3 Chapter 3

Harper

Most the night I tossed and turned, kicking the blankets off my bed several times, having to get up and remake the bed, I couldn't stop the restlessness that was destroying a night of sleep that I'm pretty sure I really needed. I played with my phone, weighing on whether or not my friends back home would be up this late. They usually had some good advice for me, but I didn't want to wake them if they were asleep. I was on my own here. I laid down around 4:40 a.m and eventually drifted into a restless sleep. I woke to my own alarm and felt an odd sense of disappointment. I was up early, it was only 6, I didn't have class until 8. I got up and got dressed, running a brush through my hair as I fought with myself inside trying not to beat myself up but knowing that he wouldn't be there today made it harder to imagine the day being good. I sat the brush down on the sink, and wanted nothing more than I crawl back into bed. I felt like I was alone here, I couldn't stand that feeling. My mother made me feel that way all the time and I hated it. I was already different did I have to be be alone now too. I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror and there was a small knock on my door. I leaned down at against the sink, hanging my head feeling the muscles pull in my back.

"It's unlocked." The door open and I turned not really in the mood for company. But Gabriel stood there with a tray of breakfast. He nervously shifted from foot to foot. He sat the tray on my desk and I looked at my only friend here and I walked towards him. He looked nervous and was on edge. He wouldn't really look me in the face. He looked everywhere but at me. And I felt the gloom lift, and I was glad to have my friend back. I was attached to him, and there was nothing he could do about it. He backed away from me, and I have him backed up against the door. I think he may have though that I was going to hit him. Which the idea had crossed my mind, but the anger was out weighed by happiness.

"I'm sorry Harper, I shouldn't have treated you that way. You are a good friend-" I cut him off by throwing my arms around his waist and burying my head in his chest. He hugged me back and I squeezed him tightly.

"Don't ever do that again, I don't care if you yell at me. Don't ever shut me out like that again." He gave me a weak, but incredibly charming smile.

"I am sorry, but the good news is today is Friday-- would you like to come into town with me this weekend? Meet my mom and sister? You don't have to stay there if you don't want to-" He was back tracking quickly from being so forward in asking me to come to town with him.

"If you're mother allows I would love to stay." He gave a big smile and his eyes were full of love.

"I have a feeling she may never let you leave." I smiled and pointed toward the food. Wondering why he brought it up to my room instead of us going down to breakfast.

"Oh right, my apology for yesterday is accompanied by food from the kitchens." He waved a hand at me letting me have first choice or the waffles and chocolate milk.

"You remembered my favorite!" I looked at him with amazement, it was something I had mentioned in passing the last night at dinner. He nodded and a blush covered his cheeks and I smiled handing him the second plate and milk. We sat on the floor and talked about the fights yesterday and Gabriel told me how to have a better defense. That I shouldn't leave my sides so unprotected, I needed to tuck my elbows in and hold my arms higher. We were practicing when my phone started to ring and I looked down at the caller ID.

"Daddy!" I called after I answered and he seemed happy to hear me. Or at least he sounded happy. Which I guess is better than sounding sad.

"Hey princess, how are classes going?" I smiled and very animatedly told him about my fight yesterday in combat class and he listened to every word. Gabriel was picking at his waffle as I talked not really paying much attention to my conversation.

"That's amazing princess, how was your other classes." I smiled and repeated my whole day to him telling him as much as I could about Gabriel and how he was the best friend I never had at home. And my dad seemed to be genuinely happy that I was enjoying my classes as much as I was and that I was making friends. I heard my mother calling in the background and my heart turned sour.

"I don't want to talk to her-" I started and my dad sighed.

"She does miss you, you know, in her own way." I nodded and pushed my waffle on my plate chasing the syrup around.

"Yea I'm sure her credit card is feeling the grief of her loss." He gave a winded chuckle and I looked at Gabriel.

"Hey daddy if I wanted to order some contacts for a friend would I be allowed?" My dad thought for a second and he didn't say anything at first.

"Give me a logical explanation." He had his business tone on. And I knew it was a front he would never say no to me, but this time I actually had a very logical reason.

"Well obviously now he wears glasses which are a hazard, because of hand to hand combat glass can blind him and hurt this opponent-"

"Good enough for me, have him or his parents call me with his prescription and I will have them over night to you guys."

"Thank you daddy." Gabriel had a stunned look on his face that quickly turned angry and he pushed his plate away. I got off the phone with my father and Gabe was going to say something.

"I don't want to hear it, if you are going to be doing hand to hand combat it is safer for you not to have glasses. You don't have to wear them all the time if you don't want to, just for class okay? Promise me?" I looked at him with my best puppy dog eyes and he caved in record time.

"Fine- but I am going to pay you back for them." I frowned. And I didn't ask him to that they were a gift. Nothing to be upset about.

"It's fine Gabe don't worry about it." He looked at me for a second. He blinked slowly like he heard something he wasn't quite sure

"Why are you calling me Gabe?" I froze with my fork halfway up to my mouth.

"Do you not like it? I can stop." He quickly rushed to defend himself.

"No, no it's nothing like that. I just haven't had anyone call me that-- I like it. It's different." I offered a small smile hoping we were still friend after our little fight.

"I just don't like charity that's all." I looked at him faking being appalled.

"Charity who said anything about charity. Think of it more as an investment in your future, that way I can keep you as a friend for the rest of our lives. Mwaahahahah! Just kidding." I pushed his shoulder and cleaned up my plate and I pulled up a text from my father.

"I'm assuming you know your prescription already. " I handed him my phone and he smiled at me and typed in the information and sent it to my father. I put my phone away and we walked out dishes back down to the kitchens. And we were headed towards class when someone stepped in front of us.

"How about we finish what we started Mathers, no teachers." he stood there and I didn't hear the person behind me until it was too late. Arms like steel bands wrapped around me and Gabriel reached out to me, but I winced when the arms squeezed tightly.

"Leaver her alone Miles, she hasn't done anything wrong?" He looked to his friend and he pulled me farther away from Gabriel and I arched my back and kicked out. I didn't want to go, I refused to go. I threw my head back against his nose, and drove my heel of my boot into the in step of his foot and he backed away and I fell to the ground and rolled away from the man. I got to my feet and Gabriel held a hand out to me. I took it and he pulled me behind him if he was nothing else he was protective.

"Come on sweetheart, we don't want you getting hurt now-- it would be best if you stepped aside." I took a handful of his shirt and he took a step back.

"Miles enough. We can finish this in class." Miles crossed his arms and I kept my eyes on the other guy who was covering a bloody nose.

"Are you offering me a sparing match Mathers?" He sighed and nodded.

"Yes. Just let us go now and I'll meet you in class." He nodded and they moved away. I released a breath I didn't know I was holding, and rested my forehead between his shoulder blades. I felt my muscles tremble and he turned to me.

"Are you okay?" I nodded and he put an arm over my shoulder.

"Come on, you get a front seat to watch me get my ass kicked." I looked at him and he sounded angry about this.

"Why? Aren't you going to actually attempt to beat him?" The thought of just giving up and letting Miles win was upsetting to me.

"Hell no. It would make my life a lot easier if I just roll over." I felt my face flush and my back heat up.

I pushed him back and swung my left fist towards his jaw. He parted my attack, but didn't give me a return attack. I threw another left, and then a sharp right that hit his ribs and he danced around me.

"Enough Harper," But i didn't, I advanced and he backed down. Moving away from me he caught my wrist and spun me around pinning me against his chest and his heart was pounding.

"Stop Harper, enough. Use your words, tell me why you are upset?" I was out of breath and very angry.

"Because you can't just play dead the rest of your life, you have to stand up for yourself, or I will do it for you. You're choice, if you don't fight back I will step in." I felt him freeze.

"You don't stand a chance against him, his skill set it too high. Mrs. Pears won't allow it."

I arched my back to get away from him, so I could turn and look at him.

"Are you going to try and hit me if I let you go?" I thought about it for a moment, I could contain myself.

"No," He let me go and I turned around and he was ready for me to attack him again.

"I'm serious Gabe if you don't at least try to beat him, I will step in. No matter what." He looked at me like I had grown a second head and I walked around him. He didn't move, I made it to the edge of the staircase and looked back at him.

"Are you coming?" He nodded and joined me, and I was mumbling to myself shaking my head. Easier to roll over, I could just punch him. I looked at him and he sighed.

"I can't promise I will win." I shook my head, I wasn't asking for him to become superman over night, I was just asking for him to defend himself, and put up a fight.

"That's fine, I'm not asking you to win Gabriel, I'm asking you to stand up for yourself." He nodded and I moved back to get a good look at him. He wasn't lacking muscle, I mean he wasn't really big but there was strength in his frame, I poked him in the tummy and it was solid. So he wasn't out of shape, he was lean but strong. There was no reason why he couldn't stand up for himself.

I put my hands on my hips and he looked at me from behind his glasses.

"I don't like hurting people, even if they pick on me. There is no reason to resort to violence," I sighed and looked at him, there was a strong-willed man in him. Somewhere. I have seen it when he protects me from Miles, he wants to stand up but he won't for some odd reason.

"Why won't you stand up to him? I know you can, and you have. I have seen it when he picks on me, but you won't budge when he starts on you." He walked around me he didn't want to talk about it, but I needed to know.

"Gabe please I'm just trying to understand." He spun on me and I stood my ground.

"Just let it go Harper-" I felt angry at him. I reached out for him and a voice froze my hand.

"Harper!" I felt my back snap straight and my wings flattened to my body. Gabriel turned and looked over my shoulder and I wanted to ignore it, I wanted to forget that voice for the rest of the time that I was here. I turned and my mother came walking over to me and she took in my appearance.

"You look good, how are healer classes going." I took a deep breath and stood as tall as I could.

"Mother. I'm not in healer classes-" Her face turned sour and her entire personality shifted. Gabriel touched my shoulder and I looked back to him and my mother went nuclear.

"I will be DAMNED if a daughter of mine becomes a Guardian, and settle for trash!" She reached out to grab me and I moved back a step and she was furious. She snapped at me again and I flinched back.

"We are getting this taken care of right now, you are coming with me to the headmasters office, now Harper Ann! I don't want to hear any backtalk." I looked at Gabriel and he didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to do. She waltzed back down the hall like she owned the place and I fumbled for my phone calling my dad. He picked up on the first ring.

"Daddy-" He didn't even let me finish.

" I already called the headmaster, I have taken care of it. You have nothing to worry about, they will not let her take you out of any of the classes. I talked to the headmaster, she is understanding of how I feel and told me that she will put your mother at ease, but not allow her to change your schedule."

"Why didn't you warn me she was coming this morning when you called?

"Because she just decided she wanted to go, I thought she was going shopping. I didn't know she was serious about coming up. But when I found out, I called and took care of it. I am the one who paid for you to be put in those classes and they won't allow you to be pulled out, just let her have her moment and make her feel like she has power. You know how it goes." I nodded and smiled at him.

"Are you going to be okay?" I looked at my mother retreating form and that was doubtful. And I sighed, and tried to keep a straight face for him.

"I think so, I'll meet you in class. I won't be long trust me." He looked from me to my mother, he was worried. I could see it in his face, I smiled and ran my hand down his arm.

"I won't be leaving classes, I promise. My father has never let me down before, and I don't expect him to start anytime soon, he said he has already talked to the head master and she was going to take care of it." I took a step after my mother and he didn't move away from me.

"It will be okay Gabe, don't start without me." I winked and jogged after my mother to the head master's office.

I sat down in the chair and the Head mater looked at me, and she told my mother to wait outside before she could even start. She was pacing outside and the Head Master turned her attention to me.

"Your father called earlier and explained everything to us, and we are sympathetic to your mother, but we were given orders not to change your schedule without your permission. So I pose this question to you. Do you wish to change your schedule and start a healer's course?"

"No, absolutely not. I want to become a Guardian, and if this is how I do it, then this is what I am going to do. I don't care what my mother says, I do not want to change my schedule." She sat back in her seat and nodded her head at me.

"Very well, please return to class. I do not wish you to fall behind, and I will handle your mother." I nodded and got up from my seat and I paused before I opened the door.

"Thank you, and good luck." She smiled at me and I saw real amusement on her face.

"Go on. This is going to be a blood bath." I smiled because I knew she wasn't lying. I walked out of the room past my mother and down the hall, trying to hurry without running to the field. I walked out, and the teacher was just starting to pair when Miles raised his hand and asked to be pair with Gabriel. I slid into my place beside him and he looked down at me with increasing worry.

"I told you my father wouldn't disappoint, and the headmaster is a good lady." He nodded and turned his attention back to the teacher.

"I guess I can't tell you no if you are both willing to spare...." She looked to Gabriel asking if he really wanted to do this, and he gave a sharp nod. I didn't want to move from his side when Miles approached him, but he put his hand against my belly, and gently pushed me back. I stepped back and I felt my anxiety jump a few levels, and I forgot for a moment about my mother showing up, and the stress of having to change everything, but my sole focus shifted for a moment, and I was watching Gabriel, judging. Wondering if he was really going to make me step in for him. The teacher moved around to me, and she looked down at me.

"I usually don't allow a tag out in fights, but if he goes down. I know Miles will not stop-" She looked at me.

"Why me?"

"Because Gabriel wouldn't let anyone else step in for him." She moved away and I looked at Gabe's back, almost in amazement. He was focused on Miles form and I watched him move, he wasn't heavy on his feet and he had a bulk to him that would make him a heavy hitter. I crossed my fingers and prayed that Gabriel knew how to hit harder, and faster. All of the first years were watching, and I looked to the teacher, waiting for her signal to jump in for him. I watched as Miles threw the first punch and Gabriel easily side stepped him and tripped him up, making Miles fall to his knees. But he missed the opportunity to knock him down again with a hit to the jaw. He backed away. He didn't got in for a quick finish. I knew he saw it, and I knew he knew that I saw it. The fight was fast, it was hard to tell who was winning until someone broke their concentration, and the sound came from my mouth, as someone latched onto the joint of my wing and pulled. I felt the hands, it wasn't an accident. I yelped and Gabriel's head snapped to me and Miles took his chance, he hit him hard in side, knocking him down. He stood over Gabriel and before he could actually hit him the teacher nodded to me, and I lunged forward, knocking him back with a knee to the stomach. I stood in front of Gabriel who was struggling to both get his breath back, and get back to his feet. Miles circled around me, but I didn't move so he moved in an arc back and forth.

"Stupid girl." He mumbled and came forward and it was slow in my brain. He raised a fist and I was moving before my brain could consciously move my muscles. I dipped to the right and led with my entire body weight on my rear foot bringing my elbow up into his jaw. He was too big for me to use my fists, I had to use the strong bones, elbows, and knees. I had to be faster than him. He stumbled back and his hand came up to his jaw. Gabriel got to his feet and he touched my shoulder pushing me aside. I looked at him unsure if he was okay, that hit he took was strong enough to break bones.

"I didn't know you had it in you Mathers." Gabriel rolled his shoulders back and there was a faint anger in his stance, I could see it. The way he held his shoulders were set back, his wings were arched a little ready to move at a moment's notice. The fight was hard and I wasn't sure if Gabriel had it in him, but he did. The bell rang and the teacher blew the whistle.

"Tie!" Gabriel stumbled back a few steps, his nose bleeding and a cut on his cheekbone. I walked over to him and placed myself between him and Miles. He looked down at me, his eyes scanned over me and his hand came back to my wing and touched the joint, it was sore. But nothing was seriously damaged.

"Are you okay?" He touched my cheek and I smiled at him.

"I'm fine." The words came out, and I was being pushed aside and pain flared from my temple. Arms snagged me up before I could hit the ground and I tucked my head against his chest. I heard Miles chuckle and I tried to shake off the double vision I had.

"Turn about is fair play girly." I tried to stand on my own, but I stumbled. He hit hard and it was hard to shake off. Gabriel wrapped my arm up over his shoulders and slid one under my legs lifting me off the ground.

"No. no. I'm fine." I tried to push him away but he didn't listen to me.

"How many of me do you see?" I tried to focus my eyes, but everything was swimming. I leaned my head against his shoulder and he sat down. And the healer came straight over and looked at me.

"Temple hit, possible concussion." I waved away the healer, I just needed to sleep it off. He shook me awake and I protested.

"Please don't shake me, or we might see my waffle come back up." He sighed and the healer touched my temple and the pain seeped away, slowly. But it left me and my vision cleared and I was able to stop the world from spinning. I sat up and Gabriel kept a hand on my back ready to catch me if I needed to be.

"I'm okay." I touched his hand and stood up, trying to shake the lingering headache. He walked next to me as we moved to our aerial class and he kept glancing at me.

"I'm proud of you Gabe, you did extremely amazing. I didn't think you knew how to fight that well." He snorted and pushed his hair out of his face.

"I am a very advanced fighter Harper-"

"But you don't fight me-" He held a finger up to correct me.

"I don't hit you, and you don't often get through my defenses unless you sneak attack me, which you are surprisingly good at." I glared at him and pointed my finger at him.

"And don't you forget it." I moved along the grass and that white line was coming into view and I was excited to get up in the air again, to feel the wind under my feathers and shake off the blow to the head I took. It seemed just like a normal day, or as normal as a day can get for an angel.