They were all begging for mercy, but couldn't even manage to spit out a full sentence between the blows.

Who would've thought they'd run into Mr. Ashcroft today?

And without a word, he just started swinging!

Their previous injuries hadn't even healed, and now they were getting roughed up again.

Jasper was off to the side, munching on a bag of peanuts and chuckling at the spectacle.

He'd heard they saw from the security footage that Elian had shown up, so he skipped dinner just to catch the action.

And boy, was it worth it.

Sure, Elian was rough, but he knew where to hit.

The kind of hits that hurt like hell but didn't cause any serious damage.

That was the mark of a professional.

Just like Miranda, from what Hugo and the rest had griped about, she had a similar style when she dealt with them.

Though, to be fair, Miranda didn't hit quite as hard as Elian.

But this?

Oof, just watching it made one wince.

"Mr. Ashcroft, we messed up. We're good with Ms. Lancaster now!"

"Yeah, yeah, we're in the same group chat! Stop hitting us, please!"

you guys

day's race, they thought all the

that Miranda was the one trying to cozy

who'd do that couldn't be up to any good, oblivious

at her with disdain

only evaporated after

had pieced together Miranda's history

realize how utterly wrong they

couldn't believe they'd taken Celeste's word over the mountain

about Miranda, they almost wanted to slap themselves for how

had specifically called Miranda over, intending to apologize properly, with gifts

been waiting long before Elian showed

with him, a flurry

too

then, a cool, questioning

are you

voice, the fist that was about to drop hung suspended in

to look at Miranda

their eyes lighting up

seeing that Hugo and his buddies' eyes practically screamed "Help

just to

his previously fierce eyes now glowing

he'd been

quickly that before

say "Eli." she found

in a warm

broad chest seeped into her skin, spreading through her

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