Makenna was feeling much better than she had felt in a while and she knew it was because of the time she'd spent at the gym the previous day. She obviously would have preferred to remain inside the ring fighting but she'd had to take a break in between fights to do some exercise that would reduce her soreness the next day and she was glad she had. She didn't feel quite as sore as she feared she would be.

Makenna made her way to the back of the class and took her seat. Just as she reached into her bag for her book and pen, Vanessa slid into her row and took the second seat away from her, leaving the one between them empty.

"Hey." Vanessa said, "Are you ok?"

"Yea. Are you?" Makenna redirected her question back at her,

Vanessa frowned,
"Of course. I was wondering because of the way you left yesterday."

"I had to get to the gym." Makenna said truthfully,

Yes, she had to get to the gym but Vanessa didn't need to know that she had only decided to go to the gym because of the spot Vanessa had put her in the day before at the library.

"Oh." Vanessa looked convinced, "Finally decided to get back to it then."

"Yea, I didn't want to wait longer than I already had."

"I don't know how you can remain dedicated to it." Vanessa said, "I would go for a day and give up."

"Working out is definitely not for me but I guess I get my workout from the self-defence class."

"I think it's cool that you know self-defence." Pause, "There's just a lot going on in the world, you don't know when that would come in handy."

Makenna studied her for a second and said something she regretted the second it left her mouth,
"Why don't you join and see if you like it?"

Vanessa looked at her with a frown,
"I don't think it's for me. I can barely do five jumping jacks without running out of breath."

"You can't know if it is or isn't for you without trying."

Vanessa shifted her gaze from Makenna as if thinking about it,
"I'll think about it."

Makenna liked that answer. No commitment. She was glad Vanessa was considering it because it was something Makenna thought every female should be taught. But she was also glad she didn't have to involve Vanessa any deeper in her life.

The girl already knows more than she thinks she knows.
Makenna thought.

After their classes for the day, Makenna and Vanessa headed their separate ways. Makenna was on her way to Metro coffee when Brandon caught her and they walked together.

"It was nice to have you back at the gym."

"Yea, it felt nice for me too." Makenna said, "Good to get back at it, you know."

"Oh, yea. Of course." Brandon said quickly, "And good for me that I got to finally take you out...I mean, down."

"Just you wait and I'll be the one taking you down." Makenna smiled as they arrived at Metro coffee.

Brandon reached to get the door even though she was closer to it.

"I've got it." Makenna said as she grabbed the handle and pushed it inwards,

"There they are." Brandon gestured to their table and the rest of the group were seated there talking really loudly which almost made her wince,

Brandon and Makenna headed to the table and Brandon took a seat while Makenna placed her bag on an empty one.

"I'll go get the drinks." Makenna said before anyone volunteered, she wanted to get away from their loud chatter hoping it would subside by the time she was done ordering.

Makenna headed towards the counter where Alfie attended to a customer. Her gaze shifted from Alfie to the customer and she almost tripped on her own feet but quickly reached for the counter and caught herself before she fell face first. Atlas chose that moment to shift his gaze in her direction like he could feel her eyes on him.

Their gaze met and held, Makenna inhaled deeply trying to get oxygen into her lungs.

It was like the first time they met. Her standing here and him standing there looking at her like she was all he wanted to be looking at. But of course, Makenna didn't think that, she couldn't think past his intense blue eyes.

How could one look from him feel like he could see right into her soul?
She thought,

They're just eyes. Pretty and Intense. But still just eyes.

Atlas clenched his jaw as their gazes met and he was staring into those beautiful eyes of hers. They say the eyes are windows into the soul but her eyes were contradicting what he knew to be true.

They'd gone from a single glance to what seemed to be like a staring contest, neither of them wanting to break first.

Alfie was confused as he stared back and forth from Atlas to Makenna. He'd taken Atlas' order and someone was working on it so he could take Makenna's order.

Alfie cleared his throat as he rested his gaze on Makenna,
"Mac, your order?"

Makenna glanced at Alfie but realized her mistake and quickly shifted her gaze to Atlas whose lips curved into a smile that made her clench her jaw.

"Fucking arse!" She muttered under her breath,

"What was that?" Alfie asked, thinking she was giving her order,

"The usual." She shifted her gaze to Alfie feeling the fury build within her for no reason at all,

"For all of you?"

"Yea."

Atlas knew he'd won their stare contest because Alfie had interrupted her but with Makenna, he'd take a convenient win anytime. She not only was a fighter, but also looked like a fighter. The whole 'all black' had him curious at first but now couldn't imagine Makenna in anything other than black.

Not that he imagined her. Just that the colour suited her personality.

"Atlas."

Atlas looked to the other side of the counter where he had to pay for his drink. He made his made from where he stood heading towards Makenna.

Makenna knew when she heard his name that he'd have to walk behind her to go pay for his drink and she felt the need to stick her leg out and make him trip. But she rolled her eyes at herself for thinking it.

What was she in? Kindergarten?

Well, she might as well do it if she couldn't think of anything else to get him back for cheating at staring content they had.

Makenna stuck out her leg behind her as casually as she could as Atlas headed toward her. Just at the same time, someone at the table between her and Atlas pushed her chair backwards as she got out of the table. Atlas moved to the side to keep from bumping into her but instead tripped on one of the back legs of the chair.

Atlas knew he was falling forward and reached for anything to break his fall as he turned so he'd land on his back instead of his front.

Makenna happened to be the thing he grabbed unknowingly and she went down with him in shock as his hands went around her waist to brace her fall.

They landed with a hard thump on the ground as everyone in the café turned to look at what the commotion was about.

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