Welcome To Alexandria

chapter 2

Momma Dez left shortly after but not before warning us not to sleep in the same bed. I know it sounds weird that she just leaves us in the house together but I know that Ira’s siblings are always watching us. Countless time were one of them has just walked into the room looked at us and then left without a word. The first time it happened It was odd but Ira explained his mom probably text them to check on us after that I really didn’t care we had nothing to hide. Right now we’re sitting on the couch watching a random MMA fight like we normally do. Ira on the middle cushion with his legs propped on the ataman me on the end with me legs draped over his thighs bowl of popcorn on mine. I had a handful of popcorn in my mouth when I noticed Ira was watching me ‘gross ass’. “his footwork sucks”  I mumbled trying to break through the awkward air surrounding us. That seemed to snap Ira outta his thoughts ‘what was he thinking about so hard’ I wondered. “huh’ Ira shook his head causing his dark caramel curls to bounce “sorry what did you say?” I motioned for Ira to look at the screen. “red trunks, his footwork really needs more work” I said as if it was obvious, well it would have been if Ira was watching the damn fight instead of me eating. The corner of Ira’s mouth raised threating to show his teeth. He licked his lips before asking. “and what would you know about footwork?”

“well you did say I should join boxing club at school’’ I answered while placing the empty bowl behind me on the end table.

“You and I both know that was a cover. And last time I checked I’m the boxer you’re just a fighter” he said patting my shins. I couldn’t help the annoyed feeling that came to me.

“If you would actually watch the fight, you can clearly see that he keeps planting his feet. And if he would move and step into the punch he would gain a lot more power and be able to wear the other guy down. But and this is just a guess this is probably a first real fight because he keeps letting himself get backed into the corner” I rolled my eyes at the end so he could see how perturbed I was. I hate when people test my knowledge and I will continue to correct them Ira was not exception. Ira’s mouth opened like he wanted to argue but I just pointed to the screen dramatically. Like I said as soon as punches were thrown red trucks would act like his feet were glued only moved to be backed into the corner. Finally time was call the other guy won by points. Ira’s grip tightened on my calf. I held my laughter in as they went to speak with red trunks.

“bouton what happened we’ve seen that you’re a good fighter were do you think you're mistakes were?” the reporter asked.

Red trunks was still panting and licked his lips before he answered. “if I had to pin point it id say I let my nerves get the best of me my feet felt like bricks. I guess but you know first time out the gate I’m just grateful for the experience” I couldn’t help but smirk that I was right about the fight. I could feel Ira’s eyes burning into my side. I tried to just click through the channels but it was like his gaze grew stronger. I let out a loud sigh turning to meet his stare. His was squinting his left eye a little more than the right. “what” I deadpanned

“what do you mean what?” he asked scrunching his eyebrows together.

“ you’ve been squinting at me for a good minute, do you need glasses or what?”

“ you just called a live fight like it was a rerun and you’re just gonna act like it’s normal? Comon Andrie how did you know all that?” he turn a little to were he was almost faces me. I looked at him weighing the pros and cons of tell him the truth settling with with two words.

“my dad” I monotoned  looking back at the tv searching through the channels. I could see Ira outta the corner of my eye he looked like he want more info and I knew he was going to ask. I wasn’t just gonna offer it up freely. Ira knew my dad and I were thick as thieves from the little bit he had manage to get out of me. Not that he had to try very hard, Ira was very easy to talk to and that’s saying a lot for me but Ira always know when to stop talking. If was comforting knowing that he only wanted to know what I wanted him to know. I was pulled out of my head by Ira pulling the remote out of my hand

“hey!”

“ you’ve went through that guild three times already.” Ira turned the T.V. off  “ you and your dad use to watch fights together he asked cautiously. I couldn’t help myself I laughed. Hard. Maybe a little to hard because when I look back at Ira he looked irritated I didn’t realize that he was rubbing my legs till he stopped and they started to feel cold.

“aww you’re so cute when you don’t know something” I said poking his shoulder. He just raised and eyebrow I raised mine in response. Ira made a circular motion to indicate for me to explain why what he asked was funny. I sighed taking a drink before I answered.

“my dad was a boxer and I pretty great one too ending up own his own gym. I thought my dad hung the moon and sprinkled the stars in the sky so I tried to follow in his footsteps. So I asked him to train me. One day my dad stopped me while I was getting ready to train. He told me he had to show me something I was worried my day was always a work before play kind of person. He took me outside to the front of the gym. This man looked me died in the eye and said I can’t train you anymore. My heart dropped and he smiled. The he pointed at the sign on the front of the building that went from saying Daniels boxing to Johnsons combat combo. He told me he thought it was time I mixed it up. My dads best Jamie came around the corner and I instantly knew bc like my dad he was a boxer but he stared to the MMA scene. I began trying even had a few armature fights inside the gym…” I suddenly felt Ira’s knuckles graze me cheek wiping the tear I didn’t know escaped ’f**k Ira saw me cry’. I flinched a bit, he noticed but he didn’t say anything about it.

“you got any videos?” he asked snapping the depressing air away.

“huh” I asked coming back from the memory.

“ Of you fighting I mean, I wanna see if you could really kick my ass. I mean you always give of this ill f*****g kill you vibe but I wanna see.” I was taken a little back from the question. I did have videos but my family was in them, and I haven’t watched them in years. Ira must have been seen my hesitation because he moved to get up. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back down taking the remote back. I clicked to youtube typing in my name and the year of my second fight. Ira scooted closer till my thighs were on his lap and my butt was pressed against the side of his leg. Sounds uncomfortable but it really felt nice just know he was there made me feel a little lighter. “Alex move your f*****g ass I swear!” hearing my dads voice brought me outta my thoughts again. ‘I really have to stop zoning out like that’

“ The big guy your dad?” Ira asked drawing circles on my thigh

“yeah” I sighed I really missed hearing my dad’s voice for I second I swear I was inside the memory.

“ who are the other two guys in your corner?” Ira asked

“ The tall red head is my dads best friend aka uncle Jamie. And the guy that think he’s the s**t is my little brother Damian” I winced realizing that I used present tense. Damian has been gone for almost three years I just brought him up like I could call him right now.” He’d be turning 17 this year” I said it so softly I didn’t know if I really said it out loud.

“OH s**t YOU JUST f*****g DROPPED THAT GIRL!” Ira making me jump. Looking back at the screen I watched as the ref held my hand in the air declaring I won by K.O. my dad, Jamie, and Damian rushing me liftings me in the air roaring with proud faces. They put me down and my dad hugged me tight. ‘Man can I go back in time just to live in that embrace?’

“I wonder what it would take to get a genuine one of those?” Ira laughed as he stood stretching he shirt traveling past his belly button.

“what are you talking about?” I raised a brow. Ira paused the video on my face.

“ what a busted lip. I mean I guess I could give you one” I shrugged “ I just thought you had enough with the nose thing” Ira gave me a deadpanned look.

“no smartass, you’re smiling. Like really smiling, I can see the happiness in your eyes. I just wanna know what it would look like to get one of those in person?”

“I do smile!” I protested follow behind Ira to the kitchen.

“Not like that you don’t” he said moving around the kitchen gathering things to make dinner. He set the hamburger on the counter and looked at me searching my face for something. “when you smile I always feel like you’re waiting for a reason not to. I’m not trying to get inside your head you let me little by little if that’s what makes you feel comfortable… I can’t help but wonder how long till you feel comfortable with me?”

I couldn’t answer him because I really didn’t know myself. I trusted Ira with my current life but not with my past. What sucks is I didn’t know if I ever would? I opened my mouth to speak when Izzy one of Ira’s sisters walked in the kitchen.

“Good little b***h, make our dinner” she laughed walking past Ira ruffling his hair as she went to the fridge returning with a water bottle.

“Stop talking to yourself in the third person, it’s really disturbing.” Ira snatched the water from Izzy taking a drink before continuing. “ Also what is this our, who is this we this food is mine?” I raised a brow and Izzy sucked her teeth.

“So you’re not gonna feed your girlfriend oh I mean best friend” she wiggled her eyebrows at me.” Alexandria” she sang my full name at me. “You’re staying the night right?” I was about to answer her when Ira did.

“Stop being weird, Isabella. You’re making her feel uncomfortable.”

“I’m fine.” I interjected quickly earning a glance from both of them. Izzy smirked at Ira before turning to me.

“So Alex, we never really talk even though you basically live here not that I’m complaining you seem genuinely… real.” Izzy took a seat across from me looking at me with beautiful eyes that matched her brothers’ lighting up with what seemed honest interest. Ira had gone back to moving around the kitchen quietly.

“What do you mean real? I am living flesh.” I laughed trying not to be awkward. To my relief she laughed with me.

“ I know you’re a real person. I mean you seem honest, down to earth. I like that, you know real is hard to come be these days. I can count on one hand how many girls I wouldn’t consider fake at that school” I laughed I knew exactly who she was talking about. Aside from their other sibling Izzy was like me only talking to people when she chose to. I liked that, she was well liked and could soak in all the attention instead she payed attention to school and her books. We had a common goal, go to college and leave this place. The conversation continued, we mainly talked about school. Like Ira she was easy to talk to, I could see myself being friends with her. It would be nice to have a friend that’s a girl instead of being Ira’s plus one when Ira took me around his guy friends.

               Ira made pasta, calling everybody down for dinner before joining Izzy and I. Isandro the oldest he is literally a taller, buffer version Ira. All the siblings looked like copies with small differences about them. Inessa, Ileanna, the twins had small button noses that paired with their deep brown doe eyes. Izzy is the oldest girl, her face was more angled making her look like a beautiful version of her brothers. The island was warmed with the buzzing of everyone talking about their days. Even though I know this is only a moment, it felt nice. It felt like I was where I supposed to be.