I'm on the roof.

  I'm always on the roof.

  well, never really on the roof, but everyone thinks I am.

  though I'm actually sitting on it this time, that's because of Colette, she grounded me for the first time and I don't have anything to do anymore.

  the guards-in-training's practice ended two hours ago, but I still kept on thinking about sneaking into the range to watch what isn't there.

  I had only gotten caught once there, by one of the actual guards not the kids training there.

  It had been my second time and I thought I knew the schedule, so I picked up a toy spear, wanting to see if I could do the training moves myself.

  either way, I knew better than to go back there after practice ended.

  what if I walked to the library instead . . .

  no, no, no, the library meant being sidetracked by the range, they'd be doing the one-on-ones in thirty minutes.

  maybe I could actually steer clear of there, I need to learn how, twenty five times the charm?

  the voice in my head is very persuasive, don't bme me for that.

  so like I swore I wouldn't do again and still partly know its a bad decisio-

  SHUT UP CONSCIENCE

  - I scooched to the edge of the roof, and climbed down the trece, but this wasn't the dangerous part.

  sneaking into the range at this time was.

  I pull the hood up on my bck short sleeve hoodie, stepping in a puddle at the same time.

  shit, my shoes are wet now.

  looking into the puddle I see my distorted reflection, my hood covering my medium brown hair, which is short and curly, shaved one side to give Colette a heart attack.

  the light cinnamon skin, the freckles, and of course the dark brown eyes that aren't mine are what get me. they're hers.

  that night where me and not even baba's screams can stop her.

  I blink and I'm pulled away from her again.

  staring at my useless reflection in a puddle.

  I look up and see the number one guard talking a few blocks down and across the street with someone else.

  he is the most famous after the st one died, they were friends, they died the same night, his friend and my mom.

  he is amazing. the very presence of him can intimidate vilins out of the next hundred miles, they say.

  Hanzel, my must be hero if I want to join the guard, my must be idol for saving me and not my mom all those years back.

  yeah, I hate that asshole.

  in my opinion he's a suck up, sorry excuse for a legend, not that I'd say it to his face.

  I think that's part of the problem, to be guards and "my goal is to be a hero"s shouldn't be scared to speak up.

  And "I want to kill a Shadow"s shouldn't either.

  I only give attitude to one person and it's more passive and just rebellious teenish than attitude.

  all my rude comments are saved for when absolutely necessary.

  back to the problem at hand: Hanzel

  what do I do? he'll want to talk to me and I certainly don't.

  two options: easesdrop, or sneak by undetected.

  easesdrop. sounds fun!

  no, I cant do that.

  what if he's talking about the Shadow's attacks! you could sneak to the battle and kill one yourself!

  like I said: persuasive voice-in-head.

  wait. not the second part.

  whatever, I know what I mean, and the brain voice of bad decisions certainly does too.

  It's not like they'll be talking about something that could make my day worse.