I listen to music and go to the punching bag. I punch it barehanded out of pure anger. I worried about him and he comes home with a new girl. My mom just died, this week, month! Your wife! I continue to punch it till finally, my legs turn to jelly and I fall into it grabbing the top ropes to hold myself up. Tears rush to my eyes and I choke them back.

He is the only family left that I have, I am going through high school and my mom just died the same way I lost my real parents. And he brings home girls that don't like me and dumps them. I was worried about him on whether he wrecked or got stuck or-

Now he's here. Not noticing me till he's so drunk he throws a beer bottle at my head. I continue to hold back tears till I turn and fall backward into the punching bag. I sit up against it and breath shakily into my hands that knuckles are skinned a bit and bleeding.  

I just can't believe him, that he is doing this when she passed away almost four days ago. Her funeral is supposed to be next week.

I drop my hands into the carpet and pull out small strands of string as I begin to pull my legs into me and rest my head on my knees. It's almost like the guys have kept me from breaking down like this and no matter what I do I can't bring her back, I can't do anything.

 I try to keep tears from falling but pathetic sounds come out between each half breath. What would she think if she was here and saw me and dad?

She would say get off your butt, wipe those tears because it already happened and crying will do nothing. And to go on with your life!

Yeah, that sounds about right, but it's easier said than done. I take a few shaky breaths before calming down. I fall to the side and look at my knuckles before closing my eye's just wanting reality to go away. It takes me awhile but I finally get to sleep and block out everything.

oOoOo Next Morning oOoOo

I soon wake up with my music still playing and my phone on the side of my pant's at the hip. Sorry, Demi, your songs won't help. I know it seems like I'm just moping around. And that is exactly what I am trying to do but don't want to do, if that makes any sense. I decide I have to get up at some point so at least one of us will somehow honor mom.

 I go to my room not looking up or anywhere other than down the whole time, not wanting to see my dad or whatever he was doing. I change into sweatpants and a plain black t-shirt with a baggie hoodie over it. I put a hundred dollar bill in my phone case and put it in my pocket. I then grab a pair of converse and slide them on. I then write a sticky note of where I am going and head out with my head down. As I open the door I put the sticky note on the door before I leave. 

It's still cold and ice covers some parts with piles of snow off to the side. I see my breath ahead of me as I walk through the lawn so I don't slip. Cars speed past me once I get further in town. I walk around the sidewalk as the cars stop at the stop lights and walk past all the ones that went past the speed limit to the store. 

I get in and grab a shopping cart, getting weird looks from different people as I pick out groceries and not clothes. I pick out a bunch of different things and grab a candy bar as I go to the check out stand. She rings me up.

"That will be eight five dollars and forty-five cents."

I pull out my phone and take the hundred out handing it to her.

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen," I say not wanting to be rude. But then again, it's none of her business.

"Bit young don't you think?"

I shrug my shoulders and take back the change she hands me putting it in my pocket. I pick up the bags in my hands as they weight down cutting into the folds of my fingers. Can't wait till I can start driving.

 It takes me awhile but I make it home. And dad's car is gone. I head over to the front door worried the girl might have stolen the car but instead find a rain covered note saying that he left with her, slowing down my starting heart attack. 

I head inside as he left the door unlocked and put away the various groceries. I go to my phone and look through old vids on youtube to watch till my phone suddenly vibrates. At the top of my screen shows a text from the group chat but it disappears before I can read it. I go to the group chat between us all and start reading.

Gray: You all ready for the fight tonight?

Trever: I just want to see how Tori will handle this

Mason: No kidding, she's tough and all but with these guys I wonder how far she will have to push her skills

Me: Let me know how she does, we are going to hang out tomorrow

L.J.: So unfair

A: You guys think she is really gonna win?

Gray: Fifty-fifty, depends how much she has held back in her past fights

Me: Haven't seen her fight but she was talking about winning easily against who she is going against, some guy named Tyler?

Trever: Tell her she's full of s*^&. No way she will win that fight

L.J.: Gotta agree with Trever here. This is gonna be a painful fight for her

A: To bad first fight there is gonna be her first lost

Me: Wow, have little confidence in her

Mason: You haven't seen her fight

Me: Still. I bet you all five bucks, she wins

Gray: You're on

Trever: Get ready to pay up

L.J.: Gonna Lose nerd

Me: I don't lose

A: Confident much?

Mason: Gonna eat those words

Me: I'mma get paid tonight, I don't know what your all talking about  

Gray: We will just have to see here pretty soon here huh? 

Mason: Bye, see you guys at the fight

Me: Watch her win for me!

I turn off my phone and get ready. I run out the door and jog there with my hoodie already on and hat covering my eyes. This place just so happens to be closer so I get there sooner. Liam meets me at the front of the wide and dead-end ally.

"Good to see you could make it. Girls dressing room is over there and your stuff was already moved, so you don't have to worry about it."

I nod my head at him and smile as I turn to walk away.

"Hey, Tori."

I turn back.

"Good luck."

I nod my head and head into the dressing room in the side building. Inside is a nice room with lockers moved into it and girls all changing and getting ready. I walk in and they all look to me.

"Well, if it isn't the mute legend herself! Lockers over there," One of them says coming up to me while pointing to a locker with a whiteboard on it.

I smile at them.

"You're a lot younger looking then I would have thought." Another says.

I shrug my shoulder.

"You do realize who you're going up against right?"

I shake my head as I begin to change into my boxing shorts.

"He's the twentieth champion, none of us have even fought him yet."

I smile and stuff my clothes in my locker as I change into my boxing shoes.

"Good luck, girl."

They punch me on the shoulder and a few give me a side hug and wish me good luck. I missed having girls around. I wrap my hands in light blue wraps and look at the blood on my knuckles begin to surface just a little from the other night. 

I put my hand on my locker and put my head down closing my eyes. I am not extremely religious in any way but I do believe that my parents and foster mom are watching over me. I clench my fist and turn, going out the door. 

I see a circle of people turn to me and my nerves turn cold when I see a bunch of classmates from school there as well as the guys. My stone face comes completely stone and I focus forward. So many of my classmates are here.

The circle opens and I step in seeing the man ahead of me. He is heavily built with tattoos on his arms making him look intimidating. I let out a breath and Liam appears by my side while his guy appears next to him. I stand un-shook.

"Not gonna run? Liam, your little girl looks a little scared." He says looking me up and down as I stand unfazed.

"She is practically ready to run right now." His coach says coming next to him.

I smile and raise my middle finger putting it beside my face. Oh's and ooh's come from the crowd as well as a few names.

"Alright then. Minuet to start."

I turn to Liam.

"You ready?" He says looking at me.

I nod my head.

"Alright, you do realize this kinda shows off who we are right?"

I go stone face again and nod my head.

He puts his hand on my shoulder.

"Go get 'em" 

He pushes me forward a little. I soon see the people that I would rather fight. School bullies. If only they all knew.

"If both sides are ready, shake hands now."

I step forward holding out my hand. He takes it and grips tightly around my hand to intimidate me but I return almost the same strength. We stay there for a second longer looking at each other doing our best to scare the other, only making me grip his hand tighter. We break away and both shake out our hands out to the side from the blood supply being cut off. 

"Fighter you ready, fighter you ready? Fight!"

I stand up straight not getting into a stance and walk forward a little. Liam screams at me.

"What are you doing?!"

"Ha! Dumb b*^$#"

He comes up and throws a punch which I quickly move out of the way from, putting my foot in front of him as he goes to turn so that he trips a little. He quickly turns to me.

 Be controlled, don't let him scare you. 

I get into a stance now knowing what he is like. We both go to each other and throw a few punches, he catches me in the stomach as I hit him in the face. He slows down only a little. I dodge punches continuously but when I go to throw one his arm was longer and faster. He catches me in the face making me go flying backward and rolling into the crowd. The ref comes over to me. 

My vision is blurred and I feel blood come from my mouth. I can tell my legs are scrapped up from the fall. I hear counting in my ear. I push myself up and watch him try to celebrate. I am on my knees but my arms fail me making me slump over. It hurts so bad. I put my hands on the ground again and clunch my fists. I push myself up to my feet on the count of nine. My busted up legs might slow me down. But I just need one shot. Everyone looks to him thinking I was counted out till I see all the guys smiling at me as I stand holding my stomach and soon shaking my head trying to better see. 

"And that ladies and gentlemen is how you properly beat a b*&^%!"

Cheers soon erupt as I stand perfectly fine through the pain. He turns when he sees others point to me. I stand unphased even though it's killing me inside. Blood pools in my mouth and I spit it off to the side and smile at him before going stone-faced. He comes at me again. 

I rush at him as well. I dodge his punch and use my last step for power leading into a rock hard punch into his face. But he dodges and returns with a left punch to my stomach, again, knocking me off my feet. 

The crowd cheers for me to get up. Yeah, like I am gonna show weakness now. I look at him and smile as I push myself up and stand. Like nothing ever happened. But I am dying in pain.

His face fills with anger. He comes at me and I step into a punch into his stomach making him bend over then with my right hand I uppercut making him fall backward and onto his back and curl into a ball. The ref comes over to count him and I decide, I don't want this fight to end. I come over and offer a hand up before the count of six. He takes it and gasps fill the area along with boos. I pull him to his feet and back up the other side.

I haven't had this much of a pain-filled and fun fight in years.

He nods his head and I nod mine. We go at each other again and this time, he plays dirty. He rips off my hood not noticing I had a hat and punches me in the stomach sending me on the ground. He smiles.

"That is why you don't help up who you are fighting!"

I stand up again and stretch my arm across my body and crack my neck. And this time I decide to speak.

"Well, this is fun," I said smiling in a low raspy voice that sounds nothing like my normal voice.

Cheers erupt. He comes at me again and I stand there till he comes close enough and punches him sending him tumbling back till he falls. The ref begins to count. I don't help him up this time and stand there. He looks at me as the ref says it.

"He's out!"

I stop acting tough and put my hand on the wall and hold my stomach trying to take deep breaths. Liam comes over to me and pat's me on the back, smiling at me. He grabs my arm, putting it around his shoulders as I limp on my leg that is worse torn up. He brings me to the center and leaves me there as Tyler gets up and the ref holds up my hand for the winner. Liam comes up to me putting a wet towel around my neck. 

"You did good."

I smile at him and he pat's me on the back. Everyone rushes at me at once as I put my hood back over my head. David, Jace, and Henry are the first ones up to me.

"Nice fight. Hey, I was wondering you wanna go out some time?" Henry says to me.

Anger fills me and I want to punch him so bad. Instead, I shake my head no. My self-restraint is what I'm best at.

"You sure? We could just chill at my place or something."

I take a step back a little and shake my head no again. Never have I wanted to beat a person so bad before. Soon I feel an arm around my shoulders. I look over and see Mason come to my defense.

"Actually she already has plans. P.s. she knows who you guys are, she goes to our school. You already ruined your chances anyway."

"And you haven't?"

"Least I actually have reasons instead of beating people senseless just because I can."

"Guess it's up to Tori then, huh?"