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NYKO Part 2

Lucas' Point of View

I followed behind her as we waited for my girl to be announced. My stomach is literally churning, and I feel like I'm going to throw up. Josh tries to give me a reassuring head nod, but I know he's having a mental battle himself. I can't help but reflect that we're here because of me, that she's getting out because of me and that she will more than likely be in a hospital in a little bit because of me.

All of this because of me.

And as if she knew exactly what I was thinking Riley turns around. "None of this is your fault Sparky. You saved my life." She gazes into my eyes for a moment before her song comes on.

I judge by what she's wearing just how many
heads I'm tearing off of all you assholes
coming onto her.
Each night seems like it's getting worse.

Marissa is already in the ring, looking more than evil with her snide grin, and the pupils that have all but consumed her eyes. Riley steps into the ring and remains stoic. However, her jaw isn't clenched, her hands aren't in fists and her body isn't tense. It's clear a lot of people bet on Riley from the ovation she got. Again, another reason as to why I'm so proud of her, she's so talented. I feel Johnson move to my right side, Zay goes on my left, and I know Jon is behind me. At first I was confused as to why they were babysitting me, but I know Riley was involved. She doesn't trust me to not intervene, and if I'm being honest she shouldn't.

Marissa and my girl are having a stare down right now and no matter how much she wants to pummel her she can't. I'm currently thanking God that she got out some aggression when she fought Missy. I see Felix in the corner of his daughter and my hands morph into fists before I registered what was happening.

He isn't here for his daughter.

He's here for Riley. He's here to watch her fall.

"CURRENT CHAMP REBEL RILEY MATTHEWS VS. MENACING MARISSA BRADFORD!"

She doesn't want me to see how scared she is but I know my girl. I also know she's hiding something from me, and honestly I can't take any more bad news today so I leave it alone. Riley backs into her corner and looks at me. And it was like time stood still for a moment, I felt a hitch in my breath, the butterflies in my stomach woke back up. Just like the first time I saw her.

A small smile approaches her lips before she mouths the words, 'I'm sorry. I love you.'

I take a step forward but Zay holds me back. All I can do is say "I love you too." All I want to do right now is yell 'stay'. Though at first, I wasn't quite sure as to why that word in particular popped into my head. Stay for what? Stay in what? When in reality I just want her to stay with me.

"FIGHT!"

The cheers and jeers, the music, my friends, all of it is drowned out once my girl places her hands down to her side. I close my eyes, I can't bear to look. But, I hear it.

The first hit.

And then the next one.

And then the next.

I open my eyes for just a moment and she's still standing. How, I don't know. This continues for a few moments, and I don't even fucking care that I'm crying. She's leaning against the corner that she intentionally backed up in and Marissa is like a cat toying with the mouse before she attacks. My girl stands straight again, clearly not going down without a fight. Well, not without proving a point.

So much for willing herself to black out. Her emotions took over.

"YOU HIT LIKE A BITCH MARISSA!"