I own nothing. Otherwise I'd never let an awesome show like this go on hiatus. November... Seriously? Ugh.
Kelly frowned at Simon's question. "I ain't getting involved in that shit!" She turned and started to walk away but Curtis grabbed her arm. "It's Alisha." For a second the two stared in each others eyes, then Kelly turned back. "Fine. I might know someone who can help you." Simon smiled as a thank you. "But I ain't responsible for you lot getting hurt, alright? I warned you." Simon nodded and talked for the first time since he asked. "I'm thankful." He walked away from the two friends, silently contemplating on what his next move would be.
It was only a day later that his cellphone rang. He silenced it quickly before Alisha woke up. She had slept here after what happened and pretty much the whole day that had followed. They had eaten and then she had gone back to bed, he had insisted to take care of her. Something about her made he want to be better, protect her from harm. More harm. "Hello." He whispered. The voice on the other end was manly and harsh. "Is this Simon? Kelly called me, said you wanted to be trained." Simon nodded until he realised that wasn't useful during a phonecall. "Yes, yes. I want be stronger, a fighter." The man chuckled. "Alright son. Meet me this afternoon at two. The community center." A loud click followed by beeping. Simon shut down the phone and walked over to the couch where he had slept. Sitting down, he thought about his running. Curtis would train him for that, but still he would need to- "Who was it?" He snapped his head around and stood up at the sound of her voice. "My trainer." He said, proudly. She smiled and then her head fell to her chest again. He could almost hear her tear. She looked up and wiped it away before he could see. "Are you hungry?" He asked her. She nodded and walked up to him. Without saying a word, she slowly looked up to meet his eyes. For a long second they didn't move. Alisha put her arms gently around his waist, careful not to touch his skin. He did the same with her. Gently, it turned into a hug. All wrapped up in his arms, he could feel her warm breath through his shirt. The world went quiet.
Alisha looked at him from across the table, he felt her stare. "Simon?" He chewed his food as he looked up. He nodded to show she could go on. "Thank you for... Thank you." She smiled, a genuine smile with a hint of awkwardness. It was the same one she had given him the day she sat with him at lunch. He hoped she wouldn't cry this time. She didn't, she just continued eating the sandwich he made for her, quietly smiling about the preciseness that he had done that with.
When it was almost two, Simon was ready to leave. "I'll be back. Lock the doors." Alisha followed him and they stopped in the doorframe. "Let me come with you?" It was more a plead than a question, but Simon didn't want her to be there while he trained. She was too distracting. Too beautiful... "I'll be back soon, just watch some Starwars or..." He saw her uplifted eyebrows and chuckled. "Or not." She smiled at him and with that small gesture the awkwardness faded. He lifted up his hand and pushed away her hair, still cautious to not touch any skin. He felt the warmth of her cheek radiating of her. He kept hoovering his hand above her cheek, then lowered it to her neck. Alisha closed her eyes and lifted her chin so it was easier for Simon to... not touch her? Was that what he was doing? It felt intense, being so close but being cautious at the same time. He stopped and let his hand fall beside his body. She opened her eyes and smiled a broken smile. His stomach turned and he wanted to hug her so bad it hurt. Like his insides were pushing him towards her but his body wouldn't react. Numb. He raised his hand again but lowered it quickly. It's impossible. They were impossible. She was fierce, beautiful and right now, very broken. He had been broken for a long time but he wouldn't know how to fix her. That's why he needed to stay away from her in that way. Not get attached. Just doing what he could to protect her and training to be everything she would need in the future or present. It's all he should think of. Not how it would feel to kiss her perfect lips or taste her caramel skin. "I should..." He backed away and she stepped forward. "Bye." She whispered it softly, like it was too painful to say out loud. He turned around and walked as fast as he could to the busstop. She was magical. That feeling she gives him, it is unlike anything else. How could he have thought of her as just a pretty girl? Being so close to her, even during their service, it had made him realise something about her. She wasn't just pretty. She was so much more special than that. He hoped he could make her see.
His body was aching. He felt every muscle he had, burning from the exercises. It was a good sign though, that just meant it was working. He had only been here for over an hour, but he had learned how to work out everyday already. He even got a set of lifters to practice at home. The man training him had started with detailing everything so he wouldn't need to call upon him again. "Now, after push-ups, sit-ups and weightlifting comes the fun." He smiled from one corner of his mouth. Simon caught his breath and nodded. He had been running for a while and he hadn't done much running since... Running away from those crazy cardiganfreaks actually. Mac, as the man called himself, handed over white bandages. "Wrap them around your fingers. We don't want no broken bones." Simon watched how Mac wrapped his own fingers up and copied it. He took of his t-shirt, standing there in nothing but a black tanktop. He listened as Mac explained some fighting moves, eager to learn. It wasn't long before practice started for real. "Ready? Defend yourself." Mac said. The first hit hurt the most.
"What happened?" Alisha was frantic. She ran to the kitchen as if she were in her own home and started searching for a cloth to clean his wounds. He groaned as he bend over to put down his bag with clothes and weights. Still in only the tanktop, he sat down on the couch. Alisha's voice was far away, but still loud enough to hear. "I can't believe you'd go and get yourself beaten up! Look at your face! I don't even know how I can help with..." She sat down beside him and held the cold towel against his cheekbone. "It's training. I have to learn how to defend myself." She sighed, shaking her head. "And you." He looked up after telling her. She bit her lip, causing that stirr to rise in his stomach again. She took the towel and walked back to the kitchen. "I need ice." She said. He didn't respond. God damn it. He was always too much. Too eager. He wanted so badly to be recognised and... Cared for. She cared, right? Otherwise she wouldn't stay here and help him. Still... He felt too intense around her. Like every sense was hightened, his skin screaming to touch hers. She walked over to him again and stopped when she was behind the couch. Standing over him, she let the icecold towel touch his cheek again. He winced at the sudden cold. "I should leave soon." She said quietly. "I don't want to intrude and your parents might come..." He jerked his head away from the towel and the coldness. Not only from the ice in her hand. "I told you my parents aren't here. I am on my own, as are you. So you're more than welcome to stay here for as long as you need to recover. I'm serious Alisha." She started crying, first a single tear but it multiplied soon enough. She ran around the couch and fell beside him. "Simon..." He shook his head. "I'm not forcing you, you're just... Appreciated presence." He smiled to cheer her up but it didn't work. "Could you put on clothes?" She asked. He nodded, knowing she probably didn't want to see him almost naked. He stood up and walked to the bag sitting on the floor. His body still aching, he took out his sweater with long sleaves and put it on. As soon as the fabric covered his skin and he had zipped the sweater up, he felt something on his back. Her little hands smoothed out the fabric, slowly making her way to his sides, then his stomach. Her lips kissed his back, sending goosebumps over his spine. They stood there for a while, Alisha hugging Simon from the back. He pulled his sleaves over his hands and covered her hands that were folded on his stomach. Her sobbing had started again and he made shushing sounds to calm her. She was leaning her head on his back, her warm breath once again touching his skin through his sweater.
The sun fell down and colored the sky red, causing the light in the room to fade. Alisha's tears had dried and Simon had turned around but they were still hugging. Holding on to something they both never dreamed of having. Simon breathing in his miracle and Alisha holding her once lost saviour.
A/N: I know this was long overdo! But that's why it's longer. ;) I have midterms but I'll try to publish frequently.
My idea is letting each chapter be told by one of them, that way it's from each pov. I don't know, I just like it that way.
Leave a comment! :)
