FrAcTuReD (Part One) (Completed continued in Part Two)

Chapter. 23

"Wait... uh, what's your name exactly?"

"Charla, Charla Liebert."

Fox's mouth soon went agape while Sabin looked slightly wide eyed. "Dude..." Fox said in shock before pointing at her. "You're Charla Liebert?!"

Joel just looked confused. "Fox, it's just a name, why are you freaking?"

"Just a name, are you kidding? She's from one of the founding families! Holy... oh that's just so cool! Joel you just got your butt kicked by a Liebert!"

Joel still looked at Fox with a frown. "What's the big deal? It's just a name Fox, chill..."

"Dude are you kidding? It's like saying the Mona Lisa is just a painting."

Both Charla and Joel just looked at the young man with a blank expression before Charla changed the topic. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm..." but his words were cut short when the sound of a girl gasping drew all of their attention to see Sarah looking surprised then angry. "Sarah?" Joel said rather surprised.

"What are you doing?" Sarah demanded as she stomped over to them and placed her hands on her hips. "Are you fighting with her?"

Joel flinched and began stammering in response, but Charla then spoke over him. "We weren't fighting. It was practice."

"Practice?" Sarah repeated.

Charla nodded. "We were, he wanted to know about my self-defence when he asked so I showed him. That's all."

Asked as in punching without warning... Alex thought dryly.

Fox looked at Sarah. "You know her?"

"I met her on the first day, she was heading home early because she wasn't well." she said before looking back to Charla. "But are you really okay? You mentioned in your text that you were fine but..."

Charla merely placed a hand on Sarah's shoulder. "I am, I'm sorry for worrying you. a lot's been happening these past few weeks, but I can manage."

Joel merely glanced at Charla recalling how she looked almost ill yesterday, granted she seemed much better today but something still bothered him but found he couldn't bring himself to ask with everyone else around. "Thanks for the lesson," he told her. "You wouldn't mind... if you and I went again would you?"

Before Charla could answer Sarah stepped in. "Oh no you don't once was enough don't you think? Even if it is practice doing this at school can only lead to trouble."

"You know she has a point," Alex said before handing Charla back the headphones. "Besides we were going to head to the library when we spoke with Mordecai."

"What about class?" Fox asked.

Alex looked at him with an arch stare. "I could say the same thing about you three, I got why blond-boy here wasn't but you two? You know if you miss another day of class Fox your Mom is going to have a fit."

"Hey don't bring my good Mother into this, and besides if you have to know we came out here with Sarah, we didn't even know that Joel was here until we saw you guys duke---I mean practice out here." he said quickly changing his words when he saw Joel glare at him.

"What the heck were you doing out here then?" Alex asked.

"We were trying to locate Matthew's desk." Sarah said.