The Beauty Is A Beast

Chapter 2: Meeting The Princess

Hey guys! This chapter is still going to be Annalise as a 13 year old! I really wanted to keep going with this age! New character! Hope you guys like it!
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Chapter 2: Meeting The Princess
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"Honey, don't forget you have that interview today," my dad's voice says through the intercom in my bathroom. I hit the button and reply, "I know Daddy, thanks for reminding me!"
"Roger Dodger Lil Princess. Big Smokey over and out!" I hear through the intercom. I grin and reply, "10-4 Big Smokey. Lil Princess out." We always do that over the intercom. When I was a kid, my dad had made those tin can on a sting phones, and we would talk like that. Now that we have an intercom, it's even more fun!
I finish doing my hair and makeup and exit my private bathroom, where my walk through closet is located. I decide that since the interview is for my MMA career, I'll dress more for that. I put on a pair of distressed skinny jeans with some multicolored South Pole high tops. I put on a white fitted Tshirt and add a black leather jacket over it. Yup, I think to myself. This definitely screams "Let me kick someone's ass already!"
As my dad takes me to school, I start in on my book. This time, I'm reading Tolkien's The Hobbit. I absolutely LOVE it. But after a few pages, my dad gets my attention. "Now honey," he starts. "This is a big deal. You're going to be filmed at school. So try to keep things..." he trails off.
"Normal?" I supply. "Calm," He decides on with a flat look to me. "And they might ask to see some moves. Now I'd just give them some basic stuff because I don't want any of the competition getting a really good look at your technique."
"Don't worry, Daddy," I say confidently. "I got this covered." By this time, we're at the school. Dad kisses me on the forehead as a good luck charm. Then I pile out of the car and he drives away.
I'm immediately met by a camera crew and a guy with a microphone. "There she is!" The mic guy says. "The girl who at 13, never ceases to shock and amaze us, it's Annalise Martinson! Annalise, tell us about your big win last night over Brady Smith!"
I reply nonchalantly, "It wasn't very hard. The kid can't take a kick to the head and I don't think he's very skilled once he's down on the ground." Mic Guy smiles at the camera and nods. "And did you realize," he questions, "that Brady hadn't lost a single match in his entire career?"
I smirk. "Nope. He's just another opponent who thinks size is everything. Besides, I don't lose." Mic Guy looks at the camera and says, "From Annalise herself." Then he motions for the camera guy to cut. He looks back at me, "Okay Annalise, we're going to walk down the hallways a little between your classes and maybe get some filler shots while you're studying and stuff. So just be yourself." I nod.
We walk down the hallway, and when we start to get close to my locker I motion where it is and Sky asks, "So tell us Annalise, when did you get started with MMA?" I look at the camera. "The first time I ever did anything like MMA was when I was five years old."
Sky nods in appreciation. "And why so young? Most girls your age would've been taking ballet or having tea parties." I feel a little offended by that comment, but I just keep calm and answer, "Well I've taken Ballet since I was 3. But when I was 5 years old I got bullied. My dad wanted me to learn a little simple self-defense, but my teacher was just so awesome. He got me started on MMA techniques, and I fell in love with it."
Sky looks genuinely surprised at my reply. We continue walking to my first class when all of a sudden, I hit something big and soft and fall on my butt, dropping all my books and papers along the way. I glare at the culprit, a familiar-looking kid. He's pudgy, and awkward, and when he sees my glare he looks like he might just die then and there. "I'm so s-s-s-orry!" He squeaks out. He rushes to pick up my books before he does anything else.
I instantly smile. I know what that's like. "Here," I say. offering him a hand up. "Let me help." I pick up all of his books and papers and hand them to him as he does the same to me with mine. I stick out my hand. "I'm Annalise," I say with a smile. If I thought he looked like he was going to die when I glared. Jeez. But finally, he returns the handshake. "I-I-I-I'm T-T-T-T-Tommy," he manages to stutter out. "Well Tommy," I say, "Do you want to sit with me at lunch?" This time, he faints. Just my luck, I can't help but think.
Sky and I drag the poor kid to the nurses office and tell her what happened. Well, so much for first period. We sit in there and wait for Tommy to wake up. Well, Sky, The nurse, and I sit and wait. The camera guys are outside where it wouldn't be so cramped. After Tommy finally wakes up, the nurse hands me a pass and shoos us out of the room.
As we walk to second period, Sky asks more questions about dance and time management and stuff. Then he asks to see a few moves. I thank my lucky stars that I was prepared and brought appropriate clothes and tell him that I'll show some moves after school gets out.
While going through my classes, they take some filler shots of me reading and studying. Once lunch comes, Sky and the crew buy stuff off the line while I buyt a soda and grab my lunch sack. I hope Maria made me some of her famous *Arroz con Pollo Rojo! I thought as I pulled out my food. As fate would permit, she did. I quickly opened the tubberware container and dig into the succulent chicken. As I'm eating, I sense a presence behind me. I turn, and thre's Tommy. "Uh-uh-uh Can I s-s-s-still sit h-h-h-h-here?" he stutters. "Of course," I say with a smile as the camera crew makes room.
It turns out Tommy is quite the talker. Once he got past the fact that a pretty girl asked him to sit with her, he got more comfortable and his stutter went away. We found out we have a lot in common. We both like the same kinds of books and music, and when it comes to movies, he's just as much of a cry-baby as me.
For free period which I have last, I took Sky and the crew to the gym to show him some moves. i just did some basic kicks and grappling moves. Once I thought he was satisfied I asked, "So are we done?" He nods, and the crew packs up. they all thank me for taking time out of my day for me and told me where to find my interview.
After school, my dad picks me up. Today is just hip-hop, so we drive to the studio...
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Later that evening.
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I'm sitting in my room bawling my eyes out. Right when we got home, Daddy disappeared into the house to pack for a 2 week business trip that he leaves for tonight, and Mom is stying at the hospital for a few days, which means nobody will be here for me tomorrow when I turn 14. Another missed birthday to add to the ever-growing list. I turn on my music and blast "Stay" by Mayday Parade. I decide to do some yoga to loosen up while I get the tears out of my system.
After about an hour of sitting in my room crying, Maria walks in. She sits down on my bed and opens her arms for a hug. I immediately melt into her embrace, and she rocks me slowly while I cry even harder. "Sssshhh, don't cry Mi'ija. I won't ever forget. They've both gone now, so it's just you and me. Don't worry, I'll make sure that the only thing you eat tomorrow that isn't you're smoothies and protein shakes is red velvet cake." I giggle, and wipe my eyes. Then before I know it, Maria has me tucked into bed and I'm asleep.
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2 months later
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"Mom, what's going on, why are yo upulling me out of school early?" I ask, completely bewildered. My mom instantly shushes me and hastily pushes me into her car.
We're driving quickly down the road. I'm still confused. "Mom, talk to me," I say. She snaps. "Annalise," she says, "I will explain when we get home. Now it's time to be quiet."
By the time we get home. I'm extremely angry. Who is she to yell at me for asking a simple question?! I slam the car door shut getting out and storm into the house. "Don't run off just yet, young lady!" My mother demands. When we get inside, I do a double-take. It looks like I stepped into a hospital room. There's nurses and doctors everywhere. "What the-"
"Language," my mother snaps. Like I would have even said something bad. I don't curse. But of course, she doesn't know. Instead she looks and says, "Follow me." We walk into one of the guest bedrooms and there's my dad. He's hooked up to an IV and a heart monitor, and he looks like he just woke up. "What's going on?" I ask in a panicked voice.
Daddy smiles, but it turns into something of a grimace. I turn away, I can't see my dad in pain. After a moment, he says in a small voice "Honey, I have a brain tumor. They aren't sure at this point if they can do surgery or or treatment. So right now we're paying to have some round-the-clock nurses here to watch me. But for the most part, I'm okay."
My mom looks down on him pitifully. I turn away and storm out of the room with tears in my eyes. My mother follows at my heels. "We need to talk," she says simply. She leads the way down to the kitchen where Maria is nowhere to be found. "I'm taking out of your karate class." She says. I glare at her. "It's MMA. And why?" I ask angrily.
She pinches the bridge of her nose as if she's frustrated. "Because I'm not going to pay for something that has no use to you when we need money for your father's medical bill." I'm shocked. I know she's never really approved of my MMA fighting, but she's never outright said that she thinks it's useless. "You will still be taking all of your dance classes. Maria is no longer with us, which means you'll be doing your own laundry and picking up your own messes."
This makes me mad. "Why is Maria fired? She's been here since I was a kid, it isn't fair to make her leave!" I yell. "And why am I still dancing but I can't fight?! Dance costs way more than any of my MMA stuff and you know it! This is all about YOU and who you want me to be!"
"I'm trying to do the best for this family!" she screams. "And if you don't like it then there's the door!"
"Fine," I say calmly. I'm already in my spandex and sports bra for MMA. Might as well make use of them. I walk out the door without a glance back.
I take a cab to the shadier area of town where Lo and Behold, some street fighting is going on. I push through the crowd to see two sweaty men duking it out. From what I can grasp, it's MMA without too much of the grappling. I could do this. After a while, one gets knocked out and the winner is doing some sort of battle-cry. "Who dares to challenge me?" He inquires cockily of the crowd.
I step into the center wearing nothing but my sports bra and spandex. "I do," I announce to the brute. He looks at me and laughs. "Go home sweetheart," he says. "Princesses like you don't belong here." That comment pisses me off. I run up and give him the best Superman Punch I've ever done. Once he's on the ground, I go down and become an animal.
He pushes me off of him and gets back up. When he realizes I'm the one who did that, he gets pissed. "You're going down, Princess." Then he runs and tries to attack. I block a blow aimed for my chest but he gets a hook to my left cheek. I take a couple swings, then I let him have it with my Muay Thai Round Kick. I hit him square in the temple, and he falls straight down. His head hits the concrete and I know he won't be getting up anytime soon.
I put my sweat pants back on and start to walk away from the crowd. Just as I'm about to go, a kid with a beanie and glasses runs up to me. "Wait!" he yells. "You forgot you're winnings!" I quirk an eyebrow. "My winnings?" I inquire. "Well sure," he says. "Bruce, that guy you knocked out, didn't take his previous winnings with him and a lot of people bet against you so you get everything." I'm shell shocked. "How much did I win?" I ask. He just hands me a box with bills starting to overflow from it. I just nod and start my trek home.
I walk towards the direction of downtown, and catch a cab home. Once I step inside, I check the clock. 12:30AM. I sneak up to my room and clean my wounds, then count my money. $583. As I look back on my day, I realize all of the things that went wrong and I start to cry. I lay in bed and remember the fight that I won. The feeling of power when I punched and kicked. No gloves, no mouth guards, no rules.
I could get used to this.
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Hey people! That's still Annalise as an 8th grader! I've decided that I want Astrid Berges-Frisbey to be Annalise. Pic on the side! That's going to be her as a 17 year old! Pretty beast mode, huh? :D If you have anything to say, feel free to comment! And please, PLEASE vote!!