The First Punch [t.h.]

Chapter 1 - Match One

The air of the spare room is muggy, almost suffocating with the horrendous ventilation. Muffled cheering is being heard from the center of the basement. Rumbling could nearly be felt through the thing walls and makeshift door. The crowd is rowdy. It's always rowdy the first night. That's something everyone can count on opening night. Rowdy, loud, the entire room filled with excitement to watch desperate people beat the hell out of each other as if their lives depended on it. The excitement of a crowd like that is both accelerating and nerve-wracking.

An indie song SJ isn't familiar with plays from Matty's phone while her hand is stuck out. Mikey wraps the off-white wrap around her hand and wrist, making sure to keep it snug but not enough to cut off her circulation. SJ opened and closed her fist on the opposite hand, as if the movement would disperse the ever-growing nerves.

"Good?" Mikey asks, letting go of her now wrapped hand.

"Good." SJ affirms, opening and closing both fists. Her eyes watch her fist, distant and concentrated.

"SJ," Matty starts. "There is another way."

SJ rests her hands in her lap, narrowing her eyes slightly at Matty. "Yeah? Beg your rents, right?"

"They'll loan you the money." Matty urges.

Mikey hangs his head, shaking it and running his hand through the worn gel of his hair.

"Yeah, they'll loan it to me, Matty and then what? I'll still be in debt to someone."

"Not Ian." Mikey scoffs.

"Look," SJ sighs, standing up and grabbing her gloves. "End result, still the same." SJ's calm as she shrugs her shoulder, Mikey and Matty glancing between each other. "You don't have to be here and I wouldn't blame you if you left." Sj's eyes are solely on Matty for a few seconds. "You either." SJ looks to Mikey. "Not yours, not your shit."

Mikey and Matty both groan, annoyed with their friend but understanding her point of view, Mikey more so than Matty.

"What's that thing you say-" Matty starts.

"You do for family...and sometimes your two best friends...and the homeless guy on ninth." Mikey rolls his eyes but there's a reluctant smirk tugging at his lips.

"Homeless guy has cool stories." SJ laughs and bites her lip.

"Yeah, yeah." Matty says. "Point is, not going anywhere." His eyes are soft with worry but he stands up.

SJ looks at Mikey who's already getting to his feet. "I was never out of it. I disagree with everything you do but I'll be damned if something happens to you and I'm not there to help." Mikey smirks, flicking SJ's forehead. She hisses in pain as a response. "Well, let's go." Mikey laughs, resting a hand on her shoulder.

The three of them make their way down the long, cold hallway, a strange contrast from the room they were in. The ceiling above them produced muffled music and thumping from the club dancers but SJ's focus was on the growing sound coming from the center of the basement. The rumbling of feet hitting the floor grew louder and the cheers escalated. SJ's palms sweat as they got closer and her heart ached in her chest with every step she took. The ringing in her ears is barely noticeable over her nerves.