The Mute Fighter | 3

003

003 - Sign

When the first day of school was over, I turned on my phone and walked to the nearest abandoned end of the parking lot.

When I turned it on, multiple calls from my brother and his best friend Chase chimed in. I had something going on with Chase before the incident. We didn't label what we had, we just slept together and acted like a couple.

I don't know if my brother Ward knew, but I don't care. I did my own thing.

Just as I read the texts another call came in, this time it was Chase. "What?" I snapped when I answered.

"Lina, please. Let's talk–I'll drive out to you, I want to see you" Chase said, desperation was in his voice.

"Why?" I asked him, the question itself seemed to stun him, before he stuttered in surprise.

"I miss you, Ward misses you, we're worried. We want you back–""--I'm not coming back" I cut him off.

"Don't you understand what happened? I can never go back, it's over. Tell everyone to move on, this is permanent" I hissed at him on the phone.

"I know, I know. But can I at least drive out to see you?" He asked. I sighed and ran a hand over my face in frustration.

"Thursday. Don't show up at my house" I told him and he accepted it and I hung up. I sighed in annoyance once more before turning on my heel to get the hell out of here, only to stumble into someone.

Someone who had been standing really close to me, they had heard everything. I looked up in surprise and saw one of the twins. West.

He narrowed his eyes at me, but I looked down instead. "Sorry" I muttered and stepped around him. "Don't–are you in trouble?" He called out, his question made me look around to make sure no one was around.

Luckily for some reason he was alone. "No, though I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone what you heard" I said and stared into his eyes.

He narrowed them as he inspected my face. The scar. I turned away and cleared my throat. "Heard what?" He finally responded.

I exhaled in relief and nodded my head, accepting his way of handling whatever he thought he heard.

"You're interesting. I'll see you at the gym" He muttered the first part more likely to himself and then he spoke out louder at the end of the sentence.

"Whatever" I said and shrugged a little. He chuckled and eyed me up and down before walking opposite of me. I watched him leave and immediately noted North, Oliver and Mitch leaning against a McLaren and two ducati motorcycles.

Their eyes burned holes into my skin as they watched me. Luckily Fran saved me from the awkwardness, she pulled up at the curb and honked at me.

"Need a ride?" She called out. Without a second glance at the jackass group, I nearly jumped into the car.

"Go, drive" I urged her, and she sped out of the parking lot. "Where are we heading?" She asked and glanced back at me in the backseat. Celina glanced back at me as well.

"What did West want?" She asked me. "I don't know, I stumbled into him. It was weird" I said and shrugged my head in confusion.

West was handsome as hell, he was well built, not as well as Mitch. "Can you drop me off at the gym?" I ask Fran and she nods.

"I got a shift there and Cel lives nearby" Fran said and I nodded. I needed to let out some steam, I needed to get my frustrations out.

It didn't take long for us to arrive and Celina did a lame handshake with me as we parted ways, I laughed a little as I got it right and she cheered.

"Bitch, it took Fran way too long to get it. I'm proud" She said and touched her heart. Fran rolled her eyes and we waved bye to Celina.

"Let's go change" Fran said and we walked into the changing rooms. I stripped down to my underwear and put on black training leggings and a black sports bra.

I had small breasts so I was never afraid of flashing someone, I loved working out in a sports bra.

Especially when I did martial arts training. "Woah–Nic–" Fran gasped as I turned my back to her. I had a red dragon tattooed on my back, maybe that was what she had seen.

"That tat is amazing, wow" She gasped, I chuckled a little before locking my things in a locker and then we headed out.

"I'll be at the desk" She said and I nodded, parting ways with her. I went into the glass room that separated sounds from the gym.

I picked up the sticks, two in each hand, and started out by warming up. It wasn't fun to do without someone to spar with, I needed a workout partner.

I would find that later, for now I just needed to remember what I had been taught. I was so caught up in it, and with my music blasting in my airpods, I didn't see the door open.

I didn't see someone walk in the nearest corner, until I took a small break. I looked into the mirror and turned around to face West.

"Need a partner?" He asked amused and grabbed a stick, he twirled it around, I didn't let it impress me, I attacked as he defended.

I knew his tricks, his body gave it away. Though I was careful to not let it get to my ego and always expect the unexpected.

West smacked the stick across my back letting me grunt out in pain. "You need to work on your defense" He noted breathlessly as we circled each other.

I knew, my defense always sucked. If it didn't, I wouldn't have lost the tournament. Flashes of Daniella beating me to shit flashed behind my eyes.

I fought harder against West, who was finally showing enough weakness for me to smack his legs away from underneath him, his back collided with the mat.

He held up his hands in defeat and laughed a little. "You impress me, Nicolina Martell," He said breathlessly. I removed the stick threatening his throat and extended my hand to help him up.

He accepted it and got to his feet, only as he did, the door opened. "West, get your ass out here!" Oliver shouted at him.

He seemed pissed, his voice startled me and I looked towards the glass walls and saw North and Mitch watching. They had probably seen the entire thing.

"I'm sorry, good session. I'll see you around" West said and threw the stick back for me to catch, which I did. I watched as Oliver shoved West once the door had closed.

My eyes met Mitch's, he was a mute, yet his eyes screamed what words couldn't say. I didn't look away this time, I waited till they left.

North pushed Mitch's shoulder and shook him out of the staring contest. Mitch didn't show one hint of a smile or any kind of friendliness.

Without a second thought. I lifted my hands and signed a word to him. 'Bye' his eyebrows raised as I did so, his hard gaze changed to a curious one. But North pulled him away, I smirked a little as I had obviously surprised him. It was interesting.