The Devil You Know

Chapter 38: Training

Jade and I waited outside, dressed and ready for some training, bags at our hips. Joel walked out of the house, sliding on his jean jacket full of patches and buttons, his Mohawk spiked up and he smiled at us, kissing both of us on the cheek and walking to his car, driving off. Jade looked like she was doing better, but I know she was still hurting, hell, I was still hurting, Tommy and I could've been so much... I thought about that kiss again, but got angry and shook it out of my head.

Grandma popped her head out the door looking at Jade and I. "You goin to the gym?" She asked, her voice a little weak. I looked at her, something was different, maybe I was just stressed.

"Yeah" I smiled softly, kissing her on the cheek when Brendan's car pulled up. Jade kissed her on the cheek too and we walked to the car. Brendan was in his training shorts and t-shirt. He smiled at us and we got in the car.

Brendan was listening to classical music, causing me and Jade to laugh. Brendan mocked our laughs and rolled his eyes, driving off towards Frank's gym. He seemed to be doing ok, him and Tess were considering moving in together, I thought it was good for them. "You doin alright Jade?" Brendan looked at her from the rear view mirror and she nodded, he knew by now that she had a little problem with drugs, he didn't know how serious it was, and I'm sure he thought it was only weed.

We pulled up to the gym, Brendan parked and we grabbed our stuff, walking into the gym. Frank greeted us, holding his arms out wide. "How you doing brother?" He hugged Brendan and looked over at me and Jade "ahh and you brought the girls" he smiled, kissing both of us on both of our cheeks. Brendan and Frank walked off, while Jade and I took our gloves out of our bags and began training with each other. It was her first with the focus pads, I would hold them up for her, blocking as she threw punches. After that she held the knee pads, helping me with my high and low kicks, then we were off to the treadmills for a bit, looking over at Brendan who was sparring with someone else while Frank shouted at him.

"AY, WATCH YOUR BACK BRENDAN BREEAATTHHHHHEE" Jade and I laughed and got off the treadmill, and headed to some heavy bags. We stood next to each other both having our own heavy bag.

"How's Joe?" I asked, throwing hooks and upper cuts and knees. She did the same, not stopping to look at me.

"He's alright" she spoke very monotone when it came to him, and I wondered if she even really cared about him, or maybe it was just the drugs taking the emotion from her a little.

"What about you, how was-"

"He sucks" I cut her off, not wanting to think about that horrible date I went on. Truthfully, he wasn't that bad...he just wasn't Tommy. Jade laughed a little and I was glad I got her to smile. We continued with the heavy bags for a while longer.

After a few more hours of training, we said a lovely goodbye to Frank, who told us to come again soon.  We smiled at him before we made our way out and into Brendan's car again. He drove us back to my house, telling us we did good and that we should keep at it. He pulled up in the driveway we got out. We stood at the drivers side window, looking down at Brendan.

"You guys need anything, you call me, alright?" We smiled and nodded, he looked in both our eyes for a minute and then nodded. "Love you guys" he winked playfully and backed up, driving away.

Jade slung her arm around me and we tiredly made our way into the house. Joel wasn't home yet and I didn't know where grandma was. "grandmaaaaa" I called. No answer. I sighed, stretching my arms out a little as me and Jade dropped our bags. The back door slid open and in walked grandma, a lot slower than usual, she saw us and made her way to me, placing her gentle hand on my face, she looked frail and fragile, she was different, her hand was shaking against my face. I placed my hand over hers, looking into her eyes, they were tired no longer bright and full of Life, I was getting worried, wondering if she was doing ok, her hands were warm.

"You have fun?" Her voice was weak and quiet, Jade and I nodded and grandma gave us a small smile.

"You feeling ok, grandma?" Jade asked, I guess she noticed it too. We exchanged glances and then looked back at grandma. She closed her eyes slightly but then smiled again.

"Just doing some gardening" she mumbled "let me know if you girls need anything" we smiled at her and nodded and she walked back into the backyard fixing her sun hat on her head.

"She's fine..." Jade reassured me, already knowing what was running through my mind, but i wasn't sure if I could believe her. She turned me to face her and looked in my eyes. "Naomi she's okay..." I wasn't sure if Jade even believed it.

"I hope so..." I mumbled, if anything happened to grandma I would fall apart, it was bad enough Mom and Dad were gone, I knew she had to go eventually, but not this soon, not yet... I knew I would have to tell Joel, but maybe he noticed it already. I sighed, and Me and Jade made our way to the cool basement, where we usually spent our time together, hopefully I could get my mind off it.