"Attention, class!" Mr. Hawk proclaimed as the school bell rang and the students looked up to the front of the class to see what the energetic art teacher was saying. "Today we are starting our next projects! I want you all to do an abstract self portrait! I'm talking about what makes you you! The inner demons! The passion! Your very being embodied on canvas!"

He hoisted a fist into the air before he paused and scanned the classroom, seeing a lot of confused looks.

He lowered his fist and nodded. "In other words, you're going to be painting a representation of yourself without actually painting you. There are no limits to this! If you feel that you are represented by a flaming dragon then paint that! Or maybe if you feel that you are more of an amalgamation of shapes and colors. Either way, we're all going to a deeper level here so leave your mind at the door and prepare to paint with your heart."

There was another moment of silence as all of the students stared at Mr. Hawk while he clutched at his chest dramatically.

"Well," he said slowly. "Let's get to it! If you have any questions just let me know!" He left the front of the class and began to walk around the room. The class began to chatter amongst themselves.

Sitting at one of the tables in the back, Adora looked down at her empty canvas and yawned groggily. "How do we paint ourselves without painting ourselves?"

From the opposite side of the table, Perfuma spoke up, her voice soft and relaxed. "Well we are painting ourselves, Adora. Our truest selves. You just have to channel your soul onto canvas."

"Ah," Adora said simply, staring down at the table in front of her for a moment. "And, uh...how do I do that?"

"Well you just kinda paint what feels right, I think," Glimmer answered thoughtfully. She was sitting in the chair nearest to Adora.

With the new semester, Adora's schedule, along with everyone else's, had changed. She still had an art class in the morning and she was happy to still have Perfuma in her class. And now she had Glimmer too.

"How do I know what feels right?"

"Well," Glimmer said, chewing on the tip of her paint brush handle. "Mom tells me that my dad used to just start painting without any direction in mind. And even if he went through dozens of canvases before he finally got something he wanted, he always ended up with what he was looking for. Even when he didn't know it."

"See that sounds awesome," Adora answered. "But I'm not anywhere near as good as your dad."

"Well but he was a professional. You gotta find a process that works for you, y'know?"

Adora thought about this for a moment. "Hmmm. I usually just look up pictures of other paintings and then go off of those, but I can't really find my 'inner self' on Google. What's your process?"

"I like to do what my dad did, but without going through a million canvases. I just paint what I want and then I paint over it if I don't like it."

"That's cool. Do you have a process, Perfuma?

Perfuma looked up when Adora turned to her and the girl took out her earbuds. The volume was turned up loud and as she put the buds on the table, Glimmer and Adora could hear the faint sound of panflutes and chimes.

"What was the question?" She asked calmly.

"Do you have a process for painting?"

"Oh yes. Would you like to hear it?"

Adora nodded and Perfuma took a deep breath. "Step one, I listen to my music and achieve a state of Zen."

"Okay. Zen. Noted," Adora responded.

"Step two, while in my state, I try to clear my mind and manifest some kind of idea of what I should paint."

"And then you just see it?" Glimmer asked curiously.

"Not usually at first," Perfuma answered. "It can take a lot of time. But eventually I am presented with the image of what I need to create. And then for step three I just give form to that vision."

Adora nodded. "Okay, sweet. Yeah, that sounds pretty doable. Like a dream kinda?"

"Yeah, kinda." Perfuma smiled endearingly. She was glad that she still had Adora in her art class. Adora was one of the few people that she could talk to about stuff like this who would actually listen. And she was always so nice.

"Well I don't really have many dreams, but I like the idea of just seeing what I need to paint before I paint it," Adora said thoughtfully.

"Well why don't you try it out?" Perfuma asked.

Adora nodded. "Yeah I'll give it a shot. Step one...uh…"

"Achieve Zen," Perfuma offered.

"Right," Adora said. "So just sit here and close my eyes?"

"Yup. Just like meditation. And then when you're deep in there, clear your mind and wait for the image of the painting."

Glimmer watched the exchange in avid fascination as she brainstormed ideas for her own painting.

Adora closed her eyes. She wasn't used to meditating in public and the noise from all the students was loud and distracting. She found it hard to get comfortable.

With her eyes closed, it suddenly dawned on Adora how tired she was. She hadn't been getting much sleep lately. There had been bad nights off and on for the last few months, but for the past couple weeks it seemed to be getting even harder for her to actually fall asleep.

And now she could feel the tempting lull of her drowsiness as the voices around her began to quiet and she felt herself dozing off slightly.

Then she heard a voice, louder than the rest.

"Gooood morning, art pals! Why is Adora asleep?"

Adora decided to give up on finding her Zen and opened her eyes to see a curious face a couple feet from her own.

"Morning, Double Trouble," Adora said with a smile.

Perfuma sighed. "She was trying to find her Zen and you interrupted her."

"How is she gonna find anything if she has her eyes closed?" Double Trouble asked.

Perfuma frowned and then Double Trouble laughed loudly. "I'm kidding! I know what Zen is. Duh! You shoulda seen the look on your face, though, Flowers." Double Trouble sat down in their usual spot at the table.

Perfuma opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it. Her and Double Trouble had butted heads since the first day of class.

Double Trouble patted Adora on the back. "Good morning, you. I heard you absolutely obliterated everyone at your track meet again."

"I did pretty alright," Adora admitted.

"Ah. Catra said you'd say that. And then she told me to tell you, and I quote, 'Adora you are an incredible athlete and impossibly awesome and I'm proud of you'."

Adora chuckled, thinking of Catra. "I'm getting Double Trouble-grams now?"

Double Trouble shrugged. "I do have better delivery than most people. But also congrats on your running and stuff."

"I don't do the running events," Adora said, amused. "But thanks."

"Oh it all blends together with me," Double Trouble said, waving a hand around in the air around them. "Sports."

"Here we go again," Glimmer said, not looking up from her canvas.

Double Trouble didn't seem to hear her and they were already starting their sports rant. "I mean physical talent is fine and all, but compared to what you're doing with me and Catra? Incomparable. Theater is the only true sport. Theater is the lifeblood of c…"

Double Trouble was interrupted by Mr. Hawk, who approached the table and tapped them on the shoulder.

"Good morning, Double Trouble."

"Good morning, sir," Double Trouble said with a polite smile and tone.

Adora hid her smile as she watched Double Trouble sit up attentively. She had seen this act enough times to know how this would go. Her and her tablemates shared a look and then set down their brushes to watch the show.

"Well I hate to do this," Mr. Hawk said uncomfortably. "But you were late again. And I am gonna have to mark you tardy this time."

Double Trouble's face dropped instantly and they looked up at Mr. Hawk with wide eyes. "Oh, but, Mr. Hawk. I can't have another tardy on my record. I might have to go to a detention!"

Mr. Hawk frowned. "I know. And that is a shame… But I can't keep letting this slide or Principal Hope will get onto me."

Double Trouble sighed, looking absolutely crestfallen. "I understand. You have to do what you have to do. You're a good teacher."

"I...well...I just try to help," Mr. Hawk said as he began to turn to walk away.

"I like to help people too," Double Trouble said, drawing Mr. Hawks attention. He turned back and they continued. "I was actually just helping my little sister to school this morning. And Mr. Hawk, you wouldn't believe what happened when we got there."

Mr. Hawk looked conflicted, but his interest was piqued. "What happened?"

Double Trouble shook their head and clicked their tongue. "It's hard to talk about. But when I dropped my little sister off...there were these older kids picking in her. They were so terrible. Pushing her around and calling her names."

"Oh my that is terrible," Mr. Hawk said, his face now only displaying pity.

"It was," Double Trouble agreed pitifully. "So I got out and went to her. I chased off those bullies and helped her pick up her things. And then we sat and I tried to make her feel better. I just...I just had to hold her as she cried in my arms." At this point Double Trouble had tears in their eyes.

Adora had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing aloud. This was one of their better performances to date. It was always a shoe-in when they brought out the tears.

Mr. Hawk looked terribly upset by this story. "I... I'm very sorry. That must have been so hard."

"Very, very hard," they said distantly. They put a hand to their eyes and rubbed the tears away, sniffling lightly. "But I'm glad I was there for her. It did make me late to school, though, because I had to stay with her. But...it was worth it. And I understand that I need to have consequences for my actions."

Mr. Hawk opened his mouth slightly and then absentmindedly twirled his moustache. "I... there's…" he stuttered a few times before closing his eyes for a moment and then opening them again. "You know...what you did for your sister was a good deed. A beautiful thing indeed. Some would say that it was a work of art. And if you were performing a social art then I suppose you were technically doing art before class had even started. Don't worry about the tardy."

Double Trouble gaped and looked up at the teacher in disbelief. "Are you sure? I...I should be punished for breaking school rules."

Mr. Hawk shook his head earnestly. "No, no. As far as I'm concerned you were here from the moment the bell rang."

"Thanks, Mr. Hawk. You're really the best."

"Oh, I'm just a teacher," Mr. Hawk said with a smile. There were tears glistening in his own eyes. "Enjoy your morning. I'm sure your lovely tablemates can fill you in on the project. I can't wait to see what you create."

Mr. Hawk smiled at Double Trouble one last time before walking away from the table.

The second his back turned, Double Trouble's lips twisted and curled up into a devilish grin. They turned to their tablemates. "Okay, hit me with it. How'd I score this time?"

"Oh a ten," Adora said, laughing quietly. "Definitely a ten."

"I gotta agree with Adora," Glimmer said with a nod. "I mean that even made me feel bad for you. Do you even have a little sister?"

"Ha! No," they answered, twirling their hair around one finger and smiling proudly.

Glimmer clapped slowly and Double Trouble did a little bow before turning their attention to Perfuma. "And you, Flowers?"

Perfuma frowned. "You can't keep lying to Mr. Hawk like that. It's so dishonest."

"Is it though?" Double Trouble countered. "If he never knows it was a lie, then to him it's the truth, right?"

"That's not how that works at all," Perfuma said.

Double Trouble just shrugged in response. "But what's the score, though? I'm dying to know." They leaned forward and rested their chin on the heels of their hands in anticipation.

"Well...I have to detract some points for the injustice of it all."

"I'd expect nothing less," Double Trouble replied in their usual sultry voice.

Perfuma sighed. "It was...it was like...an eight."

Everyone else at the table gasped. Perfuma looked guilty and stared down at her canvas.

"That's the first time you've ever given them over a five!" Glimmer said, surprised.

"I know," Perfuma said disappointedly. "It was...good...in a bad way."

Adora laughed and Double Trouble smiled, satisfied with their positive reviews. "Just you wait until my next one, Flowers. I'll get you to give me a ten one day."

"No way. That is against everything I stand for," Perfuma said hastily, shaking her head.

"We'll see about that," they responded slyly. "So anyway...art...what exactly are we 'arting' today?"

The table explained the assignment to Double Trouble and the rest of art class went as it usually did. Perfuma spent most of the class with her eyes closed while Glimmer and Double Trouble started on their paintings.

Adora just mulled over what she wanted to paint and tried not to fall asleep at her table. As she rubbed the tired out of her eyes, she realized that this was going to be a long day.


"SNAP!"

Adora woke up to a loud sound and she jerked up suddenly. Her eyes snapped open and she hastily took in her surroundings. She heard the sound of hushed laughter around her and instantly saw the imposing figure of Mrs. Weaver hovering over her. She did not look happy.

"Adora. If you are going to fall asleep in my class, the least you can do is refrain from snoring."

Adora reddened immediately and looked down at her hands without saying a word.

"We'll continue with our lecture. And Adora...see me after class."

Adora nodded a little and then looked down at her notes. She hadn't even written anything down. She rubbed at her eyes and blinked a few times. She felt like all the students in the class were looking at her and she tried not to think about it as she pretended to write something down on the page.

Adora struggled through what remained of the class. It felt like it took hours, but eventually the bell rang and the students left. Except for Adora, who walked up to Mrs. Weaver's desk trepidatiously.

"Hey, Mrs. Weaver. You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes," she replied. She gestured to a smaller seat by her desk and Adora sat in it. "First off, I apologize if I embarrassed you earlier."

Adora was surprised at the apology and shook her head instinctively. "It's fine."

"Well, regardless, it wasn't my intention to mock you and I won't do it again. But I can't say I'm pleased."

"I know. I'll try to stay awake. It wasn't boring or anything, I just didn't sleep great last night."

Mrs. Weaver cast her an insightful glance and cleared her throat. "You've always been a good student, Adora. Attentive. Eager. And always willing to learn. I can't lie, I had my doubts after you got a detention your first day, but since then you've proved that you can be a good student. An excellent one in fact."

"Thank you."

The teacher nodded. "But...lately I've been noticing a shift in your performance. Your papers used to be best in the class. And now they're just...not cutting it. Not to mention that you're always dozing off during lectures."

Adora frowned. She had felt that maybe things weren't running as smoothly as they used to, but she hadn't known it was so obvious.

"I just wanted to let you know that if there's anything you need help with, or if anything is keeping you from excelling, that there are many trained professionals here at the school that can help you. Are you perhaps having trouble balancing school and track?"

"No," Adora answered quickly. "Track hasn't gotten in the way at all."

Mrs. Weaver looked Adora over. "I understand. But again, I hate to see any student slip like this. And with such a bright mind, I'd hate to see you waste it."

"Thank you Mrs. Weaver," Adora said. "It's really just my sleep I think. I'll get it under control and get back on track. Promise."

Mrs. Weaver seemed content with this. "Alright. Then I look forward to that. You can leave. And for the homework tonight I won't grade you harshly if you just go through it quickly and get some rest, alright?"

Adora nodded and grabbed her backpack. "Will do."

She walked out of the room and the second the door closed behind her she let out a long exhale. She needed to snap herself out of whatever funk she was in and she needed to do it soon. She didn't want her grades to fall and she definitely didn't want to fall asleep in class anymore.

Adora promised herself that tonight she'd force herself to get good rest. Even if she had to knock herself out to do so.


"Look at him. Look at him sitting over there. Being all...dumb." Glimmer shot daggers across the lunch room at Bow, whose back was turned to them.

Glimmer, Scorpia, Adora, Kyle, and Rogelio were all sitting at the large combination of two lunch tables that had at some point been deemed the peace table. In part because the infamous grudge between Catra and Glimmer had lifted and now they could all sit at one big table and hang out together.

"He did say that he'd sit with us tomorrow," Scorpia reminded her, trying to lift the girl's spirits.

"Yeah but he used to sit over here every day," Glimmer said, crossing her arms. "And now he's sitting with dumb Dani and dumb Dani's friends."

"Well I'm sure they aren't dumb," Scorpia suggested. Glimmer shot her a look and Scorpia held her arms up in defense. "I'm just being the devil's advocate here, Glim."

"Well I don't want a devil's advocate," Glimmer said grumpily. "I want, like, an angel's advocate. Who agrees with me here? Kyle? Rogelio?"

Kyle shrugged. "I'm not sure. I don't know Bow as well as you guys so I can't tell if he's been acting much different. But I get wanting to sit with your boyfriend." He smiled at Rogelio who smiled back at him.

Glimmer nodded. "Well. That leaves just me then.

Assuming you're still thinking I'm overreacting, Adora."

Glimmer looked over to Adora and saw that the girl hadn't even noticed her. She was staring at her tray.

"Hey," Glimmer said, a little louder this time, waving her hand in front of Adora.

Adora looked up in surprise. "What did you say? Sorry."

"I was just saying...ah, never mind. You doing alright?"

"Yeah I'm just tired," Adora explained. "Slept bad."

Glimmer regarded Adora warily and Scorpia looked at Adora, noticing the bags under her eyes.

"Well if you're having trouble sleeping, I might be able to help," Scorpia said. "My mom sometimes has trouble sleeping too and so she makes this special tea that she always drinks and it knocks her right out."

"Huh. Yeah that actually sounds great," Adora said thankfully.

"I'll text you the recipe," Scorpia said excitedly, pulling out her phone.

"Awesome. Thanks."

"Yeah sure thing," Scorpia responded, happy to help. "Hey, is Catra with Entrapta today?"

"Yeah she is," Adora answered. Catra had been going and having lunch with the girl about once a week for a few months now. Adora wasn't sure what they talked about, but Catra seemed to really like the girl and they got along well. Plus, Adora figured nobody should have to eat alone in a dark auditorium audio booth every day and she was glad that Catra was with her.

Still, Adora missed Catra today and wanted to vent to her about her problems. She supposed they'd see each other after school and have a little time before theater and track. Adora's heart sank at the thought of having to practice tonight. She just wanted to go home.

Adora wavered between listening to the conversation at the table and worrying about the afternoon.

Glimmer continued her rant as she waved around a banana. "See, the fact that Catra eats lunch somewhere else some days and Adora stays here, or that Mermista eats with her friends sometimes while I'm over here just goes to show that Bow is just acting whack, right? I mean, he hasn't once eaten lunch without having Dani there. Whether he's here or there."

"Glim, you gotta calm down," Scorpia said. "Your forehead vein is doing that bulging thing it does when you get all heated."

Glimmer pouted. "Okay I'll calm down. But I just feel like I'm the only one who cares enough."

"Well, I think you make some good points," Scorpia sympathized. "And I think it's sweet you care so much about your friends."

"Well thanks, Scorpia! That's how you reaffirm someone! All you others better take notes."


The rest of the school day crawled by slowly and soon all of the students had gone home for the day.

Except for the select few students who had stuck around after school for theater practice.

"Why are you doing all of this anymore? You know you won't make it out of this," Adora said dramatically, her voice carrying out across the empty auditorium.

Catra, who stood opposite her, grunted and shrugged. "Maybe I don't wanna make it out. Maybe...maybe this is my last stand.

Adora paused for a moment. "Well...that's…" Adora pressed her lips together hard as she tried to remember what to say. "That's...uh...you, uh…darn…"

"Cut!" Came a shout from the front row of the auditorium seats. Adora disappointedly looked down to where the voice had originated from.

Double Trouble was sitting with their legs propped up on another chair, a clipboard in their hands. "Adora, that's the tenth time you've forgotten your line since rehearsal started. That's a record I think."

"I know," Adora replied frantically. "I just...the line is there one second and then when I get to it I just blank."

"Which is totally fine," Catra said calmly as she sidled up next to Adora and looped her arm around the girl. "Can we take a break, boss?"

Double Trouble thought about it and finally nodded reluctantly. "A short break. But only because I care. And Catra, darling, if you could put a little more of your classic roguish gruffness into your performance that would just perfect your lines."

"If you let me use the prop gun I'd be so much more in character!" Catra countered.

"No prop gun until showtime," Double Trouble reminded the girl. "Now take a break you two. I'm gonna run and find Traps real quick. I had a crazy lighting idea."

The girls nodded as their theater director hopped up and headed off towards the booth. Catra shook Adora lightly

"What's up, babe? Usually I'm the one messing up all the lines."

"It's just a rough day," Adora said. "I'm tired and my mind's everywhere."

"I'm sorry," Catra said supportively. "Here, sit."

Adora did as she was told and sat down on the stage. Catra went and sat behind her and began rubbing at her shoulder muscles.

Adora closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief at her touch. "That helps."

"It always does," Catra said proudly. "Kinda my secret weapon. But why are you so tired anyway? Were you up all night thinking about me?"

Adora chuckled and eased back into Catra as she continued to squeeze at her muscles that were still sore from track. "I do think about you a lot. But that's not why. I just couldn't turn my mind off, y'know? But I'll catch up tonight I'm sure."

"Hmm. If you say so," Catra said. "You got a huge knot right here." Catra dug her palms into a spot on Adora's back causing Adora to grit her teeth and then relax as she felt relief. "You know, you'd probably sleep better if I was laying next to you."

Adora grinned widely. "I probably would. But you'd have to sneak into my house."

"I could probably manage," Catra mused. "I do know where you keep the spare key."

"Don't do that," Adora said playfully.

"I might just!" Catra insisted. "If you have trouble sleeping tonight just let me know and I can ninja my way inside of that house in a heartbeat."

"You're sweet," Adora said. "But I'll manage. I'm gonna drink some tea and meditate before bed."

"Someone's been spending too much time with Perfuma," Catra joked.

"Hey if it works, it works."

"Good point. I usually just count the stars on my ceiling and before I know it, I'm asleep."

"Well maybe I'll try counting too."

"Y'know...you've been pretty tired for a while now, huh? Maybe you have some kind of insomnia or something?"

Adora shook her head. "I don't think so. Maybe it's just a change in my schedule. Like maybe it changed when I started track or something."

"Yeah maybe," Catra said. "But if it keeps up you should probably, like, get some kind of sleep aid, right?"

"It's not every night," Adora promised. "But if it gets worse I'll get some pills or something."

"That's my girl." Catra slapped Adora on the back to signal that she was done with the massage.

"Aw, you're tapping out already?" Adora asked with a grin as she turned to face her girlfriend.

"My hands got tired," Catra complained, shaking her wrists around limply. "But I'll get you again tomorrow."

Adora looked the girl over and suddenly felt better than she had all day. Something about having a whole person there to back her up when she needed it was incredibly reassuring.

"I love you," Adora said matter-of-factly.

Catra looked pleasantly surprised by the declaration of love out of nowhere. "I love you too."


"Keep it up, Adora! You're slowing down!" Coach Huntara yelled to Adora as they did their daily run around the track.

Adora gritted her teeth and pushed harder, causing her muscles to strain as she pumped her legs even faster. She hated running. And especially when she was exhausted.

Her surge of speed only lasted so long before she felt her body start to force her to slow down again. At this point she was breathing harder than usual. But she kept on at a slower pace regardless.

She heard footsteps come up beside her and heard a voice.

"You, uh...you doing okay?"

Adora looked over and saw Lonnie running beside her. She didn't exactly look concerned, but she was definitely wondering what had Adora performing worse than she usually did.

Adora just nodded in response and continued running. She wasn't sure that she could actually spare the breath to respond vocally anyway.

Lonnie accepted the answer and shrugged. Then she sped up and passed Adora, which is usually something that would make Adora want to try even harder. But today she just didn't have it in her.

When she finished the run, her breathing was ragged and she clutched at her stomach as she hobbled over to the field and fell back upon it. The cool grass felt good on her neck and back and her chest rose and fell as she recovered.

After what felt like not near enough resting time, Coach Huntara announced to the team that it was time for individual practice, in which the members of the team would train in whatever events they performed in.

Adora excelled in throwing, specifically shot put, javelin, and discus, so after some consideration, she made her way over to a portion beside the main field that was cordoned off for javelin throwing. She stretched her arms as she walked over.

She instantly noticed that Lonnie was throwing javelins as well. Lonnie wasn't something that stopped Adora from doing things anymore, but Adora still noticed when she was around.

They hadn't actually interacted much since working together on a project last semester. They had occasionally greeted each other or even briefly congratulated each other when they did good at meets. But as far as anything negative or hostile, they hadn't clashed in a long time.

Because of this, Adora had no problem going over to the javelin throwing area and picking up her favorite practice javelin from the rack. She walked up to a point several feet from Lonnie and stared down the field.

A calm evening breeze was drifting across the field, but other than that there was no wind interference. Adora took a deep breath and got in the proper stance, gripping the javelin in her right hand.

She took a bit of a running start and before reaching a taped line on the field, she stretched her arm back and then pumped it forward, propelling the javelin as it left her hand and arced up into the sky.

Adora instantly knew that she had gotten the angle wrong. She watched, dissatisfied, as the javelin arced way too low and wobbled a bit awkwardly in the air before striking the ground. It was definitely not her best.

She put her hands on her hips and took a breath. She was not feeling track today.

She stepped back and watched as Lonnie performed her own throw, releasing better and getting a much better arc. The javelin stuck into the ground much further away than Adora's.

Lonnie looked surprised. "I don't normally beat you, Adora. You getting soft?"

Adora grunted. "Yeah you wish. Just my wrist is going all haywire today. Probably just that."

"Ah, so your wrist made you run worse too?" Came a voice from behind Adora and she turned to see the hulking form of Coach Huntara standing over her.

Adora frowned at the comment.

"Look, I get it. There are bad days sometimes. But that doesn't mean we can't turn it around. Do a few throws for me now. I'll help you through 'em."

Adora nodded and her and Lonnie went to fetch their javelins. With her coach's guidance, Adora was able to do a little better, but her usual strength just wasn't there. Even after a dozen throws, she was showing no signs of improvement.

Huntara stopped her after a while and called her over.

"I'm telling you, my wrist just feels kinda funny I think," Adora said as she walked up to the coach.

Huntara didn't look convinced. "It's not just in your wrist. It's everything else too."

"Well there's good days and bad days, like you said."

"That's true. But... you've been performing gradually worse over the last few weeks as well."

"What? I...I do great at meets!" Adora pointed out.

"You do. But I expect you to. Adora, you're a natural at this stuff. You could really have a future here. So of course you're still doing great at meets. But I've seen you practice and I know you can do much better."

Adora started to disagree but then stopped. Huntara was right. She had noticed herself doing worse lately, even if she was still getting first at meets.

Huntara put a huge hand on Adora's shoulder. "Look. I think you just need a little break. This looks like a classic case of fatigue."

"I...I guess I can stop practicing on my own time. Take it easier."

Huntara shook her head. "No I mean a real break. Cold turkey. I want you off this track for the next two practices. You need time to shake whatever this is."

Adora's eyes widened. "Coach I can't miss two practices like that! I'll fall behind!"

"You'll fall behind if you keep pushing yourself too hard," Huntara assured her. "Trust me. Your health is more important. Take a few days. Just relax."

"But track is how I relax," Adora reasoned.

"Well then find a new way," Huntara demanded. "And I'll be keeping an eye on you in weights class too. Making sure you don't overexert yourself."

Adora sighed and looked around the field for a while before nodding. "Fine. Two practices. But then I'm back."

"And I'm sure you'll be better than ever," Huntara said with a smile. "Practice is just about over anyway so you can head to the locker room and clean up early."

"Actually I was thinking I could get a few more throws in and try to g…"

"Nope," Huntara said as she plucked the javelin out of Adora's hands. "Break begins now."

Adora groaned and walked off to the locker rooms.

She went through the process of changing. She held off showering until she got home. Even though the locker room was empty right now, she still never felt comfortable showering in such a public area.

She packed up her sports bag and called Angella to let her know that she was ready to be picked up.

The rest of her teammates came into the locker room a few moments later. A couple of them greeted Adora and a few of them even asked if she was feeling okay. Adora insisted that she was feeling fine and the other girls seemed glad to hear it.

Then Adora heard a familiar voice entering the locker room and frowned. She should've gotten out of here before the others got in. She grabbed her bag and made for the door, but was blocked off by the person she had wanted to avoid.

A girl walked around the corner and smiled as she came face to face with Adora. She was tall and had wavy black hair with sculpted features and a perfect smile. She was flanked by two other girls who were always hanging out with her.

The girl cleared her throat politely and stood blocking the majority of the doorway. It looked like she had no plans to move.

"Well hey there, Adora," Jen said in a singsong voice.

"Hey, Jen," Adora said, eyeing the space in the doorway that was still available to her.

"You skipped out on practice a little early today, huh?" Jen said with a little pout.

"Well coach made me," Adora explained.

Jen cocked her head curiously. "Oh? Are you sick or something?"

"No, coach just thought I needed a break," Adora said. She gripped her bag handle a little tighter.

Adora usually made it a practice to try and avoid Jen and her little crew. She had never actually had any bad experiences with Jen herself, but she had heard plenty of not-so-great stories from people she knew.

Kyle said that Jen would always taunt him and Rogelio in the halls. Bow said that she was one of the few people in the school that he didn't want to befriend. And everytime Jen's name was mentioned around Catra, the girl would just grimace and say, 'ugh'.

Despite this negative feedback, Adora had never actually felt threatened by Jen. She was maybe a little abrasive, but had never said anything explicitly mean to her. Regardless, with so many of her friends saying that she was bad news, Adora had decided to take their word for it and keep her distance.

This was a little hard to do though as they were both on the team. Jen also happened to be one of the best members on the entire team. She did a lot of the running events and always dominated. She hadn't actually said a word to Adora until after the first meet, when Adora had done better in her events than most any new member before her. After that, Jen and her crew of friends often made it a point to check in on her.

"A break, huh?" Jen questioned. "Well I sure hope you aren't gone long. We need you here. Someone's gotta carry everyone else's dead weight." Jen made sure to say this last part louder than the rest and it caused a few of the other girls in the locker room to look over slightly. The girls flanking Jen chuckled lightly.

"Well...uh…" Adora stalled awkwardly. She wasn't sure how to respond to this.

"But anyway," Jen said casually. "Hope you feel better or whatever."

"Yeah...me too," Adora said curtly, hoping to get out of the situation.

Jen stood there for a few more moments before finally stepping through the door, her friends following closely behind.

Adora waved a quick goodbye and headed out of the locker rooms. She let out an exhale as she got away and headed towards the parking lot outside the track and field where Angella or Glimmer always picked her up.

She saw that her ride wasn't here yet and put her back up against the wall of the chain gate that bordered the track. She slumped to the ground and waited to be picked up.

"I need to learn how to drive," Adora muttered to herself. Angella had been trying to get her to go driving lately, but Adora kept putting it off. Still, she supposed that she'd have to learn how eventually if she didn't wanna have to keep being carted around everywhere.

She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her messages, smiling at a picture of her and Catra that was set as her wallpaper. It was from one of the nights at Lucille's diner. Adora was dangling a fry in front of Catra's face and the girl was desperately trying to catch it with her teeth. It was one of Adora's favorite pictures of them. Catra didn't like it as much because she said she looked like a rabid animal. This was the whole reason Adora liked it in the first place.

Adora looked up from her phone as she heard voices coming from under the stadium and out to the gate where she was sitting. Somebody seemed to be having a conversation. And it sounded like Jen's voice.

"So, you didn't do so hot last meet, huh?" Jen's voice asked somebody, her voice echoing around the bleachers.

"I did fine," came a gruff response. "Leave me alone."

Adora listened to the voice and thought about it for a bit. Was that Lonnie?

"Oh, look at you being all tough," Jen said tauntingly. "I'm just trying to push you to do better."

There was no response from the other voice and Adora could hear them getting closer. She looked down at her phone and pretended that she wasn't listening.

"I mean," Jen said tauntingly. "If you don't get a scholarship from track...well, let's face it... it's not like you'll be able to get into college on smarts alone."

Adora's eyes widened and she looked over to the gate entrance in shock. She had never heard Jen say anything that mean to one of her teammates before. Underhanded comments sure, but nothing like that.

She didn't hear a response from the other person and realized that if it really was Lonnie she had heard, then things could get real bad back there.

But instead it stayed quiet and after a few moments, Jen walked out through the front gate, smiling proudly. She noticed Adora propped against the fence and waved to her before heading off to the parking lot.

Adora watched her go and then craned her neck to look back at the gate entrance. Nobody else came out. Adora stood up slowly and shouldered her bag.

She went around to the gate and entered the stadium again. She didn't see anybody in the immediate area. She looked over her shoulder and didn't see her ride arriving so she walked deeper into the stadium and looked around more, trying to find whoever Jen had been speaking to.

Adora walked past a spot under the bleachers that Catra and her had once sat at during a football game. As she looked over to the area, she noticed somebody sitting on a bench and looking down at the ground.

She could immediately tell it was Lonnie.

For some reason, it didn't seem to make sense that Jen had been talking to Lonnie like that. Picking on Lonnie seemed...impossible. She was always so tough.

Adora shrugged off her initial surprise and slowly crept up to the girl, who didn't notice her. Adora wasn't sure what she was doing, but she made her way up to the bench and could hear the sounds of Lonnie's ragged breathing.

"H...hey," Adora greeted her softly when she was a few feet from the girl.

Lonnie jumped in shock and rapidly wiped her hands across her eyes before looking up and seeing Adora. Her eyes filled with anger.

"What are you doing!? Leave me alone!" She yelled, seemingly furious now. Adora saw the anger in her eyes and was reminded of their fight for the first time in a while. Adora's eyes went wide and she stumbled back.

Lonnie stared at her, seething with anger, and Adora stared back.

"Sorry…" Adora muttered apologetically before turning around and heading back the way she had come.

As Adora left Lonnie, her head reeled as she tried to process what had seemingly happened. There had been tears in Lonnie's eyes when she had looked at her.

The entire thing had shaken her. Seeing someone like Lonnie at such a low point. And Jen's words echoed in her head.

Disordered thoughts swirled around Adora's mind as she walked back out of the stadium, through the gate, and out into the parking lot where Angella was now waiting.

A classic Monday starring exhausted Adora! Girl really just needs to get herself some shut-eye. But we'll see how well that goes.

Also Lonnie is back! And Double Trouble! And Perfuma! And all the others will filter back in here soon. It's nice having them all fleshed out already so I can just have them be together. Plus there is cliche mean girl Jen who I needed because there were no other She-Ra characters available to me that could be that mean.

And there's also still that new mystery person who is moving to Etheria and who even knows who that could be!?

Anyway, thanks for reading! I've been loving the comments to death as always and it's been so nice writing again! Hope you all stay healthy and safe!