My third chapter... woot woot! xP

Excuse my poor knowledge of Karate classes, and other things which happen in the story. Please don't comment tell me I don't know anything, because I already know that. Hope you enjoy, please R & R. (:

Two months later

A lot of people seem to think that I'm really sensitive. This isn't true. It's just that everything piles up like a burden and when I'm like this it only takes one tiny little thing to set me off, which is exactly what happened last month. After Austin's outburst, he got taken to see the counsellor because of his 'aggressive behaviour'. I don't want him to get away with bullying me like this, but he almost certainly will. Every kid in the grade except for Liam is going to pin the blame on me. Anyway, I don't think I'll have to worry much anymore. I asked Dad over the phone about joining karate with Liam and, after persuading him that it would be good for defending against bullies, he finally agreed to it.

Leah sat on the public bus, clutching her carry-bag to her chest and reading the directions that had been given to her the day before. She had to get off the bus when she got to 'George Street' and then attempt to wade through the crowds of people to a hall a hundred metres away.

As she stepped off the bus, she was immediately surrounded by strange people. They all seemed to be heading somewhere, and the fact that her height stopped her from seeing where she was wasn't helping. A large man wearing a suit brushed past her. It was only a light touch but it was enough to send her bag down onto the ground. As she bent down to retrieve it, someone stepped on her hand, making her scream out. She was forced to retreat back to the bus-stop.

'Is this yours?' A woman had appeared holding a bag.

Leah looked grateful. 'Yeah, thanks.' She took her bag quickly and rushed in the direction of a nearby bakery, where the crowds were thinning out. Once here, she glanced at her map and realised that the hall was closer than Liam had said. It was built on a corner, less than fifty metres away.

The hall turned out to be multi-purpose. On Monday night's, it served as a scout base and on Friday nights as a youth group. On Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings, it was used for karate classes.

Leah felt nervous as she opened the massive doors and walked inside. The front room was huge and was divided by folding walls, one side for beginners and one for intermediate. The floors were laid with sparring mats and from what she could see, almost every kid was wearing white pyjamas. She suddenly felt silly in her baggy tracksuit pants and gym shirt.

A fit looking twenty-something who was instructing kids on the beginner's side beckoned her over when he saw her.

'Welcome, Leah. I'm instructor Mark. I understand that you were invited here by Liam.'

'Yeah,' Leah said. She had looked around before but couldn't see him anywhere.

'Well, he's out the back with the advanced class but you'll be able to catch up later, I'm sure. Our class is scheduled to watch them for the last few minutes of the first session, just to see what karate is like in the higher levels. For now, I'll start you off in the beginner class.' Mark said. He led her over to the group of kids in the corner and introduced her. 'Everyone, this is Leah. She'll be starting for the first time today, so please make her welcome and don't be too hard on her. You know how your first days were.'

The rest of the class nodded and flashed a few smiles in her direction. These kids looked pretty nice, although they were at least two years younger than her. Her height didn't make her look like an outsider, though, which was somewhat a relief.

The only other kid who wasn't in kit was a heavily tanned girl who looked about ten. She was short for her age, but you could tell she wasn't weak from the muscles that bulged on her arms and legs. She stepped up to Leah and introduced herself. As soon as she spoke, Leah realised she was English.

'Hi, Leah. I'm Mary, and I'm new here too. I don't have a partner for drills, so I'm guessing you'll have to put up with me.' She grinned. 'I'll try not to hurt you too badly, since it's your first time.'

Leah smiled slightly. 'Should hope not.'

'I have to be in this class because they haven't graded me yet.'

'Which class are you meant to be in?' Leah asked.

Mary shrugged. 'Probably advanced. I got suspended for "aggressive behaviour" about six months ago, and then broke my arm in a school fight last month. I only got the OK to start training today, but I'm still restricted from some stuff because of my suspension. Normally I'd have to start all over again from the white belt, but Dad had them bend the rules a bit.'

Instructor Mark yelled across the room and clapped his hands together. 'Okay, everyone. Warm up, please.'

At ten minutes to ten, Mark led the beginner's group out of their half of the room and through a door at the back. This opened out to a much larger room, with about a dozen kids sitting against the wall. They all wore white pyjamas with purple, black and brown belts. In the centre of the room, two kids were sparring.

'This is the advanced karate class.' Mark was speaking to them. 'It consists of three black belts, four brown belts, two purple-white belts and five purple belts, and we'll be getting some more soon, hopefully.'

The beginners sat by the door, watching as one kid body slammed the other. Leah looked around the room, scanning for Liam's familiar face. Finally she saw it, right at the end. His usually straight, static and totally cool scene hair was ruffled with sweat. He smiled and waved. She couldn't see what belt he had, but when he got up to speak to the first aid manager she saw that it was black. He must have done karate in England somewhere to be this good already.

A bell sounded and the two brown belts in the middle got off each other and shook hands. Mary rushed over to Liam as the rest of the class started going out. Leah followed, wondering how on earth she knew him.

'What the hell did you do now?' Mary asked, as she examined Liam's hand. It was red and swollen, just the beginning of a huge bruise.

'Some idiot body slammed me and I landed on it.' Liam winced as the first-aid manager pressed ice onto it. 'Not broken, though. That's certainly a relief.'

'A relief, yes. Wouldn't want to miss out on tonight!'

'Won't get my third dan anyway. I suck.'

Mary laughed. Liam smiled at Leah. 'You guys have already met? Well, this is my sister Mary, in case she hasn't been polite enough to explain that to you already. Mary, this is Leah, a friend from school.'

'Cool.' Mary said. 'I'll see you around, then?' She waved and hurried off to a group of girls who were huddled in the corner.

'Right… So you like it?' Liam asked.

'It's pretty fun, actually. Having Mary as a partner isn't that fun, though.'

Liam laughed. 'She's probably the most aggressive girl you'll ever meet. You should've seen her compete in London. She was all over 'em.

'What belt it she?' Leah asked, as they headed over to the water canteen. A lot of kids were already there, grabbing plastic cups from a dispenser and pouring themselves huge drinks.

Liam grabbed a cup. 'She was a purple with a white stripe in England, before she got suspended. She'd being doing a lot of fitness training before and while she had her arm in the cast, though. Still is. They said she had to start again from the beginning, but after some negotiating with the instructor, they decided to let her go for whatever she's meant to be on. She'll almost definitely pass for brown – 3rd Kyu – tonight.'

The line was thinning out and just as she got her drink, Leah found someone calling her name.

'Leah Stone and Mary Mills? Kit!'

Liam pushed gently her in the direction of the voice. 'You have to get your kit, if you're going to keep coming to classes.'

Leah nodded as she saw a large looking woman poking her head around a door to the side.

When she got in, she saw shelves everywhere. There were white pyjamas, black pyjamas, even red and blue. The woman handed Mary and Leah small white ones.

'Try these on.' Leah pulled them over her shirt and tracksuit. They were rather big. 'Don't worry about it being a bit big. I just need to make sure it will last you a while. Go on, put it on properly. You'll be using it for the next session anyway.'

Leah half-heartedly stepped over to a cubicle on the far side of the room. She quickly changed out of her tracksuit and into the kit.

The lady gave her a nod of satisfaction. 'Good. Which belt are you?'

'Err… white. It's my first day.'

'Okay,' She pulled a white belt out of a box on the top shelf and showed Leah how to tie it around her waist, 'Don't go rolling in the dirt in this. It's just more washing for

your parents.'

Leah nodded slowly and waited for Mary to get her belt – which turned out to white, to her disgust. 'Miss, I'm a purple and white! Why do I have to be a white?'

'You're a white for today, Mary. No more arguments. You can get your brown belt or whatever tonight, but until then you do whatever the other kids in your age group do. We're only bending the rules because your father is so persuasive.'

'But-'

'I said don't argue. In normal circumstances, you would have to start again from white, because you haven't done proper karate classes in six months. Do you want that?'

'No, miss.'

'Then you won't argue.'

'But can't I at least be orange? That's still beginner!'

The lady gave her a look. 'Don't say you made me.' She threw her an orange belt.

'Thanks, miss.'

When they were outside, Mary groaned. 'This is so shameful.' She wailed and looked at Liam. 'Look what they made me wear!'

When he saw her belt, he roared with laughter. 'Mary! You have no idea how funny that is.' He grinned at Leah. 'Nice one. You look like one of us, now.' He smiled.

Just as they finished sipping their water from the break, Instructor Mark arrived with his bell. 'All the beginners get out to the front room!'

Leah saw Mary scowl fiercely again as they walked back out to the beginner's section. 'What?'

'No offence,' Mary sighed, 'But I hate training with the beginners. Trust me, you're the oldest there even though you're as short as everyone else. You can't move up to intermediate until you're a red belt.'

'I'm a white belt. Thanks a lot.'

'I didn't mean to offend you.' Mary said. 'You'd hate it as much as I do if you'd been doing karate for two years and got put back with the kids who can't even back-kick. If you come back home with us afterwards, Liam and I can teach you a few moves.'

'Thanks.' Leah said, as Instructor Mark looked over in their direction.

'Mary! What are you doing in here?'

'They said I'm beginner, sir.'

Mark roared with laughter. 'I've seen the way you fight. Go back in the shop and get your proper belt, then get out the back. I don't want you killing Leah like you killed that girl in your London hole.'

'Sure.' Mary said. Leah could tell she was really pleased. 'Good luck, Leah.'

'Sure.' Leah replied, as she watched her newly found friend disappear out the back. She was starting to like the way Mary always got what she wanted.

It's funny how my mind works. At night, it's like I've completely switched opinions and I go really psycho. I'm lying in bed, and I know why I feel like this. I'm just plain tired. It's been a long day, what with going to karate and all that. After we finished, I went back with Liam and Mary to their house. It's built on a hill on the outskirts of town, and they've turned their entire garage into a karate practice area. It's awesome, but at the same time boiling. There's no ventilation. They taught me some moves, so hopefully now I can defend myself against Austin and his gang. Anyway, when I'm like this, everything comes rushing back – everything wrong in my life, which, if you haven't noticed, is a lot of stuff. My Dad is always away, which makes me feel just so forgotten. Miss Gardenia is selfish and doesn't care about anybody's feelings but her own. Claire is always too busy with housework to talk to. The other servants are the same. I wish I had a sister, or even a brother. Brothers don't sound too bad, anyway. I just hate always being alone.

It was the last day before Spring break, and everyone was taking it easy. Even Miss Marse, who sat with her feet up on the desk sipping coffee. Ten minutes before the final lesson ended, Liam came running in. He handed Miss Marse a note before crashing into his seat next to Leah.

'You're late.'

Liam had a massive grin on his face. 'You'll never guess what happened!' he said. 'Mum's taking me on a holiday south!'

'Oh. My. Gosh.' Leah squealed, a little too loudly. Miss Marse gave her a disapproving look, while the rest of the class frowned. A few days after the fight, they had realised that Liam wasn't going to leave Leah. They were now known as the "pommies", although Liam usually threatened them if they said it to his face. Nobody bothered about telling her not to make friends anymore and some other girls had actually started being nice, although it had been sort of awkward at first.

Liam gave the class a sarcastic look and lowered his voice. 'I was late because I had no idea what to pack and I got way-laid. I only came back to school because Mum said I can take a friend too.'

Leah's mouth fell open. 'And you want to take me?' Liam nodded eagerly.

'What the hell will Miss Gardenia say… at least she won't be missing anything.'

Liam laughed. 'Anyway, our flight is tonight.'

'Sweet! So… where abouts are we going?'

'Right now, it looks like we're set for Brisbane. You might even see some of your old friends.'

Leah bit her pen. 'I doubt that very much.'

'Why?'

'I actually only had one real friend there – he was rather like you, actually. I remember one day we were sitting in maths. My principal came to the door looking distressed, and asking for him. He gave me a smile, and told me he would be right back. I never saw him again.' Leah said, trying to fight back the tears that were welling up in the back of her eyes.

Liam looked sad too. 'Do you know what happened?'

'Turns out his parents died. He got sent to some care home.'

'At least he's safe, hopefully. That's the main thing.' Liam said. 'Anyway, should be fun if you come.'

The bell rang. Everyone grabbed their books and rushed out, before Miss Marse even had the chance to get out of her seat.

Leah stuffed her books in her bag and threw it over her shoulder. 'Fi-nal-ly!'

'Tell me about it.' Liam said, as they walked down the corridor and out into the open. 'School drives me completely crazy.'

After ringing her dad and making various negotiations with Miss Gardenia, it had been agreed that she could stay in Brisbane with the Mills family for the whole of Spring break.

It was weird being back, though it had been nearly two years. The city was much busier than Rockhampton and everywhere you looked there was some kind of man-made structure. The taxi dropped them off outside a hotel with huge block letters on the doors, which read The Gattonel Hotel. Everyone got out with their luggage and made their way through the lobby and into the first lift they saw.

'Wow, this place certainly looks like it needs a little DIY.' Mary said, giving the room a once over.

Their mum looked disapproving. 'They didn't give us much of an offer over the phone.' she said. 'We're going somewhere else on Monday.'

'Cool.' Liam said, as he poked his head into the bedroom. 'Hey, we got triple bunks. That's got to count for something.'

'Bags the top.' Mary yelled. She shoved Liam aside and attempted to chuck her carry bag over the railing. Leah laughed when it came back down on her.

'Ouch.'

Mrs Mills dumped her luggage in the room and announced that she needed sleep, which meant they had to get out and stay out, or turn the volume down to zero.

After reassuring their mum that they would look after each other, Leah, Liam and Mary set off. They didn't need to walk that far to get to the attractions. As soon as you walked out of the hotel, you were looking straight out at the rather brown Brisbane River and an enormous ferris-wheel.

They took a walk through the markets, then rode the wheel and ended up in a pizza place. When they got home, Mr Mills answered the door. It was the first time Leah had met him, since he had flown in on a separate flight. He had soft brown eyes like Liam and his hair was wet from the shower.

'Hi, how was it?'

'Good.' Liam replied. He pushed Mary out of the way so that Leah could be seen. 'This is Leah, my friend I've told you about.'

Mr Mills smiled. 'Nice to meet you.'

'It's a pleasure.' Leah said, but after she said it, she was kicking herself. What kind of twelve year old girl said it's a pleasure?' She guessed she was just trying to be polite.

Mary grabbed a packet of crisps from the cupboard and they sat on Liam's bed – the bottom bunk. There wasn't a lot of headspace, so after a while they moved to the floor.

That night, Leah called her Dad to reassure him that everything was okay, before collapsing into bed with the others. She was totally exhausted from all the walking.