Eye of the Tiger

Part 1

Dani's POV

"Dad PLEASE. I'll be back in the morning, I promise!" I'm a daddy's girl. My dad is honestly my best friend and I love him to death. He has been there for me through it all ever since mom died and although I wish I had a female figure to look up to, my dad has always been enough for me. Maybe I was a little slow learning about bra sizes or which tampon brand was the best during puberty but I seemed to turn out okay.

I am perfectly happy with my ponytail and band tees on a daily basis. The other half of the time you will find me in a sports bra, gym shorts, and boxing gloves training. You see, my dad is a pretty successful boxer himself and I grew up watching him from behind the ropes. When I turned 11, I wanted to be just like him, and I still do. I enjoy the sweaty gym smell and the rush I get with each point of punch just as much as my dad does.

"No Danielle, I want you well rested for this weekend." I can't help but roll my eyes and grunt in frustration. Boxing is my life, and I absolutely love it but the truth is, I'm tired of being the new girl. My dad and I moved up here to Lima to train with the best, Chris Wells. He has led many girls my age to victory at so many competitions. He spotted me at one of my fights and personally picked me to be his new project. So it was goodbye Kansas and hello Ohio.

"We aren't leaving until tomorrow afternoon. I can sleep on the plane and I'll be ready to earn that championship belt on Sunday." I give him that smile I know he can't resist. He always told me I got it from Mom and it made him melt every single time.

"Dani..." He slides a hand over his face and lets out a sigh. I cheer silently because I know that this means he is going to give in but I have to make him feel like he wins. Another part of me feels the guilt start to seep in though. Now, my dad would never say yes to a night of teenage drunkenness so he thinks I'm sleeping over at my friend Rachel's. Which I mean is partly true, but not until after the party of course. Rachel has been my first and only friend I've made here so far. Which is great but there is only so much I can handle being third wheel to her and her boyfriend Finn. Back home my friends were all the girls I trained with but now I get private sessions so suddenly I am as lonely as ever.

"Please Dad. I know it's championship this weekend but I've worked SO hard. I just want to be a regular teen for one night."

"Can't you save it for next weekend? Rachel will still be here I'm sure"

"She wants to have a girl's night for good luck."

"Okay Dani." He sighs and I immediately jump into his arms to hug him like the daddy's girl I am. "BUT I want you home at 9am tomorrow, you hear me?"

"Of course Daddy, thank you!" I can't help the guilt that seeps in my stomach. Maybe after championship I'll tell him the truth. Maybe that sounds really lame but right now other than Rachel, my Dad is my only friend and he were to get mad at me I don't know if I could handle it.

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Now I'll be honest here, this isn't my first party experience. Training has taken over my life the past few months but at home I had much more free time. Although I enjoy my band tees and pony tail, what people don't expect is a whole other side of me, almost like an alter ego, where I let my hair down (literally) and throw on a crop top to go with my shorts rather than the tee. This side right here, is the side my dad has NEVER seen because to him I will always be the Dani in the tees and sneakers. Last time I wore something remotely sexy I think my dad almost had a heart attack. Which would probably be the same reaction if he were to find out I drink.

Just as I suspected Rachel left off with Finn immediately. Before I could even get mad I see this gorgeous tanned girl walk by me and for a second her gaze lingers before continuing to talk to this guy with a Mohawk. I guess since I'm listing off things my father doesn't know about me I might as well mention that I'm very much gay. I kind of always just knew and I never really struggled with the idea but it was definitely confirmed the night I actually got experience with one.