It's mid-February and swimming practices for the '18 and Under Swimming Nationals' are underway. I spend time shuffling between classes and yearbook meetings and then after school two hours nearly every day are dedicated to my solo lengths and relay team practices.

When the bell rings, marking the end of the school day, I leave my classroom to meet the driver in the parking who has brought me lunch from home since I'm always starving by the time swim practice ends and the cafeteria is no longer open by then.

I'm halfway across the high school property when shouts reach my ears. It's not uncommon for fights to break out given we have some really rowdy boys studying with us.

But Angelina intercepts me before I can reach the parking, "Hazel, you need to come with me."

"What's wrong?" I frown.

"Just come." She takes hold of my arm and pulls me towards the administration building. I'm about to ask her again what the problem is when all my questions are automatically answered when I see Ben, Sebastian, Liam, Henry and two of his friends sitting across from each other in the waiting area. Sebastian's uniform is ruffled and there's a cut across his lip but it's Ben who looks the worst with a bleeding nose.

"You need to handle the situation." Ash says coming up to me, as none of the boys look up except Henry who has a satisfied smirk on his face that I want to slap off.

"What happened?" I ask him and Angelina.

"That's for them to explain but the headmistress is about to walk out of her office and dole out their punishments. We all know, you're one of her favorite students. Please do something." Ash says.

My brain is still trying to process the scene but I nod anyways and not a moment later the headmistress steps out of her office.

"Who would like to explain what happened?" She asks, hands on her hips.

Before any of the boys can speak up I step forward, "Headmistress?"

"Yes, Hazel?" She looks at me.

"I'm not going to defend their fight but I can assure you that Ben and Liam have never caused trouble like this before and I can vouch for Sebastian, that you'll never have this problem with him again." I say, hoping that she catches the double meaning to my words. I'm pleading for their forgiveness.

She folds her arms and looks between the boys, "Three of you leave. You three in my office."

I sigh in relief as she lets off Seb, Ben and Liam while Henry and his friends, all of them notorious for their fights, aren't so lucky.

We file out of the building and I turn to the boys, "Now will someone please tell me why I had to defend you?"

But once again I'm kept from getting an answer when I hear a new voice join the mix, "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry."

I turn around to find Alesia standing a few steps away, horror stricken. Where Seb was frowning before about whatever went down with Henry, the sight of Alesia instantly eases away the tension from his face and I watch him stand slightly taller.

An eyebrow springs up on my face as I watch Seb walk up to Alesia, "Please don't apologize. Henry was being an asshole."

"You shouldn't have gotten yourself injured. Not for me." She shakes her head, her eyes wide with shock.

"It's fine." Seb says and then turns to look at me. I sigh and nod, knowing that he's asking if it's okay if he heads off with Alesia. Once they're gone, I turn back to my friends.

"Now, an answer without interruption. Please." I huff and cross my arms.

Liam seems uninjured as he explains, "Henry said something really filthy that I'm sure none of his usual girlfriends would've minded but it was really bad and he made Alesia uncomfortable to the extent that Seb was forced to step in and one thing led to another. And now here we all are."

"You can't blame Seb." Ben speaks for the first time and I meet his eyes, "Any decent guy would've done the same thing for a new girl."

The others take this as their cue to leave and head off towards the parking together. My mind processes Ben's words and the irritation in me is replaced by warmth as I watch Ben look down at his feet.

I step forward and touch a hand to his cheek as I examine his nose, "You should stop by at the hospital before you go home."

"You're not mad?" He meets my eyes.

I shake my head with a small smile on my face, "How can I be?"

He returns my smile as I pull him into a kiss. When we break apart, I say, "In all seriousness please do get yourself checked."

"I will." He kisses my cheek and we head to the parking together.

When mom comes home that night, she takes one look at the bruise above Seb's eye and swollen lip and demands to know what happened. Sebastian beats me to the answer.

"Long story short, can I borrow a car and a driver for tomorrow night? I asked a girl out on a date." He says.

Mom and I both stare at him for a second for she nods, "Sure."

And somehow this weird abstract question, explained the entire situation to mom who shares a smile with me and then to her room. I pat Seb on the back and say, "Where are you taking her?"

"I was actually going to ask you. Formal or casual?" He asks, leaning against the wall, hands tucked into his pockets.

"What's the occasion?" I hear dad ask as he walks into the living room, back from the office.

"Seb has a date tomorrow night." I tell him.

"Did she freak out and punch you?" Dad asks, making Seb and me laugh and Seb shakes his head, "Something like that."

Alesia and Seb! :)

-T