24- Ariyah Nova Stevens
“Bestie, I love you, but I am not a replacement.” Charly answered the phone on straight bullshit.
“Girl, what the hell are you talking about?”
“You been calling me nonstop. Now, I wouldn’t mind if I knew you were calling for me, but it feels like you call when you’re trying to stop yourself from calling that man.” I can’t say she was wrong, but this call had nothing to do with that.
“I thought that’s what besties was for. Excuse me for bothering you, I won’t call again.”
“You tried it. You’re not about to guilt trip me into being Breaker 2.0.” Giggling, I couldn’t say shit because I was caught.
“Bestie, who else I’mma talk to about it? You’re all I got, so you gotta take it.”
“Nope. I am a firm believer in trauma dumping and transference of energy. Since you been mad at Breaker, I’ve cursed out my bus driver, accused him of lying about eating the last piece of pie, and thought about swinging on him once.
I rethought the last one though. He’s not Breaker, but he’s still a big Black American. ” This time I laughed out loud.
“Leave that man alone. He loves you, Charly.”
“We thought the same about Breaker. I just can’t accept that someone that is so thoughtful they restored your father’s gloves can be that messed up. I really think you should call him.”
“Not happening. I don’t blame him. I knew better, and I allowed myself to fall for it.”
“Okay, I’m not about to do this today. I done side eyed my bus driver again, and he’s not even here.”
“Do you think I’m doing the right thing? Training at another gym?”
“Two things can be right at the same time. I don’t think you should give up what you fought so hard for, but at the same time, I don’t think your new trainers will be as effective as Breaker.” Funny, I thought the same thing.
“Yeah, I agree.”
“Well, you’re not going to figure it out sitting in the car. At least give it a try. You’re Nova. You’ve been through worse. You don’t get to give up, not even for Breaker’s fine ass.”
“That man was fine, wasn’t he?” Opening my car door, I grabbed my bag and got out of the car.
“I’ll let you know how it goes.” We said our goodbyes as I walked inside.
The air and energy in Knock Outs were different from The Ninth Round.
Everyone seemed to be aware of the cameras that were there for Danger who was in the corner putting on a show.
The Ninth Round was more off the grid and gritty.
Looking around, I found a trainer in the back alone and walked over.
“Hey, I’m Nova. I was told to come here and train. I don’t know who’s assigned to my corner.”
“I’m Fixer, your chief second, and I’ve been waiting on you to get here.
Your Second is Vonny over there, and Pippy is your cut man.
They won’t work with you until fight night though.
You will spar with Tangy once I feel you’re ready.
” Everything was so formal here, and it was going to take some time to get used to.
“Okay,” I said unenthused.
“You good?” I nodded, so he pointed to the locker room.
“Go put your stuff up in there, get gloved out, and meet me at the bags.” Walking off, I wasn’t sure if this was going to work.
I felt out of place. Doing everything he instructed, I made my way back to Fixer.
He was working with someone else, so I stood there.
“What are you waiting on? Get to work.”
“Oh, I thought I was doing the bag with you.”
“Listen, everybody here is busy. Someone is always training, getting ready for a fight, or just conditioning. There will be nobody here holding your hand. Get in where you fit in until someone can make it over.” Not wanting to piss anyone off, I bit back my words.
I was tearing a lining out of my jaw trying not to go off on his ass.
Going over to the bag, I got in my stance and began punching.
I was in a groove when Fixer stopped me.
“What are you doing?”
“Hitting the bag.” I couldn’t avoid my annoyance from showing. Hell, I was two seconds from hitting him.
“You’re doing that all wrong. If you go in the ring using that form, your ass gone be knocked out in round one.”
“Breaker said my original stance was wrong. My height-…”
“You’re not at your old gym. These are the best fighters in the world training in here.
Trust me, we know what we are doing. Now, stand like this and bring your arms out some.
” I wanted to tell his ass you don’t have the best fighters because the champ is across town at The Ninth, but Landon could suck a dick, so I wasn’t about to praise his name.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to do it his way.
Somehow, I kept slipping into my old stance pissing him off.
“This is not working. I’m reverting back to muscle memory.”
“You don’t say. I’m going to send Vonny over here.
Once he feels you got it right, then I’ll come work with you.
” Fixer walked off leaving me devastated.
All the voices from over the years saying I wasn’t good enough began sounding off in my head.
Not wanting to wait on Vonny, I began hitting the bag the way Fixer was telling me.
I only had a month to get it right, so I checked my attitude and tried to focus.
Around forty minutes later, Vonny finally made his way over to me.
By that time, I had gotten it down pat. He held the bag while I went into attack mode.
“If you twist your arm some when you swing, you can do more damage.”
“Is that safe? Breaker told me swinging like that can damage my wrist.”
“If your wrist fuck up that easily, you shouldn’t be fighting sweetheart.” Hearing him call me that didn’t sizzle well in my spirit. It wasn’t said in a flirtatious way, but it’s like he was patronizing me saying I was too soft. Turning my arm like he stated, I began attacking the bag.
“Yeah, that’s it. Show them who the fuck Nova is.
” Hearing the encouragement helped because I really began going to work.
I could see the proud look on his face, and that had me putting my guard down some.
Maybe this gym wasn’t so bad. Different, but not bad.
“Time.” Stopping, I put my hands over my head trying to control my breathing.
Vonny grabbed the mitts, and got in his stance.
“I need a quick break.”
“You break when you go home for the night. As long as you’re in this gym, you’re working. Let’s go.” He put the mitts up, so I got in my stance. We started off doing two jab block combos. When it was time for me to duck the swing, he stopped me.
“What’s wrong?” I was in a groove, and thought I was doing great.
“You not going low enough. Who the hell taught you how to duck?”
“Breaker. He said if I go too low-…”
“You’re going to avoid getting hit, unlike him.” Danger had walked up and cut me off. I continued to focus on Vonny. Until he tapped him, and told him to give him the mitts.
“What are you doing?”
“You know what they call a fighter who is not on one accord with their trainers?”
“What?”
“A dead fighter. I know you are used to fighting the way you were taught, but you’re not there anymore. You have to align with your new trainers or don’t even go in the ring.”
“It’s only the first session.”
“And you’re a month away. This shit ain’t no fucking game.
Yeah, boxing is a sport, but it can end your fucking life.
Whatever bullshit you got going on, leave that shit at the door, or don’t walk through it.
” Not giving him any warning, I swung at the mitt knocking him back a step.
“Oh, you’re mad huh?” The harder I hit, the more he picked up speed.
He thought he was backing me into a corner, but I wasn’t the weak bitch they thought I was.
Yeah, Breaker got me the fight, but I earned it.
“Time.” Vonny yelled, so I walked off with my hands above my head. I knew I didn’t have long, so I tried to control my breathing faster than last time.
“You got some fight in you. How did you learn to hit that hard with the speed matched?” Smirking, I looked him dead in his face.
“Breaker taught me.” I wanted to tell him it was the most worked on technique with Landon and Swift to defeat Danger, but I kept that to myself.
“You sholl keep saying that nigga name a lot.” I shrugged my shoulders and got back in my stance.
“You asked. Besides, it’s the truth. He was my trainer-…”
“Then take your ass back over there! You think you gone keep disrespecting me in my shit. I let it slide the first few times I heard you say it, but I’m done playing nice.
Realize where the fuck you at, or take your miserable ass back where you obviously want to be.
” Swallowing the anger that was trying to come bursting through my mouth, I let it out in a punch.
This psycho nigga smirked and increased his speed.
“If this all you got to show me, I’m not impressed. Throw something else at me, or give the mitts back to Vonny.” This time, he laughed and started throwing crazy combinations at me. Not only did I surprise him that I was keeping up, I surprised myself.