To Love A Fighter |||| l.p.

Hideaway

Liam's POV

I sit down to chat with Pat to set up a training schedule for my time here. I think 6 weeks should be good. "So what do ya want to do while you're here bud? Do you want to just box? Learn something new? what is it?" Pat asks. I think about it and decide to learn what this mixed martial arts stuff is. I'm sure it makes a great workout and I can keep my boxing up while I learn something new. "let me take a whack at this MMA business. It should be fun." Pat smiles, "I figured you would. I'm a little too old to train that too much, but the boxers have a lot of fun transitioning to MMA" Pat then breaks down the training regimen of the fighters. Muay thai with Romel, brazilian jiu jitsu with Eddie, wrestling with Blake, I am going to be in so much pain these first few weeks.....brilliant. I smile, excited to focus on something different. Don't get me wrong, I love my life and what I do, I love my fans and wouldn't trade any of it for the world. But, the truth is I loved Sophia. She was amazing. And for us to just end....for no real reason really, I still don't get it. Maybe I never will.

"So you might be training with a few of the other fighters while you go into your sessions. Once you catch on to things you can spar with them, but until then they'll be helping you learn. So you'll probably run into Stella again." he winked.

"My goodness! What is with this girl and why does she keep showing up in my conversations??" I exclaim, and quickly cover my mouth. I meant to think that. Gah. Pat laughed, amused, "you never know man, the universe has a funny way of doing things, I'll see you tomorrow for your first day of training." And with that, he walks off.

I walk around the gym absentmindedly. They have a nice weight room. Great grappling space. I walk by what seems to be a striking room....where I saw Stella on the bag. I shake off the thought of the scary woman. Although, she's really not that scary. She's fierce. Exotic. Deadly. I can respect that. I wonder what kind of guys she dates? Does she date? Who would date her? Everything about her just....radiates fire, so that if you get too close, you are set ablaze. I think that's what's scary. That seems like a bit much for me.

I walk into the striking room because it feels the most familiar and look around the equipment. Towards the back I find a stairway that's partially hidden by heavy bags. Curious, I climb over them and see how high up the staircase is. It must go to the roof. I get excited because I can hear wind blowing, so its open! It sounds silly, but I love sneaking on to rooftops. there's no one there, just breezy quietness, Exactly what I need right now.

I take one look around and start to trek up the stairs quietly. I look up and see the doorway, wow its night already! I quietly open the door and step outside. The electric room is right in front so I start to walk around only to step right back to hide, What is she doing here??!? I peek around and look, luckily there's a bit of shrubbery blocking me, so I'm safe.

Wow.

She's doing yoga. She's in a sports bra and some compression shorts. She let her hair loose, her curls cascade down to her shoulders. You can see her glisten in the starlight, she must have come here right after her last training session. She made herself at home here, I break away from watching to notice a hammock, a small table, and a chair. This looks like a space she made for her and her alone. I suddenly feel intrusive. She obviously doesn't look like that during the day. I would have never guessed such a body was hidden under that intense training. Relaxed, soft, but strong. Her muscles ripple as she balances herself for her next pose. Slow. Steady. Precise. Yea...I definitely shouldn't be here. I start to back away slowly and bump into a potted plant.

Crap.

I turn to run.

Stella's POV

My heart stops halfway through my yoga. I hear something bump and I freeze. Immediately I run to the noise,  ready for blood. No one knows about this place. There must be a thief here! Probably waiting until I left to rob the gym blind! Not on my watch bud! I see him running towards the door and hook his neck with my arm, clamp down, turn, twist and bring him to the ground with hard THUD. "sonofaHURGHH" he gurgles as I clamp the choke down once he's on the ground.  I feel him tap, is he a student? I let go, only to find Liam Payne trying to breathe again. OMG I almost killed Liam Payne! "I....am....so....sorry..." he wheezed. I covered my mouth, why do I have to be such a monster! don't most girls scream if they hear a noise, NOT choke the life out of innocent bystanders? I facepalmed. "Oohhhh I am so sorry! Are you ok? Oh my goodness! Your fans are gonna kill me!" I start to tear up, I feel terrible! He shakes his head as his breathing starts to even out, "its....not...your...fault" he coughs as we both calm down. I can put this also on my resume, choking out international superstars! Ooooiii.....I cover my mouth again. "It is completely my fault. I'm so sorry," my voice quivers a bit. His head snaps up and looks at me curiously as his breathing finally goes back to normal.