I rolled my eyes once I heard the brat's mom smothering him with questions when she saw his busted lip.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt? Want me to take you to the doctor?"

I sighed and made my way towards my room. I really didn't want to be around that mama bear and her annoying child at the moment.

Pablo is probably still in school and my dad is working so maybe I can go out and come back before they notice I'm gone.

With that thought in mind, I walked into my room and quickly changed into a pair of black gym shorts and a tank top.

I walked downstairs and entered the kitchen to get some water but was surprised to see the brat getting lectured now.

"When did he come over, Chris? Do you not know how dangerous the car ride is?" mother bear scolded as she pointed at the brat's little friend from the night before.

I looked at the kid and something about him was just interesting. Maybe the way he had freckles scattered all over his rosy cheeks? or the way his hair was a weird orange color?

I don't know but he was weird and I liked it.

"I swear I was going to tell you in the morning mom! I needed some friends and he was the only one willing to drive here." the whiny brat replied with glossy eyes.

When wasn't he crying?

Even when I cleaned his busted lip he had tears ready to fall from his eyes. Just the thought of me kissing him made me angry but I'm just going to pretend it was all a nightmare.

That I wasn't so stupid nor gay to kiss the brat.

"Okay, but next time please tell me." mama bear spoke once more and embraced her young cub in a tight hug.

Just squeeze him to death already. Do us all a favor.

As they happily hugged I took the opportunity to get my water bottle and leave without being noticed.

I approached the fridge and quickly snatched the first unopened bottle then turned around to leave but was stopped when mama bear suddenly embraced me in a hug.

"Royce defended me from the guy and even cleaned my injury." Chris told his mom proudly as they stared at me with appreciation.

I felt so disgusting with the hug and their loving stares that I quickly shoved the lady off of me.

"Tell the whole freaking world while your at it brat!" I yelled at the frowning boy and left without another word.

I was so upset I threw my waterbottle at a neighbor's car causing it shatter but I didn't care at the moment.

I kept walking and tugged at my hair. Last time I do something nice for anybody.

The sickening feeling of love and appreciation was never my thing and I hated it with all my strength.

I walked to the familiar bar and met Frankie right outside.

"Another bad day, Royce?" he questioned and locked the door.

I nodded and looked around for another place I can let my anger out in since Frankie was closing the bar. A gym was right next to the bar and I knew they sometimes had illegal fights in the back.

Maybe there I could release some steam. I was fit enough and I knew how to fight so it was a win-win situation.

"Don't even think about it, Royce. You know they always play dirty and cheat with every match. Don't be so stupid. " Frankie warned beside me but I ignored him and left.

Frankie followed and gave me a disappointed look but didn't say a word. Frankie and I have been friends since we were kids and he knew everything about me.

When my dad couldn't find me he always knew to come looking for Frankie first, since I always drowned my frustration with free alcohol.

Frankie was the only one who knew what was wrong with me which was why I was so close to him..

He didn't judge me nor feared me.

"If you get yourself killed I'm telling your dad on you." Frankie kept threatening like a small child.

I smiled and placed my hand over his shoulder. "Quit worrying already. You know I'll be fine. Plus, I can really use some money at the moment." I replied.

Frankie sighed in frustration but agreed.

We walked into the old gym and passed by all the exercising machines. Some overweight men ran in treadmills while others lifted weights with determination.

Frankie and I made our way to the back of the building and confronted the familiar security guard.

"Hey big Joe." I greeted and stood in front of him with crossed arms.

Joe looked over at Frankie then back at me to make sure we were alone. "What's good my boy. We just got some rookies today so it's going to be a hell of a fight." he said and fist bumped me.

"That's what I like to hear." I replied with a mischievous smile and patted his strong back before I entered the exclusive room along with Frankie.

"Alright man, see you later." he stated then closed the door right after Frankie stepped inside.

I looked around and walked towards the boxing ring that was surrounded by people. I found a spot close to the fight and sat next to a worried Frankie.

"We shouldn't be here, Royce." he warned me but I shrugged him off and watched as a boy maybe a bit younger than me was getting beat to a bloody mess.

The perks of hanging around with the wrong crowd was being informed about these type of places that nobody knew about unless they trusted you.

I glanced at all the people in the room and as always saw old men bidding money on the strongest fighter.

I looked for the main guy and quickly saw Raul not too far away watching the fight with a proud smile. I got up from my seat and told Frankie to stay in his.

He was upset like always but continued to stay quiet. I passed by a guy selling alcohol and gave him instructions to hand one to Frankie.

I went up to Raul and noticed his surprised expression when he layed eyes on me.

"I'm guessing your low on money?" he teased and took a sip from his glass cup filled with whiskey and ice.

I stood beside him and was given the same drink by his personal bartender. I gladly accepted it and drank the alcohol in one gulp.

"So do I get a round or what?" I questioned and stared at the two boys fighting in the bloody boxing ring.

Raul laughed and took another sip of his drink. "I had a feeling you were going to come by today so the next match is all yours. If you win you get $950." he replied.

"$1,000." I corrected and received another laugh from Raul.

He fixed his button up shirt and glanced around at his clients. "Fine, but your going to fight Sean the shark." he informed and pointed at a guy much bigger than me.

Sean wore a shirt with a shark on it and looked like he was on some strong drugs. His lazy eyes were red rimmed and his black hair was messy like he was pulling on it.

"Deal." I told Raul and shook his hand before returning back to Frankie. I sat next to him and noticed he was on his third beer.

I looked back at Sean and saw Raul informing him he was fighting me next. Sean glanced at me and smirked like it was going to be the easiest fight.

Oh how wrong he was. Size didn't matter when it came down to fighting and obviously he didn't know that yet.

"Are you fighting?" Frankie questioned.

I turned my attention back to him and nodded. Frankie groaned in disagreement and bought another beer to control his nerves.

He hated watching me fight because it scared him I would get hurt and he couldn't do anything to stop it.

I playfully slapped his cheek in comfort and was glad he gave me a small smile in return.

I patiently waited for my turn to fight and once it did I entered the boxing ring. I fixed my shoes and took off my tank top, leaving me only in my black gym shorts.

Sean entered the ring like a proud fighter and took off his shirt as well. I glanced around and saw a lot of the men bidding.

That was a good sign. The more money the better.

We both waited for the bell to ring and I took the opportunity to stretch as best as I could. Sean punched the air as if showing me what was going to happen.

I smiled at his pathetic threat and kept my calm until the bell finally rang. We both faced eachother and held our fists close to our faces.

Sean went for the cheapest shot ever and tried to punch me on my left side but I blocked it and punched him with my right arm.

He stumbled back a little and wiped his bloody nose. I could now see the anger in his eyes and I loved it.

The familiar adrenaline coursed through my body as Sean aggressively punched the side of my torso and then tried to hit the left side of my face again but I was able to block it.

I went for the left jab and got him right on the nose again causing a snapping noise to erupt. He cursed out loud in anger when he realized I broke his nose.

I smiled and was not surprised to feel all of Sean's stength with every punch he tried to give me. He got the right side of my torso then my eye but that was about it.

I don't know why but as I held Sean in a headlock the brat's face appeared in my mind.

I could still feel his soft lips on my own and it made me weak. I kissed a guy and I was acting like it didn't happen. Was I turning gay?

I didn't realize I was on the floor until I felt blood spilling out of my mouth. What the hell happened? Sean punched me several times until I shook away all my thoughts of the brat.

"Royce! Get up!" I heard Frankie yell as I did exactly that. I switched places with Sean and collided my fists with his face until it swelled like a cherry and blood oozed out of his eyes, nose and ears.

The bell dinged twice indicating the match was over.

I tiredly stood up and was helped out of the boxing ring. Raul quickly embraced me in a manly hug and placed my money in my hand.

"Good work, Royce. See you next time." he stated then left to check up on an unconscious Sean.

Frankie approached me with a wet towel and started to clean my injuries. "You got a big one on your left eye man and your stomach is bruised like crazy." he informed.

"They'll heal." I replied and started to count my money. Frankie guided me out of the gym and helped me put back on my tank top.

"Do you need help getting home?" he questioned in worry. I shook my head no and gave him half of the money I got.

Frankie rejected it and handed the bills back to me. "You earned that all on your own, Royce. I'm not the one with the badly bruised body and busted eye. I want to see you try to explain that to your dad." he replied.

I shrugged and placed my money in my gym shorts. "He'll get over it. I'm just surprised I even got hurt in the first place. I never end up with the bruises." I stated.

"Well something was on your mind that obviously distracted you. What was it?" he questioned with curiosity.

The brat's face flashed in my mind again but I quickly blurred it out. "I'm not really sure." I lied to Frankie.

Frankie nodded then took out the keys to his apartment. "Alright, well I need to open the bar early tomorrow so I'll see you some other time man." he replied and gave me a quick hug before leaving.

I waved goodbye and started to make my way back home. I hoped and prayed my dad wouldn't give me so much crap for my injuries...

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^

...

"You could of gotten yourself killed Royce!"

"Do you not care about your own health?!"

"I don't know why you were out there fighting when you should of been grounded!"

"Are you falling asleep?!"

I stood up straight in my seat and realized my dad was still lecturing me. I glanced at him and saw his eyes furious as he stood tall with his arms crossed.

I can't believe my dad's lecturing was putting me to sleep.

Pablo was leaning by the doorframe with the same disappointed look and crossed arms.

"Dad, relax. The bruises will heal." I tried defending myself and inspected my bruises scattered on my chest and torso.

I poked them and laughed a little when I noticed one looked like a disformed shoe.

"Royce!" my dad yelled causing me to flinch at his sudden high voice.

"What?" I questioned and got an irritated stare. My dad left my room in a hurry and I chuckled when I heard him mumble curse words.

He was really mad.

Pablo followed my dad and I groaned in anger when they left the door open. I stood up and went to close it but stopped when I saw the annoying brat peeking out of his room.

It was his fault I was this badly bruised and the reason my dad found out about my fighting. Without second thinking it, I rushed over to his room and locked us both inside of it.

His weird freckled friend wasn't here which gave me the perfect chance to mess with him.

"U-Uh..Royce? Are you o-okay?" he stupidly stuttered out as I pinned him to the corner of the wall.

"It's your fault I got hurt. I swear everything was so much better before you and your whore of a mother came here." I spit in his face in anger and watched as he coward down like an unwanted puppy.

I roughly grabbed his chin and made him stare at me. "Look at me you stupid brat. I'm done defending you and being nice, so next time you get hurt that's your problem and I hope they beat you to a bloody mess." I continued spitting my vicious words.

Hot tears formed in his eyes as I kept my tight grip on his chin. I had a feeling it was going to bruise so I let him go.

I left his room and locked myself in mine. All through that night I tossed and turned in my bed.

Why was it so difficult to fall asleep?!

I got up to get a glass of water but stopped when I heard the brat's muffled crying outside his door. It sounded so broken and hurt it actually surprised me.

I carefully opened his door and saw him on the floor with his legs tucked into his chest and his arms wrapped around them.

Everything happened so fast, that I didn't know why I entered his room and sat next to him as he cried.

And I also didn't know why I gently picked him up and placed him on my lap.

But most of all, I didn't know why I softly kissed his teary eyes then his wet lips to stop him from crying...