>I stand looking down at what I've just done, stomach sinking deeper and deeper. I watch slowly as Olivia's preparation sinks into the water, melting into almost nothing. I watch the hard work and effort she'd made crumble into nothingness. I hear a cackle from behind as Mia pats me on the back.
>"Alright let's go see just how bad she's gonna bomb this thing." I don't budge as she pulls on my arm. I don't budge.
>Seems that conscious I insisted on keeping buried has finally had enough. Flashes of anger start through me. I'm stomping on her efforts to honor her mentor, hell he was mine, too. What the hell am I doing?
>I'm pulled on the arm again. "Hey let's go killer. I'm feeling a dance." Her voice just pushes me further into fury.
>It's her.
>The reason I have been doing this. Betraying my own emotions and kicking sand in the face of everyone around me. I start to shake. Mia notices my sudden flip.
>"What? You suddenly feeling bad? Too late now, skinnie." Her toying and cocky voice, previously a game, now heats my face.
>But she's right. There's no recovery from this. No apology to make better. It's done and dusted and I have to stand here with the consequences, watching the papers float and tear in the toilet of the girls bathroom.
>But that doesn't mean I don't have options.
>I slowly turn to see Mia smirking at me. If there's one thing she's taught me through this year it's how to speak her language. The only thing that always gets answers, always works.
>I rear back and strike Mia across the face.
>She stumbles backwards and looks extremely surprised up to me. Through gnashed teeth I spew venom at her.
>"Fuck. You." Months of buildup start to overflow.
>I don't hold back as I step forward. "I can't believe I let you make me do that. Never again."
>Unfortunately she's quite fluent.
>I'm slammed backwards, a heavy para-fist finding my collarbone.
>"You wanna play, boy? Come on then." She's squared up into a ready stance. I happily oblige.
cont.