Our Flame

xxxix

today is my birthday and this chapter is my gift to all of you lol

EZRA

I glare at Issac as he lays in the middle of the ring. The anger I felt when he punched Nadia was indescribable. He knows better, and if he doesn't I'm going to teach him better.

"Please don't kill him, Ezra." I shake Maeve off of me as I walk to the ring. "Punching Nadia, are you fucking serious?" I lift him up.

"When you first came here, I told you to leave her alone. Did I not?" I shout in his face. I shake his body when he doesn't answer.

"You did." He groans. "So clearly you remember, can you not listen it that it?" I say. "Huh? I told you she was good, she's a a lot better than I am." I punch him.

Issac is my friend, one of my closest. But Nadia is Nadia, and I can't just not protect her.

I knew Nadia was good when she apologized even after he hit her a few times. Although, he barely got those hits in. Nadia's a fighter, clearly.

Yet, she was empathetic while doing it.

She could've continued to hit Issac but she didn't. Maybe she understood his anger, maybe she didn't want to hurt him too bad. Whatever it was, she did it well.

I punch Issac two more times, for good measure. "I understand your anger. You know I do, but you're mad at the wrong person. I need you to understand that."

Issac groans in response, "I'm not helping you up, you smell." I walk away. I wipe his blood off my hands as I exit the gym.

My feet taking me exactly where I wanted to go, I knock on Nadia's door several times.

"Ezra." She pulls open the door with damp hair. "You interrupted a peaceful shower." Nadia leads me into her room.

Her curled hair rests way below her shoulders, she's wearing a plain black shirt which is too big for her. Her eyes intently staring into mine.

I clear my throat before she interrupts me, "You're about to apologize and I don't want you to."

"Am I wrong?" She questions. "I shouldn't have let it get that far." I speak. Nadia shrugs, "He's angry." Nadia sits on her bed, patting the spot next to her.

I take the seat next to her. "If he hits me again, I'm not holding back." Nadia mumbles.

I fight the urge to smile, I know why Issac did what he did. But I can't take his 'side'. Am I betraying my friend?

His anger is being dealt with wrongly, and he needs to know that. I have a feeling Nadia will become an important part of my life, and Issac will keep his place.

"Why are your hands bruised?" Nadia grabs my hand, staring at it. She catches on without me saying anything. "Why would you punch your friend?"

I want to roll my eyes at her question, "I'm your bodyguard and your mine." Nadia laughs at my answer.

I like her smile.

"Most bodyguards get there before the first punch." She reminds. "My bad." I apologize. "Maybe I'll forgive you later."

"Who did he kill that Issac loved?" Nadia wonders after a few moments. But she doesn't let me answer, "Why don't you resent me?" She whispers.