Fighting Chance

Flat Tire

My scream echoed off the wall as I collapsed onto my knees. Around me the crowd responded with roars of approval and enthusiasm. I raised both my arms up earning another deafening cry from the onlookers. Tearing my eyes off the bloody man on the ground I stepped out of the ring made my way through the crowd back to my room.

I unwrapped my hands to reveal previous scabs had been reopened. As I got to work bandaging those up, Michael - my manager - stumbled in with his three layers of fur coats and three accessories of women.

"You did a great job out there once again kid. got a 430 cut from your bets tonight." He chucked a plastic bag of cash into my lap followed by a bottle of bourbon.

"Thanks mike," I pocketed the money and attempted to hand back the alcohol, "but I'm still underage for another year."

Mike laughed at that, pushing the bottle back into my chest.

"I know you've got school starting up again in a couple of days. Trust me Spitty you're gonna need that. Tell your mother I said hi by the way."

With that he walked out, his women immediately clinging onto him and praising his far from fit body. I shook my head with a sigh and carried on packing my stuff up. After wiping away the sweat on my body with a rag I slipped on a hoodie and some sweatpants then exited my room. As I climbed the stairs back up to the main room the thumping of music got louder. Once I pushed open the double doors in front of me it revealed a red room, the people inside lounged around on couches, their faces obscured by a haze of smog from their lips.

I nodded at security as I walked out of the VIP section and to the main floor where masses of people danced without a care for personal space. I had to literally force my way through them to get to the exit.

I took a long deep breath of air once the door opened, it's always a relief to get out of there. A familiar black SUV caught my eye. As I made my way over the window rolled down to reveal the bright blond hair of Freddy. Freddy is Mike's driver, but is often in charge of driving me around to.

"Mornin' Spitty. You ready to head home?" Freddy asked while putting out his cigarette and waving the smoke out of the car.

"Of course I fucking am. It's 2am and I have to get ready for school on Monday." With a huff I jumped into the passenger side ignoring what I've been told about how Freddy is my chauffeur not a friend. "How's the wife?" I asked, knowing how much he loved to rave about her. Freddy is married to a lovely woman by the name of Sandy. I don't think anyone could hate that angel.

"She's great actually, in fact I'm going to be a father in about 7 months." I almost squealed when I heard that- these guys where like my brad and Angelina!

"Oh my god Freddy that's amazing! Congratulations!" He was biting his lip in excitement till he himself let out the most unmanly screech I'd ever heard.

"I CAN'T WAIT I AM SO FUCKING PUMPED FOR THIS BABY!" He fist-bumped the air and swerved on the road before reigning in his excitement. I laughed as he apologised, "Sorry I'm just so happy."

"Don't worry 'bout it I'm happy for you guys too."

After that we slipped into comfortable silence for the next five minutes or so until we pulled up at my house. I could basically feel the previous excitement leave my body as I noticed mum's car in the driveway.

After bidding Freddy farewell, I entered my home and observed all the trash lying around. Yep. Mum is home.

"Hey Finn." A voice echoed from the lounge.

I flicked on the lights to reveal my mum smoking a dart on the couch.

"Hey Momma, Michael says 'Hi.' I guess he misses you." She started giggling and dialled up someone on her phone. It was no doubt Michael, and she was without a doubt completely high. My mum and Michael have a booty call every fortnight or so and after socking Michael in the jaw I came to terms with it. I'd rather it be him than some strange druggo she met down at the servo.

We had come to an understanding that my mum didn't need to know about my boxing career. She's not here most of the time to wonder where I am at night anyway. It never occurred to her to question where I had been. She didn't really ask those questions. In fact, she only really asked for money. That question and 'hi' is the vocabulary for about every conversation we've had since my dad left. He didn't leave by choice; I don't blame him because he's dead. Killed on impact by a road train. Simple. Fast. Painless. I guess you couldn't ask for more mercy than that. Regardless however mum went into such a state of denial that in her mind dad really did abandon us. I guess that just shows how messed up she really is.

I ignored the dirty sentences coming from her mouth and swiped up an apple to munch on. I jogged up to my room to finish up some homework I had been given over the holidays. My English teacher, Mrs Maher, had given me additional essay assignments to further my ability. It wasn't a secret that I excelled in English and Mrs Maher liked to push me further than the other students.

It was 5am when I looked over at my clock and I had just finished the last essay I needed to do. Deciding there was no point in sleeping I suited up in some running gear and a hoody and quietly exited my room. As I tip-toed past my mum's bedroom I heard the disturbing sound of squeaky springs combined with moans. Nope I am so out of here. I raced down the stairs, leaping over the ones I knew creaked under weight and busted through the door.

I slowed to a jog and made my way through the neighbourhood. We lived about an 8-minute drive from town, so it took about fourty-five minutes until I reached the quiet streets of town. The only people roaming at this hour were early workers and late-night partiers trying to find their way home.

Eventually I arrived at the fence surrounding my school. It was about 7 meters high and wrapped around the whole back of the school where the outdoor courts and grass oval were. I followed alongside it around to the front of the school where I stood in the desolate car park that tomorrow would be filled with year 12's fighting over the best parking spots.

There were about four or five cars in the lot right now, I guess they belonged to teachers. As I approached them, I saw one had a flat tire. I kneeled down to run my hand along it cooing to it as if it were a baby.

"Oh, you poor baby, who would make you drive in your crippled state and ignore your pain?"

I figured I should probably leave a note or something to let them know, but who takes pen and paper everywhere with them? Maybe I should wait around until they come back? Yeah that's what I'll do, in the meantime I might as well check for any damage to the bearings or axle. While laying underneath, I didn't notice the clicking heels that stopped at my feet protruding from underneath.

"What the hell do you think you're doing to my car you little brat!?" A woman's shrill voice screamed and I startled, whacking my head on the metal above me. I grunted in pain, followed immediately by a yelp as I was suddenly pulled along the rough asphalt to be met with the furious face of a woman who was no doubt the owner of this poor car.

I snapped out of it before I could look at her closer and rolled over to hide my identity and began to sprint away, but not before she reached for my ankle and took my fucking shoe.

"You get back here young man!" The woman called out, thankfully she did not give chase. If I woman can chase you down in heels like that you best just give up there and then.

"You have a flat tire!" I ignored her orders and stuck my middle finger up in the air for good measure.

I ran straight home after that one shoed and very shaken, not stopping until I reached home and collapsed onto my bed. I stayed in there as I calmed my racing heart.

I looked over at the clock to see it was midday so I set an alarm for 6pm tonight and slowly drifted off to sleep. My heart still pumping rapidly in my chest. I didn't know if it was fear from being caught or embarrassment from it being a woman. I hope she doesn't recognise me around school on Monday. I am really going to miss that shoe.