Chapter 3
A Blindfold, A Wall, Coffee, and No Shoes Equals One Crazy Teacher

Charles

I got up at who knows what time just to meet Roxie at the field to help me practice and I'm pretty sure I stumbled a few times here and there. I can't believe that I seriously made myself get up this early just to do this. It's a miracle and it makes me pretty damn proud of myself. As the field starts to come in view, I see Roxie holding a cup of coffee once again. At least one of us is awake. I wish that I could have some of her coffee though.

"Hey Roxie, would you mind if I took just a little sip of your magic pick-me-up coffee please?" I asked her politely.

She actually looked a little meek. "I just finished it," she said and tipped the cup over to show it was empty. "Besides with how out of shape you are if you have coffee right now you'll be sick."

"Ugh c'mon I needed something to pick me up just a little so I'm not a complete zombie, but whatever I can deal. Let's just get the stupid running over with so that we can do the other exercise." Yay, there's absolutely nothing that will wake me up and at least make me feel alert so it looks like I'll just have to do it myself where's a bucket of water when I need it?

"If we finish with enough time I'll take you to get coffee." She said as we started running. Maybe it was just me but it seemed like she was holding back just so I could keep up. I wanted to ask why her pace was so different from regular but was afraid that if I said anything she would start to pick up speed just because I brought it up so I decided to leave it alone. Okay focus Charles, think of the delicious taste of hazelnut coffee slowly sliding down your throat and waking you up. Let that be your motivation.

"Boy I sure can't wait to do that course today so any chance that I get a little hint on what we're gonna be doing there this time?" I asked her with sarcasm and some interest mixed together.

"Well if you think hard enough you'll come up with the answer." She said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I felt my eyebrows lift as high as they could to the top of my head and for one second I stopped running. "You're gonna make me climb that wall again aren't you?" I knew that either way I would have to climb the wall I just didn't think it would be this soon if my feet weren't stuck to the ground I could have ran back to my dorm and forgotten about the deal we made but half of me had my feet firmly planted on the ground.

Roxie stopped running and came back to where I stood. "That depends, do you want to go over the wall?" she didn't wait for my response, "Well why not today?"

"Well let's see how about I still haven't conquered my fear of heights? What makes you think that today is going to be any different?" I was fine with never having to climb that stupid thing until the day that I had to possibly graduate from this school, just not today. Just looking at that thing made me feel like I was going to throw up my lunch. Roxie is really losing her mind!

"If you don't climb that wall then you'll never be able to reach your goal." She said with a fierceness that confirmed my thoughts of her losing her mind. "Don't focus on it now, focus on the task at hand and deal with what comes your way when it arrives. If you worry about all the possibilities in the real world, you will end up as a snack for a Strigoi. Now get running."

"Alright, alright, I guess you've persuaded me into doing it or more like you're pretty much forcing me." I could hear my feet hitting the ground as I started running again I need to think of something else instead of the wall. Think about the coffee Charles just think about that something to look forward to instead of dreading that stupid wall. Maybe if I named the wall it wouldn't be so intimidating to me. Let's see, a name for the wall Jack, Phil, Brian, Maria? I got it, Matthew, I'll just pretend that I'm climbing over my father and over to safety that's how I'll get myself to do this thing.

We ran the two miles around the school without any difficulty on my part afterwards I crashed on the grass while she passed me a water bottle and made me get up once again so we could start walking towards Matthew. It's his fucking fault that I'm afraid of heights. I used to love climbing trees before my dad started beating me. I remember that we always went to this field that was filled with daisies and this huge tree my mom and dad would always sit under it while I climbed it to the highest branch to get a great view to see the flowers. They were always so in love, I never quite understood why he built up this anger towards us like we weren't good enough of a family for him. Tears started to sting my eyes at that memory but I pushed them away as best as I could. "So uh how do you want me to climb this thing now that we're here?"

"Well, first off, I have to do it." She told me. "I won't make you do something unless I can do it." She reached into her magic pocket pulled out a Black bandana. Then it hit me. She started folding it with precision so that it would cover just her eyes.

"You're going to make me climb that wall blindfolded?" I asked her. Roxie was losing her freaking mind!

"Here's how this is going to work," she explained. "I'm going to blindfold myself and start to climb the wall. You'll be on the ground telling me when I get close to the top and where the rope is, stuff like that." She then walked over the Matthew. She looked up and I swear she gulped.

She was afraid! Roxie was afraid of going over the wall blindfolded. She never had done this before.

I watched as she tied the blindfold on, "Alright Charles, my life is in your hands now." she tried to joke, "Tell me where that rope is." I told her and she started to climb. She wasn't going fast, but I could tell this was freaking her out.

"The top is about a foot away." I said. She reached the top, swung a leg over and sat on the top. Her hands held tightly to the wall. I tried to figure out what she might be thinking. Maybe she is having a flash back. "Reach down and the rope is a few inches away from your knee." I instructed. She hesitated for only a second and grabbed the rope. She eased herself down and I told her when she was near the bottom.

She took off the blindfold and looked at me. "See," was all she said as she handed me the bandana. I took it before I even realized what I had gotten myself into.

Just breathe Charles, this is an obstacle that you are going to have to beat, whether you like it or not. I tied the bandanna around my eyes and almost had a panic attack until I took long deep breaths. I couldn't let this one thing take over the rest of my life or I'd be afraid of everything that enters my life and I just can't let that happen again. "Okay Roxie, am I close to the wall or am I walking in the wrong direction?" I asked her.

"Actually you're about three inches away from the wall," she told me; I reached forward and found Matthew and his rope.

I grasped onto it with both hands and started climb as best as I would listening to my feet hit the wooden board. I went slowly so I could feel when I hit the top it felt like forever but I finally made it. Then the my heart started beating double time and the world started to feel like someone had just spun it so I would lose my breath again. I made myself take short breaths so I wouldn't fall off but they weren't quite enough, so I tried something else. "Okay Roxie what do I do now?" I yelled down to her.

"Now move your hand down a little and you'll have the other rope." I heard her say, "And I hope you realize that if you took a breath you might actually make it."

"Oh, thank you so much on the advice about the breathing. I had no clue that would help, I was going more with not doing that and passing out." I said to her while I felt for the other rope she was talking about. When one of my hands found the rope I grasped it and jumped off the wall. I swung back then forward until I crashed into the wall, hard, and decided it would be a good idea to put my other hand on the rope. When both hands were on the rope I started to slowly climb down one hand at a time, before I knew it both of my feet were on the ground and I let go of the rope I actually made it down without passing out.

I took off the blindfold and looked to Roxie. She had a smile on her face but she didn't say anything.

"Well, I did good right? No passing out. No falling off? Can't I get a little bit of congratulations right now?" I had no clue if her silent smile meant that she was giving me congratulations just without her speaking to me. I was not aware we had our own secret language yet.

"Good job," She finally said. "I bet just a few minutes ago you didn't think you could do it." She traded me the bandana for a water bottle.

"You have no idea, so can I still get that coffee that you promised me earlier this morning, please?" I had finally done it. I faced my fears and managed to get up and down the wall without me blacking out or falling off and now the only thing I wanted in celebration of my accomplishment was coffee, sweet glorious coffee.

She laughed at me. "Yes, we can. Come on." We started walking.

Roxie

I guided Charles to the guardian building. I bet this was the first time he was coming in here without being in trouble.

"The coffee is in here. I may be the guardian who drinks the most coffee, but I'm not alone in my need for it." I told him. "Normally after the first year or so they start drinking a cup a day just for the kick it gives you to erase the last bit of sleep."

"This is exactly the pick me up that I need right now and that smell makes it even more delicious! Thanks for the coffee, Roxie."

I started to say something but was interrupted by a voice, "Guardian Szelsky," Alberta came up to us. "Don't tell me you're getting him addicted to coffee."

"Actually, he asked for some as a reward for getting out of bed early by himself." I told Alberta. She looked a little puzzled and looked at Charles. I looked too and saw him sipping his coffee.

"Yeah, it's true. I got out of bed all on my own and here I am having an awesome cup of Joe!"

"Well, I'm pleased you are starting to take this seriously." Alberta said before she left.

"So do you think you want to skip the weights tonight and try that course?" I asked as I made my coffee putting a little extra sugar in it. I was still a little shaken from that wall, but I had to do it because it got Charles to do it.

"Sure I guess I'll try the course again. It'll be kind of good to have a bit of change today instead of doing the weights tonight. One more time on the course today wouldn't kill me. I'm down for it." Charles thought as between sips of coffee.

"Good." I told him. "So I'll see you there, then. But for now I think you should go get some breakfast to go with the coffee."

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to be crabby while in one of my classes and get another one of Guardian Petrov's lectures. Well thanks again for the coffee; I'll see you later on today."

I waved as he left the building. I took the bandana out of my pocket and looked at it. Maybe I wasn't completely over my fear of heights, but I sure as hell am not going to let it stop me from being the best guardian I can be. I guess it's true what they say; you can fight the fire but you can't fight the fear.

I decided to go up to my room for a while; I didn't have duty for a few hours. I wasn't expecting to sleep, but maybe I could send an email to my brother. Austin was the person I imagine having to save while I climb that wall. I miss him.

Roxie

"Go," I called, Charles ran to the tires and got through them just like we worked on for the last ten minutes. He grabbed the rope at the bottom of the wall and climbed to the top. When he got a leg over the edge, I noticed his eyes were shut tight. He did exactly what he did this morning and hit the side of the wall. We'll have to work on that, I told myself. He got to the ground and hesitated slightly then headed for the rope that dangled over the fake trench. He reached for the rope then jumped over the trench. He didn't get off the rope as fast as I wanted, but he did pretty well, we had worked on this too. Then he took off for the barbed wire. He wasn't graceful in the least, but his technique had improved on this too, thanks to another twenty minutes of working, crawling back and forth. He made it to the end of the wire and stood. He scrambled to the monkey bars. This particular obstacle had taken over thirty minutes to get his technique to improve. He only slipped once but he managed to hold on to the bar. He ran to the log. I had shown him to use his speed to launch him up and over it. It should be easier for him than me, because he had about a foot of height on me. He got over the log but landed on his knees on the other side.

"Please tell me I got a better time," He gasped and reached out for the bottle I gave him.

"You did," I answered. "If you took out the wall it would be about twenty-nine seconds. But the whole thing took you thirty-six seconds."

"Ugh! Why is this so hard!" He plopped onto the ground. I sat down too.

"You just have to practice. And not practically kill yourself coming off the wall." He gave me a little glare. "I'm just saying it so you can improve."

"Yeah, I guess I could have done worse." He considered and finished off the water.

"Tomorrow is Saturday." I told him, "No school, but I want to still have practice. We can start at five again. This time practice will take a while. We'll run, then go into the weight room. You need to build muscle. Then we'll come out here and do some more on the course." Charles looked a disappointed at this. "Then you'll have the rest of the day off. And Sunday I won't have a practice in the morning, but if you want one, we can do it in the afternoon."

"Haven't you ever heard of sleep?" He asked incredulous."And why not Sunday morning? Wait, you can't be going to church."

"I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to, I have insomnia." I told him and got up. "And yes, I will be attending church in the morning. Just about the only thing I got from my dad was his religion."

"Has it ever crossed your mind that if you stopped drinking coffee you might be able to sleep?" Charles asked.

"Actually I tried that, but I still couldn't sleep."

"Wow that must really suck for you, how much sleep do you usually get anyway?" Charles said and stood up.

"Hmm," I thought. "About two and a half hours if I'm lucky. You can usually tell how much sleep I got by how much sugar goes into my coffee. The more sugar the less sleep." We started walking.

"Have you always had sleeping patterns like that? Or did it just come from something happening to you?"

"It's gotten worse as I got older." I told him. I didn't say anything else and we went our separate ways.

Charles

So, it's Sunday afternoon and like any other normal teenager I'd probably be hanging out with friends in the library or sleeping in my nice warm bed. Except I don't exactly have any friends to hang out with in the library or their dorm room so I did decide to take Roxie up on her offer and do the afternoon training. Surprisingly I wasn't as tired like I was a few days ago.

I was walking towards the field now to meet Roxie for training and I saw her as usual in the middle of the field with a cup of coffee. "So how much sugar did you put in your cup this time Roxie?"

"The normal amount," She said. I noticed something strange. She was taking off her shoes.

"So why are you taking your shoes off exactly?" Not even in my combat classes does the teacher make us take off our shoes or am I the only weirdo in that class that keeps their shoes on and no one cares. We can't be sparring can we? I mean would the impacts really be that effective or maybe she's doing it for another reason and I should just wait and see what she says back.

"I run better barefoot." She said and smiled. "Makes it more natural and you can run faster and longer without injury."

"Um, okay? Are you sure that some crazy person didn't randomly tell you to do that, I mean that seems kind of weird". I said to her. Running barefoot? I kind of want to try it out for some random reason but maybe I'll try it some other time when I don't think that she's completely weird. I guess she's not so bad and not all perfect like I thought she was, She's got flaws just like everyone else does. We started running at a semi fast semi slow pace. "So have you been running barefoot this whole time and I just haven't noticed?" I asked her.

"No, I've been wearing shoes since we met." She said lightly as we ran. "I normally run barefoot though." She started pick up the pace slowly, and I followed her lead and did the same.

"Oh that's cool. I'm sure that there are other people that have their own methods that they use to keep active. I guess if it works for you then awesome". I said to her. I don't think I even remember running like this every day except for when I ran track running was the only comfort I had and it was far away from the screaming, and abuse. Those few track meets were like my freedom to escape from the world and do whatever the hell I wanted and then things took a turn for the worse.

We finished the running and stopped for a few while I downed my first bottle of water. How the hell can she fit so many things into her pockets did she go to some special store to get them made or something? I pushed anymore random thoughts that I had to the back of my mind so I could focus on the task at hand like getting over Matthew again for the possibly fourth time that week. I walked to the tires and stopped. "Ok Roxie, I'm ready to start now!" I yelled to her from my spot.

"Remember how we practiced to wall yesterday." She called back. "Get ready, Go!"

I went through the tires like a viper, made it to Matthew the wall and grabbed the rope firmly. My eyes were open and I started climbing up the wall imaging something I really wanted was on the other side of the wall away from my father. I made it to the top and looked for the other rope once I found it I started to slowly climb down until I saw that I was getting closer and closer to the ground. I felt the grass on my feet, I ran to the barbed wire and started to crawl under the wires, my shirt almost hooked onto the wire maybe two or more times. Then I was onto the monkey bars. My hands grabbed onto each bar with ease like I was reaching for the sky I could hear the sound of the metal echoing because of how fast my hands would fly from one bar to the next. When I was finally done, I stopped for half a second to catch my breath, then I ran towards the log and jumped over. I ran to where Roxie was and plopped onto the ground. "So... what was my time?" I asked her still trying to catch my breath.

She had that cheesy grin of her's again. "You just made it at thirty seconds."

"Alright! Wait, that was better than my last time right?" For the second time this week, I hadn't fallen off that stupid wall. I guess things were really starting to look up for me and it was all thanks to Roxie and I guess I also had a part in it as well for not wanting to keep being an ass to people when they haven't even done anything in the first place. I'm pretty awesome I thought to myself while still laying in the grass.

"Yes, it's your best time yet." She said, "Do you know what that means?"

"My minds kind of blank at the moment, what does me having a best time yet mean Roxie?" She's got something under her sleeve and I wonder what it would possibly be. Maybe I get to have another coffee but that wouldn't make sense because it's pretty much the afternoon know or maybe she's going to teach me how to fight. "Are you going to teach me some fighting skills?" I asked her again.

"Yep, you won't get your ass handed to you tomorrow in class when I'm through with you."

"Oh yea, I'm silently jumping for joy because I know that I'm going to get my ass handed to me by you so uh yeah how does that make it better?" Well that is a pretty good thing that she's going to help me learn how to fight but I just know that I'm going to be completely sore tomorrow. Though I'm sure that I'll improve way more than from the last few days that I've been going to that class. I'm sure she knows what she's talking about so something in my gut is telling me that I have no reason not to trust her on this.

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed this chapter and we would love to hear from you, so dont be shy, send us a review. We would also like to thank Deanna64for reviewing Chapter 2. As our way of thanking you, we would like to give the tittle to Chapter 4, Guardian Szelsky to the Rescue.

Happy reading everyone!