I. Iron's Fist

In Jude's mind if she miraculously ends up failing everything—if she ends up not making a career out of the seven years of her having powers, if it leads her to nowhere, if fate doesn't go the way she wants it to be Jude might as well should've should work as an underground fighter.

On a distinct level, Jude had an affinity for fighting and anatomy. As a child, she was often quiet and kept to herself unless provoked. This was around the same time she developed her powers which then caused the slight picking to erupt. (Weirdo, Freak, Strange, Odd.) Of course Jude the kind of person to ignore such comments (she had yet to learn to control her anger). And with a sickening crack, those who spoke ill of her noses would be cracked and her eyes would look down at them as it hardened.

On a deeper level, she uses her fists and powers as a protective blanket knowing that since she has it no one would try to hurt her. Because if anybody would dare try to provoke her Jude knew the full capabilities of her powers.

"Are you even listening to me?" Jordan's voice comes out like velvet, surprisingly calm but still stern enough to make a point "You could've gotten expelled, Jude, expelled."

Jordan was currently in their female form and the word perfectionism came out like a fever-like spillage. Not a single hair was out of place or creased. Jude noticed that they were often more serious within that form but it took her way too many tries to take whatever Jordan was lecturing her about seriously because she honestly thought they were too cute angry.

Jude however remains silent, her brown eyes watching their figure sit across from her. She couldn't necessarily say anything to change what happened because it did. With her headphones plugged into her ears, the melodic tone of Sade's Kiss Of Life managed to calm her nerves from becoming the brewing storm that it was earlier. Looking down at her hand that rested on the table near the ice pack, it took its time to heal, being that she gave the girl who decided to start something a broken nose and teeth.

It started at lunch when Jude found out that  Justine Garcia had a lot to say about Jordan even questioning their identity. Jude wasn't the type to just let someone speak about the one person she truly cared about in that school. And knowing Justine she will do anything to get views or even the littlest of attention, even if that means hurting people in the process.

Jude knew it all too well. Befriending Justine when she'd just arrived at the university. Being naive to the stories that plagued the girl she thought she'd make a nice friend but soon came to learn the truth when Justine ended up stabbing her in the back to get some likes on her page.

So when Jude confronted her, Justine thought she'd be funny and say something coy about the two's relationship which resulted in Jude's fist connecting with her nose and mouth.

"I'm listening, continue." She shrugs knowing deep down inside that she wasn't paying attention at all, "But I didn't get expelled."

When Jordan found Jude almost ripping Justine's head off of her body, they'd just prayed that there weren't any cameras around. Dragging the girl away to Brink's office, they made their attempts to calm her down without her powers flying out of control.

Jordan sighs, the skin of their forehead pulling together to reveal tiredness, "I don't need you to fight everyone who says shit about me all the time."

Jude purses her lips together, the dark lining of her oak brown lipstick rubbing against each other, crossing her legs she looked at them "Maybe I should send them to another dimension instead?"

She wasn't taking this entire situation seriously and wasn't because she could've easily made what happened to cease to exist.

"Knowing you, you will and please don't. The school year just started."

She narrows her eyes at nothing in particular and just finds herself staring into space. Lost in thought. Historically, Godolkin wasn't so keen on students being rather devious when it came to their powers. However, Jude wasn't the one to abide by rules easily "Okay I'll tell you this. I'll try to be nice from now on."

Jordan straightens, their eyes now looking at her suspiciously, "What's the catch?" There had to be a catch because Jordan knew that Jude didn't let off that easy.

"If I'm good for the next...let's say two days then I'll let you finally..." Her voice trails off into a whisper, a smirk ghosting her perky lips her body leaving off the chair, just close enough to whisper what she needed to tell Jordan.

Based on Jordan's expression and how the emotion of being flustered appeared so quickly on their face, whatever Jude whispered was anything but innocent. Nodding they answered, "Deal."

With a smile of satisfaction, Jude heads back to her seat. Meanwhile, Jordan's phone wouldn't stop vibrating which made her wonder who was in that much of a need for them. Retrieving their phone from their pocket, Jordan proceeds to read the message that was sent "Cate's looking for you." They said.

"Huh?" Taking Jordan's phone out of their hands, Jude briefly skimmed through the multiple texts that Cate sent back to back "Does she not have priorities?" She mumbled continuing to read through it.

Jude wasn't exactly friends with Cate but tolerated her in a sense. She wasn't sure why she was even so sure as to how they ended up becoming "friends" Maybe it's because they were similar in certain aspects that made them understand one another.

"So what do you want me to tell her...unless?"

Jude hands them back the phone, "I'll just make up some excuse." She shrugs "She wants me to meet her at the stadium."

Jordan nods, following along to what she is saying, "But you do realize that Cate can change one's opinion? She can easily tell that you're lying."

"Have you forgotten? Nobody can get in my mind that easily, not even someone like Cate." She teases with a wink.

"Will you be joining me to watch the guys practice at the stadium?" Jude reaches over and grabs her bag "I just can't wait to see Goldie bask in his glory." It came out sarcastic as she couldn't care less.

"Nah, I gotta deal with some things regarding whatever Brink wants me to do." Jordan tiredly sighed, rubbing their eyes before looking up at the girl.

The small twinge of hope that Jude had died immediately once hearing the name that consisted of Brink. With a roll of her eyes, she proceeds to walk away but Jordan stops her.

"I'll make it up to you." They softly state wrapping a hand around Jude's waist knowing that'll make her melt. The cute intimate moment soon dwindles with Jude accepting what they say "Duty calls and God forbid I keep the Goldies queen waiting." It's not like she had anything better to do with Cate than watch Luke practice from the bleachers and fight the urge to fall asleep.

"I'll see you later." Giving Jordan a quick peck on the cheek, Jude then exited the office only to meet the stoic baby blue eyes that belonged to Cate.

"Where the hell have you been? Haven't you seen my texts?"

Cate approaches the girl with her arms crossed, her foot tapping against the floor as if she'd just caught her child sneaking back in after having a night out. A tight-lipped frown sits plain across her pink lips, her nose flaring in annoyance.

"What texts?" Jude asks, feigning stupidity as she doesn't want to answer that question just yet.

"The texts I left both you and Jordan." Cate answers dryly with a roll of her eyes, "You guys couldn't have been fucking around that much to not notice."

"I didn't notice your texts because I was busy." Jude lies, "With Jordan and what happened earlier."

Cate only stares back, "Did Brink tell you anything?"

Jude only giggles, bringing a hand up to her mouth to hide her smirk, "No, and you're not going to say anything."

For as smart as she is, Cate could be quite oblivious (or many thought). Or at least, she pretends to be oblivious to the issues that are around her. Why would a girl who's been groomed to wear gloves to shield her powers care about the world and its problems? Then again there was always something about the blonde. "Well, while you were busy getting lectured by Jordan. I was alone. I spent the entire class talking to the new girl."

"New girl?" Jude raises an eyebrow.

"Yes," Cate answers and she continues walking down the hall with Jude walking alongside her, "From what I've learned her name is Marie, and she's Emma's roommate."

Jude's lips curl into a form of slight interest "Marie?"

"That's what I said." Cate turns a corner, strutting down the hall. And of course, eyes follow her naturally. Jude does as well but with a little hesitancy "She's...different. I like that."

Cate is like a somewhat nonvolatile politician. In her time of knowing her, she never appeared to be the person to be so open about new people and stayed in the comfort of her inner circle. That is unless there's something to gain from it.

"I feel like you'd like her Jude," Cate states in an odd tone which only makes the girl eye her.

"What are you, psychic?" Jude joked.

"Not exactly." Cate then pauses, her eyes looking down the hall before stopping, "This has to be fate...here she is right now."

The girl in question is walking down the halls with her eyes leaving marks everywhere. She's out of place and out of her comfort zone with the way she looks as if everything's some phenomenon.

"She's pretty." Cate hums, giving the girl a good look up and down, then she straightens her posture, "The outfit is something of a girl next door meets wood chopper but it's cute."

Jude shrugs, "So what, she's a little fashionably challenged. It's about time this school had something different. I can't be the only one here that likes a challenge."

"I mean with those platform boots you are giving a challenge," Cate shrugs "On how to not break your ankle."

Jude scoffs, "For your information, I look good in these boots, plus Jordan likes taking them off." She winks leaving the girl the bask in her thoughts.

"I'd rather not imagine that." Cate laughs.

They soon decide to approach the new girl. Marie was still looking around oblivious to the girls walking her way. Cate then stops clearing her throat, to get the girl's attention.

Marie turns to them, growing startled to startled to see two girls surround her like sharks, "Hey, Ca-cate right?..."

"Yeah." Cate then pushes Jude forward, "You haven't met everybody yet but this is Jude."

Marie's eyes flicker onto Jude who stares her dead in the eyes, her gaze unwavering. Feeling herself grow nervous Marie naturally averts her eyes elsewhere and finds the wall rather interesting to look at, "Hi, nice to meet you, Jude."

Biting her smile back Jude snaps her fingers "Eyes up here Marie."

That sentence alone causes Marie to meet Jude's eyes. With a smile of satisfaction, Jude nods "Good."

There's something about Marie's face that makes Jude ponder on it for a moment. The soft sharpness of her cheekbones and the doe-like gaze she had in her eyes, her nicely shaped brows, and her full lips. Pretty. Was the first thing that popped into her mind. She was taller than her but not as tall as Cate yet still had Jude looking up just a little.

The urge to know more beckons her closer, a faint smile of acknowledgment threatening its way, "First day?" She breaks through the obvious silence that lingered between the two with Cate trudging along the sidelines.

Marie meekly nods, "Um—yeah. I'm just trying to find my dorm...it said that my roommate is Emma."

"Emma Meyers? I know who that is. I can show you where if you want.—" Jude's act of kindness gets rejected by the second as Marie stops her.

"No!—no it's fine. I just want to get used to how everything is." She explains.

"No need to get all hasty. I don't bite unless asked to." Was that flirting or was Jude just being Jude?

"Alright, you're scaring her." Cate steps in stopping the conversation right then and there.

"She doesn't look scared to me. Tell me Marie are you scared?" The tone of Jude's voice is calm yet with hidden undertones.

"No." She clears her throat "Not at all."

"See." Jude turns to Cate "Not a single ounce of fright on her face."

"But it was nice meeting you Marie. Hopefully, I'll see you around?" Jude proposes with a smile that manages to appear. She didn't think she'd see the girl again but little did she know was that same Marie would change her life completely.