Brad

"Take a break, don't stress your body. Don't train until unless I say. Sleep and take rest. You need to save your energy for tomorrow," Conner said handing me the list.

"Okay."

"Go home Brad, I have confidence in you. Keep your mind at peace. You need to keep your mind at peace," I nodded my head before taking my bag.

When I was out of the gym, I closed my eyes feeling my surroundings. Tomorrow is D-day. Even though Conner said not to be nervous I can't help, I have anxiety problem when something huge is going to happen.

I got into my car and drove to my apartment, I don't know if Ava is present or not. Apart of me wants her to be there in my apartment. It's been days that I saw her, I was busy with my training and I can't ignore my training to see her.

It helps me whenever I see her innocent face, it calms my nerves and her talks make me laugh but I control myself from laughing.

I unlocked my door and unaware that Ava was standing on the stool. She lost her balance as I pushed open the door before she could fall I caught her in my arms.

"Ugh!" She yelled out with her eyes close, she is holding my t-shirt in a tight grip while I held her close to me.

"What are you doing there?" I asked her. She slowly opened her eyes before giving me her innocent smile.

"I was putting a photo frame there."

"Who puts a photo frame there?" I asked still holding her in my arms. She isn't heavy.

"Me." I rolled my eyes before looking at the photo frame she put there. It's a photo frame of me and the boys when we were in her home. I and Vincent were playing a video game while Celeb is eating a pizza and Axel is laughing looking at Celeb.

"Where did you find this photo?" I asked her.

"Mumma has so many pictures of you guys, you guys don't know that she clicked pictures of you four. I asked her for a few photos and she sent me,"

"It's good."

"Look at the old Brad, he is kinda skinny," she said but you hear the sarcasm.

"Skinny?"

"Yeah, compared to present Brad, old Brad is skinny!" I chuckled because that's true.

I was busy looking at the photo and remembering the old days that I forgot that I was still holding her.

"Brad, I don't wanna break your arms when your knock-on is tomorrow," she snapped me out of my thoughts.

I put her down "Your weight is nothing compared the weights I lift. You need to eat," I said.

"Haha... I need to lose weight! See this fat," she said showing her thigh fat.

"They are good though compared to those skinny legs."

"Aye... Aye.. You think my thighs are good," she said playfully.

"There are many things which are good, should I name them," I said as my gaze went to her chest before I looked back at her eyes which widen for a split second. Her cheeks turned red. Even I was shocked of what I just said. I blinked my eyes and looked away.

I looked at the walls and everywhere. She painted the living room walls with warm grey and white. She arranged the sofa's and added those lamps.

"I will decorate that wall in two days," she said standing beside me.

"You wanna decorate that wall?"

"Yeah, I want to decorate that one but I don't know how."

She did a great job to my apartment. The lifeless apartment is looking cosy and the same homely feeling I used to get when I was at her home is back. I walked into the small kitchen to see she painted into white and arranged all the things in order.

"I never saw this place this neat," I say placing my hand on the neat counter.

"Don't turn this place like before. I worked so hard decorating and painting this place," she said.

"I won't."

"I didn't decorate your room because I don't know if you are okay with me decorating it."

"Decorate it however you want it, don't add too many things to it," he said.

"Okay."

"Did you eat?" I asked her as she is looking at her phone.

"Nope, I will go to the dorm and will eat there."

"I'm going to eat join me," I didn't give her a chance to say as I started walking to the door. She followed me with her bag.

We reached the place soon, the place is packed with people and couples. They are looking at me and Ava, I'm not habituated with people looking at me.

"What you wanna eat?" I asked her. She scanned the menu before telling the fried rice.

"Make it two," I said to the person. We ended up at the fast-food centre, I like the food here.

"You always come here?" she asked looking at the place.

"Yeah, the food is good."

"Brad I decorated your place. I want to ask something in return," I raised my brow at her.

"You gonna say yes for whatever I ask," She continued saying.

"It depends on what you ask."

"No, you will say yes!" she said with determined eyes.

"You are demanding me to say yes."

"No, I'm asking you to say yes."

"Fine, first ask the question."

"I want to attend tomorrow's knock-on," she said and my eyes harden.

"No, you aren't allowed there Ava. It's dangerous and I don't want you to be there."

"Brad! Please I will come there. I want to be there for you, please don't say no." She hit a spot when she said that.

"I don't need you to be there for me when it is dangerous for you. I'm not risking you Ava."

"Risk? Many girls will be attaining, Brad. I saw how girls come to those places. If it is dangerous why would my friends and those girls come?" she argued.

"Because they are stupid and don't behave like a stupid now." I know how dangerous the men are, they are drunk people who wait to get laid. I don't want those men to see Ava. She is too innocent for those places.

"Brad please.... Everyone is coming there. I want to be there too. I promise I will be there with Julian and others."

"Julian?" I asked her. Who is this boy?

"My friend and others are also there, Brad." Our food came and I started eating it while she looked at me.

"Eat first, then I will tell you," I said. I glanced at her when she is busy eating. I didn't feel that nervousness. It's good to have her beside me talking.

"Okay, if anything happens you aren't going to visit another fight," I said.

"Thank you Brad!" she gave me a huge smile which always sparks my insides. I looked down at my food before she could see my eyes. I dropped her at her dorm and waited for her to go inside.

"Brad you gonna win this one. Don't be nervous and drive safe," she said before going to her building. I saw her retreating figure. When she entered the dorm building I drove back to my apartment.

*

"Mack I want you to look after someone till the match ends." I say to Mack.

"Who?" Mack asked.

"This girl, she will be coming along with her friends. Keep an eye that she doesn't end up in trouble," I said showing him Ava's picture on my phone.

"Isn't she the same girl from the dine?"

"Just do what I said," I said.

"Done."

"She will be there at any moment, tell me if anything goes wrong," I tell him sternly.

"Brad is she your girl?" he asked playfully.

"Shut up before I break your nose."

"Cool down man! I'm just asking. If she isn't your girl I'm ready to ask her on a date." I caught his collar and pulled him close to my face.

"If you step close to her I won't leave you Mack. I will break your bones for asking her out," I saw the fear in his eyes.

"Leave bro! I'm just playing with you. I already have a girlfriend, I'm seriously in love with her," I dropped him.

"No jokes when it comes to her. Now go and look after her, she is here wearing a white and black jacket."

"Where is she?" he asked. I turned to my left to see her standing with her friends.

"Left side third row." I can clearly see her from up here. She is standing between a boy and a girl. The boy leaned down to say something while she listened to him attentively.

"The match starts in five minutes. The second round is you and fisher," Conner said, I nodded my head wrapping the cloth around my palm.

"Keep your senses on alert. Concentrate on every move your opponent make. No heavy breaths," Conner explained.

My eyes went back to where Ava is. She is looking for someone, her friends are talking and the other two girls are squealing. She tied her hair into a high ponytail, her lips are painted in red. She is rocking her leg like she is waiting for someone.

The whole time I was looking at her. Time passed as it is the time to get down into the ring. I looked at her beautiful face and remembered why I need to fight and all the promises I made for myself. I recollected those lines I always say whenever I fight.

For a better future, for a better living, for a change and mainly for a chance to be with her.