Into The Ring (Phenomenal: 2)

7 ~ Warrior

"Why does he have to set a major programming test right at the beginning of the term?" Clarissa snapped as she pushed open the doors to reception, going to her mail box.

"Because he's a sadist," Jason said, opening his own mailbox.

"Uuugh," was Clarissa's reply as she followed him through into the courtyard and over to the stairs, leaving him at her floor, flicking through the letters as she did so until eyes on her made her look up.

Damien was leant against the railings outside her apartment, watching her. She almost smiled but something about his expression threw her and she stopped.

"Hey," she said after a moment, forcing a smile, "You ok?"

"Do you have time?" he asked, straightening up.

"Sure, what's up?"

"I wanted to talk."

"Ok, do you want to come in?" she asked, digging in her bag for her keys but Damien shook his head and opened his door, walking inside. Clarissa glanced at her door, then followed him, closing the door behind her and dropping her stuff on the floor, walking into the living room as Damien took a seat.

"What's wrong?" she asked, sitting down.

"So... your father knows about me?" Damien said slowly.

Clarissa looked blankly at him. "Ur.... Yeah. Hard not to after the last few months."

"You told him about me?"

"Of course."

"Even down to my... failings and... my collapse?"

Clarissa's expression softened. "Damien," she said slowly, "To know that, someone just needed to see the news, it was big that you collapsed. But why do you care if my dad knows you or not?"

Damien looked down, setting his forearms on his thighs, clasping his hands. "I met him... today actually."

Clarissa stared at him. "You... you met my father," she said, "How? Why?"

"He came here. Wanted to talk."

"Oh my god," Clarissa said, straightening, panic in her voice, "Are you alright? What did he say?"

"I'm alright," Damien said, reaching for a set of papers on the coffee table between them and pushing them towards her. "He came to give me this."

"He came to give you something personally?" Clarissa said, incredulously before picking up the pages. "What is this?"

"That is a contract," Damien said.

Clarissa looked at him. "Contract?"

"Four fights, all professional, against some of the best in the world, the final against the current champion as a bid for my old title... with your father as my sponsor."

Clarissa almost dropped the pages, gaping at him, before her eyes snapped to the contract and she started to read, her eyes racing through the words and pages, her heart pounding faster and faster the further she went.

"Oh my god," she muttered, "Oh my god, Damien, this is amazing. This is just the chance you needed. You're going to sign it, right?"

"Was this... out of pity or something?"

Clarissa looked up to meet his startlingly dark eyes as he watched her.

"Pity?" she asked.

"Did you... approach your father perhaps; use your contacts to pull strings? Get me a favour, a second chance because you don't think I came make it alone? Do you pity me and my situation that much that you think you have to get in the way? You think I can't make it alone and stick your nose in where it's not needed or—"