Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

21

"Rafe, are you sure you want to do this? You can still come with us." Kelce was begging Rafe to leave with him and Topper, but Rafe wasn't having it.

Ethan and I had wrapped up with the jump ropes and he had left while I went to use the restroom. There were a few additional customers in the weights section and a few free hitting on the bags, but for the most part the occupants were clearing out.

"Kelce, you and Topper go. I'll call when I'm done." Rafe said as he stood from the bench as I approached.

"Good luck, Brother." Topper encouraged walking out the door. Kelce not as easily convinced.

"Please don't break him." I grinned.

"No promises, Kelce." He gave me a pointed look, "he'll be able to walk out of here when I'm through. It's only thirty minutes." I reasoned.

"Yeah, well from experience, I know you only need fifteen." I shook my head and ushered him out.

"Experience huh?" I turned to face Rafe, his smirk falling as he glanced between Kelce's back and me.

"Boxing experience. Nothing else." My face scrunched up as I gagged at the thought. "He's a year younger than me and our relationship is strictly platonic." He nodded along, his mood lighting again.

"Wait, a year younger? Yet you're in senior classes?" I pursed my lips as I moved behind the desk and signed my name under training again, grabbing the paperwork had finished.

"Yeah." He waited for me to continue as I write his name on the sign in sheet. I looked up to see him doing the continue hand movement, "I'm a junior by class year. But I'm taking higher level coursework to get a jump on my degree." I informed him, not entirely sure why I entertained his question.

"I knew you were smart but damn." My eyes blew wide at the complement.

"Uh, thanks?"

"You're welcome." He chirped, leaning on the desk as I finished filling out his time slot.

"Sign in and we can get started." I informed him, refusing to look at him as I turned to see if the weights section needed help.

"I won't turn you to stone if you look at me, you know?" I rose an eyebrow as I turned to face him. His head down as he signed his name.

"Why do you presume that is the reason I don't look at you?" I inquired as I pulled the sign in sheet back, reaching for the pen he held in his grasp.

"Because you haven't looked me in the eyes once since Kelce left, and you're currently glaring daggers into my hand." Shock crossed me as I realized I was in fact glaring at the pen clasped in his hand.

"Just set the pen down and let's go. You've got speed ladders first." I spoke, avoiding the topic at hand as I began the usual trial session.

"That wasn't terrible." Rafe said panting after doing five minutes worth of ladder work. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh, hun." I mocked, shaking my head as I moved over to the row of speed bags and grabbed some tape of the wall rack. "You do understand what trial means, right?" He scoffed, not responding as he came to stand in front of me.

"Alright tough guy, give me your hands." Surprisingly, he listened. His hands rising and staying relatively still as I wrapped them. "There. All done." Out of habit, I pat the end of the tape down then squeezed gently to make sure it stayed.

"You always do that?" I felt the heat rise to my face.

"Yes. As a matter of fact. It's a habit." I admitted knowing that the truth would help in this situation. Until something out of pocket came from him.

"Cute." My eyes snapped open wide as I stared at the smirking male.

"You're so lucky you are a beginner." I pointed, moving to stand in front of a speed bag. "This is called a speed bag. I'm certain at some point you've seen someone use one real or on tv. Point of this is to develop hand-eye coordination and agility." I instructed as I rose my hands, silently thankful I kept my wrap on from when Ethan and I were training.

I started slow so he could watch my movements. Describing what was happening as I continued. When I asked him if he understood how he was meant to hit it and he replied yes, then I picked up the pace.

"And when you've got it down at one pace, you pick it up. And keep picking it up until you're going as fast as you can while timing the bag just right." I was staring at the bag like my life depended on it. My heart rate increasing as I attacked the bag.

"Uh, Xena?" I blinked, refocusing on the task at hand. "You okay? You zoned out there for a second."

"Yup. Anyways. You've got five minutes here." I stepped back ready to watch as Rafe took a step forward to meet the bag. "Relax, have a good base, and don't miss the bag."

"Thanks, Captain Obvious." Rafe grumbled as he rose his arms and tested the bag out. "I just cycle my arms?" I nodded.

"Yup, left, right, left, right. And if you miss a beat don't worry, let your reflexes kick in. Double hits still count as hits."

I started the timer and watched the male struggle to get into his flow. His body stiff as he attempted to copy me. I know I should be working him into the ground, but I also have the understanding coach side of me. And unfortunately, she's in charge.

"Relax Rafe." I came up to stand behind him. "Is it okay if I set a hand on you to help your posture?"

"Yes." I ignored the breathlessness of his words as I set a hand on the middle of his back and told him to breath in then out.

Once he did that and his shoulders naturally relaxed backwards, I held them both down and away from his ears.

"Back flexible, shoulders down," I spoke before poking him in the stomach, "core tight," I tapped his feet with mine, "and feet bouncing. You stand flat footed, you get sent to the ground. You're core isn't tight, one body shot or one hit to the face and you're down. Your shoulders scrunched up to your ears, you restrict your swing. Back too tight and you'll limit your flexibility and movement. Again."

He improved almost instantly. I was surprised he was listening to me but more so by the slight pride I get coming from myself. I'll need to tell my future employers that I managed to train my 'enemy' - without killing him...yet.