Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

10

A bell rang as I pushed open the glass doors. My eyes taking in the nicely lit space. The gym was clean and not super busy being seven o'clock at night.

"Good evening, how can I help you miss?" The gentleman at the front desk asked as I approached.

"Hi, I was recommended to this gym by Junior. Said that his cousin Murphy ran this place and would be able to help me." The gentleman grinned as he waggled a figure at me.

"You must be Xena. Junior told me you'd be stopping by. You've got a semipro fight in a couple weeks right?" The gentleman spoke as he came out from around the desk. His hand outstretched, "I'm Murphy. Junior's cousin. Arguably the better trainer of us two."

I chuckled stepping to shake his hand.

"Xena Tallen. But you already knew that."

"Well, you got time to let me evaluate you? Junior gave me a few notes and videos but in person is always better."

"Show me the changing room and I can meet you out here in five." Murphy grinned at my statement before pointing towards a small locker room.

I shut my duffel bag in a locker and met Murphy out by a bag. My knuckles wrapped and shoes laced snuggly. My red ponytail braided behind my head as I tightened the strings on my shorts.

"Alright, we're going to run through a quick set of drills before I have you spar one of my guys."

"Sounds good, Murphy. Show me what you got." I smirked as I shook out my arms and jumped a little. There were other people in the gym over by the weightlifting section on the far right hand-side away from the boxing section of the gym we were in.

Meaning no one was watching as I pretty much smoked myself doing Murphy's drills.

"Come on, Twinkle Toes, I've seen your feet move faster than that." Murphy shouted at me as I ran through the speed ladder for the hundredth time in the last ten minutes.

"Yeah about ten minutes ago when we first started, Murph." I snarked as I finished the ladder and ran to the wall across the gym.

"And time. Get some water, X. You've got about five minutes before my guy is here for you two to spar." I didn't say a word as I wobbled over to the locker room where my water bottle sat.

Before the speed ladder, Murphy tested my strength, endurance, and hand-eye coordination in five different drills. Each one increasingly more difficult up until the 10 minute speed ladder workout where I felt my legs were going to fall off.

I'd have to tell Junior his cousin has some drills for him to use.

"X, you ready? We're waiting on you. Grab your gloves." Murphy's voice made me groan as I rose from the wooden bench.

I grabbed my black gloves and water bottle before walking outside to the sparing ring. Next to Murphy was a young African American who was wrapping his hands carefully. I set my water bottle down by the ring and stuck a hand out towards the male.

"Names X." I voices making him look up. A small smirk appeared on his face before he brought his right hand up to shake mine.

"Kelce. Murphy told me you're semipro. You just visiting or are you new in town?" I held back the surprise as I recognized his voice and face as one of Rafe's goons.

"New to town. Moved in a few days ago. You been here your whole life?" I asked as I stepped away from him and moved to remove my shirt.

"Yeah, live out on Figure E-whoa." I turned and rose an eyebrow as I tossed my shirt on the top rope.

"Didn't realize that was a place." I mocked as I grabbed my gloves and started to pull them on. Murphy coming over to help me out.

"Kelce has been training for about a year now. We'll get headgear just in case. That boy can't spare to lose anymore brain cells." I laughed at Murphy's comment before glancing back at Kelce. The boy's eyes still glazed over as he looked at me.

"My eyes are up here, through you may want to watch my hands once we're in the ring." I voiced as Murphy tightened my gloves before setting head gear on.

"Don't think that just because you're a girl means I'll go easy on you." Kelce said once he was geared up and in the ring with me.

I laughed as I walked up to him in the center, my gloves extended for him to fist bump me.

"I wouldn't have it any other way. Show me what you got." I mumbled under my breath catching him off guard as I stepped in with a hook as Murphy gave the go ahead.

I didn't let Kelce get a chance to set up. I continuously hit and moved just as he went to swing. Every time he swung I was already a step ahead and past his guard.

"Time." Murphy shouted as he rang the small bell beside the ring.

"Damn, you're fast." Kelce complimented as we walked over to Murphy and hung on the ropes. Kelce getting water as I caught my breath.

"I've got to be when fighting bigger opponents. You take too long to establish your form. You spend two seconds just getting your feet right. You need to take what you have and use it. You won't get everything exactly textbook. All that matters is you get a good hit off then another." I coached as I took a quick sip of water.

"Murphy, you need one more round?" I asked as the older male seemed to contemplate.

"No. No. I think I've got my evaluation done. You both are free to go. Kelce your friends walked in a few minutes ago and are over lifting it you wanted to go over." Murphy said as he helped me get my gloves and head gear off.

"Thanks, Murph. Hey, X, you want to come meet some of my friends?" I gave Kelce a half smile before coming up with some excuse.

"I'd love too, but I've got to head back to the house. My mom is making dinner tonight and I've got to pick up a gallon of milk from the store."

"Yeah, sure. Well, see you around." I waved at him before bolting into the locker room. I changed back into the clothes I was in from John B's and sprinted out the front door towards my bike. Failing to hold in my laughter as I slid on my riding gear.

Not failing to hear Kelce talking way too loudly about me.

"Dude she was so hot. And she could fight. I mean, Rafe, she put your abs to shame."

So I was right. Kelce was one of Rafe's goons. A shame that I actually enjoyed getting to spar against him and help him with his form.

Or maybe this was just another piece of the plan falling into place.

Watch out, Kook Royalty, there's a new Queen in town.