Fighter

Twenty one

Scarlett POV

There is almost always a calm in the midst of a mighty storm. The eye of the hurricane catches people desperate because they let their guard down. I should feel calm even happy. God knows I had twenty-four hours of pure ecstasy. I smile as I exit the subway, cutting across the parking lot to advanced linear drawing class and thinking about the night before with Y/N. Remembering her face makes me warm all over. But something in the pit of my stomach warns me that I shouldn't give in to the calm even though it doesn't take much effort.

Cars fill the parking lot and there are already a few people squeezing in here and there. Early morning classes at universities tend to be for casual students rather than the young crowd who live on campus. Students who come and go with a purpose rather than hanging out with their friends first. I look around and no one seems to be close. Even so, I have the strange sensation of being watched. When I'm about to enter the building, I see a luxurious black car driving by slowly. The windows are completely dark, so I can't see inside, but I have the distinct feeling that whoever is inside is watching me. The car leaves shortly after without incident.

I put on the headphones and Billie Eilish's voice fills my ears as I allow myself to lose myself drawing. The model today is not naked, but is shirtless. He is thin and looks more like a boy than a man. More Chris' type than mine. With charcoal I darken the fine line of the pectoral muscles, whose definition comes more from the fact that he is thin and the body has no fat than from the development of real muscles. Unlike Y/N.

As I draw my mind flies to her chest, to the deep, defined crevices of each cultivated muscle. I breathe out as I remember the deep lines of her narrow waist, the deep V I saw sink in the mirror yesterday with each powerful thrust she took forward.

I bring myself back to reality and my teacher points to the drawing in front of me.

- Less muscle and more bone.- She comments.

I nod, realizing for the first time who the drawing on the pad in front of me looks like. I've been drawing more what my memory remembers and fantasizing about a woman I can't stop thinking about and I haven't drawn anything from the class model.

===========================

The parking lot is busy when I go out. I look around again and find no one watching me. I still have that feeling again. I'm sure it's just my paranoia, but the fact that Colin walked away so easily bothers me. The fight between him and Y/N is seven days from now and I really don't think Colin will stay away until then.

The crowded subway at the end of the morning brings me some comfort. In a weird way being sandwiched like sardines makes me breathe easier. I walk the twelve stations to Johansson's and notice some photographers outside. Y/N must be at the gym by now. The paparazzi have been dwindling in the last few days and only a few insistent ones are following her up and down.

I take a deep breath before opening the door even though Robert told me Colin wouldn't be here until the fight next week. Y/N is training with sparring in the back but her eyes meet mine the minute I walk through the door.

- Is everything ok? - Robert leaves the office.

- Yes.

His eyes turn to my neck. The black and blue gave way to a yellow and purple shadow. His jaw tightens.

- Has Colin been staying away?

- I haven't heard anything about him or even seen him since that night.

Robert shakes his head.

- Great.- He looks at Y/N in the back who just beat Richard.- She has good fists. Very good. Colin is my nephew but his ego blinds him sometimes. He thinks he's better than he is. The only way he'll have a chance against Y/N is if madness comes out and incites a pile of adrenaline in him.