# Love at First Fight
Ria wandered into the dojo with Lexi trailing behind. It was Ria's second week at Trinity College and she was still getting to know her way around. Ria was here on a foreign exchange program, here for a year and then back home.
Ria had met Lexi on her first day here; it was funny how she'd got another German girl as her roommate. Alexandra, usually known as Lexi, or sometimes even Ali or Alex, was a funny laidback young woman from Cologne who had blond hair and played the violin in a band at home. Ria and Lexi had immediately 'hit it off' with each other and had been inseparable ever since. So, when Ria decided to join the newly set-up college judo club it had been no surprise when Lexi went with her.
The dojo the girls had just stepped into was really no more than a small old hall with mats (similar to those used in gymnastics), lining the floor from one side of the room to the other. Unpleasantly strong, the smell of sweat mixed with slowly decaying wood lingered in the air - proving to the girls that this was indeed an older room.
There was only one other person in the room, a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties. Sandy coloured hair fell into a cute, boyish face and he grinned when he saw the girls coming.
"Hi girls, I'm Luke. Who would you be?" he asked, his voice was gravelly and didn't suit his boyish face.
"Maria," Ria told him, holding her hand out to shake, "But you can call me Ria. This is my friend and roommate Alexandra, or Lexi." Ria's German accent was prominent as she introduced herself and her friend.
When Lexi went to greet Luke, she was interrupted by a door at the back of the hall swinging open. A handsome stranger strode into the room. He had short dark hair and vibrant blue eyes and was already dressed in a crisp white judo suit. A black belt tied around his slim waist kept his jacket in place and showed his status as a high ranking 'judoka' or judo player. Ria had to look away for fear of losing herself in his sharp stare.
"Darragh," Luke called with a grin, "Are you ready for some action?" Luke raised his eyebrows suggestively.
"Always," answered Darragh, the corner of his mouth pulled up in a confident smirk.
"Ladies, this is the boss guy around here, Darragh. Darragh, meet the girls, Lexi and Ria. Ladies, this guy may be young but I suggest you watch your backs around him," in a stage-whisper, Luke told the girls, "He's actually tougher than his looks might suggest," and then he winked dramatically.
Stepping forward to shake hands with the girls, Darragh gripped Ria's hand a tiny bit longer than could be deemed appropriate. Darragh's eyes met Ria's and she couldn't help gazing into the deep blue pools she found there. She noted how his handshake seemed just as confident as his smirk...until training began.
Darragh was a hard taskmaster. After being led through a rigourous, fast-paced warm-up, Ria was panting for breath and sweating hard. She tried to slow her wild heartbeat only to have it speed back up for entirely different reasons; it was time to pair up. It shouldn't have been a problem but, Ria had to fight Darragh.
Stepping closer, Ria took her grips - collar and sleeve. Darragh pulled her closer, causing her breath to hitch; unnerved by his intimacy. Ria soon found out just how Darragh had gained his black belt. He was good; really good in fact. But, just as quickly, Darragh was forced to learn that, what his little opponent lacked in skill she made up for in stamina and sheer determination. Ria threw herself into the fight.
Circling around her, like a predator, Darragh looked for an opening. Quick as lightning, he found one and attacked. Throwing one arm around Ria's waist, he grasped her belt, bent his legs and only straightened them at the last second leaving Ria to fall over his back and tumble to the floor.
Not one to stay on the ground Ria sprang back onto her feet before Darragh had the chance to get her in a hold-down. Ria wasn't happy that she'd been so easy to take down, so, she employed a tactic that she'd kept secret before. Ria had tried judo before, only for a short while but she had perfected one technique.
Pulling Darragh forward as if she was going to throw him over her back, she surprised him by doing the exact opposite. Hooking a leg around Darragh's body she allowed herself to fall forward causing Darragh to topple backwards with her sprawled on top. While Darragh was lying on the floor she grabbed him in a hold-down, pinning him down.
Ria found herself captured by Darragh's midnight blue eyes, she was that close that she could feel his breath on her face. She felt herself lean closer...only to have her trance broken by the sound of loud cheering.
"You go girl!" Luke yelled, "Show him what you're made of!"
Ria got to her feet as gracefully as she could, face flushed; not daring to look back at the man she'd left lying on the ground. She glanced at Lexi to find her looking at her questioningly. She hadn't missed their moment. Ria just shook her head.
Training continued.
After class the girls agreed to meet the guys at one of the local pubs, The Buttery Bar, for drinks. On arrival, Ria could feel Darragh watching her but she avoided his gaze. Seeing this, Lexi promptly dragged her friend outside 'to get some fresh air'. Ria followed her out and tried to mentally prepare herself for Lexi's questions.
"What are you doing!?" Lexi almost yelled once they'd made it out onto the street.
"What do you mean?" asked Ria, even though she already had a fair idea.
"There's a good looking young man in there who can't keep his eyes off you and you won't even look at him!" she was really shouting now.
"I'm afraid, alright!"
"No! Not alright! Afraid of what?"
"Afraid that I'll fall in love. I'm going home after a year, long distance relationships never work. And, if I did end up staying for him, what's to say he won't leave me after another month or two? I'd be giving up everything for him and what if he doesn't want it?"
"Ria, you've got time, a whole year! A lot can happen in a year, take it easy."
"But..."
"No buts! Ria, promise me you'll give him a chance."
"But..."
"Promise me!"
"Kay... I promise I'll give him a chance, just one though!"
"That's all anyone can ask. Are you coming back inside?"
"Lead the way."
Back inside, Ria made her way towards Darragh and sat down beside him. He was visibly surprised but got over his shock quick enough to engage Ria in conversation. Lexi watched from a distance with an approving smile.
Ria quickly explained to Darragh about her situation; she was an exchange student from Germany and would only be here for a year before returning home. She told him about her home in a small village outside the town of Göttingen in Germany and her family. Darragh told her about his own four brothers and all of his many hobbies. The two soon found that they had a lot in common.
When the song '99 Red Balloons' began to play Darragh held his hand out to Ria, "May I have this dance?"
"You may."
And, so, they began to dance, and as the song came to an end Darragh pulled Ria close to him, all the while staring into her eyes. Slowly, he bent towards her until, finally, their lips met.
Ria didn't know how the year was going to end but it was definitely going to be an interesting journey.
Together, Darragh and Ria danced all the way through the night.
