KNOCK OUT [LH]

Chapter 11: We Are Not Friends

"Yikes!" I wince, biting down on my fist as I nudge the random dude standing next to me. "That's gonna bruise." I note when one of the boxers stumbles backward into the ropes after receiving a hard blow to the ribs.

The random dude beside me nods, shoveling a handful of popcorn into his mouth, crunching it loudly, as neither of us take our eyes off the brutal match playing out before us in the boxing ring.

Now, I know what you're thinking... Winnie, didn't you tell Calum you had zero intention of attending another illegal boxing match in the near future?

Well the answer is yes, I did.

Which is why Calum doesn't know that I am once again standing in the dingy basement of The Rumble, watching Luke Hemmings' flaming fists completely destroy his unlucky opponent with every punch he lands.

But I'm here for a very important reason.

I have decided to purposely go against my own oath and Luke's firm demands to stay away from The Rumble, for the primary sake of following a crucial plot point included in the many boxer fanfics I've read.

It's the classic: boxer tells the main character to stay away from the ring because it's dangerous... blah, blah, blah. Only to have the main character go against his wishes and show up to another match anyway, like the rebel she is. Supposedly, this drives the boxer absolutely insane, in a good sorta sexual tension kind of way, which is great for their blossoming, yet still uncertain, relationship.

Which is just what I need to keep my project on track. So, here I am... being my natural rebellious self.

"THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, HEMMINGS!" I cheer as Luke delivers his infamous left hook to his opponent's jaw, knocking them clean off their feet as the final bell rings, signaling both the end of the match and Luke's expected victory.

Surprise, surprise.

As the rowdy crowd howls for their champion, the referee tries to grab and raise Luke's arm up victoriously, but the boxer seems to have other plans as he easily slips past the referee, ducking under the ropes of the ring.

Now, I should be scrambling off to follow the short tempered boxer like all the main characters do after a match, but I don't think that will be necessary tonight, because Luke Hemmings' blue eyes are purely focused on me in a furious blaze as he shoves his way through the crowd, undeniably heading in my direction.

When Luke's only a few strides away I send him a toothy grin, mimicking his left hook in the air as he approaches. "Hey dude, those were some sick punches you were thro-"

The rest of my words are quickly swallowed when Luke wordlessly grips onto the collar of my sweater, yanking me forward through the crowd as the attendants split like Moses and the Red Sea, scurrying to get out of our way as they both curiously and fearfully observe the two of us.

"See you later, man!" I call over my shoulder to the random dude I was standing next to, and he gives me a weirded out look, mouth still packed with popcorn, but shoots me a small wave anyway as I continue to stumble behind Luke in attempts to keep up with his long legs while we move toward the back section of the basement.

Forcefully pushing open the metal double doors, the boxer pulls me inside behind him before continuing his wrathful stomp down the dim hallway and into one of the small rooms off to the side; when we enter I don't even have time to glance around the new room, because Luke is slamming me into the door, closing it loudly behind me as he traps me between his arms, palms still wrapped with boxing tape pressed into the metal beside my head.