I didn't forget about the story this time! Had some computer problems and took some time to figure things out, so here's the next chapter. Enjoy a bit of a detour from the story to introduce the side plot! Bit of love for Amy, hope you all don't mind. I still don't own Grand Chase, either. Working on that.

The sounds of the crowd roared around me. I stood across from my opponent, struggling to catch my breath. He wasn't out of breath at all. He hadn't even broke a sweat. He stood there, with a cocky smile on his face, his gladius in the ground beside him, arms crossed over his chest. This was not a fair fight, I knew it. But I had picked this fight, I was damn well going to end it with pride.

I ran towards him at full speed. I pulled back for a punch, then duked to a kick. He saw this coming, and with speed I did not know was possible for the lazy Gladiator, he pulled his sword out of the ground, hit my grounded foot with the flat of the blade, and knocked it right out from under me. I watched the world tilt in slow motion, watched him swiftly switch positions, swing the blade up, and by the time I hit the ground…

There was a sword at my throat. Winded, I coughed, making the blade graze my neck. He removed it before I got seriously hurt, and stabbed it beside my head. He then offered me his hand, that same cocky smirk still on his face. I did not want to take it, but I had my warrior's pride, and I let him help me up after a good match.

The crowd roared his name. I brushed myself off as he said "Good match," and walked off. I sighed, searching the sidelines for the familiar face. I watched the Gladiator proudly walk off in the direction of one of the gates under the bleachers. I knew it would lead to a small preparation room behind them. There were two, at opposite ends of the duelling field. And directly under the entrance way of the one I had walked out of, was the face I was looking for, standing behind the broken gating.

Amy Aruha, Dancer extraordinaire, most beautiful, and arguably, most talented girl in this whole school. Also the most popular girl, and partnered with Seighart, the man I just fought, they make the most wonderful couple ever. Apparently.

But gossip counts for nothing, and the wishes of the populace are not what Amy decided to follow when she asked me out a year ago. I knew full well she would not come out to meet me and hug me, and I knew full well how much she wanted to. So I tried my best at a prideful walk over to her, and smiled when I came close enough to see her smile.

"You did so well. You know you didn't have to do that for me." She had not wanted me to fight this duel. She knew I was only doing it to try to prove something to her, and to the school.

"I know," was all I said. I held out my arm for her as I walked past the broken fencing, and she took it without a word. We walked down the short hall into the preparation room in silence. Once we were in it, though, she started up conversation again.

I knew we would sit in here for a while. Amy would not show herself around me in front of the school any longer. After only a month of dating, the peer pressure had gotten to her.

It had started out as people simply making more fun of me than usual in her presence. At first she tried to rebuke it, but after a while she couldn't keep up. Then, the people in her social group started pushing her harder and harder towards Seighart. She had no interest in him, he was not her type. He had no interest in her, either. He had his eye on someone else. But everyone wanted them to be together, so they did not tolerate Amy dating me very well. The teasing became bullying, and Amy simply could not handle it. She wasn't as strong as she let on, and maybe that's why she had always looked to me, her childhood friend. I protected her when we were younger. Then, as I grew older, and realized my feelings for her, I continued to protect her, and admire her from afar. I never thought she would return my feelings, until she asked me to the opening dance on her senior year at the Grand Chase School of Knights Middle School. At first, I thought it was only because she had wanted someone from the Senior building as a dance partner to show off that she really could get anyone in the school, or maybe because she wanted me to look after her from some creepy guy who was stalking her again, or maybe she was being bullied… The possibilities had ran on, until the end of the night when she kissed me. I knew then why she had asked me, and we had started dating right after that.

But the public dating hadn't lasted long. Now, we stole moments together, and hid in each other's dorm rooms under the bed or in the closets to hide from the dorm monitors and steal moments together. Yes, we slept together. No, we did not have sex. Amy was clear on boundaries, and I respected them. But stolen moments were great at first, that rush of adrenaline made everything feel great. After that wears off, things start to become a challenge, and the lies pile up and you feel like screaming. Somehow, we ploughed through it, and had made it over a year together.

"How's your hand? I saw you punch Seiggy's sword, that looked painful." Amy and Seighart were good friends, which was why the rumours had started. He let her get away with calling him by his pet name.

"It's fine, that's why I wear protective gear over my hands. A Fighter's got to protect his strongest weapon. I didn't feel a thing when I punched his sword." That was a lie. It had hurt like hell.

"I saw you flinch, don't you lie to me now~" she responded in a sing-song voice. I sighed, knowing I was caught. "Don't feel so bad. It's Seiggy you fought, after all. He's the strongest person in this whole school. No one can beat him. And beating him still wouldn't prove anything to anyone that matters."

"I'm sorry, Amy. Really. I just… I hate seeming weak." That wasn't entirely a lie.

"You don't have to prove yourself to me, silly! I already love you!" She smiled widely. I couldn't help but feel better and smile back. I stood up, bowed slightly, and offered her my hand. She flourished, pretended to be shy, and took it, giggling. I easily lifted her from the rotting bench, and we danced gracefully despite the small space. I was always glad Amy had insisted I learn how to dance when we were younger. Years of practicing with her had taught me her every move. Yes, we were meant to dance together.

I only wish we could be dancing in front of everyone again.

A/N: Ok, so this was meant to be up this afternoon, but Grand Chase distracted me with 4th skills and Dio (who is FABULOUS!) and I forgot. Then I needed some info from it to finish up this chapter, but it started patching and wasn't done till late and then when it was FINALLY back up... I got distracted again. I'm a terrible person with no life. Anyways, I finally remembered, and now I'm submitting.

I took a few days and actually wrote out the plot for this story. Which is something I've never done before, I'll be honest, and I seriously need to do for Carry On before I dare continue it. But now I'm actually excited to write this story, because I've changed a bunch from what I originally planned, and (I think) it's gonna be good. Hopefully. And hopefully, once I get my old laptop back, I'll be more inclined to write more.

So anyways, enough ramblings. I hope you really enjoyed the introduction to the side plot! I hope I write more soon! I-I HOPE YOU REVIEW BECAUSE YOUR R-REVIEWS ARE M-MOTIVATING AND S-STUFF. I-I'M TOTALLY NOT D-DESPERATE OR A-ANYTHING. B-BAKA!

-B-Barrows