Silent Listener (Complete)

Chapter 25

It had been a few days since Scout had found out about his friend's sexuality. He caught himself watching Warren, trying to see it. But he just found it hard to believe even after he had admitted it himself. Warren still looked and acted like....well Warren. Scout didn't expect him to suddenly walk around dressed in rainbows and start hitting on all the guys in the gym or start whistling showtunes but thought something would be different. But no such luck, he was the same annoying, pain in the ass, he always was. Maybe it would be different if Warren ever brought a guy around.

Scout was so deep in thought he hadn't noticed most of the guys had stopped working out looking towards the door. That was until Warren nudged him out of his head. 

"Earth to Scout! Dragon lady is here."
Warren pointed towards his office. 

"Shit, what does she want?"

"You're guess is as good as mine. She was distracting the guys so I put in your office but it was tempting to just throw her outside."

Scout grabbed a towel to wipe his sweat off as he walked to his office. His eyes rolled when he found her in his seat behind the desk. When she was him she stood up and walked over to him.

"So this is where you've been hiding all this time." she gestured around at the gym.

"I haven't been hiding. I'm happy to tell everyone and anyone about the gym. 

"And you're happy here? Teaching amature fighters? Out of the spotlight? You always loved to be the center of attention."

He almost cringed at her touch. He took a step back. She looked like she was going to pout.

"That was you. I won't deny I enjoyed the adrenalin of the big arena fights but it was never the spotlight I craved."

"Scout, come back to Boston with me. I miss you and you deserve better than this simple gym."

She tried to wrap her hands around his neck but Scout grabbed her wrist. He dropped her hands and stepped away. He turned toward the door. He pointed for her to leave.

"This simple gym is MY gym and there is nothing and no one worth leaving it."

She stopped right in front of him.

"Not even your newest fling?!"

Scout saw red and it took everything in him not to grab her by the throat and literally throw her out on the street. She smirked, she knew she hit a nerve. She blew him a kiss and walked out. Warren walked over.

"What the hell did she want?"

"Me...I guess she thought I was still hung up on her after all these years."

"I thought she was seeing Max Jenkins. She's crazier than I thought. I saw your eyes glaze over there at the end and thought I would have to do something stupid, like stop you. Because we both know you'd feel bad about killing her later."

Scout looked around and realized the gym was empty. He looked up at the big wall clock and was surprised to realize it was past closing time. 

"Didn't realize it was so late. Thanks for closing up. Serena will be here soon to run."

As he said this the door opened and Serena walked in. 

"Little Mermaid, just the girl we were waiting for! Well I'm going to get out of here. You two have a great night!"

Warren walked out of the gym. Scout looked at Serena and smiled. She was in tight legging pants and a t-shirt. Her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Even though the chillier weather caused her to cover up more of her skin he didn't care because of the way the pants highlighted every one of her curves. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to kiss her hello. 

well hello! Miss me?

"More than you know. Let's go."

They walked outside and Scout locked up the gym. 

"Race ya!"

And before Serena could register what he said Scout was running down the street. 

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Serena finished her work and put the book she had out on her desk back on the shelves. Ever since she got back from Boston her work load seemed to have increased or she would get a more difficult project. But she didn't care, she loved it in fact, the harder you had to research the better it felt when you found the information. She looked at her watch and smiled when she saw the work day was pretty much over. It was Wednesday and she was going to meet Scout after work for their first official date. 

When she got home she quickly showered and got dressed. She put a little more effort into her hair and make-up then she usually did. She was excited but also nervous about tonight. She had asked Scout what they were doing but he wouldn't say he just said no dress. Her brain was still running through possibilities. She pulled on some nice fitted jeans and a cute halter top. She went back and forth on the shoes...against her prefered opinion she decided on heels. They made her legs look great and she didn't feel so short compared to him. She just hoped whatever he had planned didn't involve a lot of walking. She looked at the time, it was a little early, but she knew the gym would be closed by the time she got there so she headed out anyway. When she pulled into the parking lot Scout's car was the only one left. She smiled but also worried she wasn't too early.

She walked into the gym and froze!