Chapter 30
Evans' POV
I knew these kids were doing their best. I also knew half their parents didn't want them to come home unless they graduated. The other half think they are weak. So, I made them get stronger. I made them work out as much as I could. I am very proud of them. They are almost done with their training. They have at least four more weeks left. Right now, I wanted to see what they can do. I needed to find out if they could fight or if I needed to teach them how to fight. Right now, I am their parent. I praise them every chance I get. So, after the warm-up, I knew they were tired. But being tired is not going to help the pack if we had a rogue attack. So I needed to be harder on them. Therefore, I told them to pair up.
“Alright, guys, I want you to get on the mats, face each other. Once my hands land down at my sides, I want you to start sparring. One of you will strike, and the other will block. I will give you twenty minutes, and then we will switch. After the second time, it will be full-on. You will fight, but do not hurt each other on purpose. If you feel like you're getting angry, then hold your arms up and step away. Alright, let's go. Get on those mats.”
After they teamed up, I told them to get on the mats. I was nervous about them. I knew some of them didn't really like each other, but they worked together.
“Alright, are we ready? Remember, do your best, and work together. If you see something, tell them, and then instruct them how to do it right. Alright, let's go.” Putting my arms above my head, I swung them down. They started, and I was watching closely. I didn't want any real fighting. I was watching Macey and Cherry closely. They have grown close over the first week. Maybe they could teach each other. First, it was Cherry. She had a good swing, but her kicks were a little weak. I heard Macey instructing her on how to kick the right way. She taught her how to do a roundhouse kick and a side kick with a side flip. What the heck! No one knew how to do that. How did she know? Who taught her this? I stopped and then told the others to start. I watched the others. Everyone was instructing each other. I was very proud of them. I heard Cherry teaching Macey how to punch the right way, not to bury your thumb in your hand as you could break it. She was right. Kevin and Barry were instructing each other, and so were Josh and the others. I was very impressed with them. I was proud of what they had done and who they had become. It's only been a week, and they have come a long way. After twenty minutes of each one, I stopped the sparring.
‘Alright guys, are you ready for the real deal? I am very proud of what you have done for each other. Now, I want you to use that and fight. Like I said before, do not hurt each other on purpose. But I want you to fight. If you feel that you're getting angry, clap your hands together and then move off the mat. I will then come over and talk you down. Are you ready?” They all said yes. Then, I was looking at them with so much pride. Not many survived the first week, but these are determined to get this done.
‘Alright, with I swing my arms down, start. I will be watching.” Swinging my arms up and then slamming them back down to my side, they all started fighting. Okay, I saw a few that I thought were actually fighting, but they were talking while they were doing it. They were correcting each other. Good, good, they're doing it right. Verica and Stacey were going at it. I knew what that was all about. It was over Josh. Verica wanted him, but Stacey and Josh were mates. I think I would let them have it out, even though Josh is loyal. If Verica won, he still wouldn't want her. He would reject her and stay with Stacey. I watched the others as they came to a stop. Cherry and Macey kept going. I don't think they heard me say stop. We all stood around to watch what they were doing. I noticed that Cherry's parents were out here watching. Macey's dad was watching her. They had something to prove. Well, Macey didn't have anything to prove to that man because he wasn't her real father, but they were going at it like they were in a real fight. The others were going to get between them, but I stopped them. It looked like they were having too much fun.
Macey POV
When Cherry told me that our parents were now watching, we went all in on the fighting. I knew that Mrs. Evans was going to be pissed, but we had something to prove to them. We were punching and kicking each other. I did a roundhouse kick, making her fly backward. Before she fell, she caught herself, then ran at me, did a side flip, and then kicked me, making me stumble back. We were having a blast battling. We didn’t care anymore if anyone was watching. I did a side slide with my leg sweeping her feet from underneath her. She fell on her butt laughing, then got back up. She flipped over me, kicking me in the back, making me stumble forward again. When I turned around, she caught me by surprise. She punched me in my mouth, busting my lip open. She had a look of shock on her face. She was about to say she was sorry, but I said,
‘Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. You’re good. Let’s finish this.’ She nodded as we kept going on. I busted her nose as she gave me a black eye. I don’t know how long we were at it when we heard a whistle. We both fell on the ground laughing as Mrs. Evans walked over, smiling at us, and then she shook her head.
“Alright, ladies, I hope you had fun doing this. It’s time to stop for today. I will add that I’m very proud of you all. You kept telling each other to keep going and teaching each other. Awesome job. Just next time, don’t worry about what your parents think about you. Worry about how you think of yourself and how you can do better for yourself, not them.”
‘Alright guys, enough for today. We had enough fun. Go shower and rest up, and I will see you out here tomorrow, at the same time, same place. Now get going and rest up.” Cherry and I hugged it out, and then we ran back to the cabin. I was tired, and Evans was right. I couldn't care less what my dad thinks of me. I know what I’m doing, and if he doesn't like it, oh well. We got back to the cabin. I saw my mom waiting for me. Geesh, what did I do now? I wondered if she saw something that she didn’t like.