Insomniacs (#1)

50. brutal

"So, where's Benny?" Everest materialised besides me in the crowd of people. The boxing ring was in a sort of hall, empty space surrounding it that was now filled with people. Not too big but definitely not small either.

"He's at counselling." I said, chewing on my bottom lower lip. My gaze was trained on Luca, sat on a small stool in his corner of the ring.

"Here." Ev took my hand and I furrowed my eyebrows at the gesture, "Come on. He asked me to come get you."

He led me forwards, weaving through the mass until we appeared at the forefront. I was unfamiliar to this. The boxing setting and world. Unlike Everest or Luca, who'd known it since they were kids.

Everest slapped the ring floor besides Luca so his attention turned to us. He looked at Ev and then to me, the crease between his eyebrows softening when I met his eyes.

"Hi." He mouthed softly. It was too loud for me to be able to hear him.

"Hi." I mouthed back and a smile split his lips.

His attention was snapped away from me when Tyson crouched down in front of him, grasping his shoulders so he looked at him.

"What'd I tell you, kid?"

"Maintain composure. Look for openings. Save the left hook for the knockout." Luca listed off like they were engrained in his memory.

"Maintain composure. Your anger's gonna be your downfall in these scenarios. You use it but don't let it overwhelm you." Tyson said, eye to eye, "And don't knock the kid out, straight up. We've been through this. You need to show skill, agility. Mess around for a bit at least. This isn't like your spar sessions, let it last for a bit, kid."

"What's gonna happen tonight?" Ty asked, signalling for Lu to open his mouth.

"Walk out with a win." Luca answered, opening his mouth so Tyson could slip in the mouth guard swiftly.

"Head held high." Ty slapped the side of his face, gently more than anything else.

"Head held high." Luca repeated, speaking through the mouth guard as he rolled his jaw out.

"You're gonna win the shit out of this. Not settling for anything else." Ty said and then looked to me, "Aria, we got a couple minutes. You can come up here."

I snapped out of it, blinking. Ev nodded for me to go ahead and his hands held my waist, lifting me up easily until I was on the platform. I hesitantly ducked under the ropes and stood in front of Luca, blinking at all the people around. The spotlights above were gleaming down on us.

That's when my gaze found Victoria and some other girls, a couple of guys - seemingly, the boys they'd come with - from school. She met my eyes, grimacing when she raked her eyes down my body.

I turned my attention to Luca, disregarding any thoughts of Victoria. Now was not the time.

"Hey." My hands ran up his bare shoulders, crouching down so I was closer to his eye level, "Nervous?"

He shook his head. I nodded.

"Good. Cos you, darling, are gonna be on top of the world by the end of this. I'll be there with you, if you'll have me." I said and his lips tugged upwards, looking down to me. I watched his breathing even out, shoulders relaxing.

"Fight for yourself here, Lu. You deserve this." I said when he dropped his forehead to mine, the whole world around us drowning out to background noise.

He said nothing, only reached up and tapped his glove against his forehead and then lowered his head. I smiled, knowing what he was asking for when I brushed back his hair. I pressed a small kiss to his forehead, "Beat his ass, my big ol' bodybuilder."