We laugh and laugh and laugh.

Laughing is all we know how to do.

Laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh.

It's all you ever do.

Laugh and laugh and pretend you are fine.

Pretend you aren't broken.

Pretend there is no war in your mind.

Pretend there is no insanity in your mind.

Pretend there is no inferno in your heart.

Pretend there is no lead in your heart.

Pretend you are alright.

Just laugh.

The laughter will fix you.

The laughter will make you better.

The laughter will distract you from your multiplying problems.

Our stomach hurts, tears are running down our cheeks.

The pain in our stomach only makes us happier.

Everyone is staring at us, but that only fuels our laughter.

That fight was the start of it all.

The birth of Insane, the world's most notorious fighter.

And now they know.

We bite our lips together and finally calm down.

Our face becomes completely blank. Blanker than that fake blank face Mr.Blackbourne uses.

"And that, children, is how we met your mother," We say blankly.

Seeing their bewildered and confused and concerned faces, we lose ourselves to laughter again.

We don't know how long we laugh for.

It feels like eternity.

It feels too short.

The laughter allows us to release our pent up emotions.

The laughter takes our mind off our troubles.

The laughter is fun and makes us hysterical and happy.

Laugh until you cry, laugh until you die.

Laugh until you have gone mad, laugh until you are no longer sad.

When our tears run out we slowly start to return to normal.

The boys are all standing there slack jawed and Dr.Roberts looks scared and concerned.

"Oh, boys, boys, boys... It appears you know now," We sing out.

Axel looks me straight in the eye.

"Arrow, we told you nothing could ever make us like you less. This changes nothing," Axel says firmly.

What?

They don't hate me for the fighting?

The pleasure of brings me?

The madness it brings?

The sorrow it brings?

Snap out of your pity party! I scold myself harshly. You think you have it bad?! Ha! There are people who lives much, much worse than yours! Suck it up and deal with it, Sang!

I feel myself harden and look at the Dr.Roberts.

"So? Can I join?"

"Let's get you initiated tonight," Dr. Roberts replies cheerfully.

I beam at him.

The boys look shocked.

"That's it?" Luke asks.

"Wait, we had to wait for a team of people to evaluate us and our results!" Paprika exclaims.

Dr.Roberts tuts, "Boys, boys, boys, this Insane. Do you know how long I have wanted to meet her? And now she wants to join the Academy!"

"Aw, does Sang have a fan?" Pug teases.

Dr.Roberts turns and gives Pug an icy glare.

"Sang is going to become like a daughter to me. No one can stop me. I will it to be so."

I beam at Dr.Roberts, but I quickly lose my smile.

"Are you going to make me fight as well? Or let me be beaten?" I whisper.

Isn't that what Fathers do?

I don't think I want another one...

"Never!" Dr. Roberts snarled before muttering, "Your father is going to die..."

I don't think I was supposed to hear that, but I still answer, "Yup. He's going to die. A slow and painful death."

Dr.Roberts gives me a shark's grin.

"It seems we can agree on that."

"Okay! That's ****ing enough of the creepiness!" Meanie announces. "Trouble, we need to get you ready. Phil, how much time do we have?"

Dr.Roberts smiles and answers, "I'll go now and tell everyone to be there in two hours."

"Two ****ing hours?! Only two **** hours?! Trouble, follow me!" Gabriel shots and takes off running.

I race after him as he takes a strange path into a room full of clothes, accessories, and jewelry with a line of vanities along one of the walls. It was well lit and had changing stalls at the back of the room.

Gabriel immediately rushed to one of the metal racks with clothes hanging up.

Muttering under his breath, he quickly rifles through the dresses hanging up. He takes a bunch off the rod and used the hanger to hold them in his forearm.

Unsure of what to do, I shift where I am standing until Meanie sees and yells, "Come take a dress and get changed! Go, go, go! We're burning daylight!"

Startled, I rush forward and take a hanger off his arm and rush to the changing stall.

I quickly shed my clothes and pull on the dress.

It is a slinky red dress with thin, beaded straps and a low neckline.

I curl my lip in unappreciation.

The dress is so not my type.

I step out, "Meanie I don't like this one!"

Meanie looks at me and pulls out his phone.

"What are you doing?" Confused me asks.

"This will make it so up you will only have to try on each dress once. Now twirl."

And that is our routine, dress, show, photograph.

The next dress is royal blue and completely covered in ruffles. The ends of the dress pool at the floor, and not in a good way. It is obviously meant to be worn by someone taller.

There is a lavender with off shoulder straps. The waist is covered in clear gems that spread out and fade out up and down the dress. The skirt just barely brushes the ground.

Next is a black halter dress with a skirt that flares out at the waist like a skater skirt and reaches mid thigh. Along the bottom of the skirt, in a lighter shade of black, is a subtle flame design.

After that, Meanie has me try on a silver dress that reaches my knees and is covered in tiny red flowers. It has a sweetheart neckline and thin silver netted long sleeves that have the flowers on it as well.

My next dress is a pale orange dress with a lacy top and high low tulle skirt that reaches just past mid thigh in the front and brushes the ground in the back. It has capped sleeves and a round neckline.

Meanie brings me a champagne colored mermaid sleeveless dress. It is covered in lace and is backless. I don't like how far down the back shows.

Next, I try on an indigo silk sheath dress with a giant golden dragon embroidered on it. The skirt just barely reached my ankles and had a slit that reaches past mid thigh and makes me feel like I am showing off too much of my legs.

Gabriel brings out a hot pink dress with a v-neck and a huge skirt. The pink is several shades of bright pink that is somewhat mesmerising when I move.

Next is a two piece emerald dress with emeralds decorating the square neckline and a skirt that reaches just above my knees.

I try on more until Gabriel brings out the dress of my dreams.

It is a beautiful ball gown dress that is an off-white color with a quilted skirt and sweetheart neckline and what almost looks like a corset in a darker shade of the off-white color. What makes it so incredible are the fireflies that cover the dress. They are fake fireflies that light up and dot the the dress.

It fits me perfectly and Gabriel's jaw drops when he sees me in it.

My cheeks burn and I run my arm and duck my head bashfully.

"Holy ****, Trouble. That's it. That's the dress," He breathes before shaking his head.

Quickly I slip on the brown leather sandals that he hands me.

He pulls me along and sits me down at one of the vanities and grabs a brush. Quickly and gently, he brushes my hair out and puts it into complicated mermaid braid. He pulls out tiny firefly pins and pushed them into the braid so that matching fireflies for my hair.

Meanie quickly does my makeup and fists me in a shimmery powder and when I finally am allowed to look in the full length mirror, I gasp in shock.

All I can do is stare.

The person in the other side of the mirror is a mystical creature that belongs in a dream. Her huge green eyes flash and glowing bugs surround her. The off -white color of the dress adds to the woodland fairy look. Her skin shimmers and her hair is an unnatural and beautiful color.

For once in my life, I am not hideous or ashamed of my looks.

Maybe Marie was wrong.

Maybe I am not disgusting to look at.

Meanie rests his hands on my waist and smiles at me in the mirror.

I look back at him and give him my warmest smile in thanks.

"Thank you, Gabriel. This means a lot to me," I tell him sincerely.

Gabriel has a dazed look on his flushed face.

"Sang, you look incredible on your own. My job is to just help everyone see that beauty."

I blush deeply.

I can't believe he just said that.

Does he mean that?

Am I really pretty?

No. Probably not.

But it is nice of him to try and spare my feelings.

He is a true friend.

"Now, we have to get you to the gathering," Gabriel announces.

***

Gabriel's POV

I have the best job.

Dressing Sang up was so much fun.

She truly is beautiful, I just wished she could see her own beauty.

Insane was kinda strange to hear about.

Okay.

Fine.

That's a lie.

It was ****ing madness to hear about.

What kind of person makes his ten year old daughter fight a full grown massive and muscular man with experience in fighting in an underground illegal fig h club?!

It just made me want to kill him more.

Over and over and as slowly and cruelly as possible.

But instead of dreaming of ways to kill him, I dreamed of Sang as I was getting her ready.

I know my heart stopped when I saw her in that dress.

It somehow fit Sang and her personality perfectly.

My cheeks burned as my thoughts took a less than honorable turn.

This must be how Luke feels.

Always daydreaming.

I couldn't believe how kind and innocent Sang is.

She fought men and women from everywhere and beat them all. Her insanity and skills make her one of the most feared people in the world.

Good thing we are also feared just like Sang.

Sang is always concerned about our reactions, but we are so similar that it would be ridiculous and foolish of us to judge her.

I couldn't believe how strong Sang is.

She has been through so much, yet is still a great person.

She is beautiful inside and out.

I was enthralled with Sang Sorenson.

***

Sang's POV

Together we walk down to where a large group of people are milling around.

There is a long table holding desserts and drinks and everyone seems to be talking and enjoying each other's company.

When we walk in, all the conversation stops.

I can see why.

Gabriel got changed the same time I did and looks absolutely stunning in a handsome suit with a silk orange tie and perfectly styled hair.

I smile at Meanie and we walk to the other boys who are all wearing suits with ties in their favorite color. They all look dashing, really.

"The purpose of this is so anyone can come and meet you. The mafia is like a family so we need to know who is joining our family. Later you will receive the marking," Mr. Blackbourne explains.

A woman in an icy blue dress with tiny triangle cutouts along the neckline walks over. She has dark red hair and golden eyes.

She introduces herself, "Hello, my name is Jordan. And you are Sang?"

"Yes. It is nice to meet you, Jordan," I say politely.

"So how come you are joining?" She asks curiously.

I am confused.

"Why wouldn't anyone want to join?"

Jordan studies me before responding, "I think you might fit in here."

I beam at her.

Jordan excuses herself and a group of boys come up.

"Hello," A dark haired boy says. "My name is Anthony and I hear you're Insane."

His friend gives me a suspicious look and adds, "You don't look very dangerous."

That makes us mad.

We give our creepy smile and they both pale and Anthony's friend starts to shiver.

"Nevermind. My name is Archer and this is Allan," Archer says and points to the third person in their trio.

Allan simply nods. He doesn't appear to be a talker.

I meet several people in those two hours, and I am grateful to Sarah for helping me remember all their names. The people here seem kind and a lot of them seem reserved. I hope they have some good fighters.

Eventually everyone begins to start leaving.

I turn to the boys who have stayed beside me all night.

"Thank you all for everything. I am so happy to be here with you guys. You have literally changed my life," I thank them all sincerely, looking each of them in the eye.

Corey smiles and says, "Sang, you don't owe us anything, not even your thanks.

"****ing right!" Meanie exclaims. "We need to thank you, Sang!"

Axel looks at me.

"Arrow, you have changed all of our lives for the better as well."

"Pumpkin, we will always stick around and never tire of you," Pug informs me.

I blush at their words and the others quickly add in their agreements.

They truly are far too good for me.

Gabriel gets a mischievous look on his face.

"Well, it is getting pretty late. I guess we will just have to have a sleepover here..."

The boys let out groans and protests, but I don't pay them much attention.

"A sleepover? I've always wanted to go to one!" I squeal.

North Star mutters, "Looks like we are having a sleepover."