We arrived at the ring and took the same route downstairs as yesterday night.

Everyone cheered when they saw him.

"She's back?"

"That's his girl or somethin'?"

"Glad to see you again shorty."

"Damn, baby, come here!"

He held onto my wrist as we walked through the crowd and I heard more sounds like the night before. They must not be used to him bringing women here.

We walked into a different room from last night. It seemed like a locker room. There were a few men already inside. Some completely naked, some half naked, and some dressed. I shielded my eyes.

"HEY!" I heard Eli shout. "Put some fucking clothes on!" he demanded.

Technically, they had the right to be naked. I was the one that wasn't supposed to be in here.

I waited patiently for everyone to become dressed.

"You can open your eyes." he said and I moved my hands.

He was sitting on a bench in front of me and taping up his knuckles. I'd only just now paid attention to him closely since before I was focused on the road or my hands or looking down at the floor while we walked through the crowd.

He had on a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, he was barefoot with his shoes and socks next to his bag, his hair was messy, and he was chewing gum.

"So who do you go up against?" I asked.

"Three guys."

"THREE?!" I shouted.

"Shh." he laughed. "Not all at once. One at a time. But yes, three."

"Oh." I felt stupid.

He finished wrapping his hands and then stood up only a foot away from me.

"What?" I asked. He reached up and grabbed the collar of his shirt then pulled it off over his head.

"Nothin'." he said and my eyes almost popped out of my face. I looked up at his face as he chewed his gum with eyes on mine and again I tried my hardest to not look down.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing." I replied with a shrug.

He chuckled and said, "Ok." then tossed his shirt onto the bench.

"You wanna be a water girl?" he asked and handed me his bottle.

"Sure." I answered and shook the bottle to hear what was inside and make sure it was already full.

"Can I fight too?" I asked.

He looked at me like that was one of the stupidest questions he's ever heard.

"Absolutely not." he answered.

"Why not?" I wondered.

"Because the men out there will crush you. They fight to kill each other." he explained.

"You don't think I can handle it?" I asked.

"Right now? No. But I could maybe train you." he claimed.

"Okay." I smiled.

"It's time to go. Fight starts in one minute." he stated then turned me around and began pushing me out the door.

We left the lockerroom and everyone saw us. Of course they cheered again like every time they saw him enter a room.

'Is he some kind of god to these people?' I wondered.

"AND NOW! FOR THE FIGHT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!..." the same greasy haired guy from last night was the announcer. "BOSS MAN VS. BIG BABY!!!"

'Boss man?'

"I swear I didn't choose that name. I constantly tell them to just call me Eli." he told me and I snickered.

"If you lose I get to kick your ass next." I joked.

"Mm. Okay." he nodded. "What do I get if I win?" he asked and let his eyes trail down me as he licked his lips then brought them back up to my eyes.

Suddenly my knees don't work.

He walked up to the ring and went in.

A large bald and clean shaven man climbed in with him and I understood the name 'Big Baby'.

The big guy started stretching his arms and legs and Eli hopped up and down a few times then shook his black hair out of his face. We made eye contact and he gave me a quick wink before putting his focus back on Big Baby.

There go my knees again.

The announcer left the ring and a bell rang.

The boys put their fists up and got ready.

Baby threw the first punch and Eli dodged it then swung a fist at Baby's jaw, making contact. He swung a left hook after and then an upper cut and Baby stumbled backwards.

"Can you try a little harder? I have someone watching me in the crowd and I kinda wanna show off." he said then threw another right hook into Baby's face.

Baby stood up straight and looked like he was grunting. A shocked expression shown on Eli's face.

"Oh, now you're angry?" Eli asked.

Baby charged at him without an answer and started throwing angry punches. He made contact a few times but it wasn't a lot for how many he was throwing. Eli started swinging again and each punch was sturdy and strong. He hit him with another so powerful that Baby tumbled into the fence that kept them in the ring.

He spit onto the floor and threw his head back to move his hair out of his face then looked back at Baby. Eli had a cocky grin like he knew this fight was in the bag for him.

"Come on, Baby, you're not tired, yet, are you?" Eli asked then sent another punch to Baby's face then an uppercut into his stomach.

Something about the way he says 'baby'.

The fight continued and went on for about three more minutes. They were both covered in sweat and Baby was panting like he was hyperventilating.

"Wake up." Eli demanded then hit Baby with a final swing and he fell to the ground face first. "Or don't." he guessed in disappointment.

The crowd roared and the announcer got back into the ring and the mic lowered.

"ARE WE SURPRISED, FOLKS?!" he shouted.

A loud "NO!" erupted from the audience.

"FUCK NO, WE AIN'T! ALRIGHT, WHILE THE BOSS MAN TAKES A QUICK BREAK, THERE'S A REMATCH BETWEEN BONE AND SAWYER!!!" Greasy shouted into the mic.

Eli left out of the cage and walked towards me. We left and entered his locker room again.

I held out his water bottle.

"Thank you." he stated and took the bottle.

"I'd hate to be the person to piss you off." I laughed.

He was still drinking his water and had slow beads of sweat sliding down his chest and abs.

"My eyes are up here." he chuckled.

I shoved him.

"I won so what do I get?" he asked.

"You haven't won all three. You don't get anything." I laughed.

"What?! That's ridiculous!"

"Just don't lose the next two." I explained.

"So if I win two and lose one I get nothing?" he asked.

"Precisely."

"Wow! You are ruthless!" he exclaimed.

"I'm simply pushing you towards greatness." I shrugged.

"Can you at least tell me what it is that I get for winning? That'll really push me." he claimed.

"A crisp high five." I decided.

He looked unamused and it made me laugh.

"I want you to look me in my eyes and say that again." he said. He closed the space between us and looked down at me. "Say it again. Threaten to give me a high five. I dare you."

I tried my hardest not to smile while looking up at him.

"If you win..." I began.

"Unh huh..." he nodded.

"All three matches..."

"That's right."

"I will give you..."

"Hm?"

"A crisp high five." I promised.

"You're serious?" he asked.

"As a heart attack." I responded.

"Hm." he began.

"Wha-AAHHHH!" Before I could ask a simple question, he'd picked me up and thrown me over his shoulder.

"ELI!"

"Yes?"

"Put me down!" I punched at his back and was left shocked. "Bro, what're you made of? Cement?" I asked.

"Change my prize."

"What do you want?"

"Well I'm feeling a bit hungry."

"It'll be like 2am by the time we leave!"

He jumped and I bounced over his shoulder.

"ALRIGHT! I'll buy you dinner!"

This felt ridiculous since whichever restaurant we chose he could probably afford...the company.

He gently put me down.

"Thank you," he smiled and walked out of the door.