Ex Best Friends with the Bad Boy

4 - Blackmail

Willow's POV

I finish my match quickly, easily winning against the older male. He was three times my size more or less probably around 7' but I was able to use that to my advantage, ducking under his arms and such. Sometimes being short came with it's advantages. I go to the changing room and picked up my bag, I didn't tend to change after fights, my previous clothes were too simple and nerdy. Even though my fighting clothes and work out clothes again they would identify me as the winner of the fight and therefore someone who shouldn't be messed with. It was simple. In these clothes I was 'Shadow' and everyone knew I was undefeated. It was about a year and a half ago that the girls started to refuse to fight me, I found it so funny when Carl told me. There was only a slight resentment considering I now needed to train more often and harder, but at least it gave me something else to do besides homework. I still don't know how I'm able to be a top student and fighter and my mothers carer but some how I manage to do it. Here, I don't have the label of nerd, or the weak one, or the loner. Here I was Shadow and nobody messed with me. 

I step out of the changing room, heading towards Carl's table. I wouldn't sit with him just a few of his friends that have been warned to look out for me. Although Carl wasn't scary to me to others he was terrifying. Most of the time I found it funny, until I remembered why he was so terrifying to others. I barely make it two steps before someone stops me by calling out my real name. A voice I remember from just a few hours ago. A voice I often hear around school 

"Willow." Lukus called out. 'Fuck' I mentally curse. I had been smart for the past few years, once I found out Oliver was a gang leader I made sure that Carl scheduled my fights for nights he wouldn't be here. That would mean that none of his friends were here. If Lukus was here so was Oliver. I wonder why though, I knew they didn't have any fights tonight since Carl would've warned me since he knows a small amount of the past I share with Oliver. I never went into a lot of detail but it was enough for him to know that I never wanted to be around him. The memories he brings back would cause me to get distracted, distraction was never good during a fight. That's why I would never win against James if he ever did try anything... again. 

"Shut up. It's Shadow here." I warn, twirling around on my heels to face him. "I keep my identity a secret." 

"At least your smart." He mumbles under his breath, not expecting me to hear it but of course I do. "Ollie wants to see you." Lukus states, deciding to look at me again. I shake my head. 

"No." I deny. Oliver can't want anything good, just maybe someone to taunt or maybe to lecture me, or maybe ask some more personal questions I wasn't willing to answer. Either answer wouldn't be good for me. 

"I can make you, if you would like." Lukus threatens. A laugh tumbles from my lips and Lukus looks confused. 

"Lukus, I just took down a guy three times my size barely breaking a sweat. You are the tech guy. What threat would you pose?" I ask, confusion fills his eyes. 

"How do you know I'm the tech guy?" He questions, his eyebrows knitting together in a way that seems kind of cute. 

"It's not hard. I just observe you. Oliver is the leader. August is second in command. Josh is the head of weapons. Your the tech guy." I state, it's true I had figured this out by myself. Carl did solidify my theory only by the reaction on his face, not verbally. 

"That's a lot to figure out just by watching us." Lukus pauses. "Why were you watching us?" 

"Oh chill. I'm not a spy." I brush off, sensing his concern and thoughts. "It was after Oliver and I stopped being friends and I met James. In the few months gap I watched your group. With a little observing and the use of my brain I put two and two together."