(Lila's P.O.V)

I liked planning. Knowing what my future could entail.

I do not like unpredictability but well, that's life. My routine being disrupted made me antsy, considering all my cloak and dagger shit but it's not like I'm the Goddess of Fate or something.

Okay, no.

I just like to sound philosophical sometimes.

I hadn't expected to get hit badly today but my side ached with every movement.

I hummed to myself as I put the key into the door, turning the lock and walked into my two-storey sub-urban house.

"I'm back, Grace!" Calling to my 19 year old college-going sister because I knew my parents weren't home, I gulped down a glass of water quickly.

Whoa, I was thirsty.

No, not in that way either, ugh.

"Kay!"

Sighing heavily as I heard her reply, I headed to my room upstairs.

Gosh.....I really, really do stink. 

My muscles were a tad sore too but the adrenaline rush of being a street fighter at Blue was always worth it. In a boring town like Ladenhill, this kept things interesting.

If only that was it.... 

The exhaustion was simply a given.

I quickly took off my shoes and dropped my gym bag down on the floor.

Taking off my black shirt in one sweep, I quickly took out the purple coloured mask from my bag and stuffed it under my mattress.

I winced slightly and cursed the good hit my third opponent of the night had managed to land. I could see the skin turning slightly purple.

I'd taken a quick shower before leaving Blue but that hadn't been good enough. I still felt sweaty and gross.

I carefully went over to the mirror and with deft hands took out the purple hair extensions from my hair.

They were three centimetres wide strands of fake purple hair that I attached to my hair. They gave an illusion of a girl with purple highlights and went with my embraced color theme.

Letting my mahogany colored hair out of the rubber band so it flowed down to my waist, I headed to the bathroom with my towel and clothes in hand while being mindful of the slight bruise I had on my side.

First things first: I needed to take a shower because I was sweaty as hell and I absolutely hated it.

•♤•

I stifled a yawn as I scrolled my Instagram before closing it.

Blue's fan account had posted a picture of tonight's fights and I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a tad bit proud and well....uncomfortable.

Even after two years of it.

The account was private and only Ladenhill exclusive if such a thing existed.

Only my schoolmates to be exact and some adults who wouldn't freak.

But this was a usual occurrence I was aware of and used to. Plus, my parents weren't big on social media at all and Grace was the only one who knew in my family so the chances of anyone stumbling upon it were very less.

Good for me.

I shot Tasha a text letting her know that I wasn't free till the weekend so she could manage things accordingly.

Besides that, I didn't have much of a drive. It was a Saturday so I had tomorrow to finish all my homework and that biology report. You could bet tomorrow would be a study day because today wasn't.

I'd be okay. 

It was already around seven and the sky was colored warmly in oranges and yellows and pinks.

I put another one of the 'mystery' letter in my lower drawer that contained all the others of its kind. I locked it over before slipping the key back onto my neck as the piece of jewelry I almost always wore and then proceeded to forget all about it.

Shaking my head, I decided to give Nora a quick call. After all, she'd been texting me non-stop.

"Hey, Nora."

"OhMyGosh, you finally called!!"

I rolled my eyes, standing up from my bed and heading over to my bookshelf. "Yes, I did. Sorry, battery died."

Nora grumbled like always, but knowing me, she didn't pester me or call me out on my lie. She trusted me that much and well....after two years of this becoming a routine, she knew I wasn't ignoring her but Nora said herself she didn't want to be 'scarred' by whatever it was that had me going MIA on her at times.

Over-dramatic much?

Yeah, not really.

"Anyways.....guess who ran into Michael at the supermarket?" She slightly squealed and I grinned.

I let my fingertips move over the book spines before stopping on 'Hunger Games: The Mockingjay.' I liked that series. But I loved Jennifer Lawrence playing Katniss Everdeen in the movies even more. Besides, she looks total badass with that really long braid and the bow.

Though that book was certainly not my favourite.

"So, did you talk to him?" I drawled, slightly interested. 

I might not have an interesting love life and am not looking for one but that doesn't mean I'd turn down gossip and my bestie's juicy crush details. That's what I'm for basically. Plus, its true entertainment.

What can I say? I'm a bit of a sucker for romance books too. 

Never mind, I'll never have what those novel protagonists did.

I took the book with me and plopped down onto the black bean bag I had in my room. I absolutely loved it.

Its my cozy-be-lazy-and-read hangout of sorts, you know?

I waited for her to reply, "Well....if him reaching up and giving me a box of cornflakes and me thanking him and him smiling in return counts, theeennnn yes?"

I chuckled and she groaned.

She was hopeless.

Nora's had a crush on this really popular but nice guy–Michael. But being pretty shy unless talked to, she turns into a mess around him. They must've barely had over thirty proper conversations in the past three years, to be frank. Never mind that his best friend is a leech who loves bothering me.

"It's alright. You just need to be normal around him and instigate genuine conversation." I advised.

Nora snorted. "You're one to talk."

I rolled my eyes, "Shut up."

"But, I really like Michael. He's so amazing!" I knew she would be pouting right now and I didn't need to hear all the reasons he was 'Nora-crush-worthy' again.

I would love to argue with her but despite being a popular guy, he was far better than his egoistical, player best friend, Warren. Out of the popular guys from Laden High - yes, they just replaced the Hill by High - Michael was the better pick, the one who's nice to everyone. 

I snorted, "No shit, Sherlock. All they need is a proper resident bad-boy and the trio will be made."

Boy, I would soon realize the meaning of 'think before you speak'.

"Liiillaa! Why do you dislike Warren so much?"

Ever the peacemaker. 

She just doesn't like violence. Verbal or physical.

Hence why my best friend is unaware of my nightly usual activities. It's a bother but Nora's accepted it.

She says and I quote, "Ignorance is bliss."

"Because he's annoying." I replied, just flipping through the pages of my book as I talked to my best friend. 

As much as I'd like to say I hated him, I didn't. I just didn't like the attention he brought with him. We had baggage and always ignoring it didn't work.

Warren was the Center Forward on the Soccer team and had fine looks that he totally abused, trust me. He didn't do girlfriends. But even if I knew the reason he turned into a player.......it was still wrong.

Also, he was popular and I was fine with being average at school. 

Having him be an absolute annoyance towards me was something that made me turn 'I-don't-give-a-fuck-and-you-should've-realized-by-now-but-since-you-haven't-I'll-be-old-school-and-ignore-you' to him.

"You're so judgy." She accused and I laughed.

"Thanks."

Nora sighed heavily as if talking to me was like talking to a brick. 

A brick for god's sake!

"Anyways, mom's back with Levi. Gotta go, talk to you later, bye!"

"Night, Nora. Say hi to Levi for me and tell him to be the most annoying brother on Earth."

"Will do - Wait what? He already does enough of that without you egging him on! Ugh, I hate you! Bye!"

I chuckled and could hear the humor in her voice too.

We ended the call and I checked the time.

7:49 PM.

Mom would probably be taking a late shift at the hospital and Dad would be back by nine hopefully. Grace wouldn't mind either.

A slow smile crept over my lips and I quickly turned up my speakers, connecting them to my phone so it could play If I Can't Have You by Shawn Mendes.

I jumped up from the bean bag, the book by Suzanne Collins lying forgotten on it.

Sure, my muscles were screaming and I was tired. But dancing was something that set me free in a way similar to fighting but, you know, less fatal.

And it brought me good memories. Always good.

The feeling of exhilaration was different. The adrenaline rush was refreshing in a way I suppose. But never did dancing fail to make me feel good and hyped. Kickboxing, on the other hand, made me feel in control.

Dominant. Strong. Powerful.

It was a part of my routine and I liked it.

'I can't write one song that's not about you,
Can't drink without thinking about you,
Is it too late to tell you that, 
Everything means nothing if I can't have you.'

Moving my arms and smiling, I felt totally psyched.

Dancing alone in my room, with a song on certain nights, made me happy. I could forget everything; the person I missed so much and the guilt of hiding my activities from my parents and practically the entire town where I'd grown up. 

The countless secrets and the plan that was still incomplete.

My eyes fell upon the picture on my dresser and I felt my chest tighten. My movements slightly slowed, a damper on my mood yet a push to be better.

But I had enough reason.

Never again would I be vulnerable. 

Weak. 

I shook my head and soon I was too far gone with my music and my dancing to really care about anything else. 

I wasn't free. Far from it in fact.

I was just shackled down in a different way.

I had my demons, my secrets, my dark past. An attempt to move on. And right now, I was–

Oblivious to a set of copper eyes watching my every move.

•♤•

A/N

Hey, guys! Thank you for having checked out this book. It means a lot. Please don't copy it and feel free to vote and comment please! I'd love feedback and support :)

Besides that, do add this book to your library for future updates so you can enjoy! Thank you again! I hope the blurb and first chapter keep you with me and I promise it'll be worth your time.

Check out my other books if you feel like it, too!

Also, the town of Ladenhill is fictional. It's not authentic and any similarities to the characters or town are purely coincidental.

I also own copyright.

[Fully Edited.]

~Skyler