Moonrise University ~ Temp Closed to new joiners

Early Monday morning, Nicole was always the first one to arrive at the university. Having not done a single thing for her job over the weekend, she had quite the stack of things that needed to get done and she struggled to focus her distracted mind on them. When she reached her office she got herself settled and pulled out her organizer, taking one good look at the picture hidden in the back of it before setting herself on the task of getting things done. She had about two hours of that peaceful task completing before someone came knocking on her door.
"Ms. North, may I have a moment of your time?"
Nicole broke out of her thoughts at the voice and looked up to see Dr. Claral Liv standing in her doorway. Claral was one of her many professors at the university, she taught many of the reproduction classes for species of all different kinds and even a few of the Family Values classes, "Yes, Claral, what do you need?" she asked calmly.
"This morning," Claral began slowly, stepping further into the room, "At my 7 am class, I overheard a group of students talking about Fight Club."
"Isn't there a rule where you're not supposed to talk about it?" Nicole asked calmly.
Claral smiled in amusement, "Perhaps, but I heard them saying that Coach Skye won the coaches' fight last Friday all because you allowed him to finally participate in it."
Nicole didn't reply to her, she only patiently waited for the doctor to continue, keeping her face still of the knot that was tightening in her stomach.
"I have to ask, Nicole, why did you let him fight? He could've been seriously hurt." Claral asked, though she had no concern at all on her face, she was looking to Nicole with anticipation of her answer.
Nicole took a deep breath, "Claral, I have no idea what you're talking about." She said calmly, looking right at the doctor, "There is no such thing as a Fight Club."
"Not officially." Claral muttered with a frown, she crossed her arms and studied the dean, "Don't think I haven't noticed how you've been acting lately." She stated firmly, "You've had a brighter look in your eyes than I have seen from you ever since I've known you, and something is clearly missing from your desk." She pointed down at the spot where Ronnie's picture use to sit.
Nicole followed her finger to where the picture had been, "Ten years is a long time to grieve." She stated calmly, "I think I've given Ronnie enough."
"So you are moving on." Claral's face widened with a bright smile, "And with Celous too," Claral let out a whistle, "He's quite the man and, goodness, those muscles can turn any girl's head."
"Claral don't you have classes you have to get too?" Nicole asked calmly, not meeting the doctor's eyes.
"You have to tell me, Nicole, have you made it official yet? You have to give me the details? How did it start? Have you kiss him yet? And what of his twins? What do they think about this? Ashton can't be too excited about it--"
Claral's swift questions shot an anxiety through Nicole and in her defensiveness, she looked the doctor right in the eyes, "We're not dating." She stated with strict bluntness, "There's nothing to discuss. It isn't a big deal. You have classes you need to get to, I suggest you go, Claral."
Dr. Liv was taken aback by Nicole's tone and solid face, but she slowly nodded, "Yes, ma'am." She said slowly, "I'll talk to you later, Nicole." The doctor turned around and suddenly stopped, Nicole followed her gaze to the doorway and a pit dropped into her stomach seeing Celous standing there, his knuckles were raised as if he were about to knock on the door, but the look on his face told her that he had heard every word.
"Congratulations on your win last Friday, Coach Skye." Claral said to the old fighter as she stepped past him. Nicole couldn't see her face, but her tone betrayed out awkward she felt.
As soon as the doctor left, Nicole stood up, "Celous--"
"I see I caught you at a bad time, Ms. North." The old fighter cut her off, his voice seemed distant and he wouldn't look at her, "I have to go."
"Celous wait!" Nicole called after him, but the fighter disappeared from her doorway. Horror at what had just occurred washed over her and she felt her mouth dry up. She could've ran after him, but she didn't know what she would say. It was the start of the school day, there would be so many people around.
Nicole slowly lowered herself back to her chair, her mind growing numb as she feared the consequences of those words. She thought about Friday night, laying on the back of Celous' truck and staring up at the stars, she thought about Christmas and the warm welcome of the Skyes. Then she thought about her home, empty with it being just her and her cat. What did I do?

Claral Liv (Brightmask)

Sleep was her enemy all through the night. Nicole ended up heading back to the university and busying herself with what work laid upon her desk; answering emails, scheduling inspection dates, searching for new faculty, and sacrificing what needed to be for the sake of budget cuts. She reviewed student complaints about her faculty and grade averages to determine if other measures needed to be suggested to her professors before going over the research results of her professors and the experiments and knowledge they sought for. Every bit of the University she went over and reviewed, she became prouder and prouder to be the Dean of the North Shadows. I should walk the halls more. she told herself, Get back into connect with the students. Maybe she'd finally take up Claral's offer for lunch?
When there was nothing left for her to do until the morning, Nicole wandered barefoot through the University buildings and pathways. It was the latest hours of the night, an hour no student dared to see on a weekday such as this, but Nicole found herself not caring. She was desperately distracting her mind from what plagued her heart and ended up inspecting the grounds and buildings of the college. I should push the president for more repairs to be done. she told herself as she spotted a broken corner on one of the North Shadow's resident halls, These students deserve a college worth their money. And heaven knew she was going to give every effort into that.
The wandering dean wasn't paying any attention to where she was going and she soon found herself at the Sports Complex, staring up at the complex's many structures in the football stadium, the gymnasium, the activities center, and the basketball stadium. Her head was screaming at her to turn back around, better to wander the Agriculture college of the university than the Sports Complex, but she went in anyway.
It was almost like a scene from a horror movie or a haunted house with how dark the complex was. Nicole walked silently through the halls, almost wondering if she could catch sight of one of the ghosts the students loved to spin tales about. She reached the weight room and paused in the doorway at the dark quietness of it all. The shadows were relaxing. Nicole felt comforted in how she could hide within them, her soft steps not giving her away to any ear that might hear. Within the shadows she could bury her troubles, keep them from the rest of the world, so that none would know but her. Her mind drifted to the twins when she looked at the bench press, remembering the night she had come down here to find the two working out, and telling her that they just missed their father.
Nicole quickly shook her head, banishing the thoughts from her mind before her heart could feel any pain. She pulled away from the doorway and moved on.
Next things she found was the fighter's mat. Any normal person would call it a wrestling mat, but her students specifically called it the fighters mat as their coaches taught them multiple fighting styles upon it. Nicole let her bare feet feel the coolness of the mat as she walked out to it. She could smell the sweat of the students and fighters that came off of it after the many matches that were endured atop it. It's still in pretty good shape. she thought to herself as she inspected the stitching of its edges. Who knew how old the thing was.
The dean's eyes drifted up and spotted a few punching bags on the opposite end of the room. She allowed herself a teasing smile as she started over to them. She didn't punch it right away, but instead allowed her palm to brush softly down it, feeling the firm padding underneath its slick exterior. It felt harder and heavier than she thought it would. Nicole lightly tapped her fist against it, barely pushing it. She pushed it again, this time to make it move, and slowly she started to hit it harder and harder. Each time her fist struck the bag she felt a rushing release of stress from her mind and a tremble within her shoulders. Nicole slipped herself into an untrained fighting stance and kept pounding against the bag. She thought of the words she spoke at work that she didn't intend for Celous to hear, she thought about the pit in her stomach that had remained throughout the day as she feared what those words might ensue, and then she thought about her moment at Skye Ranch. Seeing the stoic look upon his face and the golden-haired woman behind him. Nicole hit the bag harder and harder as she pictured that woman in her mind, no, she didn't know her, but she firmly didn't like her.
Finally the dean dropped to her knees in front of that punching bag, her knuckles and wrists were throbbing and she had sweat and tears falling from her face. She pressed her forehead into the bag as she sobbed quietly to herself. She had everything she ever wanted when she was spending those times with Celous, and now it seemed like it was over. Nicole glanced her red eyes over to the coach's office, hanging proudly upon it was the old glove Celous and his students had won at Fight Club. She was glad she was able to give him that at least. To give him the chance to win it for his students and for himself.
I need to clean myself up. Nicole thought as she looked down at her clothes. She was still wearing her work clothes from yesterday and she was sweatier than she had ever been. It was a good thing she kept a clean set of clothes in her office, she could grab them, shower in the ladies' locker room, and then get back to work.

(yeah...)

"Miss North we have a serious problem!"
Nicole jolted awake at her desk, she glanced down at the papers in front of her, quickly realizing that she had dozed off reading one of her professor's research before she looked up to the door of her office. Cedar and Ashton were welcoming themselves into her office, neither of them noticing she had fallen asleep as Cedar closed her office door and Ashton stormed right up to her desk.
"Boys, what's wrong?" Nicole asked quickly, seeing the urgency on their faces.
"Our aunt is moving to town." Ashton stated, pressing his hands against the opposite end of her desk.
"In fact, she's already in town!" Cedar corrected stepping up swiftly beside his brother, he had a frantic look in his eyes, "Apparently she's been planning on moving to town for a while now, and Ashton and I only found out this morning!"
"Dad picked her up at the airport over the weekend. She's staying at his place until she finds a place of her own!"
Nicole had a hard time keeping up with the boys as they swiftly threw this information at her. The boys' aunt? Was that who that woman was at Celous' last night? There was a knot in her stomach that was flirting with the prospect of relief, that golden-haired woman was the twins' aunt? "It's nice of your father to help her."
"Well...yeah." Cedar replied awkwardly, "But..."
"But its her!" Ashton finished for his brother, "Miss. North, if it were any other family member, we wouldn't be in the problem we're in now!"
"I don't understand..." Nicole squinted at them slowly, but the way the boys were looking gave a sense of weariness, "What's wrong with your aunt?"
"She's our mother's sister." Cedar replied, looking right at the dean, "She is only dad's sister-in-law."
"But she's been flirting with dad for the past five years!" Ashton added rather rudely, "She's got some issue in that stuck-up little head of her's that makes her think she has a right to our father!"
"Normally we wouldn't be so worried about it." Cedar said quickly, "Dad always blew off or even scolded her for her flirting attempts, but when we saw him this morning..." He trailed off with a sigh as he glanced at his brother.
"He was silent the entire time she spat those fat lips of her's at him!" Ashton threw his hands up in the air and even paced a few steps away, "He's never acted like that before! I'm worried he might actually be considering her this time!"
"Which leads us to our problem." Cedar looked back to Nicole, weary curiosity in his eyes, "Did something between you and dad that we don't know about?"
Nicole was left in a moment's stun as she listened to the hurried words of the twins. Her tired mind was struggling to fit all the pieces together, the golden haired woman at Celous' was the twins' aunt on their mother's side, but she was flirting with Celous? Nicole felt her throat tighten at that thought, but what worried her the most was that prospect that her words yesterday might have been the reason the twins were so worried about their father being silent at the calls of his sister-in-law, "I don't know what you two are talking about." Nicole found herself saying, "Your father--"
"Belongs with you." Cedar cut her off sharply, "I apologize for my bluntness, Miss North, but we haven't seen our father so happy with anyone else besides you and frankly, we'd rather have you go out with our father than our aunt."
"Could you imagine if she became our step-mom?" Ashton asked from the front of the room, "Ugh." he added with a disgusted shiver.
Nicole felt a solemn blush rising to her cheeks as she looked down at her desk, "I don't know..." She said slowly, not looking at the boys, "I don't know what to do."
"If Stella were here, she'd say to tell him the truth. Tell him how you feel." Cedar replied with a shrug, her response seemed to bring a relief from him.
"Feelings?" Nicole huffed in amusement as she looked up at the older twin, "You expect your father, the fighter, to response to feelings? He'd rather have blood on his knuckles."
"Yeah, Cedar, not everyone's the softy you are." Ashton snorted, he walked back over to her desk as he looked at his brother, "First things first, I think we need to get Aunt Aria out of dad's house. The less time she spends with him, the better."
Cedar nodded in agreement, "Tarak said he and his brother were looking for a new place, maybe we could ask them if they found anything that could work for her?"
"I'll ask Sota about it, we both know how forgetful Tarak is." Ashton nodded, "If anything we could always recruit the team to pull dad into more practices that he won't have time to spend with her. Football, wrestling, and fighting."
"Yeah, but Aunt Aria's a fighter too and you know how much she loves football, she'll just try to come to those practices." Cedar frowned, "We should suggest a few jobs for here that are across town."
Nicole looked back and forth between the twins as they discussed out their little scheme. She got the sense that they plotted like this quite often and she almost felt bad for Celous for having to deal with it for twenty years. One thing that did feel good was knowing that twins were on her side.
"Miss North whatever happened between you and dad, I suggest you fix it ASAP." Cedar stated suddenly, looking at the dean, "I don't know how, but for all of our sakes, it needs to happen."
Nicole looked back at him with flustered surprise, "Uh..."
"Hey, Dr. Liv was joking the other day in class that sometimes the best way to a person's heart is through their children." Ashton snapped his fingers as he looked at his brothers, "What if dad saw us spending time with Miss. North? I think that might make him jealous."
"Good idea!" Cedar exclaimed in response, he smiled at his twin, "We not-so-obviously lead him into figuring it out."
"What do we do when he does figure it out?" Ashton raised an eyebrow, "What if we get in trouble because he does figure out what we've been trying to do?"
"We get there when we get there." Cedar shrugged easily, he looked at Nicole, "Meet us at the football stadium at six." he said with a smile.
"Cedar, I--" Nicole started to shake her head and voice her doubts when Ashton cut her off.
"Shoot, Cedar we got to get to math! We'll see you at six, Miss. North!" He gave the dean a nod before he rushed out of the room. Cedar gave her one last bright grin before following his brother.
Nicole remained at her desk, staring after the twins with stunned bewilderment on her face. Eventually she let out a sigh, "I guess I'll see you at six..." She muttered after them.

xD Me too

Nicole felt a nervousness in her stomach as she walked out onto the football field. She spotted Ashton and Cedar over by the home team benches, discussing some things. Cedar held a football in his hand and seemed to be explaining something to his brother that Ashton didn't look too thrilled with. They were both dressed in loose football Jerseys and sweats.
"Ok, boys, what am I doing here?" Nicole asked bluntly as she walked up to them. She crossed her arms to try and tame the knot in her gut.
"You came!" Cedar exclaimed with his bright smile.
"You didn't change..." Ashton sighed as he looked her up and down. Nicole was still wearing her work clothes.
The dean furrowed her brow at the boys, "Was I supposed too?"
Cedar gave a sheepish nod, "Well...it's kinda hard to play football in heels, ma'am."
Nicole paused, "I'm sorry what?" She said looking at Cedar.
"We're gonna teach you how to play football." Ashton replied with a shrug, "Better than what you did at Christmas."
Cedar frowned, "That they did at Christmas was illegal."
Ashton only smiled at his twin, "But it helped." Cedar seemed to see his point and he nodded in agreement.
"There should be some clothes you could change into in the locker room." Cedar stated turning to Nicole, "We'll wait for you."
Nicole hesitated a moment as she looked from one twin to the other. Playing football made her nervous, even at Christmas. She didn't appreciate the thought of two heavy-weight college students chasing her around the football field, "Fine." She heard herself sigh, she turned from them and headed back toward the locker room. As she left she heard the twins exchange a high-five.
Like the boys said, there were clothes more suitable for football within the locker room. Nicole found a pair of sweatpants that fit her and a t-shirt that was a little too big.
"Can't you like, push it off until eight...maybe?" Nicole heard Cedar said as she came walking back to the field. The twins were facing each other, Cedar holding a phone between them.
You want to have dinner at eight? Nicole felt her stomach twist hearing Celous' voice come from the phone, she glanced at the twins and when Ashton spotted her, he raised a finger to his mouth in warning for her to remain silent. Nicole only nodded.
"Just give us time to finish up this practice." Cedar replied, "I'm sure you and Aunt Aria can hold off until then."
Celous' sigh could be heard coming through the phone, She's making her meatloaf boys.
A look of panic swapped between Cedar and Ashton, "Actually I think this practice might go longer than eight, dad." Ashton said quickly, looking at the phone.
Oh no you don't. Celous' voice rang sharp, Your aunt is looking forward to seeing the two of you, so I suggest you finish up your practice and get your butts over here. You two are the reason she's moving back out here, you know.
"Are you sure you're not the reason?" Cedar grumbled as he exchanged a doubtful look with his brother.
What was that, Cedar?
"Nothing, dad!" Cedar replied swiftly.
What are you two practicing anyway? Celous asked.
"Football." Ashton replied simply.
At the beginning of February? Nicole could hear the doubt in his voice.
"There's never a bad time to practice, dad, you said that!" Cedar stated, "We'll be around eight, wouldn't want you to deal with Aunt Aria by yourself."
Another sigh came through the phone, Just get your hides over here.
"Oh, wait dad! Before you hang up!" Cedar said quickly, "I talk to Miss North today--" A click could be heard from the phone, "Dad?"
The twins looked down at the phone to see the call had been ended. Nicole looked down at the ground as the coach had hung up right after her name. The twins looked at each other, "That's a good sign right?" Cedar asked his brother.
Ashton gave a shrugging nod, "I'd say so, you know dad, he can't talk about anything that's bothering him."
Cedar nodded before he turned to Miss North, "So football." He stated with a smile, "We got two hours to teach you what we can. Don't worry." he added seeing the doubt on her face, "It'll be fun."

"Hey! She actually caught it!" Cedar teased with that bright smile of his.
Nicole was panting rather hard as she held the football against her chest. Her chest was throbbing from the hit it took when she caught the ball, but she was feeling rather proud of herself. The two hours she spent with the twins were actually pretty enjoyable. They explained some of the rules of football before throwing her into a mock drill. After that mock drill, it became painfully clear that Nicole needed to work on her catching and throwing skills. They started with a simple game of catch until it turned into a three way two-hand touch football. Nicole really had no idea what was going on through the two hours as her mind was still exhausted from staying up all night, but she was enjoying the time spent with the twins.
"I think you two have to get to dinner." Nicole smiled back at Cedar before tossing Ashton the football, "It's well past eight and I don't want your father getting mad at you two."
"Eh." Ashton shrugged tucking the football under his arm, "We've done worse."
Nicole shook her head, "I find that really easy to believe." She looked from one twin to the other, "Thank you."
"No sweat, Miss North." Cedar smiled back at her, "We'll make a football champion out of you yet."
Nicole smiled in amusement and rubbed her knuckles and wrists, she had to admit all day they had been bothering her, her knuckles even had a light bruise on them, and she knew it was from hitting the punching bag last night, "I will see you boys tomorrow?"
Cedar nodded and opened his mouth to say something, but Ashton cut him off by grabbing Nicole's wrists, "What's this?" he asked frowning at her knuckles.
"My hand." Nicole said slowly, slightly startled by the younger twin's sudden action.
Ashton had a frown on his face and he twisted Nicole's knuckles so that Cedar could get a look at them, "Know what this is?" he asked his brother.
"Someone didn't wrap their knuckles." Cedar replied, his eyebrows raised in surprise seeing the bruise and he looked at Miss North, "Did you go out and beat something up, Miss North?"
Nicole tried to pull her wrist free from Ashton's grasp, but the young fighter had a firm hold, "No." She stated bluntly, she yanked again and when Ashton realized she wanted her arm back, he let go, "I hit a punching bag..." She added slowly, rubbing her wrists again.
The twins exchanged a glance, "Well I think I know what we're doing tomorrow night." Ashton stated crossing his arms.
Nicole frowned at them, "Tomorrow night?"
Cedar nodded, "Yeah, meet us at Fighter's Mat tomorrow." he glanced at his brother, "Five o'clock?"
Ashton nodded, "That way dinner at dad's isn't too late."
Cedar let out a rough sigh, "I'm really not looking forward to that meatloaf..." he groaned, but he gave Nicole another smile, "Yeah, we'll meet you at Fighter's Mat at five tomorrow. It should be cleared out by then. Dad doesn't have practices on Wednesdays."
"And I assume come dressed ready to fight?" Nicole asked with a tired sigh.
Both twins nodded, each holding their own smirk, "You got it." they told her. Ashton held out his hand to her, "Good work tonight, Miss North. Honestly you didn't better than I expected."
"Thanks..." Nicole replied flatly, taking his hand, "I think?"
Cedar smiled brightly, "We'll see you tomorrow!" He and his brother turned to head away. Nicole couldn't help but watch them go, realizing a bit more why Celous loved those boys so much, "So dinner." She heard Cedar say as they went.
Ashton gave a chuckle, "Oh this is going to be fun."

aww

"I actually do have a paper I need help with, you know." Cedar stated as he entered Nicole's office, but he paused seeing the stance his dean was in, a smile widening on his face, "I need a picture of this." He stated pulling his phone out.
"Cedar don't you dare!" Nicole snapped quickly. She had her bare feet propped up on her desk and she was leaned back in her chair reading over a few research proposals. With it being so late in the day, and most everyone gone home, she figured she's unwind a bit as she waited for Cedar to show up.
Nicole moved her feet back to the floor, trying to change her position faster than Cedar could click the camera, "Do you want help with your paper or not?"
"Ah, it's just a bit of fun Miss North." Cedar smiled as he tucked his phone away in his pocket, he slipped his backpack onto one of the other chairs in her office, before taking a seat in the other. He started to pull his laptop out of his backpack, "I'll admit, I've been struggling with his paper for a while. I know the story I want to tell, I'm just not sure how to get it on the page."
"That always seems to be the problem." Nicole smiled softly, "Let me see what you got and I'll try my best to help you make it as good as it can be, but keep in mind: I'm not writing it for you."
Cedar nodded, "That's all I ask, Miss North." he smiled and pulled open the computer, "I have it right here." He did something on his computer before passing it to her.
Nicole set the laptop in front of her on the desk and Cedar leaned back in the chair as he waited for her to read it over. She had to admit, his writing could use some work, and it was clear he didn't know much about punctuation and grammar, but she was most intrigued by his story, "You said you're supposed to write about an important event in your life?" She asked slowly, glancing at the twin.
Cedar didn't look at her and he didn't say anything, he only nodded, the look in his eyes betraying the second thoughts that came quickly to his mind about reading his paper.
The story was of when Cedar and Ashton were five years old. They were apparently staying the night at their grandparents--on their mother's side--while Celous was at another one of his fights. Cedar tried to explain in detail that he and his brother were supposed to be in bed when their father finally got back, but being in bed wasn't the same as being asleep. The two of them ended up overhearing an argument between Celous and their grandparents. Celous had lost the fight and had returned without any prize money, and it was that night the twins learned for the first time how broke their father actually was. In his paper, Cedar summarized the dialog that had happened in the argument, and Nicole covered her mouth when she read that the twins' grandparents threatened to take them away from Celous by going to court which Celous couldn't afford. Cedar wrote in his paper that he learned a lot about his father that night and ended up looking up to him even more after those events. Celous fought for them that night against the wise anger of their grandparents. He "woke" his boys up to take them out of that house, but their grandparents then threatened to call the cops. Cedar described in good detail what his grandparents and father looked like that night. His grandparents being dressed in night clothes with fury painted on their faces and Celous had bandages and blood on him from his loss that night. The twins' five-year-old selves asked what was going on when they were taken out of their rooms and Nicole was surprised to read that Celous told them the truth of it all. How he lost, how he had no money, and how their grandparents thought it would be best if they remained with them instead of him. Celous told them everything so that their young minds could understand the best they could at the protests of their grandparents. He explained that if the boys remained with their grandparents, they would have the certainty of food, clothing, and roof over their head, where Celous wasn't sure he'd be able to provide all that for them. Cedar wrote that he couldn't speak for his brother, but he admired the honesty of his father, that Celous didn't spin them any false truths or sugar coat anything. Cedar added in a sentence Nicole had heard Celous say quite often to his students, "When you take a hit, it's gonna hurt, but you can't let it hold you back." That night Celous told his boys how much he cared about them, he didn't want to lose them, but he didn't want risk their well-being with his empty pockets and uncertain future. Cedar and Ashton agreed that night that they wanted to stay with their father no matter what, they were a team, like Celous had always told them. Even when their grandparents tried to argue with them the twins--at five years of age--shouted back that they wanted to stay with their father. Celous took them from their grandparents house and since then the three of them have been a tighter team in constant, caring, vigilance of each other.
Nicole glanced back at Cedar after finishing the paper, the twin wouldn't look at her as it was plain on his face that he wasn't sure he should've let her read that, "Your grammar reminds me of a middle school student." She stated lightly, trying to break the evident ice, "But I guess that's to be expected from a fighter."
"Is it really that bad?" Cedar asked squinting his eyes back at her, she could see the embarrassment behind his movements.
"It's nothing we can't work with." Nicole smiled back at him, "Move your chair over here."
"What'd you think of the story?" Cedar asked gingerly as he got up to move his chair.
Nicole paused a moment, turning her eyes to the words on the page, "It's not surprising." She admitted honestly, looking back at Cedar, "I always knew you, your brother, and your father were really close and Celous told me he did struggle as a single dad. Reading over your paper," Nicole sighed, not looking away, "I am once again jealous of you Skyes."
Her response cracked a smile onto Cedar's face, he plopped down in his chair right next to her, "So how can we make this better?"

For an hour the two worked on the paper, Nicole went over it line for line with him after he told her he still wasn't sure on the title. Going through the paper, she hoped maybe something would come to mind for him. They went over the development of the story, Nicole offered suggestions on what didn't sound right and what she would reword and Cedar was more than willing to try a sentence again before they moved onto the football player's struggle with grammar. Nicole had to admit she was impressed with the twin's writing style, his word choices were impressive, and she commented on it more than once. All Cedar really needed to do was to develop his grammar skills and he could very well be one of the best writers in his class.
"Oh, sorry." Cedar apologized as his phone went off, "It's dad."
"Answer it." Nicole nodded, "We should probably take a break anyway."
Cedar gave her a glance before taking the call, "Hey dad." he paused, Nicole couldn't hear Celous' end of the conversation, "I'm working on a paper." The fighter said glancing at the laptop before them, "I'm fine, I'm on campus." he said quickly, Nicole saw a defensive pride rise in his eyes, "No, I'm not at tutoring! I don't need tutoring! I'm on campus working on my paper! I told Ashton where I was going!" A frown slapped onto Cedar's face at whatever Celous was saying to him, "Well I told him, it's not my fault he didn't remember." Nicole shook her head in amusement, she could only guess what the old fighter was saying to his son. Suddenly Cedar flinched, "Oh sure, now he remembers." he grumbled mostly to himself. He glanced at Miss North and slowly set his phone on the desk.
"Is everything ok, Cedar?" Nicole asked curiously as she glanced between him in the phone.
Cedar sighed staring at his phone, "I told Ashton I was meeting with you tonight about the paper. Apparently he's with dad and Aunt Aria now. Dad called because Ashton said he didn't know where I was and, you know, parents worry." He shook his head, "I could hear Ashton in the background exclaim 'Oh wait, I remember now, he's with Miss North!'" He sighed again and looked at his dean, "It was never my intention for him to found out I'm here. I didn't want him to know I was coming here. I figured we just have him walk in on one of our little football practices."
Nicole smiled softly at the twin's predicament, "He didn't just hang up did he?" She asked slowly.
"No the line's still open." Cedar shook his head and motioned toward his phone, "I just find it best, whenever he takes that scolding deep breath, to just put the phone down."
Nicole couldn't help but shake her head in amusement as her thoughts wondered once again to how Celous dealt with these boys for twenty years. She glanced at the twin before reaching for the phone. When Cedar saw what she was doing, he waved his hands in signalling for her to go ahead.
"Cedar, pick up the phone!" Celous' sharp voice rang through the device as Nicole put it against her ear.
"Hello Coach Skye." Nicole smiled, leaning her elbows against her desk.
"Miss North," The old fighter's voice instantly changed, becoming distant and defensive, "I'm sorry for the disruption tonight, I keep telling Cedar to go to tutoring."
"It's no trouble at all, coach." Nicole replied calmly, "I've been meaning to spend more time with the university's students and I'm happy to help Cedar with his writing. Honestly, if we work on his grammar more, he could have some real talent here." There was silence from the other end of the line, "I always knew there was more to you Skyes than just fighting and football." She added calmly.
The silence continued and Nicole let it go, Say something. she thought silently, she could picture his face, he was probably staring down at the ground with that stoic expression and even rubbing his free hand against the back of his head, Come on, Celous, say something.
Finally a sigh came from the other end of the line, "Thank you for helping him Miss North."
"It's my pleasure, coach." Nicole replied not too quickly, but she continued speaking before he could hang up, "Have you read his paper?" She asked with a glance at Cedar, "It's a pretty good story."
"No I haven't read it." Celous replied, "He hasn't shown it to me yet, and frankly, I think I'm a bit too busy with Aria moving to town to read it."
Nicole frowned, did he have to bring her up? "Well," She tried to keep her tone even, but it was rather difficult with the thought of Aria on her mind, "when you take a hit..."
A huff of actual amusement broke from the old fighter's mouth and carried through the line, Nicole could picture the smile she probably brought to his face, "it's gonna hurt."
"But you can't let it hold you back." Nicole finished with a smile, Cedar chuckled silently beside her, his bright grin back on his face. Silently Nicole prayed that Celous read deeper in the words he always said. She may have hit him hard with the words she didn't mean to say, but she prayed that Celous wouldn't let them hold him back.
"Would you mind giving the phone back to my son?" Celous asked, his voice didn't seem so distant.
"As long as you promise not to scold him for asking me for help." Nicole replied, glancing at Cedar again, "I'm more than happy to help him, Celous. Ashton too if he needs it."
The other end was silent for long moments and Nicole waited patiently, "Thank you, Nicole." Celous finally said, Nicole smiled when he used her first name, "And I promise," he added quickly, "Let me talk to my son?"
"Goodbye Celous." Nicole smiled before she turned the phone back over to Cedar.
"Hey dad...." Cedar said guiltily as he put the phone back to his ear. He rubbed the back of his head with his other hand, "So...we're almost done here." Nicole watched the boy as he listened to his father on the other end of the line, whatever Celous was saying to him was changing Cedar's guilty posture to a more open one, the twin even had a smile spreading on his face, "Thanks dad." he said suddenly, "You mind telling Ashton I'd like to see him on the mat tomorrow morning?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. His smile grew wider after a moment and he even chuckled, "Thanks dad, I'll see you tomorrow." Cedar gave a curt nod, "Bye dad."
Nicole felt that inward pang at her heart again as she watched and listened to the twin talk with his father on the phone. Because she had lost Ronnie all those years ago, she didn't have the chance to have children of her own. One of the reasons she started teaching was so that she could at least call students her own, but seeing the relationship between Cedar, Ashton, and Celous reminded her of what she was never able to obtain, "Are you ready to finish?" She asked softly when Cedar hung up the phone.
"Yeah, just one second." Cedar replied, he leaned forward to his paper, "I finally figured out what to title it." He told her with a smile. Nicole tilted her head to see what he was typing on the screen and she couldn't help but smile herself seeing what he chose:

When you take a hit.

Drama

Nicole went back to work after all the drama in the gym. She led Aria to Professor Cliff Hertz so that the two could talk about the airport position before she headed back to her office. She didn't see if wise to go after Celous with his fired temper. He just needs some space. she told herself when she sat back down at her desk, dropping the gloves Aria gave her in her bag. Her eyes glanced over to the organizer Celous got her a Christmas, her thoughts drifting to the picture hidden in the back of it, Just a little time and space. she sighed.
Getting through the rest of the day was more difficult than Nicole would've liked, she kept thinking about the looks on the fighting students' faces when they discovered their trophy glove had disappeared and the anger on Celous' face when he realized it had been thrown out with the trash.
"It took us years to finally get that glove!"
Celous' words rang in her head as she stared at an email she probably read five different times. She kept thinking about Fight Club and how excited the students were when Celous secured the glove for the school after beating the other coaches. He had been dying to punch Sam Bracken for years. she thought as she remembered the fight, thanks to her restricting him to fight, Celous had taken the blunt end of other coach's mocking for years, but always remained obedient. Even when the other coaches mocked him. she sighed, she could see the importance of that glove to Celous and the students, they had finally overcome the teasing of the other schools and Celous was able to prove that he was a former fighting champion.
Nicole sighed and closed out her email, she glanced down at her makeshift gym bag where a set of more comfortable clothes resided. "I'm starting to think you women are more trouble than your worth!" The old fighter's words sounded in her head once again. She had to admit that they hurt. She didn't mean to say the things that goaded at him and she couldn't just take them back as if she never said them. What can I do? she asked herself as her eyes turned to her clock. It was three o'clock, she still had a few hours left in the work day, but she wasn't sure she would be getting anything done with the thoughts that plagued her mind.
Her mind was soon set. Nicole got up and left her office, swiftly walking the halls until she found who she was looking for, "Mr. Watkins." She greeted the janitor kindly, waving her hand to get his attention as he was listening to music while moping the floors.
"Miss North!" The old man smiled at her as he pulled out his earbuds, he had a short frame to him and white scruff on his head and face, "What can I do for you?"
"Do you remember that favor you owe me?" Nicole asked calmly.
The old man smiled at her, missing a few of his teeth, "What do you need, Miss North?"

(Sorry, guys, I've been having a rough week and writing about these two makes me feel better. I know I've been neglecting the rps and I'm sorry.)

"Ugh! It really nags at me about what Aunt Aria did with that glove." Ashton let out with a shake of his head, "And after all the work we put in to finally get it."
"Yeah..." Cedar sighed in agreement as he followed his brother and father down to the gym. After his classes yesterday, he returned to the gym to find that his father was nowhere to be found and Aunt Aria was still trying to apologize to some of the fighting students. Cedar called up his father to make sure he was alright and learned that the coach had headed back to the ranch to blow off steam in his own private gym. Cedar found it wiser to let him do so. Currently the twins were following their father down to the gym to start early morning practice, "Have you told the other coaches yet?" he asked, looking at his father.
Celous' reply was to only look at him and Cedar frowned, "Yeah, I don't blame you for putting it off." he sighed, adjusting his grip on his gym bag.
"Let's just try to get through practice without anymore interruptions." Celous finally replied.
The three of them crossed Fighter's Mat and headed over to Coach Skye's office. Cedar and Ashton were throwing their bags against the wall like they always did as their father unlocked the door. It was when the old fighter hit the lights did Ashton and Cedar noticed him physically pause.
"What now?" Ashton sighed seeing his father's action, "Don't tell me someone rearranged your whole office?"
Celous didn't say anything and when the twins walked up behind him, they realized why, "No way." Cedar breathed softly, a smile widening on his face.
Sitting within a glass display case upon Celous' desk was the Fight Club Glove. It looked like it had more tears in it than before, but it was clearly polished and cleaned up, shining in the light of the office like it was held up in victory. The twins exchanged a smile before looking at their father, Celous' face was completely taken with surprise. The coach slowly stepped up to his desk and carefully slid his hand along the top of the glass as if he didn't believe it was really there, "I don't understand..." he said slowly.
"What's there to understand? The glove is back!" Ashton laughed as he followed his father into the room, "And it looks better than ever! We should center it on your bookshelf, right above your head, so that everyone can see it." he held up his hands and seemed to frame out the spot on the bookshelf where he wanted the glove to go, "No one will throw it away now!"
When Celous looked at his son in amusement, Cedar caught sight of a little, white card placed in the corner of the glass display case, "What's that?" He asked, moving into the room. He moved around his father and picked up the little card, flipping it over to read the other side.

I think you lost this.

Cedar's face widened into a bright grin as he read the words on the page, the simple words reminding him of a note he and his brother once left on a certain someone's car. The twin passed the note to his father as Ashton raised a curious eyebrow at him, "I think we need to figure out who found it and thank them." Cedar said calmly, watching his father read the note. Celous' eyes squinted in curiosity as he looked over the simple words on the small card, "Do you recognize the handwriting?" Cedar asked him, trying to read his eyes.
"Ashton, put it up on the bookshelf." Celous nodded to his younger son. Cedar frowned when he didn't answer his question, "Cedar why don't you go tell the team? This'll brighten their spirits." The coach tucked the small note in his coat pocket before he turned to leave the room.
"Where are you going?" Cedar called after him.
"Just do as your told!" Celous answered back on his way out the door.

"Nicole!"
Dr. Liv's sharp voice sounded from the dean's office as Celous stepped up to it, he paused right before the door and carefully glanced inside. Dr. Liv's back was to him as she faced the dean, sitting at her desk, but Nicole looked jolted as if the doctor's call had just woken her up. Her hair was wet as if she had just taken a shower, and Celous swore she was wearing the same clothes she was wearing the day before.
"Huh? Oh, Claral what do you need?" Nicole asked, raising her hand to face to rub her eyes.
"One of my students brought me these." Claral replied to her, holding up a set of clothes, she actually held them as far from her as possible, "She said she found them in the girl's shower and she didn't who they belonged too. Now, I know they're yours, but, goodness, Nicole! What in the world were you doing that makes them stink this bad?! They smell like a junkyard!"
The dean had her chin rested in her hand as she leaned on her desk, her tired eyes staring at the doctor and the clothes with almost an annoyance in her eyes, "Just put them in the bag." She sighed, turning to look around the office to find where the bag actually was before motioning towards it, "And thank you for bringing them to me." she added politely.
"So you're not going to tell me why they smell like they were washed in garbage?" Claral's voice came flat and Celous knew she was frowning at the dean even though he couldn't see her face.
"I think you know the answer to that one Claral." Nicole sighed, "Is there anything else I can do for you?" Celous couldn't help but watch her, she was clearly exhausted and the way she stretched her back, she was clearly sore as well.
"Are you alright, Nicole?" Claral asked, she placed the dean's clothes in her bag before standing back in front of her, her hands on her hips, "You look like you didn't get any sleep at all last night."
Nicole stared back at the doctor, from the look on her face Celous guessed that her lack of sleep had stretched her cares thin, "Oh really?" She replied flatly.
"I think you need to go home, Nicole." Claral sighed, "Get some rest, something tells me you haven't been home all night."
"I can't, Claral, there's too much to do. I'm meeting Professor Orso again for lunch--"
"Professor Orso?" Claral cut her off flatly, "Really Nicole?"
"Yes! Professor Orso, he has many good ideas for the wildlife department!"
Claral leaned down on the dean's desk, "I just hope that's all he has that has your attention!"
Celous found himself holding his breath as he waited for Nicole's reply, the dean had her tired blue eyes locked in an angered gaze with the doctor, "Claral," Nicole said lowly, "If Professor Orso had caught my eye, I wouldn't have spent my entire night searching a junkyard for an old boxing glove. Now, can I help you with anything else?" she asked sharply.
Celous let out a gasp of disbelief as he pulled away from the doorway, not hearing Dr. Liv's reply. He pulled the little white card from his pocket and stared at the handwriting, he had his suspicion that it had been her, but he didn't actually think it would be true.
"Miss North!"
Celous about cursed when he heard his son's call echo from down the hall, he quickly moved away from the dean's office before Cedar could see spot him. Rounding around another corner he heard two running footsteps skid in front of the dean's office, "Miss North you found it!" Cedar's voice exclaimed bright, "Hey, Dr. Liv."
Celous' brow furrowed in confusion, Cedar knew that Nicole had found the glove? How did he know? he asked himself.
"How did you find it?!" Ashton's voice asked, "I figured it would've been lost in the junkyard by now!"
"Lost is an understatement." Nicole sighed, but Celous could hear the smile in her voice, "You two make sure your father takes good care of it from now on, ok?"
"Oh, don't worry, Miss North, we will." Cedar replied, his bright smile evident in his voice.
"What's going on? What are you talk about?" Dr. Liv's voice asked, "I obviously missed something!"
"It's a rather long story, Claral." Nicole sighed, "But the main points are that Fighter's Glove had gotten mistakenly thrown away--"
"And Miss North went out and found it!" Cedar finished brightly, "Oh, just wait until dad hears about this!"
"No, Cedar." Nicole's voice sounded calmly, but firmly, "If I wanted your father to know, I would've signed the card. You are not to tell him."
"But Miss North--"
"No, boys." Nicole cut Ashton off, "He is not to know. Your father needs his space and that means none of your little scheming!"
"Aw, now that's not--"
"I mean it, boys." Nicole insisted, "I appreciate your help and your support, but..." She let out a sigh, "Let things just happen, please?"
There was a silence from the twins before finally Cedar sighed, "Alright." He paused and Celous could hear the smile spreading on his face, "Thanks for finding the glove, Miss North."
"You're welcome, boys."
Celous pulled off the wall he was leaned against at the dean's soft words. He slipped the little card back into his pocket before he headed back to the gym.