, tan skin, and emerald eyes. The other caught my eye even more than the other. He had brown roots and most likely dyed blonde hair, striking blue eyes, and a paler complexion. They both grinned at me. I was starting to feel uncomfortable caught up in their gazes.

        "Wow our first student, Niall." the emerald-eyed one said, he was ecstatic. Niall was beaming. Apparently they hadn't done this sort of thing before.

        "Yeah! Well I'm Niall and this is Harry." said Niall. They both were sweating and wore cutoffs and basketball shorts. Then they looked at each other and back at me and then took off their shirts. I wanted to facepalm. They started to laugh, or maybe it was a giggle. Then Harry put a door stop in the door and Niall turned down the music.

        "What's your name?" Niall said quickly. I couldn't quite comprehend him.

        "Excuse me?" He scratched his neck and I couldnt't help mentally scolding him. He repeated the question slower this time and I answered.

        "Lissa." I said as casually as I could. He nodded as if in approval. My lips stayed in a straight line even though i wanted to smirk at his childishness. And my eyes still looked bored in the mirrored wall opposite of me. Not that I was checking...

        "We are going to wait till more people show up to start our lesson for the day, so maybe we can get to know our early bird a little better." Harry said cheekily. I was on the verge of blushing but thanks to my consistently emotionless face I did not embarrass myself. Niall tapped his foot to the music and Harry looked expectantly at me.

        "No thank you I'll just wait. You guys can carry on with your fight." Nialls head drooped slightly. Then they went to the middle of the room and began kicking and punching once again.

        Eventually more and more people filed in until Niall closed the door and Harry and him walked in front of the mirror and their new students. They introduced themselves and told us we could sit on the floor for the first lesson. I did admit to underestimating them. They clearly knew more than it appeared as they enlightened us on the basics of defending yourselves in different settings and circumstances and rules of the gym. They were detailed and would fill in each others' gaps in their facts.

        The lesson was only an hour and a half long. And once it was over I walked away from the wall I had leaned against by myself while the others sat cross-legged and opened the door to myself. Niall stopped me. He pulled me to the side and caught me by surprise.

        "How old are you?" He asked. Up closer I could see more of his features. He had a slight stubble on his chin and perfect eyebrows that accented his icy blue eyes quite well. He had a rather handsome face. But, I felt no attraction for this odd man.

        "Eighteen." I replied crisply.

        "Just curious. I'm 25 and so is Harry." said Niall. With that I nodded and walked past red walls with big glass windows that showed various work out rooms that I hadn't noticed an hour and a half earlier. Their was a massive running track with a vast amount of sweaty joggers with ear buds in and a fully equipped weight room with men bench pressing and admiring their muscles in a mirror that stretched across the wall much like in the self-defense classroom. Much to my dismay, I also passed the pervy receptionist I had received directions from earlier. I passed his smirking self quickly.

        I hope that sooner rather than later I would be able to punch that smirk off his face. I walked to my rarely used blue Ford Focus. I preferred to walk, but since this gym was so big it was on the outskirts of London. So I drove back to th inner city to my plain flat and got ready for my job at the local insurance company's office.

        Once I had re-applied my only makeup; mascara and changed out of my leggings and t-shirt into a black skirt, blouse, and black heels I strode to work taking in the beauty of London. At work I talked to a boy my age that was one of the few that was devoted to his girlfriend in this office and was around my age while helping customers online and on the phone. His name was Madrid. He didn't pry at my past, we just liked to chat. He was the only one I had every laughed with for years. Most days at work were like today. Guys checked me out and I gave them all angry a disaproving look that could kill.

        After work I walked home like any normal day and returned home around 6. I check my phone for missed calls and watched an episode of Doctor Who with a cup of tea and then fell asleep. I felt very British. Most days go like this. But my dreams are never the same. I haven't had dreams in awhile. Usually I have nightmares, so I sleep fitfully often. And I never want to tell anyone about those nightmares that make me scream.