Sunrise

Disclaimer: Yep, Autumn belongs to me. Nope, the Namco characters don't.

Chapter Two

Steve's POV

I dried my hair with a towel, singing some old '60s tune that I'd heard on the radio earlier on. I felt full of energy today and wanted to go and burn some off at the local gym, which was just a couple streets away from my place. I hadn't had a workout for quite a while, and I looked forward to the sight of a punching bag again.

I grabbed a dusty old apple from the table (yes... I needed to go shopping) and made my way out the door, my gym bag slung over one shoulder. It seemed like pretty nice weather outside since the sun was deciding to be good to us and throw a few sun rays in our direction. As I cheerfully made my way to the gym, I made a mental note to remember to get some shopping before I went back to the flat. I severely doubted that a small tin of alphabet spaghetti was going to be enough for my dinner tonight.

As I pushed open the door of the gym, the welcoming smell of sweat and leather washed over me. I was home. I payed at reception and entered the gym area. I immediately caught sight of a vacant punchbag in a corner of the room and darted over, shedding my clothes until I was down to just my boxing shorts. I dove into my bag for my trusty gloves and pushed my hands into them. Immediately, memories came rushing back to me. Me, in the ring, with whatever opponent had dared verse me that night. The crowds taking pictures and screaming my name as I delivered blow after blow, uppercut, punch, right hook, one, two... I closed my eyes, imagining I'd won the title all over again, doing my victory pose in which I kissed my fist before throwing it into the air, the audience going absolutely wild...

"Sir, are you alright there?"

I snapped out of my reverie to see I was being asked this by a man, who I could vaguely remember being in the reception area when I first came through.

"Uh, yeah I'm fine" I told him, getting into my stance before aiming some punches at the bag. The man watched me and whistled low.

"Wow sir, that was delivered just like a professional. Do you box professionally?"

I shrugged, not wanting to give too much away. "Well yeah, I have done, in the past".

He looked like he was going to talk again but something else seemed to catch his attention. He looked at his watch and gave me a sympathetic look. Well at least, I think it was sympathetic. "Look, I'd love to keep the interesting convo going but I gotta get back to my desk. My boss will literally kill me if he finds out that I've been away for too long. "So maybe we'll catch up another time, right?"

"Uh yeah, sure", I told him, thanking my lucky stars that he'd gone. I got back to abusing the helpless bag, forcing myself to work to my limit, sweat pouring off me like a shower. I cursed inwardly for forgetting to bring a sweat band.

After at least five minutes later, I stopped my work to get refreshed. I dove into my gym bag, searching for the bottle of water that I was sure I'd packed.

"Shit!" I cursed when I took all the contents of the leather bag out. A towel, deodorant, a comb and some sweats. But no water.

"Are you alright?" A voice asked me. I looked up and caught a most interesting sight.

The girl seemed to be around eighteen, or possibly older. She was wearing a white vest and shorts, a sweat band around her forehead. Her skin was brown and tanned and her beautiful eyes were large and pale green, fringed with long dark lashes. She had faint freckles dotted around her small nose and rose petal lips that looked inviting. She was probably around five-seven or five-eight with a slim, fit figure and rather large breasts. Her long wavy hair was restricted in a messy ponytail on top of her head. God, she was hot!

"Uh..um, yeah thanks" I stuttered, wanting to punch myself for acting like a complete dick. But maybe she hadn't noticed?

Fat chance. As she gave me an odd look, I felt an embarrassed blush rise to my cheeks.

"So how come you were swearing and looking major pissed off?" she asked, still frowning slightly.

"Because, uh, I realised that I'd forgotten my water bottle" I told her, chucking my thumb to where my gym bag lay.

"Oh, is that all? I thought the punchbag might have hit you in the face or something". She smiled, her eyes twinkling cheekily before she bent down and began to search through her bag. She came back up soon after, brandishing a large, full water bottle which she handed to me. "If you want some water, you can take this". She saw my hesitation. "Don't worry, I haven't used it".

God, she'd gotten the wrong idea! I didn't mind at all if she'd used it. As I watched her beautiful lips I knew I definitely didn't mind. "But isn't that yours? I don't want you getting dehydrated".

"I won't" she shrugged. "Since I got another one in my bag. Just take it!"

"Thanks" I smiled, taking the bottle from her hands and "accidentally" brushing her fingers. I flicked the lid and took a grateful drink. Maybe a bit too much.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" her concerned voice asked again, hitting my back surprisingly hard as I choked on the H20 I'd just drank.

"Uh, yeah" I said between coughs and gasps, my eyes watering. "Just fine".

"Good" she said in a stiff voice, and I could immediately tell that she was trying to suppress laughter.

"Woo!" I said after I'd recovered, clearing my throat a few times and wiping my brow theatrically.

That seemed to be all it took. She started giggling, soon bent over in ecstasy.

"Am I that funny?" I asked, a smile coming onto my own features.

"S-Sorry" she began, breathing hard to try and calm herself down. "I don't usually laugh at stuff like this but..." she broke down again, her eyes watering with mirth. "Your face was just so funny!"

"Thanks!" I said, pretending to be upset.

She managed to straighten herself up, wiping her eyes and smirking at me. "I'm sorry" she told me.

"No problem" I shrugged. "I'm glad you found enjoyment out of my near death experiences". She giggled again.

"Dude, you are funny!" she told me. "You're English right?"

"Yep, born and bred" I told her, noticing the air of proud-ness I had when I said it. Well, I was proud to be British even if I didn't live there anymore.

"Cool" she told me. "So like, what is it like there?"

"Well, it's good, I suppose" I told her. "It works well for the little island it is. But I have Irish blood in me too, so I'm not all English".

"Oh, nice. The typical British pretty boy then are you?" she wondered, her hand rising up as if to touch my mussed up hair before she seemed to realise what she was doing and put it back down to her side.

"Nah, I wouldn't say pretty boy" I said. "What, do you expect me to drink tea with my pinkie raised and talk with a snobby voice?"

She wrinkled her nose and then I knew that she had thought that. "I suppose I'm a little ignorant. I'd love to go there one day though, if I had the time".

"So you're busy then?" I asked her.

"Well, I work in a club five days a week from eight till late. So, y'know".

"A club, huh?" I said. "You don't look like a clubber girl".

"Really?" she asked, a smile lighting up her beautiful face. "What do I look like then?"

"You look like you.. I dunno... just refined I guess. So what do you do in the club?"

"I dance" she told me. "I love to dance".

"Yeah?" I asked, interested. "And what club is this? Maybe I could come and see you... dancing".

"Well, sure, if you want" she said, sounding odd. "Have you ever heard of The Pole Position? It's a club downtown".

"I'll find it" I told her. "Tonight?"

She shrugged. "Any night apart from Sunday and Wednesday. Those are my days off".

"I'll be there" I told her, smiling.

Autumn's POV

So, where had I got to? The part when I got kicked out that club for not agreeing to perform sexual favors on that dirty, old man I think. Well, the week after that, I looked around the area, desperate to find somewhere I could practice. But apart from the expensive classes, which I still didn't have the money for, I couldn't find a single place. After all this, I was too desperate to let my pole dancing ambitions go and find something else to do. So I made a choice. It wasn't a good one, but it was the only choice I believed I had.

I turned up at the club just before midnight. This time I was all dressed up, and I knew I looked overdone and tacky, but then, so was the club, so I'd fit in pretty well. As I entered, the smoldering light made my face feel like it was gonna melt under all that make up that I had literally plastered on. I suppose I'd changed my tune. I wanted to use their pole and I would do what I could to get it.

There he was again, the owner of the club, leering at a bunch of young girls who were wearing nothing but bras and hot-pants, staggering on their colossal heels. Well, I suppose it was now or never.

"Uh hi" I said as I got up to him. He turned around and looked me up and down, a look of satisfaction on his red face. Then, he spotted my face and frowned.

"I know you from somewhere" he said, staring into me.

"I'm sure your mistaken, sir. This is my first visit to this club" I lied. But he wasn't stupid. I hadn't fooled him.

"Ha ha ha! Now I remember! You're that little minx who wanted to use the pole but couldn't afford to pay for it!"

Shit. How could I get found out so quickly? And in the UV colored lights no less?

"Hmm, so what would you like this time?" he asked me, after having recovered from his laughing fit.

"Well, sir, I would like the use of your pole" I admitted, hating myself.

That set him off again. And while he cracked up, I debated kneeing him in the groin or in the head. "So you're telling me that after "Miss Prissy" told me she would never work in my "whorehouse" she comes back looking like one herself? That's just too funny!"

Yeah. As funny as me punching him in the face and breaking his already beaky nose. "Well, I suppose people change sir" I told him, stroking his shoulder seductively. That made him stop pretty quickly.

"Yeah, well, people may change but the offer still stands. I'll help you with your little pole problem, but you have to pay me, and pay me back good, no less".

"Just tell me what you want" I said, trying to sound sexy. "To pay you back for helping me out"

He grinned, showing a lot of gum and small, yellow teeth. Urgh. "Well, how about we go to my office and... consider?" he offered, waving his disgustingly long tongue and me. Oh my god.

"Lead the way" I said, slapping his huge ass with force and making him squeal. What on earth was I doing?