By Another Name (Editing)

Appearances

My heart sank as I realised how busy and tiring my days were going to be now.

After the breakfast stuff was all cleared away me and Static hoped into the van with a pillow and he drove us off. A ten minute drive later we arrived at one of the rocky outcrops that rise up out of the desert.

"It's up at the top."

"What is?"

"The sand pit"

"Okay..."

Turned out the sand pit was exactly what it sounded like, a medium sized hollow in the rock where sand had accumulated over time.

"The sand gives a little cushioning, but there's hardly any cactus thorns up here." he explained.

He moved into the middle of the pit, legs apart and arms loose at his sides.

"Hit me"

"What?"

"Come on, try and hit me"

"But-"

"No buts, hurry up"

I moved so I was in front of him took a gentle swipe at his head. He easily deflected it with his arm.

"That was rubbish! Try and hit me properly"

"Fine then, I will!"

This time I went for his stomach, but he caught my wrist and twisted my arm so I ended up with him behind me and my arm pressed against my back.

"Don't tell me that's your best!" he taunted as he released me.

This time I tried making a faint at his shoulder with one hand and going for his head with the other, but that failed when he stepped back. I took my own step to catch up with him then aimed first my left arm at his stomach, then my right at his nose, but he caught my fists in his palms and forced them to cross at an uncomfortable angel. I tried to pull free but he held me still.

"I'm beat, let me go"

"You're not beaten! I'm not letting you give up just yet."

I glared at him, then tried to think of a way round this. My hands were no use, my head was too far away to get a good head butt in or to bite him. My legs, however, were free and his legs were still apart.

"Static, I've never fought in my life. I have no idea what to do."

"But you are very clever, work it ou-"

He stopped because that was when I kneed him in the balls, or at least, tried to. He brought his own leg up like a shield so I ended up kneeing his thigh.

He winked at me, and said "Good, but not good enough" then released my fists and grabbed my knee and yanked up causing me to overbalance backwards, landing flat on my back in the sand bashing my head. Guess what. Turns out sand is only marginally softer than rock. Isn't that great.

"Oww" I groaned, sitting up and rubbing the back of my head.

"Not bad, for a beginner"

"And there was me thinking that not landing a single hit and ending up flat on my back without you even breaking a sweat was a bad sign."

"I never said you were good compared to me. Or anyone else whose ever been in more than one fight for that matter"

"Well thanks!"

"You're welcome. Now I've got an idea about how good you are it's time to start the training properly. Make a fist." I did so "Good, you keep your thumb on the outside, at least you're not going to break your thumb whenever you punch something."