Distraction | Hood

one

01.

          An awkward situation it was, as April stood with her hands behind her back, patiently waiting to be paid by the middle-aged woman in front of her.

           The older woman's dark rimmed glasses slid down her nose bridge, as she digs through her leather purse, mumbling incoherent sentences when she couldn't find the fifty dollars she owed.

          April was just about to tell her that she didn't mind being unpaid, but was quickly cut off by the woman pulling out the cash, extending her arm towards her.

          "Here you are, love," she says smiling at April. "And thank you for babysitting my obnoxious little Alex."

          With an appreciative grin, she takes the money and stuffs it into her back pocket, ignoring the slight pang of regret for not being fast enough to decline the bill.

          "Thank you, Mrs. Pullman," April says, her smile never fading, "and don't worry. Alex was a joy to be with."

          That was an utter lie. Alex Pullman was one of the worst kids she'd ever watched, and April was always the one his mother came to whenever she needed someone to look after him. April would cringe at the other end of the phone, as Mrs. Pullman sweetly requests for her service, but agree anyway since she's one of the nicest people she knew. No way in hell, would she ever tell his mother exactly how unbelievably difficult her son is, even if she was pretty sure that kid is on steroids.

          Mrs. Pullman laughs, "always a sweetheart, aren't you darling?" She says, and waves her off. "Alright now, drive safe."

          April releases a light giggle as she waves back, getting into the driver's seat, and turning on the ignition. Her phone suddenly beeps, startling her just as she was about to drive off, signalling that she had received a text. She reaches for the device on the passenger's seat, swiftly unlocks it and opens her text, all under one minute.

          From: Ashton

          Gentle reminder about your fight tonight. See you later, champ. x

          A smile graced her lips, and before she knew it she finds herself hurriedly typing a short reply, as if the message will disappear if she didn't reply fast enough.

          To: Ashton

          Can't wait! See you. :)

          Without even bothering to return to her home screen, she locks her phone and tosses it back to the seat next to hers. A shot of adrenaline coursed through her veins, causing her limbs to shake lightly, as she starts driving home. She couldn't help but smile at the thought of fighting again.

          You see, April wasn't just some regular girl with a babysitting job, and a well-earned degree in sociology. She was more than that; she was a street fighter, and a very well known one, too. Most people wouldn't believe she could fight, until they'd seen it themselves. And it wasn't unusual for April, whenever someone who'd doubted her before came to see her after a fight, to express just how amazed they were by her skills.

          She'd be complimented over and over again, but wouldn't ever let it get to her head, because she believes she owes everything to her considered boss, Ashton Irwin. If it weren't for the curly haired lad, she'd still be struggling to pay rent, and the outstanding water bills kept cooped up together in a shoebox on her desk. If it weren't for him, she could have been forced to drop out of uni, to go full-time in babysitting instead, and even the gods knew how devastating that would be for her.

          A sweet trip down memory lane it was, as April distinctly remembers when Ashton first found her in the gym alone one morning, beating the shit out of the old punching bag placed at the back of the room. It was just one of those days where she felt stressed and insecure, and took it out on a worn out punching bag. Never in her life had she expected to have a well-paying career, accompanied by fame and fortune, just from being caught in awkward eye contact with a certain curly haired stranger with hazel eyes.

          April's smile did not fade once, as she arrives home and climbs out of her car, into the little house she rented with a good friend.

          "Leah, I'm home!" She calls, hanging her car keys on the hook by the door.

          "I am too," her housemate yells back.

          April slips off her shoes and places them neatly by the door, then lightly jogs to the living room. There, she found Leah lying on their cream coloured couch, with a bowl of slightly burnt popcorn in her hands while she watched her favourite show. She turns around, and immediately offers April her snack.

          "Care to join?" She asks, flashing a smile.

          April wishes she could say yes, considering she'd been too busy to spend time with her lately, but she knew she had to blow her off again. Knowing Leah, she'd surely understand, but that doesn't erase the guilt she feels in the pit of her stomach.

          With an apologetic look, she shakes her head no. "Sorry Lee, but I kind of have a fight later. Ashton's booked me for the night."

          Leah playfully pouts at her friend, but then nods in understanding, just like she always does when she gets rejected. "It's okay, just be safe, alright?"

          April nods, and smiles at her before going to her room to get ready. She honestly feels really bad for basically choosing her job over Leah, but what could she do -- Ashton was paying her for this. And if she won, she might even get to have more money than expected, which would benefit both her and Leah. So this couldn't be wrong, right?

          She shook her head out of her thoughts, and proceeded to rummage through her closet, looking for her fighting attire. She had to click into gear. She had to start mentally preparing herself, because fights were never easy to win.

          But little did she know, that there would be a pair of eyes in the crowd that night, belonging to someone whose intentions were far from good.

-

a/n

hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter. will update the next as soon as possible :)

-- tiffany :)