The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 573

Arabella spotted someone trying to chat her up. She glanced over and saw a fellow freshman in uniform, looking a bit nervous.
"Sorry, I can't help ya."
Upon hearing Arabella's response, the guy’s cheeks turned even redder. He muttered, “My bad” and scurried off, leaving his buddies in stitches.
A while later, another guy came up to her and asked Arabella for her contact info. Instead of handing it over, she told him to hit the books. This had the three girls around her cracking up.
On their way back to the dorm, a steady stream of guys tried to pick them up, with Arabella getting the most attention.
During the break time, Joyce slipped away for a bit. When she came back, her eyes were red-rimmed.
"What's up?" Mya was the first to notice her condition, draping an arm over Joyce's shoulder and asked, "Weren't you just going to the loo? Why are you crying?"
Mya's question only made Joyce’s eyes redder, and she was too choked up to speak.
Arabella looked at Joyce and offered to help, “Need a hand?”
Joyce shook her head.
"Alright, everyone up!"
Just then, Jerome blew his whistle, signaling the end of the break time.
Mya whispered to Joyce, “You alright? Do you need to take a sick leave?”
Joyce shook her head again.
The after-school activities resumed as usual. By sunset, everyone was too exhausted to move properly.
Arabella, Kelly, and Mya occasionally checked on Joyce, noticing that she seemed distracted and down as if she had taken a big hit.
The instructor Roger from the next class couldn't help but laugh because his class was training better than theirs.
Roger blew a whistle and shouted, "Noreen, step out and teach the class next door how it is done. Give Instructor Jerome a break."
"Yes, sir!" Noreen stood up, looking pretty and determined, her gaze full of fierce competitiveness.
Jerome's face fell. He was supposed to let a freshman teach his class? How much did they underestimate them?
Back in the day, he and Roger never really got along. Jerome retorted, "Who needs your newbie?"
"Oh, my newbie is performing quite well. Is there anyone in your class who can match up to her? Anyone up for a challenge?"
Jerome looked back at his freshmen, "Anyone wants to give it a shot?"
The class fell silent.
They all saw Noreen's demonstration in the previous class. She was really good.
If they stepped up, they were destined to lose.
"Her."
To everyone's surprise, Noreen ignored the two instructors, slightly lifted her chin, and pointed at Joyce in the crowd because Joyce seemed like an easy target.
Jerome looked at Joyce, "You up for it?"
Joyce stood up, "I'm willing to give it a shot."
Noreen looked satisfied, then smirked, "Don't cry if I accidentally hit you later."
The students from both classes started making a racket, cheering for their own classmates.
Joyce had barely stepped up on stage when Noreen landed a punch to her head, followed by a kick.
From the audience, Kelly watched Noreen’s swift, precise, and fierce moves, leaving no room for Joyce to get back in the fight. She couldn't help saying, "This is a bit much, isn't it? We're just having a friendly match. Does it need to be this intense?"
"There should be some limits, Noreen! You're going too far!" Mya defended Joyce.
"Ever heard of 'no mercy in a fight'?" Noreen kicked Joyce to the ground again.