"Coach Murdo!" Tryndamere turned around, surprised to see Katarina. Even though she enrolled in the school late, she was a natural at soccer. It wasn't time for conditioning practice, so he was surprised to see the red-head.

"What's up?"

"I can't come to practice today. I've, uh, got other plans," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Tryndamere grinned. "A date, huh? I've seen you hanging around with that Crownguard kid. I'm sure he'll treat you to a nice dinner; you'll have a great time!"

Katarina blushed and shook her head violently, "Oh god, no, coach! Garen and I are only partners in one class, we're working on a project together. I don't think I could ever date him," as she said that, she looked a bit off. Tryndamere wasn't an expert on teenagers' feelings, so he didn't look into it. "Actually, I'm going to be hanging out with my sister. I kind of owe it to her, with how I treated her for the last few years… I just don't know what to do."

Tryndamere placed his hand on Katarina's shoulder. "You'll be fine. You're family, after all. Just try to reach out and I'm sure your heart will reach her." He gave a few almost awkward pats on her shoulder, but she seemed not to mind. She smiled widely at her coach and hurried off, calling out her goodbyes behind her. Tryndamere smiled as well; she was a good kid. It was just as he began to move again that he was frozen, once more being called to a halt.

"Tryndamere?"

Her voice was soft, and he had trouble resisting the urge to turn to face her. But there was something else there, something that reminded him of summer nights spent well. He'd been trying to avoid any direct contact for two months, trying to evade this inevitable encounter. Tryndamere knew better, knew that this moment would happen. He took a breath to steady himself before turning around.

Tryndamere couldn't help but stare. She was still as beautiful as ever. "Ashe," he said, the name falling as a whisper. There was something on her face, and he couldn't quite place it, but it looked like a mix of her wanting to cry and her wanting to hit him.

"Two months. Not even a call to tell me you weren't interested."

"Ashe, that's-" what could he say? If he denied, then where would it lead them? He had still tried to ignore her existence since he realized she was a student here. If he played along and admitted to her truth, he'd break her heart and, most certainly, his own. "Ashe, this. Can we not discuss this right now? I have to run conditioning, you have archery club."

"No." Her resolve was firm and unwavering. "For two months I've been chasing after you. Now you're here and not running. If I let you go, how can I be sure this will happen again? That you won't just run?"

"Ashe, please. Listen to reason."

"There's nothing to hear."

Her eyes leveled into his own. Those bright blue orbs that lit up under summer stars. Tryndamere looked away, unable to keep his thoughts in check. "Ashe…" he sighed, "I can't. Gods, I want to, but I just. You're a student, Ashe. At the school where I work. Don't you realize why I can't?" He looked up, feeling vulnerable. What is it about her that made him lay himself bare? Before he could hear her answer, he turned around. "Go to practice, Ashe. Don't waste your time on me." With that, he left the scene. Tryndamere had to steel himself against the emptiness quickly taking residence within his chest. He still had to run conditioning.

Normally, Amadi didn't stay any longer than he had to. He also tried to avoid people on his way out. Something kept him from that today.

Out on the field, Coach Murdo was easily seen running across the fields. He was drenched, meaning he'd been doing it for a while. He strode up to where he only had to raise his voice slightly.

"Something happen?"

"Not now, Amadi," was the growled response.

"I know something's up. We shared a house, remember? I know you use physical exertion as a method of releasing frustrations."

Tryndamere paused, his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. "Seriously, Amadi. I'm not in the mood, especially since you graciously reminded me of the time I had to spend with you."

Amadi expected this. How could he not? It was a rough time for them both. Amadi was put in jail for the rest of his juvenile life, Tryndamere was in the hospital for a bit. Amadi sighed, "Whatever. You're right, it's none of my concern that a co-worker, if not somewhat a pseudo-relative, is working himself to near exhaustion. What is my concern is that my job has conditioned me to notice and then act upon seeing actions such as these. I also wouldn't like it if you were to collapse after I left. Police asking me about you brings up bad memories."

"It brings up bad memories? Last I checked, I was the one that almost died."

"If my memory is correct, you were the one that got a family the end. I went to jail. Actual jail. A teenager with mental diseases and a volatile history festering within an institution of hatred and negativity. Sorry if that leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Now, if you please, my curiosity of the matter, and any desire to help, has dissipated." Amadi was tired now. He was always tired when his past came up. He wanted nothing more than to forget that he even had a past. Amadi just was. That was it. His life was stagnant and suddenly sprung to action in university. He turned and continued on his way to the nearby bus stop. It didn't bother him that he didn't have a car, but it bothered him that it left him open to Tryndamere and the possibility of continuing this conversation.

It took a few minutes, but his bus arrived. He swiped his pass card and took an aisle seat. He didn't want to be tempted to look out the window to see if Tryndamere was still being as stubborn as ever.

Ashe didn't go to practice. She couldn't bring herself to stay when he was so close to her. She knew he was right, they shouldn't continue their summer romance, but she couldn't let him go. He was, in a word, perfect.

After the confrontation, Ashe left the school. She just wanted to be home. Her archery club could handle it without her there. Besides, her uncle and his friends at the gym were a sure way to make her feel better for a little bit. Ashe didn't have parents. She hasn't had them for a while. Instead, she lived with her uncle, and he was just as doting and caring as any father. When Ashe was younger, she oftentimes would call him her father. In hindsight, she didn't think he minded that. Ashe believes that her uncle really wants to have kids of his own, but she doesn't want to bring that up. She respects that her uncle has his own life.

Her uncle, Braum, ran one of the best gyms in this town. It was completely family friendly, and always had customers during operating hours. Sometimes even after, but those few were her uncle's best mates. To Ashe, they were bonus father-figures. She wished her future partner luck; they were going to need it going through all these men. That reminded Ashe of her current situation.

Ashe walked through the gym barely registering the many greetings she got. She went to the back and opened the door that would lead her upstairs. She rushed up, taking the steps two at a time. She wanted to be alone. Ashe threw her bag at the door of her room and ran to her bed. She buried her head in the pillows and stuffed animals that covered her bed. There was a small pressure on the end of her bed. Her teary eyes peeked and saw a large white cat. "Hey Poro," she said, reaching one of her hands down to pet the animal.

"Knock knock," came a deep and heavily accented voice. Ashe didn't have to look to know it was her uncle. She didn't respond, but he came in and sat on her bed. "Ashelynn, you are upset."

"Hey, Uncle Braum," she said, her voice giving away that she was, in fact, upset. It wasn't as if she'd be able to hide it, anyway. Braum had a way of just knowing her. Must have come from raising her, she guessed.

"Would you like to talk about it?" His hand, large and calloused, rested on her calf and she felt safe. He always felt warm and like home, and Ashe needed that right now. With a bit of careful maneuvering, she sat next to Braum with his arm around her shoulder. She laid it all out, telling her uncle of her summer romance and how it came crashing down. Ashe ended up crying, but it felt good, like she needed it. She probably did.

"He seems like a good guy," her uncle said, and Ashe had to agree. "Love is hard, but if it is true, it will wait." Braum hugged her a bit more, and Ashe thought about his words. Long after he left to work in the gym and even as she fell asleep, she pondered on his thought of love. And a light sparked in her heart that maybe things would work out after all.