DEFENDED

"Honey wake up!".

A soft voice filled Selena's ears and she slowly opened her eyes. She saw her mother's face with a warm smile looking down at her.

"What time is it?".

"It's almost six am, your class will start at seven right?".

Erin's gentle voice is like a whisper in her ears and she just nod though her eyes wants to shut close again. She can feel Erin's fingers running through her hair and it gives her a feeling of security and love just like a real mother. This is Selena's favorite moment when Erin act gentle like other mother's do. But of course she knows it will only last in a minute.

" Five more minutes Mom". She pleaded then closed her eyes again.

"Oh no young lady.... You need to lift your heavy butt off the bed now". Erin knows she will asked for another five minutes like she always do everyday. But those five minutes will take like forever and she knows Selena will be late on her first day of school but she won't allow it.

Times up for a gentle Mom, she thought. "Two minutes more and that's final". Selena beg her but she knows her mother won't give her another second to stay in her bed, but she still wants to push her luck.

A slap to the butt became the answer to Selena's plead. "Mom!". She was brushing her palm to her behind. Erin did a hard slap just to wake her up.

"Honey you're not a kid anymore and I cannot lift you up like when you were eight". Erin stood up. "What will your future boyfriend will say if he sees you like that". She started to tease her.

"Mom!". She gave her a disbelief look. She can't believed her mother would say such a thing. She is totally wide awake now. "And who said I'm going to have a boyfriend". She snorted.

"Oh come on dear your old enough to have one". Erin is practically teasing her. "Don't you dream of those male gods holding you in their arms with their eight pack abs, hmmm?". And she embrace her own self like someone is hugging her. Her eyes looks dreamy while looking up to the ceiling.

"What the hell are you doing?". Selena snorted seeing her mother's action. "That is so disgusting!". She can't believed her mother will also demonstrate something so horrific in her eyes.

Erin laughed so loud it echoed inside her room. "Come on, put some romance in your life. I didn't raise you to ba a nun!".

"You are so unbelievable!". Selena's eyes rolled in disbelief. From what she heard mother's are supposed to be very protective but it seems like not all mothers are born conservative. "Get out of my room, I will take a shower".

Erin laughed out loud seeing the looks of disgust in her child's eyes. She knows she's not like those conservative mothers out there. She wants Selena to experience everything that the world can offer not because she is not her biological daughter but because she trusted her the most. Besides she knows that this is the only way Selena can learn and grow. Erin believes that experience is a good teacher whether it is bad or good there's always something you can learn from them. Plus the fact that her daughter is a tough cookie.

Minutes later Selena came out from her room and head to the breakfast table. Her food is the only thing left. "She already ate.... Great!". She shook her head and eat her fill then run down the stairs to their store.

"Good morning!".

"OH MY GOD!". Erin blurted out then covered her mouth in shocked. "What the hell are you wearing?". She wants to have a heart attack after seeing her daughter.

"My battle suit!". Selena answered casually.

Selena wears her biggest old rose sweater that looks like suited to a big seventy-five year old woman. Her hair was in a big bun under a knitted bonnet and she's wearing a glasses like a nerd. Her skirt is touching her ankle and almost no skin were exposed.

"Honey, are you sick?..... Or do you need money to buy a new dress?". Erin don't know if she will laugh or cry seeing her daughter's so called fashion for the day or a battle suit just like what she said earlier.

"I'm fine Mom, don't worry". She knows Erin hated her get up but she doesn't care. She thought she will only be going to school why does she need to dress up. Selena ends their conversation with a peck on her mother's cheek. Good thing her mother don't persuade her to change her clothes. She still respect her decision.

"Good luck to your male god..... If he can recognize you".

Those are the last words she heard from her mother before she left.

"Male gods my ass!". She murmured to herself and walked out the door.

****

Stronghold Academy.

Selena took her class schedule and studied them while walking. She can feel all the stares of the people pinning on her but she doesn't care. She's used to this kind of scene. She just have no idea why people love to pick on her or why they try to bully her. But for her as long as no one will try to harm her physically she won't take it seriously.

"Found it!". She was looking at the door of her classroom and excitedly pushed it open.

The students inside shifted their gaze to a new face who was entering the classroom. From the look on their faces Selena can tell that they know she is new. Their stares have hints of disdain and mockery and she knows why, it's because the way she dressed. Selena was not surprised, it always happen everywhere she goes even in her former school. By time she just learned how to ignore them. The school already started almost a month ago and literally she is a late transferee. She won't think twice if the students here won't notice her as a new face.

"Another trash nerd!..... Eewwww!".

Selena heard the mocking word thrown to her by one of the students. She followed the voice and noticed a woman with a packed of men flocking over her. She's a blonde beauty with a proud personality and in her eyes shows a strong dislike towards her.

"Why do I feel that history will repeat itself". Selena is mumbling to herself about the experiences she went through with this kind of beauties from her old schools. This princesses from different schools loves to pick on her the most.

Different kind of opinions and insults flies around the room when Selena walks in. Some made a rude assumptions and judgments over her. She can hear insulting words but choose to ignore it. She just treat them like the sounds of buzzing bees that no human can understand. There are no words can penetrate her ears anymore, she is so much used to it.

Suddenly the door swung open and a middle age man came in. Professor R. Medina. That's the name written in Selena's class schedule this is her first unit.

"Ahem..... I believe we have a new student here". Professor Medina scanned his eyes and laid onto a new face.

Selena quickly stands up. "Good morning Sir, my name is Selena Moon". She introduced herself even without asking her yet.

"Your attentive". The man size her up. Then a loud chuckle came. "Mr. Lumbergh is there something very funny here that made you laugh?". He threw a dagger look to that student.

The boy stand up and cleared his throat before he answer. "I was just amazed by her name Sir!". He was embarrassed when the other students look at him.

"Amazed or making fun?..... Those are two different words Mr. Lumbergh and I dare you to choose your word". There's a hint of warning in his tone. He was staring at him sharply.

"Amazed Sir.... I mean her name are both referring to the moon. I just want to know if her mother was in love with the moon badly". The boy seems to be struggling with his answer. He never expected that his teacher would actually fry him because of a new student.

Selena's corner lips curved upward. 'And here I was wondering when they will start to bully me'. She thought to herself. She was amazed by the sudden turn of events. Someone is actually on her side today.

"There is nothing funny to adore the moon boy. You of all the people here should know that". And he slightly growl.

The boy lookdown as if he was ashamed and defeated. He didn't explain himself more.

"Stupid!".

Selena heard the cursed word that was thrown at the boy by the other guy beside him. She smirked. But she was more concerned about the low growl that their professor made it was like a growl of a big dog, more or less a wolf's growl.

"Did he really growl like a wolf.... That is so weird?". She asked herself. "Well in any case he still helped me..... Mr. Medina, my respect will always be with you". Selena sounds like she made a solemn promised.

Mr. Medina's corner lips curved upward. He heard the new students murmur. 'Such a nice kid'. He thought.

"Anyway, after lunch Mr. Luke Stronghold will grace us his presence and everyone is expected to be at the auditorium specially the new transferees". He paused and looked at Selena. "I heard you transferred late this year but because you have a good grades the Academy still accepted you don't let us down".

"Yes Sir and I am very grateful for it. I will do my best not to shame and break the trust of this Academy". Although Selena were startled she made sure that her words will sound thankful for the old man. Besides he is the first teacher who simply defended her from a bully.