Just me and my shadow and all of my regrets..
I stay on the floor, still in shock at what had just happened. Rose. Rose from school had punched me, knocked the wind out of me, and knocked me to the floor while she was at it. I didn't have anymore time to be shocked since she was now making her way to finish me.
I got up from the floor before she turned me into a puddle of blood. Rose tried to swing another punch at me, but I thankfully dodged it this time. She kept trying to land another hit on me, but she figured out pretty quickly it wasn't going to work again. I wasn't going to hit her, there's no way. Not because she was a girl, I could honestly care less, but because she was Rose and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her.
Swing. Dodge. Swing. Dodge.
She was irritated at this point, frustration getting to her. She stopped her constant punches at me and took a few steps back. When she reached the ropes, she stops and glances at me. Rose gave me pitiful eyes.
Oh no.. what is she going to do.
Everything happened in mere seconds. Rose got on top of the ropes. "How?" you may ask, I have no idea. She jumped on one of the four columns holding up the ring and ropes and well.. tried to swing a kick to my face. I thankfully blocked it with my arm. A for sure concussion would've happened if I didn't. The kick was so strong that when I blocked it, she fell to the floor. I thought of holding her in place until she gave up, but she had another idea.
Rose brought herself up in a way that her left leg swung up and kicked me straight in the chin, knocking me to the floor where I hit my head and blacked out.
—•—
I jolt awake. Breathing heavily and looking at my surroundings. I was in the "changing room" of the ring.
"Mason!" I call out.
When no one replies I sigh.
How in the world did Rose manage to make me black out? How long has she been doing this? How did her wig not fall out? Why-
"How are you feeling?"
"Isak?!" I try to stand up, failing and falling back on the dirty worn out mat I was laying on. "Why are you here?"
"Rose told me she was fighting some "Alec" guy. I needed to be here for both of your reactions. Pure gold lemme tell you."
Isak knows Rose?
"I know her through her dad. I volunteer at his free clinic." Isak replies as if reading my mind.
I had so many questions but before I could ask Mason appeared with some instant ramen and Gatorade.
"No soup?" I almost pouted at him.
"Sorry, bud. Quickest thing I could find and make." He patted my back and handed me the food and drink.
I gladly took it and ate it. When I finished a sudden guilt made its way to my gut. I had failed Mason today.
"I'm sorry.." I mumble out.
"About?" He questions.
"Losing. I let you down today." I look away towards the floor. I was truly ashamed.
"Zachary Alexander Lloyd." His tone was angry, but like that of a parent who couldn't believe of what their kid had just said. "You have never in the years that I've known you disappointed me. In the years to come you will continue to never disappoint me. Now, get your ass up and help me clean up this place."
I give him a toothless grin. I was beyond lucky to have Mason in my life. He could never replace my parents, but he was doing one hell of a job at being a great guardian.
—•—
I made my way towards the nearby alley. The garbage bags had filled up Mason's truck so I had to take the last one to the dumpster behind Danilo's, a small little pizza place a couple blocks from the ring. While it was a long walk I wasn't going to complain, it was the least I could do. I throw the large smelly bag in the compactor and make my way back towards my car, ready to go home.
"You shouldn't be walking alone at night, Lloyd."
"Could say the same to you, Andrews. Then again, I would get beat up by muggers while you would kick them in the chin." I look at her, blonde wing was long gone and she was wearing shorts and a tank top. How is she not freezing?
"I'm sorry." She said. Her tone was sincere, no sarcasm in it.
"Don't worry about it. You had to do what you had to do. You won fair and square."
I stretch out my hand, waiting for her to shake. I see her smile widely and if I'm honest, eyes twinkling in the moonlight. She shakes my hand and I think nothing of it, but then she pulls me in a hug, her warm body radiating against my cold one. I go to hug her back, but before I could she pulls back.
Rose leaves me in the dark alleyway stunned.
No. I had to say something. I shouldn't leave it at this.
"Rose!"
She turns around, curious eyes staring back at my nervous ones.
"Yes, Zac?" She asks.
"You did good."
No no no. I was going to ask her on a date! What the hell was that?!
Oh fuck me.
