The Fighter and the Basketball player

Chapter 1

(Dream)

It was a dark and cold night, I was out on the streets, begging for any scrap, some water possibly. My four-year-old self-was already getting used to the idea of how cruel reality could be. People didn't care. They cared about themselves. The cared about how much money they had. How much luxury they owned. I had been cast out of every family that had ever adopted me before even the adoption center gave up. fifteen families in one year had been the draw for the center, they gave me an apple and kicked me out. Ever since then I was out on the streets, accepting any crumb with a hungry stare. That was until one day. I was laying in an alleyway, after finding an abandoned mattress. Down the alleyway was a strange door, lights from inside were flashing as people cheered and booed. It was a strange door, and I was curious by it. After watching several males walk in with strange padded gloves I walked over to the door and opened it. Inside was a large crowd, and through all the people I could barely see an arena in the middle of the room. Off to the left side, I spotted what I recognized to be a bar. A man in front of me was shouting a string of curse words I had learned to understand at my second orphan home. I had looked at the arena, one man was holding his stomach while laying in a ball on the ground, another man stood whooping and cheering at his obvious victory. 

Under my breath, in my at-the-time, high pitched voice I muttered, "Pathetic," At the man. Shaking my head and starting to walk out the door when suddenly I was lifted by my collar.

"Who's this little boy?" The man I had called pathetic asked, a snarl on his face as the attention of the room was on me.

"I'm a girl asshat." I sneered, as I started to kick around, but to no avail, the man easily lifted me away from his face.

"You've got some nerve little one!" The man laughed at me as I didn't give up.

"Put me down or I'm going to kick your nose off!" I shouted as the people in the room whooped and cheered.

"Oi, kid, why not you go home before you get hurt." The man suggested setting me down as I put my hands on my hips for effect.

I scoffed, "Do I look like I have one?" 

The men looked slightly shocked before tilting his head, "Then why are you here?" 

"Well I was trying to sleep out on that mattress but you guys were being so damn loud," I complained like some angry neighbor.

"Little one has a point!" The bartender had snickered.

"I'm not little!" I argued

"I like you, you have a bit of a kick to ya," The man laughed as I took a step away.

"Pervert." I pointed, as the other people howled with laughter

"Not in that way brat," He shook his head laughing, "You don't have a home do ya? How about living with me?" He asked as I took another step.

"That's seriously perverted old man," I said as I peeked my head over to look behind him. "What's that arena looking thingy?" I asked as everyone turned to look at where I was looking.

"That's the fighting arena." A man from the crowd stated as I rushed over to it.

"Can I try?!" I shouted as everyone laughed.

"In no way are you ready for that- Oi, what are you doing?" The man had started talking but stopped when he realized I was climbing into the arena, looking at the man who had sat up, still clutching his stomach, before looking at the man who was standing.

"YAH!" I had screamed with determination as I punched and kicked the victor's leg. Everyone was bursting with laughter as the man who was originally victorious had acted like my hits hurt, falling to the ground and fake groaning in pain before finally yelling, "I give up!" as I cheered victoriously.