Runaway Lover // Andy Leo

Chapter Eighteen

I spend maybe half a day training with Ashley. We do a bit of everything from close combat to shooting - which I seem to have a nack for - until she eventually leaves for a shower. I sit by myself on one of the benches, breathing heavily from the sparring that Ashley and I had just finished. My hair sticks to my skin and I claw at it in an attempt to put it into a ponytail.

"Boo!" Megan slides onto the bench next to me. "Ew, you're sweating."

"No shit. I've been sparring with Ashley for the past half hour." I glare at her halfheartedly, my attention on Andy, Brandon and Hayden who are doing some sort of three-way fighting.  "How can they fight after what they just went through?" I ask as I watch Brandon throw a punch at Hayden, who blocks it with his arm.

"It keeps them sharp. You have no idea who you might end up fighting out there - and they aren't going to leave you alone just because you've got a few cuts and bruises." She pauses to watch the boys. "Come on." She stands up, her eyes still over on the matts. "You could do with some training too."

I follow her over toward the matts where Hayden now sits with Brandon sprawled on top of him. Andy stands next to them with his arms folded.

"What are you two doing?" I ask, raising my eyebrow at them.

"I'm j-just making sure Hayden knows that I'm b-better than him." He smiles and climbs off of Hayden's stomach, giving Megan a kiss on the forehead as he goes over to her.

"Are those hickeys?" Hayden peers at my neck from his seat on the floor.

"What?!" Megan breaks away from Brandon to examine my neck, and I turn the colour of a tomato. "They are! Wow, Leo." She turns to Andy, who is looking far too smug for his own good. "You really know how to mark a girl."

"Thanks, Hayden." I glare at him the best I can, knowing that I just look like an angry six-year-old instead. He smiles and gives me a two-finger salute before leaning back on his hands. "Are we actually going to do some training or just stare at my neck all day?" I turn my glare toward Megan, who stands with her head agaist Brandon's chest.

"Don't be grumpy just because you're shit at hiding things."

"Why not? I'm allowed to be grumpy." I cross my arms and pout. Andy comes over and pulls me into a hug as he laughs.

"Babe, nobody can take you seriously when you look that adorable." He kisses me on the top of my head before turning back toward Hayden. "Right bro?"

"Um, I think you're the only one who see's it as adorable mate. She just looks like an angry toddler to me." He grins, and I flip him the finger.

"Don't hate just because you're single and lonely."

"Hey, I ain't single." He looks past us and gestures someone over. Seconds later Benn appears, quickly shooting me daggers before Andy can see him. "Benn, you're my princess, right?"

"Duh." Benn tackles Hayden in an over the top and faked gesture of affection. We all start to laugh as they roll around for a few seconds before sitting up, bright red and with messed up hair.

I stop laughing long enough to ask, "Seriously though, are we just going to stand here and watch Benn and Hayden roll around?"

"Nope, but I vote for Benn to take on Andy and Hayden." Megan grins at the three men who stare blanky back at her.

"Why me? And why not Brandon?" Benn asks grumpily, his arm still around Haydens shoulder.

"Because, Benn, you're a pretty princess."I wince at the amount of sarcasm that drips from her voice. "And because Brandon's here." She squeezes his midsection affectionately.

Benn groans, stands up and shakes himself off. I give Andy a kiss on the cheek before running over to the far corner of the matt where Brandon and Megan have also retreated to. The boys square each other off for a few seconds before Andy makes the first move, lunging toward Benns feet. He steps back as Hayden throws a punch at his chest. Benn catches his fist with his right arm and shoves Hayden away with his left before turning to Andy, who swings a leg out in an attempt to get Benn on the ground. It catches one of his legs, making him lose his balance and allowing Hayden to shove him over, landing on his ass.

"I told you! You are a princess." Megan shouts over to them, earning herself the middle finger, courtesy of Benn.

"Why don't you try it then?" He pulls himself up and straightens his t-shirt before walking over.

"She is not fighting Andy and Hayden like that." Brandon cuts in before Megan can say what her mouth had opened for, gesturing to Megan's still incredibly damaged body.

"Fine then." Benn crosses his arms, a hint of a smile playing on his face. "I'm sure Sam wouldn't mind taking her on."

Everyone turns to me expectantly.

"I wouldn't mind." Megan smirks at me, and I can't help but nod in agreement under everyones stares. "Great. Let's go."

Suddenly filled with energy, she bounces out onto the matts that Hayden and Andy have now vacated and takes up a defensive stance. I mimic her, unsure of what else to do. She takes a step to her right, and I impulsively move the other way. I feel nervous under her steady gaze and calm stature, knowing that she is, in most ways, my better. Knowing that I might not be able to move from shaking if I stand around any longer I step forward and dart one of my fists at her face. She smirks and easily deflects it, unaware of my right leg until it is too late and it connects with her thigh. She staggers backward, looking a mixture between impressed and annoyed. I go at her while her guard is down and push her over with my right arm. She falls, catches herself at the last minute and kicks her leg out, taking my feet from under me. I steady myself on my arm and stand up again, meeting her.

"Don't actually  punch her." Benn walks toward us with his arms outstretched. "I'll admit, I didn't think you were all that good at combat, Sam. Apparently Andy's tought you a few things." He wiggles his eyebrows.

"I'll punch you  if you don't shut up." I give him a warning glance, and he raises his arms in defence.