My Lion. || BXB

chapter fourty-four.

"do you want to tell me what the fuck happened between you and freddie?" isaac asked as he, nick, mickey, cormac and i all sat at our usual table at lunch with freddie nowhere in sight.
"we argued but now he's just being an insufferable idiot. i'm not going to beg for his forgiveness, he can come find me when he's ready to get over it." and i didn't know if it was a good thing or not that i felt comfortable enough in my friend group to talk shit about one of the members. i knew it'd probably come back to bite me in the ass, but in this moment i didn't care. i was so angry.

"what did you argue about?" mickey asked, giving me a confused glance. i looked away from his questioning eyes and stared into the distance.
"its not important."
"well it clearly is if he's getting so riled up over it." cormac added, and i suddenly felt as though i was being ganged up on?

i sulked lower in my seat, trying to think of a lie to slip myself out of this uncomfortable situation. it's not like i could be honest, i didn't want them to find out like this.

"i don't like this guy that he's been talking too and he's angry because apparently i'm not happy for him." and it was quite concerning how well that lie rolled off the tongue.
"is that it?"
"wow, you're right he really does need to get over it."
"damn."
i let out a sigh of relief. thankfully, they believed me.

i sat silently for the remainder of lunch, pondering about what i should do. most of my temper had calmed down now so i could actually think straight. maybe i should apologise to freddie, after all i know he has good intentions. all i'm saying is its not fair he's all of a sudden getting angry, when he's known about it for weeks now.

the lingering question circled my mind of if lionel and mickey were going to have their fight, side they didn't last week. calmly, i decided to swiftly bring it up.
"mick, what's happening with your weekly fight today?" i asked, my voice slightly raspy due to me being wordless for the last thirty minutes.
he shrugged to me, "i assume its on, unless he's gonna pussy out again." i gave him a cocky grin at his words, but said nothing further. god i hoped lionel wouldn't do it.

last lesson quickly finished up and i was currently swinging my bag over my shoulder before then making me way out the classroom. ahead of me, i saw nick and cormac walking towards our usual meeting spot outside the gate so i sped up my pace to catch up with the duo. i jumped strongly onto cormac's shoulders and pushed him slightly, but he just laughed after realising it was me.
"hello boys." i grinned to them, reaching my arms around both their shoulders.
"you alright, mate?" cormac smiled back to me before nick also spoke. "hiya!"

we approached the rest of our group, not including freddie, and all fell into casual conversation outside the gate. i gave discreet looks across the gate, looking for a certain someone. i waited patiently for lionel to come, and attempt to beg him to not do the fight, but a part of me knew it was going it happen. i just couldn't bare watching my bestfriend fight my 'almost' boyfriend, because who was i supposed to cheer for?

"its on!" mickey beamed, making my eyes snap to him in an instant.
i asked, "whats on?"
"the fight with lion." he grinned to me, shaking onto my shoulder enthusiastically. i plastered a reassuring grin onto my face, but gave nick a sneaky look as he clearly knew i'd be unsettled by this. he looked back at me, his eyes saddened at my stress but didn't say anything.

"lets go then, boys!" cormac shouted, and we all made our way following the upcoming crowd towards the usual fighting arena. my eyes scanned our surroundings but i couldn't find lionel anywhere. i hated this.

when we reached our destination, the four of us pushed through the crowd and all ended up in the circle, but nick, isaac and i stayed on the rim. i watched cormac and mick stand proudly in the circle, waiting for the opposing team to make their move. lionel wasn't here?

whispers echoed across the hundreds of people who had come to watch a battle, unhappy at the ghost of their lion. i pretended to be frustrated, when inside i was truly happy. did he really do this for me?

but it turns out i spoke too soon.

there came the familiar red haired boy, followed by his right hand man alexander, fighting through the eager followers. he pushed and pulled until he was in view of the circle.

"finally!" mickey spoke loudly, flailing his arms up. i cringed.
"i'm not fighting you." what?
"what?" mickey echoed my thoughts, and i wondered why lionel was rejecting a way to fuel his reputation. maybe it was for me after all?

"you heard me."
mickey scoffed, folding his arms, "why? scared?"
"of you? don't be ridiculous." the lion grinned, clearly trying to remain calm so he wouldn't pounce at his prey.
"then fight me."
"no."
"you're a fucking pussy." mickey pushed, slowly taking steps towards his nemesis. he wanted a fight, and i knew if he kept riling lionel up — he'd get one.
so far, lionel didn't seem to be too bothered which gave me some hope but i knew this calm persona he had recently adopted wouldn't last long. "shut your dirty mouth." he groaned.

then it happened.

mickey gave lionel a strong push, knocking the lion back multiple steps. something struck in the red headed boy's eyes and he let out a pained groan before he snapped. lionel raced forward and landed a strong punch against mickey's lower jaw. i could've sworn i heard a tooth crack. mickey winced, grasping against his jaw in pain before rehabilitating himself and going at it again.

punches, kicks and slaps were thrown until mickey eventually ended up unable to get back up to his feet. he was crouched down on the floor, blood dripping from his nose and mouth. his eyes were now purple and his nose seemed dislocated. lionel on the other hand appeared barely injured. he had bloody knuckles and a red scratch across his cheek but apart from that he was fine.

"ARE YOU DONE?" lionel screamed loudly, earning the silence of not only his opponent but the growing crowd. but mickey didn't speak, i don't think he physically could, even if he wanted too. cormac's overprotective brother instincts kicked in and he rushed into the circle.
"THATS ENOUGH! YOU WIN, FUCK OFF!" he shouted while leaning down to inspect mickey's injuries. lionel seemed satisfied by cormac's surrender and held his victorious fist up high.

i watched as alexander sprinted to lionel's side and pulled his big body into a hug.
"i love you, brother." i watched alexander's lips whisper into lionel's ear. i smiled. although i quickly wiped that off my face when i realised my best friend was on the floor in agony.

nick pulled onto my arm and we ran to help mickey back up to his feet. isaac was finding his keys in his pocket so we could take mickey to his house since it was closer, and cormac was busy sending lionel death glares. i had one of mickey's arms over my shoulder, and nick had his other one. then without another word, we rushed away.