Beneath Your Beautiful (H.S. AU)

Chapter 13

The cheers of the crowd beamed through my ears along with the noise of Harry's name being yelled out repeatedly. However even though the sounds were too loud for my liking, it wasn't the sounds that were bothering me it was what we were watching and what everyone was cheering for. I didn't know why I was ever stupid enough to agree to go with Maya in the first place. You thought it'd be fun. A voice inside my head reminded me, but that didn't make me feel the slightest bit better. Instead I made a note in my head to stop thinking getting out and being social was ever a good idea.

Harry's opponent punched at him once again hitting his jaw, and I instantly looked away not wanting to watch. It must have been painful, and I couldn't help but think that this was the stupidest sport ever if you could even call it that. All it did was hurt you, and I didn't understand why anyone would want to put themselves through that. I looked back towards the ring and noticed Harry wasn't taking any punches at his opponent the only thing he did occasionally was block his opponents hands.

From the noise of the crowd cheering for him, I'd expect him to be good. Better than that actually, because I heard no one yell the other boy's name and that made me think Harry was doing it on purpose. Was he trying to lose? The others didn't seem to take notice of this, but there was something that wasn't right. And when the other boy threw a punch right in Harry's face and Harry did nothing to stop him or to fight back even when he threw another one, I knew he wanted it coming. He wanted the pain and that only grew to my confusion. Just as the other boy was about to throw his final punch Harry fought back without hesitation and knocked him to the floor and the noise of the crowd grew louder. He had won, and I seemed to be the only one who wasn't happy about it. I knew nothing about boxing, but I could tell that he for whatever reason wanted to be punched, he didn't defend himself like I'm sure would be normal in that situation and I was totally confused as everyone circled around the ring to congratulate him. Maybe he did want to win all along but was just putting on a bit of a fight instead of knocking him down to begin with. I didn't know what his exact reasons were or what his explanation would be, but I knew he wanted those punches coming, and I couldn't figure out on why.

"He won! He won!" Maya cheered next to me with a smile, and I smiled back trying to hide what was really going on inside my head.

"I need to go to the restroom," I explained as we both walked down the bleachers. I noticed Harry disappearing with his father through a door in the back. I headed to the back as well as I noticed the restroom sign and opened the door to a long hallway. The hallway seemed empty, and the only noises were from faint voices I couldn't hear what were saying. I wondered if I was in the right place, but decided just to follow the hallway and see where it led. However, I was taking completely by surprise as I passed the corner. Harry's father had him pinned against the wall, and I quickly hide hoping they hadn't seen me. Normally, I wouldn't eavesdrop but I couldn't help it.

"What the hell was that crap you were pulling out there!" A voice I knew very well wasn't Harry's yelled.

"Nothing! I won didn't I!" Harry complained.

"Don't pull that shit with me. If I didn't know better I'd say you were trying to lose!"

"Let it go, dad. I won. Now stop bugging me about it!"

None of them spoke right after that, and I heard something hard collide with the wall and Harry let out a growl. "What the hell, dad!" Harry complained, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know what his father had just done to him.

"If this is because of that girl that was at the house the other day, I'd say you start getting your priorities straight! She will only keep you unfocused from the game, and you are so out of her league, son! You can do so much better than her!"