Warrior

Chapter 22: Tommy?

Fourteen years it's been, fourteen years since I've seen Tommy's face, yet there he was right across the rooms. God, he looked so much older, he was all grown up and he even had proper facial hair now, not that patchy shit he would try to grow when we were kids. I froze, I saw my father a little farther off from him but right now everyone was just a blur except Tommy.  His eyes met mine and he froze too, but there was no emotion on his face, pop looked shocked at seeing me. I began to walk towards Tommy slowly, wanting so bad to just talk to him, to know him again.

"Hey. Where'd you go? You can't leave me like that. They wanna walk to you, not me" Frank interrupted me, I looked at him for a second but then back at Tommy who held a furious fixation and headed out towards the exit as Pop called after him. I stood there for a bit, then I turned to look at Jade who was smiling and talking to some of the other fighters with Naomi, she hadn't noticed Tommy, thank god she would be so angry.

After the conference, Frank and I headed back to the hotel, Tommy didn't show up, I didn't expect him too either. Frank had already shown the girls their room and we decided to check on them, Frank brought some food along, healthy stuff only of course, that was Frank. I knocked on the door and Naomi opened it, black tank top and baggy, army green cargo pants. She really didn't care too much to look girly unless the event was important, she smiled at me and Frank before opening the door for us and letting us walk in. Jade laid back on the bed, dark grey hoodie and black sweatpants, laughing at some dumb movie on the tv. She turned to see me and Frank and smiled.

"Brendan! God I'm so glad Frank got you in here, i love it here!" She got up and hugged me, and Naomi was hugging Frank, who she hadn't seen for years.

"I'm glad you came up, I wish Tess did..." I frowned a little, I knew she didn't want to see me fight, I understood but I needed to see her face.

"LOOK AT YOU" Frank interrupted the sad thoughts. His hands were on his hips. "THE BOTH OF YOU JESUS, ALL GROWN UP HUH?!" He smiled. "Beautiful" the girls smiled a little, Frank was always the type to make you feel good if he liked you. "So when are you guys coming to train with Frank?" Jade laughed.

"Soon" she smiled, the both of them were in a relatively good mood today.

"Who you been training with? That Colt Boyd, pah" he had a look of disgust, "ol' Frank will train you up good" he said proudly.

"Actually, Naoimi's been training me the best she can, but I'll definitely train with you" Frank looked at Naomi with his eyes wide.

"Nothin' major, some basic army drills, she'll be better off with you" Naomi laughed "she just don't like people she don't know" Jade nodded, sitting on the bed as her and I dug into the food.

"Ah, little war hero, mm?" Frank laughed, punching her in the arm. She smiled slightly, but Jade and I knew she didn't think she was a hero. Her and Frank sat down with us and we watched the remained of some comedy movie Jade liked. Jade was laughing a lot and it was good to hear her, I guess she felt good in a hotel, a new environment, good friends, good food.

"Alrighty girls, Brendan's gotta get some sleep, big day tomorrow." I groaned, laughing and then I kissed Jades head then Naomi's before saying goodnight and heading out of the door. "God they've grown up" Frank chuckled, walking down the hall with me. "So beautiful" I laughed.

"Yeah, they've seen a lot too, not just pretty faces" Frank laughed, then gave me a brotherly hug.

"Sleep well, brother. Rest up." I nodded and Frank headed to the room across mine. I took a deep breath and walked into my room. I so badly wanted Tess with me, she would make me feel ok. I was full of anxiety, I was one underdog against all these front runners, yeah I was in UFC for a bit, but these guys... They were animals. I laid back on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

"You can do this, Brendan." I spoke to myself, sighing again. But I didn't know if I believed myself. I thought about Tommy, my mind had been wandering to him all day, I just wanted to talk, just wanted to see him... Why the fuck didn't he keep contact with me and Jade when they left... I was so angry at him but I forgave him and ma. Why couldn't he forgive me?