Thirty-Two #2
We reach the pool and they have a line of guys splitting the middle, effectively creating two rings.
That’s new. Tucker meets AJ at the top. I know by the way his eyes are bulging that she is bringing in an immense amount of bets.
She shakes her head at something he is saying but then he walks away.
I’m still in awe of how this place runs.
The closer I get to the side of the pool, the more I’m nervous.
I don’t want him to feel like I betrayed him by calling her, but I also don’t want to see him get hurt again.
I don’t know her plan, but I know that it will work.
The only person that they all listen to is her.
She’s earned their loyalty. Rory jumps down since we are on the side that doesn’t have the ladder.
He helps AJ down and then me. I turn around as soon as my feet are on the ground, searching him out.
I can barely see over the guys that are splitting the space.
But then Eli pushes his way through. He comes directly up to me.
He looks both worried and impressed. “You called Av?” He looks at me like I have lost my mind but he’s smiling too. “This is going to be messy.” Once again, he looks happy despite his words.
“You want to corner me?” AJ comes up to where we are standing and Eli’s smile turns menacing.
“Fuck yeah.” Eli nods to Rory and then hugs me. “You made the right call and if he gives you shit about it, give him hell.” He reassures me as he pulls back.
Oliver and Maxwell push their way through the guys standing and I try to swallow down the panic.
He looks at me first and then he looks at what I’m wearing.
It’s another one of his shirts that I stole.
I added a thin belt and made it into a makeshift minidress.
I wanted to show him that I was here for him, even if he’s making dumb decisions like fighting while hurt.
I’m still in his corner. When his eyes raise back up to meet mine, I don’t see any anger in them for me though.
Maybe a tinge of hurt because it is obvious that I brought AJ with me.
But there isn’t anger. And the biggest sense of relief floods my lungs, making it easier to take a breath in.
“What are you doing?” He asks AJ. His jaw is tight, he is shirtless like usual when he fights, and I can see all the bruises he was hiding under his hoodie the other night.
He really doesn’t need to fight again. He has splashes of black and blue and even a little bit of purple covering more skin than not.
The cuts on his face seem to be healing but bruises, and possibly cracked ribs, will take much longer.
And you can only take so much bruising around your organs before damage is done that can’t be undone. He’s not dumb, he absolutely knows this. I know that he fights to prove something, mainly to himself. But I don’t know what it is he’s trying to prove by fighting in the shape that he is in.
“You fight, I fight.” AJ says simply. Like there isn’t a hungry crowd waiting for them both to enter a possible blood bath.
“You don’t want to fight anymore.” He argues.
“If you want to be a dumbass, that’s cool.
” She steps closer to him and we all take a step away.
“If you don’t want me to fight, then scratch.
” Oliver blows a harsh breath out of his nose.
I can see the turmoil in his eyes. I don’t know why AJ stopped fighting, but he does.
And if I can guess, it’s a really good reason.
But she seems very in control right now, scarily so.
I’m more concerned for whoever it is that is about to have to fight her. Not the other way around.
“You’re being ridiculous.” He barks but there’s no real bite behind it.
“You heard me, Ol.” She doesn’t back down.
They stand there like that for a long moment until Oliver throws his arms out to his sides, spreading them as wide as they will go.
“I have an itch. Let’s see who takes the crowd tonight.
” She looks around at everyone still calling out for her and cheering.
“Actually they obviously love me more.” I expected her to go all angel of death on him and pull him out by his hair, but she is baiting him into fighting better than her. So he doesn’t lose. Smart fucking girl.
“Fine. Don’t lose and remember I taught you almost everything.
” He points to her and then goes back to his side of the pool.
Only Maxwell goes with him. He turns around to see me still standing next to AJ.
I know he wants to ask me to be in his corner but he also knows that I am going to support whatever it is that AJ is doing.
His eyes go from sad to disheartened. Probably because he feels like we are ganging up on him and we are.
But it’s for a good reason. Rory pulls me into the corner behind him and Eli as the girl that AJ is about to fight walks to the center.
“I’m so fucking ready for this.” Eli looks happier than I have ever seen him when he corners Oliver.
“Keep an eye on his fight.” She instructs Eli as she shakes out her body. Her and Rory share a long look. Then she turns to me and winks.