No…I place the old photo back in my drawer. It’s all in the past.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtpcOxDSoW
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I get ready for school and go downstairs to see Nell cooking. 388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZtAi5LaBI
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Nell: “Good morning honey.”
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Alyson: “Good morning Nell. How’s…work?”
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Nell: “You don’t have to worry about it. We get by and I can handle it.”
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Alyson: “Why don’t you tell Nao? If all three of us-”
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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.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEsT1Bos9e
Alyson: “Don’t worry Nell, when I graduate at the top I can help out.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5UcDMdhij
Nell: “You shouldn’t burden yourself Alyson. You should focus on what you want to do with your life, we’ll be fine.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6HegwEDV9
Alyson: “That won’t last forever and besides…it’s the least I can do.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBKtfrXbAb
Nell: “Will you…stay for breakfast.”
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Alyson: “No I…okay.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETAgpHAUMq
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.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWUgMfQckU
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.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR7WeJIErV
I finish up and head to another normal day at school. I ace every class but I can’t be too careful.
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Always look at the bottom of the class, don’t be like them.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhplOzGTQQF
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqzTaEDJMH
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurQKMuUniu
Yes, where Nao used to be….
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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-
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“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.”
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“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.”
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I look down at the paper and know exactly what to put down. Whatever makes the most money.
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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.
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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.
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???: “Hey Alyson, how’s it going.”
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For God’s sake.
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Alyson: “Trevor, don’t you have more important things to do?”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPWVMgkDwH
Trevor: “Nothing is more important than getting your number. Besides, I’ve been hearing disturbing rumors.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJcDCnEy3h
Alyson: “Oh, what rumors?”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC12aZSqY8d
Trevor: “Someone, I mean can you believe this, said that you were with a guy at the Crimson Battlefield.”
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Alyson: “…Do I look like someone who would waste time at a kid’s game?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoolF0sHhbk
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Trevor: “No, but I had to make sure. I’ll remember to pay back those lairs later.”
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*Sigh*388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPRS0vH8dg
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFpTRaWU7J
Alyson: “Why do want me so much anyway?”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73qmZhAAYa
Trevor: “Haha, you always ask the same question babe.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ifypXjGt0
Alyson: “Because I still find it hard to believe a battle junkie like you would care about dating.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8PSv3ONTD
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.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJMQI6EZML
Alyson: “Yeah, and compatibility means nothing in a relationship right?”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYm7NLiI6D
Trevor: “Right!”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIHKrCBDnI
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?
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Alyson: “Sorry, I have to go check on my brother.”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DA7exDvdW
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Trevor: “Oh, then I’ll come with.”
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Why can’t you take hint?388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i9e3QzqE6
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Trevor: “I have business with him anyway.”
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What does he…388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiurKfiR8p
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBVoyqOgle
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.
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Trevor: “I’m surprised you care all of sudden.”
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Alyson: “He was ineffectual before but him acting up now would ruin my image.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI0o8Wpnpl
Trevor: “Yes yes, perfect queen must remain perfect. I wonder if university would even care about your queen status.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3k7Q9Xv1U
Alyson: “Staying queen, a real one, says volumes about my academic and athletic ability.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewy6sdyApd
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.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROd9Sb3v6d
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.
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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.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsrAqtTP77
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.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxTyBWOyyZ
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.
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Alyson: “Nao…”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RTOB2gbcA
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBAS5S2Qmb
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.
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What the hell happened here? What have I…let happen?
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Suddenly, the anger in his eyes slips away after a moment. Now he’s shaking too, on the verge of tears.
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Trevor: “What’s this?”388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNYfy4emm0
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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.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33sbJ3Aomq
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?
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNuR7UKiCS
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-
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf7SR2Sfgh
NO! REMEMBER MY TEACHINGS ABOUT THOSE WITH THE GIFT AND THOSE WITHOUT!
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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.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwPq6BWKVE
NO! HE’S A DESTINED FAILURE LIKE THE REST OF THEM. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO HER WHEN SHE TRIED TOO HARD.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfuM05tkSU
…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.
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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.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhyTrr0B2Y
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.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5WW021IDW
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.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl480pn4xai
But the one I really cared about right now was still here. He’s wounds are terrible but apparently Nao is quickly healing.
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Alyson: “Can I stay with him?”
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“Of course. Hey, are you his sister?”
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Alyson: “Y-Yes.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pwbQCWnD0
“You must be so disappointed. Sorry you had to have a delinquent brother.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbXZNbxcaB
Alyson: “…Yeah.”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENtyWkg3Kw
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.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSzAUjWU1V
Alyson: “I’m sorry….I’m so sorr-”
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCG3WtAhcp
YOUR IMAGE AND SUCCESS, LEAVE HIM!
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1tv0Oodks
NO! Not yet. Just once, just once! I want to forget about constantly aiming for the top.
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388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF18zlXBm9b
After everything I did back then, I finally got a family. I don’t want to lose it now.
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