•The Sun Will Rise By Kelly Clarkson•

So, she knows.

Surprisingly the knowledge of this didn't bother me particularly much as I went through the motions of a supposed "normal" school day for the next week. It didn't matter anyways. What could she do to me that hasn't already been done before? She didn't really look mad or anything anyways, she looked.....almost sad actually.

I avoided thinking about it for the rest of the day. First period I actually enjoyed, which was English with this really awesome teacher. She was funny and outrageously gorgeous. Second was computer science, I didn't exactly understand what that entailed, but it looked cool so I decided to try it out. And plus I needed a science grade.

Third period, was math, which I hated of course. It's not that I didn't understand the material, it's just that I had such a hard time figuring out what language the teacher was speaking when she taught us.

Fourth period, what I was in now, was probably one of my easier classes. Ever since I was a kid I've always loved fighting. And the fact that this school had a boxing class was even cooler.

"Alright!" The instructor clapped, gaining everyone's attention with that alone. She had short spiked black hair and emerald eyes. She was probably the shortest person in the room, standing only at my shoulder. I wasn't even considered tall, only about 5'7.

She turned towards me and I groaned out loud, preparing for another "please tell the class something interesting about yourself" but to my surprise she just shook her head and laughed.

"Relax, I'm not going to make you tell your whole life story or whatever. But I am going to make you demonstrate what you know about fighting techniques."

I relaxed immediately, relieved that I didn't have to do another monotone speech. I pulled at my borrowed t-shirt and shorts in nervousness. The instructor turned and waved at someone off to the side, and a girl with pretty red hair and blue eyes stepped out of the sea of students.

"Casey, you'll partner with her. Remember, keep it legal."

The girl she'd called "Casey" nodded and immediately rushed at me. I gasped in surprise and barely managed to knock her fist out of the way as it flew towards my face. She immediately recovered though and spun on her heel, connecting her fist with my side.

I gasped at the sudden whoosh of air as it left my lungs and fell to my knees, chest heaving. I saw a flash of blue from Casey's shirt and knew my face was about to earn another bruise, and spun out of the way just in time.

Her eyes widened in surprise when her fist punched air and spun again to face me. If I hadn't been the one getting attacked, it would've been amazing to watch. Where I was as clumsy as a bull in heels, Casey was a as graceful as a dancer. Her every movement spoke of a seasoned fighter.

I lost in the end, but the instructor said she was actually impressed with how I held my own for that long of a time. "Need a hand?" A voice fell down to my level as I panted and looked up at the ceiling after being dropped by my fifth opponent.

Casey held a hand out to me and I grabbed it gratefully and let her pull me to my feet. "Thanks." I nodded at her, wiping my hands on my legs. She smiled at me. "You did really good for someone who just joined. Have you fought before?"

My spine automatically straightened and my reply was a lot sharper than I'd intended when I spoke. "No." Casey looked taken-aback at my tone and I sighed in guilt. "Sorry, I just.....yeah I have. But it's not something I like to talk about." She nodded immediately and smiled. I was relieved at the ease of which she'd accepted my answer.

We walked into the locker room together and talked as we showered and changed. It was awkward at first, being around all these girls who clearly had no problem with who saw their bodies. It wasn't that I was uncomfortable, it's just different to see that type of confidence in someone.

Thankfully, lunch was after Boxing and I was beyond starving after that workout. Lunch was lasagna, which surprising actually looked like lasagna. Casey invited me to sit with her but I declined. I wanted to check on Char. I'd gone to see her a few times this week and each time she was in her classroom.

I found her outside this time, playing with some kids on the playground. I smiled as I watched her sit with another girl in the sandbox, trying not to think about how she was getting her outfit all dirty.

She looked up at one point and squealed when she saw me before she scrambled to her feet and ran over. I laughed and opened my arms to her as she barreled into them.

"Mommy!" She wrapped her little arms around my neck and squeezed, burying her face in my hair.

My heart swelled with love for my little girl. I pulled back and wiped some of the sand off of her face. "Yes?" Her big blue eyes peered up at me happily. "We were playing in the sandbox!"

A smile twitched on my lips as I listened to her go on about a story involving a princess and a white unicorn and how they were going to live in the sandcastle forever.

It was so refreshing, being around her. I didn't want to leave, but I had health in about ten minutes and couldn't miss it, so I dropped a kiss on Char's forehead and told her to behave before I headed back inside.

Health was agonizing and probably the most boring class ever invented. I was so glad that was my last class, until I remembered I had detention today.

With Ms. Thornton.

Crap.

I was trying not to think about the fact that I was secretly thrilled about it, as I was on my way when some kid not paying attention in the hallway rammed into me.

"Ow." I groaned, rubbing my arm where it had hit the lockers.

"Watch where you're going, slut." The boy snarled, glaring at me from under dirty-blond hair. My mouth dropped open a second before anger coursed through my veins.

"What did you call me? I growled, fisting my hands. The boy smirked. "Are you deaf? I said, Get out of my way-"

My fist connected with his jaw before he could finish his sentence and he yelled, cupping his face as he stumbled backwards, hitting the lockers.

I cursed and cradled my injured hand. Damn that hurt like a bitch. I glanced up at the boy and he glared back at me as he wiped the blood from his lip. A crowd of students had gathered and was chanting for us to fight, and the boy took the bait and stepped up in front of me and shoved me into the lockers.

"Ms. O'Brian! Mr. Davids!" My heart skipped a beat at the sound of Ms. Thornton's unmistakeable voice. She appeared a moment later, eyes dark and face a stone mask.

Her eyes found me and narrowed slightly on the hand I was cradling before she flicked her gaze to the other kid.

"My office." She growled before spinning on her heel and stalking towards said office. My stomach dropped in my chest as I started after her. How could I have been so stupid? I need to think. Things are different now. I have to do what's best for Charlotte and this isn't it.

She called the asshole who'd started this in first, which I was partially nervous about, but I got over it when not ten minutes later the door slammed open and he stormed out without looking at me.

"Ms. O'Brian, come in please."

I cleared my throat and stood slowly, feeling my hands sweat and my legs shake as I made my way into her office. She was sitting behind it and I swallowed nervously as her eyes followed my every movement.

I sat down in front of the same chair as a week ago and tried to look anywhere but at her. I couldn't help it in the end though. She just looked so gorgeous in the burgundy top and form-fitting jeans she was wearing. Her hair was up in some elegant do, with a few pieces falling down to caress her neck.

I swallowed thickly and tried to control myself as I impatiently waited for her to speak, hoping I hadn't just gotten Char and I kicked out of our new school.

😉