*Hands over an Oreo*

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked for the nth time, looking at Perri with concern.

"I'm fine." She said, in a slightly nasal voice, making me grimace.

"I hear what you're saying, Per, but you're slowly turning green." Lex said, grabbing Perri's shoulder sympathetically.

"No, I'm not." Perri scoffed. "I'm fine, guys."

She said shoving a book in her locker and breaking into a coughing fit.

Mia, who was observing us for a while, now, narrowed her eyes at Perri.

"What?" Perri rolled her eyes.

Mia hummed before speaking in a distant tone. "Well, in your words, something's not adding up."

I frowned as I looked at their exchange. "What's wrong, Mia?"

"You were fine yesterday and the day before, when we hung out together." Mia mumbled.

"You're right." Lex joined Mia, posing like a fucking detective and scanning Perri.

I rolled my eyes at them before pulling out my phone.

It's Wednesday and everything has gone back to normal after the little incident from when we hung out at the twins' place on Monday.

Well, as normal as it can be. Ryder has become ten folds more flirty with me than he was before. I'm surprised at the fact that no one has caught on yet because Ryder is terrible at being subtle.

School was finally over and my bag was heavy due to my pending assignments that need to be submitted tomorrow.

I had enough things on my mind for having to over analyse the fact that Perri is somehow sick.

Wait...

"Guys!" A voice called out making us turn to see Cole waving at us from the end of the hall.

A light switch went off in my head.

My eyes widened and I looked at Lex and Mia just to see a mirror of my expression. We looked at each other in disbelief.

"I knew it!" Mia exclaimed but I caught her hand in an iron grip.

"What?" Perri frowned.

"Nothing. She hasn't taken her meds for the day." I chuckled, holding Mia's head to my chest.

"Hey guys- why is Asparagus holding Mia like an octopus." Dylan asked, reaching us.

In his pursuit of finding a nickname for me, he decided to 'stick to the original'. And I have no idea why that had to be 'Asparagus'.

I rolled my eyes at him.

"Be quiet." I whispered into Mia's ear before letting her go.

"I was seeking comfort." I said the first thing that came to my mind.

My eyes automatically shifted to Ryder who cocked his head to the side, as he looked at me.

His hair was a mess and it made me want to run my hands through them.

"Anyway, how are you feeling now, Cole?" I turned to Cole, before I get lost in the grey ocean of his eyes.

"Much better actually. I just feel a little weak from all the medication." Cole said, running the back of his neck. "But the soup you sent really worked."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "The soup I sent?"

He mirrored my expression. "Yeah? The one you asked Perri to bring to me, yesterday?"

"Oh." I said, biting my lip as realisation flooded in. "Right. You're welcome."

I said quickly before throwing a quick glare at Perri, who looked seconds away from having a panic attack.

Way to be subtle.

I honestly have no problem with people dating or falling in love. I'm all for it. And I also completely understand, when someone wants to keep their feelings and the relationship a secret.

But if you really want that, you need to at least try to be subtle, damn it!

There's only so much obliviousness I can fake.

Just like the rest of the girls I know that something happened between Perri and Cole but the fact that she didn't talk to us about it, means that they're still figuring out their shit and I don't want to ruin that for them.

"You might wanna go to a doctor, Perri." Lex said, looking at Perri, worried.

"Why? What happened?" Cole asked, moving towards Perri in one long stride.

Cute.

Her eyes widened. "Uh... It's just a cold, I'll be fine." She stuttered before breaking into another coughing fit.

"It was contagious after al-" I slammed my hand over Lex's mouth, pulling her back, to me.

"You talk too much." I sighed.

"It's not contagious." Dylan scoffed. "We were all with him on Monday, and we're all fine."

"Yeah I don't think it's contagious either." Ryder frowned, and then his frown fell. "Unless..."

I quickly moved towards Ryder and grabbed his hand pulling him away towards the exit.

"I just remembered I had something urgent to take care of, I'll drop you home. See you later guys!" I called out over my shoulder.

I almost laughed at how Ryder just let me drag him like a ragdoll through the hall, without saying a word.

We reached the parking lot and I let go of his hand before facing him.

And his face.

It just never disappoints.

Not the point.

"Right. Sorry about that." I quickly said. "I just didn't want them to admit something that they're not ready to admit yet."

"I know." He said.

"What?" I frowned.

He chuckled. "Yeah I figured that something happened between them, the moment I saw Cole this morning. But I didn't say anything about it for the same reason."

My frown deepened. "Then, what were you about to say just now?"

"I don't know. Probably something stupid if you hadn't pulled me out, with very much force by the way." He chuckled, making my jaw drop.

"What the hell? Why would you do that?" I asked smacking his arm.

He chuckled. "I just love seeing you get worked up." He said, pinching my cheek.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I hate you."

Instead of a snarky comment in response I was met with silence.

I saw him scanning my face and stop when he reached my eyes before a smile slowly found its way to his lips.

"The way you lie is pretty amusing, beautiful." He said and my lips parted in surprise.

I had yet again, turned into a fish, with my lips parted and nothing to say. I saw an amused smile grow on his lips.

I groaned. "You can't keep doing that."

He chuckled in response. "Of course I can. You have no idea how amusing it is to see you get so flustered."

"Glad to know that my dilemma is amusing to you." I said, narrowing my eyes at him, before turning towards my car.

He jogged to catch up with me. "You know that's not what I meant, Miles."

"I don't, actually." I furrowed ny eyebrows, and I kept walking.

I heard him sigh. "Alright. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

I reached my car and came to a stop, turning to him.

"I didn't think I'd see the day when Ryder Green would apologise for his mistake." I raised an eyebrow at him.

He rolled his eyes. "Shut up. I always apologised to you. It's the others that I have a hard time apologising to." He said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Really?" I frowned. "Why?"

"Why? Do I not apologize to people? Or why do I apologise to you?" He asked, shaking his head.

"Both." I said, unlocking my car.

He rolled his eyes. "It's simple really. I rarely apologize because I'm rarely wrong." He shrugged while I rolled my eyes.

"But..." He stressed. "I don't mind being in the wrong with you."

And once again, I was robbed of speech as he looked at me with those enchanting eyes.

"Shut up." I rolled my eyes and opened the passenger seat, before throwing the keys to Ryder. "Come on."

"I'd love to, but I've got practice, beautiful." He said, twirling the key on his finger.

"Aw bummer. I thought you'd accompany me to my fight." I said, faking a pout.

His eyes widened. "You have a fight today?"

I nodded. "Doesn't matter though, if you have practice." I shrugged, getting out of the passenger seat.

"No no. I can ditch for today." He quickly said, pushing me back into the car.

"What?" I asked, bewildered.

"What what?" He said as if he didn't just something stupid.

"Ryder, you're gonna miss practice to come watch me in a bloo- stupid fight?" I asked, stuttering to not make matters worse.

He shrugged, making me place my head in my hands and groan. "Why are you so stupid?"

"Uh... Thanks?" He said, turning to walk towards the driver's seat but I caught his arm, snatching the keys away from him.

"Hey!" He complained.

I simply slammed the door shut and locked the car.

"What are you doing?" He frowned, down at me.

"I'm gonna wait till your practice is over. The fight is not till 7." I muttered, walking towards the field.

A felt am arm sling over my shoulder and Ryder's warm breath in my ear. "Well, aren't you a player..."

I shivered before digging my elbow into his side. "Are you even trying to be subtle?"

"About what?" He frowned.

"About us?" I said, stating the obvious.

"Huh?" His frown deepened as we stepped into the hall towards the field. "About us? Why would I want to be subtle about my feelings?"

"Because... because..." I stuttered, but ended up shutting my mouth after a few tries.

That statement did put me in a dilemma.

"Thanks for giving me something to think about, Ryder." I muttered and was about to make my way upstairs towards the stands when he pulled me back.

"Hey, I'm just messing with you." He said, bending to align his face with mine. "I am serious about not wanting to hide my feelings for you, but we're obviously not in a normal scenario. So, whenever you're ready."

He finished while ruffling my hair.

I looked away from him, one, because I could feel the heat that crept up my cheek and also because I had no idea what to say.

Being with or around him always feels like a beautiful dream to me.

"You're still gonna overthink aren't you?" He asked scanning my obviously worried face.

I chuckled and raised my eyebrows in amusement.

"Then I guess I'll just give you something else to overthink about...?" He said tilting his head to the side with a mischievous hint in his eyes.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Are you free this weekend?" He asked, casually.

I frowned. "Yeah?"

"Wanna go out, then?" He shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Out? I don't think Mia and Perri are free this weekend though?" I said, fishing out my phone from my pocket.

He rolled his eyes. "Let me rephrase that. Will you go out with me?"

I snapped my head up in his direction, wide-eyed. "Wh- like- like a date?"

He chuckled running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Like a date. I'll let you think about it, while I give you a chance to stare at my sweaty self on the field, looking like a Greek God."

Oh God, he knows.

He bent down to peck my cheek before running towards the locker room.

I sighed standing there, trying to get my heart rate in control.

I might as well take up Ryder on one of his offers.

I thought walking up the stairs to offer my eyes the treat that they deserve.

*****

"How did you convince her into bringing you here?" Lex asked Ryder while I was wrapping the hand wraps.

I rolled my eyes when I saw Ryder opening his mouth with a smirk.

"Actually, no. I don't wanna know. I don't wanna know what happens between you two behind the doors." Lex quickly said, making me smack the back of her head.

Ryder was looking at us with an amused smile when I walked up to him, after the prep for my fight.

"Listen to me, you need to be careful okay? Stay by Lexi at all times and don't talk to anyone." I said, sternly.

"Okay mom." He rolled his eyes.

"Ryder, I'm serious." I grabbed his hand.

His eyes softened. "I know Miles. I'll be fine, I promise. I should be more worried about you."

I rolled my eyes. "You don't have to, just hope that I don't kill anyone." I muttered, before facing the rink.

He chuckled.

"On one side, we have our undefeated champion, MILES!" The announcer yelled into the mic.

I heard Ryder sigh. "I'm never gonna get used to that."

I shook my head before taking off my jacket and walking towards the rink.

I walked into the rink in my black tights and a black sports bra, while all eyes were set on me.

"On the other side we have, DIANA!" The announcer yelled and I saw a girl who was very well built and had a tense posture.

I couldn't help but feel like, she looked familiar.

I frowned when I saw her smirk when she entered the rink.

The refree brought us forward for the usual handshake.

"Long time, Miles." Diana said, and the very heavy British accent made a light bulb go off in my head and my eyes widened. "So, you remember huh?"

I grabbed her hand in an iron grip, before gritting out. "Of course I do, Diana. Or should I say former K.O. Queen?"

I smirked as her face fell.

Diana was my very first opponent when I stepped into a rink, when I started streetfighting and the only person I ever lost to.

She was known as the K.O. Queen before I stepped into the rink.

I did lose the first match and got knocked out but I stepped into the rink in a week and turned the game around.

To say that the crowd was shocked would be an understatement. Diana had never lost a fight, let alone been knocked out, and I did exactly that.

The refree blew the whistle as a sign to commence fighting and we started to circle around the rink.

I've only faught her twice and I didn't hear from her ever since. From what I heard she had stopped fighting after I was named the K.O. Queen.

But from what I remember, her stance and posture are a lot more stronger and she was light on her feet.

She was confident in her movements and it was hard to find a weakness.

But, what is she doing here?

"I can answer that for you." She smirked, advancing towards me.

Her movements were fast as she punched the air with her left hand and landed a punch right in my stomach with her right hand.

She didn't stop there and before I could block, she raised her knee, slamming it into my face.

I staggered back due to the force of the hit as my vision grew blurry and I'm pretty sure my nose was broken.

She didn't advance towards me immediately, instead she raised her right arm and turned her wrist towards me.

"This seem familiar to you?"

I felt the rage in me, slowly rise when I noticed a familiar tattoo on her wrist. It was similar to the ones I've seen so far but different at the same time.

Instead of the tattoo of a red serpent, it was a tattoo of a black hawk.

How ironic.

"You took everything away from me." She advanced towards me, as I got ready to block, again.

"My position." She punched both my sides making all my breath knock out of my lungs.

"My pride." She punched my jaw, but I managed to blocked it.

"And basically drove me out of my city." She said, in a menacing tone. "Which is why I'm here. I've trained for years, for the sole purpose of taking away everything from you Miles."

She jumped on her feet and aimed to my face but her punch didn't land.

I grabbed her fist before it could touch my face, all the while glaring at her and threw it to the side.

I spit the blood out of my mouth, to the side and took my stance. "That's a nice story Diana, but you're forgetting one little detail. I don't fight to win."

I advanced towards her and aimed a punch to her abdomen and as expected, she blocked it. I then turned a 180 degree and landed my elbow on her back.

She staggered forward but I didn't let her go very far and landed a kick right in her face.

Before she could stagger back from the effect, I grabbed her arm and used my back to pick her off the ground and slammed her on the concrete floor, on her back.

I didn't get on top of her to restrain her and just simply looked down at her.

I knew there's no point in restraining her as I didn't give her the time to catch her breath.

"Another little detail you missed out is that you're not the only one who's grown stronger. But I do appreciate you for your effort. It's gonna be fun, fighting you."

After her eyes came back into focus, she looked up at me and a smirk, mirroring mine grew on her face.

We probably looked like two psychopaths smiling at each other with blood dripping out of our nose and mouth.

She got up on her feet and I rolled back my shoulders and tilted my head to the sides.

Crack.

Crack.

"Gimme your best shot." I said, feeling an adrenaline rush like never before.

"You bet I will." She growled, before we advanced towards each other.