Outcome

school when I give you a ride home. Got that?' I grinned, nodded.

The day went by quickly as I threw myself into my classes, using the concentration techniques that I had been taught for over a decade. James Parker wasn’t worth my spit, let alone brain power. The day would end, and so would the week.

I slammed my locker shut, slinging my backpack over my shoulder, and began to walk toward the main hall when I caught Parker out of the corner of my eye. He was talking to someone, and he did not look happy. I was shocked to see that the person he was talking to was Haley. I took a few steps closer, dying to know what was being said.

'What the fuck’s your problem, Haley? She’s nothing. Damn.'

'You’re a sick bastard, Jimmy. Why do you get off on other people’s pain? Andi is my friend, so don’t you ever do what you did today again. You got me?' She poked him in the chest.

'Ow, what did I do?' She stared at him, incredulous.

'You need help.' She muttered as she turned away from him, headed in the direction of her locker. He watched her go, then shook his head as he walked in another direction. My gaze searched for Haley in the crowded hall, but I had lost her. A slow smile spread across my face.

* * *

We had decided that Haley would meet me at the dojang since I had to be there so early. Sabum Nim Kyung had talked with us, giving everyone their assignment. Since I was one of the few not going for the next belt, I would be the main sparring partner among the higher ranking students.

'God, I hate these,' Tracy said, adjusting her ti. Today she would be trying for her first degree black belt today, so this was a big moment for her. I knew she would get it, and had tried to be as supportive as possible.

'Charyot!' Everyone came to attention, lining up in our rows, bowing to the Sabum Nim. 'Those of you in trials today, stay. The rest, go.'

I stood, bowed, and headed toward the front of the massive room, deciding to warm up with some patterns, slowly easing into the more difficult, intricate kicks and punches. I always lost myself once I started, the world just receding away from my awareness so that all I felt was the energy flowing through me, matching my breathing with the slow pulse, eyes closed as I tried to feel my opponent.

'Hey.'

I swung around, feeling my wrist come into solid contact with something just as solid. My eyes shot open to see Haley standing before me, holding her shoulder, eyes huge.

'Ah, jeez. I’m sorry. Are you okay?' I hurried over to her. 'Let me see that.' She removed her hand, and I felt her shoulder. 'I think you’ll just have a good bruise there.' I grinned. 'Do you walk out in front of moving cars?' She narrowed her brows.

'What?'

'Well, that’s essentially what you did just now. Don’t ever sneak up behind a warrior.'

'A warrior, huh?' She tried to hide her smile.

'Hey, don’t laugh.'

'Sorry. And sorry I scared you.' I shrugged.

'My defenses were up, and you became the enemy that was already in my mind.' She looked at me for a moment, as if she was trying to decide whether I’d lost my mind, or I was serious. A smile spread over her lips.

'That’s kind of cool.' She looked me over. 'So, what is this thing?' She clipped the loose sleeve of my uniform.

'Well, this is called a dobok. This,' I pointed to the patch that was sewn on over the left breast. 'is my dojang’s, which is this building, patch. Kind of like a Coat of Arms. This,' I grabbed the end of my belt. 'is called a ti. These gold bars here will tell the history of my success here. There are three, and I am a third degree black belt, thus the black belt itself.' I looked up from my uniform to see her eyes on the belt, her face a picture of awe. Finally she met my gaze.

'That’s really neat.' She smiled wide, obviously impressed. Neat.

I smiled, then noticed that the class had begun to gather around the mats that had been laid out earlier where the trials would be. The students were on their knees in a circle around it.

'I have to go. You can either just stick around here, sit on the bench along that wall, there, or you can join the circle.'

'Thanks. I’ll find somewhere.'

I felt Haley’s eyes on me as I hurried over to the circle, falling to my knees as things began. I would not be needed for a little bit, as the younger, less experienced students fought, but I had to be in the circle to support my classmates. Tracy knelt down next to me.

'Haley Corregan is here?' She eyed her, then looked at me with surprised eyes.

'Yeah.'

'Why?'

'I invited her.'

'Oh.' She turned back to the sparing, and didn’t say another word.

The hour passed quickly, each student given a certain amount of time to prove that the have earned the opportunity to advance.

'Sunbae Nim.' I hopped to my feet and entered the fighting ring. My opponent was Jeremy Handlin, six foot two, one hundred ninety- four pounds. As he walked toward me the room was deathly quiet, except for the 'oh, my god' I heard come from toward the back of the room.

I grinned as I got set up for the fight. Jeremy was trying for his second gold stripe. Sabum Nim issued the call to begin. Jeremy gave me everything he had, but I was able to dodge every blow, being smaller gave me much needed speed with a much larger opponent. This guy had ten inches of height, and sixty-five pounds of weight on me. I had to admit, I was slightly intimidated, but that quickly waned. He was good, but I was better. Jeremy was a great guy, and I wanted him to get his advancement, but he was sure going to work for it.

He got behind me, determined to pin me. I grabbed him by the bicep, and pulled. The momentum his body had already been creating sent him hurling over my hip, and onto his back on the floor. I quickly pinned him with my foot on his chest. The order was called to quit, and I reached down to help him up.

'Nice one, Andi. Didn’t even see it coming.' Jeremy breathed, sweat covering his forehead. I grinned, slapped him on the arm.

'Thanks. You, too. You nearly had me, there.' He smiled, bowed to me, I bowed back, and he joined the circle. I glanced over toward the back to see Haley watching, her eyes wide, as if she’d been transfixed by what she’d seen. She looked at me, gave me a smile and a thumbs up, then I turned to my next sparring partner.

It took nearly two hours for us to get through, and for everyone to be allowed to go. I hurried over to Haley, breathless from an hour straight of fighting.

'Hey.' I grinned.

'Hi, there. Very impressive.' She smiled, standing from the bench she sat on.

'Thanks. What did you think?'

'This is amazing what you guys can do. Wow. You are lethal, Andi.' I felt so proud that she appreciated what I had worked so hard to do.

'Thanks. Well, I’ll be right back. I’m going to catch a quick shower, and get changed.'

'Okay. I’ll be here.'

I ran to the back room, and stripped out of my dobok, which was saturated with sweat in some places. 'Yuck.' I stuffed it in the bag I’d brought with me, getting my street clothes out. The water felt wonderful against my over-worked, over-heated skin and muscles. A few of the students had gotten some great whacks in there, and I knew I’d be bruised by tomorrow, and sore.

I buttoned my jeans, and pulled the tank over my head, trying to hurry so I could at least say goodbye to Haley. I figured she had other things to do today, and was grateful she had taken the time out for me. Grabbing my comb as I stuffed everything in my bag, I zipped it up and slung it over my shoulder as I headed out to the main room. Tangles made me flinch as I quickly tried to get them out of my hair, finally getting it all smooth and back, away from my face. It amazed me how much darker blonde my hair was when it was wet. I could feel the