Always

Chapter 8

LISSA

        As I drove to the self defense classes with Mae behind me, I tapped my fingers against the wheel to a song on the radio. It was the same catchy one I heard a while back. I was happily wearing my new sports bra and some oh-so-comfortable leggings.

        Today I wasn't sure what I would face. I hoped Niall would just see me as a friend from now on. Just then I got a text from Harry. Hey Niall has something to talk to you about I know it, just giving you a warning see you and Mae soon? That text frightened me. I couldn't think of what he would want to talk to me about and why he couldn't tell me himself.

        I tapped the mic button on the keyboard and said "Ok, and yeah we'll be there soon." It sent the message for me. I wonder why Harry didn't ask Mae if she was coming, I guess he might of texted her too, Elizabeth had whispered to me that Harry had told Zayn that he liked Mae... alot. I was so happy for her. But Elizabeth made me swear not to tell anyone about how Harry felt. I didn't need to even tell Mae. She would definitely figure it out.

        I parked my car next to Niall and Harrys. Mae parked beside me. We both got out and locked our cars. We were, oddly enough, early. Even though we hadn't gotten much sleep last night we had made sure to wake up on time. Mae had actually put a little makeup on, I knew Harry was her main motive for that.

        Niall and Harry were waiting for us outside the double doors. Niall had a determined look all over his face. I hope he was dtermined to just have friendship between us. Harry was making googly eyes at Mae. She was returning the equally loving and admiring look to Harry. They walked in and left Niall and I alone.

        I didn't want to talk to Niall, but it was clear that he had something to say.

        "Lissa, I know you just want to be friends. And I'll try to respect that. But you don't know how hard it is to ignore what's beyond our friendship." Niall was startlingly straight to the point. As he finished saying those words a group of girls the same age as me walked by. They no doubt heard what he had said. The were giving me death stares. I was starting to get along with them. Not anymore I guess.

        I didn't reply to Niall and walked to the classroom, leaving Niall to think a second longer outside. When I got into the classroom the girls were already whispering quietly in a corner and (just like the popular girl stereotype) looked over at me every once in awhile. I heard one girl say she now knew why I was winning in the competition, because I was supposedly sleeping with Niall. I rolled my eyes and walked over to Mae. She was sitting near Harry as they both waited for Niall to come in so they could start class. I was the third-wheel as they flirted nonstop.

        Then Niall walked in. His eyes were slightly puffy and a tinge red. I was about to say sorry, but stopped myself. I didn't change my facial expression or say anything. I just did what I had came here to do. Learn how to defend myself. I didn't really show any emotions and Niall, Harry. and Mae looked worried, Harry instructed the class to get with another partner just for today to try to get used to different kinds of attackers.

        I didn't care what we were doing. The only thought that was in my head right now was to learn. I got paired up with the leader of the group that had overheard Niall and I's conversation. It hadn't been any of their business, but they had made it theirs.

        "I'm Macy, now I'm going to hit you and your going to defend your weak ass self." I didn't acknowledge the idiotic remark. Instead I hit her. A swift blow from my fist to her head knocked her out instantly. Everything stopped and Tracy was rushed to the hospital. All the while I thought of how she had called me weak. I was starting to get annoyed on how we weren't doing anything. I wanted to learn more. After 20 minutes I walked up to Harry. I pulled him aside roughly.

        "What?" he said loudly.

        "Are we going to continue the lesson?" Harry looked over at me with wildly angry eyes. As calmy as he could, he replied.

        "You just knocked out a girl and possibly ruined this gym's reputation and you want to know if we are having classes today? You need to not learn as much or you'll kill someone next time!" He had settled down, but still gave me disapproving look. Now it was my turn to be upset. I didn't mean for all the weird emotions running through my head to slip out of my mouth, but they did, and not in the best timing either.

        "I came here to learn how to defend myself. I don't want to be weak. I don't want to be called weak ever again. I want to prove myself. I didn't come here to like someone or to ruin someones feelings. I didn't want any of that. It's only been 3 weeks. Can't we just go back to learning for the remainder of this class. Please?" I held in all the tears threatening to spill. They would ruin my makeup and my growing reputation of someone who was strong. I didn't want that.

        It wasn't just about the image to these people. It was to erase the image of my past; to show I was some one different, someone that couldn't be messed with. I was so angry at myself for becoming even weaker. In these three weeks I had almost opened up part of my heart to some one. I had made friends, they had made me stronger, but these boys! I was conflicted.

        Harry gave me a sympathetic look. I wanted a hug so badly, some form of comfort, and Harry recognized that. But he also knew I needed some space.

        "Why don't you go home, Lissa. I'll tell Niall you had to go do something and get Mae and send her your way." Harry nodded goodbye. I walked to my car. Once I was inside I turned on the car and sped off. My sadness had turned into red hot fury at myself, and so drove very recklessly all the way home and surprisingly made it home without dying.

        I went inside and ate. Twenty minutes later Mae walked into my flat with her lipgloss messed up. I couldn't imagine who had done that. She had on a dreamy smile. No doubt she had finally gotten with Harry. When she got to the kitchen where I was seated her eyebrows crinkled. She was definitely worried about me.

        "I'm so sorry. Harry and I..." she paused and I knew what she meant. "By the way that was a killer punch." she said grinning. I smiled proudly. "I hated Macy anyway. I wonder if her face will look the same." Mae said. I felt better already. Mae just did that. Just then Kat, Dakota, and Elizabeth walked in.

        "You guys were supposed to wait till I gave the signal!" Mae said flustered. I laughed.

        "But... we thought that Harry was the signal. I could've sworn you said Harry!" Elizabeth said in her adorable british accent. Just then Harry, Zayn, Louis, and Liam walked in. I was really confused now. The all waved at me.

        "We heard Harry, which is the signal so here we are!" Louis said cheerily.

        "Oh my god you guys are terrible at this kind of thing." Mae groaned. "Louis you guys signal was the girls saying hot. and Elizabeth wow I said the second time I say Harry. I'm sorry Lissa they need more practice." I started to laugh.

        "Well I mean Harry is totally hot." Louis said grinning. Harry turned to him and gave him the spookiest look ever. Louis screamed like a girl and started running through my flat. Harry caught up to Louis and hugged him. Louis looked relieved. We were all laughing uncontrollably. Then I noticed Niall wasn't here. I was about to say something until he walked in eating a chocolate bar. I snatched it from him. Then I broke a piece off of it.

        "Friends?" he asked.

        "Friends." I gave him a small piece of the chocolate to seal the deal. He pouted because I ate the rest of it without sharing anymore. I just shrugged at him and said, "Hey, it's the price of friendship." Everyone ended up spending the night because we fighted over how to spend the rest of the day since I didn't have to work today, and so we ended up doing everything and then crashed in my bedroom.

        I woke up to Niall's loud snores in the middle of the night to find myself cuddled up to Niall, Mae, and Harry squished on the bed. Everyone else was stuck on the floor. I smiled and fell right back to sleep.