Chapter 5

Riley's POV

"Yes," I answered inaudibly, shifting my weight as I looked downwards. Then, I recollected myself as I lifted my head looking straight into Charlie's eyes. "I'll join the battle." I raised my voice this time.

The crowd that gathered around us cheered loudly. Charlie got annoyed by that, "Shut up. It's not like she's going to win ya bunch of idiots! Don't you have something else to do with your pathetic lives?" She barked as she made arm movements towards the people.

The crowd flinched under her wrath. Quickly dispersing themselves into the gym. She turns her attention back to me, "You should pack up your things in advance. Just some advice."

I bit back what I wanted to say. It's better to save up my anger for the battle. She still stood there, probably noticing my reluctancy to speak.

When I remained silent, Charlie just rolled her eyes. She then made her way away from the scene, into the gym.

Meanwhile, Daniel's face was unimaginably red and his eyes were empty. "How could you?" He spat out as he grabbed his hair in frustration.

"What!" I fumed loudly, everyone diverted their attention to me. A sheepish smile slid onto my lips as I waved at them. Then they resumed to whatever they were doing. I spoke quieter, "What! Seriously Daniel... I thought as a guide you would be more supportive!"

"As a fucking guide, I am supposed to protect you! You have no fucking idea what you just did to me right now!" Daniel bellowed as his dark brown eyes started to redden and glitter. He shook his head in disappointment, storming out of the gym. Leaving me in colossal bafflement.

To be honest, during the short time I've been with Daniel, I never heard him swear. Or get that angry. Especially at me.

I just joined a battle, did he really have no hope in me? Geez... so much of a "guide".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daniel's POV

"DANIEL PARKA. RANK 3. REPORT TO MR. MCCALISTER'S OFFICE!" The intercom boomed in the dim hallway. It repeated its announcement at least a billion times. Okay... not a billion just two more times.

I replayed the message in my head a billion times. I am screwed... seriously screwed. I should have carried Riley away? Taped her mouth? Tazed Riley? I don't know.

But I do know that I could have prevented her from agreeing to join the Rap Battle.

I slowed my pace when I was near Ryan's office. Heavy objects bounced off the walls and floors from inside the office. The shattering of glass made my body quiver.

Holding my breath, I knock at his door. A guard opened it, and he made the sign of the cross. He whispered, "praying for you brother." Which caused my fear to skyrocket off earth.

The guard walked out of the room as I entered. I gulped the accumulating saliva down my throat, "You wanted to see me, Sir?"

His chair was facing the opposite direction. He spun his chair to face me. "I heard that Riley was joining a Rap Battle." He said after he took a long sip of his cigarette. "I don't think she should though."

He said it all calmly. Too calmly.

I scratched the back of my neck and sheepishly said, "me too." Ryan suddenly stood up---punching me on my cheek. I instantly take a step back. He prowled at me as I continued to step back.

"Sir. Sir. Sir. Please!" I begged for his mercy before he pummelled my face with his iron-like fists.

I fell to the floor. My face felt like it landed on the ground from five thousand feet.

I take a sharp intake of breath as excruciating pain was inflicted on my stomach. The bruises around my eyes were so large that they sealed my eyes shut. I couldn't see... but I knew that he was kicking me with all his force. Repeatedly.

Would it ever end?

All the attacks stopped. Finally! Heavy footsteps walk away from me. I managed to slowly drag my body closer to the door. As I was about to get up, shards of glass burrowed themselves into my skin.

"You are a fucking idiot! This is what you get for murdering Riley! You useless piece of shit!" He roared as he continued to throw more glasses in my direction.

Dead.

I wished to be dead. It would be much better than the immense amount of pain. My clothes were damp in my blood. My head aching. My heart beat slowing. My tuning off and on. My breathing lessening at an alarming rate.

I knew very well that I was dying.

Even though I was going through all of this pain, there was a pain that was stronger than the rest. The last time I saw Riley's beautiful face was when I was yelling at her.

I shouldn't have.

She didn't know what she did. I can't blame her. It was my fault anyways.

I brought up the Rap Battle. At first, the points were 500 each. I thought I could get her to level 24, then she would still be safe even if she lost. Level 24 is 600 respect points. 600 minus 500 is 100. She would still have 100 respect points.

When Charlie bounced it up to 1000 point each... I knew it was impossible for her to get to level 20 in such a short span of time.

Ha, I must be the greatest guide on Earth!

The pain of never seeing her again threw me off edge.

I blacked out, leaving my body to endure all the unbearable suffering.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riley's POV

Instead of dwelling on the fact that I made Daniel's steam engine burst, I decided to look for a weapon that I could train with.

I made my way over to the knives section. The instructor of knives greeted me wholeheartedly, "Hi Sweetie! Are you interested in learning how to master the switchblade?" He wore this overenthusiastic smile on his chubby face.

Another instructor disrupted us,
"Oh knives and switchblades are so barbaric! How about you learn how to use a firearm? You'll look cooler holding one too!" The woman instructor beamed avidly, and even added a wink at the end.

"No no no. What if ye don't have any weapons on ye? You gotta use dem bare claws of ye!" A third instructor chimed in as he smiled broadly, showing off his fists.

The first instructor frowned, "Everyone carries a switchblade! It's mandatory!" He spat out as he pulled me to his side.

The second instructor pulled me by her side and said, "Riley would like something new and fresh." And then she laughed in their faces, "I even know her name unlike you two!"

They all started to bicker amongst themselves. I took that as an opportunity to sneak out of it.
Just as I was mid-way away from the bickering trio, the third instructor grabbed me by my wrist.

"Eh. Shut up you nonsense donkey barnacles!" They immediately stopped, and turned their angry expressions into friendly ones once they saw me.

He let go of my wrist, "we should let the young lass decide what she wants to do." He maturely said as he gave me a warm smile.

The others blushed and looked down in embarrassment.

"Young lass, chose ye wisely." He said. All of them looked at me expectantly.

"Uhh...," I drawled out, "you all seem so great... SO."

They were biting their lips in anticipation.

"...I chose all of you."

That changed their anticapation into disappointment. "I guess Mr. McCalister will divide the points among us?" The first instructor

"Aww... but I wanted three thousand respect points to myself!" The woman whined like a child.

"Woman! Get a hold of ye self! Three thousand divided by three is one thousand!" The third instructor said, "ye'd still be recievin' one thousand respect points!"

The first instructor nodded in agreement. The second instructed narrowed her eyes then mumbled as she mimicked the third instructor's pirate-ish voice, "Ye'd still be recievin' one thousand respect points!" She finished that off with the crossing of her arms, and a huff of air.

The third instructor rolled his eyes at her immaturity, "Anyway, young lass... are ye done decidin' on whose ye first?"

I gnaw at the inside of my cheek. "Uh... I've always liked the rule of first come, first served so---"

The first instructor interrupted me as he pushed the other instructors out of the way, "You heard the girl! First come, first served baby!"

From a far distance, you'd think the instructors would be more... MATURE! Never judge a book by its cover.

The first instructor extended his arm to me, then grasped my hand---shaking it. "Sorry about that. You know they can be so bonkers at times!" He said as he laughed. I responded with a half-hearted laugh. "Yup... so bonkers..."

He let go of my hand, then blissfully said, "My name is Chicken Alfredo."

I stifled my inevitable laugh. My cheeks were probably red because of the pressure of composing myself. CHICKEN ALFREDO?!? Who named that old man child?

"You are a student so you call me Mr. Alfredo." Mr. Alfredo seriously added, "do you have your switchblade?"

I nodded once I could breathe. Sliding my hand in my jean pocket, I grabbed the switchblade out.

"Day 1 classes are the basics. First step, ope--" Before he could continue his lecture, I flipped the switchblade open. He widened his eyes, then quickly suppressed that action by making both corners of his mouth move downwards. Nodding in approval he continued, "Wow... you are good for a beginner. We can skip to step ten: attacking/blocking someone who has a switchblade."

Mr. Alfredo told me to watch the battle, and look out for his positioning. He summons a man to battle with him. Mr. Alfredo takes out his own switchblade, bends his knees, and widens the length between his legs. The man does the same.

"Three... Two... One... Let's rumble!" A scorekeeper said as she blew a whistle. Mr. Alfredo shuffles his feet back, while the man leaps forward. He took a large swing at his arm, he blocked it. He used the block to push him down. The man landed with a thump, but regained himself when he stood up.

Mr. Alfredo goes in for the attacks now. He smashes his blade against the opponent nonstop. The blade then made an abrupt laceration to the opponent's wrist.
The opponent dropped their weapon as they cried out all profanity.

Shortly after, a team of doctors took him away.

Beads of sweat came down from Mr. Alfredo's forehead profusely. He was breathing heavily as he leaned against the wall. "My word... he is... very... good." He panted as he towelled his sweat.

Just as I was about to pass Mr. Alfredo a bottle of water, I felt strong arm encircle my waist. I was still holding my switchblade.

Instinctively, I drew my hand back to stab this intruder of my personal space bubble. The intruder thought two steps ahead of me by grabbing my hand.

"You've taught her so well on just her first day, Chicken." The intruder said as I was being released. I whip my head back to find Ryan. He wears a gentle, charming smile.

Mr. Alfredo smiled sheepishly then bowed, "Thank you Mr. McCalister."

"So, you are her trainer?" Ryan asked as he raised one eyebrow for clarification. Mr. Alfredo nodded his head. "You will be awarded three thousand respect points."

Mr. Alfredo's face lit up like a child who got a Christmas present. The second instructor jumped into the conversation, "he is a liar! Riley chose all three of us! It should be distributed!"

Ryan looked at me in a way that he was asking if it was true. I smiled as I bobbed my head. "Oh then... her schedule will be switchblade lessons, rap practice, firearm lessons, rap practice, then martial arts lessons. It will remain that way until further notice."

"Will you distribute the points?" The second instructor asked in annoyance.

"...yes." With that she left.

Ryan wrapped one of his arms around me, leading me out of the gym. He whispered in my ear, "Sorry, but those are the only instructors that actually know what their doing."

"Yeah right!" I burst into laughter as we are out of the gym. He ceased our saunter, and turned to me. Even though it was noisy, it seemed as if the world slowed for us. Ryan's dark brown eyes bore radiance and beauty. His hand travelled down my spine as he pulled me in.

In for a kiss.

I furrow my eyebrows as I pushed him off. "What are you doing?"

He furrowed his eyebrows as well, "Kissing you? What else?"

I shook my head, "No, I'm not kissing you."

"What the hell? And what about in the bedroom?" He quizzically said, "you didn't push me there!"

"That's because I was emotionally unstable that time!" I fulminated as my eyes were feeling watery, "You have other girls that you can kiss and do whatever with. But not with me McCalister!"

After that I stormed off, but he chased after me. Once he reached me, he held a firm grip on my arm.

"You don't even know where you are going to begin with." He smirked as he let go of me.

My face probably reddened, reflecting my inward seething of his arrogance. "I'd rather have Daniel. And only Daniel to help me. At least he has the decency to not kiss every girl in sight."

Ryan was taken aback by my statement.

"Where is he anyway? He just stormed off... can't you track him?" I asked waiting for Ryan's answer but colour fled from his face.

"Ryan. Where. Is. He?" I asked skeptically, this time I slowed down my speech. Clearly, he hadn't comprehended what I asked before.

Ryan bit his lips, and denied eye contact.

What the actual hell?

___________________________

Author's Note:

Chapter Question: Which instructor would you choose, and why?🤔
(You can't choose all---just one!)

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