My Secret, My Bully, My Mates

"Hey Midge, you alright? You look a little pale." Wyatt asks, getting Lillian and Nathaniel's attention too.

"No. I mean yeah, I'm good." I can't look him in the eye though.

"You can shift, right? I mean, I guess you wouldn't be here if you couldn't yet." Nathaniel says to himself more than to me.

"Yeah, no, I'm okay, I can shift. I just don't really like changing in front of people. I'll be fine, I just wasn't expecting it, that's all." I take a deep breath trying to control my breathing. I can get through this, I have to get through this. I chose to keep the scars when I was given the chance to get rid of them, now I have to live with my decision. One more big deep breath as we all set our bags down and turn to get instructions.

Skylar, step up." Nathaniel calls out and looks directly at me. I

and slowly take my shirt off with shaky hands. I keep my eyes closed as I turn back towards him, take another deep breath, open my eyes and move

my focus on Nickolas in case he plans on throwing some

spar for 5 minutes, you must stay in the circle the entire time. When I shift you do. Your one goal is to evade capture. Do you understand your

like a predator does his prey. His eyes are calculating, he's sizing me up even though we have fought a few times now. I have changed a bit since the locker room and haven't actually done any kind of sparring for over a month now. As the thought hits me, I realize I am nervous for the first time in a very long time. But I can't decide if it is a good thing or a bad thing. I'm weak and out of shape, but I have enough training that