Chapter 6 Wait, She's Eden? Eden had braced herself for a real tongue-lashing when Peter came down hard with that drill-sergeant energy. She figured they were all in for it. 'One mile? That's all?' she thought. Back at Ravenhold, two klicks was just a warm-up, a quick jog to get the blood flowing. They clocked 6 miles a day, minimum, with the occasional 20 miles trek through the woods, lugging heavy gear. For Eden, one mile was over before it even started. But then she caught the muttering around her-whines, curses, and a few words that'd need a bleep on TV. It hit her: the kids at Theonia were a lot softer than she'd expected. After a decade of throwing down with some seriously tough folks, she realized the little "welcome" she'd dished out to Nina and Sienna at the classroom door might've been a bit much for them. Sure enough, a sharp "Report!" sliced through the air, and all eyes turned to the field's entrance. There they were: one girl hobbling with a leg in a cast, the other sporting a bandaged wrist. They looked like they'd stumbled out of a cartoon fight, and since they were already kinda infamous around school, their arrival sparked a wave of snickers and whispers. An assistant coach strode over, giving them a quick once-over. "Where the he;ll were you two? You're late." Nina opened her mouth, probably itching to tattle on Eden, but then she saw the dozens of eyes staring from the field. Spilling the whole story would tank Sienna's social cred for good. So, she just shrugged. "Tripped down the stairs." Peter raised an eyebrow but didn't press. "Watch your step next time," he grumbled, waving them off to the infirmary squad. By then, the first day of training was in full swing. The latecomers got rounded up and sent to the track, doomed to run laps. The freshmen jogged along, grumbling and tossing out the occasional curse word. Drea City's Everbright High was the top school in town, packed with brainy kids who aced exams and rich kids from fancy families. Most of them were pros at hitting the books, not the pavement. The first two laps, they barely held it together. By lap three, kids were dropping back like stragglers in a zombie movie. By four and five? Total disaster. "Man, my lungs are done," one kid wheezed. "Last time I ran this much was in a video game last week," another groaned. "This is straight-up gym class hell." "I've been parked on my couch all summer-who can even run anymore?" "These instructors are sadists!" Peter watched the mess unfold, shaking his head. He couldn't imagine this ragtag crew surviving anything tougher than a math test, let alone a real crisis. "This is your first day?" he bellowed. "This is just the warm-up! The next few days are gonna make this look like a picnic. And don't think you're off the hook if you finished the two klicks-there's a ton more coming!" The kids who'd survived the run barely had time to breathe before the coaches herded them into the next drill. Luckily, day one was easy: just standing at attention, at ease, and some left and right turns. A chance to catch their breath. Eden stood tall in the lineup, kinda shocked at how chill this "Physical Conditioning Week" was turning out to be. Her posture, her vibe-she stood out like a sore thumb, and the coaches noticed her right away. 'That girl again,' Peter thought. 'On time, sharp, and killing it. Maybe squad leader material.' But he decided to keep an eye on her a bit longer. Two hours later, the morning session wrapped with a twenty-minute break. That was when Eden got mobbed. A mix of guys and girls swarmed her, all smiles and phones out. "Hey, you're kinda dope-can I get your number?" one guy asked, flashing a grin. "What's your name, anyway?" another chimed in. "Hey, I'm a girl-let me add you first!" a third cut in, playfully shoving the others. "Hold up, y'all," someone said, waving their phone. "Check the school forum..." Every year, Everbright's upperclassmen kept a little tradition alive: an app called EverbrightHigh Pro, with a "Campus" section like an old-school Reddit. One could post anonymously or with a nickname and avatar. It was a mix of lost-and-found notices, confessions, gripes, and, of course, the juiciest school gossip. The hottest threads always rose to the top. Right now, the top post was about Eden, from sophomore Class 2. Anonymous: [Hey, big props to the new girl in Class 2, Eden. She's gorgeous and a total badass. Took down Nina and Sienna in one go-sent 'em straight to the nurse's office. Total legend! Who's with me?] The comments were blowing up. [Oh, I'm with you! Nina and Sienna were pulling their mean-girl nonsense back in middle school. About time someone checked them. Also, sliding in here-Eden seems like she's going places. Can I get her number?] [Wait, nurse's office? For real? What went down? Like, fistfight went down? Spill the deets!] [So, Nina and Sienna tried their usual bully act on Eden, but she wasn't having it. Bam-sneak attack! Right roundhouse! Left front kick! Then a freaking five-kick combo!] [Lmao, why you typing like it's a rap battle? I just snorted in class.] [Sounds legit. I saw Nina and Sienna during Conditioning Week, all bandaged up. They said they 'fell down the stairs,' but they looked like they got their butts handed to them.] [Sienna's got reason to act all high and mighty-word is her family's cozying up to the Mo family, one of Drea City's Big Five. She's always been a wannabe queen bee, but now she's next-level extra.] [Hold up, Eden sounds familiar.] [Isn't there a Wright family in the Big Five? Didn't they have a daughter named Eden who went missing years ago?] [I'm in Class 2. Can confirm: it's that Eden. She's back.] [But the Wrights already have Julie and that other kid, Julie, right? Their real daughter comes back, and they don't even throw a party? Sounds like the Wrights moved on from Eden a long time ago.] The forum was buzzing. The chatter jumped from Sienna to Eden to Julie, with a blurry photo of a girl-probably Eden, but it was hard to tell. One of the kids around Eden laughed. "Okay, we're just trying to get this cute girl's number. What's that got to do with the forum drama?" Another kid smirked, holding up their phone. "What if I told you this cute girl is Eden?" The crowd went quiet for a split second, then lost it. "No freaking way!" Title: A Boyfriend on Loan, A Real Love on Way Author: CrushReels Genre: Romance, Modern Status: ongoing In "A Boyfriend on Loan, A Real Love on Way" by CrushReels, Felix Lloyd finds himself in a predicament as he seeks to pacify his family's marriage expectations by renting a girlfriend for the holiday season. However, a serendipitous airport mishap leads Kendal Scott, the wrong woman, into his life. As Felix and Kendal navigate this unexpected twist of fate, the novel delves into themes of familial pressure, mistaken identities, and the complexities of modern relationships. CrushReels intricately weaves together elements of romance and contemporary dilemmas to create a compelling narrative that resonates with readers seeking a blend of heartwarming moments and unforeseen connections. What sets "A Boyfriend on Loan, A Real Love on Way" apart is its ability to balance light-hearted humor with poignant insights into the intricacies of human emotions. With its engaging storyline and relatable characters, this ongoing romance promises a captivating read for fans of modern love stories. Experience the unfolding tale of Felix and Kendal at CrushReels and immerse yourself in a world where love finds its way through unexpected avenues. Read online at CrushReels today to discover the enchanting journey awaiting within these digital pages.