NOT EDITED. OBVIOUSLY. SO BEWARE OF TYPOS!

     "How is she?" Jeremy asks as we descend down the stairs, both donned in tight black pants and equally tight tops. I tug on it with annoyance but Liam has persisted on me wearing it, seeing as we will all be sweating bullets by the end of the day. Liam spent most of the night on a workout plan for all of us, but alas, there is a glimmer of hope. The pants are tight enough to distract Liam with my ass so I will utilize it to my advantage when he commands me to run or do something that requires actual physical activity.  Ugh. 

At the thought, I tug my top down lower. I will need to bring in backup if I want to survive today. 

Stella! He's asking about Stella!

"She's okay," I answer finally and I focus my eyes on my shoes. "Most likely she won't be coming down for practice."

"What?" Jeremy screeches in my ear and I flinch and shoot him an annoyed look. He ignores it, as per usual. "But, we'll be doing sparring. Stella loves beating anyone up. Especially if it's Avalon!"

At this, Avalon, who is at the table, darts her dark eyes to us and glares. She sports similar clothes to us, though she shows off her toned stomach that I imagine myself kicking if I am to be paired with her. I almost beam at my thoughts but then I think of Stella and how Jeremy is right. I am sure Stella would take this opportunity to enforce a whole new world of pain on Avalon. It makes me frown instead.

"I know, but she needs time, Jeremy." 

He grabs my arm as we near the table and forces me to meet his eyes. "Did she say something to you about what the hell happened? Did Kev do something to her or-"

I cut him off, "No. He didn't do anything."

Jeremy releases me and softly persists, "Then what?"

"I don't know," The lie rolls off my tongue easily. I am not about to indicate that I have spoken to Stella with the rest listening. Though we are now technically a team, we are not friends and nor do I want to share information about personal matters around them. "Let it be, Jer."

Jeremy looks as if he wants to say something back, but Rosalyn appears, laying a gentle on his shoulder and guiding him to look at her. She offers him a small smile when he does. "I saved some pancakes for you. Come eat." 

Jeremy seems reluctant but Rosalyn coaxes him off, dragging him behind her in pink shorts and matching pink shoes. Her curls bounce as she walks but Jeremy does not seem to care, for once, but rather longingly stares after me. I glance away.

I drag myself to the table and force an apple and oatmeal down my gullet. Liam joins us in similar attire with a muscle shirt and forces me to drink more water. "You'll need it," He tells me. I groan but comply.

Belle looks more anxiety-stricken than normal. She is shifty and nibbles at the corner of her muffin, never meeting the eyes of the others. Her hair is secured in a bun with strips of blue hanging loose as she bows her head. 

As we stand, I make my way to her. "Are you alright?"

Belle eyes flicker to mine briefly, "Yes." I raise an eyebrow at her. "I'm nervous. What if I get paired with Avalon or even worse, one of Alfie's friend? They're freaking huge!"

I place my hands on her shoulders as we come to a stop and others pass us. "It's important to breathe, Belle. I'm not the strongest either and of course I am worried about getting my ass kicked."

Belle huffs, sending a blue strand out of her face. "Your boyfriend is the leader of this ban of misfits. He'll probably pair you with someone you can beat, like me!"

I don't doubt her. Liam is protective over me and I can see why Belle is so worried. I make a mental note to speak with Liam before the sparring begins. "Just... you're fast, right?"

Belle nods. "I guess," she utters.

"Then dodge as best as you fucking can. And if it's a dude, aim for the jewels. If it's a girl, just... I don't know, kick her in the ovaries?" 

Belle laughs, though it sounds forced and I ease my hands off her shoulders. She looks at me underneath long lashes, "Do you think it'll work?"

"Fake it till you make it, you know?" I offer with a meek smile. I grab her wrist and I am about to coax her outside when I hear someone descending down the stairs. Belle and I both turn to see Stella standing at the bottom, hair in a high pony tail and no traces of puffy eyes or black bags but rather just clear skin and an annoyed scowl.

"Or you could, you know, just punch them in the face. That works." Stella deadpans as she saunters over and I have to clench my jaw to prevent it from falling open.

"I thought you were gonna stay inside today?" My eyebrows furrow. 

"As if," Stella snorts. "I wouldn't miss out on an opportunity to kick someone's ass. Preferably Avalon's," Brown eyes to shift to Belle. "Where were you last night, goth girl?"

Belle seems unfazed by the horrendous nickname but nervously begins to sway at her question. Belle wasn't in her room? 

I don't know why I care because it's not like this is fucking military camp - or maybe it is because of the physical torture we are about to endure - but I'm curious as to why Belle would venture out. It must have been for a while if Stella is asking. 

"I thought you needed space, Stella." Belle murmurs. 

"So you gave me space all night?" Stella persists with a raised brow. "What were you doing? Visiting your late night lover?" Stella snickers at this as if the idea is unfathomable. I frown and wonder where the crying girl from yesterday has gone. Probably back into her shell where she belongs. 

"Does it matter?" I cut in before Belle can answer. "Head on out, Belle. I'll be there in a moment."

Belle does not question to me. She scurries off quicker then I've ever seen her before and Stella snorts, once again. It's just as unattractive as the first time. "Are you sure you're okay to participate?"

"Yes, Ronnie," She rolls her eyes at me in an act of annoyance. "I told you that stuff because I expected you to not treat me as if I am some fragile doll. This is a cure to my slump, if you didn't notice," Stella walks past me and I rush after her. "Do you think Liam will let me beat Avalon? Better yet, I'd love to hand Kevin his own ass."

Though I know Stella is capable of fighting; I am uneasy. I know this is Stella's way of coping with things; Violence.What ever happened to violence is never the answer, anyway? 

"Maybe if you ask nicely," I am joking but I cannot shake the uneasiness that Stella is not fully recovered from yesterday and the tough persona is just a facade. Stella flashes me a smile, but it does not reach her eyes and I almost wish that she'd let me coddle her just so I could be assured that she is truly up for this. 

She tugs at my trademark braid and adjusts her own pony tail, argonant smile and all. 

She does reply to my comment and so I follow after her. Everyone is just as shocked as to see her as I am. Jeremy lights up.

"Stella," He breathes as he reaches for her arm. "Are you alright? I haven't seen you in like a day-"

Stella wrenches her arm away with another eye roll, "I'm fine, Jeremy. Calm down. Why does everyone think that I'm suddenly disabled just because I had too much vodka?"

"Well, you weren't allowing anyone to see you." It's true. Though it's mostly my own fault. I had told everyone that she was sleeping and to leave her be. Stella knows this because she meets my eyes. 

"That was Ron's idea. Besides, hungover Stella is not pretty." Her eyes drift to his pants. "Those are little tight, eh?"

"They're ball busters." Jeremy breathes and Stella throws her head back in laughter. Jeremy joins in and though they are laughing, there is tension evident as all of us watch the weird encounter. Rosalyn is bewildered the most.

"Are you sure you are recovered, Stella?" Liam asks and as Stella's shoulder stop shaking with laughter, she sends him a smirk.

"Of course."

And that is the end of it. Liam spreads us around and shows us how to stretch and Jeremy groans from beside me. I fight the urge to smile, even though the day has started off grimly. I am somewhat flexible and I find that I am not winded or strained by the end of it like Marcelo is. I pat his back as I pass and get ready to run. Running is fairly easy in my back and so I follow into step beside Liam, stopping only occasionally to encourage the others to keep going. Ruby has nearly collapsed, Alfie is lugging his friends with him, and Jeremy is crawling by the first mile.

Paz, Stella, Rosalyn, Liam and I are the only oen's who seem to have remained running. Though by the second mile, I am already drenched in sweat from the sun and then Liam leads up to a huge hill and claims that we will be doing suicide's. The name fits because I am sure I would rather drop dead than climb that big ass hill while running. 

I am barely motivated to get up and go to the fridge so what makes Liam think I'm actually up for this? Apparently, Liam has higher standards for me then I thought since he tells me to show the others how it's done and I think, show them what? What it looks like to die? 

That's surely what will happen if I scale this hill. I am use to running, though those are short and sporadic running and usually occur when I'm running away from somebody. It's different, that's all I am saying. And yes, I am complaining. 

Stella volunteers to do it, obviously sensing my hesitate and I thank God for it. Liam eyes me as the others begrudgingly follow. "Well?" He prompts and I shake my head. 

"You're crazier then I thought, Farley." I comment and after various minutes of trying to get Liam to let me off the hook - it seems my boobs are powerless at this time - I set up to jog up the hill when Liam delivers a sharp smack to my backside that hurts like hell and I feel like kicking him but God knows I don't have the damn energy. 

We do it ten times before Jeremy collapses to his knees and begs Liam for mercy. And for food. Liam agrees and so we shovel sandwiches and water down our throats and remain laying out in the sun for a good hour or two after so much working. The sweat has dried but the grass is making me impossibly itchy.

"What about sparring?" Stella asks and I swear I feel the sudden compulsion to choke her. She's that annoying kid in class that reminds the teacher of a test or homework and the rest of are the agitated students that resist the urge to murder her. 

Liam purses his lips at her question and glances at me and I make an effort to look exhausted - I don't even need to try, I am! - but sends me an eye roll. I push up my boobs anyway. Power of the boobs, I chant, power of the boobs! 

But it feeble and soon enough Liam is lining everyone up. I swear I hate my life.

"Not even boobs could persuade him," I tel Jeremy as we wait round and he raises an orange eyebrow at me. His cheeks are rosier than usual and so are his shoulders. "Did you put on sunscreen?"

"It's called fair skin, Ron," He says and squints as the sun blares in his eyes. "Maybe I should flash him a nut or something to send him into cardiac arrest?" 

"Why would that shock him? He has them, you moron." Stella chimes in. 

"Yeah, but he hasn't seen mine. They're like red-"

Stella cuts him off with a wave of her hand and I am grateful. "Do me a favor? Stop talking." Jeremy takes to tugging at her ponytail in result and teasing her and it is almost as if yesterday or the day before never happened. I manage a small smile at them while I look for Belle.

She's by Rosalyn, clutching her arm to her chest with Alfie's big friends around her. She appears scared for her life and I do not blame her.

"First," Liam announces suddenly, catching everyone off guard "Will be Rosalyn and Marcelo. We'll be doing human form today."

"What, why?" Alfie questions.

"We might need to." Liam answers bluntly. "Wolf form tomorrow. Now shut up." 

Alfie complies, though he acts as if someone has stricken him and I snicker. Stella nudges me and Belle comes to my side, gnawing at my lip and I keep my arm around her as we watch Rosalyn and Marcelo circle one another. Rosaylyn is not as wimpy as I thought she would be - she seems like the type to cry at the thought of a broken nail but maybe I am just a assumptional prat - and she takes the chance to punch Marcelo right in the face. I am shocked as Marcelo stumbles and she takes the opportunity to grab him by the shirt and drag him back, thrusting her knee into his stomach. She jumps on top of him and delivers swift punches and Marcelo bucks her off.

It continues on for a while, Marcelo delivering a blow and Rosalyn continuing until she is bleeding from her lip and her cheek swells from a delivered punch. Even so, Marcelo and her hug after Marcelo is the winner and she assures him she is fine. Jeremy helps her off to the side.

Ruby and Paz are next and Ruby concedes almost immediately. Liam is not impressed but pairs Tristan with one of the girls from Belle's pack. The girl wins and Tristan has a broken nose in result. I grimace as it trickles down his face and Rosalyn gets him some cold water and a hand towel. She is still caring even though she is in pain. "That bitch hit hard," I hear Tristan murmur and Rosalyn soothes him by rubbing her hand on his back. She pouts. 

"I know boo," She says simply and Belle is next. I am nervous for her when I hear it's one of Alfie's friend, some big dude they nicknamed Tank. Belle gulps.

"You can do it, Belle." I clap my hands together and shoot her a smile. 

"Kick him in the dick!" Stella yells as she folds her arms over her chest and I nudge her to shut up though I admit, it is helpful advice.

Belle shrieks the first time when Tank attempts to hit her and ducks, crawling between his legs and rolling back until she is standing. He delivers a kick to her rib cage and Belle cries out and I don't understand why Liam has set her up with this huge dude rather than someone else. Anyone else. 

"Dodge, goth girl, dodge!" Stella hollers and Alfie's friends scream the big dude on, though I don't why. This is not a fight, but rather just some big dude beating on a feeble and helpless Belle. I am surprised to see Alfie's face twisted in pain as Tank kicks her again. Belle's scream is enough to make us all flinch. 

Liam tells him to stop immediately and Stella and I help her off to the side. I retrieve ice and help her compress it. She whimpers but welcomes my aid. 

More are paired off, whether if it if with girls with girls or boys with boys or mixed. Either way, most of us end up bruised and sore and one of the girl's Belle knows cries. To Stella's disappoint, she does not get paired with Avalon but rather with Isaac.

"I almost wish twin telepathy was real just so that she can feel the pain I am going to give to you," Stella remarks and I am not surprised. She roundhouse kicks the fuck out of him and from then on, it's simply a beating. Avalon is agitated but does not utter a word from her spot but rather watches Stella beat her twin. 

Of course, Stella wins and she beams and gloats as she comes to stand next to me. "Easy," She declares. Jeremy is with Kev and Jeremy makes sure to kick the shit out of him, even grabbing his head and slamming it into the ground, hissing words under his breath and it is a rare occurrence to see Jeremy so violent, but not unfamiliar to me, seeing as he helped kill that wolf back at Riverwood and at the small bar. 

Stella commends him with a traditional pat on the back as soon as the fight is over. "Still wish you would have punched him in the dick," She says.

"Next time," Jeremy promises. 

"Ronnie," Liam calls and I turn to face him. He gestures to my opponent. "Alfie."

I am shocked that he has paired me with someone who is evidently bigger in frame and height than me, but I almost feel flattered that he actually paired me with someone who will surely kick my ass. Alfie's arm is bigger than my thigh so I'm sure to die or rather, just be hospitalized. 

Belle squeezes my arm and wishes me luck and I thank her. Stella reminds me about kicking where the sun doesn't shine and Jeremy tells me he will miss me. I am too nervous to reply back so instead I send him a blank look and face Aflie.

I don't even know I how I do it in that moment, you know, fake looking calm, but I do. 

I can hear the mortal combat music begin to play in the back of my head as Liam gestures us to begin. Fight! 

Alfie approaches me with fists raised in front of his face and I dance on the ball of my feet because it's the only thing I know how to do. He swings and I am quick to move out of the way. I have dodged Stella's punches, I can do this. I can do this, I-

And then Alfie punches me in the face and I am stumbling, falling till he is clambering over me and determined to deliver more. I manage to block my face as best as possible and he struggles to lower my arms. I feel like I should throw in some kick ass Karate move, but instead I bite his fingers until I taste blood and roll him over with all my force. Though I don't take the chance of staying down so I stand and Alfie follows, aiming for me but I dodge and duck and Alfie towers over me, huffing in frustration.

He seems winded so I take the chance to punch him in his side. He makes for me again, but I quickly jump till I am at his side and deliver a kick to the back of his knees. It does not to do much, but temporally cripple him for a second. Obviously, I shouldn't trust movies because if this was true, he would have collapsed. Damn it.

He grabs me and throws me down and I notice that he likes to do that just so he can get the upper hand. I make sure to bring my knees to my chest so he cannot get fully on top of me and as he struggles to hit me - I am flinching away but still getting repeatedly hit in chest - I take the chance and slam my head against his and holy fuck, I see stars.

Alfie shrieks - it's incredibly high pitched - and trust me, I am in pain too as he stumbles off me and clutches at his head, swaying on his feet. I hop up though the world spins and for my last attempt, I punch him in the throat. 

A total uppercut to his windpipe and though the world is swaying, I feel like a badass. 

He wheezes and collapses and Stella cheers. "You punched him in the fucking throat!" Stella yells and I clutch at my throbbing head. 

"I couldn't reach his face," Is all I manage to say as I close my eyes and breathe through the massive pain in my head. I think I have given myself a concussion. Another thing the movies didn't mention. 

                    "Hey Rocky, how are you feeling?" 

Stella plops herself on the bed rather roughly, making me bounce. I groan and press the ice bag back to my forehead. "Can you not?"

I can see Stella smile from the corner of my eye. "Sorry," She's not sorry. "Where's pretty boy?"

"Went to check on Alfie. Have you seen him?"

"Yeah. I think you broke his windpipe or some shit like that. He was coughing up blood." Stella replies casually and I jolt, sitting and turning to face her all the while my head is throbbing and I now suddenly feel like I have whiplash. 

"Are you serious?"

"Ugh,, yeah," Stella chokes out between laughter. "You punched him in the throat, dude."

"I didn't think it was that hard!" I shriek. I regret it immediately.

I groan and sink back into the pillows, clutching at my head. Stella seems amused as she analyzes me. "I think it's great. First, you punched Kev in the face and now Alfie in the throat? You can actually defend yourself now. Congrats."

Her comment makes me sour but I realize that she is somewhat right. I have grasped onto how to defend myself better. Perhaps it has to do with being chased constantly and the threat of death over my head. Though I'm pretty sure I have actually given myself a concussion. Now I know to never use the headbutt method ever again. 

"Now Jeremy can't say you hit like a girl," Stella continues, smirking. Nonetheless, I manage a small smile in response, though it's terribly cruel to laugh about punching Alfie. I make a note to apologize to him later.

I think of Stella's fight with Isaac, "How is Avalon? Pissed?"

"Yeah," Stella nods. "She kept on glaring at me while nursing Isaac's wounds. Not my fault he's a weakling."

We fall into a pregnant silence as I contemplate the day's events and the one before. I think of how fast Stella bounces back from certain moods and how she is able to do so extremely quickly. It's a facade, my mind whispers and I know that is true.

"Jer keeps on asking me what's wrong with me," Stella tells me and I meet her gaze. The smirk has fallen. 

"What'd you tell him?" I ask and at this, Stella sighs and stands, fiddling with the curtains.

"I don't know. I don't want to talk to him about it but he persists like a motherfucker." Stella says, "I don't want to tell him and then have him treat me as if I am some fragile china doll. Because I'm not. Tate did horrible things to me, but I refuse to give him the pleasure of breaking me."

"Is that why you put on the tough girl act?" I blurt and Stella glances at me over her shoulder. She holds my gaze before glancing providing my with a simple shrug.

"I'm just trying to be who I was before," She pauses, contemplates then continues, "I feel like I am  still the old me but there is just this new part of me that is conflicted. It's difficult to manage."

"It's a step in the right direction to at least tell someone," I console her and I wish she would sit down again so I could hug or something, "I just don't want you to explode because of what you are bottling. I want you to say that you are okay and genuinely mean it."

"I'm not," She confesses. "But I will be."

I nod and Stella once again settles beside me, though we do not speak but rather stare at an object at the room. It isn't till Liam enters that Stella leaves, giving me a knuckle touch and flashing Liam a smirk as she goes. Liam watches her go and closes the door after her.

"What was that about?" Liam asks and I shrug.

"Girl stuff," I tease and Liam hum's in response, crawling into bed beside me and draping a arm over my stomach.

"Well, are you alright?" 

"Yeah," i murmur as I remove the ice pack from my head. Liam goes to protest but I beat him to it by pressing my lips to his. He is happy to return it.

I think of what I have told Stella about bottling things up and suddenly, I blurt, "Let's do something alone together this weekend."

Liam raises a brow. "Like what?"

"I don't know," I answer truthfully. "It's just... It'd be nice to have privacy, you know?" Liam grins and wiggles his brows and I roll my eyes at him. "You're not getting laid if that what's you think."

"Why do you insist on crushing my dreams?" He mumbles against my lips and a laugh bubbles out of me. "But I like that idea." 

"Good," I reply. "By the way, tell Jeremy to lay off bugging Stella. If she doesn't want to talk about what happened, he should know that she doesn't have to."

"He's just concerned for her, Ron," He traces my cheekbone with his finger before grabbing my hand. "Is she okay?"

"No, but she will be." I answer, reciting her words and Liam nods.He's silent before he comments,

"By the way, nice punch on Alfie."

I smile, "You think so?"

He presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth, "I know so. It was hot."

Though my head hurts, I laugh anyway.

---------------------------

Okaaaaay, this is all I had time to write because life is busy and hectic at the moment. But chances are I will be writing another chapter this weekend.

And I know Ronnie said Liam's not getting laid on their alone time, but I mean, it could happen! (I feel so pervy saying that) But you never know! I'm sure PLENTY of you are eager for it to happen, ya little nasties, but that's okay, because I am too. :P

Still not sure if I am just going to post it privately or...? Leave suggestions on what I should do because Wattpad has already labeled this story rated R and I'm considering embracing it or sparring my younger viewers the horror. It depends.

Though this ain't gonna be no 50 shades of grey or whatever. xD

Anyway, Stella has gone back to the tough girl act! I think that's just her way with coping when dealt a troublesome hand. She does not know how to be honest and open but I feel like she is learning so that's progress. Plus Jeremy being worried is cute, imho. 

 And the banner on the side is by x_dejavu. Thank you so much and it looks amaziing. Dat booty tho.

Lol, I think I am becoming delusional because lack of sleep. Until next time,

- CeCe.