Missed Target- An Oliver Queen Interracial Love Story (BWWM)

Chapter 7: Training

   ESTHER'S POV

  As Oliver trained me, I realized just how much I've missed feeling like I was actually being challenged. I realized just how much I've missed being able to hold myself accountable for taking advantage in certain situations.
  Even though I haven't worn a superhero suit for as long as Oliver has worn one, I've been wearing mine long enough to know that I won't always come out on top... and that's okay.

  Oliver kicked the back of my leg, and I tried not to kick him back.

  Oliver smirked before he corrected my position again as he said,"Don't take it personally, Esther. You're getting better, slowly."

  I chose not to say anything back, and Oliver said,"I want you to take note of where your target is, and then when you think you're ready, close your eyes."

  My target was straight ahead of me, and I did my best to make a mental note of where it was at. When I felt like I was ready, I closed my eyes and aimed at the target.
  When I opened my eyes, my arrow had hit the target, except it was a different target. I looked to my right and saw that the target that I had made a mental note of was right beside me now.

  Oliver asked me,"Do you know why I moved it?"

  I chuckled before I answered,"Cause you secretly wanted me to shoot you with an arrow?"

  Oliver smiled before he said,"No. Nice guess, though, but I moved it because you can't always expect for your target to be in the same place as before. You need to be able to think ahead, to think of all the possibilities of how that encounter may go. Even if you don't plan on something happening, don't rule anything out."

  I nodded before I said,"Okay, so I have to be able to trust my instincts, then? Like you did back on the island?"

  Oliver smiled at me again before he said,"Like I did back on the island. Let's try this again."

  Oliver gave me a kiss, and then I closed my eyes. The target could have been anywhere, but I just had to figure out where. I slowly turned around and took a deep breath, aiming at where I thought the target was at.

  I heard,"OWW!!"

  Immediately, I opened my eyes to see that Oliver's leg had an arrow sticking out of it.

  I laughed as I said,"You know what, I think that's a way better target than that board over there."

  Oliver didn't look amused, yet he just took care of his leg.

  Oliver said,"You aimed at me on purpose."

  I ran my fingers through his hair as I said to him,"I, honestly, thought that was where the target was at, Oliver. At least you don't have to worry about me trying to get you back anymore."

  Oliver shook his head before he said,"That's good. Where are you going?"

  I gathered a few of my things as I said,"Oh, we're still going to train?"

  Oliver answered with a look that scared me,"Of course. We just started."

   4 HOURS LATER...

  When I made it home, I walked to my bathroom upstairs before I turned on my bathtub faucet. I made sure that the water was just right, knowing that I would be sitting in it for a very long time.
  Carefully, I stepped into the bathtub and sat down in the water. Then, I lied back as I felt my muscles relaxing. And just when I was almost to the point of falling asleep, I heard my phone ringing on the bathroom counter. I groaned and stood to my feet before I stepped out of the tub to answer the phone.

  "Yes?"

  "Esther, I forgot to tell you that I love you."

  I smiled and stepped back into the tub as I said to Oliver,"Ollie, I love you, too. Have you talked to my father today?"

  "Yes, I did. He told me to push you really hard, so that you'll be prepared for anything."

  "Sounds like my father."

  I heard something break downstairs, followed by more things breaking.

  I lowered my voice as I said,"Oliver, someone's in my house. Get here. I'll need you on standby, just in case."

  "Okay. I'm on my way. Remember what we worked on."

  "I will. Bye."

  I hung up before I quickly got out of the bathtub, ignoring my body's plea to remain still. I threw on what was in reach before I grabbed my bow and most of my arrows, quietly heading out to the staircase.
  When I heard footsteps, I hid behind the mirror in the guest bedroom. Though, I left the door open because I wanted a visual of who was in MY house breaking MY stuff. I wanted to see their face or mask. If they wore a mask, I'd figure out who it was.

  When the person walked into the guest bedroom, it was my mother.

  She said,"Esther, I know that you're in here. I just want to talk to you."

  It actually scared me that my mother wasn't drunk right now. I had grown so used to only seeing her drunk... among other things.

  I came out of my hiding spot and immediately got into position, ready for anything.

  Mom laughed, but she held up her hands as she said,"There's no need to be so serious, Esther. Can't a mother just talk to her child?"

  I tightened my grip on my bow as I said,"You haven't talked to me the right way since I was a child. You've never wanted to talk to me before, so why talk to me now?"

  Mom answered,"Because now, Darling, your brother's life depends on it. And no, I'm not joking. So, do you want to put the bow away, Esther?"