Elyse was approached by the two girls. Marta seemed okay for having just talked about her trauma, but it was clear she had been crying. The girl was exceptionally brave at times. She hoped Sterling understood what a big deal it was that Marta had trusted her.
Sterling was already advocating for her new friend and that meant a great deal to Elyse as well. It was important Marta have a strong support structure, and honestly self defense would be good for Marta for multiple reasons.
Elyse first turned to Marta. ”How are you holding up?” it was a polite way to ask if she was in control.
Marta smiled a little. ”All good. A-okay!”
Elyse nodded. ”I will tentatively agree to this, but there are rules that must be followed. This is not a negotiation. First: katas only and a little light tai chi. Anything more must be approved by Ricky first, and as he’s busy setting up stuff for you for online school, you can wait until next time for his permission. The least you can do is let him finish that in peace.” Marta’s smile broadened at hearing that Ricky had approved. ”Second: you will head straight to Nox’s house and the dojo. You will not make any other stops and you will certainly not leave Nox’s safe zone. Third:” she looked at Marta. ”You know your limits. If you reach them, you stop. No guessing. You stop and tell Sterling you’ve reached your limits.” she turned to Sterling. ”if she tells you this, you do not pressure for more. She knows her limits and they are there for her safety - and yours. Lastly: should she have a panic attack - “
”I taught her how to calm me down…” Marta interrupted, but trailed off at Elyse’s glare.
”Be that as it may - you will contact me right away. Sterling - you can get Mae as well. She’s there now. These rules need to be followed. No exceptions. Any deviation from them will result in me calling your cousin: who I’m sure would be thrilled to get a call from me in the middle of his business to hear you’re misbehaving; and to Ricky, who I’m sure will be thrilled to hear that you’re once again testing your boundaries.” Marta flinched, but she was a teenage girl. That’s what they did. The words were delivered firmly but kindly. ”Since you had a panic attack, I’m gonna ask Mae to check in on you guys a little bit. You are to listen to her as you would me. If you agree to this, I will allow it.”
Elyse took out her wallet and dialed Mae. ”Hey Mae, Sterling and another girl, her name is Marta, are heading to the dojo. She’s like me. They’re going to work on some katas, and I’d like it if you’d be able to check in on them sometime. Marta had a panic attack and is okay now, but I’d feel better if I could get someone to look in on them.” Elyse smiled at Mae’s response. ”Thanks Mae. I lo…I’ll see you soon. Bye Mae”
The slip up was obvious. The past couple of days had only increased Elyse’s feelings towards her girlfriend, but she wasn’t ready to verbalize it. And she certainly didn’t want the first time to be on the phone. Her eyes flicked to Anna who had an obnoxious grin on her face.
She turned back to the girls. ”We agreed?”
Sterling was already advocating for her new friend and that meant a great deal to Elyse as well. It was important Marta have a strong support structure, and honestly self defense would be good for Marta for multiple reasons.
Elyse first turned to Marta. ”How are you holding up?” it was a polite way to ask if she was in control.
Marta smiled a little. ”All good. A-okay!”
Elyse nodded. ”I will tentatively agree to this, but there are rules that must be followed. This is not a negotiation. First: katas only and a little light tai chi. Anything more must be approved by Ricky first, and as he’s busy setting up stuff for you for online school, you can wait until next time for his permission. The least you can do is let him finish that in peace.” Marta’s smile broadened at hearing that Ricky had approved. ”Second: you will head straight to Nox’s house and the dojo. You will not make any other stops and you will certainly not leave Nox’s safe zone. Third:” she looked at Marta. ”You know your limits. If you reach them, you stop. No guessing. You stop and tell Sterling you’ve reached your limits.” she turned to Sterling. ”if she tells you this, you do not pressure for more. She knows her limits and they are there for her safety - and yours. Lastly: should she have a panic attack - “
”I taught her how to calm me down…” Marta interrupted, but trailed off at Elyse’s glare.
”Be that as it may - you will contact me right away. Sterling - you can get Mae as well. She’s there now. These rules need to be followed. No exceptions. Any deviation from them will result in me calling your cousin: who I’m sure would be thrilled to get a call from me in the middle of his business to hear you’re misbehaving; and to Ricky, who I’m sure will be thrilled to hear that you’re once again testing your boundaries.” Marta flinched, but she was a teenage girl. That’s what they did. The words were delivered firmly but kindly. ”Since you had a panic attack, I’m gonna ask Mae to check in on you guys a little bit. You are to listen to her as you would me. If you agree to this, I will allow it.”
Elyse took out her wallet and dialed Mae. ”Hey Mae, Sterling and another girl, her name is Marta, are heading to the dojo. She’s like me. They’re going to work on some katas, and I’d like it if you’d be able to check in on them sometime. Marta had a panic attack and is okay now, but I’d feel better if I could get someone to look in on them.” Elyse smiled at Mae’s response. ”Thanks Mae. I lo…I’ll see you soon. Bye Mae”
The slip up was obvious. The past couple of days had only increased Elyse’s feelings towards her girlfriend, but she wasn’t ready to verbalize it. And she certainly didn’t want the first time to be on the phone. Her eyes flicked to Anna who had an obnoxious grin on her face.
She turned back to the girls. ”We agreed?”