Saving Willow

f o u r t e e n

Confidence - Ocean Alley

The next morning I woke up to the sound of my alarm, I contemplated throwing my phone through the glass window but decided against it, I don't think the boys or Papa would be happy about it.

I drag myself out of bed and force myself into the shower, once I'm clean I get out and dry off before starting my hair, brushing out the knots and tangles like usual, I decided to just run the straightener over it, my hair was pretty straight as is but I want today to go perfectly for papa, so I must look and act the part.

Once again I skip the make-up and head out to my suitcase, I decide against another dress and opt out for a black leather skirt and long sleeve shirt instead

I paired it with some sparkly black heels and the jewellery from Niki and Ally.

Just as I had finished collecting my phone, blade and room card Papa knocked on my door. I open it excitedly to see him in a black dress shirt with slacks, "You look handsome Papa" I say as I close the door behind me, "Pppft, I'm nothing special but you? You will steal the spotlight today", I roll my eyes and smile at him before looping my arm around his like last night.

We head down to the entrance of the building and into a waiting car. Papa explains that we are going to the main stadium where these events are held, I'm so excited to finally see and hopefully understand what Papa's job is. I know it's about fighting but that's about as far as I got.

We pull up out the front of a large stadium as we both exit the car, "You know it's my job to open your car door" Papa playfully scolds me, "I knowwwwww" I respond as he places a hand on my lower back.

We start walking on a long carpet outside of the building and that's when I notice hundreds of people with cameras, they keep yelling at the people on the carpet and taking pictures of them, I tense, I don't like this, not at all.

"come on полевой цветок (wildflower), you just smile and I'll do the rest ok?", I squeeze onto his arm harder but nod, today isn't about me, it's about Papa.

The closer we get the louder the people's voices are 'over here' 'over here' 'look this way' 'smile' 'pose', I try my best to ignore it as Papa guides me to where he wants to stand, as soon as I lift my head I smile like he told me too, instantly I'm blinded by the multiple flashes of light, this is torture, I swear I've gone blind for a second, it's pure fucking chaos.

'Over here mr Ivanov' 'Who are you with Dimitri?' 'Who are you wearing?' 'What do you expect out of today's events?' I keep smiling even though my heart feels like it's about to stop beating altogether, eventually, Papa begins to guide me over to a more semi-quieter area, I notice there are people asking questions and larger cameras with them but they don't flash brightly like the ones before.

"Mr Ivanov, who is this lovely lady with you tonight?" The woman asks shoving a weird-looking thing in front of Papa's face "This is my beautiful daughter Willow", "Why haven't we seen Willow before?" She asks, I keep my face the same, smiling as he told me to even though I want to frown at her question. "I mean look at her" Papa begins looking down at me, "I would have to fight every man off of her, I wasn't willing to put my wildflower into the public spotlight unless I knew she could handle it".

Papa lies through his teeth and I'm grateful for it.

"Willow, are you excited to watch tonight's event?", I didn't expect her to speak to me, I looked up at Papa who nodded his head with a smile. I lean forward slightly to speak into the weird thing in her hand "I have never been so excited and so proud to personally witness the work my Papa and his company put into these events. I would go to every single one if he asked me too". Before she can speak again Papa excuses us and walks us into the building, the noise inside is a lot quieter than the war going on outside to which I'm thankful, "You did wonderful полевой цветок (wildflower)".

Before I can thank him a man I recognise from last night greets us and leads us to an elevator, once the doors open I can see it's a very luxurious suite. Papa nods towards the black leather couches that are placed on a ledge with a rail overlooking the whole place. I pre-occupied myself by watching people slowly begin to filter in, music plays in the background as the energy in the arena starts to build.

I'm interrupted by Papa who passes me a glass bottle with a logo I recognise on it, coca-cola. I thank him and sit down as he and Dana sit next to me and start chatting, my phone buzzes a few times and I mentally prepare myself for whatever they're fighting about now.

Dumbass #1: I SAW YOU ON TV! YOU LOOK PERFECT WILLOW

Dumbass #2: WILLOW I JUST SAW YOU ON TV YOU, YOU PERFECT HUMAN BEING

Dumbass #1: Suck shit I did it first

Dumbass #2: My compliemt is better!

Me: thank you Ally and thank you Niki, I appreciate you both

Dumbass #2: Don't act like I'm not your favourite

Dumbass #1: Pfft if you're her favourite then pigs can fly

Dumbass #2: Pigs do fly, don't you remember flying through the air when I bounced you off the bed this morning?

Dumbass #1: You son of a bitch.

I lock my phone as a man over the speakers begins to talk.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE UFC 3500. THE FIRST FIGHT BEGINS IN 20 MINUTES, DAVID FREEMAN VS BECK DOCKER".

Soon enough the other man Trent joins us on the couches sitting next to Dana, the atmosphere in the arena gets bigger and bigger, soon enough almost all of the seats are filled up and the man with the loud voice comes back.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME, DAVID FREEMANNNNNNNN" As he finishes his sentence music begins playing, the crowd erupts in yells and cheers as the fighter exits, I can barely see him from where I'm sitting so I watch on one of many screens plastered around the place, he walks into what I now know is an octagon and jumps around on his feet rolling his neck and shoulders around, as the music dies down the man on the speakers starts again "PLEASE WELCOME BECK DOCKERRRRRRR", the crowd seems to yell and cheer louder for this man, I watch as he does basically the same thing as the first man, they both look angry on the screen.

"Why is the crowd louder for him?" I ask turning my attention to Papa, "Look at the screen полевой цветок (wildflower)" I do as I'm told as numbers begin to pop up, "docker has more wins under his belt, he also has an advantage on Freeman due to his training. The crowds yelling because they're fans of him or have a lot of money riding on him".

I nod my head taking the information in, "Who do you think will win today?" Dana asks me kind of taking me off guard, "I think Freeman will win", This seems to make Dana chuckle "Why's that?" he asks, amusement in his voice "Underdogs fight harder" I respond. 

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