• ★ •
pain's theme song.
nyla stared at vinnie in awe as he made his way out to the ring, his face focused but emotionless as he walked out to girei.
he entered the ring, jeff wittek and his coaches following behind him, and jumped on his feet, warming himself up.
maria, nate, reggie, and a few of vinnie and nyla's other friends, like tessa, all made their way ringside, standing next to nyla.
nyla fiddled with her fingers, watching as deji walked in, his words from earlier in the evening still running in her mind.
"hey, everything's gonna be okay," tessa said, squeezing nyla's hand with a smile. "he's going to be fine."
nyla nodded, biting her lip. "yeah. i hope so. i just don't want him to get hurt."
the referee waved the two fighters over to the center of the ring, giving them one last rundown of the rules and asking them to touch gloves, which they did.
vinnie turned, his eyes quickly scanning the crowd before landing on nyla, shooting her a small, tense, smile before looking away.
nyla sucked in a breath, joining vinnie's family in cheering for vinnie as loud as she could, ignoring the cameras that she knew were pointed her way.
the first round started, the two boys going right at ur, throwing punches left and right. nyla flinched each time deji's gloves connected with vinnie's body, but kept her hopes up, shouting her support for vinnie.
it was clear that deji had won the first round, and nyla tapped her foot against the grass as she waited anxiously for the second round to begin, staring at vinnie, who was sitting in his corner and listening to what his coach was saying to him.
the bell signaled the second round starting, and this time, vinnie landed a lot more punches, making nyla and everyone around her scream and cheer for him.
by the end of the second round, vinnie was, as the commentators said "stalking his prey," and deji was gassed out, breathing hard.
vinnie went back to his side of the ring, letting his trainers pour some water in his mouth, and listening to what they were saying to him.
"don't hesitate, okay? he's fucking tired so just go for it, alright son?"
vinnie nodded, getting up and moving back to middle of the ring as the third round started.
nyla watched from the side, biting her nails as she watched vinnie move towards deji, before the older boy held his hand out and took a knee for a second before getting up.
vinnie was ready, and quickly started punching, deji almost tackling him and leading to the referee pulling them apart and giving a stern warning to deji to stop pushing.
vinnie took a breath, quickly throwing out a few punches and hooks, cornering deji, who had seemed like he had given up.
nyla watched as the referee issued a standing eight count for deji, everyone else watching in shock because quite frankly, no one had expected this to happen.
vinnie dove in after the count, cornering deji once again and punching him in the face and sending more blows to his body again and again, before the referee pulled him away, waving his hands over his head.
it was over, and vinnie and won.
vinnie had won!
nyla could feel the vibrations of the deafening cheers from the crowd around her as she stared at vinnie, who was on his coach's shoulders, yelling "let's fucking go!" and pounding his chest.
"he won! holy fucking shit, nyla!" tessa yelled, giving the younger girl a tight hug. "i told you, nothing to worry about."
nyla wrapped her arms around tessa, a big smile on her face. "he did it, tess, holy shit he did it!"
nyla watched as vinnie went over to deji, giving him a hug and talking to him, then walking to his coaches, who congratulated him once again.
fousey walked up to vinnie, his arms open and eyes filled with shock. vinnie stood up, pointing towards the man. "i told you, i fucking told you," he yelled, walking up to fousey, who shook his head and just replied, "i'm in shock."
vinnie nodded at him, and relaxed before walking back to his side of the ring, leaning over the ropes and talking to his parents, who had ran up to the front right after vinnie had won the fight.
a few seconds later, vinnie glanced up at nyla, a smirk on his face as he pointed his glove covered hand at her, making the girl grin.
nyla watched as the referee called the fighters to the center, and fousey started announcing the results, ending with "your winner, vinnie hacker!"
the crowd, once again, burst into cheers, vinnie hugging deji before making his way off the stage.
nyla walked up to him, giving him a quick hug and stepping away. "you did it, i'm so proud of you, vin!"
vinnie blew her a kiss, before he was pushed away from his girl because of the crowd of people behind him. "thank you, ny!"
maria grabbed nyla's hand, the both of them walking backstage with happy smiles on their faces. "he did it, maria."
"i knew he would," maria replied, laughing. "i'm so happy for him."
• ★ •
vinnie speed walked backstage, shooting quick smiles and thank you's to everyone that was congratulating him.
"that was so unexpected bro," bryce said, pulling vinnie into a hug. "congrats, my man."
"thanks, bro," vinnie mumbled, grinning. "you're gonna be great out there too."
bryce nodded. "i'm sure i will be."
vinnie weaved his way throughout the crowd, heading back to his room, where he knew nyla would be waiting for him.
he opened the door, expecting nyla to run into his arms, but she wasn't there. vinnie sent a questioning look to his mom, who shrugged. "one of nyla's friends said he needed to talk to her, and that it was important. she said she would be back soon, vin."
vinnie's heart dropped, but he nodded, trying not to show any expression. "okay, momma."
• ★ •
"kio, what the fuck?" nyla said, pulling her hand out of his grasp and stopping in the side of the hallway. "what's going on? i need to see vi-"
"i need to tell you something."
nyla crossed her arms, looking at the boy. "okay? what is it?"
"i just think you should about this before vinnie asks you out or whatever okay?"
"he's already asked me out, and i said yes," nyla said, her brow furrowed. "now what are you trying to tell me?"
kio scratched the back of his head, biting his lip. "um, so, that day when vinnie was supposed to ask you out, like, two weeks ago? he picked liz up from sway because she was drunk."
"i know that," nyla said, her stomach twisting. "is that what you wanted to tell me?"
"uh, they kissed, i saw them in my room."
nyla swallowed, squeezing her eyes shut before opening them again. "what?"
"i saw them kissing that night, ny, and i'm really sorry but vinnie told me not to tell you so-"
nyla put a hand up, kio going quiet. "uh, thanks for telling me, i guess. but why now? you could've told me before."
"i don't know," kio shrugged. "but i didn't want to keep it from you, you know? but i also wanted to tell you that-"
"nyla!"
nyla turned, coming face to face with bryce, who was calling out for her from about twenty feet away. "can you stay with me before my fight, please?"
the girl nodded, holding a finger up and turning back to kio. "i'm gonna go, okay? thanks for telling me."
"that's it? vinnie basically cheated on you," kio said, cocking his head to the side. "doesn't that bother you?"
nyla looked at kio, her eyes narrowed. "i mean, we weren't technically together when that happened," she shrugged. "and if vinnie hasn't told me about it then there could be a reason behind it. so i'm gonna let him tell me what happened."
kio just nodded, giving nyla a quick hug. "hope everything works out, i guess."
nyla nodded, waving at kio as she turned around and headed back to bryce.
• ★ •
vinnie had changed into his sweats and a purgatory boxing shirt, and was now walking around the stadium, talking to his friends and taking pictures with fans.
he saw noah standing ringside, and walked up to him, dabbing him up. "what's up, bro?"
"have you seen nyla anywhere?" vinnie asked, biting his bottom lip worriedly. "i haven't seen her since i went backstage."
noah frowned, shaking his head. "uh, i saw kio pulling her to the side after the fight, but i don't know where she is now."
"of course he did," vinnie muttered under his breath. "thanks, noah, i'll see you later, yeah?"
noah nodded, smiling before he walked off to where blake was sitting.
vinnie sighed, turning around and walking to some of his other friends as the tayler vs. gib fight started.
he'd just have to wait to see nyla.
• ★ •
"you're going to be fine," nyla said, looking at bryce. "just focus on the basics. isn't that what your coaches said?"
bryce nodded, his head down as he tried to even out his breathing.
"bryce? it's time to go," rafy said, peeking into the room, smiling when she saw nyla and bryce sitting together. "you ready?"
bryce nodded, turning to nyla. "well, this is it."
"good luck," nyla whispered, hugging the older boy. "you're going to be fine. just don't get your nose broken. it's already ugly enough."
"shut up," bryce scoffed, "and thank you."
nyla grinned, patting bryce's back as they both walked outside to the main hallway, where bryce would be walking in.
"don't trip," nyla said, laughing. "especially since you're walking alone."
"i won't," bryce said, shaking his head. "can i have another hug?"
"don't be nervous, b, you're fine," nyla said, wrapping her arms around bryce again. "now go out there and do your best, okay?"
• ★ •
bryce had lost.
nyla was waiting for him as he walked backstage, standing up and giving him a big hug. "i'm proud of you," she said in his ear, pulling away and looking at him. "at least you didn't get your nose broken. i mean it's still embarrassing you lost because of all the shit you talked, but still-"
"okay, okay, i get it," bryce said, rolling his eyes. "now go fuck vinnie, i know he's been waiting for that for a while."
"you're disgusting," nyla groaned. "but you're right, i need to talk to him so i'm gonna go, okay? have fun partying, text me when you're back in your hotel room?"
bryce nodded, "text me too, okay? tell me when you're back from vinnie's. love you."
"i will," nyla said, giving bryce one last hug. "be safe, love you too!"
the girl quickly slipped through the people crowding into bryce's room to talk to him, pulling her phone out and going to her contacts.
"nyla!" vinnie's voice rang through the crowd, the curly haired boy running towards her.
nyla turned, waiting for vinnie to make his way to her. she crossed her arms, watching as the boy panted for a second, trying to catch his breath.
"w-where did you go?" he asked, "i haven't seen you in forever."
"kio needed to talk to me," she said, her voice flat. "and then i was with bryce."
"oh."
nyla looked at vinnie, her eyes narrowed. "is that all you have to say?"
"well-"
nyla rolled her eyes, cupping vinnie's face in her hands and pulling him down to her, kissing him roughly. vinnie's hand wrapped around her throat, his tongue swiping across nyla's bottom lip before she pulled away from him.
"congratulations, baby," nyla said softly. "i'm so proud of you. you did amazing out there."
"thank you," vinnie breathed out, a little speechless from the kiss. "hold on, wait, aren't you mad at me? didn't kio tell you about-"
"elizabeth?" nyla said, nodded. "yeah, but he also basically admitted he liked me a few days ago so i'm guessing he's just trying to make me jealous?"
vinnie's hand curled into a fist, but he made himself relax so he could answer nyla's question. "she did kiss me, but i swear i pushed her away. she was drunk and she kept coming onto me and i didn't know what-"
"i believe you," nyla interrupted, swallowing her nerves. "we said we trusted each other, right? and i trust you, okay?"
it was quiet for a moment, nyla and vinnie just staring at each other, ignoring everything else around them.
"you're the only girl i want," vinnie said, "you're the only person i want, okay? and everything that happened with liz was in the past and i'm done with her, and all i want is you."
nyla's heart fluttered, and she grinned, looking up at vinnie. "you're such a simp."
vinnie groaned, rolling his eyes. "shut it."
"make me."