Alivia POV

"Absolutely not."

She can get hurt."

"I don't want you to get hurt anymore."

It had been a week. I was still mulling over what Trace said.

I probably shouldn't have.

I really shouldn't have.

But I took Trace's words to heart.

I wanted to make sure I was ready. I wanted to make sure I was okay. I wanted to make sure I was okay enough to fight someone.

I had to know.

I sat up in bed and watched my roommates.

Reb turned in her sleep, Kodi snored lightly, and Ames mumbled something. If they caught me out of my bed I was dead I knew it. I slowly crept out of bed and opened the door to our room.

I snuck out and walked to the boys' room down the hall.

I slowly pulled the knob down and opened the door.

I studied the room and looked for Jake.

Trace and Dondre shared a bunk bed on the left side of the room, Jake and Alex on the other. Luckily Jake slept on the bottom bunk.

I crept over to him and pushed my hand on his mouth.

His eyes shot open and he went to yell when I placed a finger to my lips.

"Alivia…why are you up so late," he asked after I removed my hand.

I sneaked a glance at the clock that read 1:25 A.M.

"I'm sorry I had to ask for a favor."

He raised an eyebrow. "What kind of favor?"

I took a deep breath and said "I need you to help me sneak out of Gallagher."

[{Twenty-five minutes later}]

We sat at the top of the steps waiting for him to be able to hack into the database.

"Does this have anything to do with lunch's "discussion"," he made air quotes and almost dropped his computer down the stairs. I caught it and placed it back on his lap

"Maybe."

"You don't have to do this Liv. We all know how strong you are at full strength." "But I'm not at full strength Jake. If something were to happen I would want to be able to take care of myself."

He shook his head.

"You are way too determined for my liking. Are you trying to get yourself hurt?" "I just want to know," I said forcefully.

He shrugged and typed away at his keyboard.

I sat with my arms resting on my knees, taking deep breaths. There was nothing better to do.

"I take it this is not the first time you've helped me sneak out of the school."

He shook his head, sending his hair flailing around.

"What gave it away?"

"The fact that you just easily agreed to help me sneak out without questions or a reward." "Please, I'm not Amelia or Alex. I don't ask questions and I don't hustle people. I help them."

I smiled and he smiled back.

"Okay, you need to count the minutes and be careful. You have exactly two hours before the system overrides mine and you get locked out. But I'm pretty sure you'll make it back in time. Just don't twist your ankle or tear your flesh out again."

I stared at him strangely.

"Is that an inside joke or something?"

He chuckled.

"Normally the people who are on the inside of the jokes remember them but hey, what more could I ask for?"

We walked down the steps quickly and quietly.

"As soon as it hits two o'clock even I'll start the time. You have until then to make it back." I gave him a quick hug.

"Thanks Jake." He squeezed me back.

"No problem. Just do me a favor. Try to make it back so you don't get locked out. I don't need Trace on my back again." I smiled and said "No problem." I placed my hand on the door knob and waited.

"Go."

I pulled the door open as fast as I could and ran.

[{Line Break}]

Running hurt.

My lungs couldn't move fast enough to get air in, my head pounded, and my entire body felt like it was on fire.

Yet it felt so good!

I took deep breaths and soon got to the P&E barn. I leaned against the doors and gulped in air like a fish out of water.

Finally when I was ready I pulled open the barn doors and walked inside.

The barn is huge.

There was a rock climbing wall, a mat in the middle of the floor for sparring, and a whole weapons rack that seemed to be used when Gilly herself was a teenager.

But I focused on the area with the punching bags.

I had to see if I was ready. I walked over and took a deep breath.

I stood in fighting position.

And then I punched.

The sound of my bare hand smacking the plastic covering echoed through the barn.

It sounded good.

It sounded strong.

So I did it again.

For an hour and a half I kicked and punched the bag. The adrenaline kept me going. The fact that I was getting stronger kept me going. The thought of being able to fight someone and win kept me going.

\I did one last spin kick and then I stopped.

I dropped to the ground and stared at the ceiling.

My breathing was rapid and my lungs were on fire. My fists ached and my legs felt like jelly. My head was pounding and felt too heavy for my neck to hold up.

"Conditioning," I choked out to myself.

No one could hear me in there.

That was for me only.

"It's going to take conditioning," I whispered.

I sat up and took a shallow breath. I had twenty seven minutes and thirty four seconds and counting to get back to the school. It was too early for most students to get up but it was just the right time for teachers to get up.

I got up slowly and stared at the punching bag.

"Tomorrow night…I'll be back."