PULSE [H.S]

010

"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." — Maya Angelou

I finished my workout quickly today.

I'm getting better at setting up the machines with the proper weights, and I'm more familiar with everything now. It feels good to have some confidence in what I'm doing for once.

Clove finds me as I'm stretching. She shows off her new tattoo, saying, "I mean, seriously, how sick is that? I'm obsessed with it."

I grin and say, "I'm glad you like it. It looks good on you."

The red ink looks really neat, and it makes the snake stand out from all of her other tattoos done in black ink. The mixture of the two colors looks stunning on her. I wonder where she got the other ones done.

Clove says, "Are you staying for the match?"

"Zayn's match?" I ask.

"Oh, he actually can't fight anymore. Something came up, but Harry is filling in for him," she says.

"Harry?" I say his name angrily.

She says slowly, "Yeah... It starts soon. I think he's around here somewhere getting ready."

We both spot him across the gym. I don't know what takes over me, but I find myself on my feet and marching over to him.

"Kiz? What are you doing?" I hear Clove ask behind me.

Harry's talking to someone, but I don't care. He doesn't spot me until I push his shoulders, shoving him angrily. He takes a few steps back, looking confused. I see his jaw clench as he stares down at me.

I say, "You fucking idiot. You're in a boxing match today?"

He looks down at me, unfazed by my sudden outburst. He tilts his head and smirks, "Are you going to cheer me on, angel?"

"I didn't spend two hours on that for you to just let it get ruined—"

"It's on my body now. I am going to do whatever the fuck I want, and I don't really give a shit if it gets ruined," he says, his tone turning stone cold.

Ouch. That stings a little. I just stare at him, wondering how such a frustrating person exists.

I spit, "Okay, whatever. Break a leg, Harry. Literally."

I walk towards the locker room, annoyed. Clove catches up to me and asks what that was all about.

I sigh. "Nothing. He just got a tattoo last night, and he shouldn't be in a boxing match today."

"Wait, you gave Harry a tattoo?" she asks.

I nod. "Yeah, he came back in after you guys left."

"Really?" she asks, still not believing me.

I say, "Yep. Put a big fat butterfly right on his chest."

I probably shouldn't have shoved Harry like that. He could literally snap me in half like a twig. Besides, what happens to his tattoo is none of my concern. I take a moment to think about why I even care so much. No answer pops into my mind.

Clove furrows her eyebrows, still looking like she is confused about the whole situation. She lets it go, saying, "So I guess that means you're not staying to watch?"

I shake my head. "I don't really have the stomach for violence."

I grab my bag from the locker and throw my jacket on.