When the introductions had finished, she was relieved to hear the class would start with a meditation. Mary, on the other hand, was starting to look very bored. It was amazing how focused and determined she could be about something, and more amazing still how quickly it would go out the window once she lost interest. Just as Emily was starting to feel in tune to herself, Mary was ready to walk out the door.

Mary: "I am breathing!"
Mr. Hinsu: "You are not breathing correctly. You should feel your breath right here-"

Mr. Hinsu moved to place one hand on Mary's Stomach, the other hand pushing her back up straight. Emily jumped when Mary slapped his hand away before it had barely touched her.

Mary: "Okay, okay! Breathing."

Joe paused and met Mary's eye before standing up and moving on to the next student. He got the feeling it was going to be a very long four months.

Mary: "I thought this was going to be a bunch of bowing and kicking, I'm really sorry I dragged you into this hippie love fest."

Emily didn't respond. She tuned the world out, focusing on nothing but the air entering her, filling her, and then leaving her.

Next were warm ups, which thankfully seemed to distract Mary enough to shut her up long enough for the class to get to basic moves. Emily was surprised by the artfulness involved, and pleased that Mr. Hinsu had not yet had to correct her form.

Mr. Hinsu: "Good, good. Now let's move on to some sparring. Everyone please pick a partner, and we will practice the forms we just learned."

Mary and Emily looked at each other and froze.

Emily: "What's wrong?"
Mary: "I can't fight you."

Emily: "It's not exactly fighting, Mary."
Mary: "Still. I can't."
Emily: "Fine."

Emily turned to Dr. Sutherland.

Emily: "Anthony? Wanna be my partner?"
Anthony: "Certainly."

Mary turned an appraising glance over the rest of the class. There really wasn't anyone else she wanted to work with, but the larger man in the back corner seemed like a good bet. She wanted to push herself, be forced to be as good as she was able. But she couldn't face Emily. There was too much building up between them, a tension that no amount of pumpkin cookies could release. When her thoughts dwelled on Emily too long, all she wanted to do was pound her friend into submission.

This thing with Andrew Stone had gone on far too long. It seemed that she was never able to make any headway. There was proof that Stone was bad, she knew there was. But between being stalked by insane vampires and other misadventures, there was never enough time left to fix what was broken. Why did the world keep unraveling at every turn? It was like building sandcastles between the tides. Every time she put things back together, the stitching came undone and they fell apart again. Why wouldn't Emily just listen to her? Why did she need proof, why wasn't her word enough?

Mr. Hinsu: "Emily, you have good form but very little power. It is more than simply the moves. The moves must flow from your energy- watch Mary."

Mary startled at her name and took a palm to the face from her opponent. She fell backwards onto the mat.

Mary: "Ow."
Mr. Hinsu: "Maybe don't watch Mary. Mary, what happened?"

Mary: "I don't know, I suck?"
Mr. Hinsu: "What were you thinking of?"

Mary paused before answering.

Mary: "Nothing? I don't know."
Mr. Hinsu: "You see, all of those forms you complained about repeating, this is why we practice. They become second nature. Already you are able to act on instinct rather than plans. This is very good. But next time maybe try to focus at least a little bit. Class, let's cool down and call it a night."