Living With Ian

Chapter 16

The next day, Sarah was woken up bright and early by Ian blowing a whistle at her.

“Rise and shine cupcake,” he shouted. Sarah groaned. “Your training begins today.” Sarah rolled her eyes and she looked up at him. He was already dressed out for the gym.

“Why do I have the feeling that I’m going to regret hiring you as my trainer?” she asked as she covered up a yawn. Ian smirked.

“Because you are,” he said. “As of right now, I am no longer your brother. I am your drill sergeant.” Sarah groaned even louder and buried herself back under her blankets.

“Seriously though,” said Ian. “You gotta get up. We’re going to the gym an hour early so that we can start before people show up.” Sarah nodded and sat up in bed. She looked at him.

“Lose the whistle,” she said. Ian smirked before he walked out to let her get ready.

When they got to the gym, Ian led Sarah into an empty workout room.

“Alright,” he said. “The first thing you have to do is start building up your muscles.”

“How do I do that?” Sarah asked him.

“A hundred pushups.” Sarah looked up at him.

“Seriously?”

 “Just do as many as you can. Make sure to touch the ground with your nose and keep your back flat.” Sarah nodded and got started. She barely made it to ten before she fell down.

 “Wow,” said Ian. “You really are weak.” Sarah looked up at him.

“That’s why I need your help.”

“Ok, well let me just teach you a couple of self-defense moves for right now. We can build up your muscles as we go along.” Sarah nodded. “Follow me.” Sarah followed him into another room and she saw a boxing ring set up in the middle.

“You box?” she asked as Ian wrapped her hands up in the gloves.

“No,” he said. “I know how to, but I don’t do it to win. I just do it as an exercise.” Sarah nodded. “But today, I am going to teach you a few things.” Sarah nodded and watched as Ian stepped into the ring. Sarah followed him.

“Ok,” said Ian. “I’m going to pretend to punch you. And then I’ll teach you how to avoid it.” Sarah gulped and nodded. “Don’t worry. It’s going to look like I’m going to hit you but I won’t.” Sarah nodded.

She watched as Ian brought his right hand up and then swung it down. Sarah flinched away and whimpered.

She didn’t see Ian’s face anymore. All she saw was Chris and her mother’s faces as they glared at her while punching her. She wasn’t in the gym anymore. She was in her mother’s bedroom curled up as hit after hit came down on her.

“Sarah,” Ian said. Sarah looked up at him and saw that she was in his arms. “I would never actually hit you,” Ian told her. “You know that, right?” Sarah looked down and nodded.

“I-I’m sorry.” Ian sighed and hugged her tighter.

“It’s ok. Don’t worry,” he said. “I know it seems scary right now, but you will get stronger and better.” Sarah nodded. Ian sighed. “I think that’s enough for today. I need to get started working. Let’s clean you up and then go back into the gym.” Sarah nodded and watched as he unwrapped her hands.

“Are you alright?” he asked her. Sarah nodded. Ian gave her a tight hug before they walked back down the hall.

For the rest of the day, Sarah sat in the gym watching Ian train and joking around with Garret. By the time Ian got off of work, they were both exhausted.

Once they got to Ian’s apartment, Ian looked down at her.

“I’m going to go take a shower,” he told her. “And then I’ll find something for dinner.” Sarah nodded and watched as Ian walked off towards his bedroom.

When Sarah heard the water start running, she wandered into the kitchen. She was starving. She looked in the freezer and saw a frozen pizza that looked really appetizing. Sarah read the directions on the back of the box and thought that it couldn’t be too hard to fix it without Ian’s help.

After about ten minutes of the pizza being in the oven, Sarah started smelling something awful. She looked into the kitchen and gasped when she saw smoke coming from the oven.

“Shit,” she muttered to herself. She turned it off and opened the oven door. That was a mistake. Smoke billowed out and caused Sarah to start coughing. The smoke alarm went off and Ian came running into the kitchen in just a towel.

“What the hell?” he shouted as he saw the mess. Sarah watched as Ian picked up and oven mitt and threw the pizza into the sink. He ran cold water over it and then he opened the kitchen window. He turned around to face Sarah and she gave him a sheepish smile.

 “What were you thinking?” he asked her.

“Well I wanted to help you,” Sarah said. “And I was starving and I know how you like to take long showers. So I found the pizza and thought that it would be easy to make by myself. I don’t know what I did wrong. I followed all the instructions.” Ian looked into the sink and laughed. He held up a sopping wet piece of cardboard that was charred.

“You forgot to take off the cardboard from under the pizza. There was plastic in between that.”

“Oh,” said Sarah. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just next time, stick to the microwavable meals.” Sarah nodded. “I’m gonna get dressed and then I’ll order us some takeout. I don’t think I can eat pizza after smelling that.” Sarah nodded in agreement.

“Open all the windows while I get dressed,” he instructed her. Sarah nodded.

While they were eating their dinner, Sarah watched as Ian got off the phone.

“Well that was the fourth neighbor that’s called me asking what the smell is.”

“I’m really sorry,” Sarah said.

“You know, normally I get compliments on the smells I cook. Not complaints.” Sarah looked up at him. He was wearing his annoying smirk. “I don’t think in ten or more years I’ve been cooking have I ever burned a frozen dinner.” Sarah groaned and hid her face in her arms as Ian continued to tease her.

“Maybe I should be teaching you how to cook instead of how to fight.”

“Alright, alright,” Sarah said. “I get it. No more cooking for me.” She stood up and went into the kitchen to throw away her leftovers. It still faintly smelled of burned plastic even though they had all of the windows down and lit several candles.

“Come on Sarah,” Ian said from behind her. “I’m just joking with you.” Sarah turned around and looked at him. “Don’t give me those puppy dog eyes. You know how much I hate that.” Sarah continued to look at him like that.

“Alright,” he sighed. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” Sarah gave a small smile.

“Ok,” she said. Ian rolled his eyes and gave her a hug.