No…I place the old photo back in my drawer. It’s all in the past.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5VzxlSeBm
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5orqSrS5a
I get ready for school and go downstairs to see Nell cooking. 338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EnSrc6GzS
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnMV7Z6pza
Nell: “Good morning honey.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJzqKODc8r
Alyson: “Good morning Nell. How’s…work?”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA3jEI29mJ
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLsOtUneBs
Nell: “You don’t have to worry about it. We get by and I can handle it.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQmLf2b2f8
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO0ITCdujS
Alyson: “Why don’t you tell Nao? If all three of us-”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaHm1WuaNr
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFlX5PWJ13
Nell: “I’m not blind, I know that there’s something going on with Nao. I don’t know what it is but won’t burden him with this too. I didn’t want to do that to you either but…*smile* you just don’t take no for an answer.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPv949e7yI
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD1fghSzYX
Alyson: “Don’t worry Nell, when I graduate at the top I can help out.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2obLk8aWb
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIaaDpBuyJ
Nell: “You shouldn’t burden yourself Alyson. You should focus on what you want to do with your life, we’ll be fine.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG32NgzoIn
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUzpvVi4yU
Alyson: “That won’t last forever and besides…it’s the least I can do.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQRwhdm2J7
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOf5Ucr5Dob
Nell: “Will you…stay for breakfast.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBpCHjPGUI
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JDaLgA56T
Alyson: “No I…okay.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL37nVtyKOT
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J2fpN4ckN
She beams a tired smile and I return the gesture as best I can. We eat a quick meal together, just the two of us. I don’t know why I don’t do this more often.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mpJstZN8P
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbXHAFcTBr
I really have been focusing too much on work and my image. But it’s for a good cause, I should do more. I enjoyed that relax day with Alphon and sleeping in but I can’t make it a habit.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCgVoZCC91
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gIw3Yd0qP
I finish up and head to another normal day at school. I ace every class but I can’t be too careful.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOc9o1zQ8T
Always look at the bottom of the class, don’t be like them.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPisWd2VQB
Always look at the bottom of the class, don’t be like them.
Always look at the bottom of the class, don’t be like them.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zQ6dn76By
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuompe5Z9TU
Yes, where Nao used to be….
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7POeVg2UR
No! He’s still down there, it’s only a matter of time before he realizes his mistake. People can’t escape from where their born abilities put them. That can’t…otherwi-
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxrnxzCafB
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02wEMauvkS
“Excuse me class, I have an announcement. You’re seniors and you’re about to graduate so it’s time for you to start thinking about university or a job.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ1LUuS8D4
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuhHNo5lBv
“Here’s a paper that you’ll give to your counselor. Place down your top 3 universities and top 3 dream jobs. Afterward, your counselor will help you achieve those goals so be truthful.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1SfTj0h14
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW2C3b9pne
I look down at the paper and know exactly what to put down. Whatever makes the most money.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKwex51Qwl
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX12webVjkF
Class ended shortly after and it was time for lunch. I took some study materials, can’t be wasting time so close to the finish line.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT1bTIwBdz
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbVlyfQ2so
I look around and notice that Nao is gone again. He’s off the black list so why is he still with those bottom dwellers? Didn’t he learn his lesson with Anton, stop trying to shake the boat idiot.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6EPXQLfb4
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Rohdl9st
???: “Hey Alyson, how’s it going.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ieA6jvR2q
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYjNMZ0RRC
For God’s sake.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAyFCwfCkH
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7GQIUy1Ne
Alyson: “Trevor, don’t you have more important things to do?”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWTLrFs1IU
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY925cuDCoL
Trevor: “Nothing is more important than getting your number. Besides, I’ve been hearing disturbing rumors.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYaCvf4CdN
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5u0sJhYEE
Alyson: “Oh, what rumors?”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsPmGq6Qf2
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa4SILrdG5
Trevor: “Someone, I mean can you believe this, said that you were with a guy at the Crimson Battlefield.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IgrLuJ8Z2
Alyson: “…Do I look like someone who would waste time at a kid’s game?”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHUItYq6Qy
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyoRNE0VQA
Trevor: “No, but I had to make sure. I’ll remember to pay back those lairs later.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBHIeyKRka
*Sigh*338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MtpC14rut
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5PFZGZ7CL
Alyson: “Why do want me so much anyway?”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmftk4wdOz
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6OdWOoAjP
Trevor: “Haha, you always ask the same question babe.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOqaRz6aPi
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTJVTAJAbw
Alyson: “Because I still find it hard to believe a battle junkie like you would care about dating.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvppNcOHt4
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwaz8zXGfJ
Trevor: “You’re hot, I’m hot. You’re the queen, I’m the king. I never dated, you said you never dated. It makes sense to me.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GuZKspZSD
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv6H3uacN9
Alyson: “Yeah, and compatibility means nothing in a relationship right?”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLukBbq5FQ
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNizUZq73u
Trevor: “Right!”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrDWkqdkLc
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UOAoBHfaV
Sarcasm Trevor, will you ever learn it. As I cup my head in annoyance, I notice Nao running outside the cafeteria like a mad man. What is he doing now?
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD1BfHA0p1
Alyson: “Sorry, I have to go check on my brother.”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQFatQ5ZVd
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iQbTC7W7i
Trevor: “Oh, then I’ll come with.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblxxYuh8td
Why can’t you take hint?338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzrJDmGjLh
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzicqnVJK1Q
Trevor: “I have business with him anyway.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvazszmdI6
What does he…338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpVUvkpstC
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgNCfWWOCt
Whatever, it’s between them. As long as he doesn’t fight Nao I don’t care. I leave the cafeteria with Trevor in tow following Nao’s trail.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaT3rzWGn2
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHaKFcL06n
Trevor: “I’m surprised you care all of sudden.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0aB2WEpRC
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeJDZuM1V7
Alyson: “He was ineffectual before but him acting up now would ruin my image.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZdvj4xX6p
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5y82Oi4Rc
Trevor: “Yes yes, perfect queen must remain perfect. I wonder if university would even care about your queen status.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OEQvjR2zG
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZOntuxH7G
Alyson: “Staying queen, a real one, says volumes about my academic and athletic ability.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSNDy8AV83
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6FeNISUjZ
Trevor: “If you say so. I’m sure they’ll still see you like Deanna but who am I to judge. All that stupid stuff annoys me anyway.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhDFNLWUDS
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjBUWMv1Gr
If it wasn’t for your ridiculous strength, you’d be like just like those bottom dwellers. You have no right to insult my hard work.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZoA3APpex
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvufxn4LGWm
I try ignore his presence along the way to wherever Nao is. Eventually, I follow the likely trail outside and to…a group of students. I push past them a bit worried if those bullies went too far but…it was worse.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3HGulXxG7
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG0ezTDOfE
Nao was covered in blood, but not his own. The Black Listers and 3 bullies. All bloody and broken with only Nao standing. Despite the mumbling crowd, Nao doesn’t stop what he’s doing. As if the outside world didn’t exist.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbnkIWi6GS
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2q0reWxz9
He was on top of one of the bullies and beating him into…nothing. Could that even be considered a face anymore? There was only a mound of flesh and bone where a human face should be. I feel…sick.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7erTHM0Vz
Alyson: “Nao…”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTARoKMLVG9
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YFF9MaA9u
At the sound of my voice, he finally looks back, and his eyes…I can’t stop shaking. The anger and hate are tangible from all the way here. It threatens to consume me if I look any deeper.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDS8URCMbz
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhM3IJ6fG7
What the hell happened here? What have I…let happen?
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZa1PPBd5x
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pW4WHsCIQ
Suddenly, the anger in his eyes slips away after a moment. Now he’s shaking too, on the verge of tears.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xczRFHHgR
Trevor: “What’s this?”338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUQdGNLn3B
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWDrr3iEAo
His words break our eye contact. I look at Trevor and I instantly know what’s about to happen. I…can’t watch anymore. I run away from the bloodbath not knowing what to do.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvY6M4N8GV
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwA9hga72h
I travel aimlessly, not knowing what to make of what just happened. Nao looked taller and actually beat up those bullies? How did this happen and why?
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHtdsKZRt0
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaA2kWy2t3
Was he pushed too hard? I never wanted it to come to this. I didn’t know it would go this far. Did I make a mistake? If Nao could do that then maybe-
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4AxmcCRYt
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1ElzpquHp
NO! REMEMBER MY TEACHINGS ABOUT THOSE WITH THE GIFT AND THOSE WITHOUT!
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLpunsNPU2
Well, maybe he does have the ability? Yes, that’s it! I just misjudged him, I had to have made a mistake. Just because Nao was lazy before doesn’t mean he’s a failure, he hid his ability. He’s even doing better in class.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bR8eyuCl0
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u0mJBwbeZ
NO! HE’S A DESTINED FAILURE LIKE THE REST OF THEM. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO HER WHEN SHE TRIED TOO HARD.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHZpLUP9YB
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjesbakq0z
…You’re right mam. Your words are always right. That was just a fluke. But even so…I won’t let Trevor break my brother.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTHdBCiJpn
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0SXkvb7dR
I run to the nearest teacher and force them to come stop the fight. I rally more nearby teachers along the way just in case Trevor doesn’t back down.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd6hJL6iW2
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPrpbBMqrz
When we get back to the fight, both Trevor and Nao are hurt. But Nao…he’s much worse off. As soon as Trevor backed off, Nao collapsed hard. I watch the teacher carry the wounded to the nurse’s office and disperse the crowd.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGQIeP6ZSm
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY1hw8I5pF
I follow them all the way to the office where they laid Nao down. They patched everyone the best they could but the wounds were severe. The one Nao was on top of had to be sent to the hospital.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfl9MneDoM
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf3hpMhLHt
But the one I really cared about right now was still here. He’s wounds are terrible but apparently Nao is quickly healing.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F1jX5iHnz
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbazfOchT0
Alyson: “Can I stay with him?”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LiQadPZed
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9iKMH1Q5W
“Of course. Hey, are you his sister?”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLL6miDe7d
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMPnqBEsQu
Alyson: “Y-Yes.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOMugAHHTB
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMxVv7oGCp
“You must be so disappointed. Sorry you had to have a delinquent brother.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkbaObGHTg
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHna6wVWuYj
Alyson: “…Yeah.”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdBbFDh6wq
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x4cjL5JfG
I sit down beside the bed and wait for the nurse to look away. I push Nao’s hair away from his eyes and caress his face.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrRo9OSG6i
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeOFMZITUz
Alyson: “I’m sorry….I’m so sorr-”
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N8LT7ZT0p
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDaqdqx0lQ
YOUR IMAGE AND SUCCESS, LEAVE HIM!
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDiSLBB5Sq
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqq3DBSbQA
NO! Not yet. Just once, just once! I want to forget about constantly aiming for the top.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRICRUUq6vo
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfBa56xVMY
After everything I did back then, I finally got a family. I don’t want to lose it now.
ns3.15.190.254da2
