Upon entering the dining facility, the trio took three steps when they were stopped by a young man holding a rose looking at Lana. Chekof raised an eyebrow. Blaine's eye started twitching. Lana looked confused.
"You're so beautiful, will you go out with me?"
Lana stood staring at this kid. Finally, she managed to say, "I'm sorry, I don't have time for such things."
She tried to walk around him, but he stopped her again, "please, just give me a chance. I promise, you won't be disappointed."
"I said, no thank you. Let me pass." She tried to move around him again.
Again, he stopped her, "I beg you, just one date."
Lana punched him in the stomach then kicked him in the head, knocking him out.
Chekof chuckled while Blaine's eye was twitching worse. He inched closer while Chekof went to get his two containers of meat. Since Lana didn't know how long she'd be, she had told the others to eat without her in the DFAC. They were already eating by the time she got there but she refused to eat there herself.
"Where are you going to eat?" Blaine asked.
"My room. Let's go. I want to look at your bruises anyway."
Blaine smiled broadly and followed her. She let him into her room then closed the door.
"Go in the bathroom, drop your pants and sit on the counter please. I want to look at your thigh and your side where I got you."
He didn't argue. She tried lifting his shirt to check his side after their spar, but he kept slapping her hand away. She followed him into the bathroom and grabbed a towel while he followed her instructions. Without looking down, she placed the towel to cover his underwear. She also locked the door to the bathroom to make sure no one came in.
"Why are the doors closed? We'll get in trouble."
Lana chuckled, "you read the rules. Did it say the doors needed to be open for medical attention?"
Blaine chuckled, "I guess not."
His thigh was turning purple, but his side was worse. Lana got out her pot and went to work.
"Do you have any bruises?"
Lana chuckled, "you didn't hit me hard enough to bruise. You gave me the princess treatment while still pushing me to work harder. It was quite interesting, I must say. You are extremely skilled."
"I want to see what you do with this tree you mentioned."
"That has to wait until phase 3."
She had one bruise halfway gone when there was a knock at the door then the knob jiggled. "I'm sorry Kattie, I can't open the door. I'm treating some injuries in here." Lana called out.
A male voice responded, "I need to see your credentials if that's the case!"
Lana winced. He didn't sound happy. She opened the medicine cabinet, so the mirror covered Blaine's face and unlocked the door. She opened it just enough to show her badge and allow him to read it. The sergeant pushed the door just a bit and was able to see the bruised leg and a towel covering a certain area.
"What's with the plant?"
When Lana explained, he nodded, "carry on. Normally, when I walk this hall you're having dinner with the door open. I saw someone outside, but the door was closed. Thought I'd make sure everything was okay."
"I appreciate that, Sergeant. Dinner sounds good but it's hard to enjoy a meal when you're in pain."
He nodded and left, closing the door behind him. Lana closed and relocked the door and returned to work. Soon, his bruises were healed, the pain was treated and he was good as new.
"I seriously can't believe that hit on your stomach didn't have an impact. I know I pulled the punch but still. Show me."
Lana saw the conviction in his eyes and unbuttoned her shirt. The way the uniforms worked was, the PT uniform was worn as an undergarment. Men had tee-shirts while females could choose either a sports bra or a tee-shirt. Most females took both options and doubled up. Lana just wore the sports bra so simply unbuttoning the outer shirt was all Blaine needed to see she had no bruises. He also whistled when he saw how ripped her abs were.
Lana lightly slapped his arm, "stop playing. You've seen the female body before."
"Not like that, I haven't. We train at home, yes but the men train harder than the females, except for my grandmother. I've never seen her stomach."
Lana nodded and held her shirt open, "are you satisfied that I'm okay?"
Blaine nodded and watched her button back up, inwardly wishing the opposite was happening.
Lana prepared a simple salad with fresh-cooked black and pinto beans. She apologized for such a simple meal, but Blaine was happily eating. Kyle was spouting praises to him for getting her to take off her shirt. He was quite proud of himself as well, but he also felt guilty because he knew if things didn't change, she could never be theirs.
The next two weeks went by uneventful. The last Saturday of phase 2, the four leaders of the special sessions of PT got their information together. Alto had made the most improvement, so he got the gift card. Lana happily handed it over.
The next day, Lana and Dobin decided to introduce their friends to eating under a willow tree. They discussed it at breakfast while they allowed Lana to sleep in since she had been working so hard. Kattie brought Lana some breakfast after they were all done in a to-go box. Once she ate, she convinced her roommate to join them outside and go for a walk in the park. Blaine said he had something to do so he skipped the outing.
Once in the park, they all looked at each other then Kattie spoke to Lana. "Well, we decided at breakfast that if you are cooking, we are doing the buying. If there are ever ingredients you need, just let us know and we will get them for you."
Lana grinned, "if you're sure then I'm okay with that!"
The friends were in good spirits as they headed to the store, leaving Lana behind in the safety of a forest.
As they walked in different directions, it didn't take long to get out of view. They already had a spot in mind for a tree but she wasn't near it yet when she heard the trees warning her of danger. She looked round, confused. They claimed danger but didn't provide any images and she didn't see anything.
Next thing she knew, a heavy blow came from behind and slammed her into a tree so hard she was winded. She started to turn around but was slammed into the tree again. She heard a blood-curdling voice from behind that made her freeze.
It was the last voice she ever wanted to hear again.
Pucket.
"Nice to see you here, Lana. Still protecting the weak? He belongs to us."
She growled at him, "you know he's my twin. That will never happen."
His eyes grew dark and he grinned an evil grin that she more felt and heard than saw, "I know. I'm looking forward to this. This is your only warning."
With that, he was gone. She never saw him once.
Stunned and trembling from the altercation, Lana ambled her way to her tree and tried getting her kitchen set up and food grown before the others arrived. She was shaken. The color was drained from her flesh and if one looked closely, they could see her pupils had dilated.
She kept asking the trees if the monster could be seen anywhere and to inform her immediately if he returned. She didn't get a description of what he looked like. He was wearing all black, including over his face.
Lana somehow managed to get everything up and ready by the time the group arrived. Her hands were still trembling, and her voice was a little shaky.
Dobin noticed immediately and offered to help her with prep work. She leaned over close to his ear as she cut vegetables, "Pucket is here. I think he has an ability. I never even saw him. He attacked me and shoved me against a tree…"
Her voice cracked and she could speak no more. She finished preparing the vegetables and got the vegetable stew cooking then looked at the steaks.
She put on a smile and turned to her friends, "What are your preferences?"
They each gave their response excitedly then sat at the table while Kattie stood at the side with plates or the cooked food.
Soon everyone was eating and Lana did her best to forget what happened earlier. She loved Dobin but he wasn't very good at conversating. She also enjoyed hearing their praises about her culinary capabilities.
Dobin ate everything in sight so his commentary on her cooking could not be trusted.
"Oh, I forgot to ask you guys. Since you wanted to pay for the purchases from the store, did you need Dobin to reimburse you guys?" Lana chimed in on the finances.
Kattie responded, "Just give us each 2 credits and we'll be even. It's great you are protecting them like that."
Lana smiled and did as requested. She then updated the accounting sheets right there so she would not forget.
Lana looked exhausted so Kattie suggested cleanup and head back so they could all get a good rest before classes in the morning. Tomorrow would be the first day of not needing combat classes, though she did agree to three tutor sessions a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It meant she should get her answer on her research. They cleaned up as a group ensuring nothing was left behind.
Leftover food was brought back. The rule was established the remnants would be divided between the two rooms. Residents of both were guilty of studying late at times, especially Dobin.
Back in their rooms, Lana and Kattie did the evening meditation then crawled into bed. This time, she wore the cloth gag she used to wear to keep her screams silent in the night.