Fighting For Her- Imane Khelif

Unspoken Conflicts

Imane stormed back to the gym, her body tense with frustration. She didn't know why Gianna being at the apartment bothered her so much, but it did. Even though they were part of the same group of friends, she and Gianna had never been particularly close. Gianna always had a competitive edge, and their interactions felt charged, especially now that Gianna had shown interest in Ellie.

Training had always been Imane's outlet for channeling her emotions, and today was no different. Every punch against the heavy bag was fueled by a whirlwind of thoughts: Gianna's flirtatious behavior, her own confusing feelings for Ellie, and the internal conflict about her faith. She had always been careful to adhere to her beliefs, but the feelings she had for Ellie were harder to ignore with each passing day.

Sarah, one of the boxers, noticed Imane's intensity and walked over after their set. "You good, Imane? You've been training like you're fighting demons today."

Imane forced a smile. "Just trying to stay focused, you know?"

Sarah gave her a knowing look but didn't push further. After their training ended, the group cooled down, and Valentina suggested grabbing some snacks and drinks before heading back to the apartments. Imane agreed, though her mind was still on Ellie and Gianna.

At the café, Sarah, Valentina, Jessica, and Imane were chatting casually when the conversation took a turn toward Gianna and Ellie.

"I hope Gianna didn't try her usual moves on Ellie," Valentina remarked, stirring her drink with a smirk.

Imane's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Valentina exchanged a glance with Sarah. "Gianna's known for being a bit of a player, didn't you know? She doesn't do long-term relationships. Back in Italy, she's left a trail of exes behind."

Imane's stomach tightened. The thought of Gianna treating Ellie like just another fling infuriated her. "Ellie doesn't know that."

"Well, she might find out soon," Jessica chimed in. "Gianna has a way of charming people, but she doesn't stick around."

Imane bit her lip, torn between wanting to warn Ellie and fearing that it would come off as jealousy. She didn't want to overstep or cause unnecessary drama, but Ellie deserved to know who she was dealing with. Still, it wasn't her place to interfere, was it?

After finishing their snacks, the group headed back to the apartment building. Imane's heart raced as she opened the door, half-expecting to see Gianna there with Ellie. But to her relief, the apartment was quiet. Ellie was lying on her bed, reading a book, looking relaxed.

"Hey," Ellie greeted, looking up with a warm smile. "Gianna got a phone call, so she had to leave."

Imane nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and guilt. She had spent the entire training session and snack break stewing in her thoughts, but now, with Ellie sitting there peacefully, the anger seemed to fade. The tension she had been feeling wasn't gone, though—it was just quieter, more confusing.

Imane sat down on her bed, glancing at Ellie. She wondered if she should say something about Gianna, but she held back. Would Ellie think she was being petty or jealous? Maybe it was better to leave it alone for now.

"How's your leg?" Imane asked, trying to shift the conversation.

"It's better," Ellie said, flexing it slightly. "Thanks again for taking care of me."

Imane smiled softly. "Of course. I'm just glad you're okay."

They fell into a comfortable silence, but Imane couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened. Ellie was becoming more than just a roommate to her—there was something deeper growing between them. And even though she tried to push those feelings away, they kept creeping back in.

As she lay in bed that night, Imane's mind raced with all the unspoken emotions she was struggling with. Ellie had started to mean more to her, and Gianna's interference only made things more complicated. Imane was wrestling with more than just her emotions—her faith, her past, and her future all seemed tangled up in this new connection.

But for now, Imane decided to keep her thoughts to herself. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, and she wasn't ready to confront everything just yet.