Between Love and Hate

Boxing Accident

*Kane's  POV*

On Saturday afternoon, I head to the gym to train with Rex. We’re pretty sure I’ll get a shot at fighting Machine tonight. I’m undefeated so far and people are taking notice.

When it’s time to head out, we decide to just carpool from the gym to the club. We arrive just after 10pm and there are already people here. This is my first Saturday here and Rex wasn’t kidding about it being packed.

The three of us go register and then make our way around the floor to see who’s here already and check out any new guys. We get looks and whispers as we roam around and I’m sure it’s because everyone is excited about the idea of me fighting Machine even though I haven’t seen him here yet.

Just when I think he’s not going to show, he walks in with Rocky at his side and head’s over to registration. Not even 5 minutes later, the round one matchups are posted. Sure enough, I’m paired up with Machine as the last fight of the round.

As we watch all of the other fights, the anticipation has me buzzing with energy. When it’s finally our turn and I step into the ring with Machine, I take a few deep breaths to control and focus my energy on my opponent.

The crowd is cheering so loudly around us that I barely hear him when he says, “Looks like your winning streak is coming to an end tonight,” he says. I don’t deign to respond to him. We’ll find out soon enough if he’s right or not.

The referee begins the round and the cheering doesn’t stop. He attacks first and I just barely dodge it. We go back and forth for a while, neither of us landing any particularly good blows. I can tell he’s getting frustrated so I attempt to keep myself as calm as possible to give myself an edge.

He yells out as he swings his arm out hard at my face. I block it but I’m not fast enough to also dodge the right hook he throws at me immediately after. His fist connects with the side of my eye and I stumble sideways as I feel blood dripping down the side of my face.

He turns to the crowd and starts gesturing for them to cheer louder. I don’t think he expected me to recover quickly, or perhaps at all. He has either overestimated his strength or underestimated my tolerance for pain. Probably both.

I take my chance to lunge at him, jamming my shoulder into his ribs and knocking him on the floor and then throw the first punch straight to his face before he can process what’s happened. I continue to throw punches, until his body goes slack underneath me.

I climb off and the ref starts counting before declaring a knockout. The crowd cheers wildly and I make my way out of the arena to where Rex is standing with a towel.

“Here, take this and we’ll go find the medic. You might need stitches.” I press the towel to my eye and follow him through the crowd. to the medic station near the back. I take a seat in the chair and the guy puts on some gloves and then instructs me to drop the towel.

He cleans it out and then says, “Alright, this needs a few stitches.” He grabs a syringe that I assume has some sort of anesthetic in it but I hold up my hand and say, “Don’t bother.”

“You sure? This is not gonna feel great.”

“Just do it,” I tell him. He just sighs, puts the syringe down and then starts threading a needle. He then brings his hand up to my face and I see him open his mouth to offer again but I just glare at him  and he shuts his mouth. The pinch of the stitches is nothing compared to pain I’ve felt before.

Once he finishes, Rex and I head back to Striker and Blade. I decide not to fight again and just cash out. I would hate to ruin the medic’s good work. Striker and Blade have a couple more fights and I just watch until the club closes.

We head upstairs and decide not to stay for drinks. As we’re walking through the parking lot, my phone starts ringing. I fish it out of my pocket and am very confused when I see Violet’s name pop up. I consider just not answering but then my curiosity gets the best of me. Why is she calling me at 2am on a Saturday?

“Violet?”

“Hi,” She says and even in that one word I can hear how shaky she sounds. I hear a muffled sound come through the phone.

“Violet, are you crying? Are you okay?”

“No,” she says, still crying. Panic floods through my veins.

“Where are you?”

“I-I went to visit Jace and- and he-”

“Did he hurt you? I swear to God I’m gonna f*****g kill him,” I say, clenching my jaw.

“No! He didn’t. Not physically anyway. Nevermind, you don’t need to come. I- I don’t know why I even called. I’m sorry.”

“No! Violet don’t hang up! I’m coming to get you. Just stay on the phone.”

I hear nothing for several seconds and I'm almost convinced she hung up when she whispers “Ok."

“Where are you? He goes to UMass right? And he’s in a frat? Which house?”

“Um, Alpha uh Alpha Theta,” she says through tears.

“Are you somewhere safe right now?”

“Yes,” she says shakily.

“Okay, I’ll be there soon Violet,” I tell her and then hang up the phone.

I turn to Rex and he says, “So we’re going to UMass then?”

“I am yes. You can just bring me to my car.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s like 15 minutes from here. And who knows, maybe you’ll need back up at the frat house,” he says jokingly.

“Okay, whatever, we’re wasting time now, let’s just f*****g go!” I start jogging to the car and when we all get in, Rex starts driving towards UMass. I look up the address for Alpha Theta and as we’re driving Rex says, “So do you wanna tell us who Violet is and what’s going on here?”

“Violet is family and she just called me from her boyfriend’s house at 2am on Saturday in tears. That’s all I know and that’s all that matters. If he even laid a finger on her, I’m gonna kill him.”

“Good enough for me,” He replies.

15 minutes later we pull up in front of the house and there’s a party going full swing inside. I see Violet’s car parked out front and as soon as the car is stopped, I’m jumping out and running to the front door. I hear the guys following behind me and we get a lot of stares as we barge into the house, which is no surprise.

The music keeps going and some dude in a tank top holding a red cup comes up and says, “Can I help you gentlemen?”

I grab onto his shirt and say, “Violet. Where is she?”

“Who?” he says and I can tell he knows exactly who I’m talking about

“Don’t f**k with me. Tell me where I can find her right now or I will not hesitate to put my fist through your face,”

“Okay, okay, geez dude. I saw her run upstairs!” I push him back and then storm up the stairs. I look both ways down the hall and see the blonde guy from Violet’s i********: leaning up against a door talking at it.

I stalk over to him and when he notices me coming he starts backing away and I grab him by his shirt and slam him against a wall. “What the f**k did you do to her?! Did you hurt her?!” I yell in his face.

“I- No! I didn’t touch her!” I can see the confusion on his face. He has no idea who I am. I hear a small voice from beside me say, “Kane, let him go.” I find Violet standing in the room with the door open.

I release Jace and immediately go over to Violet and pull her into a hug.

“Wait, Kane?! Why the f**k would you call him of all people?!”

I completely ignore him and walk Violet backwards a couple steps and then slam the door and lock it.

“Violet, what happened?”

“I- I- don’t wanna talk about it right now. I just wanna leave but I drank and my car-”

“It’s okay, some friends brought me here. I’ll drive your car,” I tell her softly. She nods into my chest and then she backs away and swipes at her eyes before looking at me. Instantly, concern takes over the sadness in her face and she starts to reach a hand up and says, “Kane, what the- what happened to your face?”

“Nothing. Boxing accident. It’s fine. Where’s your bag?” She points to it and I go grab it, slinging it over my back and then place an arm around her back. “You ready?” She just nods and I lead her out of the room. I start to lead her towards the stairs and Jace follows behind us.

“Violet, please, don't leave, can we just talk about this? She meant nothing to me, I swear! Violet!”

I see; he cheated on her. f*****g i***t. It takes all of my self-control not to turn around and deck him. We make it out the front door and I feel Violet being tugged slightly away from me. When I look over, Jace has one of her hands and says, “Violet, please, I love you.”

“You clearly don’t Jace! Just let me go!” She yells and yanks her arm free. He goes to take a step forward but Striker steps in between them. “I wouldn’t recommend that, buddy.” Jace backs up with his hands up and then a few of whom I assume are frat boys, come outside, standing behind Jace. They’re all eyeing us warily and I can tell they really don’t want a fight. They’re smarter than they look.

“Don’t hurt them, let’s just go. Please,” Violet says; her voice stronger than before.

“Alright guys, we’re all good here. Let’s go.” I turn to face Rex and say, “I got it now. You guys can head out. Thanks for coming.”

They just nod and head off towards Rex’s car and I lead Violet to hers. She hands me her keys and we get inside.

I start driving and I can feel her emotions as though they’re physically present in the vehicle. I can see her fidgeting in her seat. I don’t push her to talk. It’s clear she needs time to sort her s**t out. Several minutes later she says, “I didn’t know you box.” The statement takes me off guard.

“Yeah. It’s a hobby.”

“And those guys, they box with you?”

“Yes.”

“So why were they here? It’s the middle of the night.”

“We were training when I got your call.”

“At 2am on a Saturday?”

“Yes. Violet, why are you asking me about boxing right now?”

“Because I’m trying to think about anything other than my boyfriend f*****g a hot blondel!” She blurts out. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to take this out on you.”

“It’s okay. You can take it out on me if you need to. Let it all out.”

“Maybe later. I’m just too tired for that right now.”

I just nod and see her lean her head up against the window. We finish the drive in silence and when I pull up at her dorm she says, “Wait how are you getting home? Where is your car?”

“It’s at the gym. But I’m not going home. I’m not leaving you alone right now.”

Her eyebrows pull together as she tries to sort something out in her head. “I don’t wanna be alone,” she whispers and I have a feeling that statement applies to more than just right now.

I want to tell her she won’t be but I’m not in the business of making promises I can’t keep so instead I go with, “I know. Come on, let’s get you inside.”