Lightweight

Chapter Three

Annie freaked out and her mind raced a million miles a minute trying to remember all of the dirt Gabby had on her, it didn't look good. What did Gabby tell him?

"Oh my god, Niall," Annie groaned, "Don't believe a word that bitch says."

Niall laughed and said, "Don't worry, Annie, I don't think you're a crazy psycho bitch that goes around beating up people."

"Is that what she told you?" Annie asked biting her bottom lip.

"Yeah, she is a piece of work. I thought she was going to take my shirt off right then and there," Niall laughed and took off his Snapback, messed up his blonde hair a bit and placed the cap back on his head.

"Well, she was half right," Annie said and looked away, hoping this moment wasn't happening. She hadn't been planning on telling Niall about her career so soon. What if he thought it was weird and never talked to her again? Annie hadn't known Niall long, but the thought of him not wanting to talk to her ever again made her feel like the world was crashing down. And that scared her.

"So you are a crazy psycho bitch?" Niall asked.

"No," Annie laughed, "Not usually anyway."

"What are you talking about?" Niall was thoroughly confused.

"I don't exactly go around beating people up like Gabby said, but something like it," Annie said and studied his face for any hint of apprehension. All she saw was confusion.

"Huh?" Niall scratched his head.

"I'm sorta like a professional boxer, like televised fights and stuff," Annie reluctantly admitted, looking at the ground.

"Really?" Niall said. There was a long pause after that.

Annie thought that she had blown it. Niall now thought she was some crazy boxing freak and would probably never want to see her again. He was probably afraid of her and was thinking of a way to get away from her at that very moment. Annie didn't know what to do.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Niall smiled, "That's awesome!"

"Yeah, I know its stupid. I'll just go," Annie said, not registering what Niall had just said and hearing what she most feared instead.

"What?" Niall asked, laughing his booming laugh. He grabbed her arm as Annie tried to walk away and the touch, even though she was wearing a jacket, sent a tingling feeling throughout her arm. "I said I think it's cool. Where are you going?"

"Wait? What? You really think so?" Annie asked, unsure.

"Are you kidding?" Niall exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I didn't want you to think I was a freak and scare you off," Annie admitted.

Niall looked around, "I'm still here," he said with a smile.

Annie tried to suppress the biggest smile from spreading across her face, "I guess you are."

"So your fights are like televised and stuff?" Niall asked in amazement.

"Yeah, some of them."

"When is your next one?"

"The end of the summer."

"That's amazing!" Niall said again. "Guys! Guess what!" he called and ran over to the other guys, pulling Annie by the hand with him. She wasn't sure if it counted as hand holding but she sure hoped it did. Her hand felt so soft and warm in his and she didn't know how to handle it.

"Guys, get this, Annie is like a big bad ass boxer!" Niall yelled, excited. Annie could swear that there was a hint of pride in his voice.

"What?" the boys asked. Niall went on to explain to the boys what he just discovered. When they found out Natasha was my trainer they were in even more disbelief. Annie heard a "That's so hot" escape from Harry's mouth. They all asked questions excitedly, especially Liam since he boxed when he was younger. He asked if he could train with her sometime but Natasha switched into harsh trainer mode and shot him down immediately. "No distractions," she said and her word was final. Annie felt really bad about that, but understood completely, she couldn't risk missing a day of a full practice session. Instead she invited him to her morning workout session that she did on her own, "If you can handle it," Annie teased.