New Girl

Chapter 41

Flashback: Omnipresent POV:

At first, Isaiah couldn't understand why his mom put him in boxing. He couldn't understand if she wanted him to stop fighting why put him in a fighting sport. It's only been a few months but he definitely prefers sparring over fighting on the street. Today's his first fight. Before he walks out the locker room he kisses his uncle's necklace and stretches. When Isaiah walks out the room he spots his mom, Kimani and Myasia. His mom has a worried look on her face but Isaiah knows that's because she's never seen him fight before.

The crowd is electric, friends and family gathered around the ring, cheering for their fighters. Isaiah stands in one corner, adrenaline pumping through his veins, ready to prove himself in the upcoming match. Across the ring, Jamir stretches, a cocky grin on his face, his confidence radiating. They've been sparring together for months but today's different. It's the first official match of the year,

"Tonight's gonna be fun, Zae!" Jamir shouts, his voice cutting through the noise. The bell rings, and they both step forward, fists raised, the crowd roaring with excitement. They tap gloves and the fight begins.

Isaiah keeps his focus, moving in and out, throwing jabs to gauge Jamir's defense. The fight is intense, each punch landing harder than the last. Isaiah feels the thrill of competition, the urge to win igniting his every move.

"Keep your guard up Zae!" Jamir says shouting at him through the roars "You're getting too easy to read."

Isaiah nods, determined to impress. He steps forward, delivering a series of jabs that Jamir dodges with ease except for the last combo. Those connect and, in a split-second moment, Jamir shifts. He lands a blow to Isaiah's ribs that sends him stumbling back. It's not the first time they've sparred, but this time, something feels off. Isaiah knows Jamir has an edge today, but he can't put his finger on why.

Jamir dropped his guard, panting exaggeratedly, his shoulders slumping as if he were barely holding on. Isaiah's instincts told him to press forward, but something felt wrong. Jamir was too good to tire this easily. Yet, before he could overthink it, Isaiah threw a quick jab, aiming to test the waters. Just as he did, Jamir sprang to life, landing a hook that sent Isaiah reeling. The crowd cheered, seeing only the skillful hit, oblivious to the trap Jamir had set.

Isaiah staggered back, feeling the burn in his chest from the rib shot, his mind racing. He hadn't imagined it. Jamir was playing him, taking advantage of every second in ways that were almost imperceptible to the crowd.

The bell rang, ending the round, and Isaiah stumbled back to his corner, trying to catch his breath. His coach asked if he was alright, concern flashing across his face, but Isaiah just nodded, forcing a shaky smile. He knew Jamir was cheating, but the evidence was hidden in the smallest of moves, nothing he could call out without sounding paranoid.

After the match, Isaiah slumped onto the bench in the locker room, wiping the blood from his lip, replaying each moment in his head. He didn't have to wait long before he heard the sound of footsteps echoing down the hall. Jamir strutted in, a smug grin plastered across his face.

"Yo, Zae," Jamir called, his voice laced with fake sympathy. "You good? Looked like you were struggling out there."

Isaiah clenched his jaw "You cheated and you know it!"

"Can you prove it?" Jamir jeers "I told to keep your guard up you were getting to easy to read." He laughs again before exiting the locker room. Isaiah punches a locker out of frustration.
That was only the first time Jamir had played him.

Fast forward to freshman year, the Halloween party buzzes with energy, the air thick with laughter and the scent of cheap liquor and weed. Isaiah came to the party with his new friends that he met in his class. Manny is somewhere flirting with random girls and Matt is catching dances from whoever is throwing it. The DJ plays a mix of Hip-Hop, Dancehall and R&B, and the flickering lights cast wild colorful shadows on the walls. The bass thumps hard enough to rattle the walls of the basement apartment they're in.