Alex and Hannah

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Hanging around with a few of my friends from the same training group I’m in we see Fres Mira, my mom, walk up to us by a girl, probably around the same age as we are.

“This is Hannah Hale she is going to join your group. I’ve showed her around you can make her feel welcome. “

Mom then looks at me,

“Andy she is staying with us and in my care. Hope you two will get along well.”

Always happy to make new friends I stand up and hold out my hand.

“Hey, I am Alex welcome, we were just hanging out here till sword practice. “

Hannah looks at me and frowns.

“Your mom just called you Andy, don’t you even know your own name.” She laughs and shakes my hand.

“Just kidding, was just a joke. “

I laugh as I hear other laughing as well, figured it is just not really my type of humor. By now mom had walked off again and left us. We remain the time till practice talking, people are of course buzzing around Hannah, as she is the new girl. Asking where she is from, her family, some of the boys offer their services as tutor to catch her up. She is enjoying the attention. Who wouldn’t? So, during practice we first see how far Hannah is up to speed and I must admit she is pretty good. Right there with the rest of us so we quickly resumed the standard level of training where we were. Some of the boys disappointed of course as they had hoped to spend more time with Hannah as her personal tutor. Training went well. Later at the dinner table. And our dinner table was never with a few people. My mother asks Hannah how things were and if she fitted in. Almost as if Hannah was waiting for this moment.

“Oh, it was a lot of fun, and good to start a bit lighter just making sure we are all at the same pace. Though I can see plenty in the group are really strong and capable with the sword. Some are perhaps a bit lacking, but they will catch up with the proper examples. “

As Hannah said that she looks at me with a side way glace. Do I see a smirk there, what does she mean? Am I not good with the sword? I know it is not my best scoring class but still. I decide to say nothing and just eat my dinner while Hannah keeps talking.

“I know my forms are usually near perfect, of course nothing advanced but I could perhaps help the others who are falling behind a bit. Now take Alex. You can see her left side is stronger than her right and that is why the form is off. But just with some more practice that can be perfected.”

I don’t know why but I blurted out.

“Well seems your mouth gets enough practice from all that sucking up.”

My mom looks at me with a look I did not see often.

“Andy! Be nice.”

I make a curd nod and then stand up

“ Sorry, may I please be excused.”

My mom nods and I walk off to my room, while walking away I hear Hannah starting a funny anecdote from earlier that day apparently

“Oh the funniest thing happened when sparring and Alex… “And at that point I just turned into my room.

I was seeing the chances of us becoming friends crashing down. Later that night, mom comes in my room I was in my little nest of blankets and cushions, sitting on my bed mom starts.

“Look Andy, Hannah is new, and she just tries to fit in and make a good impression. She doesn’t mean this bad towards you, but she probably sees you as the competition between falling out of the social group and fitting in. This is normal between girls. Be the bigger one, take her jokes gracefully, as they are just jokes and make sure you are nothing to blame. “

I look up from my book and let out a deep sigh.

“I know mom, I am sure it is tough to be the new kid, but there are better ways to establish your own position in a social group. Can’t she be mov….”

Mom looks at me again with a stern look though stays quiet.

“Okey mom, got it, she stays in my group, and I have to play nice. “

She walks over to me gives a kiss on my head and strokes my hair flat.

“Good, happy we had this talk. “With that she leaves my room. I let out a groan and lay back to think how I am going to muster up the patience and the restrain not to do or say anything.

Days go by, even weeks. It toned down a bit, the jabs, the jokes, the oh so funny stories of my failings. Besides of course lessons, and training we have our chores here as well. As I was working through my chores, some friends come by and ask me to join them going to town in a bit, when all the chores are done. I happily agree getting out for a bit will surely help to have some fun outside Bright Edge. Nearly done with moving some bags to the compost heap I see Hannah casually walking by. Stopping near me she wrinkles her nose.

“Ugh that smells. You should take a bath after this.”

I look at her and muster up a smile.

“I’ll be fine thank you, I won’t smell when we are going to town. Will you be joining as well?” I try to sound as neutral as I can.

“Oh yes I am joining the group. But I recommend you don’t, you do smell. “With a shrug she walks off, I think nothing of it until I hear behind me the cart I was loading creaking. That bitch had pulled the support away and as I tried to catch the cart the contents did fall down on me. Yeah, now I do smell.

With a wave of her fingers Hannah walks off the gates. When the group returned, I was reading in the garden near a lantern with a cup of tea. Some came by and said it was fun and a shame I wasn’t there. But they understand after I accidentally tossed the compost over me. Hannah had so graciously told them. That smirk on her face when I looked at her just made it complete. I am sorry mom, but I have no patience left to give to this girl. I turn to the few that approached me and with a sigh I lay down my book.

“hmm yes it took a bit of scrubbing. It is just a shame Hannah is so clumsy that she kicked the support of the cart I was loading. Then this wouldn’t have happened. But that happens with two left feet. “

And from that moment things started brewing in the group. Friendships were defined, a split was starting to become visible. First time for revenge, princess can’t stand bad smells. Call me petty or childish but I felt revenge was deserved. While doing my chores here and there I gather some of the rotten food. Vegetables, meats. Some manure. Bundling them up in little satchels. When the group was out to the town again, which happened more often now without me, but honestly, I have no intention of joining the group with Hannah there, I snuck into Hannah her room. The little packages of smelly stuff I hid between the floorboards, behind the wardrobe, in her wardrobe. Nightstand cracks in the walls… Oh she would never ever find all of them. She hates stench she should check her personality first. The following days are just great. When she thought she had found a packet with the smelly stuff Hannah immediately blamed me of course. And rightfully so. I shrugged it off and said something along the line of an aroma fitting your personality. But now a week later she is going crazy. Her clothing smells. She smells constantly and when she thinks she has found it all and bathed enough it comes just right back. But of course, little princess Hannah complains to my mother how mean I am, and I made her room smell bad and all her things. So of course, mom comes to me to get story, now I do not lie that quickly and I absolutely do not lie to my mother so yes, I tell her everything. The disapproving look actually stings.

“I’ll clean up her room mom, I know where everything is I’ll make sure the bad smell will be gone. “

With a curd nod and no words mom leaves me to my promise. I do as I promised, and I make sure all her clothing is properly washed and her room smells not off decaying stuff. Done with the cleaning I decide to pick up my book again and just take a moment to myself and read. But of course, not even one page in Hannah comes by.

“Well, well, look who found their calling as cleaning lady. “

I could go at her again. But I would give her this one. I do not even look up from my book. Demonstratively I turn my page. It was a month or two now without major incidents between Hannah and me. The only real annoying thing was some of my guy friends were absolutely crushing on Hannah. Every opportunity they saw they would mention her and how great she is. And how tough her life is, how smart she is. I never minded being one of the group and not much seen as the pretty girl in the class. But this was getting to levels that started to get insultingly annoying. It got a bit worse when Jerome actually asked Hannah out on a date. The boys healthy jealous and Jerome was fuzzing about every little bit what he should or shouldn’t do. Was I jealous? Perhaps, well yeah, my choice was certainly made out of jealousy, frustration and a childish pettiness. I took Jerome aside and told him that Hannah loves to bath in scented soaps and oils. Which is in fact true, and she has honestly a good taste in scents. Not that I will ever say that to her face. I told him he could get something like that as a present and I might know what type of scent she likes. Jerome obviously suspicious because Hannah and my bickering and fighting has not gone unnoticed. I told him that if he would keep Hannah busy with being her boyfriend, she would at least leave me alone. I was not alone on this some of the people who were still close to me actually helped convincing Jerome to do this. We chipped in together to get the right things and made it seem less suspicious. Jerome bought it. And we made sure he had the right present. It was truly an expensive shampoo and it smelled wonderful. And I might have added a lot of lemon juice to it. Hannah was proud how she looked. She knew she could make boys fall for her. And I know what lemon juice and a bright sun does to hair. The date went splendid. Jerome and Hannah were really enjoying themselves and more dates were planned. Now a few days later was when I got my enjoyment. Other than Hannah really finally being off my back more. We were endurance training, working up a good sweat and when we were done and going to clean ourselves up Hannah saw her beautiful locks in the mirror. They had gradually become lighter and in a stained way. The lemon juice slowly but surely bleaching her hair. It looked horrible. I know it is easily fixable with pigments but the shock on her face was worth every bit of money I spend on it. After a few in the group called out what had happened to her hair with a gasping face. Some of my friends should really become actors. Of course, I got in trouble. Again, and mom made sure Hannah her hair was fixed quite fast. But the little bit of vengeance felt good. Now I had not foreseen that Hannah would retaliate in a bigger way. During melee training we were to spar together, same age, about the same build, and everybody by now hoped that Hannah and I would work out our frustrations to each other via training. Hannah did in a way. Hannah was always better in melee fighting and she worked me to the ground fast. Maybe also because she fought slightly dirty and had an added aggression I had not seen before in her. It is custom no matter how much you hate each other you help the one down up again. Hannah took my hand and instead of hoisting me up she dropped down on me with her free hand, in which she had a knife, she cut off my ponytail. With a wicked grin she said.

“Little lamb needed to be sheared. “

At that moment I just got so pissed off. I tossed her off of me and we really started to brawl. The teacher having stepped away for a moment was rushed back to the field by the yelling of the others in the group. I was mostly blocking her punches till I saw an opening and hit her square in the jaw. It must have been a good hit as she fell off of me. At that point more people had come and were holding me and Hannah down and out of reach of each other. I do not know what I said or what Hannah said but there was a lot of yelling back and forth. It also didn’t help that the class was right split in two and both groups were shouting insults back and forth as well. Mom came rushing in and when one of the classmates said that I had also hit Hannah’s mom had a look on her and with actual worry in her voice she asked if Hannah was alright. That hurt. That week we did not see each other or anyone, house arrest, separate chores and meals in our respective rooms. At the end of the week mom came to me in my room. I didn’t mind the break really, had plenty of books to work through and this gave me plenty of time. It didn’t really feel like punishment. At least I was free of that Hannah for a week. Sitting on my bed mom sighs and rubs her temples.

“Andy, what is going on here? I asked you to be the bigger person. “

Calmly I close my book and turn to face my mother I wanted to shrug but that would be a lie, I know full well why I was doing this.

“She just has it in for me the moment she arrived here, thinking she is better than anyone here. As if she shits gold or something. We are all taking the same classes, doing the same chores but no princess thinks that is all beneath her. That we are beneath her. And I am not going to be put down by someone because they find themselves better. Or have been born in a certain family. That is not how you treat people. Or at least, I think. And it seems you care for her more than for me at points. She cut my hair. I only punched her in the face. She’ll heal.”

Mom was silent and I think I saw a hint of a smile there. But I could be wrong.

“Look Andy, how Hannah is treating others says a lot about her. She comes from a certain family, considers herself better, smarter, stronger. But how great a leader would she be to people, if she kept this up. Alright example. A reigning body is mean to its people. Pushing them down humiliating them giving them less and less. At a point some people stand up and push back. But the problem is the reigning body has more power more resources and a longer breath to keep pushing down. Pushing down is easier then pushing up. So, the people will buckle under the pressure and eventually have even less and less. Now what if a reigning body would be shown that there is another way of cooperating. “

I know what mom is saying and I do take her words to heart but all I could say at that point was.

“I would stage an assassination not pushing up. “

With a sigh mom stands up and shakes her head.

“At least think about it, you are smart. “

When she almost closes the door behind her, I mutter a soft

“good night mom, love you.”

The door closes. Ugh I hate to be such a disappointment, to mom, myself, my teachers. Perhaps I do need to do better. Part of living in Bright Edge is of course the chances to train and participate with the CCC, now of course anyone can really join, but in the leading up to the big events it is the only thing we are busy with in Bright Edge. Our group had all signed up for the youth division. Some only would join with a few tourneys and others like me and Hannah join in on the lot of them. An “Oh this should be easy” with a downwards glance from Hannah was added when we were both signing up. The tourney was on the way and Hannah and I were actually quite a match to each other I scored highest in archery, where Hannah scored highest in other fields. Though I had beaten Hannah at jousting hit her right off the horse. It was almost poetry During the fencing tourney Hannah and I were matched to each other. I step in the ring and see that smile on Hannah her face, oh she is up to something. I just can’t figure what. We do the greeting, the formalities. It is very important if you want to be respected to keep to the customs and the polite conduct within the CCC. We are quite a match, the fight is exciting and so far we have no points in. Then I feel while I parry a thrust from Hannah that she bumps her other elbow against my shoulder. Losing my form for a millimeter, Hannah uses the tiny space to get a point in. A point with a warning though that we should stick to fencing and form and not go full melee. A bow to the judges and we continue. Hannah tried it again but this time I saw it coming and turned away from the thrust instead of leaning in to parry. After a few times I felt my frustration bubbling up and as Hannah tried again to push me out of my form, instead of continuing on the way I did I decided the next time she tries something I will make her regret it. So she did, her knee lifting up slightly to hit mine. And I am not known to be a great actor but who cared it was clear this duel was between two people hating on each other. I pretended to trip and fall due to her knee and swung up my weapon. I had not intended to hit her in the face, but I did, with a squeal of pain she grabbed her face. When I saw what had happened I threw down my sword and said I yielded. Hannah had more points so she won by default. Then I oh so caring helped Hannah. And before the crew of the CCC came to us to help Hannah with her cut I whispered to her.

“Two can play that game, stop harassing me.”

It was two months later, and things were tense, but no big things had happened again. Hannah had still a scar from where I had cut her by ‘accident’ and sometimes she would play the woe me card for now having an ugly scar. Hmpf fits her ugly personality. Until Hannah got a message. She was allowed to join in on the Thelusian Military academy, Hannah was really happy she wanted to further a career in the military. I decide to keep myself aside from her celebrations. She did deserve it by hard work and to do her best. Even if she was a total bitch at times. She went with her own little friends group me and the rest of the class stayed behind. Though at a point boredom set in and we decided to go to the harbors to hang out, it was not where Hannah and her group would go so we wouldn’t run into each other. So, the group left in the evening, and the other group and I went to town as well but far from their planned outing. We still now and then hang out near the harbor to watch the ships. On my way back I hear the group talking and laughing so we decided to take a different route back. Did not feel like running into them. They were taking an odd route I must say I would have chosen a more public route. Still their party so their decision. I told the rest of my group to go on ahead I was just going to make sure they were fine. Some thougth I would pull another prank but others looked slightly worried. I nodded it was okey. I knew a point where our paths would cross so I waited in an alleyway till they had passed. The group had already split up it was Hannah and Jerome and two others from the group. I think they had something to drink they were very chipper and acting tipsy. And they must not have seen the guy walking up behind them. A tough guy must have come in with one of the trade ships clearly a rougher kind of sailor. I was in doubt should I warn them or not, let them have a bit of a scare. They are with the four of them they should be able to handle themselves. The sailor approached them and drove them in a corner. The guy of the other couple startled tripped and hit his head. Idiot. The girl he had with started sobbing. And now Jerome and Hannah were basically alone fending off the guy. From the alley I found a length of sturdy wood snuck up behind the guy and as Hannah and Jerome were distracting the sailor, I hit the sailor over the head with the length of wood. He was probably drunk and immediately fell to the ground. I looked at Hannah and nodded.

“couldn’t have him rain on your party. Even if I don’t like you, you don’t deserve that.”

And with a gesture I wave to the guy I then take the arm of the boy who hit his head and with his girlfriend I walk him back to Bright Edge. Saying to Hannah to deal with the authorities as she has more details.

The next day I heard that Hannah and Jerome bravely had fought off a ruffian in the streets. They were praised for the bravery and strength. I rolled my eyes but let it be. Soon Hannah would be gone anyway, and I could have my normal way of things again. Though the people in my little group knew full well what had happened. They wanted to stick up for me but I was tired of this whole feud and she was leaving anyway. I told them to let it go and have her enjoy her little fame. The sooner she is gone. The calm returned after Hannah left. Not soon after she had left. Mom came to me with great and exiting news!