We all stood in the cafeteria, silently lined in rows and columns. Today Foxtrot had been elected to do boarder patrol since they were highest in the rankings. We had made our way to ninth.

Seven figures stood on the stage, facing us.

"Today we wish Foxtrot luck they deserve and have rightfully earned. Today we tell them that they shall return safetly from protecting our boarders. And if not, they shall die a brave death." Some important figure beamed, standing on a podium behind the seven.

We all simotamiously raised our left hand and curled the ring finger down, holding it in place while the pointer, middle, and pinky stood tall.

"I pledge loyalty to my community." we all murmered, then raised our hands slightly higher.

"I pledge my defense to the best interests of my community." I muttered the quiet cheer I had only learned a few days ago.

"I pledge my love to the one and only I shall ever love: Lukkas Gridson." I smiled, glancing to Lukkas as he said my name on replace of his. The different voices and names of loved ones echoed off the wall, creating an eerily familiar noise.

We exited the caferteria as workers started pulling tables back together. We waited by the doors as we noticed Zoe was missing.

"She was right behind me." muttered Sky.

"M-maybe she w-went to the b-bathroom." Holly suggested.

We watched the movements of the people onstage, noticing Zoe.

"Is that Zoe?" Chad asked as we watched her talk to Michael.

We nodded simultaneously, looking to one another.

"Defense strategy eight?"

"Defense strategy eight." we replied to to Lukkas' suggestion.

We formed a small diamond, Holly staring in the back, as if we made a net to catch Zoe.

She was so distracted that she didn't recognize the formation, or the readying stances.

"Now!" Sky and Chad yelled, springing behind Zoe, each grabbing an arm.

Lukkas put a hand over her mouth as Gin and I each grabbed a leg, lifting her towards a janitorial closet. Holly opened the door and we sprinted inside, stumbling from Zoe's weight.

We finally set her down.

"What are you doing?" she stammered as Lukkas replaced a hand and nodded to Holly.

Holly pulled Zoe's jacket sleeve up, and there it was, written in straight letters, imprinted on her arm. Michael Downy.

"What?"

"You didn't tell us?"

"Zoe! We're like your best friends!"

"You didn't tell us!?!" Chad repeated.

"Well in my defense... You never asked."

We all booed at her lame response and I felt her grin in the darkness.

"I had a reason! I thought of you knew we were married... Well you might not be as competitive when we were competing."

"I call bull," I heard Lukkas mutter behind me.

"Sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't think it would be worthy enough to kidnapp me."

"We're sorry Zoe." I answered for us. "I guess it must be hard seeing him leave."

And whom was I thinking of at that moment? Hudson. Even though I shouldn't have been.

"Thanks for the apology. Now let's get out of here." We helped Zoe up, and exited the janitorial closet, earning many odd looks from passers.

"Alright, bow we do have the rest of the day off, but..." Zoe started.

"Zoe!" Chad complained.

"I was going to say let's head to the Training Room and do some sparring!"

We all cheered whooping as we ran down the hall in front of her.

We reached the room and gathered in a circle, waiting for Zoe.

She finally strode in, looking like an exhausted mother.

"Let's pair up... Chad and Lukkas... Holly and Sky... Gib and Rain." She pointed us to our mats.

"On my word you may begin." she commanded as we lowered our weight and raised our fists. I could see Gib's eyes hidden under his furrowed brow. "Start." she walked away, giving us room.

I immediately stood on the balls of my feet, bouncing slightly while Gib did the same.

"Look Rain, we obviously know one of us isn't to great at-" I cut him off as my curled fist connected with his jaw. His head jerked back as he regained balance.

"I was going to ask you to take it easy!" he protested, squaring up again.

"Yeah right." I muttered.

He dropped and swung his leg under mine. I jumped in time and avoided it, but came down on my ankle wrong, my weight pulling me down.

I barely looked up in time to see his foot coming towards me. It slammed into my shoulder, and I heaved it back in the form of a backhand.

Swinging his arm, Gib reached and grabbed my right wrist.

"Maybe I should be going easy on you." he teased.

I grabbed his wrist and swung in above my head while twisting, so the back of his elbow rested over my shoulder. I jabbed my own elbow into his ribs, making him grunt.

"You were saying?" I laughed next to him.

"I back!" He said as he stopped squirming.

"Fun match Gib." I said, helping him up.

"Whatever you say." he rolled his eyes awkwardly.

We watched as Chad finished up with Lukkas, when Lukkas finally gave up.

"Nice job Lukk." I grinned.

"You try sparring him!" He protested as we all laughed.

"Sky you and Rain are paired up, Lukkas and Gib, and Holly and Chad."

We nodded and went back to our mats.

Sky was our best fighter and she was super competitive.

"Ready to lose Rain?" she taunted, dropping he shoulders.

"Not as much as you should be." I replied with a smirk.

I covered my head with my forearms, watching Sky's muscles tense. I stood on the tips of my toes, leaping out of the way when she came barreling towards me.

She skidded to a halt and turned before I could pick up a foot. She crossed with her right and grazed my cheek bone.

I felt a fist reach my stomach and the wind rushed out of me like someone had turned on a huge vacuum.

I swung and missed while my knees dropped my weight and my arms were swung behind me.

Sky wasn't pressing down but I knew she was in a better position than I was.

"I back." I groaned. She let go and pulled me to my feet.

"Nice dodge. How'd you know I was going to do that?" Sky asked, re-tying her brown hair.

"I saw your muscles tense." I confided. We were a team, and the whole point of sparring one another was to learn from mistakes and learn new strategies.

She nodded as Zoe spoke up again. "Gib go with Holly, Lukkas you're with Rain, Sky and Lukkas you're together."

An expressionless Lukkas stood facing me, knees bent.

"Lets do this...babe." He smirked.

"Do not ever call me that again." I warned, stretching my arms before I squared again.

He shrugged and put his fists low, almost waist level. I raced forwards with a hesitant punch. His hands immediately grasped my elbow and wrist, and before I knew it I was on the ground with Lukkas kneeling next to me.

"Sorry babe." he said.

"Lukkas I told you not to call me that," I hroaned, frustrated. I tackled him, hands on his shoulders as we rolled to the ground again.

I ended up on my back again, this time Lukkas hovering above me.

"You know the words Rain." he said teasing me.

"I'd rather be quiet than admit defeat." I tried to wiggle my shoulder out from under his arm.

"I can help you with that." he said, leaning down. Our lips connected as his eyes closed. I felt warmth flow through me.

Unfortunately I was so startled I nabbed my elbow into his rib cage. He broke away from me, gasping for air.

I stood to make sure he was okay.

Thinking I wasn't stopping Lukkas put his hands up in surrender. "I back!" he gasped.

"I'm just checking on you calm down." I pulled him to his feet.

"You kissed me while we were sparring?" I said after a beat.

"You punched me while we were kissing?" he responded.

"You startled me! It's not normal just to kiss someone while we're sparring."

"Well it isn't like we're not soulmates you know."

"Well we aren't married!"

"The wedding is in a week!" he shot back.

I honestly didn't want to argue with him. Truthfully, I wasn't mad he kissed me.

"I know when our wedding is!"

"Me too!" he stopped, realizing the stupidity in what he just said.

"Well good we know when we're getting married!" I yelled back, stifiling a laugh.

"Well do why know why we're getting married?" he said, doing the same.

"Because we love each other that's why." I said, calming my voice.

He slipped his hand around my waist,  squezing me into a hug.

"I'm sorry I kissed you without warning." he said quietly.

"I'm sorry I punched you." I replied.

"What the heck was that?" Chad asked as we looked up to see everyone staring at us.

"That was the stupidest agrument I have ever seen." Zoe declared, throwing her hands up.

We shrugged in sync, not knowing what to say.

"Well who won?" she asked exasperated.

"I did." I mumbled.

"Alright, Sky is first, Chad second, Rain is third, Lukkas forth, Holly fifth, and Gib you're last." she announced, ticking names off on her fingers.

She grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. "That is the order you all get to shower in. Now let's go," she pushed us out the door.
.                                 .                                .
After a few rounds of poker and Zoe telling us to go to bed, we all clambered in.

"Good night Chad." Sky began, like we still did every night.

"Night Lukkas."

"Night Holly." I heard above me.

"G- good Night G-Gib."

"Sleep well Rain." came Gib's soft voice.

"Night Sky." I mumbled.

"Rain?" I heard Lukkas whisper.

"What?" I asked.

"I love you." My face softened and I smiled into my pillow.

"I love you too Lukkas." I replied.

"Go to bed lovebirds." Chad yawned.

"Shut up Chad." we said together, falling asleep.

So hey hey it's Saturday. Holy cow that rhymed. I should be a poet.

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
I need a word that
Ends with U

Tell me that wasn't absolutely hilarious. I know you're laughing. No? Okay here's a good joke.

Why did the elephant paint his toes nails red?

So he could hide in a cherry tree.