The Confidence of a Nerd

Chapter 14 (EDITED)

It's been two weeks since Lia's freak out at lunch and I'm honestly scared she'll get hurt. Every day I keep getting these weird texts saying that people are coming for the both of us and I'm scared that Lia fighting Jessica might've gotten her caught. It's not like she really showed any of her real abilities since she was just a weak girl in heels but then if that's the case why am I getting these strange text messages.

I wish her own safety and survival meant more to her but ever since she got back from suspension it's like she just stopped caring. She goes to school on her motorcycle, the same exact one she takes to Adrenaline, and scaring the shit out of people. Not noticing that there's something wrong about the fucking situation we're in.

I trust her and I know that she can take care of herself but she's not taking me seriously. She thinks that Jessica's just trying to scare us or something which just isn't possible. I was talking to Brian the other day and he told me that she's trying to move one from me. It doesn't make any sense. I've been training so that I could help Lia just in case anything happens to her. She doesn't want my help though; she just wants me to sit aside and watch as she becomes even more self destructive. If she thinks that I'm just going to do that though, she's dead wrong.

My mom isn't doing so well either, it's gotten to the point where she can barely move anymore. They said that her cancer has started to reach the bones. They said she's going to need to go get some surgery. With a bit of my begging, she finally agreed to go to the hospital. It's been so hard on her. She's been in so much pain and it's been so terrible to watch. During all of this, Lia has been by our side. I've been so grateful that she could be there with us because she's made both of us able to feel strong again. She's made mom laugh and smile, it's like all of the painful stuff just disappears when she's around..

I'm trying to understand what she's going through and everything but we haven't talked about her outburst at the cafeteria yet. She refuses to speak to me about what has been bothering her. I know as her boyfriend I should be supportive but something about that entire incident is just making me worried. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so angry before. I want her to know that I'll be here no matter what and that she can talk to me about everything. However, I'm an impatient dude and it's starting to get irritating waiting for answers. We've been having arguments lately and it's starting to make me really sad. I just want her to open up to me. I've never felt this way about a girl before and I want to tell her how much I love her but lately things have been so tough that I just can't find the time to.

I've been scared to open up to her too so it's not like I can judge her. What if I tell her how hard I've fallen for her and she waves her hand dismissively at me like she's been doing so often lately. What if she hasn't fallen for me like I have for her yet? I want to tell her how hard things are for me too and just cuddle together while we talk about the serious things. Let her tell me about her past while I listen and tell her that everything's going to be okay.

I just need her so badly right now. I'm not sure if that's selfish of me or not because people are definitely starting to recognize who she is because of her carelessness. Maybe it's the high of finally being able to be herself, with me by her side, that's making her be so reckless. If she's happy, then I definitely should be too but I just can't in these circumstances. The least that she could do is be careful about where she takes her motorcycle and how she acts at school. She doesn't know what could happen to her and I don't want her to find out either.

I love her, I love her so damn much. I don't want anything to happen to her because I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything did. I don't know who the people threatening our lives could be but I have my suspicions. I never trusted Max, the guy running Adrenaline. The only reason why I've been quiet is because he gave my little brother a job but that's the suspicious part. Ace was underage when he was hired and apparently he wasn't the only one. Adrenaline is a boxing ring, it doesn't make sense that he hired all these under-aged kids. Lia's eighteen now so it's not really as big a deal but she's been fighting there for years. It feels illegal. I really don't trust him.

I haven't told her what I've been thinking because I don't want her to worry about anything right now. She already has enough on her plate. I have a lot on my plate as well, I guess. Lia and I are supposed to be a package deal but lately it's been more of me protecting her behind her back.

When I do tell her everything, maybe she'll realize that I want the best for her. I'll do anything for her, she just needs to say the word. We've been stuck in this repetitive cycle lately; we get into an argument, she goes to Adrenaline to cool off, I go over there to watch her fight, we make up, and then the cycle starts all over again. I love it when we make up after a fight, usually I go over to her house and we just cuddle while we watch her favorite show. I love when we have little dates where we just kiss and relax together.

I'm walking to the drug store to get some beer with my fake ID. Lately, if I'm not with Lia, I'm drinking. Which, I know, isn't a good thing to do. However, with my mom in the hospital and my girlfriend on this self destructive path, I just feel so useless and weak.

It's dark out, the street lights help me see where I'm going. My feet tap against the ground as I make my way to the drug store. I hear footsteps behind me, I get my phone out of my pocket and hold it tightly in my hand. I don't fight professionally but I know I'm strong. I don't know if I'll be able to escape since it's possible that unlike me they could be professional boxers.

'I downloaded a GPS tracker in both of our phones. Someone's following me right now, just to be on the safe side, if I don't respond to your texts after this, track my device and find me. Here's the account information. If that doesn't work, you might need to contact the police."

She might hate me for downloading that stuff on her phone without her permission but at the time I didn't know what else to do. I was hoping that it would just sit there on our phones and none of us would have to use it but... here we are.

I turn my head to see who's following me and the sound of their footsteps halt. I can't see anybody and the footsteps have definitely stopped but I can hear rustling leaves. Are they hiding in the bushes over there or something?

I send the message and when it says delivered, I delete it. Just so that if anybody takes my phone, they don't see it. Hopefully they leave my phone on though so that Lia can have the time to find me. I stuff my phone back into my pocket and as soon as I do I see someone running from the bushes. They try to grab my arm and I dodge them, before they can do anything else I punch them in the face and when they fall I go to walk away only to see two more people running towards me.

I start running, hoping that if I can just escape that I'll be able to get home without any injuries. However, a bunch of seemingly well trained, buff adult men are surrounding me and I don't think I can fight my way out of this one. I feel a sharp pain on the top of my head and numbness soon follows. Raising my hand to my head, I feel something wet dripping down from my scalp and suddenly I fall to the ground.

"Lia, I love you."