Fighting For Life (published)

Now that we're friends

She turned to me and sneered when Aiden dismissed her. She then walked out of the door defeatedly. I couldn't help but to smile triumphantly at her for being a bitch.

I took Aiden's jacket all the way off once she closed the door. I could feel that everyone in the room had their eyes on me. I suddenly felt very self-conscious due to their stares as I turned my back to them.

"What?" I asked shortly while looking around.

"So now we know who you ditched us for last night." Brandon said with a sly grin. "If you wanted to get laid, you could have just told us and we would've understood." He added with a shrug.

I turned toward them, not completely understanding what they were talking about.

"Brandon, it's none of your business." Aiden stated quickly giving him a stern look and an eyeroll.

"So Aubry, how was it?" Brandon asked with a goofy smile and wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"Wh-what?" I asked as he put his arm playfully around me.

"Brandon, shut up!" Aiden yelled at him pushing his arm off of me with a huff. "Aubry and I didn't sleep together. Now, that's enough."

I shifted uncomfortably, Brandon didn't look like he believed him so I chimed in, "um we actually ran into each other while walking after a particularly bad night for both of us, ya know... shitty thanksgiving and all. Then we both just came and worked out together for a bit... When we were done, Aiden lent me his jacket because I forgot my big one at home in the haste of escaping my crazy family. That's pretty much it... nothing else is going on between us."

Aiden looked at Brandon with an 'I told you so' look and nodded at me. "Yeah, that's it. Nothing scandalous or anything. I swear, B, you're than a female about gossip."

We all laughed along with his words, even B. Though, he did seem to catch the noticeable difference in mine and Aiden's interactions that day.

Aiden was a lot nicer that day. Though he was still abrupt and uncouth, he was respectful and more patient. He was still a very good teacher though.

He explained to me the game plan for meeting with Trey, the Underground's owner, the next day. It was supposed to be just a simple little meeting just introducing me to him, so he would schedule the fight for the next day. He was explaining all of that to me. The man seemed pretty volatile. However, I needed to know what I was up against so I was glad that he wasn't sugar coating it.

Once I was loose and ready, Aiden called us ready for the sparring match.

I walked up to the mats and did a quick once over of the men that were standing before me. I was both nervous and excited at the prospect of fighting the large men. Nervous because pretty much all of them were giant and scary looking. However, Daniel was at least twice each of their size, so I wasn't too intimidated by them. I was excited because I believed that I could beat them, I wanted to. I knew that I could. They were elite, but I was desperate. I believed that my desperateness could beat their bulk.

As soon as Aiden explained that I was going to be their opponent, they laughed. That irritated me and I let myself get angry at their dismissal. I was better when I was angry.

The first one stepped forward and scoffed. "This is who I'm fighting?" He asked.

Aiden nodded and backed off the mats. "Fight!" He yelled with a smirk.

However, the boy was still looking around making fun of me. With him distracted, I quickly went towards him and nailed him right in the jaw. His head snapped to the side and I punched again before he could get his bearings back. He stumbled back and I kicked out making him gasp when I came into contact with his stomach. With the air knocked out of him, he tried to punch out to me, but I weaved to the side due to his slow lacked-oxygen sloppy punch. Once I weaved, I punched again. Though, he dodged it, I turned and did sent a powerful kick right to his chest. He fell and clutched at his chest for air. He didn't get back up as he tried to breathe.

I smirked in triumph.

That was pretty much how the other two fights went. However, the fourth one, my last one, was long and grueling. We were pretty much evenly matched, but in completely different ways. He was big and strong while I was small and quick. I ended up having the advantage because I was so small and quick. He eventually got worn out by me and I was able to lay one ending punch to his mouth making him fall to the ground and pant in defeat.

I smirked proudly at the guys who underestimated me. I had a long way to go, but I was doing good... and that felt good.

After the fights I went and showered. Due to the holiday, they were closing early, just like how they opened early. It was barely five, but every one was beat from working out all day... especially me. I was so tired and so very hungry.

"Aubry?" Aiden asked hesitantly. I turned to him as I was doing my make up. "Now that we're um, friends... would you like to come to my house for dinner tonight? We're having spaghetti and my mom always makes way too much." Aiden asked.

My eyes went wide in panic, but my mouth watered with the prospect of food. I had never ever met anyone else's parents before... not in that way at least. I had never had friends before and the thought of meeting someone's family was terrifying to me. I mean, even the people who were supposed to love me, hated me. I couldn't fathom people who didn't need to have anything to do with me liking me.

Aiden must have sensed my uneasiness and added, "Brandon and tom are going to be there as well... I just thought that maybe it'd be nice, but if you don't want to..."

"Spaghetti, you say?" I said with a smile at his nervousness. "Spaghetti is my favorite! Yes, I'd like to come to dinner with you."