Fight Club

07| No Rain

Luca sulked around the apartment for the rest of the day. At some point in the evening, he put on a pair of athletic shorts and wrapped his hands and practiced throwing punches. I stood in the corner of the room, watching him. I coughed, and he turned around.

"What's the time?" he asked. There was little emotion in his voice. I checked my phone. 

"Eight thirty. What time do you have to be there?" I asked. Luca ran a hand through his hair.

"Nine forty five" he answered. I pursed my lips and took a tiny step forwards, looking at Luca across the room. He had turned around, but was standing still. I walked towards him and wrapped my arms around his back.

"I'm not mad" he said. I laughed softly and turned him around so he was facing me.

"You look mad" I said, tracing my thumb along his cheekbone. He earned forward until his forehead touched mine.

"It's been three years and she wanted to yell at me for it now" he whispered. I leaned up and pressed a kiss on his chin. He smiled a little bit and kissed me back.

"Take your anger out on... what's his name?" I asked, still whispering. He smiled and rolled his eyes.

"Oliver Newton. You saw him before" Luca said, pulling away from me and moving to the kitchen. I found him eating an apple, hovering over the sink and shifting his weight nervously from foot to foot.

"Hey, hey. It'll be okay. Where's your fight at?" I asked, staying still by the kitchen counter. Luca turned around to look at me.

"Max's house, so not to far away" Luca told me. I nodded and leaned my weight onto the kitchen counter.

"So, is there any way I can come?" I asked, looking up at Luca. He took a deep breath and looked at me.

"Giselle, no. Max's own sister isn't allowed to be in the house when we're there. There is always the possibility that someone will call the police, and I really don't want you to get in any kind of trouble" Luca argued. I nodded.

"Just... call me if you need anything. I'll be here" I said, laughing a small bit. Luca tightened his wraps and slung his gym bag over his shoulder before kissing me and heading out of the door.

I spent the next hour picking at leftovers and half-watching Legally Blonde. My phone buzzed, and Mamrie's name filled the screen. I clicked 'accept'.

"Hello?" I asked, picking up the remote and pausing my movie.

"Hey, Giselle. It's Max. We need you to, uh, come to my house" Max said. He sounded unreasonably nervous. I slipped my shoes on and grabbed my bag.

"What for?" I asked as I slid out of my apartment and locked it behind me. Max sighed, sounding more nervous than exasperated.

"Luca told you about the rematch, right? It's gotten a bit out of hand. Brielle and Ingrid said you might be the one to calm him down-" I cut him off.

"Yeah, I'm on my way" I announced before hanging up and speeding off towards Max's house. 

I could hear music from the front lawn. I spotted Max running down the street towards his house. He saw me and waved at me, causing me to stop. He caught up to me.

"Look, Max. Luca will not be happy I'm here. I don't know if this'll work" I told him. I knew Luca would blow up. He tended to when I showed up at his fights. Not that it happened often, but it'd happened enough that I knew his reaction.

"Giselle, I don't think he's feeling anything but anger right now. If there is any way you can stop him-" I put my hand up.

"Yeah, yeah. Say no more. Let me into your house" I instructed. Max walked me into the house swiftly and lead me down to the basement. It smelled like smoke and the air was hazy. There was no organized circle, but a team of people holding someone back. Max pointed.