Always

Chapter 2

LISSA

        As the sun rose I stepped out of the shower. Droplets of water clung to my thick hair. I brushed it out and continued on with getting ready for my 3rd day of self-defense classes. Yesterday we talked again and learned more about logic and now today I was certain we'd get physical.

        As I arrived at the gym's parking lot I noticed a red sports car that was still on sitting in the farthest corner of the parking lot. I curiously parked next to the nice car. Inside it sat Niall. I guess I came even earlier this morning.

        Niall sat with a cigarette between his lips looking out the closed window with eyes glazed over. He looked at peace in that moment and I felt as if I was intruding on a private moment. Without warning he "woke up", looked over to me and my car, and dropped the cigarette in surprise.

        He looked startled. I was so stupid to park beside him. I instantly regretted my dumb decision. He shut his car off and didn't give the fallen cigarette a second glance before walking to my window.

        "Wow you're even earlier than yesterday," he said nervously and cleared his throat. "you won't tell anyone about... that. Will you?" I was flustered by the question, unsure as to why he had to hide he fact that he smoked.

        But I do suppose people have different views on different things. I curtly nodded as I stared into his now focused icy eyes. He looked relaxed and relieved. I almost smiled. Almost.

        "I don't like people knowing that I smoke. I feel like I'm breaking a promise that I can't remember but know I shouldn't dare break." I could tell he was troubled. "Let me walk you to the classroom." I nodded ok.

        When all the students were assembled in lines of 2 by height. We were put in weight classes. I stood beside a tall but skinny girl she looked about my age with brown hair and hazel eyes. She smiled at me. Harry told us that the person beside us would be our partner for the next 7 weeks. I looked to my right and saw the smiling girl. Now she was beaming. I scowled slightly. But obviously my dull mood didn't affect hers.

        "Oh I've always wanted to take self-defense classes so that people wouldn't see me as this weak girl." she said in a way that could only sound that cheery coming from her. I half-smiled. She gasped, "I haven't even introduced myself. Where are my manner? I'm Mae. And you are?" She looked at me waiting for my reply like a puppy.

        "Lissa." I said. I had been introducing myself often these days, which was unusual for my anti-social self.

        "I love that name!" she said with enthusiam that was one of a kind. We were basically opposites. This stranger that I had just met was a bubbly and chatty girl, and I was a distant and quiet shadow. I wasn't always a shadow, that was mainly because my appearance caught the eyes of many men. And those men's girlfriends also gave me attention, well if envious and jealous glares counted as attention.

        Niall and Harry gave us a few minutes to get to know our partners. I thought I would die. I never knew so many words could come out of someone's mouth so rapidly. During those few minutes she made me give her my phone number and address and when I asked as to why she wanted this information she giggled and said "because we are buds now".

        We put protectively-padded suits on for safety and watched Niall and Harry demonstrate a few blocking techniques. Mae and I were told that we would take turns softly aiming for our targets with our padded forearms while the other partner tried to accurately block the feeble attacks. It was not very hard and I was slightly dissapointed that we only were blocking soft hits. But I guess sessions will most likely start slowly.

        After going over more blocking techniques and demonstrations by Niall and Harry of how your attacker might approach or attack you we called it quits. The back of my neck was slightly damp and my ponytail was loose with some strands falling out. I wiped under my eyes and collected my phone and bag. I normally was one of the last ones out of the room. I turned my phone on and saw I already had a message from Mae. She asked when I worked and if I had anything going on after work.

        Oh great she's probably planning to come over. I thought dreadfully. I walked to the door while deleting unopened messages from my father. I never wanted to talk to him again. Before I could leave Niall stopped me.

        "Why did you decide to take this class?" I didn't dare look at him. I didn't want to tell him the real answer so I answered with a question.

        "Why did you decide to teach this class?" I asked, satisfied with my whitty reply. As I thought more about it I realized it wasn't that whitty but wasn't bothered by that. He frowned at me. I sighed.

        "If you really must know I wanted to make sure that I could protect myself. I don't want to be helpless." I said. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the entire truth. Niall looked amused. He didn't say anything for awhile.

        "Shall we walk to our cars." he said in a teasing posh tone. I would have laughed but didn't.

        "If you insist."