Fighting Liliana

Chapter Six

"Why are you so mad? You kick ass.", he says. "I'm nowhere near ready for my first fight Parker. I told you I wasn't fighting in the first place, but especially not this early and with a hurt hand", I say. "Too late. I already signed you up, unless you want to wuss out of it ", he smirks. "I don't like following rules.", I say to him. "So maybe you'll enjoy underground fighting, more", he says. "Underground fighting?", I ask. "We'll work your way up to it, but first you box.", Parker says walking to the locker room.

As I'm walking out the door, I see Cierra and Gigi watching me. "Cierra when did you get here?", I ask. "I saw Gigi, and walked over from work. How are things with Ken in there?", she asks. "Who's Ken?", I ask laughing. "Parker. He looks like Barbie's boyfriend, Ken.", she replies. I start laughing and ask "When did Ken have tattoos and gauges in his ears?" "Now, I guess", she laughs too. "Let's go to my place and watch movies.", I say. "I will, but Gigi has a date.", Cierra says.

I look at her and she immediately looks away. "Don't ask. I met him on Tinder.", she laughs. "Okay, well you have fun. Come back to my place when you're done being catfished.", I say. "What if I go back to his place?", she winks. "Eww, come on Lil.", Cierra says, pulling me towards my apartment. "So, I heard Parker wants you to fight tomorrow.", she says as we're walking. "He does. I'm going to do it.", I say.

Cierra stops and looks at me like she's pissed. "Are you crazy Liliana?", she yells. "No. Maybe, I don't know.", I say confused. "You're going to get hurt!", she yells. "I'll be fine.", I tell her. "I hope so Lil, I really do. Your wrist is already fractured.", she says, concerned. "Will you guys come show support?", I ask her. "Of course. Giovanna will be there too, unless she's at tinder dudes house.", she says, laughing. We walk into my apartment and I tell Cierra to find movies while I take a quick shower. I start thinking about tomorrows fight.

What if I do get hurt, or what if I die. My brother would be alone, and my friends would miss me. Maybe, I'm wrong. Maybe everyone won't miss me and they'll just forget about me. I think the main reason I want to do this fight tomorrow is because there's a chance I could get hurt or die. I won't have to think about Josh anymore, and I could be with my parents. I don't know how I always get caught up in my thoughts like this, but it makes me feel awful. I don't even feel like having a movie night with Cierra anymore.

I snap out of my thoughts when I hear a ding from my phone. It was a text from Parker. He said, "I know you're probably caught up in your thoughts about the fight right now, but don't be. You're going to do great. I got you a great first opponent. Relax and I'll pick you up from work when you get off at noon." "Thank you Parker. You know me so well, I was definitely caught up in my thoughts, and this time not about you (;", I send. "What the hell just came over me?", I ask myself.

I quickly get in the shower and then I go watch La La Land with Cierra. Cierra ends up falling asleep on my couch, and I go to bed in my room because I know I work at six in the morning tomorrow. I wake up in the morning smiling, then I remember that the fight is today. I instantly get butterflies in my stomach, and feel like I'm going to throw up. I walk out of my bedroom and into the living room to see Cierra was still there passed out.

I left her a note that said I was going to work and that she could let herself out. I walk to work and quickly clock in so I can help the person waiting in line. "Hi, what can I help you with today?", I ask her politely. "Can I just have a bottle of the sparkling water.", she replies rudely. "Sure, you can!", I say smiling. The girl has short black hair and these vicious green eyes.

She gets a phone call and answers while telling me to hold on with one finger. "Hey coach", she says. "I'm super ready to fight today. I have no idea who this Liliana girl even is, she must be new to boxing, so I'm sure our match will go fairly quick.", she laughs. I scoff, "So this is the bitch that's fighting me", I say out loud. "Excuse me?", she asked. "Oh did I say that out loud?", I ask. "You sure did.", she says and looks at my name tag.

She smirks, "I have to go coach, I'll see you later." "So you're the Liliana I'll be fighting today?", she asks. "That's me.", I said nonchalantly. "Well, you don't look like much of a fight to me.", she laughs and pays for her drink. "Whatever, we can discuss that in the ring.", I say angrily. "Of course we can.", she says walking out of Ora's. I quickly go into the bathroom and text Parker, "Come to Ora's soon, please" I go back to work and wait for Parker to show up.

Today was kind of busy, but it still felt like the day was going by super slow because I was so annoyed by the girl who I'm fighting later on today. Parker walks in Ora's smiling, "Ready to rumble?", he asks. When he sees the expression on my face, his smile quickly fades. "What's wrong?", he asks. "That bitch of an opponent you got for me, came in here today.", I reply back angrily. "Whoa, no way? Are you okay?", he asks. "Yes, but I thought you said she was a good opponent?", I reply. "I did. A good opponent as in she can fight just as good as you, not that she's a good person Lil.", he says "Whatever, I just hope I do well.", I sigh.

"You will! Stop stressing", Parker smiles at me. "You ready to go in about 30? Your fight is at 7, we can go over a few things before then.", he says. "Yeah sure, do you want anything while you're waiting?", I ask him. "How about a kiss?", he asks. "How about a no.", I say and get back to work. Once 30 minutes goes by, I clock out and walk over to Parker. He grabs my hand and rubs it, "Everything is going to be okay Liliana.", he tells me. "Okay. Let's go", I say and we walk out of Ora's, and down the street to our boxing gym hand in hand. We walked into the gym and I noticed Parker and I were still holding hands. I smile, and get into the ring.

"Okay, so how do I not die tonight?", I ask laughing. "You're not going to die. You've learned so much since we've started practicing and you're naturally feisty, so. ", Parker says. "You're right, I do kick your ass all the time.", I say smirking. "Okay, let's not get too fond of ourselves. I meant to tell you, I invited a buddy of mine to help us out today.", he says. A tall, slender, man walks over to us. "Hi, I'm Joe.", he says. "Hi, I'm Liliana.", I say shaking his hand. "Well, Liliana. You've got yourself a great coach over here. You have a pretty tough fight tonight though, and the first thing your opponent will do is attack that right hand of yours. I look at my wrist, completely forgetting that I had fractured it. Parker looks at me with an "Oh shit", type of look.

"I see neither of you thought about that.", Joe says. "No, I didn't.", I say quietly. "Should she just take the splint off for the night?", Parker asks Joe. "Not if it's still hurting her too bad, I wouldn't want to mess it up even more, but it's up to Liliana. ", he responds. They both look at me, waiting for an answer. "I'll take it off tonight.", I say. "Are you sure?", Parker asks me. "I'm positive, let's get to work.", I say.

Six hours go by extremely quickly and it's thirty minutes until my fight. "Are you ready Lil?", Gigi asks me. "As ready as I'll ever be.", I reply. Cierra looks at me, "I don't watch much boxing, but I know you need to keep those hands up at all times. Block that pretty face of yours, bitch.", she says. "Will do. I'll see you guys after.", I laugh. "Hey, coach.", I say to Parker, who's pacing back and forth like it's his fight. "Hey, you all dressed and ready to box?", he asks. "Yes.", I say.

He looks at me and walks over to me, standing right in front of me. "Liliana, meeting you is the best thing that has happened to me in a really long time. I need you to win out there, but be safe. Most of all, have fun. You have so many reasons to be angry at the world, and tonight you can release everything you've kept up inside of you for so long. Leave it all in the ring. Your parents would be so proud of you right now. Think about your dad, and how huge of a boxing fan he was. He's looking down at his daughter, knowing she's about to kick ass.", he says.

I give Parker the biggest hug in the entire world and he's completely shocked. "I'm glad I have you, Parker, I like you so much. It's been so long since I've felt this way about a guy.", I say. I hear the match about to start and I head to where I make my entrance. "Introducing first, in this corner, weighing 145lbs, at a height of 5'5, reigning in from Pensacola, Florida. Mya Bridges.", that's my opponent.

I hear boos and some cheers for her. I look at Parker, and he says "Leave it all in the ring Lil" "In this corner, weighing 129lbs, at a height of 5'3, from Clearwater Rapids, VA. Liliana Johnson." I run out and I hear cheers and some boos too. I look back at Parker, then I look at my two best friends who looks terrified for me. I get in the ring and pop my mouth guard in. This is it, this is my first fight. The match starts and Mya heads straight for my head.