The Lily Underground

14.

"How would you know that?" It was Niko and he was clearly in shock and for some reason he sounded mad, and I knew I had messed up cause what was I going to tell him? - the truth would be easy but am I ready - I don't think so.

So I gave the worst excuse anyone could ever give and hoped that they would fall for it "I once knew this guy for a short time, who did underground fighting, and yeah he had a tattoo he shared with his friend as well".

I could tell that Niko's thoughts were dwelling on my answer, then he simply just nodded  "well okay I don't think I want to know why you've been around a guy like also we'll be working out again the day after tomorrow" and then Niko left the gym leaving me alone with Jace

"you know some day the truth will be revealed Lily"

"What?" - how, how would he know? Has Jace seen me before? why does he know my name?, but then it hit me of course he has, cause I remember Jace.

The only match I ever lost in my life was the one I fought after Luca had died, it was the only match and only final where I had looked weak, where my opponent looked at me with victory in their eyes. Truth is I didn't care about that fight, I still don't, cause the only family I had at that time I had lost, and memories of Jace's face after he had won were entering my stream of thoughts.

"I'm sorry"

I had no idea how to answer Jace, so I turned around to leave the gym - I needed a shower, you would think that maybe I would've asked Jace to keep his mouth shut but I wasn't going to, if he wanted to tell the truth he could, but why was he sorry?

I turned to face Jace once again "what do you mean, why are you sorry?", his brown eyes became extremely soft, and so warm "cause I know why you lost that day"

"Jace I don't need you feeling sorry for me okay?, I don't care about that silly fight my brother had died - yeah I'm the Lily but nothing is more important to me than family, I would very much like to loose a thousand matches more if it meant that Luca would come back.

"I know that's why I am saying sorry"

I simply didn't know how to respond so I left leaving Jace all alone in the gym.

Jace POV

I still remember the first day I met Lily.

I had been standing, well that's not true I had been pacing around stressing about the fight. It was three years ago. It was a final and sadly one I had to fight against the Lily "why was everyone so afraid of this girl and what kind of technique does she have, since she's been able to toss around with guys?

Of course I had gathered some information about how she fought but nothing was so out of the ordinary that they would help a girl so much, so she would be able to win fights against men that weigh 200pounds.

Luckily the last hour before the fight had went by quick, and then I saw her the oh so famous Lily and the first thing that went through my mind was her beauty, and the fact that I had been told so many stories about her from her brothers who knew her as Miya. At first I was shocked, but then suddenly I saw a right fist launching towards my face and before I knew, she had landed a punch on my left cheek bringing me back to reality.

Throughout the fight Lily lost her will I could see it, and feel it in how her punches lacked energy it was as if the ring was bringing memories back that were making her sad, memories that she wished she could bring back to life - and I knew who those memories where about.

The day I had won, was the first time the Lily had lost, was I proud? Of course at that time I was but looking back, I was pathetic.

I still remember her eyes as I had landed the punch that resultet in my victory - sadness would be the best way to describe it even though it was so much more than that.

Truth is many underground knew who Luca was and so did I, we also knew that Lily had been taken care of by Luca not only that he had been training her as well.

Looking back I regret everything about that fight, cause I knew all of this but still I had given her a look of victory when she was laying down in the ring defeated.

Stupid 20 year old me had looked at a 19 year girl that had lost her only family member the day before her fight and felt happy when she lost.

Sometimes I wish we could turn back time.

Though I had kept my mouth shut about the fact that I knew where she was all these years if Miya or Lily wanted to be found by her family members I knew she would return.

This was my way of apologizing but keeping this secret may cost me my life but thats how undergrund fighting is or how being an underground fighter is, you just have to accept that one day, you just won't wake up.