Sara Lance. Who does this girl think she is? Barging in on my life like that. Turning everything around and upside down. Drowning all my senses with all she is. Everywhere I turn, she's all I see. She's all I hear. Her scent wafting through every inch and every corner of the room. I can't seem to escape her. Well, why would I want to? Her flowing blonde hair, her thousand watt smile, and her eyes. Those eyes that seem to reflect all the beauty there is in life. They're simply perfection. Her laugh, so intoxicating. Her movements, so graceful. Her heart, so gentle and kind. Why would anyone want to escape such breathtaking beauty? Beauty resonating inside and out.

You are beautiful in every way, Sara. Never think otherwise.

28. He definitely made Sara feel beautiful. Reading throughout the letter, Sara wasn't able to stop giggling. The way he wrote it, as if he was proclaiming it to everyone, it made Sara's heart swell. She wouldn't let any problem ruin this for her. She was genuinely enjoying it, when she finally tucked away all her worries about Max and Nyssa in her mind.

She went to school and found another note inside her locker, making her smile.

I don't know what to say. It was fascinating to watch you dance as always. I was surprised when I played it. You were so sweet and cute being so shy when you were filming it. Thank you, Sara. I would treasure that gift.

~ME

Sara was blushing and butterflies were flying around in her belly. She can't remember anyone that had ever made her feel like that other than Nyssa. And now, him. The intensity of the feeling is not as enormous as with Nyssa, but she'd rather have the simplicity of it now, than the glorious feeling she gets with Nyssa accompanied with same intense complications.

"Sara, can we talk?"

She closed her eyes, thinking that she just said she doesn't want the complication, yet here she comes. She turned around and smiled. She wouldn't let her faze her beautiful morning.

"Hi, Nyssa. What about?"

"Are you still upset with me?"

"No. I'm over that."

"Will you still be avoiding me?"

"I'm standing here talking to you, aren't I?"

"I miss you, Sara."

Nyssa wanted to reach for her, hold her hand at least, but she restrained herself. She doesn't want her to pull away from her completely.

Sara sighed deeply, trying to contain the growing frustration.

"Stop, Nyssa. I can't do this."

"Okay. Max is worried about you. So is Rebecca."

"You talked to Becks? What did she tell you?"

Sara knew Rebecca wouldn't tell anyone what they talked about the other day. She knew she could trust her, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious.

"Yeah. She told me that I need to talk to you."

"Of course. There's nothing to worry about. I'm fine. But this incessant worrying from you guys is starting to annoy me."

"I'm sorry."

"If I need to talk to you, I will. For now, just let me be."

Distancing herself from Sara has been so difficult, especially knowing that they are not in good terms. But if she kept pushing on, she might just close out and run off completely. She'll wait for her. She'll wait until she's ready.

Max arrived in the middle of the awkward silence simmering between them.

"What's the matter?"

When neither of them answered, she turned to Nyssa.

"Nyssa. Is everything okay?"

Nyssa forced a smile.

"Yes. Let's go. I'll walk you to your class."

Nyssa offered her hand to Max, which she took, and they walked hand in hand to her class. Max glanced back to where Sara was standing. She was just there watching them walk away, her expression quite unreadable to Max.

Sara was annoyed that she let her get through her again. She let Nyssa make her second guess her choices once more. She let her ruin her perfectly beautiful day.

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"What really happened earlier? Did she talk to you?" Max distractedly picked on the loose thread of her skirt.

"No, she didn't."

"She says she fine, but I can tell something's bothering her. I'm really worried, Nyssa. It's not like her not to be telling when she has problems."

Nyssa took Max's hand in hers to soothe her building nerves.

"She'll talk to you when she's ready. Remember that you didn't tell her about liking me right away. So just give her time."

"Okay. No need to bring that up."

Nyssa smiled. She knew talking about the time when she was trying to hide her feelings for her makes her uncomfortable. "Don't worry. I know I can be intimidating."

It was true. People rarely approached Nyssa, even when Alec is not with her. That's why Max still can't believe that she's there talking to her, what more that she is dating her. She gave her a quick kiss on the lips, which Sara witnessed.

Sara quickly turned and walked as fast as she could to the other direction. She wanted to cry. She wanted to throw something. Hit something. Not looking where she was going, she bumped into Alec and she fell on the floor. Alec just looked at her at first, shook his head, then helped her up.

"I'm sorry." Sara apologized as she tried to gather herself up.

She looked at Alec and thought of an idea let off some of her frustrations.

"Are you training Nate?"

He looked at her like she had gone crazy.

"Today? Yeah."

"Can I join?"

"Seriously? I don't even know why I'm training that wuss, and now you?"

Sara didn't waver and just stood there in front of him.

"You're a fighter. I see. Sure. Just ride with him. I don't want any passengers."

"Thanks."

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Nyssa got home to find Sara sparring with Nate and Alec. She was covered in cuts and bruises. It broke her heart to see her like that. She kept her calm but got in the middle of it. She swiftly took the short stick Nate was holding and landed a couple of blows to Alec's midsection.

"What do you think you're doing?" She asked, pointing the stick at Alec. Ready to give another hit, if she didn't get a good answer.

"We were just training, Nyssa." Sara answered for them.

"I wasn't talking to you." Her tone was cool, harsh, and clipped. It frightened Sara a bit to hear Nyssa talk like that, especially that it was directed at her. "I didn't approve of this."

"She asked me." Alec answered back.

Nyssa hit him again in the abdomen, making both Nate and Sara wince for him.

"Out of the question. This is done. You know the punishment. Nate, go home." She then grabbed Sara's arm without even looking at her. "You come with me." She dragged her through the house, to her room. She told her to sit and be still on the bed, while she took the first aid kit. Sara wanted to leave, but she was so scared and angry to even move.

Nyssa came back to the room with the kit and she kneeled down in front of Sara to check the cuts and bruises on her face and body. She clenched her teeth in frustration.

"What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking I wanted to train but I didn't want to do it with you."

That hurt Nyssa more than she would want to admit. She just busied herself by tending to Sara's wounds and not mind her superficial one.

"You know why I don't let you train with those guys? Even with Alec? Because they have no self-restraint."

"But it's okay with Nate?"

"I don't let him train with them without my supervision."

"Whatever, Nyssa. I can handle myself."

"Do you plan on getting yourself killed? Stop being so stubborn, Sara. I'm just trying to keep you safe."

"Why do you care?" Tears were starting to well up in Sara's eyes, which she is trying her best to fight back.

"I care about you, Sara." She tilted her chin up to look into hers. And a small tear fell down Sara's cheeks. "When would you see how much I care about you? I'll do anything for you, Sara. Don't you see that? I let you push me away to someone else because you said that's what you want, even though I'd rather be with you."

Sara could no longer hold the tears from flowing. She pushed Nyssa aside and ran out the room and out of the house. She just wanted to be alone. She just can't be around Nyssa right now or she would completely break down.

Nyssa chased after her. She would never let her run off like that. Feeling like that. And running all by herself in the dark hour. She hated to see her cry. She wants to make it all go away. Make it all okay again. She just wants them to get back to how they were before.

Sara had already reached the front lawn when Nyssa had caught up with her. She wrapped her arms around Sara. She wriggled and tried to break free of the hold, but Nyssa just held her even tighter. She buried her face in Sara's hair, whispering reassurances.

"I'm sorry, Sara. I'm sorry. I'll make this okay. We'll make this okay."

When Sara had stopped fighting and had calmed down, she loosed her grip and turned her to face her. She looked deep into her eyes, and what she saw that reflected in them broke her heart. Hurt and anger at war. She gathered her close to her.

"Let me take you home."

Sara was too tired to protest. She had fallen asleep even before they reached her house. Nyssa carried her up into her room and tucked her in. She looked so vulnerable and broken with all those cuts and bruises and just lying there on her bed. She looked at her tired and worried face.

"I'm sorry, Sara." She brushed a strand of hair off of Sara's face and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I love you."

She waited a beat to see if she would open her eyes and if she had heard what she said, but Sara stayed there unmoving. She doesn't need her to say it back to her. She just wants her to know. But it doesn't seem like the right time.

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Life is strange, isn't it? When you're out there trying to figure things out or when you're looking for something, you can't seem to find what you're searching for. Then when you stop and you let life take you for a ride, all that you've been searching for and sometimes even more comes slamming down on your front door. I know I've told you about when I first saw you, but just let me say a little bit more about it.

I wasn't even supposed to be there at that place, but I decided to bail on all of my plans that day and just went walking around. I wasn't looking for anything. I just wanted to get away from everything. Then it was like someone threw a brick at me and told me to look that way. To where you were dancing with your other teammates. But to me, you stood out from the rest. I found myself watching your every move. I wanted to walk up to you and ask you your name, but I was too shy to actually get on with it. I was able to find out your name eventually, but I never got the courage to walk up to you and say hi.

But don't worry. I think I've built up enough courage to do at least that. Soon.

~ME

Sara agreed that life is indeed strange. Just months ago she was going out with guys she didn't even particularly cared about. She went out with them because she enjoyed their company. But now she has this secret admirer and Nyssa that she is falling for. She caught herself with that thought. Falling? Did she seriously think that? God, she's actually falling for them. The thought is tearing her apart. She can't believe it. She really has to figure out what to do.