Bell to Bell: A Boxing Story

CHAPTER SIX

Gabe was back in the locker rooms. His sweat and blood dripped onto the concrete floor below. His hands were shaking and his vision blurred. He was severely hurt, but as Michelle walked around the corner, he hid it. 

"Hey, the promoter let me back here, I told him I was a good friend of yours." Michelle said as she walked in.

"Hey." was the only word Gabe muttered.

"Are you okay? You seem off."

"I'm just a little dizzy from the fight, nothing to worry about, promise."

"How bad is it?"

"It's nothing. I'll be okay, I just need some rest."

"You need to get checked out, you could be seriously hurt."

"I said I'm fine, now leave it alone"

"Okay. I just worry"

"I know. I'm sorry I snapped. Come here." Gabe apologized waving her over.

Michelle sat beside Gabe. She could see his whole body shaking almost as if his body was sitting in the freezing cold weather. She looked at Gabe, who hasn't even looked up since he motioned Michelle over, his eyes were so focused on his hands like they weren't even his. Michelle didn't know what to do or say. Even if she did, she doubted it would get through to him. He was so out of it. He seemed like a completely different person in this moment. His eyes were glossed over, his knuckles were white from squeezing his hands so tightly together, the blood from his fight was dried on his shirt, but it was like he didn't realize that any of this was happening.

Michelle leaned her head down as an act of accepting that she couldn't do anything to help. Her hands lied freely down by her sides. She had a full body expression of submission and acceptance. Just as she gave up, a hand grabbed hers. It was Gabe's hand. His hand felt ice cold. Felt like death's grip, but Michelle grabbed his hand back. 

"Do you want to get out of here?" Gabe asked Michelle.

Michelle nodded and the two left. The two walked back to the spot Gabe was staying at under the bridge. The walk took longer than normal as Gabe was sluggish from his fights and tended to walk slower. The two talked as they walked, well Michelle talked, Gabe listened. He didn't say much since they left, maybe a few words here and there, but that was it. 

Even though Gabe was with her, Michelle felt alone as they walked. Gabe had very vague responses to anything she said, he said nothing of his own. He left all the talking to Michelle who, sadly, felt abandoned in the moments between them. Gabe's silence was like a ghostly presence to Michelle. 

She couldn't help but worry about Gabe, as he took a lot of damage in his last fight. No matter what Michelle tried, she couldn't get him to tell her how bad he was hurt, but she knew it was worse than what he let on. She walked beside him, wondering if he'll be okay.

They walked to the bridge. Neither said a word to the other. As they neared the bridge, Michelle seen red and blue lights flashing behind them.

The car stopped and a male officer got out the vehicle.

"Gabe Calloway?" The officer asked.

"Yeah, that's me." Gabe replied, this was the first actual sentence he spoke in awhile.

"Your mother called us and said you ran away with some young girl."

"Of course, that's just like her. To be clear, I didn't run away, I need a few days to myself so I came to camp under the bridge. As for the girl, she's just keeping me company and keeping me in check, but she didn't run away with me."

"That may be, but I am charged with bringing you home to your mother."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'm not going anywhere."

"Come on Gabe, just cooperate with me."

"I'm not going anywhere. You can tell my mom that I'm not coming home anytime soon."

"Look, I don't want to use force to get you to come with me, but I will if you don't cooperate."

"Like I said, I'm not going anywhere."

The two stared at each other, neither giving ground. Even though it was between Gabe and the officer, it felt like a boxing match. The atmosphere was heavy almost like something bad was going to happen.

"Gabe Calloway, you are under arrest for defying police orders." The cop said, pulling out his handcuffs.

He walked toward Gabe, who looked like he was ready for a fight.

"Please do not resist. It'll make things easier on both of us." The officer said grabbing Gabe's arm.

Gabe pulled his arm away and began to resist. He struggled against the officer for a few moments before being overpowered, but still managed to get a few hits in.

"Gabe Calloway, you are under arrest for assault on a police officer and resisting arrest." the officer said as he began to read Gabe his Miranda Rights.

Gabe was put into the back of the cop car. Michelle tried pleading with the officer to let him go. She defended Gabe and told the officer that the only reason he fought back was because he had a lot going on. The officer explained that originally he wasn't going to book Gabe, but hold him until his mother came, but since Gabe fought against the officer, he had no choice but to arrest him. 

After explaining the ordeal to Michelle, the officer drove off.