Chapter 5 Five

After taking a shower, drying my teeth, and then applying some mascara and eyeliner, I was standing in front of my closet, just looking.

The weather said it would be cold, what a treat, so I picked up a dark maroon shirt with a black leather jacket. I pulled a pair of light jeans and vans, then I went to get my cell.

I looked to see a message coming from an anonymous number.

Unknown: hi sweetie, are you excited for tonight? Reason-Ethan

I was curious how he got my number.

Hailey: How did you get the number?

Ethan: I've got my ways...

Hailey: all right? Oh, well, I'm pumped!

Ethan: OK, baby, see you in a couple of minutes>

I grinned, and I slipped the phone in my back pocket. I tested the time and read 6:47.

Moving down the stairs, I came to a stop when I saw my mom in the kitchen, scribbling on the papers frantically.

"Hey mom, " she's never been home this early, and I was surprised.

She glanced up from her paperwork and grinned at a grin that I haven't seen in a while. "Hi sweetheart, " my name unexpectedly reminded me of Ryder, ugh. "Where are you going?"

I tucked my hands in my pockets, shrugged. "There's a fighting competition downtown, one of my, uh, friends is competing." It seemed odd to name Ethan a 'mate.'

"Oh, okay. Well, be safe and don't be out too late."

I crossed over to her and embraced her closely. "No problem mom, love you."

"I love you too sweetie."

Suddenly, there was no slowing me. Wow, I felt a little guilty to leave my mom on a night when she was home for the first time in months, but she seemed so wrapped up in the paperwork that I didn't want to interrupt her.

I unlocked my garage, and it stood in all its glory.

It's my brilliant white Ducati.

I smiled a lot and jumped on the saddle. I liked the comfort of the leather seat between my legs, the cool metal handles in my grip, and the speed of the engine when I was driving.

No one knew something about my bike in this town besides my mom and me. Since I got here, I haven't rode it yet, but I basked in the excitement of getting it under my fingertips again.

It didn't take longer than 20 minutes to fly. I raced down the highway, and the street lights echoed off the sides of my bike.

After walking through downtown painfully a couple of times, I eventually found the Oaks Bar. It nestled between two tall brick loft buildings and the alleyway led to another one in the back.

I've always hated those places. Cold, gloomy, strange, and silent. There were a couple guys standing against the bar building, looking me up and down and dragging a cigarette out of their mouths.

I ignored their eyes and took the keys out of the bike. I walked through the alley easily and came to a small house. I could hear heavy bass music pumping through the walls with every approach.

A big man dressed in all black was standing in front of the gate. He crossed his arms and he barred my path.

"Invitation miss?"

I lifted an eyebrow and imitated his position. "My friend's in there."

He was scratching his head. "Sorry, but only members are allowed in here."

I was about to text Ethan to tell him to let me in when I was stopped by a cocky accent. "She's with me."

Talk to the devil. Ethan came out of the doorway with no top on. I couldn't help but gaze at his perfectly toned abs and arms right in front of me. Slowly lifting my eyes to his, I saw a wide smirk on his lips.

"Enjoying the view?" he asked as he pulled me inside. I blushed and glanced about for something different from him.

There were crowds all around. I was delighted that so many people had come to see a war. Back in California, I've never fought in public, but I've been to plenty. There have never been so many bodies in one place.

"They all came to see you fight?" I asked Ethan.

"Not all, but many. There's a fight going on right now."

He pointed to the center of two boxing boys in the ring. One of them had blood streaming out of his nose, and the other had a large gauze on his forehead.

"When are you boxing?" I asked him, but he was kind of surprised when his eyes were focused entirely on me.

"In a few minutes, actually." he grinned, and I smiled again. It was good to be on this side of Ethan. Ethan, not-too-arrogant-no-smirk. It was really cool.

"And the winner is Feliciano!" said the presenter to the speakers. The audience rugged with happiness and jumped up and down. Some people put their money down on the table and lost their bet. I chuckled at that.

Ethan immediately grabbed my hand and dragged me through the crowd to the ring where Feliciano was now standing on the field, talking to him about what his mentor looked like.

I couldn't process anything but the feeling of Ethan's hand in mine. It looked like that... Nice and reassuring. It was supposed to be there. Ethan turned back to me and smirked, stopping next to Feliciano.

Unfortunately, he let go, and my side was empty now.

Why am I worried like this?

I dismissed the sensation and looked up at the guy who had just won the match. I'd hate going against this guy, with his arms bulging with muscles, and he'd ride a solid three feet above me. He made Ethan look puny, man.

"Hey my man!" Ethan grabbed Feliciano's towel and handed it to him. "Nice fight!"

He wiped his towel over his forehead and smiled like a winner. "Hell yeah it was, " then his eyes looked over at me, "this must the lovely Ruby I've been hearing so much about." He grinned at me and I looked over at Ethan, his cheeks a light shade of pink, but it might have just been the lighting in the room.

"Nice to meet you, " I said, shaking his sweaty palm.

"You too, are you here to watch your boyfriend box tonight?"

My eyes opened, and at the same time Ethan and I declined to be together.

"We're not dating!" he said.

"I would never date him!" I said a bit too clearly. I thought I saw Ethan frown, but I didn't realize.

Felix just smiled at himself. "Okay then lovebirds, but I need to go get cleaned up. Good luck my friend, " Ethan said on the back. "And it was a pleasure to meet you." Felix took up my hand and brought it to his mouth. I was laughing.

As Felix vanished from our point of view, Ethan told me he wanted to go back to the back rooms to get packed. Then he lifted me out of my waist and pressed his lips to my neck, bringing dangerous tingles down my body. "Don't miss me too much sweetheart."

What did he do to me?

The POV of Ethan

Tonight, I was so pumped. It was the first competition of the year, and I was pumped for every aspect of it.

I appreciated the feel of the audience chanting for me and the noisy music from the overhead speakers, but most of the time, I wanted to have Hailey here.

I don't know what's going on with her, but when I held her hand in mine, the intense, friendly feelings came up through my arms.

What the hell's wrong with me?

She looks very good tonight with a dark jacket and straight brown hair. But she was certainly not my type. I enjoyed dating blondes with their hair pumped up and their large breasts. Oh, Hailey had a fantastic body and a good collection on her, but she wasn't for me.

After getting my beloved silk red dress up and my gloves tied around my wrists, Coach Young stepped into the dressing room.

"Frost, you ready?" he asked.

I grinned and caught the guard of my lips. He made sure my gloves were tight, and my head was level. "Now, tonight's match is going to be a difficult one. The man you're going against is tough, but you're tougher.

"Yes coach." Then he slapped my shoulder, wished me good luck, and led me to the pit.

The crowd screamed when I was invited to the mat. I smiled like an insane guy, putting a guard in my cheek. I spread out my arms and legs and sat down in the corner of the bench. The man I was going up against was huge, no, not just big, but big. His limbs pulsed with veins, and he appeared deadly enough to attack. Yet I wasn't nervous.

Coach slapped my back again as soon as the announcer began the fight.