Jake Addams March 30th, 20XX

Another body slammed onto the ground and I looked around the room for another competitor.

“ Next!”

The younger boys frantically looked for something else to occupy themselves with while the older ones avoided my gaze. I raised my voice again,

“ I said next! You guys were the ones who begged me to come spar with you, well here I am.”

I was only greeted with silence until the assistant coach finally spoke up,

“ We asked you to help us in refining our techniques not to come pick a fight. You were the silver medalist at the last international competition…. If you want a fight you aren’t going to find one here.”

He gestured to my previous challengers who were now huddled at the other side of the room, licking each other’s wounds and sending me resentful glares.

“ If you’re that bothered then go hit the track or the pool until you feel better. Don't use my students to get rid of your frustration.”

He then firmly saluted me and sent me out. I saluted him in return and sent an apologetic glance towards the traumatized juniors.

I quickly changed and dived into the pool, trying to swim away my worries but it wasn't working.

Vanessa and Alice’s voices still echoed through my head as I mentally replayed their 'private’ conversation from earlier.

At the time I’d had an off period and was taking a nap in the back of the club room when the two of them had drifted. Vanessa’s annoyingly high pitched voice woke me up and let me hear their conversation.

“ Well. I think he caught the attention of a wealthy family and is being groomed to run their business on their behalf. There is even talk that he could be engaged to a daughter of a rich family.”

“Do you have any idea which one?!.....Not that I care. I’m just curious”

Alice asked with a trace of panic lacing though her voice. Vanessa responded with a few family names before saying in a suspicious tone,

“ But what about Jake? Aren't you guys a thing?”

Alice paused for a few moments, as if considering it before finally saying in a dismissive tone.

“ I know we’ve been together for three years and all but we both know that it's just a temporary thing until we find someone better. Even if I do go after someone else I’m sure he won’t mind.”

For the first time ever Vanessa was silent for about 15 seconds to process the heartless words of Alice and responded in a more cautious tone than I had ever heard from her.

“ Are you sure? Like, not to say you're wrong or anything but Jake seems pretty serious about you. And arent the two of them friends? Like, wouldn't it be kinda mean to try to come between the two of them like that?”

Alice had then snapped and perhaps it was from guilt as well but she used much cruder words than she usually would to defend herself and her actions.

“ So you’re calling me a cheating whore now?!”

Vanessa had quickly back tracked, attempting to defend herself but Alice only kept lashing out.

“ Why are you speaking up for Jake so much anyways? If you like him so much then why don't you just go after him! Besides You Know Jake’s background, if not for us having history I wouldn't even be friends with him! never mind be dating him...you know?! ”

She fumbled for a few words before finally saying,

“You know, no matter how many awards and medals he earns, A peasant and a princess could never be together.”

Vanessa had then quickly apologized and boot licked Alice until the two of them wandered out of the room discussing whatever latest piece that she had dug up and leaving me with the information that the girlfriend and relationship I had invested so many years into didn't even see me as someone worth being friends with.

So what do I do now?