If the Story Aligns

Chapter 8-Pushing Boundaries

Rhea Griffin

Last night's fight went extremely well, I was now the second best fighter and my fight with the current number 1 fighter who has also never been beaten is next week. He calls himself 'Champion', and anyone who thinks that highly of themselves deserves to be taken down a notch. It's best to just leave the ring quickly, if you stay too many people will try and talk to you, figure out things and just pry.

I take out my phone and see a text from Asher saying I need to come over tomorrow to work on the project. I send a simple "k" before going to the bathroom to assess the damage done to my body from tonight's fight. "Fuckkk." I groaned, it was really bad today, 'Caveman' got a lot more hits on me then I should have let him, but he was tougher than I expected and I had to go all out. I barely beat him, and if 'Champion' is a better fighter then 'Caveman' is, I am going to have to train a bit more. My lip was busted, I had a black eye, and don't even get me started on the bruises beneath my clothes. I took some arnica and a pain reliever to help with the bruising. I wouldn't be able to go to Asher's tomorrow looking like this.

To Asher Reed: Something came up. Have to cancel.

Honestly I hate texting so dry and heartless, but everyone who ends up close to me gets hurt. If he knows how I actually am and what I do I don't think he'd even want to be partners for this project anymore.

From Asher Reed: Rhea, seriously, this project is extremely important, we have to work on it.

To Asher Reed: I seriously can't tomorrow, I mean it, Monday? After basketball practice.

From Asher Reed: Fine.

I could tell he was annoyed but if anyone saw me like this...

. . .

Monday came by a lot faster than expected but luckily my bruises faded kind of quickly, nothing a little makeup wouldn't cover. I had to wait for Asher to be done with practice and it took longer than expected so I used it as an opportunity to train. I have some lifting and cardio equipment along with a punching bag, I started with lifting then did some cardio and finished out with technique and hitting the bag. Putting in my headphones I zoned out and just focused on doing what I do best. Eventually I decided that I've trained enough for today and my knuckles were already red even though I taped them.

As I was checking the time a text from Asher popped up. Convenient.

From Asher Reed: I'm done with practice, come over.

To Asher Reed: k.

The drive to his went by quickly and when I knocked my favorite Reed opened the door.

"Hey Nia, how are you doing?" She smiled so big and tackled me with a bear hug.

"I missed you Rhea, it's so boring here, Asher's no fun." As if on cue Asher walks in to his little sister enveloping me in a hug and talking trash about him.

"Wow, Nia I didn't realize you felt that way, I guess I won't play with you at all anymore then."

"Noo, Ashy I didn't mean it." She let's go of me to go hug Asher. Once Nia let go of Asher we headed into the direction of his room, I passed Nora on the way and said hello. We spent around an hour working on the assignment before Asher stopped writing and looked at me.

"You're so confusing." he states.

"That's the point." At this response he starts laughing hard.

"Rhea, I would like to get to know you better." I really really wanted to get to know him better too, but I can't.

"We're just here for the project."

"Please?" he asks

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty Please?"

"Fine but let's just do 20 questions so you don't just uncontrollably ask."

"Lets fucking go" he beams

"What's your favorite color?" he asks

"Red, specifically blood red, green, like nature, and blue, like the ocean, light purple comes close but it doesn't compare to the top three." I answered seriously, "You?"

"I was not expecting that thorough of an answer, mine is green and blue." He chuckled "When's your birthday, mine's January 13th."

"November 14th, are you a virgin?" He looks shocked I asked this question, it wasn't because I was being weird Elysia just said something about it. "I'm not trying to like make a move or be creepy or something. I was just curious because something Elysia said, it doesn't matter if you are or aren't, both are normal, most people expect you to be a man-hoe though."

"I don't think I have ever heard you talk that much in one go," He chuckles, "and to answer your question, yes, I am a virgin. Are you?"

"Nope." I pop the P "Why haven't you lost it? Elysia tells me girls throw themselves at you left and right."

"Honestly, I just haven't found someone I'm interested in losing it to, if I did it with one of the girls who threw themselves at me it would be meaningless and I don't want to do that to a girl." My respect literally just doubled for him. "Since you asked me why I haven't, I'm going to ask why you have?" He slyly says.

"Eh, I don't even know, the first time I was young, 15, thought I was in love with my boyfriend at the time, and did it because that's what I thought people in love do, it was so bad though." I laugh "Then it happened a few more times with different people because I was still so innocent and didn't know what anything really meant. I felt loved from those experiences because I never felt love at home. Eventually, I had an awakening of sorts and realized it wasn't making me any happier, and honestly it's extremely overrated unless you're like majorly into the person."

"Very philosophical Rhea," I laugh at that, I'm glad he wasn't pitying me. We were a lot closer than when we started and I didn't even realize. He looked down at me and pushed down my hood. "Your turn to ask the question."

"Umm, what's your favorite animal?" I nervously spit out.

"Giraffe" He chuckles, realizing how nervous I am. "My turn," he drags on "Will you let me kiss you?" I'm about to cry, what the fuck. He asked? I've never been asked, guys always just do it. Shit, I shouldn't kiss him, but I really want to, but I haven't kissed anyone in a while, what if I'm bad? Fuck it.

I look at him, slightly nod and we both lean in. His lips are so soft.

. . .