Her GxG

Fight Club

The days blurred together into a haze of classes, coffee runs, and moments of reflection that only deepened my frustration. Every time I saw Alex in passing, my heart raced, but I could never muster the courage to approach her. The gap between us felt like an ocean, and each day that passed without her voice left me feeling more isolated.

It was Friday, and the campus was buzzing with anticipation for the weekend. I decided to skip the usual hangout spots, hoping to avoid any run-ins with Alex or the questions that would inevitably come from friends. Instead, I found myself wandering into a quieter corner of the campus, a small park nestled between the library and the art building. It was a place where I had often come to clear my mind, surrounded by the rustling leaves and the distant sound of laughter.

I sat on a bench, the cool breeze brushing against my face as I pulled out my phone. Still no messages from Alex. My heart sank again, a familiar ache settling in my chest. It's been a month now and still nothing. I knew I needed to reach out, to try to bridge the distance that had grown between us. But what would I say? The fear of pushing her further away held me back.

As I scrolled mindlessly through social media, I caught a glimpse of a post that made my heart skip a beat. It was a picture of Alex, laughing with a group of friends at a party the night before. She looked radiant, her smile bright and infectious, but it also felt like a punch to the gut. The realization that she was moving on without me hit hard. The fear of losing her entirely settled like a stone in my stomach.

After staring at the image for a while, I knew I couldn't just sit here feeling sorry for myself. I texted Clara. 

Me: we should go out tonight

Clara: Ouuuuu now we're talking. 

Me: yeah yeah anything going on tonight? 

Clara: well everyone has been talking about this fight club going on tonight. 

Me: violence? No thank you

Clara: It's not like that! It's more of a secret underground thing. They've got boxing and grappling, but it's not just about fighting. It's supposed to be pretty fun!

Me: Fun? I don't know, Clara. Sounds a bit too intense for me.

Clara: Come on! It could be a good distraction. Plus, I heard there are snacks and drinks.

Me: Snacks and drinks? Now you're talking.

Clara: Exactly! Plus, you'll get to hang out with some new people. Who knows? You might even meet someone interesting.

Me: Fine. I'll go. Just no one expects me to throw any punches, okay?

Clara: yeah yeah, on my way back to the dorm. Get someone hot and sexy ready for me. 

As the clock ticked closer to eight, I found myself pacing my room, fighting the urge to cancel. What if I ran into Alex? Or worse, what if she was there with someone else? But I couldn't let fear control me. I threw on a casual shirt and jeans, trying to look effortlessly cool while battling my rising anxiety. 

I had my hair in a bun and just my eyeliner was done. Good eyebrow was a good gene I was blessed with. 

Clara came into our room with just her towel on. "Are you ready?" She screamed. 

I laughed at her excitement. "I don't have a choice do I?" 

"True" 

She started getting dressed, did her makeup and finally she was done. "Let's go my darling, let's go" 

"Sure," I said, forcing a smile as I grabbed my jacket. "Let's do this."

The drive was filled with Clara's animated chatter about the fight club and the people we might meet. As we approached the location, a nondescript building tucked away in an alley, my nerves began to kick in again.

"Are you ready for this?" Clara asked as we parked.

"Not really," I admitted. "But I guess that's the point of stepping outside my comfort zone, right?"

"Exactly! Let's go have some fun!" she said, already hopping out of the cab.

Inside, the atmosphere was electric, a mixture of excitement and anticipation. The sound of cheers and shouts echoed through the space as we entered. Dim lights cast a warm glow, and a makeshift ring stood in the center of the room, surrounded by onlookers.

I looked around, feeling out of place yet intrigued. People were laughing, and chatting, and the scent of popcorn wafted through the air. Clara pulled me toward a group of her friends, introducing me as if I were a long-lost celebrity.

"Everyone, this is Jordan! She's going to be our new favorite fighter!" Clara exclaimed, a playful grin on her face.

I chuckled nervously, shaking hands with the group. They were welcoming, their energy infectious. As the night progressed, I found myself loosening up, laughing at the ridiculous antics happening around me.

The first fight began, a pair of guys squaring off in the ring. They weren't actually trying to hurt each other; it felt more like a friendly competition. As the crowd cheered, I could feel the adrenaline in the air.

"See? This isn't so bad!" Clara shouted over the noise, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Yeah, it's actually kind of fun!" I admitted, the energy buzzing around us.

After a few more matches, Clara tugged at my arm. "Come on! We have to at least give it a shot. Let's get in the ring!"

"Wait, what? I can't fight!" I exclaimed, panic rising in my chest.

"It's all in good fun! Just a friendly match, I promise," she insisted, her enthusiasm contagious.

Before I could protest, Clara had already dragged me toward the ring. "You'll thank me later!" she laughed.

As I stepped into the ring, the cheers from the crowd echoed in my ears. I faced off against a friendly opponent, who looked just as nervous as I was. The announcer declared the start of the match, and for a moment, time stood still.

I didn't know what to expect, but as the first punch was thrown—completely missing me—I realized I could either freeze up or join in the chaos. With a laugh, I threw a half-hearted jab, and to my surprise, the crowd cheered.

It was exhilarating! I started to loosen up, trading playful punches with my opponent. We weren't trying to win; it felt more like a dance, each movement followed by laughter and cheers.

As the round ended, I stumbled out of the ring, breathless and grinning. "That was insane!" I gasped, leaning against the ropes.

"I told you it would be fun!" Clara said, her smile wide. "You looked great in there!"

I couldn't help but laugh, the tension of the past week melting away. As the night wore on, I began to relax, enjoying the thrill of being in the moment.

Just when I thought the night couldn't get any better, I spotted a familiar face in the crowd. My heart dropped. Alex stood there, chatting with a group of friends, laughter spilling from her lips.

She had boxing shorts on and just wearing a sports bra. I turned to look at Clara who was talking to the group of her friends. "Is Alex fighting?" she looked confused but a friend from her group responded.

"Yeah, she's one of the top fighters in the club," He said

"I thought you said this would be harmless," I said holding Clara's wrist.

"Well for us yeah but for the actual fighters no," said a girl from the group. 

"Why didn't anyone mention that?" I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest. Seeing Alex, especially like this, with that fierce energy radiating from her, sent a wave of nostalgia and anxiety crashing over me. Memories of our time together flooded my mind, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing. 

Is that why that night she had a lot of bruises on her?