Remade

Chapter 15

After I walk out of the arena, I walk to the post competition viewing area, another dim, underground boiler room area with TVs. Cass and Charlie are sitting there making small talk about the ongoing fight and they both look over to me as I walk in.

"Hey congrats on your fight," Charlie says.

"Thanks. You both did great too," I respond.

They both look at me awkwardly, and turn their attention to the screen. I give it a glance and sit down but then do a quick double take to the screen. Adanna and Tiffany are beginning their fight, inching their way towards each other. I sit up in my seat with the elbows on my knees and fingers interlocked and watch intently.

Adanna has her hands up in prime blocking position, just like I taught her, with her mouth in a tight line. She's bouncing on her feet like a boxer and she looks like she's totally in control. Perfect. They circle around each other, eyeing each other carefully and I can see Adanna's eyes glancing around, trying to find a tell. Suddenly, Tiffany punches to the left of Adanna's face and she dodges it quickly and returns with a punch of her own, which connects with Tiffany's cheekbone. She shrieks and puts her hand up to her cheek. Adanna has a look on her face like she can't believe she did that. She then acts fast, going for a headlock and gets it. I grimace, finally understanding why Adanna says having long hair is impractical and why she has it so closely cut to her head. The two spin around incontrollably, Tiffany swatting at her with all she's got and Adanna refusing to let go until Tiffany kicks her head back and hits Adanna squarely in the chin. I wince as Adanna releases her grip and Tiffany gives an evil smile. She starts to close in on the still fazed Adanna but the bell rings, mercifully ending the round. They announce the round tied, which I believe is complete crap. Adanna was clearly dominating! I scoff and Charlie looks over to me. "Your friend should've won that round."

"Damn straight she should've," I mutter. Come on Adanna, you've got this.

In Sparring we have a rule when it comes ties. If a round is tied, the next one is a sudden death round. Whoever wins it, wins the bout. As the two girls make their way to the center, I see Sergeant Williams telling them this technicality and the registration of the importance in Adanna's eyes and the satisfaction in Tiffany's. Oh God no. No Adanna, don't freak out. I exhale really slowly from my mouth as the bell rings and the two engage. All signs of the weak, prissy Tiffany are gone. She is a machine, ready for the win. She goes for Adanna's body and hits her abdomen a good number of times. Put your hands up!!! I scream at her mentally. She attempts to but it's done. There's fear in her eyes and Tiffany knows it and is devouring it, relishing in it. I watch helplessly as Adanna manages to put her hands up to block the punches and then commits the mistake of reaching for a hit. Tiffany grabs her arm and flips her onto her back and pins her as the bell rings and Sergeant Williams makes his way over to announce the winner. I put my hands over my face and then slide them back slowly into my hair in frustration. Dammit.

I walk out of the room and I go for a walk around the area to kill off the time of the next fight. I don't really feel like watching any more fights...

After a quick walk, I return to the lobby where everyone has gathered, including Sergeant Williams, who is giving a pep talk and instructions.

"...the effort put out there was incredible, I was very impressed with seeing some of you in action and seeing what we need to work on." He makes a pointed glance to the left hand corner of the room and continues speaking. "So, go get yourselves a nice shower and if you ladies competed today, make your way to the main quad for the rendezvous with your crowd. Excellent job, I will see you all again, here, next week!"

We all clap and everybody disperses to their friends or makes a beeline to the locker rooms before they get crowded. I'm the first to walk out the door but I hang around the doorway for a specific someone.