Strong For Too Long Trilogy ✔️

16. Desperation Is The Cost

CHAPTER 16: Desperation Is The Cost

I was a student forced to be included in Aaron's training session for a few other students. He'd refused to look at me when he demonstrated a few basic manoeuvres to at least twenty different groups in this combat training class. He was still Professor Stanley's star student and a student advisor.

After he'd tackled me yesterday, he ordered that if I ever lie to him again, one; he wouldn't speak to me for a few days-which is what he's doing now-and two, he'd punish me if he found out about it.

He strutted out of my room after that, and now, it's near afternoon and he's decided to childishly ignore me for the past day but...he made Branson be my combat partner for the time being.

Two can play at his game though, I observed him in a way where I was studying which arm and leg he favoured, his instinctual techniques that gave him away. Branson sits next to me, and Madison sits next to him as they sit with their legs bent up and outwards, with their arms jointed carelessly on top.

I sat cross-legged, with my head balancing on my arm and boredom written clearly on my tortured eyes from being forced to watch my boss, or more like my client, work out, with no shirt on and have full attention of everyone in the room.

I was more or less wishing Pierce was around, but, he's too caught up in work to notice, but he'd asked me about the mission this morning, I'd said I was sorting through the files, he agreed straight away and was happy for me to be a part of the work.

When he mentioned Aaron, things got more awkward but, he'd saw, through my facial expression, how much I wasn't overly happy about it and he'd muttered something about 'Crane's never liking the Westlake family.'

That's the statement that I play in my head repetitively, 'No Crane has ever liked a Westlake.' So, I made a note earlier to search through library, hard copy files, that's what they used back then anyway. Most files on Caesarian Westlake and his team, were hard copy and restricted, but when I said it was specifically for Pierce, I was let in with guarantee that I would never be disturbed.

That's where I plan to go this evening.

"CRANE!" I jump at the name, eyes wide and an aggressively annoyed Aaron points to me, in front of the whole damn class.

He's madder than ever.

I scowl at him, but he ignores that as he gestures the student demonstrator that he was previously working with, sit back down. It was undoubtedly clear, I was his next opponent.

I stand, not speaking a word. I stand in front of him, alert, under the circumstances of seeing puffy, white-clouded steam fiercely streaming from his ears like a train would once prepared to depart. His face was slightly red and his neck muscles tensed, rapidly. I could even see the blue and purple veins screaming to be released from the condensed compartments of skin that don't quite suit the bulging muscles underneath.

He was like a large volts wagon taking over the motorway.

He throws me the wooden dagger from the floor next to him, aggressively flipping his in one hand and as if firing himself up, the pig-headed tool attempted to slice my side.

"Now, look here students. If you want to dream about your day in fairyland, you'll be the first one I pick for demonstrations. Olivine here, is a clear example." He spits, pausing in his steps when I glance up, above him at a smirking Fern who's arms are crossed and he looks down at me.

Nudging his head at the imbecile directly in front of me, as if to say 'why the hell was I letting a twenty-eight year old, experienced combat fighter act like this?'