Fighting

Chapter 3:

School is out and everybody is eager to go home. But I am eager to find Connor. I didn't saw him at lunch where he usually hangs out. But I did saw his other three friends whom he usually hangs out with. They probably know where Connor O'Brian is at the moment. They're friends after all. Outside, next to a black motorcycle, I saw Mike, Tyler and Kyle. The only ones who hang out with Connor O'Brian. They were laughing and messing with each other. Tyler was about to lit his cigaret when I approached them. To be honest, I am scared shitless. You hear rumours at school. They may be true, or it could be a lie. I am not keen on judging people by its cover. Wait, I actually do that a lot. Scratch that 'not keen on judging someone'. Everyone does it. And when you hear rumours that Connor and his friends are in a gang and do dangerous drug dealing shit, then you have the right to be scared shitless.

Kyle nudged Tyler and Mike. They glanced up with an annoyed expression on their faces. There wasn't even five foot distance between us and they already glared at me.

I stopped in front of them and scraped my troth. Tyler interrupted me before I even could say a thing.

"Look," he said while lilting up his cigaret. I looked at that thing in disgust. "I am sure you are a nice girl. But that one of us," he gestured at those other two with his hand, "Had banged you, doesn't mean that we are immediately in a relationship," I gaped at him. He thinks I had sex with one of them. I tried to interrupt Tyler from his rant. But he didn't give me a chance to do so. "I am sure you will find a guy who will love you and stuff. But we are not one of those guys..."

"I am..."

"Shhh," Tyler said while putting one of his cancer filled fingers on my lips.

"We don't like commitment,"

"But..." I tried again, but he increased his pressure of his index finger on my lips.

"We can't even take care of a goldfish, let alone a girlfriend. That's why you don't have to wast your time on one of us. Okey hun? Now if you would..."

"I am a fucking virgin!" I said a little louder then I had planned. It took them a total of five seconds to burst out in laughter. Luckily nobody had heard my outburst. They were all intrigued in their conversations which they had with their friends. Others were paying attention to the 'bad boys' and I.

"Are you done?" I asked them rudely.

I don't even know what's funny about being a damn virgin? "Okay, okay. We are done," Kyle smirked. He nudged the other guys to stop. But I still saw that their were hiding their smiles. I rolled my eyes yet again.

"What do you want from us?" Kyle asked. "You know, I like virgins," Mike said. He came closer to my disgusted face and whispered in my ear: "They scream and moan the loudest," I pushed him away. He didn't stumbled or something. But it was enough to put some space between the two of us. The other two were laughing alongside him. "Look, I just came here to ask were Conner is. I need..."

"Why does O'Brian always get the good fucks? It are always the virgins who are after him,"

"It's not... Never mind. Just please tell me," Tyler threw his cigaret on the ground and shook his head. "Not a chance Miss Prude," Tyler said his goodbye to the other two and left the school ground with his motorcycle. I was about to ask Mike and Kyle again, when I saw them entering in a car. They drove away on a high speed, leaving me here without an answer.

I sighed and was about to leave the school ground, when a girl from my math class stopped me. "Mr.Daniels said he is expecting you for his detention. He asked me to look for you," I panicked. What about Charlie? I need to pick him up from school. "Emma, can you do a little favour for me and tell Mr.Daniels that I left school a bit earlier because I am not feeling too well? And say that I will do his detention as soon as I am feeling better?" Emma sighed and nodded. "See you later Jamie," I said my goodbyes too and speed walked towards Charlie's school. I probably look like an moron, walking like this, but it's not like I will see those people again in my life. I jogged the last part. Charlie was sitting there alone looking around him. When he saw me, his eyes lit up and wheeled his chair in my direction. "I hope you didn't had to wait long for me?"

"Only for fifteen minutes. Nothing that I couldn't handle," I smiled and pushed his wheelchair for him. Charlie was talking about how they learned some new stuff at school and how I need to explain fractions to him. "Can we go get an ice cream?"

"I am going to buy one after dinner, how does that sounds?" Charlie smiled at me and started to ramble about which flavours he would like. We again passed Mike's gym, just like yesterday. I stopped when I saw Conner kicking a punchbag. Of course he would be here. I didn't even had to be humiliated by Tyler, Mike and Kyle. And it would have saved me a lot of time. "Charlie, is it okay if you wait here for just a second? I need to talk with a friend of mine about some project,"

"A boyfriend?" Charlie said while wiggling his eyebrows. I rolled my eyes. "He wishes. But don't leave out of mine sight," I quickly entered the gym. There was a hallway that led me to some kind of lobby. On the right side there was a door that probably is the office of the manager. And on my left I saw some double doors. I saw it was the room what you could see from the outside. I entered it and luckily nobody said something about it. I honestly don't know if I am even allowed to be here. I glanced at the big window and saw Charlie, at the exact place I left him. With that lifted of my chest I walked towards Connor O'Brian with the flyer of the fighting tournament in my hands. His sweaty, but muscular back was facing me. I heard him grunt every time he hits the bag. "You left this on the floor when you bumped into me earlier today," Connor stopped with punching and hugged the bag. Without facing me he said: "Go away," rudely may I add. He probably thought that I left because he started to punch the bag again. I opened the flyer and start to read it out loud.

"Underground street competition. Four weeks long, four rounds and sixteen men who are fighting for 25.000 $," Connor abruptly turned around. "Where did you get that?"

"Like I said, you probably let it drop when you bumped into me earlier today. I thought it would be nice of me to return it to its owner,"

Connor yanked it out of my hands. "You were not supposed to know about it. Now leave before I make you," you can do it Jamie, no matter how scary he looks. "I need you to fight for me," I blurt out. "Look, if you want 25.000$ to go on a damn shopping spree, go ask your daddy for his credit card. I wasn't planning on fighting in that MMA tournament and you won't be able to change my mind,"

"Look outside and tell me what you see," Conner huffed and was about to tell me off, but I interrupted before he could even let a word escape out of his mouth. "Just look outside and tell me what you see," Conner rolled his eyes and obeyed me. "A kid in a wheelchair,"

"That kid has been in that wheelchair for six years, because of some car accident. He is ten now. And every ten year old would be playing and running around. Charlie here has to watch those other kids play. There is a chance he could walk again, but that operation costs a lot. Twenty-two grand to be exact. He doesn't know that his family can't pay that bill. Heck, he don't even knows about that operation. His family can't tell him, because they would be crushing his dreams of being able to walk again. And that all just because his family is struggling with money,"

"Is he your friend?" Connor asked softly. "I sometimes see you and him walking past when I train,"

"He isn't just a friend. Actually, he is my best friend. He is my little brother," I said with a sad smile. Charlie saw us staring at him so he waved at us. I waved back with a smile and Connor also waved back. I saw that he had a crooked smile on him. Which looks handsome on him may I add.

"I will think about it,"

"What?" I asked. Maybe I miss heard him. "I said that I will think about it,"

I smiled and nodded. "That's enough for me. The fact that you will think about it means a lot. Tell me what you've decided at school tomorrow," Connor only nodded. "Thank you," with that I walked out of the gym. "Come on Charlie, lets go home,"