The Girl in the Middle

Watching her first fight

*Amber*

Most of my evenings I spend back in the apartment, learning how it is having friends. Kattie is actually loads of fun when she isn't under so much pressure. And it feels good seeing KC and Hope fool around acting childish and not like adults. Michael is close to being back on his feet. Clay still has several days each week were he don't come home. But when he is home it is always those beautiful green/blue eyes I find resting on me. Those dark scary predatory eyes I haven't seen again.

The first fight I get to witness is between Clay and Drew. I am still pretty far from getting to that, but they want a training fight and I want to watch and maybe learn. Tom is here too, sitting next to me on the benches.

Of course Tom has an entire arena made for shows and training battles in hand to hand combat. Who else would get such an idea ?

"Are they going to fight in their normal clothes ?" I ask Tom a bit surprised, when they step into the arena. The have only removed their weapons.

"It needs to be realistic". Tom answers. "When we run into Zombie or his gang on the street, we don't exactly have time to change clothes first. That is why we wear clothes that are easy to fight in. Well except Kattie. It is still a mystery how she can defend herself in those tight jeans".

I watch Tom, he is biting the inside of his bottom lip, it is clear to see from the way his lip pull back. He does that quite often I have noticed. In the beginning I had thought it was a nervous thing or that he was speculating, but it seems very random and I don't think he even realise himself. It makes me want to reach out and touch his lip.

Clay and Drew step towards each other, exchanging some words I can't hear. There is no warning before they attack each other.

They move at the same time, blocking each other's movements, like it is all coordinated and thoroughly trained.

If I didn't known that they were trying to hit each other, I would have compared it to a dance. Their movements mirror each others and they react instantly on the opponents distension.

Clay lifts his knee to hit Drew, but Drew swiftly turn away and the knee hit nothing. Instead Drews hand goes for Clay's jaw, but he moves and his forearm pushes Drews hand away.

It is fascinating to watch. I am sitting on the edge of my seat, noticing every movement they make. How it all melts together to one unity.

The slam when Clay's elbow connect with Drew's nose echoes through the room. And shortly after I can easily hear the unhealthy sound when Drew hits Clay in the chest, sending him flying into the wide elastic bands that run around the fighting ring. Clay is luckily on Drew again in seconds.

I get on my feet trying to see everything. I have started to realise the severity of this. Understand that they can hurt each other for real. Hurt each other badly.

"Relax darling. It is all just for fun". Tom say, clearly feeling how nervous I am becoming. "They have full control over the situation". He is sitting totally relaxed, one long leg across the other.

"Easy for you to say". My voice is almost a whisper. "What if they make a wrong move ? Hit harder than they want to ?"

"They won't". Tom say confidently. "They both know their limits and when the fight is over. They have been doing this for many years Amber".

"But ....". I don't know what to say. I don't have any good arguments. Drew has just hit Clay again and Clay is cradling his head a little to long for my liking before attacking again.

"This is our life". Tom turns towards me. "As leaders we are in a position of great power that many people strives after. If we can't prove to be the strongest we will lose that position. And because each gang has their own powerful position in the underworld, there will always be other gangs striving for that power. That is why we are at constant battle with Zombie and Sunny. Because that we alone with our existence is a threat to them. We make sure they can't run everything the way they want to. Every leader wishes to be the king of the underworld".

"Even you ?" It isn't the way I see Tom. Gerard maybe, but not Tom.

"There is a lot of things happening in the underworld that I would like to change". Tom moves his focus back in the ring. "But that would involve going against people I actually care about, so not an easy thing to do".

He is following the battle again, it seems like Drew will pull out victorious. "And before you ask. Yes, even Clay wish to be king, he too has his idea about how things should be".

"How can you be friends if you ultimately want the other to disappear and take his power ?" I ask him.

"It's a great question". He say without taking his eyes away of the fight. "But the real question should probably be whether we would even be friends if we didn't have a common enemy". He look at me shortly. "Or if he didn't have Kattie".

At that moment Clay give up. He is dangling halfway over the elastic ropes in one corner. Drew offers him a hand helping him up. I run down there crawling into the ring.

"Are you okay ?" I am standing a bit away from Clay looking at him worriedly. I can just exactly reach out my arm and touch his bleeding eyebrow.

"I am fine". His gaze look into mine. Those eyes kind of sucks me in every time.

"That was abysmal Clay, you have really let yourself go". Tom, who has joined us say. "It is easy to see you haven't spent any time training the last couple of years". He press a piece of cloth against Clay's forehead where he is bleeding.

"I am really out of shape". Clay answers honestly. "And not only in the ring".

"Amber, could you hold this for a minute ?" Tom nods towards the cloth he is pressing to Clay's forehead. "I'll be back in a minute".

Drew and Tom leave us to ourselves. And I can suddenly feel my heart all to clearly in my chest by being this close to Clay. He always makes it beat faster. I try not to look at him as he sit down, leaning against the corner post. I kneel down in front of him as far from him as I can while still holding the cloth to his wound.

"You have changed". Clay mumbles, his hand running down my free arm. He leaves a trail of fire where his fingertips touches my skin. "You are much stronger".

"I thought that was the meaning with my training ?" I ask him, focussing on his shoulder.

"You haven't asked me about Amber ?" His voice is only a whisper. A very deep hoarse whisper. "As far as I know you haven't asked anyone about her since that day in the park".

"I am afraid to hear things I don't like". I said honestly and I can't look away any longer. His face, his smile and especially his eyes. "I am afraid I will compare myself to her".

"You keep proving that you are not her". His hand gently cup my cheek. "She would have given me a real earful for losing like that to Drew today". He is serious now. There is something in his eyes I can't quite read. "For neglecting my training". It is like something dawns on him. "She most definitely wouldn't have worried about me".

"Sorry.. I..". I what ? Can't help it ? Don't want to see him get hurt ? What is it that I want to say ?

"No don't apologise. It is really nice to know that someone worries". I blush and looked down. "I think it is time I start involving you more in The Shadows before Tom steals you away from us".

"I don't want to sell drugs". My head snaps up. "Please don't ask me to do that".

He seem surprised by my reaction, but collect himself pretty fast. "That's totally okay. You can help doing inventory on the weapons. I guess you won't do inventory on the drugs either ?"

I am shaking my head vigorously. "I don't want anything to do with the drugs". I don't want him to have anything to do with them either.

"It will come with time". He say, getting up and I don't dare tell him otherwise, not yet.