300 Days With The Alpha Beta Triplets

Bella:

We walked into the class opposite, and Fae walked up to the twins.

"We need some suits," she said, and they stared at both of us.

"What for?" Finn asked with his brows creased.

"Duh, to fight." Fae slapped her forehead while I stood still with no words. Of course, I feared losing to her, but I knew I had to be brave and not let the fear get to me because that would only be the beginning of my failure.

"I don't like the sound of this, and I think you should sit it out, Bella," Kai said, and I frowned at him.

Since when did they care about me? I questioned myself as I stared at him. Wouldn't they be glad if she stabbed me with a sword, and I was no longer in existence? It would lessen their burden of having a mate like me.

"Good thing you are not my mum, and you cannot tell me what I can or what I cannot do," I said to him, and then he scoffed.

The suits were handed over to us, and we got dressed. We took our positions, and I took a deep breath, about to make a call for a start, when Hazel ran into the room with Ryder.

"Are you out of your mind? Are you trying to kill her?" he yelled at Fae, but I wasn't bothered.

Hazel tried to talk me out of it too, but my mind was set, and I had to do it for the girls who were practically enslaved by Fae.

"A little too late for that, Hazel."

"Then good luck. I trust you," she said, and I muttered a thank you.

When the buzz died down, I nodded at Fae. "I'm ready."

With that, we began the match at once, and the fencing room buzzed with the energy of other students streaming in to watch me. Their eyes were fixed on Fae and me, and I could feel the weight of their skepticism as I faced Howlstone's undefeated female champion.

I tightened my grip on my weapon, determination settling in my chest as I tried not to allow the comments from the students to get to me.

The bout began, and Fae wasted no time. She lunged, her blade a streak of silver aimed at my face. I felt the sting as it grazed my cheek, a warm line of blood drawing a gasp from the crowd.

"That was almost too easy," she chuckled. "Are you sure you want to do this, Bella? Because I would hate to see you unable to chew for a week with your disfigured face," Fae said, a smirk playing on her lips.

Her foil gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and I chuckled to lighten the fear that threatened my heart. I swallowed hard, knowing I might have underestimated her prowess, but I wasn't one to back down from a fight.

"I didn't come here to back down," I replied, meeting her gaze. "You're good," I conceded, dabbing at the cut with my sleeve. "But not good enough."

This was to bruise her ego, and it worked perfectly as she narrowed her eyes and rushed at me to draw blood from my other cheek, but I dodged. I knew I had to use my senses, so I stood still, waiting for her to attack.

"Blocking can only go a short way, but if that is the way you want to play it, let's see what you've got, then."

With this, she attacked with no mercy, and the crowd gasped with each strike she gave.

We danced back and forth, our foils clashing with the rhythm of our breaths. I parried her attacks with each block of her sword, a near victory for her. Then, with a swift riposte, I scored my first touch, which struck her blade.

"My grandma can do better," she taunted, and the crowd erupted in laughter.

Fae attacked with renewed vigor, but I was ready, and I had learned her weakness. I dodged and weaved with all my might until I saw an opening. With a swift strike, I knocked off her sword from her hands, catching it before it could get to the floor. With both blades in my hand, I slashed her cheeks at once, knocking her down with the flat of my blade.

Seeing the tip of my foil staining her jacket red caused a smile to form on my lips.

"And that's how you do it!" I announced, panting heavily as the students in the room erupted in cheers.

Ryder rushed to help Fae while I was stuck in the applause and praises I got from the students from the school. For the first time, I felt good. This wasn't just a writing from the Fangtastic Diaries; it was the students from school cheering for me.

"I'm super proud of you, and I cannot believe the entire school will be talking about you. My own best friend! I knew you could do it!" Hazel screamed, and I chuckled.

"It sounded like you were scared I would lose my life back then," I said to her.

"Yeah, so that the entire school wouldn't say I pushed you to do it when they were discouraging you," she said.

I get she was looking out for me, so I didn't push it further.

"Hey, Bella, nice game," Finn said, and I turned around to see him standing with Kai.

"Yeah, I never knew you were good at fencing. Why fight for cheerleading with fencing while you could be the greatest out there?" Kai asked.

For a moment, it felt like a dream. Everyone was speaking to me like a normal person, and they all wanted to associate with me.

"Thank you, but I know what I want," I replied, and I turned back to Hazel, who was typing on her phone.

"So... we were wondering, would you mind joining us for dinner today? You own the hearts of literally all the guys on the fencing team, and we want to appreciate you with something," Kai said and glanced at Hazel, who nodded with a grin on her lips.

Finn left before I could give a reply.

A part of me didn't fully accept it, but then I saw it as a kind gesture and nothing more. I was giving it a second thought when Finn arrived with a first aid box.

"You are still bleeding," he said, and touched my cheek, realizing I was carried away by the excitement.

Suddenly, everyone's phone beeped, and it was a blast from the diaries.

"Looks like Queen Bee's crown has slipped further than anticipated."