Chapter 11

I slept in late the next day and so did the Capricorns. I was late for training and Raelynn was impatient. She worked me to death. With an empty stomach I was extra slow.

The faster you are the faster you can see Tristan, I kept telling myself. That was a good incentive.

“Can we please stop now?” I put down the weights and pushed them aside.

“No,” she smiled. “You need to try harder,”

“I have been trying,” I sighed.

“And it’s working,” Raelynn pointed out.

“I can’t tell.” I examined myself. Almost no body fat, much less muscle.

“It’s good exercise,” she said. “And, a friendly tip, don’t get distracted so easily.”

I glared at her but I couldn’t stop my blush. “I am not distracted!” I insisted.

“Right,” she pouted.

“Now, are you helping me with archery or should I go ask Nathan?” I said.

“Actually,” she jumped off of the stationary bicycle. “Today you are going to learn how to fire a gun,”

“I’m gonna do say what now?” I asked.

“Yes,” she confirmed.

“You know how to use a gun?” I whispered to her.

“Hmmm...a little,” she hesitated. “But I’m not really good at it,”

“You’re going to teach me?”

“Oh no. That’s not my style or my forte. I have a friend who I persuaded into giving you a lesson,” she told.

“Is it really necessary?”

“Just think about it,” she said. “What if you’re in a fight or during war someone else drops their gun and you ended up with it wouldn’t you want to know how to use it? What if your life depended on it?”

“Well....” I was reluctant to agree but I had no choice. “Alright, fine!”

Raelynn sighed out of relief.

“Who is this friend of yours, anyway?” I questioned.

She scratched her head, wondering whether she should tell me or not. “I know you’re not going to like it but she’s really the best I could find,”

It took me a while to realize who she was talking about. I groaned in frustration. “How can she even hold a gun? She’s injured.”

“Don’t underestimate her,” Raelynn warned. “Who else did you expect?”

“I didn’t really expect a shooting lesson either,” I pointed out.

“It’ll be over before you know it,” she promised. “Me and Nathan will be there to keep the two of you from ripping each others insides out. Besides, this lesson is a one time thing. You just have to pull the trigger.”

“Easy for you to say,” I muttered under my breath.

I begged Raelynn to get lunch first but she promised it wouldn’t be long. We dragged Nathan from the weapons room to the shooting area, which wasn’t that far. He complained that he didn’t want to witness a fight so he wasn’t coming. That annoyed Raelynn. I was completely fine with him not being there, that made Raelynn even more mad. But after coaxing him didn’t work, Raelynn had to use force. She grabbed him by the ear and pulled him onto the shooting range. I would’ve stopped her, but she was stubborn and the whole thing was hilarious.

Phoenix was loading her gun and trying to contain her laughter. Maybe she was in a good mood. I feared that her idea of being in a good mood is to be so happy that she punches someone unconscious.

She handed me the gun which was way to heavy to hold with one hand. She positioned me across the target, adjusting every limb in my body. She didn’t say a word until Raelynn gave her a look.

“Just hold it with both your hands,” she informed. “With your pointer on the trigger. Aim at the target.”

I did as she told me, preparing myself. A chill went down my spine. I wasn’t looking forward to the sound of the fire. Pulling the trigger took me about five minutes.

You just have to pull the trigger, I heard Raelynn say in my head. Her voice echoed in my brain.

“Go on,” Phoenix demanded.

“I’m trying,” I told. Beads of sweat gathered at my forehead.

I fired but missed the target, instead the bullet went into the wall where the targets were lined up against.

“I’ll give you two more tries and if you still need help we’ll schedule one more time for tomorrow.” she said. She didn’t sound like she was angry with me anymore, then again she did have a way of dissembling and then exploding at random times.

I fired again, this time I hit the target but not in the centre. The third time was better. I made it a bit more closer to the middle this time.

“Tomorrow, after breakfast.” Phoenix said and she trailed off.

“I can’t tell if that was good or bad,” I asked.

“That was okay,” Nathan said.

“You’ll be fine after a few more tries,” Raelynn told.

“Can we please get food now?” i whined.

“Yes, child.” Nathan joked. We both walked to the cafeteria and I ate everything in sight. It was hard to keep it down but I was famished.

“Have you seen Tristan today?” I asked Nathan.

“He’s asleep, so is his brother and father.” he told. “They’re all exhausted. After all they were traveling for days.”

“Do you know when he’ll wake up?” I said.

Nathan was about to say something when Raelynn cut him of, with bread in her mouth. “Annabelle, let the guy breath!” she screeched. “He’s only been here a day and you’re already breathing down his neck!”

“I am not!” I insisted, trying not to laugh too loudly.

“I’m just...I just want to...to talk to him. That’s all.” I stammered.

“Let him rest for a day,” Nathan started. Then in a serious tone he, “I hope he won’t be interfering with your training. I don’t want you to get distracted.”

I looked at Raelynn, then at Nathan. “Why do you two keep saying that?” I asked.

“Well, since your father isn’t here to be the helicopter parent, we’ve got to fill in for him.” Nathan grinned.

I pretended to laugh, I wasn’t really amused byt that joke.

“Don’t worry, my dad was never a helicopter parent.” I said.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” she looked at me curiously.

“I don’t know,”

“Anyways, you aren’t allowed to go out until you’re in good shape.” Nathan demanded.

“Go out?” I repeated. “What do you mean? I just want to talk to a friend.”

“You know exactly what I mean,” Nathan answered. He drank his water, I could see the unmistakable smile hidden behind the glass. Raelynn did the same and my cheeks were as red as tomatoes again.

“Oh, stop it you too!” I slapped Raelynn’s shoulder. I gave Nathan a threatening look.

“Alright! We’ll stop,” Raelynn giggled.

“Only if you agree that playtime is after your training,” Nathan added.

He emphasized on the word ‘playtime’, I didn’t bother thinking about it too much.

“Fine,” I agreed.

“Now finish up and then it’s time for your bath,” Raelynn told.

“Yes, mother.” I sighed. Raelynn chuckled, me and Nathan joined in too. Despite the tasteless food, it was the best dinner I had had at Crimsyn State.

I didn’t see Tristan much the next few days. I learned he likes to train on his own. We made eye contact in the cafeteria and I got glimpses of him in the gym but we were both either too exhausted or too indulged in training to make conversation. Which I felt awful about because I so badly wanted to talk to him, just like we had on the night he had arrived. Was he really a different person here? What happened to the old Tristan? He’s been apathetic since he got here. Well, not really since he got here, he was fine on his first day at Crimsyn.

I ate alone, sometimes with Raelynn and Nathan. Tristan was usually with his family or a group of tall, muscular guys. He even looked different here, it was almost absurd. As if he had been physically altered, and I don’t mean the muscles he had all of a sudden, the cautious expression on his face, his tenacity. His clothes were torn, his skin glistened with sweat, his face was deadly and he was being antisocial because it’s not just me he’s been neglecting. I haven’t seen him with anyone ever since he got here. I debated confronting him but that seemed too harsh. I just want to know what’s going on with him, maybe I can help. I got up the courage to talk to him during his five minute breaks when he was practicing sword fighting. Unfortunately, when I saw him in action that drained the colour from my face. I was terrified of him. I walked away, pretending as if nothing had happened. Thank the Stars he hadn’t noticed me otherwise it would’ve been an awkward moment for both of us.

The conversation with Nathan kept coming back to me.

“Have you ever seen Tristan in a setting besides school or whatever it is that you do?”

“No,” I answered. “But why would I be nervous about seeing Tristan anywhere?”

“Because...” he hesitated. “He’s kinda scary and angry when he’s training. So, pretty much everyone is scared of him sometimes.”

Those sentences replayed, they echoed in my head and were now etched in my brain. I shook my head but that didn’t stop his words. Nathan was right, Tristan is rough around here. At first I didn’t believe Nathan but Tristan’s aggressive behaviour was confirmation that he was telling the truth. I wish I hadn’t seen him when he was in fighter mode. Times like this calls for Stargazing but I had banned myself from so much as looking at my Constellations.

Raelynn needed some time to herself and I didn’t stop her from taking a few days off from me.

“You’ve been doing this long enough, so you can do it on your own,” she smiled. “You’ve done a great job.”

“Thanks,” I tried to smile.

“I’ve talked with Phoenix she’s going to give you a few more archery lessons and Nathan will help you with a sword or a dagger. After you’ve gotten the hang of it you’ll work on your own.”

“You know I can’t train on my own,” I said. “I’ll accidentally get shot by my own arrow,”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” she demanded. “You kinda sound like Nathan.”

“Couldn’t you find a better insult?” I shot back. We were both restraining ourselves from laughter, we weren’t very good at it though.

“Don’t say that!” she giggled. “Are you making fun of him?”

“I’m just stating facts,” I chuckled.

“I have to go,” she told.

“I’ll see you at dinner?”

“Maybe.” She shrugged and left me alone in the gym.

I didn’t feel like working out more, my legs were already throbbing. I practiced with a bow and arrow while I waited for Phoenix. She was late and I was hesitant to do this on my own because there were two other girls and one boy practicing as well and I didn’t want to unintentionally make one of them a target. They were too indulged in their own progress that they didn’t even notice I was there. I missed the first few times. I had to retrieve my bows from the target, it was hard to get them out.

I tried one more time. Close. Then again. Closer. Then I hit the target in the center.

“Nice shot,” Phoenix commented.

“Thanks,” I turned my head. Phoenix had her arms crossed, a satisfied look on her face. It was windy and pieces of hair was in her eyes. That’s when I noticed the dark eye makeup, the flashy earrings and bracelets that adorned her left hand, covering up her Signs. She was in her usual black clothes, that made me look dull and like a potato sack in my green baggy outfit.

“When did you get here?” I asked, wondering why everyone is always behind me.

“Ten minutes ago,” she shrugged, looking up at the Stars. The sky was orange with a pink blush. Like Phoenix’s hair, it was fading and matched the sky, indicating she hadn’t dyed it in weeks.

“You’re getting good at this.” She grinned, her eyes narrowed but not out of anger, she was trying to show off her eyes.

“You really think so?” I said.

“Yes, when I compliment someone I mean it.” she promised. “Though it’s a rarity so appreciate it because there’s a possibility that it may never happen again to the same person.”

I swallowed nervously.

“Alright, enough fun for you.” she took the bow and arrows from me and positioned herself where I was standing.

“It’s all about focus,” she whispered, her eyes fixated on the target. I could hear the sound of the bow stretching. “Aim directly at the target and...” she released the arrow and, as always, a perfect shot.

“Wow!” I exclaimed, clapping my hands.

“Here’s a tip,” she turned towards me. “When you’re about to do something intense, close your eyes and picture yourself doing it.”

“And...what’s that going to do?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes. “It helps, trust me,” she told. “It worked for me and look at me now.”

“I’ll try,” I hesitated.

“I think you’re good enough to do this on your own,” she said.

“No,” I protested. “I’m still afraid of impelling someone,”

“You’ll be fine,” she said, waving it away with her hand. She must be in an extremely good mood because Phoenix doesn’t act like this usually.

“It’s getting dark and I’m famished,” Phoenix said. I glanced at the sky, there was a purple blush over orange, indicating it was almost night time. The Stars would be more prominent then. “Want to get dinner with me?” she offered.

“You go on, I’m not really hungry,” I said. She hurried to the cafeteria. I tried not to Stargaze.

I wanted to go and meet Tristan but he was no where to be found. Was he looking for me? I only hoped that he was. I sat outside the girls’ quarters, on the concrete and dusty floor. I wasn’t waiting for him to come but part of me expected him to be here. Does he even know that I’m in Crimsyn State now? Is his training more important than I am? I was tired of waiting but I still sat there a while longer. After everyone had gone to bed, the sky was pitch black and all the lights had been turned off, I thought he might come then. But he didn’t. I sat under the Starlight and prayed to Virgo and Ophiuchus for guidance. Alone at night with no Tristan but only the Constellations to keep me company. I got up and brushed off the dust, quietly I opened the door to the room and crept inside, wallowing in the demoralizing atmosphere.