Chapter 15 || You wouldn't even hurt a fly
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* * Nicole's POV * *

I felt untouchable as I punched the heavy bag in my second home. A place where I come almost as frequent as my home and a place where I feel just as safe - the boxing gym.

The bell went off telling us to switch stations - meaning it was my turn to spar.

I lowered my gloves and made my way to the ring where my boxing coach, Doug, stood at his corner.

Sparring was one of my favorite things about boxing. Not only are you getting in a ring to fight but it's like test. A test to see if you can put all your techniques together and simulate a real match. The only fall back is that my opponent is my coach and he wont throw any crazy punches at me. Doug would only through punches to keep me on my toes and to work on my defense.

As I ducked under the middle rope and entered the ring Doug shouted " Nicole! Long time no see!" His mouth guard stayed in his mouth as he spoke.

"Yeah, my parents went away for a business trip and I'm forced to stay with their friends" I sighed as I put my head gear on.

"You must be dying to hit someone then" he said while his eyes lit up.

I shrugged "I just really want to work on my technique."

"I totally understand. I want you at the top of your game and if you need a break after what happened let me know"

Doug knew about the incident that happened to me after the treacherous party. He is like family to me. He is one of my dad's best friends and has known me before I was born. My parents asked me if they could tell him for the reason that he would be able to help me if needed anything.

The bell went off again signalling the start of a new three minute round.

"Alright tap gloves" Doug said as I finished putting my mouth guard in.

I tapped gloves with Doug. The second our gloves touched I ducked under his arms of his six foot five frame and hurled an uppercut straight into his rib cage. I brought my arm back to shield my face as I threw a hook to the other side of his ribs which neatly landed causing his six foot five body to step back.

"OOO Nice one!" he said proudly through his mouth guard.

I grinned as I stepped to my right as he threw a jab to my face leaving the left side of his face open allowing me to land a right punch into his cheek. Usually I would miss this opportunity and accidentally get hit by the jab but today I was able to dodge it. I threw my right letting in land on his cheek with all my power behind it.

"OO I saw stars on that one" he said through his mouth guard again.

Doug threw a hook in my direction but I easily ducked under it coming up with a right upper cut. Unfortunately it barely hit him, but usually I can never lay a punch on him (except for the occasional punches I do land) but today was different. I was more focused and full of rage and Doug knew that.

Doug always expected great things from me. He has always known I held back in the ring but he knew I just needed something to push me over the edge and let me loose.

That incident was all the push I needed. I was never going to let someone lay a hand on me again.

The round was half way finished as I continued throwing punches at Doug who easily dodged and deflected them.

The thirty second bell went off signalling I hand thirty seconds left in the ring.

I had started off strong but was finishing weak. I needed to step up my game.

As I usually do, when the thirty second bell goes off, my eyes light up and I throw everything I have into the last thirty seconds.

Throwing a hook, Jab, upper, right and another upper at Doug I knew I had to get out this bottled up anger that was inside me.

That incident after the party came out of me with a left hook to Doug's ribs which neatly landed.

The feelings of my parents leaving me came out with a right to Doug's face which again I neatly landed.

Only a few seconds were left when a thought of Jake flew through my mind.

How he took Teddy. How he shoved me up against the lockers hurting my wrist last week. How he keeps swearing and how he just keeps on hurting me emotionally and physically.

All my anger towards Jake came out with this one last punch - a right upper cut landing directly into Doug's solar plexus. All my body weight and power was behind that punch.

It wasn't until the bell rang signalling the end of the three minutes and the many compliments from Doug - who by the way was completely unfazed by all the punches I threw at him including the last three - when I realized I tears falling from my eyes and down my cheeks.

Doug wrapped his large arm around me and pulled me into a hug, "That was your best round yet Nicole!"

When Doug released me I noticed that everyone who was in the boxing gym was surrounding the ring cheering me on, including Bridget.

I stepped out of the ring to receive light punches to the arm, pats on the head and even hugs by all of my boxing friends.

As I walked they all shouted things like

"I knew you had it in you!"

"Killer Nicole"

''I wouldn't want to mess with you."

The last one I heard before I took a sip of water was from Doug saying "I would hate to be the one who triggered all of that out of you."

I nearly choked on my water...

Jake...

He had caused that.

What was he doing to me?

"You okay Nicole?" Bridget said as she neared me, "I've never seen anything like that come from you. You wouldn't even hurt a fly!"

"She has a lot of potential if she would let her self go like she just did in the ring" Doug said before walking away, "See you next time and you better come at me with that same aggression."

I packed my belongings up with the help of Bridget.

When we entered Bridget's car she nearly jumped down my throat, "Where on earth did that come from?"

I froze... I didn't even know I had that much power.

"Look I know Jake is trying to kill you and all..." She stated with a bolt load of sarcasm, "But man you looked like you were trying to kill Doug. What did Jake do to you?"

"You mean besides almost breaking my wrist?" I say while looking out the window.

Bridget rolled her eyes and began driving me back to the Vance's house.

There wasn't anything to look out the window due to the darkness but I still found myself staring aimlessly at the pitch black.

We spent the next twenty minutes of the ride in silence, the only sound was coming from 103.3 amp radio.

Just as we turned onto the Vance's street Fight Song by Rachel Platten came on.

"I find this absolutely hilarious that this song decides to play now." Bridget laughs.

I rolled my eyes as she turned into the driveway. The chorus to the song was playing and Bridget turned up the volume.

"This is a sign Nicole! Listen to it!" She shouted at me as she jammed along to the music.

"Bye Bridget" I said as I hopped out of the car and walked up to the front door.

Bridget honked the horn of her car before driving away and I waved at her.

I turned and faced the door to the house and took a deep breath. This will all blow over Nicole... It will all blow over.

I knocked on the door. I know Jill said I can walk right in but I still feel weird because it's not my house.

There was no answer.

I waited a little while longer before putting the key into the lock and entering the house.

The kitchen and hallway light was off as I hung my coat up on the hook by the door. I took off my wet snow boots and placed them on the shoe mat. After that a huge heat wave came over me causing me to take off my sweatpants to reveal my black athletic shorts.

I took a few steps towards the hallway when a noise screamed throughout the house causing me to jump and drop my boxing bag. I looked over my shoulder to find the living room light on with Dan and Dylan yelling at Jake and Asher's faces. Dan and Dylan pranced around the room as they shouted "In your face losers!" Jake and Asher looked extremely ticked and annoyed. Jake had his arms crossed over his chest and Asher had put his hand to his forehead while shaking his head.

My only assumption was that Dan and Dylan had beaten Jake and Asher in some game.

I bent down to pick up my bag as Dan spat while waving his hand, "Hey Nicole."

I slung my bag over my shoulder and responded with a small "Hi"

Everyone but Jake chimed in with a "Hey" or a "Hi" after Dan.

"Care to join us?" Dan asked as he made his way over towards me.

Before I could answer Dan link his arm around mine and lead me to the living room where all the other guys were.

Right before we entered the living room Dan whispered "Jake's PMSing... don't let him bother you" in my ear.

I nearly choked on the air when he said that.

We entered the room when Dan asked "Why are you wet?"

I shuffled my feet when I said "I just came from boxing."

This earned a "EWW.. Sweat!" from Dan and a jaw dropping expression from everyone else.

"Hold the phone... You box?" Asher asked completely dumb founded.

I nodded.

"Like you actually hit people?" Dylan asked.

I nodded again.

"Wow I did not expect that from you... No offense" Dylan said.

"None taken."

"You don't seem like a type of person that would... ya know... hurt someone" Asher said.

I just shrugged. My eyes shifted to Dan who was holding his hand as if it had been smothered with poison.

"Dan will you chill.. Just wash it with water" Jake said while slapping him.

I chuckled under my breath.

Dan rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at Jake before running to the sink.

Moments later he ran and jumped over the couch landing perfectly in seating position.

"I want to box" Dylan said while pretending to punch someone.

"I'm sorry they don't allow anyone under the age of 5 in the ring" Asher said with the most serious face ever.

"I sure as hell don't punch like one though" Dylan spat.

"You're right... Sorry my mistake... You don't even have a punch" Asher grinned.

Ooooo...

Dylan narrowed his eyes and before I knew it the two of them were rough housing in the floor.

"Did you hear?" Dylan asked me.

I jerked my head over to face him, "Hear what?"

"Me and Dylan won Candy Land" He jumped up and began punching the air.

"You guys cheated" Jake spat at him.

"If you call picking up a card and moving the correct amount of spaces cheating well then you need a dictionary Jake." He said while sitting back on the couch.

"You guys rigged the deck!!" Jake said with anger.

Dan only grinned while casually sliding over to Jake, "If it makes you feel better then you can say what ever you like."

Jake rolled his eyes.

I stood up and said, "I should get changed."

"I'll come!" Dan spat as he playfully stood up and ran by my side.

"Dan..." Jake said narrowing his eyes at him.

Dan laughed "Fine..." He sat back down, "Over protective much?"

I began walking away with my bag as quickly as I could.

"Make sure you come back. We are watching a movie after this!" One of the guys shouted but I was too much in a rush to leave that I couldn't tell who that voice was.

I ran into my room, took off my clothes and jumped into shower. When I came out I grabbed my favorite pink PJ shorts with little cartoon ice creams on it and put on a shirt. I threw on a white over sized sweater and fuzzy blue socks. I grabbed my phone, lid it into my pocket and jogged back to the living room where all the guys were fighting over what movie to watch.

"You literally can't be a girl" Jake spat as he noticed my presence.

"Why not?" I asked confused.

"Because you literally took less than half and hour! All females take over two hours!" Jake said while rushing his hand through his hair. I couldn't help but noticed how his muscles flexed as he did that.

I shrugged me shoulders. As I was about to sit down Asher grabbed my arm and pulled me into their debate.

"What movie?" He said while pointing to the three movies resting on the table.

"I don't care" I said, "I'll watch anything."

Dan groaned "No we need you to pick because Jake said the same thing and none of us can agree."

Dylan whispered in my ear, "Pick Back to the Future"

Dan grabbed Dylan's shoulders and pulled him away "You can't do that! That's a mistrial! She needs to pick for herself! But if I were her I would pick Big Hero Six!"

Dylan pointed a finger at him and spat "MISTRIAL!"

Asher stated "Don't forget Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an option."

Dan and Dylan both jerked their heads to Asher and yelled "MISTRIAL!"

Asher rolled his eyes.

"Just pick a movie" Jake said.

I looked over my shoulder and Jake had his hand to his head "You guys are giving me a headache."

I looked back at the three movies.

Through much debate in my head I made up my mind.

Dylan and Dan sat on the same couch while Asher sat alone on another and waited for a response.

I grabbed a movie and hid it behind my back.

"I've decided..."

As I was about to say what movie I chose the door bell rang.

Groans escaped from all the guys mouths including Jake which tells me that he was leaning towards one movie more than the other.

"I'll get it" I quietly said as I rushed to the door but before I reached it my foot got caught on the edge of the table causing me to fall to the ground. The movie in my hands flew into the air and landed on the carpet in front of the guys.

They stared at the movie for a few seconds before Dan jumped up and cheered "BIG HERO SIX FOR THE WIN"

Asher and Dylan groaned but laughed at the same time.

Jake kept his eyes on me as I picked my self up and ran to the door.

"Nicole!" Bridget said while she flung her arms around me the second I opened the door.

I had totally forgotten! Bridget was coming over tonight.

"Bridget!" I say as I hug her back.

We entered the house and I led her to the living room. Dan had put the movie in and was trying to find the remote.

"Who is this?" Asher says with a sweet tone. His eyes seemed to light up at Bridget's presence.

"This is my friend Bridget" I say while pushing her forward a little because she froze the second she noticed Asher.

"I'm Asher" he said but I know Bridget already knows who he is.

The rest of them introduced themselves and Bridget became her normal self again. She ended up siting next to Asher and the two of them were locked into their own conversation.

I looked around the room for a seat until I noticed there was a seat next to Jake. I gulped as I made my way there.

"Can I sit here?" I ask hopelessly.

He nodded and I sat down.

There was a bit of awkwardness between us.

"You okay?"

My heart jumped when he spoke. For a moment I was confused about what he was asking but then I realized he was talking about my fall.

"Yeah. I-I'm fine." I respond while staring into the TV and the movie hasn't even started yet.

Jake just nodded gluing his eyes to the TV.

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