The Masks We Wear

Ch, 5

"Finally ..." William said once we got to the gym.

"Wow, you followed me," I said while walking inside. "Why exactly?"

"Everyone keeps telling me that you're cool and I should get to know you." I glared at him and made sure he knew how serious I was by showing him my wild yellow eyes. For a second his red eyes showed pure fear but he quickly calmed down and looked at me seriously.

"I'm not going to tell anyone and no one else knows." My eyes went back to normal.

"Look, the fact that you know is huge. I've done everything I can to keep this a very private secret since I got my powers. I made sure to not tell anyone and the only other person who knows was there on the first night I got them and now ... there's you."

"You're ... scared?" he looked confused while asking.

"No, I'm terrified. In fact, most of the school day I was trying to stay calm, but..." I got angry and my voice turned into a low growl, "If you ever tell anyone, I will kill you." I went and took a few deep breaths as I sighed entering the gym. William paid for the day pass while I got changed. Shorts, a sleeveless shirt, running shoes, and MMA gloves.

"That was the closest I've gotten to snapping in months," I thought while leaving the locker room. I saw William walking over with a gym bag.

-Where did he get that? Whatever, I'm not losing my break.- I walked over to the yoga studio where both Charles and Maria were waiting for me. The three of us usually trained together.

"You actually showed up!" Charles said surprised.

"Cough up the twenty," Maria said holding out her hand. Charles slapped the money into her hand. "He never misses a sparring day."

"You thought I would miss?" I asked while looking at him like he was stupid.

"Hey, you were pretty ticked off okay."

"Naw man you're giving me twenty too."

"Heck no!" We all smiled and chuckled. "Well this works great then," Charles said, "I'm sure you've heard of the new kid at your school with goat-like qualities."

"Heard of him? He's not just in my class; he followed me here," I said making sure it was clear how annoyed I was.

"Yeah, we told him too," Charles said in a matter of fact tone.

"Good, we were going to train him ourselves, but~ since you're here maybe you could," Maria said happily before I cut her off.

"No."

"Why not?!" she said sounding frustrated.

"You already know why. I use boxing and imitation martial arts. First of all, I'm nowhere near skilled enough to teach anyone. Secondly, you can't teach imitation martial arts. Finally, what makes you think I want to?"

"You're skilled enough to fight off your cousin for a while holding back," the Italian boy said before adjusting his glasses, his eyes looking at me with concern, "Dude you barely get out plus you keep to yourself A LOT."

"Yeah, so what, it's not like need that many people in my life."

"Yeah but still do hang out with anyone aside from us when we are having our sparring days?"

"No, I'm busy."

"With what?" Maria chimed in.

"Basketball, school, and trying to get any type of free time," I lied as the church took up most of the rest of my time. Charles sighed as Maria leaned over and whispered something into his ear as the two both looked at each other and smiled.

"What do you say we make a bet?" "No."

"Alfredo," Charles said knowing my weakness one of my main weaknesses.

"Fine, but I decide who fights who."

"Deal," both of them said at the same time.

"So who's going to be fighting?" Maria asked just as Will walked in wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts and white shoes.

"Perfect timing. If Will wins I'll train him but if Maria wins, I get Alfredo. Also; I'll be recording the entire thing and if Maria loses, I'm posting this on social media and youtube."

"What! That's not!" Maria was about to scream but was cut off.

"Okay then," we all turned to William who was looked determined. "Make sure you don't hold back!"