Chapter 10

Hannah's POV

"Hannah?"

I looked up. Kowalski stood in the doorway of the kitchen. "Yeah?" I asked.

"Er... Skipper wanted me to... teach you how to fight." He said, looking away as if he felt awkward talking to me.

I blinked slowly. That was an odd request... I figured Wren had something to do with it. "Sounds cool," I said. Something caught my eye, and I looked out the window.

Skipper was training Wren on the front lawn. He was explaining something to her. She nodded and raised her fists, punching forward quickly. Skipper dodged to the left and lunged forward, pinning her to the ground. She said something to him and started struggling. I guessed that wasn't the first time Skipper had pinned her down.

I laughed, and Kowalski followed my gaze. He chuckled. "She's a bit... uncoordinated, isn't she?"

"Perhaps a bit," I said with a grin, walking out the front door. I decided to let Rico continue playing Black Ops. I mean, why not? He was kicking some serious butt. I wasn't about to get between him and the TV.

I turned to face Kowalski once we were outside. "Okay... now what?"

"Just try dodging my blows first," he instructed. I nodded, and got into position.

Kowalski threw a punch towards my face. I ducked quickly, and quickly slid to to the left as he threw a punch with his other fist.

"Nice," Kowalski praised me, kicking up with his right leg.

Catching me off-guard, he kicked me right in the stomach, and I fell backwards, landing on my back. "Ow." I stood, managing a a half-hearted grin. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea..."

"You're doing fine," Kowalski assured me. "Let's try again. This time, try to throw in some attacks of your own."

"I'll try; most likely, I won't succeed." I got into position once more.

This time, I threw the first punch. My fist brushed the side of his cheek as the intellectual dodged to the side. He also threw a punch; I ducked and kicked out with my right leg. Kowalski grabbed my leg and pushed me onto my back.

"You know, I find this slightly upsetting," I said as Kowalski pinned me to the ground, one hand on each of my shoulders.

He chuckled. "You just have to move more quickly."

"Easy for you to say. I don't exactly fight on a regular basis," I replied as he pulled me to my feet.

"AAHHH!" Wren screeched. Before I knew it, I was on the ground (again) with Wren lying on her back on top of me. "Ah-OW!"

"Heh. Whoops." Skipper said after sending my friend flying into me.

"Get. Off. Of. Me." I said with a cough.

"Too lazy."

"Wren." I groaned.

"Ugh."

Skipper pulled Wren to her feet. "Ahem. Sorry about that."

"As you should be," I groaned.

Kowalski looped his arms under my armpits and hauled me to my feet. "You alright?"

"I guess so."

Kowalski's POV

"Are you sure you're alright?" I asked. I assumed that Wren wasn't usually... thrown into her on a regular basis.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Kowalski. Thanks."

I looked over at Wren and Skipper. Wren had her arms crossed and eyes narrowed in irritation.

Wren sighed. "You know, sometimes I just wanna-" Wren punched Skipper in the chest- "Do something like that."

Skipper took a step towards Wren. "You know, sometimes I just wanna-" Skipper kissed her on the cheek- "Do something like that."