Fairy Tale

Chapter 13: Saturday Night Fight

Alby was already in the training room with his University coach, but when Jorge and Emily walked in he came striding over, with a huge grin on his face. 

"Jorge!" He cried. He clasped Jorge's hand. Then he turned to Emily, holding his arms out, "Come 'er Squirt!" 

Emily dropped her bag and threw her arms around his neck, he picked her up off the ground for a second, squeezing him tight. He placed her down and then indicated with his head to Minho who was standing at the door with his mouth dropped open. Emily grinned and turned. 

"Did I forget to tell you that we were in Alby The King Einstein's coach corner?" 

"Yeah, you might have left that detail out." He cleared his throat, and his smirk was back, he held his hand out, and Alby grabbed it and shock it, giving him the once over. They were both tall and broad. Minho had a little bit more height and was quite possibly broader in the shoulders than Alby. 

"You must be Minho." 

"The one and only." He grinned, folding his arms.

Alby eyed him up again, then nodded, apparently in approval. He turned back to his coaches. Minho came over to stand beside Emily, he leaned over and whispered, "So. Alby The King, huh?" 

Emily just chuckled, folding her arms and smirked at him. 

"I need the story." 

"We grew up in the gym. Dad was his coach, and his first sponsor. His parents couldn't afford the training and tournament and fight fees. Dad paid for the both of us. He managed to get a sponsor, and then a scholarship."

"Well that's awesome!"    Minho grinned, he glanced back at her and his smirk slipped a little. "Ya know, if more people knew you are friends then they might leave you alone." 

Emily had thought about it, especially when her dad first died and the bullies started, and he life started to go down hill, she had thought about it. Emily ran a hand a hand through her long hair, and sighed.

"No. I'm not flaunting him and my friendship with him for popularity. We're like siblings, aways have been. Do you really think people will believe me when I say I'm friends with him?  And Ava and Teresa know, it doesn't stop them." 

"Stop them doing what?" Minho asked, turning towards her now, fully frowning. 

Emily clamped her mouth closed and shook her head, looking at the floor again. 

"Emily, what are you not saying?" He pressured.

"Nothing. I'm saying nothing." 

"Emily-" 

Emily shook her head and walked away, towards Alby who was warming up. Emily pulled her up into a pony tail, and plastered a smile on. She was having a hard time keeping her homelife situation to herself especial with Minho. He was just easy to talk to, even if she felt like her tongue was tied, and her face went pink with a blush when he gave her that smirky smile. She shoved her bitterness, fear and sadness back down and put her mask back on. 

She pulled a pair of training mitts on. To help him warm up, they gently soft boxed, getting him to duck, and jab, keeping his muscles loose and warm. Jorge went over and explained some of the background of what they were doing and why, what a coaches job, a manager's job. Making sure their fighter was physically ready, mentally ready. There was a knock on the door and the referee and doctor came in to do their check and weigh in. Emily and Minho stood off to the side, letting Jorge do his thing, working with the University coach. Once that was done, a camera crew came in. 

The interviewer asked Alby some questions about his opponent and how he got ready for the match. Alby bounced a little back and forth, trying to keep his muscles warm. The camera backed off into the corner. There was another knock and someone with a head set poked her head in.