Life in the Ring. (Editing)

Secrets

Chapter 15

The bell rung, jolting me awake, seeing as how I had slipped into my own personal coma. Gym class was the last class of the day and it was cardio day. Lance and I finished our 2 mile run before everyone else and I fell asleep on the bleachers, with my head resting on his lap. 

From what I remember, classes were rather boring. Lance was with me throughout the day.  It was nice having him around, having someone I could rely on. Someone that I can trust. 

I shoved my stuff into my locker in a hurry to get out of the school before chaos struck and hormone filled teens run rampant. 

"Lets go work out. You have people to meet as well." I grabbed Lance by the forearm and dragged him out of the school and made our way through the labyrinth of cars. He and I had gone out for lunch and parked our cars on the edge of the parking lot for a quick get away.  Making my way to the gym, I see Lance tailing me. The streets were rather busy, I took a left then an immediate right into the gym's lot. We got to the gym by 3:30. Lance and I made our way to the door. I looked him in the eyes and asked, " You ready?"

"Ready as I will ever be." He replied. 

I could tell he was nervous, who wouldn't be. He his about to meet a bunch of guys who see me as their little sister. They are rather protective, even though I can fight my own battles. 

I opened the door, putting my self in front of him. I yelled out, "Boys, I want you to meet someone. And if you try to hurt him I will personally castrate you."

The guys slowly and apprehensively gathered around. 

"Alrighty boys, I want you to meet my best friend from my old gym. Guys this is Lance. Lance this is Derrick, TJ, Kyle, Andrew, Mark, Kenny, Daniel, Chance and last but not least my new coach, the fabulous, Mike." I turn around at the sound of the front door opening, I see Ryder walk in. 

"Oh and you met him earlier. Mr. Grumpy Gills over there is Ryder." Ryder grunted at the sound of his name being mentioned. Lance did that I-got-you-you-got-me head nod thing to the guys. I don't understand them. I just shook my head and headed to the locker rooms. 

I came out of the locker rooms to see the boys all buddy-buddy with Lance and chatting it up. At least they are not tearing off each others heads. Only if I could get Ryder and Lance to get along. 

I sat down on the mats and started stretching. I was sick of listening to the guys talk about sports, hot girls, sex, video games, hot girls and more sex. Grabbing my phone out of my bag along with headphones, I turned on some music. I decided on Vilify by Device and continued stretching, as well as singing the lyrics in my head.

The song ended as I finished stretching, deciding I wanted to run another mile or two, I got up on the treadmill and began with a jogging pace. Once warmed up I kicked it up to high speed. 

I had so many things going through my head: Ryder, my father, my mother, Kaleb, Killer and my old gym, Lance and finally Championships. 

Honestly I am sick of running from my father, I know what he does for a living and he is more than capable of tracking me down. I know that, because that is what he has been doing since I left. I want to be able to settle down, with Kaleb. I don't want him to have to leave his friends and his school every time our father gets too close. 

There are times that I miss him, but then I remember what he put me through. I wish he loved me. Actually, I don't care if he loves me. I wish he loved Kaleb, like a father should. Kaleb has never had a father figure to look up to. He needs that in his life, he deserves it. I may not have had someone to look out for me, but there is no way in hell I'm letting Kaleb go through what I went through. 

When I was talking to Ryder in the locker rooms, I felt like I should have told him about my father. It is dangerous not to, what if my dad tries to hurt him? The thought of my father hurting Ryder hurt me. 

Wait!! 

What?!?

Tori, you need to stop thinking like this. You don't like him. 

I don't like him, he is Ryder. I can't like him. He doesn't like me. The locker room, that was just an in the moment thing. It will never happen again. Right? Yes, it will never happen ag... 

I was about to finish my argument with myself when I felt my ear buds being ripped from my ears. 

"Dude, what the hell?" I turned off the treadmill and turned around. I was face to face with Ryder.

"Chill out. I just came to tell you that everyone has left. Mike had to go pick up his daughter from the airport and your little boyfriend had to go home... he said it was something about his uncle and he was sorry. Mike left us to lock up."

"Really what time is it?"

"8."

"Shit, I have been running for 2 hours?"

"Yep."

"Okay. Well I havn't finished my work out. So I'm gonna hit the bags for awhile. I have major training to do. Go home, I will lock up." 

"Okay, whatever. Wait... what do you have to train for."

I hadn't realized what I had said until he questioned it, I'm not sure what I should tell him. He doesn't know that I fight, well.. Street fight. The only people that know is Mike, TJ, and Derrick. 

I cleared my throat. I needed to tell him, he was going to find out eventually, right? I mean I have my suspicions about him being a fighter, I'm not certain though. I'm just going to tell him. 

"Hi, my name is Black Mamba. Nice to meet you." I say in a hushed tone.