Boxer (Larry)

34

It's been a month and a half since Harry decided to start boxing again. This whole time has been dedicated to his improvement. I've barely seen him at all, and the times I have seen him is when we spend a couple of hours a week looking at houses. He promises that he'll spend more time with me after his first match. I believe him, but it still sucks to spend almost no time with him. I really miss him, but I just have to be patient and wait.

It's good that he's spending so much time practicing, because I would sooner die than see him hurt like that again. Besides, if he got another terrible injury like the one he's newly recovered from, he probably truly wouldn't be able to box again. Despite his desires to, or not to, I don't know if his body would let him. So, I'm glad he's working on it so much.

Zayn, Liam, and I are on our way to his first match since the incident. Pitifully, they're pinning Harry against some of the easier guys. Not the easiest ones, of course, but he's not even close to the guys he was fighting before he got injured. I feel bad for him, but Harry just shrugs it off. He views it as more wins to his name, like taking candy from a baby. Not only a baby, he emphasizes that the baby is sleeping.

He's excited to get back into it. They let him after he agreed to start easy, and it took a bit of conversing. I'm happy for him. And, why not admit it? I'm worried. Harry tells me not to, and that he doesn't even have concerns. But how can I not? I'm so scared that he'll get hurt, or that he won't be totally prepared, or that one of the other billions of catastrophic scenarios I've imagined will come true. I can't help it.

Harry's already outside when we arrive, so I walk up to him while Zayn and Liam go in. I wrap my arms around him tightly, and he hugs back just as tight.

"Good luck." I tell him, though he really doesn't need it. Though I'm worried, I know that he can do this.

"Thank you." He says, pulling away from the hug and looking at me.

"And, um, I know that you already know this... But please be careful. Don't push yourself too hard." I remind him. I feel like a mother.

"I will be, Louis." He chuckles. "But it's going to be fine. I'm up against the easy guys, remember?" He rolls his eyes and I sigh.

"Yeah, sorry about that." I say.

"Just more wins." He shrugs and kisses my forehead.

"True. How long until you can get back up to where you were?" I question.

"Just depends on how often I win and stuff." He answers. I nod. It makes sense, but they're putting him against people that he'll take down in seconds, and everyone knows it. It's not exactly fair to either side. But that's how he needs to work his way back up, and he's ecstatic just to be back in.

"I'll see you after the match, love. I need to be in, but I can take you to your seat if you want." He offers.

"No, it's okay. Enjoy yourself. And be careful! I love you." I tell him. He kisses me softly.

"I love you too." He answers before we go inside. He hugs and kisses me once more before we go opposite ways.

The whole first fight takes so long. Maybe it's normal for this level, though, because nobody seems to tire of their cheering and screaming, like they would this far into a higher level match. Eventually, the unpredicted boxer wins. Less than half of the audience is joyful about his victory, and I assume that it's because the other 70% have placed their money and other forms of betting on the bigger guy. I can only imagine what kind of bets will be placed on Harry.

I've heard betting going on at other matches, and Zayn has explained some of the terms that I'll probably never familiarize myself with. Due to common sense, people almost always place their bets on the bigger, scarier boxer. Some people choose the other due to admiration for an underdog, attraction, or personally knowing them. And the higher the stats of a boxer, regardless of size, the higher the betting will be.

Of course, Harry is one of the best in his career. But I wonder if the people who stick to lower levels know of him. They've seen him, of course, and his opponent. Harry is likely bigger, so bets will naturally be put on him. But if they know his accomplishments, betting will be even higher. I'm tempted to place a bet on him myself, but I don't know anyone around us and I'm honestly terrified of them.

Zayn and Liam, however, have placed bets for six out of the twelve matches that will be going on tonight. Neither of them are shy when it comes to this type of thing, but they're a lot more into it than I am. One of the bets is on Harry, but I don't know how much.

After the fourth fight, it's Harry's turn. I cheer as much as I can, but the worried look on his face tells me that something's not right.

The worry instantly refreshes itself in my mind as my eyes meet his. He shakes his head ever so slightly before looking back at his opponent. Then the match begins.