The Agony

"Uppercut!" Brooke prompted, positioning the pads appropriately.

"Haie!"

She threw her right hand over my head, I ducked just in time to evade.

"Left Hook!"

"Mha!"

"Double it up"

"Haie! Mha!"

"One-Two, One-Two, One-Two, Let's go!"

"Haie-Mha!, Haie-Mha!, Haie!-Mha!"

"C'mon! Good job."

I smiled at the compliment, my face covered with sweat, "Thanks"

"Alright let's take five," she said as she handed me a water bottle.

You said you've boxed this kid before right?

I turned to look at her. "Brooke..."

"I know I know, you're taking a break from boxing, I know."

"Ugh..." I stuck my tongue out in disgust as I examined the water bottle "What's in this?"

Brooke quickly snatched the bottle from my hand. "Oh, sorry wrong bottle. Here you go." she handed me a fresh bottle.

I raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

She laughed, "Yes! Here just drink."

"Well, if you insist." I started to drink.

"So, what do you wanna be when you grow up?"

She turned to look at me. "Ok! That's not a strange question at all to ask an amateur boxer."

I smiled. "I mean you could have other passions who knows?"

She slapped me playfully on the back of the ear with her still-padded hand. "I know what you mean!... Ok, Uhm, a doctor, I guess. It's a lot of pressure but I think I can handle it."

I nodded in response. "What's your favorite food?"

"Chicken." she answered almost immediately.

I chuckled.

"What's your favorite color?"

"Orange."

"Do you like long walks on the beach?"

"I don't see how that's relevant, but yes."

"Do you like kids?"

She paused. "I'm sorry, what?"

I looked at her confused. "Do you like kids? Like, you know, babysitting and all that?"

"Yeah, yeah of course."

"What's your favorite type of music?"

She thought for a moment. "Classical, probably."

I scrunched up my nose, "Yeah that sounds about right" I muttered.

She nudged me with her shoulders. "Shut up. What's yours anyway?" she asked.

"Country."

"Ugh. Really?"

"Oh, what, you got something against country music?"

"No, I just..." She paused and thought about it for a second. "...I guess I do. Yes."

I grinned. "Y'all just don't understand it," I added, mimicking a country accent. "So, what's your go-to movie?"

"Movie? Oh, uh..."

"Sorry!..." Andrea interrupted startling the both of us

"...to break up the...Uhm, whatever this is." She continued examining me with a strange smile on her face.

"Here's your notebook Eddie," she added. "I took the time to highlight the mistakes I came across, You're welcome."

"Thanks," I said taking the notebook from her hand.

"Anyway, we're heading to class," she said turning to look at Brooke and then nodding towards the direction of the door. She returned her gaze to me still smiling awkwardly

"Oh yeah, that's right. Uhm, I've got to go get ready for class," she announced as she stood up. "Think about the fight Champ, it might just be worth it," she added.

"Oh, Brooke, I was just with Mikaela, I think she has your bag. I'll wait by the door while you go get it."

Brooke kissed her hand and then placed it against Andrea's forehead and mouthed "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Andrea announced.

 Andrea watched Brooke pick up her gym bag and exit the gym and then slowly returned her gaze to me. Still maintaining the awkward smile.

"So...Mr. Miller, Anything you'd like to share?" she inquired, raising her eyebrows comically.

"Andy? What are you doing?" I asked as I giggled.

"Oh, that's a very good question Mr. Miller, right on the money."

I stuck my arms in her face. "Help me, please."

She clicked her tongue several times and then proceeded to shake her head before beginning to help me undo the straps on the gloves. "Have you got a free period or something?" she asked.

"Kind of, Mr. Henderson called in sick this morning."

"Ah, I see. Mr. Henderson called in sick this morning, so you decided to have some chemistry with Brooke instead?"

I had a quizzical look on my face "What? What are you talking about Andrea?"

She let my hands go laughing hysterically at her joke.

"What's so funny?" I asked still confused.

"Nothing, nothing...I just, never mind. See you around,"

"Yeah, see you," I replied.

She turned around as if she was about to walk away and all of a sudden she turned around again.

"It's just, Brooke might seem tough, but deep down, she's a real softy. And I've got a feeling you're not really into her like that. So, maybe ease up on the movie talk and stuff. Let's not kick off something we'll both end up regretting, you know?"

"C'mon Andrea, it was even like that."

"Hey, maybe it wasn't" she argued as lifted her shoulders. "I'm just trying to protect my friend." 

"...My friends!" she corrected as she helped me to my feet.

"I raised my pinky finger in the air. I promise me and Brooke, Just friends."

She smiled as she grabbed the entirety of the finger with her hand and then shook it several times "If you say so...Champ. Oh, that does have a nice ring to it."

I smiled "I mean I've been stripped already so I don't know why they keep calling me that but hey I'll take it."

"Andrea! Let's go! We're gonna be late." Brooke called out from the door. "Oh, I forgot my...Ugh, just go I'll meet you in the hallway."

Brooke walked up to me and somehow I knew what was about to follow. "...How much of that did you hear?"

She burst out laughing "The whole thing!... Oh, Andrea bless her soul."

I collapsed my face into my hands. "Oh my goodness."

"Hey, the pads and the gloves,..." she was pointing at me as she walked backwards to the door. "Stash em!" she turned around "I promise me and...."

"Just get out already, Brooke!" 

She laughed as she walked out.

I was in the middle of packing up when something suddenly hit me on the head.

"Agh!" I yelped, clutching my head as I tumbled to the ground.

"Ouii, my bad. Did that hurt, my boy?"

The voice was unmistakable, it was Alexis. The football had ricocheted right back into his hands like a boomerang.

"I think you owe me an apology my boy." he continued as he clapped the football against his hands drawing closer.

I was waiting eagerly on the floor, I needed him just close enough. Close enough for me to spring up.

"Apologize fool! Mha"

I felt a sharp pain in my ribs as George kicked me over. There was more than just one of them.

Coughing violently on the floor, I felt two arms encircle mine, pulling me back up.

"Mr. Henderson, come save me! Mr. Henderson, I love you! Mwah, mwah, mwah," Alexis taunted, removing his jacket.

The other guys laughed, I couldn't quite discern how many of them there were.

"No Mr. Henderson now, my boy. It's time to show me what you've got. Let him loose!" he announced.

They let go of me, and swiftly I landed an elbow on George's eye knocking him to the ground.

Alexis was caught by surprise, "Get him," he called.

The other guys closed in, I dodged a few blows from the left and the right, but I felt a fist make contact with my left ear. My balance was thrown off.

"Come on! Get him, get him."

I felt a fist hit my lower back. Another on the left cheek. A knee to the stomach. A fist to the mouth.

I was dazed.

I fell.

The last thing I remember was feeling someone's hands grip my neck.

And then I blacked out.

"Eddie?"

"Eddie, can you hear me?"

"He's coming to, give him some space."

"Eddie?"

I opened my eyes to a bright light and a blurred face staring down at me.

"Wh-Where am I?"

"Oh thank goodness, Eddie."

It was Mrs. Olson. She held a damp cloth to my head, which was pounding.

"Wha...what happened? What am I doing here?"

As my vision gradually cleared, I realized I was in the nurse's office. Mrs. Olson, the school nurse, looked relieved that I was conscious.

"You had a bit of a rough encounter on the field. Some students found you and brought you here," she explained, concern etched on her face.

"The field?..." I mumbled, memories of the altercation flooding back.

"Yes, there was an incident. The school staff is handling it, and we'll make sure appropriate actions are taken. But for now, focus on recovering."

I tried to sit up, feeling a dull ache in various parts of my body. Mrs. Olson gently pushed me back onto the bed.

"Take it easy, Eddie. You've got a nasty bump on your head. Do you remember what happened out there?"

I nodded, wincing at the soreness in my neck. "Yeah, they ambushed me. Alexis and his friends."

"An ambush?" Andrea exclaimed in surprise.

"Calling a football tackle gone wrong an ambush these days is a bit of a stretch, young man. Why didn't you have your helmet on?" Mrs. Olson added.

Her mention of a football tackle made me realize I was still in my boxing gear.

"I wasn't playing football, Mrs. Olson. I was in the gym with Brooke and Andrea," I explained, trying to make sense of the situation.

She raised an eyebrow, "In the gym? Well, that's an unusual place for a football tackle. Oh dear you might be concussed."

"No, it wasn't an accident. Alexis and his friends attacked me. It was intentional," I insisted, frustration building up.

Mrs. Olson sighed, clearly concerned about the situation. "Alright, let's get you checked out properly. We'll call your parents and have them pick you up."

"No!" I exclaimed, my voice louder than I had intended. "Please, don't contact my mom."