So...it's been a while...

Listen, high school is hard. I have so much more homework than I'm used to, and I'm busy putting on a play, and I horseback ride two or three times a week, as well as study and do homework and hang with friends. I haven't had much time to write.

I've been going through a rough patch in my life, but I'm trying to help by starting to post again. I'm going to post some very short chapters, much shorter than before, but I don't want to abandon you guys, so I'm going to post whatever I manage to write, and hopefully, I'll be able to get back into it and start writing more.

I'm trying to keep myself from letting go of this because I did that once with something completely different and now, looking back, I regret it, and I miss it so much and I wish I had never stopped. I don't want that to happen with writing Stars Do Shine.

So here's a short one for you, and please do not judge me harshly for it.

Disclaimer: The Selection belongs to Kiera Cass. I own all of the characters.

The sweat streamed down my face. Some of my hair had ripped free from its braid, and I wiped it away with my hand. I brought my hands up, waiting for his punch.

I ducked at Blake Harrison, my best friend, threw a punch, aiming for my face. I shot back up, throwing a punch to his left cheek. He stepped to the side and slammed his palm into my back, sending me sprawling onto the ground.

I grunted as I felt his boot stomp down onto my back. "Do you give in?" He demanded. I rolled my eyes at his tone. You can practically hear how cocky he is.

"I give in!" I laughed, and his boot lifted from my back, but he wasn't getting away with it that quickly.

I rolled over and grabbed his foot, yanking him down on top of me. He shouted in surprise as he landed on me. I laughed at his bewilderment, rolling us over so I was on top. I held his arms down with my hands, using my knees to hold his legs.

"Do you give in?" I imitated in his deep voice. He rolled his eyes, and I got up.

I helped him to his feet, and he grinned at me. "Nice work, Kylie, but you have to stop letting me push you to the ground."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," I said.

Blake and I had been best friends since before I could remember. It probably started with school. Blake was a Six, and his family was my families personal servants. I know, I know, it makes us sound like stuck-up bitches, but we treat them much better than most. They're not servants to us; they're family.

When we first hired the Harrison's, Blake and I were both seven. We would play while his parents and two older brothers helped out around my house. As we got older, we got closer. Blake's been teaching me how to fight since I was 13, and he's known about my…condition…for just as long.

I shuddered as the memories enveloped me.

I looked around and smiled. Oakville was one of the most beautiful provinces there was. As I walked down the street with Blake walking behind me, heading for Noka's, I couldn't help but enjoy the sights. That is, until I spotted someone behind me.

I turned around to face Blake, and that's when I saw him. He seemed normal to everyone else, but as our eyes met, I knew, I knew, that he wanted to hurt me. I turned around and continued walking, clenching my hands into fists and walking faster.

Blake was smart, and he saw the change. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"There's something stuck to my shoe," I muttered quietly, but by the look on his face, I knew that he understood.

That was one of our many code words that I'd insisted on. He always thought they were unnecessary, but you could never be too careful.

He cast me a glance. "Who?" He said softly.

"Blue sweatshirt and jeans, walking right behind us," I muttered.

Blake looked over his shoulder quickly, only to give me a look. "Him?"

I nodded, but he still seemed unconvinced.

We continued towards Noka's. I looked behind me every once in a while, but he was still there. I felt the sweat start to pool up on my skin, and my heart started beating faster and faster. The longer he was still behind us, the more freaked out I got.

Blake tried to ignore it, but once I started shaking, he was done. "Alright, come on, I'm bringing you home," he said.

I tried to argue, but he wouldn't have it. He took a right at the next street and we started to walk back. I looked over my shoulder and watched as the man walked past the street and continued on his way.

I sighed in relief. "He's gone," I said.

Blake sighed. "Kylie, he was never following us, he was just walking."

I froze as I realized. Damn it, I thought, I let it take control again. Blake's going to have questions! I thought.

I was right, looking back on it. He did have questions, and when the time came to ask them, I didn't have the strength to lie.

I told him everything. I told him that I had something called Delusional Disorder, which basically means I get over paranoid. I told him that I would sometimes think that people wanted to hurt me even if they didn't.

By the time I was done explaining, I had been close to tears. Blake had offered to teach me self defense, and I grabbed the chance.

"Really?" I gasped.

He grinned. "Well, yeah, if it'll help you feel better, then sure."

Ever since then, I've been learning how to fight. At first it was just self-defense, but then I wanted to know more, and after a lot of begging, he agreed.

Now, I never leave the house without a knife somewhere on my person. Either in a bag or strapped somewhere to my body, I was always protected.

Watcha think?

Don't judge it too harshly, I'm still trying to get back into it...

Let me know your thoughts!

~Umbreon89

P.S. Anyone all caught up with Supernatural and want to rant with me? SEND ME A MESSAGE! :D