"Maggie!" Conrad shouted, pulling me out of my daydream about Kyle and back into reality. I blinked, and found myself pinned to the floor. I'd completely let my guard down.
"Oh, um... sorry," I picked myself up, looked away from him and walked over to the punching bag.
"Maggie, it doesn't seem as if you're trying as hard as you could. Need I remind you that the Mogadorians could turn up at any time? You need to be prepared, and to do that you need to train!"
"Yes, Conrad, I'm well aware of the fact that I'm going to be murdered!" I snapped. I had been trying, but maybe I was sick of the constant training, and being alone all the time.
Furious, I turned away and let out my anger on the bag. I pounded it as hard as I could, until the chain broke and it slammed through the barn wall.
"Is that trying hard enough for you?" I muttered, before running out.
I felt guilty as soon as I left the barn, but I was too angry to go back and face Conrad. We hadn't fought in years, because Conrad was so calm outside of battles.
But... I knew I hadn't been trying my hardest, and a small voice in the back of my head told me it wasn't just because of Kyle. Part of me had lost hope. I was Number Two, and the Mogs had already killed One. What chance did I have of ever seeing Lorien again? Conrad would't always be here to protect me, and I was still years away from developing Legacies.
A familiar voice pulled me out of my bleak thoughts. "Hey!"
I turned around. "Kyle? It's great to see you! But what are you doing here? We weren't going to meet until later tonight! What if my dad sees you?"
Kyle looked at me guiltily. "I was kind of... um...spying on you? No, checking up on you, not spying... that'd be creepy..." He seemed unsure of himself, as if saying one word wrong would get him killed. But, thinking back to our first meeting...
We stood there for a moment, smiling shyly at each other, not knowing what to say. Now that it was daytime, I could see him properly, and it was hard to believe I had thought he was a Mogadorian! His dark hair and pale skin was where the similarities ended, because his face was so innocent, so full of happiness, and his eyes were bright, whereas a Mogadorian's are black, empty, soulless.
He seemed to be examining me too, and I felt myself blush as I realised I was still in my workout clothes. My hair was a mess, hastily pulled into a sloppy ponytail, and my hands were red and sore from my outburst in the barn.
"You work out?" Kyle suddenly asked, and I noticed his muscled arms.
"Not exactly... My dad teaches me self-defence, because of what happened to my mum." Kyle nodded, and gestured to my hands.
"Well, with what happened the other night, I'd say you can handle yourself. What happened to your hands?"
I ducked my head. "I got a bit upset with him, and I threw a bit of a tantrum. Threw some pretty hard punches." Kyle slowly closed the distance between us and held my hands.
It took every ounce of strength I had to keep breathing. Here I was, on the run from a race of evil aliens, in a field holding hands with this lovely boy. I could feel my heart pounding rapidly, like a hummingbird's, and I was grinning madly. Maybe I could do both - fight this war and live a human life.
"MAGGIE!" Conrad roared. I looked around, but he was nowhere near - yet.
Kyle was shocked. "That your dad?" I nodded sadly.
"He's looking for me, I have to find him before he sees you." I turned to leave, but he put his hand on my shoulder.
"Wait. Do you have a phone?" I smiled and we hurriedly exchanged numbers. "One last thing." He pulled me towards him and kissed me. It was short, but the best thing I'd ever felt.
"I'll text you!" I promised, and ran to Conrad.
"Maggie!" He pulled me into a hug, a reminder of how well we usually got on.
"I'm sorry about earlier. The barn wall..." I trailed off, not wanting to cause another argument.
Conrad laughed and smiled at me. "The barn wall can be fixed easily, I was far more worried about you. Earlier... I need to realise that you're only 12, that you need to do more than train." He took a deep breath. "But that strength you showed earlier... this is all paying off, Maggie. If we keep our heads down, work hard, we could evade the Mogs in time for your Legacies!" I'd never seen Conrad this excited before - it was as if he was already picturing us back on Lorien.
A while later, I was sprawled across my bed with a book when my phone vibrated. The only contact I had other than Kyle... I opened up the text excitedly.
"When are you free?" Oh my God, he wanted to meet up again!
"I could probs get out tomorrow night... ;)"
He texted back almost immediately.
"That's great! :D Come to my house...?" I bit my lip. Could I...?
"I'll try, but I can't stay ages"
His reply made me drop my phone. "See you then :) x" A kiss! This boy could be bad news... but I didn't care one bit.