Paladin

He Was So Much Stronger Than I was

The black spots began to disappear as Illyria began to take in deep breaths, the oxygen circulating to her brain once again and Aitor rubbed her back.

"Who the hell was that?" Aitor grilled her sharply.

Illyria sat up and blinked, "Where did he go?"

"He ran away once I jumped on top of him," Aitor said, eyeing her carefully. "Come on, lets go to the infirmary. You're pretty bruised up."

"No, no infirmary," Illyria rubbed her neck and winced. "I can't."

"I can't," Illyria shook her head. "I can't, Aitor."

"What do you mean you can't?" Aitor made a face. "There's been a breach in security, and we need to report it. Someone came to the school to fucking kill you."

"And who do you think it was?" Illyria spat back at him. "These losers at this school and reporting it will only make it worse."

"No, it won't, and it wasn't anyone from school," Aitor threw back. "That guy was at least thirty years old."

"And you know this how?" Illyria scoffed. "I was one of three ethnic kids at my old school and reporting it never makes it better. It just paints a target on your back."

He studied her, "Then what the hell do you want to do?"

"I'm going to find out who did this and get them back twice as hard without your help," Illyria stood up, rubbing her neck. "How bad is it?"

"You look like a hovercraft hit you and then reversed back to get you a second time," He said seriously. "We should go to Ms. Baten."

"And have the MI6, CIA, FBI equivalent knocking on my door," Illyria said vehemently. "I don't think so."

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"As always."

"Screw you, Illyria," He frowned. "I'm thinking about you. What if he comes back to finish the job?"

"Then you'll be happy right?" She challenged him. "I'm out of your life and your sister's life."

"I thought you were suspicious from the beginning," Aitor said. "And you're not really helping me get rid of that idea."

"Fuck you, Aitor," Illyria snapped. "And fuck your stupid school."

***

Illyria covered the hand marks up with colour corrector and concealer before buttoning her shirt up, even the last two. She got out of the girls changing room toilets only to jump up at the sight of Lorna.

"Lorna," Illyria sighed. "What the hell? Were you standing outside, listening to me pee or something?"

"You weren't peeing," Lorna pointed out. "And are you seriously still upset about the party?"

"Is there a reason I shouldn't be?" Illyria's mouth set.

Lorna dismissed the notion that the conversation was over and plunged ahead. "Listen, it was just a harmless prank, and everyone was laughing. It was funny!"

"That's weird because I was the only one not laughing," Illyria scowled, walking away, "And I was covered in red paint that took ages to get off my body."

"Well it wouldn't have happened if you accepted to be Dean's date," Lorna easily kept up with Illyria.

"Are you serious?" Illyria didn't know why she was surprised. "You're seriously messed up. Don't talk to me again."

"Well," Lorna gasped and then screamed at Illyria's back. "You're just human trash anyway."

***

"Those kids sound like the worst," Hyeon scowled. "Shit, this sucks. You know Oscar got expelled for getting into a fight."

"What?" Illyria pushed her body up on her elbows. "Why?"

"He got called the N word," Hyeon sighed. "He's going to an all-boys school now."

"Private?"

"Well duh but its more inclusive or that's what I've heard anyway so I think he'll be all good."

"And now there's only one," Illyria gave Hyeon a sympathetic smile. "You can just pick a college to go to instead."

"But my parents want me to London Academy's sixth form," Hyeon put her face in her hands. "I only applied to sixth forms. I wish you didn't have to go Champion Academy for another two years. It's basically imprisonment. For both of us."

"It is," Illyria agreed. "But anything for PSL, right?"

"Anything."

***

Illyria stared at John until she got a headache and then dropped her head, "This isn't working."

"We've only been practising telepathy for a week-"

"And I usually master things after a day or two," Illyria pouted.

"You're at Advanced Level only, okay? Telepathy is going to be much harder," John argued. "Do you want to continue, or do you want to move on to something else?"

"I want to continue."

***

"Okay, so Novak is going to hack into the school's server, download the footage and send it to me," Aitor steered Novak to the desk Illyria was sitting at.

She blinked, "You can do that?"

"You know that I'm going to Juste Milieu after this year, right?" Novak raised an eyebrow.

"No, I did not know that," Illyria made herself loosen up. "Congratulations though."

"Thanks," Novak ruffled her hair. "Try not to get murdered before then."

"Ha ha," Illyria said, watching him walk away before punching Aitor in the arm. "I can't believe you told him. What does low key mean to you exactly?"

"We were never going to do find out by ourselves and he can keep a secret," Aitor swatted her hands away. "I still think you should go to Ms. Baten."

"Whatever," Illyria dismissed him. "Just keep your mouth shut, especially around your sister."

"Trouble in paradise?" He whispered in her ear and she rolled her eyes, pushing his face away from hers.

A smile crept on her face as she watched him walk away.