Knock Out [ a Harry Styles Fanfic ]

Chapter 1

        Thud. Thud. Thud. Every morning, that's what Emerson would hear, like her own personal alarm clock.

          "Come on, Ethan! Gotta be faster than that!" It sounded like Paul was taunting him. But he was only pushing her brother to punch harder, faster. To be quicker. And although his advice helped Ethan with his boxing, it definitely didn't help Emerson with her plan to sleep in. Especially when their apartment was stationed right above the boxing ring they owned.

        Slipping on her brother's large sweater, she padded downstairs in just her socks to see her brother Ethan. He was already dripping with sweat and it was only 5:17 AM. Emerson sank down against the wall to watch him train for his next fight in a couple days.

        "Emerson." Paul frowned once his eyes caught notice of her sitting by the stairs. "What are you doing up?"

        "I don't need to sleep, I'm eighteen. Besides, who are you, my dad?" She joked, walking over and leaning against the ropess.

        "Only by marriage," he winked. "And you aren't eighteen yet, baby. One more month and you'll get the car." Emerson groaned playfully, ducking underneath the ropes to join them on the ring before taking a seat onto the short stool.

        As the two men started to talk about what time they should continue training, Emerson circled the ring, gliding her hands over the ropes. This was her life. Her very own and she wouldn't trade it for a malibu mansion and a convertible with a blond boyfriend. She had her brother and her step-dad. And that's all she needed.

        "Em, you're gonna be late for your shift!" Paul walked past her, ruffling her hair with his boxing gloves before hanging it onto a hook. 

        With another sigh, she jogged back upstairs and grabbed a towel and her change of clothes as well as her uniform into the bathroom. Starting up the shower, Emerson shut her eyes and allowed the steam to fill the small bathroom, fogging up the mirror. 

-0-0-0-

        "Here you go," Emerson grinned at the small child, placing his pancakes in front of him before giving a polite wave to his parents. "Hey, Ms. Ingrids. Mr. Ingrids." After small talk, she returned to the kitchen before gasping to see the time. 7:46. She had 14 minutes to make it to class.

        "Bye Wyatt!" She waved goodbye to the chef, sliding into the staff bathroom to change into her street clothes. Leaving the comforting aroma of the diner, she managed to catch the bus with heavy breaths.

-0-0-0-

        "Ms. Scott!" A sharp voice had halted her speeding runs to her first class, causing her beat up Chuck Taylors to squeal against the white tiles. "What do you think you are doing? Just because you are now a senior does not excuse you to be tardy every other day! Detention after--"

        "But I actually have a shift at the diner that I can't miss and--"

        "No exceptions, Emerson! You're just as bad as your brother when he used to go here. Now off to class." 

        Once the haggard old lady had hobbled back to her own classroom, the teen took her sweet time to her own class. No need to try when she's already received her punishment.

-0-0-0-

        Punch after punch was delivered by the curly-haired man, relentless to pound the bag hanging in front of him. Was it anger that he had lost his first fight or just the usual need to have the bag fall? Either way, Harry didn't stop until a friend walked into the gym.

        "Mate, the car's here. Time to go." 

        And with a final kiss to his boxing gloves, he placed them in his duffle bag to follow after Louis. Another city. Another life. Another match.