Fighting Liliana

Chapter Eight

I swing the door open and all I see is Parker sitting across from it, reading a book. "Parker, what are you doing?", I ask. "Liliana! You're okay!", he jumps up and hugs me tightly. I'm still irritated for the way him and my best friends acted yesterday, but I missed his hugs. I hugged him back and laughed, "I'm fine. Why are you still out here?", I ask.

"Because I couldn't leave until I actually saw that you were okay with my own eyes.", he smiles. "You're sweet. Now you see that I'm okay, you can go.", I say and start walking to my car. "Where are we going?", Parker asks. I stop and look at him funny, "Parker, I'M going to buy a new phone. You're going home and going to sleep.", I say. "What happened to your old phone?", he asks. "I threw it and it shattered.", I reply.

I get into my car and Parker follows, getting into the passenger seat. I look at him weirdly, once again. "Parker, I am okay. Please go get some rest.", I say. "But I don't want you to do anything.", he frowns. "What are you talking about Parker?", I ask. "The girls, they told me about your suicide attempt when you were 18.", he says quietly. I slam my hands on my steering wheel. "That's it. Get out.", I say.

"But Liliana-", I cut him off. "Stop getting into my business. You think I need some babysitter, but I don't.", I say. "Lil, I didn't mean it like that. I just want you to be okay.", he says. "I'll be okay if you all do what I say and give me some space.", I yell. "You're so stubborn.", he says and gets out, slamming my door. I look at him, shocked and not knowing what to say. I drove to the mall to get a new phone.

When I got there, I saw two girls from my old high school and they waved at me. "Hey Liliana.", one says. "Hi.", I smile and wave. "You totally kicked ass last night after the fight.", the second one says. I walk over to see what they're looking at on their phone and it's a video of me kicking Mya Bridges after our fight. "Oh my goodness. Who recorded this?", I ask. "We don't know, but it's all over Clearwater Rapids", the first one says.

I wave goodbye to them and I run into the store to get my phone. Once it's paid for, I set it up and call my boss at Ora's. He instantly picks up, "Where are you Liliana?", he yells. "I'm sorry sir, I had a long day yesterday.", I say. "Yeah I saw your video of you beating on Mya Bridges. We can't have that kind of negativity at Ora's. You have been fired Liliana, I'm sorry. You can come pick up your last check.", he says sadly and hangs up. I feel tears start to build up and I speed home.

I run into my apartment and I start throwing things. I throw my Ora's apron, and I fall to the floor crying. Nothing is going my way right now. Maybe everyone is right, maybe I should stop boxing. It's ruining my life. Everything was just coming together, now I don't have friends, my brother hates me, I don't have a job, I'm skipping my classes, and my damn head hurts. I wish my mom and dad were here.

No matter what, they always knew what to do. I could really use their brains and guidance, right now. I grab my phone and I head out the door. I get in my car, and I drive until I finally get to where I'm going. "McLeery Cemetery.", I read aloud. I pull in and I walk over to my parents tombstones. I read the graves, that say Loretta, and Sammy Johnson.

"Mom, dad, I miss you both so much. I know that after you guys left, I didn't come visit. I didn't know how to come visit, I let you guys down so much after you left. I started doing drugs, I got involved with the wrong crowd. I got better though. I went to therapy and I got better. The therapy clearly wore out though because I am started to let you guys down again. Letting you guys down is the last thing I ever wanted to do. Without you guys, I feel like I don't have the right guidance anymore. I never know what to do right. Everything I ever is do is wrong now. I'm messing up my friendships, my family, I mean our family, and I'm messing things up with the guy that I liked. Please help me guys. I don't know what to do anymore. I wish I just died with you guys in the car accident.", I cry.

I start to walk away from the grave and back to my car when I see a little girl staring at me. "Mommy why is she crying?", she asks her mom while pointing at me. "She must've lost someone too, sweetheart.", she says and gives me a warm smile. I smile at them, and I get into my car. I start driving down the street back to my apartment, and I start crying again. This feels like the 50th time I have cried today.

I walk in my apartment, and I grab my black nail polish. I start painting my nails, and I listen to music. I stop crying and finally start thinking rationally. I can't let my friends down, I can't let my brother down, and I can't let Parker down. Most of all, I can't let myself down. I have to get myself together. Once I'm cleared from this concussion, I'm getting back in the ring. Besides hanging out with my friends, I haven't had anything else to help me control my pain and anger.

Boxing helps me so much. Parker helps me even more. After Josh, I swore that I would never give another guy a chance. I don't want to, but Parker makes it hard. The way he cares for me, the way he makes me smile, the way he smiles, it's all amazing to me. He knows about all of my issues and baggage, but he never judged me. I got off of the floor, and I called Parker. "Hello? Are you okay Liliana?", he asks. "Yes, where are you?", I ask. "I'm at the gym.", he says.

I hang up, and I run out the door. I walk down the street with a smile on my face and then I see our boxing gym. I run in there with a smile on my face. "Parker!", I yell. I get dizzy for a minute so I lean against a bench. "Parker where are you?" I ask, yelling even louder. "Lil, I'm right here.", he replies. I turn around and I see him, sweating from hitting the punching bag. I laugh and run up to him, giving him the biggest hug ever. "Parker, thank you for everything.", I say sweetly. "Lil, are you okay?", he asks. "Yes, better than ever.", I smile, hugging him again.

"You never hug me first, I feel special today. Is it the way I did my hair or is it the cut off shirt, showing off my tattoos?", he smirked. "You're an idiot.", I laughed, pushing him away from me. "How's your head feeling Lil?", he asked. "It feels okay. It's pounding, but it was worth it.", I say shrugging. "Hell yeah. You were giving it to her in that fight until she broke the rules.", he sighs.

"I know. Next time I got it though. I'm going to tell her, I want to fight her again.", I smile. "What? Lil, I don't think that's the best idea.", he says. "I know it isn't, but when have I ever had the best ideas?", I ask laughing. He laughs with me, "You're right. We'll work and practice for this fight.", he says. "You're right. We definitely have to practice. If she breaks the rules again, I'm just going to do the same thing.", I shrug. "There's my feisty Lil.", he laughs.

"When can we start training?", I ask him impatiently. "When you're fully healed from that concussion Lil. This isn't the NFL.", he says sarcastically. "Would you believe me if I said it was healed already?", I ask, and give him a big smile. "Considering you were completely out of it yesterday, I'd say no.", he laughs. "Whatever.", I roll my eyes. "You're cute when you're angry Lil pickle.", he tells me. "Lil pickle?", I snort.

"Yeah you know, like Dill Pickles. You're my Lil pickle.", he cheekily smiles. "I like you Parker.", I say quietly. His head snaps towards me. "What?", he asks. "I like you, Parker. I told myself I would never fall for another guy after all of the shit Josh put me through, but I like you. You make me feel like I'm actually worth something on this earth. Since the day we met, you made me feel like I was someone new.

When I'm with you, I don't have a care in the world. I like you a lot.", I smile. "I like you too Liliana. You already knew that though, didn't you?", he asks laughing. "I did!", I laugh with him. I grab his hand and stare into his eyes. "Thanks for being so cool, Parker. It means so much more than you think.", I say to him. "It's no biggie. I've always wanted a kick-ass boxer girlfriend to go along with me anyways.", he laughs. "You're so cliché.", I laugh with him.