Page 15 of Diverge

With that, he turns and exits the gym leaving me and my disdain for myself to grow.

Like a tumour.

*****

My jaw is whipped tothe side as a fist cracks into my jawbone. The crowd roars as they stand on their feet, watching as the match progresses, and the only cheering I can hear is for the other guy, not me.

I stare at Billie on the side of the cage, behind the barricade with Riley and Grace, worry etched onto her face as she watches me lay on the floor of the ring. Gritting my teeth, I get up and take my stance. The other guy is similar to my size and weight, but what he doesn’t have is my fire, my wrath, my rage. This is the first punch he’s gotten in since the match began, and it’ll be the last.

“Take him down!” Coach Tyson bellows from the side of the ring.

I feel my heart pounding beneath my chest, the sound of it filling my ears as I focus on my opponent. I’ve been studying his moves and tactics since the beginning of the match, and I’m confident he will throw another jab with his left for his next move. He favours his arms more than his legs. Still not confident enough to throw a kick, but I am. My left leg throttles through the air and lands on his thigh as he is about to lean forward to punch. He buckles and falls to his knees, then the whistle is blown for break.

“Fuck yeah!” I hear Coach Tyson call as I walk over to him. He sprays water over my face and into my mouth.

Gulping, I breathe heavily, and my eyes lock with Billie’s once again. She smiles and bites her bottom lip.Have mercy. She is so fucking gorgeous.I wink at her then feel Coach Tyson slap me on my cheek.

“Hey, focus! You haven’t won yet, Nate,” he says.

Pulling my focus back into the ring, I watch as my opponent nods to say he can go on. Fire bellows within me, this is the last few minutes of the match and I need to make them count.

I need to show them how much damage I can do, that Ibelongin this ring. My opponent lazily swings his arm, I dodge it and move to my left, circling him like a lion does its predator. He keeps swinging, and I keep dodging. His moves are sluggish now, showing his lethargy. I take my opportunity in both hands as I throw a hook that connects to his jaw. I follow through with a firm headlock as his body convulses, trying to escape my death grip.

No chance in hell I’m letting you go, mate.

I tighten my arm around his neck, cutting off his air supply, forcing him to make a decision, either pass out or tap out. In what seems like forever, he finally taps my glove, the ref calling it as the whistle is blown. I let myself lay there and bask in the glory of the win.

“Good match. You really put up a fight.” My opponent taps me on the arm and exits the ring.

Standing up, the ref raises my arm, and the arena goes wild. Clapping, whistling, and cheering coming from every corner of the ring. I look over to where Billie stands, she’s cheering along with the crowd, and a smile forms on my face. I’m not used to having support, and it feels good.

After the fight, I manage to take a shower in the locker rooms as Billie waits for me outside. I hear Coach Tyson from outside the showers.

“This is the new bar of expectation, Nate, you hear me?” he says, and I just know he’s got his arms crossed.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Coach.”

I let the hot water run over my neck as I stand there, savouring the feeling of winning. There is a certain high that you get when you win, and I wouldn’t trade anything for it.

I hear Coach exit. Turning the shower off, I wrap my towel around my waist and exit the shower, walking over to my bag. Avoiding the bruises on my face, I put my clothes on and head out the door to find Billie patiently waiting for me, sitting on a bench as the crowd walks past her.

“So, what did you think of your first MMA match?” I ask as I get closer to her.

Her eyes smile as she watches me extend my hand. Taking it, she stands.

“Well, it was different than I had expected,” she admits as we walk together, her hand laced into mine.

“Good,different, I hope.” I wink at her, and she blushes.

“Honestly, it’s bloody brutal.” She cringes.

I laugh as we walk to my Jeep. “It’s not for everyone, but it means a lot that you came.”

“Well, it was either this or work at home in front of the TV with loads of chocolate.” She laughs. “So, I chose the lesser of two evils.”

“Mmhmm... sure, keep telling yourself that.” I smirk as we reach my Jeep.

She rolls her eyes at me as she reaches for the handle of the passenger side door. Sliding my arm around her waist, I whisk her around to face me.

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