It's painful to not be able to talk to someone you trust more than yourself. Mich obliviously enjoyed the show, unaware of the complexities of my life. He knew that I'd fought with Elizabeth. He knew that I'd given an ultimatum for Rhaeya. He knew that I'd come very close to giving everything up to Eric.

He would give me impeccable advice. He always did. But this was something I had to handle alone. It had been a mistake to initiate it in the first place.

Mich left before I woke up, as usual. But he always prepared breakfast for me. I had broken down to him what was going on between me and my friends. His only reply was to give it time. I was giving it time. I was also worrying that too much time would mean...

I finished breakfast, any leftovers in the fridge before I headed to the garage through the kitchen door. This might seem a little desperate but I didn't want to leave yet, in... in case Eric and Flo showed up. My house was a bit out of the way, isolated too so it was not exactly a place where traffic was a problem. There were several other, faster, ways they could take to avoid my place. Didn't mean I would give up hope.

The garage doors automatically rolled up as I tapped the remote. Wheeling my bike out, I placed the stand down and leaned against it, to begin my wait. Each day in case they showed up. The sky was a bright blue, barely any clouds. It wasn’t very hot either at the moment, being winter and all. Days like this made me want to stay home. And if I didn’t have those two, my attendance would be a lot less. Today was another no-show. I tried to ignore the pain I felt as I straddled the bike and took off.

I enjoyed riding Mich's bikes. Someone needed to keep them in shape while he was not here during the week. At this point, I'd done a lot more than just keep it in shape. However there was no point in moping around. I tried to enjoy the ride. It had gotten easier to ignore the pain. My leather jacket was open. It flapped in the wind as I drove along the empty road to emerge into the line of cars waiting to park. There was a separate route to take for bikes. A lot of people here preferred cars so there was never a problem when it came to parking either. Mine would usually be one of the five cooling down over there.

I'd taken the sports bike today. The white chassis gleamed in the sunlight as I tugged my helmet off and ran a hand through my hair. These helmets always made me sweat and make my hair feel itchy. Still on the bike, I shrugged my jacket off as well and shoved it into my bag. I'd cut it a bit close today, only five minutes left till the bell rang.

I locked up properly, my helmet under the seat. I could feel eyes on my back as I hurried to the stairs. This was also a new part of my life I'd been dealing with. Training wasn't that volatile anymore that my clothes would burn off so I was wearing better clothes. More leggings, less shorts. Better shirts and longer tanks. The Trials had really put me out there. Everyone knew my name now. It was a feeling that I hadn't had to deal with for a while. I'd been associated with Trials, Elizabeth, and currently, Wafi and Christopher. My life was just the stuff of gossip at this point.

I would actually get passive aggressively acted upon by girls in washrooms. Some of them were even brave enough to try and use their elements against me. Water would jump up onto my tee of its own accord. Air would billow up my loose shirts in the hallway. I would find myself tripping on raised tiles in an otherwise smooth hallway. The lights would go out while I washed my face.

All easily fixable and utterly manageable, of course. I could dry my shirt within seconds, tuck my shirt in at the sides, tripping was a day-to-day activity anyway. And as Fire, I was the light source.

I hurried into the classroom. But my day wasn't complete without almost falling over smooth tile I, and hundred others, walk over everyday.

My hand slammed against the desk of a front row kid as I barely managed to stop myself from a serious broken nose. He jumped and twisted in his seat with his eyes wide like many others startled by the loud sound. I smiled at him apologetically. "My bad, I tripped."

As I straightened, I threw a casual glance around the class. A group of not-so-demure girls held smug smirks on their faces. They aren’t even trying to hide. Do they think I’m not going to react? I smirked back as without even batting an eye, all the assignments on their desks went up in flames.

There were loud shrieks as I calmly resumed my way to my seat. Leaf sighed from his desk in the front. "Fiera, please refrain from igniting things in my class."

They were still shrieking as they batted at it with their hands and clambered away from it. I laughed at them before I snapped my fingers and cancelled the flames. Blackened paper fluttered around their desks. "Sure, as soon as you tell them to stop messing with the tiles."

Surprise passed through Leaf's face, an Earth Elemental himself. He glanced down and scowled. The floor which grated loudly as he fixed it. "You three get till the end of the day submit that paper. And you, Fiera, have to write a three page book review on a classic."

I shrugged. "Sure."

"Submit it tomorrow."

"Fine." I nodded indifferently. Another new constant in my life. I was either supposed to be the teacher's pet or the one they picked on now that I'd been a part of the Trials. Why could I just be left alone? I couldn't just be a normal student anymore no matter what I tried. Now all I got was shit from my peers, my seniors and my teachers.

I settled back in my seat for a quiet class. Paying bare minimum attention. Leaf stopped me right as I was about to leave class.

He smiled at me as I stood in front of his desk, only beginning once everyone else had filed out. "How are you?"

I frowned. Interesting question, complicated answer. "Why do you ask?"

"I've seen you nowadays. Sullen, moody. You don't hang around with your friends anymore."

"I'm not sullen or moody. I'm just quiet. I want to be left alone. But ever since the Trials, it's been one problem after the other."

"Is that why you don't hang around with your friends anymore?"

I scoffed as a lump started to form in my throat. "More like they choose not to hang around with me anymore. They don't trust me anymore."

"And why is that?"

I shook my head, refusing to talk about it. Leaf nodded slowly as I looked back up at him. "So, is there someone else as well?" I cocked an eyebrow questioningly. "A boyfriend? A girlfriend? Someone who prefers neither pronoun?"

Christopher’s face flashed in my mind but I was a bit too amused to stop him. I did shake my head after a while. "Nothing like that. Some other teachers have also been on my case for a while now."

"As in?"

"Aah..." The amusement I was feeling dissipated. "I don't think it's okay to talk about this with you."

He smirked as he took a seat behind his desk and steepled his fingers. "You can be open with me. I don't snitch."

I opened my mouth to speak but the door creaked open with an early student. She spotted the two of us, her eyes stayed on Leaf.

Leaf nodded at her. "Give me five minutes. Come in once I'm done with her." He had his stern teacher face on. I got a curious glance from her before she closed the door.

I took a step back to lean against a front desk. "They're going to assume I'm getting roasted."

"Let them. You were saying?"

"I'm no longer... anonymous. I'm no longer just one of the students. Now I'm someone the other teachers believe is to be looked up to."

"And you don't like that?"

"I don't mind if someone looks up to me but putting me on a pedestal just because someone believes I should be there is just unnecessary pressure."

"Okay." He paused momentarily. "I feel there's more."

I ran a hand through my hair. "Kind of. If I don't meet their expectation, all of a sudden I'm the one to be picked on. I'm not paying enough attention, my homework has inconsistencies, I dress shabby..." I trailed off as I saw Leaf give an agreeing shrug at the last one.

"Sorry, but at times you do."

"Can't help it. If I'm not dressed up to standards means my other clothes are either bloody, burnt or torn. There's only so much I can do considering I'm alone all week."

He nodded sympathetically. "What's your next class?"

I was quiet for a while, flipping through the time table in my head. "Physics."

"Hated it."

"It's okay."

"Any problems there?"

"I'm not up to her golden standards either. Half of them make it seem like I cheated to get into the Trials in the first place."

Leaf laughed. "You still have the novelty of the Trials hanging around you. There is a change in you and I am actually glad to see it. You're more confident now, more sure in your steps. You seem to have finally come into your own."

"Thanks. A lot of... things in my life got cleared up after the Trials."

He laughed once more, turning to look out the window. "You mean after you fought Elizabeth." My eyes widened a smidgen, mind going blank. "Don't look so surprised. Teachers aren't deaf."

I gave him a sheepish smile, relaxing slightly. "Well, I can't exactly talk about it freely. It was off the books and I could get suspended for it."

He nodded. "That's true. Which means our conversation is over. " He gestured to the door. "You can leave."

I hopped off the desk and headed towards the door. He spoke up once more right before I grasped the doorknob.

"Also, the book review? Forget about it." I twisted in surprise to stare at him. He winked at me. "Don't make me change my mind."

Who am I to disagree with a teacher?

I smiled back at him before leaving the class. This was new. One of the more nicer things to happen to me in school for a while.

I wasn't in a mood to attend Physics. Mrs. Zeto would probably immediately start on about the dangers of riding a bike the moment I walked in. Ducking into a bathroom, I decided to wait the bell out. It was fortunately empty. I leaned down to wash my face, really getting in there to distract myself and pass time. Two girls walked in right as I straightened up. I stiffened as the first one turned towards the mirror.

Flo.

Wait, what am I this worried for? She's not going to attack me.

I relaxed slightly and met her eyes in the mirror to give her a small nod. Surprise passed through her eyes and she gave me a tiny smile back before she disappeared into a stall after the other girl who'd entered. That one gave me the stinkeye. I should probably step away from the sink.

Turning the tap off, I moved back to sit on one of the several plush stools provided in the washroom. Flo came out first. She turned her head to glance at me and I gave her another awkward smile. The other girl emerged right after, she still had her stink eye equipped. I gave her a smile too, hoping that whatever she was about to do would happen after Flo left.

I glanced down towards my phone to avoid the awkward air in the silent washroom. Only to jump instinctively as cold water splashed all over me. I closed my eyes and sighed to myself as I wiped my phone down on my shirt. I'll lose my phone like this.

Looking up, I smiled back at the smug look she was throwing me in her reflection. I could literally force out the water from my shirt by this point. This meant nothing. She turned to give a shocked Flo a disdainful warning glance before turning away.

"Hey." Flo called out, much to my surprise. The girl turned just in time to see Flo flick her hand. I felt the air in the room rush towards one side. Her eyes widened in shock as her entire body suddenly went airborne. She slammed against the wall as I tensed up, inhaling sharply as the air was let go and it rushed back into my lungs.

"Flo!" I gasped as I stood up. Her eyes flickered to me. "What the hell!?"

She gave me a lopsided smile. "I'm tired of listening to them brag about how you never fight back despite all this. I'm just defending your reputation if you won't."

My eyes were drawn away as the Water Elemental struggled to stand up, stretching her hand out. Without even an action from me, the air around the two of us shimmered before it heated up and turned a faint orange. Right as the water spout flew up. It slammed into the ceiling with a loud crash that made me wince before the entire force of the water was directed towards us. I barely felt the strain as the water rolled off my shield, hissing as some of it dissipated into steam. She was clearly struggling to maintain the water pressure. The floor was a wet mess now. I think there was a crack in the ceiling from how hard the metal tap had slammed into it.

I rolled my eyes and turned back to a terrified Flo. "I'll extend my shield, just duck down and turn off the main supply, will you?" She's not one for fights.

Flo nodded dumbly as the shimmering shield extended towards the sinks. Weaker Water Elementals couldn't maintain a very strong flow of water for very long. They usually found it even harder to create their own water out of thin air and tended to use available sources. The spray of the water increased as I cut its arc shorter and shorter. Flo ducked, and in another few seconds the water shut off. As Flo crawled out from under there, I gave the Water Elemental a cold glare. My head jerked towards the door. Seething as she was, I could see a bit of fear in her eyes as she stomped out. My shield dissipated with a warm gust as Flo stood up.

"That was..." She rubbed her arms, blue eyes flitting across the watery mess of a floor. "... intense."

"Which is why I usually let it go." I shrugged. "I mean, I'm pretty sure I could take them on. But if I fight every one of them, eventually I'd be kicked out of here. Girls snitch."

Flo cocked an eyebrow. "And you don't?"

"Not for a long time, no."

She sighed and picked up her bag as she headed towards the door. "I'm guessing you were in here because you're avoiding class?"

I nodded. "Physics. I'd rather sit through an orchestra performed by first-graders."

She burst out laughing as she pushed her red hair back. "That would be horrible. See you."

I grinned back. "Later, Flo. Have a good day."

I saw sadness pass through her eyes as she turned away. I didn't see her for the rest of the day after that. But I figured it was a step in the right direction.

I did have a niggling worry in my mind about her actions. She could be attacked too if this spread about her defending me. In that case, even Eric could get hurt. I trusted the two of them to be able to handle themselves. But earlier, Elizabeth was the only person we had to worry about. And now it was more or less Christopher's... fanclub? Wafi's fanclub? A Yaoi shippers group?

Oh my god, I can't look Wafi or Christopher in the eye ever again if I let my brain go ahead with this train of thought.

I looked up from my shoes as Rhaeya called for me to end my break and get back to training. I sighed as I stood up. "You know, if you make me practice too much I might even surpass you."

Rhaeya scoffed good-naturedly. "Sure, kid. We'll see about that when your shots start making an actual impact."

"I will topple you from that throne one day." I replied as I stopped beside her and raising my hand, palms facing the target.

"Yeah, yeah. For now, just settle for toppling that target."

Colin had fallen behind ever since the beginning. The other two in the top two couldn't hang in for very long against me. As alienated as I was from my own peers, this certainly didn't help. If I was a declared Royal, this would be expected behaviour but since I'm supposed to be nothing but a commoner, this is not normal. Possibly even bordering on abnormal.

Rhaeya had increased my training level for the Trials and she'd kept it at that level ever since. Earlier, we'd concentrated on combat over elements because I had a basic hang of that, but now I had to put more focus into mastering my powers. Christopher helped me with Water but I'd be tested on Fire so it was important to really give it my all here. She made me concentrate on my projectiles. To make smaller, more denser. Usually, they were  about as big as a soccer ball. The flames that flared out gave it a bigger look but as long as the core was small, it would be dense and it would impact harder. With less energy lost.

My breaks were a bit more frequent whenever we practiced elements and that's how my training ended, one long break that ended in me going home. I appreciated the gesture. She had eased off on others too. And while she usually left me alone to practice, there were times she made me a coach a few people here and there. Some didn't appreciate it, some did. Some were too indifferent. I think Rhaeya found it funny that it was mostly the boys from our class that needed my tutoring. I had been asked for one-on-one tutoring and it was all I could do to not gag.

I'm pretty sure some girls from my own Elemental batch hated me since the rumours as well but didn't really act on it like the others. As arrogant as this sounds, they knew what my strength really was like even if I didn't counter the minor aggressions against me. I didn't need to. I would just become the new Elizabeth.

I kept my head down as I walked across the parking lot. Had to keep an eye out for unnaturally upended tarmac because a fall here would hurt. Luckily the short walk was uneventful. I got on my bike and left. My eyes did linger on Eric's car as I passed by. The two of them were just getting in, and by the looks on their faces, at it as usual. They'll tear each other's throats out one day.

Brett was one of the people who really appreciated my change in transportation. He would usually spend about half an hour before rush hour, cruising around in it. I was fine with it as long as he topped up the gas each time.

"Hey, Fiera!" He popped his head in, the excitement in his voice making me jump.

I turned to look at him, keeping the mixing bowl down. His cheeks were wild red, brown hair unruly and grin wide. "You're back early." I cocked an eyebrow at his heaving chest. "Did you run back or... Where's my bike, Brett?"

"Calm down, your bike's parked outside." He inhaled deeply to control his breaths. "I sort of ran back in when I saw that we had a customer waiting."

Frowning, I started heading towards the door. "Did I not hear the bell?"

"No, no. We've just never let this particular customer use self-service."

There was a long pause where my brain put together pieces. I sighed and turned away. "I'll get the apron."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

"I better start getting paid for this." Was all I said as I pushed past him to exit the kitchen.

As expected, Christopher was there. He looked a bit annoyed till he glanced up from his mobile.

I tried to ignore the warm feeling in my stomach as I strode up to him. His blue eyes watched my every move, looking up at me as I came to stop by his table.

"Sorry about the delay. I didn't know someone was out here." I raised my notepad. "May I take your order?"

I'm pretty sure Christopher could see the confusion in my eyes. "I'm here to study for a while."

I cocked an eyebrow. "I didn't... ask?"

He leaned back easily with a smirk. "I figured I might as well tell you because I will be here for a couple of hours."

"Oh, joy." I rolled my eyes, my own smile hidden poorly. "Order?"

"Since you asked so nicely..." He glanced down at the open menu.

I took down his order, a smile thrown over my notepad as I walked away. Brett followed me inside after a while. "Jeez, so much for studying. He's been grinning down at his phone ever since you left."

I turned around slowly as I tucked my phone away discreetly in my apron pocket. "What does it matter to you? He's a paying customer."

Brett grumbled to himself knowing I was right. He came to work beside me. "You both still don't seem to be on good terms." He spoke up over the sizzle of the fries.

I shrugged. "Yeah. We're barely acquaintances."

"Even after a fight, a party, and dinner?"

"Three fights, two parties and one partridge in a pear tree." I chuckled at my own joke. "Doesn't mean anything."

"So much for the rumours flying around about you two."

I smiled down at the drink I was setting. My reflection stared back at me, eyes sparkling with a different kind of secret. "Yeah. So much for those."