vanilla // lrh

fifteen

The room was lit with one static light, the same lights I had in my high school cafeteria, except it flickered viciously.

The light did not measure to the distraction of the voices that filled the room.

Luke stood directly across the room from me, striking his boxing gloves into the air, as I watched the muscles on his back tense at each punch.

I did as I was told, and avoided conversation with everyone else in the room.

The 'coaches' as Luke would call them, scattered the room with their boxer, some using the coaches palms as punches bags, others offering under the table bets.

"El," I heard Luke's husky voice call, as he approached me, his forehead shining with sweat.

"You see Eric over there in the corner?" He wrapped his arm around my shoulders as he spoke, pointing with his other arm to the sharply dressed man I had met the first time I came to Luke's match.

"I want you to tell him we're all in, and then come right back to me. Alright?"

I nodded, and pushed my way through the crowd to Eric, who looked me up and down with a twisted grin as I grew closer to him.

"I must say, it is lovely to see you again," He spoke, slick as a snake. "Hemmings never brings the same one twice."

"We're all in." I said sternly, without reaction to his comment.

He raised an eyebrow in amused suprise, nodding.

I immediately turned around as Luke said, making my way back to him.

"What does that mean?" I asked, looking up at him. He was scanning the room nervously, bottom lip tucked in between his teeth.

His skin glowed under the broken light, and I forced my eyes not to trail down his body.

"If I win I get all of the money," He said, eyes still searching the crowd. "If I lose, I owe all of the money."

"Why did I have to tell him? Why couldn't you?"

"You're my rep now," He spoke lowly.

"Usually, the reps would tell their boxer that is a stupid bet, and wouldn't allow it. But you do as I say, and I say we are all in."

I was beginning to understand what Luke meant as 'business partners'. He wanted to represent himself, but because he couldn't, he would tell me what he wanted, and I would do as he said.

"What do I get out of this?" I asked, with a smile.

His eyes shot down from the crowd to me like daggers, with a smirk.

"You get to see me all hot and sweaty, sweetheart."

I felt heat rush to my cheeks, but I quickly shut it down, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of being right.

"Hemmings, you ready?" I heard Eric's voice slither up my skin, as Luke gave me a nod of assurance, as he walked out of the room, followed by groups of people.

As he exited the room, I could feel a roar of cheer from the crowd, and I felt a smile sneak up my lips.

I walked over to the doorway, leaning my hips against it, watching Luke dive into the chest of a man that dominated him in weight.

I swore I would never get used to watching people hurt each other purposefully, especially seeing punched thrown at Luke.

"Quite the fighter, Eh?"

To my side, a tall figure lingered, with a strong scent of cologne.

I looked to the man that the voice belonged to, tattoos is all colors covering his arms, chest, and torso.

"Cole," He called, his voice was deep, contrary to his skinniness. "To whom do I owe the honor?"

My eyes flickers back to Luke, who was on top of his competitor, punching him forcibly across the face.

"Eloise." I said expressionlessly, remembering the way Luke's eyes flashed of warning when I was told not to speak to anyone in his business.

"I haven't seen you around here before," He said coolly, as I felt his presence inch toward my ear.

"I would've remembered."

I stood up straight, pushing myself as close to the wall as possible.

"I can just tell he isn't hitting it right," Cole said through his teeth, cockiness oozing from his tone.

"We aren't-" I started smally, trying desperately to sound fearless, but my voice came to a close as I saw Luke's broad figure approaching us.

"Luke, mate! How come you haven't introduced me to this-"

Cole's voice was interrupted by his back crashing up against the wall, Luke's fists, that were already splattered with blood, shoved against him.

"Woah! Calm down buddy-" Cole laughed.

"Leave her the fuck alone." Luke spat, his voice lowering in anger.

"Hey, we were just getting to know-"

"Did you not hear me?" Luke rumbled, wrapping his hand around Cole's inked throat.

"If you even think to come near her again, I'll kill you."

My body tensed at his words. Kill?

Cole nodded, without wincing at Luke's threat, and Luke released him from his grip, and turned to face me.

His eyes were filled with fire, he was almost unrecognizable.

Luke grabbed my hand tightly, and dragged me with him through the crowd, and out the door.

My feet moved as quickly as they would carry me to keep up with him, the way he moved was with determination.

As we stepped out into the cool air, and set my palm free, and began to pace back and forth.

"Hey, it's okay," I said, trying to calm him down, but wondering why he was so flustered.

"Shut up," He gritted through his teeth, gripping his hair.

"Luke-"

He moved his body inches from mine, and I felt his grip on my hip bone.

His breath was escalated, and I noticed the familar blood that decorated his face to graze across his chin.

"Cole is a bad man," He whispered tightly, his words swift.

"If he ever comes near you again, it will be the last day of his life."

I nodded intently, goosebumps of fear inching up my skin.

Luke dived his lips to my ear, pressing his botton lip against it.

"I won't let anything happen to you."

My skin felt as if it were on fire.

As he slowly pulled away from my ear, he drew his hand up to my hair, tucking a piece behind the place his lips had just roamed, and then placed a warm kiss against my cheek.

"I won, by the way," He smiled, backing away from me, as if the intimacy had never occurred.

"Here's your cut," He said, holding out his palm that held a stack of green paper. "200 even."

"I thought-"

"I was only kidding, love," He said.

"Unless watching me win is enough for you?" He teased with a raise of the eyebrow.

"I'll take the money," I laughed. "Business partners, right?"

He looked down to his feet, bringing his hand to the back of his neck. "Sure enough, Ellie."