#Chapter 118: Training Day

Hannah It was bright and early, the sun barely having warmed the ground outside. I had been up for a while already—painstakingly preparing myself for today. Training. After Noah had agreed to Drake’s challenge, we had scheduled Saturday to begin. Today, I would be receiving a lesson from both Drake and Noah; and then I would choose one of them to be my sparring partner. First, there was Drake; he was a certified personal trainer, and far kinder than Noah. But at the same time, maybe he wouldn’t push me as much as I hoped. And then there was Noah; curt and impatient, but I knew he would push me to my limit and teach me real-world skills. I needed that, even though I dreaded having to train with him. By the time I arrived at the training center, Noah was already there. He was in the ring up ahead, silently punching the air beneath a single spotlight—and he didn’t see me when I entered. I let myself linger in the shadows for a few minutes, watching as