Bell to Bell: A Boxing Story

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Did you mean what you said, about already being claimed by someone?" Michelle asked.

"Well, yeah. We've been hanging together everyday for almost 2 months now. We've had some intense moments between us, plus we've kissed already. I know that we're not 'officially' together, but I don't want to be taken by anyone except you. In my mind, we're together already."

"I had no idea that you felt like that. I've honestly wanted to be with you for a while now, but I could never figure out how to ask you. Every time that I thought of asking you, I became nervous of what you might say. Even after our kiss, I was still scared to ask. Knowing how you feel about it makes me happy. Does that mean that we are 'official' now?"

"Yeah, I guess it does." Gabe said.

The two went on to talk about their new relationship. They were excited to go through this new chapter in their lives. In fact, their excitement caused them to talk long into the night. 

"Looks like it's getting late. Ready for bed?"

"Yeah, I'm getting pretty tired. So, listen. Tomorrow I have to go back home to get my clothes, I wanted to ask if you will come with me. I know it's a lot to ask, but I really don't want to deal with my mother, at least not alone. Please? It won't take long, I promise. We'll be in and out before you know it."

"In and out? Promise?"

"Promise."

"Okay. I'll go with you tomorrow." 

"Great, well, I guess we should head to bed."

Michelle and Gabe walked to their rooms, hand in hand.

"I think this is where we go our separate ways." Gabe said, jokingly.

"Unfortunately." Michelle said.

She leaned in for a kiss, as did Gabe. The two shared their first kiss together as a couple. This kiss felt different than the first one they shared. This kiss had more passion and feeling behind it than any other. 

Though the night before was full of amazing emotions, the morning was not. The thought of having to go to his mother's home plagued him. He did not want to see her or even be near her, but he had no choice. Soon, the two had come face to face with her. 

"Look who decided to come back. It's about time you come to apologize to me for being disgraceful towards me."

"I'm not here to apologize to you, I'm here for my stuff and that's it."

"Well, since you're here, you owe me an apology and I want it now!"

"I don't care what you want right now, I'm just here for my stuff. Once I get it, I'm gone."

"It's not your stuff, it's in my house, so it belongs to me."

"I paid for this house! I paid the bills! I am the reason you have this house! You don't pay for anything in this house, I do! This is my house, everything in here is mine!"

"If it's your  house, why do you need your stuff then?"

"Because I'm leaving. I'm moving out. I'm getting all my stuff and leaving! You want this house? You can have it! Good luck living here without me!"

"Like I need you. I never needed you!"

"You're right, you never needed me. All you needed was my money."

"There you go again, always making things about you! Just like your father!"

"It is about me! It has always been about me! It's always my fault if things don't go your way. It's my fault that things are so bad for you. Everything is my fault! And you want to know something, I am glad to be like my father! At least, he didn't blame people for him becoming a failure! He didn't put the weight of all the responsibilities of adulthood on his child, when his child was just twelve years old! My father will always be a better parent than you ever will! I'm proud to be like my father! If I was like you, I don't think I could live with the disappointment of being like you!"

A stinging sensation came across Gabe's face. A slap. A slap from his mother. A mother who was looking at her child like he was the scum of the earth. Gabe, seemingly unfazed by the fact that his mother just hit him, looked at Michelle and asked if she was ready to go.

"Are you okay?" Michelle asked as they left his house.

"I'm sick of it! I'm sick of her throwing my father under the bus when she knows that everything I've said is true! I'm sick of always being the one at fault, no matter what! I'm sick of the fact that I had to give up my childhood for her! I deserve more than that!"

Michelle was speechless, she didn't know what to do, so she stopped and pulled him in close for a hug.

"Why was nothing I ever did good enough her?" Gabe said, with tears streaming down his cheeks." I gave up so much for her, but she never appreciated anything I ever did. I was never good enough for her!"

"It's not your fault. You have done everything you could for her, it's not your fault that it's not enough for her, it's hers. You have done more for her than you should have. Listen to me, never think that you are not good enough for anyone. You are more than enough. I couldn't ask for anyone better than you in my life, and neither could she. If she can't see that you have given up your life for her, that makes her not good enough for you, not the other way around."

"You really believe that I'm enough for you?"

"Of course I do, no one has ever made me feel the way that you have. Everything you have done for me, is worth more than it's weight in gold. You will never be anything less than enough for me, but you will always be more than I could have ever asked for."

"I'm so glad that you came with me. I don't think I could've dealt with her the way I did if you weren't by my side the whole way."

The two walked back to Michelle's place, hand in hand, holding each other close.