The next morning, I find myself having trouble staying awake. Last night I kept tossing and turning and having strange dreams about my shadows. Max was in them and I don't know why. Maybe because he was the last person I saw before falling on my bed and falling asleep. Whatever the reason was it's weird. Maybe I'm just stressed out. I force myself into my training clothes and quickly braid my hair behind my head. I practically run to the dining room because I need to eat before training starts. Kim is seated with Ava and Jeremy and it looks like she is annoyed. I get my food and sit down beside her and start eating.

"Hey," Kim chirps. I'm to busy shovelling my mouth full of food to answer her.

"Someone sleep in late?" Ava asks with an edge to her voice. I look up from my food and glare at her. "Did you have a late night?" My eyes widen and suddenly my anger explodes, and I drop my fork to reach across the table at her neck. Kim and Jeremy grab my arms and push me back down in my chair.

"Someone is feisty today," Ava laughs. I huff in anger and continue eating. Kim and Jeremy exchange looks of concern.

"Leave her alone, Ava," Kim tell her. Ava grins and then walks away from the table. Jeremy however doesn't follow her. Kim and I look at him, expecting for him to say something rude.

"Give her a break," he says lightly. I don't take it lightly.

"More like she needs to give me one!" I exclaim. Kim nods at Jeremy. He gives me an apologetic look.

"She's jealous, so she takes it out on you," he says.

"Yeah, well she needs to take it out on someone other than Octavia," Kim says defending me. I watch Jeremy carefully.

"Why are you friends with her?" He gives me a half smile.

"Because someone has to be." I clamp my mouth shut as he gives us one last look before getting up to go find Ava.

When breakfast is over, we head to the training room where both Max and Cedric wait. When I walk in, I feel Max's eyes on me. I swiftly glance up and meet his eyes. His eyes are soft and almost bright in a way. I smile to myself and then gather around with the others. Cedric steps forward with his hands behind his back.

"You all have learned to fight, to use your powers, and to defend yourselves. Today we will be started duelling." A murmur goes through the crowd. My mind goes to the arena and the trials. "Now, before you get riled up. We will be using offensive powers. No defensive powers. Those around you are your teammates, your friends, and you don't hurt your friends." I give Ava a sideways glance. "I will partner you up and every pair will have a chance to fight on the matt. Max will be calling out the pairs." Kim turns to me.

"I swear if one of us gets Ava..." her voice drowns out as she mutters something under her breath that I can't hear. I'm too busy praying I don't get Ava as my partner.

"Ava and Octavia," Max's voice rings out. Crap. He casts me an apologetic look. I look at Ava who is casting daggers into my face.

"Kim and Margot."

"Sorry, O," Kim says. I nod.

"It's okay. I you take her." Kim smiles.

"I'll beat her ass." I smirk and then go line up with Ava. She crosses her arms when I approach her.

"I want you to know I will not be going easy on you," she says. I grin.

"Neither will I."

The first pair goes, and we all watch intensively. I silently pray I can control myself and win. Once the first few pairs go, I get less nervous. They are only like five-minute fights. When it comes to Ava and I's turn, I feel ready. I know what I've been taught. I just have to apply it. We both get on either side of the matt and start to circle each other. Ava makes the first move and released a fire ball toward me. I quickly rebound it towards her, and she casts it aside. She gives me a devious smile like she's planning something. Suddenly her hand moves quickly and form quick small balls and they hurtle towards me. I make my shield and block all of them in time, except the last one. I quickly duck and look to see where it landed. I realize my mistake. It was a distraction. I turn back to Ava who is running towards me and swinging her fist towards me. She yells in fury as I duck at the first swing. I bring out my shield again and her arm hits it. Our eyes lock and she pound her other fist on it. I take this chance to swipe my foot from under her and she lands on the ground with a thud. I am about to win but I can't pin her down fast enough. She grabs my arm and I realize its scorching hot. I scream as she flips me over. She just burned my wrist. I start to feel my shadows under my skin. Stop Octavia. No more. You'll get caught. Ava's fist smacks on my head and I start to feel dizzy. Her second punch almost hits me, but Cedric and Max pull her off me before she can do any more damage. It isn't until a few seconds later when I realize they are yelling at her to stop. I feel numb. My head is pounding, and my arm feels hot. Max's face looms over me.

"Everyone, get out," I hear Cedric says as he drags Ava away. I stare at Max.

"Octavia, it's okay. Here grab my hand and I'll pull you up." I slowly nod and hand him my unburned hand. He pulls me and catches me in his strong arms. We are alone now. He leads me to a chair where there is a first aid kit waiting. My vision starts to focus again. I feel something wet running down my face. Max wipes it up and I see the cloth is crimson red.

"I tried to fight back," I breathe.

"Trust me, we all saw. You won that fight no matter what," he says.

"I almost lost control," I say looking at him. He stops and locks eyes with me.

"But you didn't," he reassures me. "Just relax, this is going to hurt," he says. He pours a liquid on my wrist and I retract my wrist and cry out. He takes my hand again and wraps a bandage around it. His skin feels cold on my burned hand.

"Are you okay?" He says breaking the silence. I nod as he moves a wet cloth to my forehead. Our faces are inches apart.

"Just in shock, I guess," I say.

"I knew I should have said something to Cedric about partnering you with her," he scoffs.

"It's okay, it's not your fault. She's just crazy and obsessed with beating me."

"Well, she has a right to be. You were doing great out there. Blocking all of her energy and using your shield on her punches. It was a good move." He puts three small band aids on my cut and sits back.

"Thank you," I say. He smiles and starts to pick up the supplies.

"We are partners after all," he says looking at me. I laugh and nod. He's right. He had my back today and now I know I can trust him.

"I'll walk you back to your room and I'll bring dinner to your room. You need to rest." He puts the kit away and helps me stand up. We move towards the door and to the hallway.

"What's going to happen to Ava?"

"She won't be able to participate in the next training activities and probably a serious talk with Cedric and my mother." I shudder at the thought of Joanna. That will be a scary conversation. When we get to the stairwell, I decide to ask him a question since I trust him now.

"Can I ask you a favor?" He nods and looks at me. "You have records of everyone here and through the previous years, right?"

"Yes," he says waiting for me to continue. I slowly intake a breath before I say anything.

"I have two older brothers. I was wondering if you could tell me where they are." I see a hint of a smile on his face. It's like he is happy I'm asking him to help me.

"Yes, I can definitely check for you." I smile at him and whisper a silent 'thank you.' We finally reach my door and he turns to me.

"It seems we are always here in front of my door," I say surveying my plain, dark, wooden door. Max chuckles and slide his hands in his pockets.

"Yes, it's a nice door." I laugh at his comment. A moment of awkward silence dawns on us before he speaks.

"You should get some rest. I'll come check on you and bring you dinner soon." I nod and we glance at each other one last time before I go inside my room and he walks away. When I get inside my room I go to the bathroom and take one look at my face. There is a bruise on my left cheek and a cut above on my forehead. Damn you Ava. My body hurts so bad and my head feels like it might explode. I crash down on my bed and slowly drift into a deep sleep.

I am awakened a few hours later by a few knocks on my door. I lift my head and see Max opening my bedroom door. I clutch the side of my head as he walks in with a tray of food.

"How long have I been out?" He sits beside me and sits the tray on my desk.

"A few hours. How are you feeling?" He examines my cut and peeks underneath my bandage on my wrist.

"I feel like I got hit with a bag of bricks," I say. He laughs. "Other than that ...I guess I'm fine." Max shakes his head and smiles. A few beats of silence go by and his smile slowly forms into a frown. I sit up straighter.

"About your brothers... I looked into their files." I wait for him to say more but he pauses.

"And?" He looks at me and sighs. The face he gives me tells me it's not good. Dread fills my aching body. "In their files it says they were both criminally charged and before their trial, they escaped."

"Charged? Charged for what?" I question.

"I'm not sure. I don't have clearance to those files." Criminals?

"So, they escaped?" He nods.

"Doesn't seem like they have been found," he says. They could be alive. Why did they escape and not wait for the trial? They could have gotten out. The real question is what did my brother's do? "I've shocked you. I'm sorry. I should have waited to tell you tomorrow." I quickly place my hand on top of his.

"No, I'm glad you told me. I was going to find out sooner or later." He nods.

"Maybe once we get out of here, we can find them." This gives me hope and it makes me smiles.

"Yeah," I grin at him. He gazes moves down to my neck where my necklace is peeking out from my shirt. He reaches for it and pulls it out. I hold my breath as he examines it.

"Is this a wedding band?" I nod remembering the day he gave it to me. I would give anything to go back to that day.

"It's my dad's. He gave it to me the day I left to keep him and my mom with me." Max doesn't tear his eyes away from it and give a ghostly smile.

"It's beautiful," he whispers and looks up at me. I glance down at his lips and he glances at mine. He slowly drops the necklace and touches my arm. Our lips meet and I feel light inside me pulling me towards him. His lips are soft, and he tastes like a warm sunny day. I smile beneath his lips and he pulls away. He looks embarrassed for a second. I almost laugh.

"I should let you get you rest," he says standing up.

"Thank you for the dinner and for looking into my brothers," I say.

"Of course," he smiles and then he walks towards the door and slips into the hallway. I break out into a smile and fall back on my bed. My first kiss was not at all what I thought it would be, but I'm so happy it happened with Max. I wish I could tell Lori.