Broken #2 (The Broken Series - Book #2) (5 page)

I was
shocked by everything that she had said. I hadn't realized that Julie had put
that much thought into what was going on between Jet and me. I didn't want to
go into great detail with her at the moment; in fact, I didn't want to talk
about Jet at all. I just wanted to get my story down as a rough draft, so I
could peel away the layers of it another time.

I
smiled at her. “Well it's a good thing that I don't care about a future with
Jet, then.”

“Really,
you don't?”

“No,
it is what it is.”

“You
don't think it might be wise to write about something else? You have a great
family life, write about that. Or if you need some drama in your life, write
about our experience with the mugging; just make Jet's character look like Ryan
Gosling.” She had a sparkle in her eye when she said Ryan's name. “I'm just
saying I think it's a mistake to devote so much emotional and mental energy on
Jet. He's not worth it. You have lots of good stories to tell, Jet's not the
biggest thing that has happened in your life so far.”

“You're
the one who tried to get me to talk to him that first time at the bar.”

“Yeah,
I know. He's hot, and I thought he would be a good way for you to get over that
asshole, but I made a mistake. I think he's just going to hurt you, and I don't
want you to get hurt by another guy. It's obvious it's not going anywhere, so
just distance yourself from him.”

“No,
I like this story, and this project has been driving me nuts all day. Now that
I have a good idea, I don't want to go back to stressing about finding a new
one. It will be fine.”

“I
think you're making a mistake.”

“Julie,
it's not like we are dating. I'm not going to write actual events. It will be
more of a based-on-a-true-story sort of thing. I can change whatever I want. I
can have whatever ending I want. It doesn't have to end badly. I could have the
happiest ending I want, if I choose. If I don't feel like being happy, I can
kill off Jet in the end,” I started laughing, and Julie just shook her head and
rolled her eyes.

“Well
good luck with that,” she got up off the bed, and wiped at the water drips that
had found their way on her shoulder from her hair. “I have to go get ready for
class, I'll see you later.”

I
nodded, and watched her as she walked out my door, closing it behind her. I
breathed a sigh of relief and looked down at my notes that I had already made
for the story.

Everything
was going to be okay.

Chapter Six

Jet

Fight
night was tonight, and I was determined to keep focused, to make sure my head
was in the game. Game only, this was not the time to think about Natalie, or
worry about my grades. It was not the time to get angry over my father's lack
of enthusiasm when it came to my career choice, or the fact that he was still
determined to have me work for the company. It was also not the time to obsess
over the pass Brian had made at Natalie, or the fact that there were a million
other men out there who were far more deserving of her than I was. No, this day
was only meant for me to focus on the fight ahead, and what the game plan was,
in order to leave as a champion. Because if I didn't leave as a champion, then
my father was going to start having a reason to tell me to give up what he
calls my “pipe dreams.” So I had a lot riding on these fights; they were no
joke, and I certainly didn't look at them as playtime. This was about the rest
of my life, and I planned on going to war tonight, and sending my opponent home,
thinking twice about getting in the ring with me again.
Killa
Killa
, it was time to fight.

I
started getting things ready to go. Coach always took care of things like
Gatorade, first aid kits, ice, tape―all the things I needed in order to
stay hydrated and safe. I always brought my lucky gloves, though no one used
shin pads or head gear in professional MMA fights. I wouldn't need much else
except my fighting outfit, which consisted of shorts and a T-shirt that had the
school sponsorship logo on it. I put everything I needed in my gym bag, and set
it by the door. Now it was “me” time. Kyle was hanging out with video games,
and that wasn't the scene I wanted before heading out for my fight.

I
headed back into my bedroom, and closed the door. I put some meditation music
on my iPod, and lay down on my bed. I got in a comfortable position, and placed
the earphone buds in my ears. I turned on the iPod, and the music found its way
into my head. I needed to zone out to experience my win in my head before I
ever got into the ring. I needed to be a winner before I ever got out there. My
goals would be realized before I even left my apartment; it was all part of how
I won―not only in fighting, but in life, as well.

As
the music took over, I imagined myself warming up with Coach, getting my head
in the game, moving the way I was taught, throwing punches and kicks. Next, I
imagined what it would be like to hear my opponent’s name called out in the
ring. I imagined what it was like to know he had already lost, and was only
going out to meet a good, old-fashioned beating. I then pictured my own name
being called, the music that I had handpicked for my walkout playing through
the speakers as I broke through the curtains, my team following close behind. I
imagined my team, and how hard they, too, had worked to make sure I arrived
that night prepared for the fight.
To know that I was ready
to knock out my opponent.
They were there to support me, and would have
my back no matter what.

I
would walk down the aisle proudly, with my head held high, waiting to destroy.
I would not have that natural fight or flight instinct that kicked in when I knew
I was about to enter the cage with another man who looked to cause harm. I was
now at the octagon door, my team placing Vaseline on my eyebrows, talking to
me, preparing me for what lay ahead. I removed my shirt, and walked into the
ring. I envisioned the bell going off, and I struck my way into a knockout as I
pummeled my opponent, never allowing him a chance to break my guard. I landed a
sweet head kick that knocked him out, and he never got back up. It was my goal
to get him done in the first round, because no one liked working overtime when
they didn’t get paid more to do so. The crowd was going nuts around me, and I
raised my hands high, knowing I was the victor before the judges called it.

I
opened my eyes, and I was already smiling. I turned off the music, and took the
ear buds out of my ears, and set aside my iPod. I lay there for a few minutes,
reveling in the feelings I was experiencing at that moment. I was king of the
world, and no one could have taken anything away from me just then. I had never
felt more alive, and I couldn't wait to unleash that feeling tonight when the
fight was live.

I
rolled out of bed, and headed back out to the living area. Kyle was predictable,
as always, still playing his video games. I hadn't realized I had been
mediating for an hour; time flew when I was enjoying a victory.

“Hey,
man, are you coming to the fights?”

Kyle
looked up briefly from his game.
“Not sure yet.
I may
have plans.”

I
almost laughed out loud. Yeah, plans that consisted of drinking beer and
playing video games all night.

“Okay,
I will see ya later then; I'm heading to the gym.”

“Cool.
Good luck tonight, Jet. Make us all proud.”

“Will
do,” I waved as I picked up my gym bag and opened the door, heading out.

I
grabbed my gym bag out of my car, and headed into the gym arena. The fights
were taking place at our gym this time, and they had transformed the area into
a fighting arena. It looked amazing, and it got me jacked up in anticipation
for the fights. I headed to the locker room, where I would find my coach, as
well as the rest of my teammates. I was the main card for the evening, but I
wasn't the only one of my teammates fighting on a card tonight. There were
three other guys preparing for a fight as well.

I
walked in, and everyone yelled out hi, or various forms of good wishes. I did
the same, and went to go find my coach.

“Hey,
Robbie, how's it going?”

“Great,
buddy. How are you?”

“I
feel great. I can't wait to get in there and destroy that guy.”

“That's
just what I like to hear. Make sure you stay hydrated with some water
throughout your warmup. Give me a minute, and we will wrap your hands.”

“Sounds good.”

I
headed to the cooler, and at that moment wondered what Natalie was doing with
her evening. She would probably be bored to tears at an event such as this. I
got a couple of bottles of water from the fridge, and brought them back to the
locker room. I downed one immediately, and saved the other for later. There were
a couple of girls hovering around the locker area, and I had to assume they
were girlfriends of the other fighters. I wondered what it would be like having
a girl standing in my corner, cheering me on. I had never had a long-term
girlfriend before, and my conquests were never invited this close to my fights.
On occasion, one would be in the audience at the fight, but they were never
allowed near the corner, or in the locker room. They were only my prizes after
I had won the fight, or my consolation prize, if I lost.
The
idea that someone would be there to kiss me good luck, and support me like a
team member, was interesting.
I walked back into the locker room and went
to talk to the other two fighters.

“Hey,
Craig, are you ready to go to war tonight, or what?”

“Hey,
Jet, yeah, are you kidding me. I can't wait. I hope to accumulate the same
record you have.”

“Oh,
you will. It just takes time. You're a strong fighter, man, you will do just
fine.”

“Thanks.”

Joshua
was the other fighter going out tonight, and he joined our conversation when he
noticed me talking to Craig. “Hey, man, I can't wait to see your fight tonight.
I heard your opponent is brutal. He hasn't lost yet, at least.”

“Not
yet he hasn't, but he will. I'm ending his clean record tonight.”

They
laughed. “That's the spirit, man; it's gonna be a great fight, can't wait.”

“Well
good luck, guys, and I will see you out there.”

Before
I went to get my hands wrapped, I had to go do my weigh-in to make sure I was
on par for the fight. They had a medical table set up around the octagon for
the time being, so I headed over there. There weren't many people there, and I
didn't see my opponent at all yet. It was my turn to head up, and I went on the
scale to get weighed. They marked down that I met my weight for category. They
took a picture of me, and I headed back toward the locker room.

When
I went inside, Coach waved to me, and I headed over to the back area, where he
had set up some chairs to wrap the fighters’ hands.

“So
how did the opposing fighters feel about being located in the girls’ locker
room?”

Robbie
laughed out loud. “Well, hopefully, it fucked with their heads a bit.”

I
chuckled along with him. I watched as he finished wrapping Craig’s hands and
waved him off. He got up out of the chair, and Joshua sat down. They would be
fighting first, so they needed to get ready before I did. I would be the last
fight of the night.

“Things
are starting to get busy out there. They are ready to go.”

“Good,
you can help me start warming up the boys in about 20 minutes, and we will get
them ready for their fights.”

“Sounds good.”

He
finished wrapping Joshua, and the guy moved on. Robbie was a genius at wrapping;
he could do a solid, protective job of wrapping knuckles quickly. He was the
best coach I had ever had. I was lucky to have him.

He
started weaving the cotton wraps over and over on top of each other, until he
made a thick blanket of them. He proceeded to place that tiny blanket over my
knuckles. When he was done, he taped them down. After that, he taped until my
hand was as secure and safe as it could be inside my glove. I would not be
breaking my hands that night. He did the same with the other hand, and I
thanked him.

“Okay,
Jet, let's get these fighters ready to go.”

Chapter Seven

Natalie

My
day had gone terribly. I was thoroughly exhausted from working on my writing
project that day. It was more tiring doing a mental project than going to the
gym for an hour. All I wanted to do was relax at home for the evening, but that
wasn't what life had in store for me. No, instead, my wonderful photography
class was meeting at the gymnasium that night for a live project. I couldn't
imagine what it was all about, but either way, I wasn't looking forward to it.
I was finishing a cup of tea at the kitchen table when I pulled out my digital
Canon SLR. I wanted to make sure it was clean and ready to go for the project.
I made sure that there was nothing obstructing the lens, and I blew inside it to
make sure there were no dust particles. I cleaned the front of the lens with
special cleaner, and put the lens cap back on. I had purchased the camera used
at a pawn shop when I started school, and it had been perfect. I had fallen in
love with the images it provided, and it was one of my most prized possessions.