Hey! Thank you so much for all the support, reviews and follows and favorites for this story! It should be a fun ride and I'm excited.

For those of you who follow my others stories, I FINALLY updated Wild Side and Changing Strokes. My one shot series will be up next and then Complicated Web.

You guys are the best and I love you all!

hopewings6: Thank you. It should be an interesting journey and I hope you like my other stories too!

Guest: Yes! I updated on last week, hopefully you saw and like I mentioned earlier, the other is coming. And right!

madelinecoffee: Thank you so much, I definitely will and I'm excited!

Guest: Thank you and I will!

somuchlovexoxo: Thank you and I will! Aw, I'm glad and I like it too! It really is and he will!

Guest: I will and thanks!

Enjoy!


In a daze, the smell of flowers and sweetness fills his brain. He can't seem to focus, but he sees hurried movements in front of him as the blurry figure goes further away and then is right in front of him again. He tries to speak, his mouth opening and closing a few times and just when he finally pulls his head out of the sand, the loud thud noise brings him back to reality and just in time to see the girl rushing towards the parking lot.

"Well, I'm a complete moron," he grumbles to himself he watches her disappear and then notice his bags at his feet. "And she's very polite."

Hastily picking up his bags, he walks through the rows of apartments, searching for his until he reaches the back section. He comes across bigger looking apartments, only four levels high, nods in approval and then swiftly walks up the few flights of stairs and finds his home for the next year or so.

Unlocking the door and putting in the code, he's surprised at how nice the place is. Modern furniture and a nice TV set is the first thing he notices when he steps inside. The kitchen is up to date with the refrigerator and cabinets fully stocked and as he drops his stuff on the kitchen floor, he takes his surroundings in. The apartment is perfect. It's definitely not small and has minimal stuff, but it still gives off a homey atmosphere and he realizes that he's a lucky son of a bitch.

He enters the master bedroom and starts to unpack his belongings, knowing he has to do it now or else it will never get done because he'll be too lazy to do it later. He takes a long, hot shower, washing away the long drive and day and after feeling refreshed he heads back to the kitchen for a quick meal, knowing he'll need all his energy for tomorrow.

He finds the refrigerator full of vegetables, meats in the freezer and decides on a simple stir fry with brown rice that he can also have tomorrow night. Thirty minutes later with a plate full of hot food, he sits in front of the TV with a tray on his lap and relaxes. He's never actually had time to put his feet up and unwind in the past few years and it's nice to not have to worry about the cruel outside world.

After watching ESPN for a few hours, he cleans up the kitchen and does the dishes before heading off to bed, but also knows sleep will be limited because tomorrow feels like the first day of school and he'll be honest to admit, he's nervous as hell. But also adrenalized. He's been training for this moment for years and is ready to go.

OoOoOoOo

He tosses and turns all night, is up before the sun rises and is a half hour early to the gym. Sitting alone in the parking lot allowed him to think about things and the one thing that keeps popping into his mind is the brunette haired beauty from last night. On the few glances he saw, she looked to be around his age and had a bounce of energy. Almost instantly he was hooked, but as soon as that that comes to mind, he quickly shakes it away. He can't get distracted right now and girls are on his 'no list' for that very reason.

The sounds of other cars takes him away from his pity party and he snaps into work mode. He meets a surprised Josh at the door and two share a quick handshake before entering.

"I'm surprised you're here so early," he calls out over his shoulder as he starts flipping on the lights.

"I couldn't really sleep so I thought I might as well get my day started," Lucas answers honestly.

"Excitement or nerves?" Josh wonders with a small smirk.

"Uh, a little bit a both," Lucas mumbles.

"Good. Those emotions will keep you focused and on your toes. We're happy you're here, Luke, but you also need to put in the work. Are you ready for that?" Josh questions with seriousness taking over his demeanor.

"I am," Lucas nods firmly.

"All right, that's what I like to hear. You can go stretch out and loosen up before your day begins. And just to let you know, these first few days will be long and boring," Josh says as he's walking away and heading up the stairs to his office.

For the next thirty minutes or so, he does his normal warm-up routine of stretching and a little cardio before two people, one dressed in business attire and the other in a tracksuit enter the gym and stare in his direction. He stares right back, his expression blank, but he gives them a nod as he hears Josh running down the steps.

"BT, Dr. Asher, thank you for coming," he greets, giving the two gentlemen bro hugs and handshakes.

"Mayhem, looking good my friend," BT chuckles, his deep voice carrying throughout the gym.

"And it's not a problem. You know I'm always happy to help," Dr. Asher responds with a small smile.

"Thank you both. I'd like to introduce the newest fighter to the club," Josh grins, getting right to business and calling out, "Lucas," waving him over.

Lucas jogs over, his expression only slightly relaxed as he politely says, "Hello," and extends his hand.

Both guys accept the gesture with smiles as Josh keeps his smile at bay and establishes, "Lucas, this is BT or to you, Brandon Throne. He's a friend of mine and one of the best fighters I know. He's here to help get you started on the proper techniques and skills for this league. And this is Dr. Asher. He and his team will set you up on a beginner's diet and give you tips on how to stay fit and healthy. He'll also be the one to patch you up if you get injured. Any questions?" Josh asks curiously.

"Just a few," Lucas replies, looking between the three men.

"Shoot," BT nods with interest.

"Not that I'm not grateful for all the help because I am, but why do I need another trainer when you and the other boxers are here? And to be honest, I hate diets," Lucas shares openly.

"To answer the first part, BT is here to show and teach you through everything you need to know to fight in the big boys club. True, we're all here and you will practice fighting with us afterwards, but you have to reach our level the proper way first. We all went through training to get stronger, faster hits and quicker knockouts, so trust me. This will definitely help you. And maybe diet isn't the right word to use, but you will have certain food restrictions that Dr. Asher will explain. So, are you ready to get started?" Josh inquiries as he claps his hands together.

"Yep. Let's do it," Lucas nods enthusiastically.

"Great. Let's head into the conference room so BT, Dr. Asher and I can direct you through everything," Josh finishes as the four walk towards the room.

When they enter the big room, it is set up like a small doctor's office and binders are placed around the long table sitting against the wall.

"Let's get you weighed for so I can work out a meal plan for you," Dr. Asher proposes as Lucas slips off his shoes and steps onto the scale.

Dr. Asher hums at the number, scribbles something on his piece of paper and then closes the file. "Is everything okay?" Lucas questions with his eyebrows furrowed together.

"Everything is fine," Dr. Asher waves off Lucas' concern. "You're just between weight classes at the moment. After one month of your meal plans and workout sessions we will see where you are at."

"Okay. Do you prefer a certain weight class for me?" Lucas probes, looking at Josh.

"No, we don't. We don't run like that and force our fighters to fit into a box. We work with where you are at and go from there. We want you healthy, that's all," Josh expresses truthfully.

"Josh is right. Being healthy is the number one priority. You need to listen to your body and to us. This isn't a cake walk for the weak," BT adds in a serious tone.

"Understood," Lucas retorts quickly.

"All right, kid. Let's get to work," BT announces, moving to a new topic and giving the other two a nod before walking out the door with Lucas right on his heels. "I'm going to warn you now, you'll probably hate me by the end of the day, but in the end, you'll see the results I wanted to get. Exercises one through ten are the normal rundown. You'll be running a mile or two, doing sit-ups, push-ups, some agility work and weighs. I'll time you on your run and all that and we'll go from there. Treadmill, now!"

Lucas follows instructions and runs a pretty decent two miles at a little over eleven minutes, but when he's down in sit-up position, he barely does two before getting stopped, is shown the correct way and given some pointers on execution. However, the help doesn't stick with him and he continually gets stopped for doing it wrong. It's the same when he does his push-ups and from there on, it all goes downhill.

He eats a quick lunch a few hours later and then goes back to his 'training' that feels like he is being criticized on every little thing. And by the time they get to the weights, that session is the worst. He isn't a super strong guy, but he is strong and can lift more than what BT is giving him.

"Stop scowling at me, kid. I know you can probably bench and lift more than this, but it's not all about muscles. It's about your mentality and using everything the right way," he clarified and motions Lucas to lie down on the bench.

"Whatever. Let's get this over with," Lucas grunts as he lifts the bar and then is told to stop. "What now?"

"You don't need to death grip the bar. That tension isn't good for your forearms. Just give it a fairly strong hold with an even pace. You'll feel the difference," BT calmly explains as Lucas listens to his directions.

After doing a few sets of everything, BT calls it a day and the two walk back up to the conference room. "So, how did it go?" Josh asks curiously.

"Fine," Lucas grumbles taking a seat on the opposite side on the smaller table.

"Not too bad," BT adds on. "The next few weeks should be a breeze.

"I'm glad to hear that. And Lucas, Dr. Asher has your meal plan all set up," Josh continues as Dr. Asher slides over a binder to him.

"It's not too difficult and all you really have to change is not indulging in a lot of sweet, sugary foods and snacks. Also, your main focus is on protein and healthy carbs to keep your energy and strength up. I put a shopping list inside and a few recipes," the doctor shares with a small smile.

"Thank you," Lucas nods and then awkwardly looks at the three.

"You can go punch the standing punching bag for a little bit of you want and then call it a day," Josh offers in a cool tone, seeing the tense expression on Lucas' face.

"Thanks," he sighs and swiftly picks up his stuff.

"Don't forget what I told you earlier and tomorrow we'll go over it all over again," BT calls out before the door closes.

"Was he okay?" Josh wonders with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah, he's good. I see potential. He's eager to fight, but right now, he needs to learn patience," BT shares in a soft tone.

"Don't we all," Josh lightly chuckles. "But at least he wants this. Same time tomorrow?"

"I'll be here," BT smiles and exits to the office.

OoOoOoOo

The next day is the same routine and Lucas is surprised that he is in fact tight and sore in certain areas. That what BT told him yesterday really was beneficial to him and his training. And from here on out, he would just listen, follow and be the student.

OoOoOoOo

Two weeks later, he feels stronger, is more centered and finds his mind to be calm and now laser focused. He's amazed that so little can change so much. He can now run faster and longer without losing his breath and his weight training is slowly increasing. He now understands why baby steps are so important and that his body needs careful, steady results.

"Okay, kid. That's good for now. Take a break and we'll pick it back up in fifteen," BT says with a satisfied grin as he hands Lucas a water bottle.

"Thanks," Lucas agrees as BT leaves him to his privacy.

Once alone, he goes to the punching bag and starts on some easy combinations when minutes later, the sudden noise of a loud crash catches his attention. He moves out to the center of the gym to see the commotion, but it's so crowded he decides to go back and work on his form.

But after like ten minutes, the noise is still going on so he yanks off his gloves and heads out to see what the big deal is. There's a group of guys standing by the front door and as he catches a glimpse out the window, he sees the problem and is not happy. No, he's pissed and seeing red.

"What the fuck happened?" he shouts loudly, glaring at the group.

"Don't know, man," one guy mumbles, stepping away from the rest.

"What do you mean you don't know? Is this some hazing ritual because I'm the new guy?" Lucas hisses out, his eyes narrowing in irritation.

"Nah, bro. We don't do shit like that. Or at least not this bad," another guy replies with a harsh expression.

"If you didn't do it, then who the fuck hit my car?" he barks out, anger filling his body.

"Um, that would be me," a voice says from behind him. "And I'm so sorry. I'll pay for the damage."

Lucas spins around so fast he almost loses his balance, but when his eyes meet the short female, his mind is even more confused.

"I don't care about the damage. My truck's old anyways," he grunts. "What I want to know is why you ran into it and who the hell you are."

"Well, I ran into you because my car obviously has some issues and my brakes failed me," the girl responds simply and without backing down from him and his rising temper. "And I'm Maya."

"Okay, Maya. Thanks for the horrible explanation. But I want to know who you are and why you're here," Lucas repeats, his glare holding hers as she looks at of place.

"I'm here because-," she starts to answer before getting interrupted.

"She's my wife," Josh joins in the conversation and tells Lucas what he wants to hear as he walks over to Maya and places his arm over her shoulder, bringing her closer into his side.


And there you go folks! Please let me know what you think!

Thanks and until next time,

Missy xx