The Gangleader and Me(ON HOLD)

•Chapter 5•

Ashley's POV:

It was finally Saturday. I woke up extra early and went to the gym where I train for my street fights. I walk down the flight of stairs. I looked around and saw nobody in the living room. I looked out the window to see my dad's car not there. I walked in the kitchen and saw my brother sitting on the counter. "Hey what's up Curly. Why you awake at 6:30am?" I said. "Can't sleep. Why you awake?" He asks. "Going to go to the gym." I said. "Ohh. Can I come?" he asks. I think about it. I started thinking about the people that work there and they all know that Elijah doesn't know about the street fights so I know they gonna be loyal and not tell him. "Uh yeah sure I guess. Are you gonna work out or just watch me?" I ask. "Yeah I'll work out. Be right back." Curly said. 

I nodded and grabbed an apple from the fruit basket. I ate the whole apple and Curly wasn't down yet. I decided to get my Nike bag and put some clothes in there. When I zipped the bag up Curly came flying down the stairs. "Alright let's go. My car?" Curly says. "Yeah unless you wanna ride on my motorcycle." I said. He thought about it for a while then shook his head. "With YOUR driving, I'm not dying at this age." He says. I shake my head and follow him out the house and into the car. "Alright give me the directions." Curly says. So for the past 10 minutes I've been instructing Curly where to go. We finally got to the gym and we both hopped out of the car. I walked into the gym and the first person I saw was Aiden. Aiden is a 40 year old man who owns this very gym. "Ashley! You're back." Aiden says. "Hey what's up Aiden this is my brother Elijah but you can just call him Curly." I said as I gave Aiden a hug. 

"Hey Curly I'm Aiden the owner of this fine establishment. You here to train?" Aiden says. Curly nods and says, "Yeah. So how do you know my sister?" "I've known her since she was 15 when she first came here. Guys here were bothering her because she was a 15 year old girl so she taught them a lesson. Challenged them in the ring. 5 minutes into she took both guys. Those 18 year old boys were my sons and they got beat by a 15 year old girl." Aiden says smiling obviously remembering the memory as if it was yesterday. "And speak of the devils...." I said. "Hey Ashley." Alex says. "Aye Ashley." Brody says. "Hey Alex. Hey Brody. Yo guys this is my brother Elijah but everyone pretty much calls him Curly. Your dad was just telling him the story of the first day I got here." I said. 

They both laughed and scratched the back of their neck. "Ashley that was before we knew you were cool." Brody says. "It's cool guys. That was like 3 years ago." I said. They both nod then introduce themselves to Curly. "Hey I'm Brody the future husband of your sister and this is my brother Alex." Brody says. "Brody what the fuck dude." I said. "What. I'm only 3 years older than you." He says. "Yeah but I don't like you like that retard." I said. "Yeah it's cuz she likes the better looking brother." Alex says and sends me a wink. "Aiden can you handle these horn dogs you call your sons?" I said looking at Aiden who had an amused face. "By the way, where's Tommy." Tommy is like another brother to Alex and Brody. They grew up together since Aiden was best friends with Tommy's dad, but at one point his parents died and their bodies were never found, so Aiden took Tommy in and now he's like one of the Carter boys.

"Oh he went to get some stuff and by that I mean he went to restock his condom storage." Brody said. I chuckled at the thought of Tommy at Walmart, contemplating whether to get one or the other. "Alright. Boys back to your training. Ashley has to train herself." Aiden says. "For?" Brody asks. I give him the look and he understands immediately. Alex and Brody walk away to work out and I walk over to the punching bag. Elijah went straight to the weights. Aiden walks towards me and holds the bag for me. "He still doesn't know does he?" He says. I sent a punch towards the bag. "No and I'd like to keep it that way. He can't know and I told everyone here why." I told him sending 2 punches at the bag. "Yeah yeah. I know. So you nervous for today?" He asks. "No. Aiden we both know I never get nervous. Especially since today is gonna be a piece of cake. That scrawny bitch will lose." I said. He nods. 

"Are you coming to Brody's fight next Tuesday and Alex's fight next Thursday?" Aiden asks me. "Hell yeah. Gotta watch my boys' fight." I tell Aiden. "Good. You're their good luck charm apparently." Aiden says and I laugh after I send 3 punches to the bag. "So how are your parents?" Aiden asks. This time I punch the bag harder. "Aiden the bruises on my stomach aren't from the fights." I tell him. "Why don't you fight back? We both know you can take your dad." Aiden says. "He said that if I tried to fight back he was gonna start beating Elijah." I tell Aiden. I stop punching the bag and looked at Curly. "And I can't let that happen. If one of us has to be beaten it should be me. He's already depressed enough with his insecurities and all the girls at school cheating on him and people calling him a fuckboy when really he's just looking for 'The one'." I tell Aiden. "Yeah I understand. But sweetie if it gets out of hand you call me right away okay?" Aiden says and I nod.

"No problem Aiden. You know you're like a second dad. Well really you're more like a dad to me." I tell him. "And you're like a daughter to me. You, Tommy, Alex, Brody, and Jaylen are all my kids, and I hope you know that." Aiden says and we look over where Alex and Brody were, playing with the water fountain. Both those guys were 21 years old and they acted like freaking 5 year olds. "Yeah. Well I'm proud to be like a daughter to you." I told Aiden. After Aiden and I talked for a bit more I went over to the weights and lifted some. 30 minutes later I went to the ring and sparred with Brody then Alex. After Elijah and I have been here for 2 hours training Elijah was ready to leave. "Alright guys see you later tonight for the fight!" I yelled to them. Curly was already in the car. Brody and Alex ran up to me to give me a hug and I gave one to Aiden after.

I walked out the gym and climbed into the car where Curly was listening to 'Saved' by Ty dolla $ign ft. E-40. "Wanna go somewhere to eat?" Curly asks. "IHOP." We both say at the same time. We both laughed at how dumb we could be. Curly drove the familiar route to IHOP while singing to 'Saved'. When we finally got there he parked the car in the parking lot and we both raced out the car and into IHOP. I was still in my sports bra and shorts so a lot of heads turned. "You should've changed at the gym." Curly whispered in my ear. The cute waiter brought us to our booth. "Hi my name is Jordan Cruz and I'll be your waiter for today. What will you like to drink today?" The waiter asked. "Uh I'll take a vanilla milkshake." Curly says. "I'll take a hot cocoa with whip cream." I said. "Alright no problem. I'll be back with your drinks and to take your order." He said smiling at me. 

I sent him a genuine smile and he walked away. "What was that?" Curly says. "What was what?" I asked making my smile disappear. I looked over the menu as Curly said, "You know what I'm talking about. Holy fuck of fuck! You have a CRUSH on our waiter don't you?!" Curly practically yells. I reach over the table and punch his arm as hard as I can. "Ow! What the fuck?!" Curly hissed. "Your fault! Now shut up. I don't like him. I just met the fucker." I said. "Okay don't hit me again but yeah you do Ashley. It's obvious." Curly says. I look down at my hand but before I could say anything the waiter came back with our drinks. "Here you guys go. What would you like or do you need more time?" Jordan says still smiling at me. "Umm over here buddy." Curly says. Jordan snaps out of it and looks at Curly with an apologetic look on his face. 

"I am so sorry. What would you like?" He asks Curly. Curly just chuckles and says his order. "Oh and if you wanna date my sister over here I think you should do the cliche thing and slide her your phone number." I send Curly a death glare telling him I was gonna get him back for that. He raised his hands up in defense. "Oh you two aren't together?" Jordan asks. Curly and I look at each other and burst out laughing. "No way! That's incest dude!" I say. "Oh well uh...since you two aren't together...uh will you go out with me?" He says. I think about it with a smile on my face. I look up at his hopeful face and I nod. "Yeah sure. Now I'm starving so can you get my order?" I say. "Oh! Fuck, yeah. What would you like?" He asks. I tell him my order with a smile on my face. He sends me one more smile before he leaves to give the chef our order. "Looks like my little Ashley will probably get her first boyfriend. It's funny since you're 18 and this is your first actual boyfriend." Curly says. 

"Shut up loser." I said. After a couple of minutes Jordan came back with our food. "Here you guys go. Enjoy. Oh and here's my number. By the way what's your name?" Jordan asks me. "Oh it's Ashley. Ashley Arroyo." I smiled. "Well Ashley I hope you use that number so we can go on that date." Nathan says and I smile. "I'll think about it." I said jokingly. He chuckles then leaves to do his job.