Chapter 3

Swords Play

"Haha, I thought the almighty Alberto could destroy any competitor?" I jested as I knocked Alberto's sword out of his hand with one simple flick of my wrist. He looked on in amazement as his sword clattered to the floor.

"Oh shut it." Alberto grumbled as he went to fetch his sword.

"Haha, yea. You could totally take on Pitch." Lauren giggled.

"I can! I would give him a this! And a that!" Alberto shouted as he pretended to thrust his sword at an imaginary Pitch.

Lauren and I both laughed to the point were it became hard to hold our swords. Alberto rolled his eyes and got back into his fighting stance. Once I finally stopped laughing, which took forever, I got back into my stance and started to fight Alberto once again. He was not the best swordsmen ever, but he defiantly wasn't the worst. He almost knocked me down once or twice, but I quickly regained my balance.

North came over to check on our progress right when I knocked Alberto's sword out of his hand once more. Alberto let out a stream of some colorful language and went to fetch his sword once more.

"Very good Ivy! You have become great swordman! Keep it up, and maybe one day I might let you spar against me." North beamed as he patted me on the back. I couldn't help but feel a little proud of myself.

North moved on and began to help Alberto with his technique, demonstrating on one of the Yeti's who volunteered to help with the lesson. Meanwhile Lauren and I began to spar off instead. She was almost better than I was, and had a lot more muscles than me as well. So she was much stronger when it came to wielding a sword. But as north said, strength doesn't always have to matter as long as you know how to maneuver. But you should still try and be strong.

"You nervous to go back to Pitch's class?" Lauren asked as I deflected a thrust.

"Yes, an no. I just have to pay attention today." I sighed. I was so glad that the day was almost over. I barley got any sleep last night. I can't sleep when I don't get dreams, and of course I had none last night.

"Lets hope it's not another long, boring lecture then." Lauren added right as the bell rung.

We both stopped fighting and considered it a tie. We sheathed our swords and quickly headed to Pitch's class as we waved goodbye at Alberto. The hallways were thankfully never crowded here at the Academy. Back at my old school you had no room to walk, and someone always broke out in a fight. But here, there was almost never a fight unless it was between the Guardians or Pitch. Occasionally Jack and Bunnymund would start a fight, or Pitch would stir something up. It was always entertaining when it did occur though.

Lauren shivered as we entered the dreary room. pitch always kept it cold and so dark it was sometimes hard to see. You would think a dark classroom would put people to sleep, but it was the complete opposite here. Instead it kept us alert and on our toes, unaware if there was a fearling sneaking up on us or even Pitch. I had to admit it could be very frightening at times when you'd see gleaming eyes come out of nowhere, but you eventually got used to it... sorta.

Everyone looked amazed to see me, as if I was supposed to be dead or something. Was Pitch really that known for scaring kids who misbehaved? I guess so, because I instantly became the most interesting thing in the world to everyone. It began to piss me off, I hated when people talked about me. So I turned around and gave a very threatening growl. Surprisingly it shut everyone up.

Pitch strode out of a shadow from the back of the class, making one girl nearly scream. He seemed to be in a good mood today, but it is rather hard to tell sometimes.

"Notes out." pitch ordered us. Great, another fun lecture.

I'm not even entirely sure what it was even about. I wrote down all the notes and listened to every word. But I was just so tired that it went in one ear and right out the other. I would just have to read the notes I wrote down later tonight. But for now all I could really make myself do was nod my head in agreement like I understood when Pitch looked at me. I must say it worked quite well, but I think that Pitch might have known I was zoned out again.

It took me a minute to realize that the bell had rung once almost half the class had got up and left. Lauren was waving her hand in my face to try and get my attention. 'Crap.' I thought to myself as I snapped out of my daze and began to pack up rapidly before Pitch noticed something was off.

I quickly got up and speed out of the classroom, feeling Pitch's cold stare following me out the door. Yep, he knew. Great. Oh well, at least he didn't keep me back this time. I don't think I would have been able to stay awake.

"What is wrong with you? This is the second time this week you have zoned out during class. You never do that." Lauren exclaimed giving me a worried look. "What's on your mind, fess up." She demanded.

"Ugh, I'm fine! I just didn't get much sleep last night, besides who doesn't zone out during a lecture sometimes?" I pointed out.

"You, you don't. At least not the Ivy I know." Lauren argued. "The only thing you ever get distracted about is looking at Professor Pitch's ass."

"Shut up!" I snapped as I punched Lauren in the arm. She began to laugh as she held her arm.

"Haha, you know it's true." Lauren laughed even harder, flinching away from me so that I couldn't punch her again.

"I swear I will kick you to the moon and back if you don't shut it!" I warned her.

"Haha, fine. I'll stop. But still, I know it's something more than just being tired." Lauren began again.

"I'll tell you later, I promise." I promised Lauren, trying to get her to change the subject.

"Fine." Lauren groaned.

Suddenly Alberto came running up behind us and jumped on Lauren's back, making her fall to the ground. I laughed as I watched Lauren jump up and put Alberto in a neck hold, rubbing her fist relentlessly on across his head.

"My hair!" Alberto cried as he slid his head from the hold.

"My back!" Lauren exclaimed as she tried to pop it.

"You two are ridiculous." I laughed as I tried to help fix Bert's hair.

"Who is excited for dinner! I know I am!" Bert began. "I think there will be pumpkin pie tonight!"

"Really? Then let's get a move on!" Lauren shouted in excitement. We all loved the Yeti's pumpkin pie, it was amazing! Especially on Halloween, which was usually a scary event for everyone since Pitch knew how to scare the crap out of us... literally. But it came with the reward of a nice adrenaline rush, and pumpkin pie.

So we all raced each other back to the dorms and threw our stuff down. I changed out of my school cloths since they felt constricting and changed into a black dress that I loved to wear. It was long, flowing, and just plain comfortable. I don't usually like dresses, but it sometimes helps me relive stress and makes me feel a little less trapped.

Lauren did the same and put on her olive green dress so I wouldn't be alone. We all headed out for dinner, thought's of pumpkin pie and food racing threw our minds. Bert wouldn't shut up about it, so we had to walk the rest of the way with one hand covering his mouth to keep him silent. We only let him speak once we were sitting down at the long tables pilled with food on it.

"Woo!" Bert shouted as he took a slice of pumpkin pie. Lauren and I laughed at him as we took a slice or two as well.

We ate as if we were starving. It was a bit hard not to since the Yeti's cooking was beyond amazing. But only one other thing was on my mind besides food. I felt eyes on me, and sure enough I caught the Guardians glancing at me from time to time. Even Pitch seemed to look at me for long periods of time... Something was up, but what?