Taken By Creed ✔[Fan-Fiction]

Chapter 5 | Second Times A Charm

When I waltzed into the gym the next morning, Eddie and Michaels weren't the only ones in the gym. Eddie was pounding away a heavy bag with Michaels on the opposite side, holding it towards him, but there was another set of noises in the gym. Donnie was on the floor directly across from Eddie, facing the door jumping rope like his life depended on it. Balboa was sitting in a chair, reading the morning's newspaper.  

It was an odd sight to see, it had been only us three (Eddie, Michaels and me) in the gym for so long, it felt almost... wrong. Sweat was steadily pouring down the sides of Donnie's face, but when he saw me a wide smile broke across his face and a sparkle entered his dark eyes. He continued to jump, letting his eyes wonder from the top of my curly head to my sneakered toes. I stared back and offered the same measuring look.

"Le, you came back." I met the cautious eyes of Eddie. He had stopped striking the bag and was standing straight up, pulling at his gloves.

"She didn't come here to talk to you, EG." Michaels was speaking now, his baritone voice was carrying across the gym. "She and I need to finish our discussion from yesterday."

Eddie's eyes widened and he bit his lip, his feet made a short step in my direction. I immediately stepped away from him. A look of pure pain crossed his features and he took a deep short breath, I sneaked a glance at Donnie. He was watching the scene with a mixture of confusion and understanding. My nostrils flared and I swung my gaze back to Michaels.

"Your office?" I pointed towards it with my thumb. "Yes, right behind you."

I had just settled into one of the seats when Michaels came in and shut the door behind him. Out of habit, I glanced back out of the office at Eddie, he was doing crunches on the ring mat with a weight on his chest. Donnie was still jump roping and staring straight at me. I took a sharp breath and hurriedly turned towards Michaels who was sitting behind his desk, studying me.

"Looks like Eddie has some competition."

"Competition?" I asked, pretending to be dumb.

"Yes, Donnie obviously is interested in you. At least, highly intrigued. The boy couldn't keep his eyes off of you, even with his girlfriend sitting right next to him." I frowned at that, so she was his girlfriend. I didn't do men who were already attached. It's no fun being cheated on and I definitely don't compete for a man's attention. I filed away any thoughts I had about pursuing any relationship beyond friendship with Donnie.

"I see, but that doesn't change that he has a girlfriend. I'm not interested in being rebound or a side chick." Michaels nodded his head in approval. "I agree with you completely. Now, we need to finish our discussion."

I swallowed and bobbed my head up and down. He stared at me and I stared back, waiting for him to say something.

"I want the truth now, Le. Has Eddie ever put his hands on you in the past?"

"What?" I practically flew out of my seat. "No! We fought as kids, but that's what kids do. Once we got older, we stopped completely. I can count on one hand how many times we have argued in the past five years."

Michaels sighed and scratched his beard, he hadn't shaved. "Alright, second question, do you think his apology was sincere?"

"I don't really know. I'd like to believe it, but I'd also like to erase that moment from my memory. He twisted my arm until my shoulder almost came out of the socket." Michaels flinched. "Then, he asked to buy me for sex, again. I'm trying to forgive him, but the only thing that will prove what he says is true is time. I'll need time."

His final question surprised me, "do you think I should continue to train him?"

I frowned at him, scrunching up my lips and nose. "He loves boxing. You take that away and I think he'll fall apart."

"You may be correct, but that's not what I asked. Violence is violence, he needs to be able to tell the difference between the ring and his personal life. I know he loves you, but he hurt you. He physically put his hands on you and hurt you: someone he's loved for years. How do I know he won't hurt someone else simply because he isn't getting what he wants?"

I shook my head, "you don't." I stood and headed towards the door, I was done with this conversation. When my second foot crossed the threshold I turned back and met Michaels' gaze again, "but I'll tell you one thing for sure, losing you as a trainer and the possibility for boxing and it not being because he physically isn't able could potentially send him down a far worse path. I will attempt to give him a benefit of the doubt, but you – you can't give up on him."

"Okay, Le. I won't."

"Thank you, Coach Michaels."

I left the gym to head home. I didn't risk a glance towards Eddie, I simply wasn't ready to have another discussion with him. And I refused to make eye contact with Donnie, but I should have known then and there that simply ignoring him wasn't an option.

Failure wasn't an option nor was it in his vocabulary.