Chapter 20
Have you ever felt that feeling when your heart sinks into your stomach and your throat turns dry just because your dad is looking at you like he's ready to kick you out of the house if you make a single wrong move? That's what I'm feeling.
I closed my eyes and gulped silently. Looking into Monic's eyes, I knew it wasn't good.
I turned around slowly as my nails dug into my thighs through my jeans.
"Oh hey..." I drawled out as I avoided any eye contact. My eyes kept on looking at the ceiling, walls, floor, the couch, tiles, anything but his eyes.
"Why don't we take a seat with the others, yeah?" I shuffled on my feet, trying to buy myself time to collect my shit that is currently scattered all over the place.
He nodded stiffly and turned towards the others with Monic and I behind him.
His back was tense and his hands were stuffed into his pockets but no one can overlook the fact that they were obviously clenched inside.
Monic grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly. I tightened my hold on hers to seek some much needed comfort.
She let my hand go once we were facing the boys and we each took a seat on the carpet with our legs crossed and faced them.
"So, where should I begin?" I asked them nervously, my hand reaching back and scratching my neck awkwardly. Zac was still staring at me like I'm a dancing donkey.
"You're Pixie," He stated in wonder as he looked at me skeptically and with a calculating stare. I nodded in confirmation and his mouth popped open. I thought that was obvious but apparently, it wasn't obvious enough.
"Zac," Adam interrupted sternly before turning to me and motioned for me to go on.
"Okay," I drawled out and took a deep breath, "I street fight and I go by Pixie." I stated. It was the start of what I suspect to be a long speech. The words were itching to be let out and they were on the tip of my tongue but before I could continue, I was interrupted by a loud snort.
"No shit," Zac let out, earning a sharp glare from the other two guys while Monic stifled an amused giggle. I shook my head with a humorous smile on my face.
‘The boy is something else,' was all I thought, glad for the mood lifting effect before swallowing my nerves and continuing with my speech.
"I started street fighting at Underground Place two years ago, a month before Monic's family decided to move out of town and a month after Dom left. We had our complications and fights after-" I hesitated for a second, trying not to squeeze my eyes shut to make the memories go away. I forced myself to keep talking before I lose my wits to finish this so called ‘well-thought' speech.
"-after an accident that brought despair to all of us." I finished, sighing quietly. Jake seemed like he was going to ask about the ‘accident' but Monic's hard glare shut him up just as quick.
I offered her a smile before proceeding. "After Monic and Dom left, I started going to the Underground Place frequently, as in everyday-frequently. I loved fighting, it was something I do in my spare time and no, I didn't do it because of the money it supplied.
I made sure it all went to an orphanage nearby. I did it out of sheer pleasure. I love the thrill of the fight and the adrenaline it fills me. You would understand," I gave Adam and Zac a pointed look and they both nodded in understanding.
"What I have trouble understanding is why you, a nerd, would choose the Underground Place to fight in of all places. Why didn't you go to a smaller less dangerous place? Where there are no bulky guys." Jake pointed out.
"And how can you be so good at it?" Zac added in, voicing that God awful question. He just had to.
"First," I started off, ready to tick off their questions, "not all nerds are push overs." I was once again interrupted, this time by Adam.
"Then why don't you fight back against Maddison and Sonia?" I furrowed my eyebrows at that. Why don't I?
If it was just Maddison, I would've answered it easily but Sonia? I've never thought about it.
"I guess, I liked the thought of keeping my identity hidden, in case anything like tonight happens, they won't know where to find me because all they would know is my stage name and not my real one." I answered simply, after thinking about it for a while.
Adam nodded and motioned for me to continue. Where was I? Oh right, dissing Jake for dissing the nerd population. The nerve of this guy, I seethed. I actually started liking him.
"As I was saying," I cleared my throat, feeling it go hoarse from all the talking and I'm not even close to halfway. They have got to stop interrupting me. "Not all nerds are pushover. I wanted to be a living proof of that and also to be a living proof that a girl can indeed ‘kick ass'." I emphasized with a quotation motion with my fingers.
"And..?" Zac trailed off, prodding for more. I looked at him, puzzled. "And what?" I asked him quizzically.
"How did you kick my ass," he sounded miffed by admitting that I beat his ass bloody. I held in a chuckle at his expression. This guy has a huge ego and I just took a huge chunk out of it.
"I had an older brother to teach me," silence followed and Jake broke it by asking one word.
"Had?" I nodded in confirmation and in indication to end the discussion.
"Had."
Monic clapped her hands once, startling all of us and rubbed them together. "Who wants hot chocolate?"
