The Fight

Join me t' dinner tonight?

Important.

That's how I feel when I step out from behind the curtains and hear my name being chanted over and over. I see the camera's flashing in my peripheral vision. The adrenalin pumping through my veins is a feeling that I like to call my favorite.

Everything about walking up to the ring is exciting. My body is filled with excitement all the way down to the marrow. Everything just feels so... right.

I walk out, throwing punches to nobody and letting out heavy breaths. I throw my hands up in the air and let out a holler - getting screams in return. I smile and look at the camera man directly in front of me sending kissy lips to the circular lense in front of me and hear even more cheers.

This is my ring. This is my time. This is my life.

When I reach the ring, Mark's there with my team. My mum's already sitting down in her seat - front row, anxiously twiddling her thumbs like she always does.

Besides Mark, she's my number one supporter. Although she had no idea I was fighting for the first three years... she finally agreed to let me continue training after I had gotten up to number 50 in the country and after Mark said he'd take me under his wing as his client. To say I was ecstatic is an understatement.

The bell rings twice and I snap into reality again. Mark comes over and massages my shoulders.

"Alright, Kiddo. This is it. Who are you?!" Mark screams at me.

"Jessalyn Roberts!" I scream at him.

"And what are you going to do?!" He fires back.

"Win." I say fiercely. I throw off my silk rob that has my initials in a monogram on the back. I clap my gloves together three times; a habit I always do before getting into the ring.

The wired door opens for me and I step in. My bare feet hit the cool feeling of the mat with the logo of the ring on it. Nathalie steps in seconds after and storms straight towards me.

"Hello, Jess," Nathalie says, a smirk on her face.

"Sorry, but do I know you? You know, It's funny, I used to know a girl named Nathalie Roger's when I was younger. You sort of remind me of her, but only she was really nice and pretty. You honestly look like the complete opposite," I take a step towards her. "Cold hearted and pretty God damn ugly."

Nathalie let's out a forced laugh and takes a step closer to me.

"Wow, I know how you feel. I once knew a girl named Jessalyn Robert's, a great girl with a really rough past. Sadly, she had a shit father who constantly reminded her of the pathetic, weak and disappointing person she truly is," Nathalie shrugs. "I guess it's not so sad, at least he didn't lie to her. From the looks of it, she's still the same pathetic, weak, and disappointing person she was five years ago."

I narrow my eyes at her and I feel my fists clench. Breathe, Jessalyn. Don't let her get to you.

Nathalie know's she's gotten the reaction she wanted and starts to laugh.

"I was right," she steps closer to me. Our faces only inches apart. "You're still the same pathetic, weak, and disappointing girl I remember beating in the ring all those years ago. You haven't changed a bit, Jessalyn."

"Let's just get this over with," I snap. "I don't think I can stand your bullshit much longer."

"Stand your bullshit much longer," Nathalie mimics and turns her back to me.

The ref tells Nathalie to "Get her ass" back to the middle and begins to tell us how the night's going to play out.

"Alright, Girls. One round fight here for charity. Whoever wins gets to keep the title they have, but will excel to the next round which will be the World Bantam Weight Championship in California later this year. Let's have a nice clean fight. Remember, no biting, eye gouging, head butting.."