A\N: So since Antonio is supposed to be a very good boxer, and won the Chicago Golden Gloves Competition; So I decided to start to develop this storyline to see how Antonio would get into boxing and become so good. Also, its late May in the story and the kids finish school in late June.

Disclaimer: I do not own Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, NBC, Global or any Chicago Boxing Clubs or Gyms.

Spoilers: None

Warnings: None


Chapter 6

"Okay Laur," Terry said as they slid into the bench of a cafeteria table, "I need details from last night."

Laura's cheeks turned bright red and she lowered her head before looking around. Since only the grade five's and six's, seven's and eights were allowed to eat in the cafeteria and the two older grades being on field trips the cafeteria was relatively quiet.

"What do you want to know?" She took a bite of her sandwich.

"Everything."

"Well…. He kissed me."

At her admission Terry spit out her juice. "He kissed you?"

"Ssh."

"Sorry. Sorry. Oh my gosh," She squealed, "Tell me everything."

"He came up to me and I dropped the phone and we both bent down to get it. Our lips brushed and he kissed me."

"Ah! That's so cute! What happened next?"

"Well then Gabby started making noises and pulled Antonio away."

"Ah well she's only little right?"

"Yeah one. She's cute though. Trouble and she doesn't like me sometimes but she's adorable."

"Yeah she sounds adorable," Terry took another sip of her juice, "So you finally like Antonio? Or at least admit you like him."

"Yeah but don't tell anyone."

"Lips are sealed," Terry pretended to lock her mouth and throw away the key.

Meanwhile across the cafeteria Antonio was listening half-heartedly to his friends as they discussed the upcoming baseball season.

"My Dad said I'm good enough to play on the rep team this year," Tyler bragged, "He said he's help me practice after school and-" He began but stopped when Chris nudged his shoulder and glared at him.

"Uh!" Antonio pushed his tray away and stood up, "I'm fine! You don't have to do this all right? I know you all have fathers!" He stormed away.

"Way to go," Chris glared at Tyler, "Now what do we do?"

"I don't know. He's your best friend," Simon looked at Chris.

"We're all his friends," He growled, "Just because its different-"

"He's all weird now," Tyler shook his head, "And now I can't say things around him? It's not my fault his father died!

Coming back to the table to get his forgotten textbooks Antonio had heard the entire converstation; He didn't think he had ever been so angry in his entire life. So he Snapped "DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT MY FATHER!" He charged towards him and punched him in the stomach and then, before he had a chance to react he held him in a chokehold.

In that moment Antonio heard voices around him but he couldn't distinguish them and the next clear thing he could remember was being pulled away from Tyler by a teacher.

"Young man;" The teacher looked at him, "You're going to the principals office."

"But-I-he…."


Mr. Anderson flipped through Antonio's folder as the elven year old sat nervously in front of him.

"Well," The principal began, "This behavior isn't usually like you Antonio; Maybe I should send you back to the school counselor," He rubbed the bridge on his glasses against his nose.

"No," Antonio shook his head, "I don't need help."

"Well Mr. Dawson," The folder snapped closed with a snap and Brian Anderson put his hands on his desk and folded them. Now staring directly at Antonio, "People do not get into fights like that for no reason. Now I am not going to make excuses given your situation…."

Tears stinging in his eyes Antonio fought he urge not to cry.

At his response Mr. Anderson's demeanor softened, "Bad choice of words. You know my father died a few years ago."

No response.

"But I'm still going to have to punish you. Two weeks after school dentition for an hour."

"Okay."

"Good. Now tell me why you started a fight in the cafeteria."

"Everyone is so different around me. The only one who isn't is Laura and she…" His voice mumbled off as he kicked the desk.

"Well at least you have one friend."

"She's not a friend. Just someone I know."

"Ah; well whatever she is it seems like maybe you could talk to her. That is of course after we have a talk with your mother alright?"

Antonio groaned, "Sir she's going to be so disappointed in me."

"Well then we should maybe talk about ways that we can call make sure this won't happen again."

Antonio rolled his eyes and slouched in his chair.

"You can get started on your homework while we wait for her to come."

"I don't have my homework with me Sir."

"Ten you can sit there quietly."

Antonio did just that. For the next fifteen minutes he sat in the chair and said nothing. He was too angry to speak.

"Mrs. Dawson's here Sir, "A secretary knocked and then poked her head into the office.

"Send her in," Mr. Anderson said standing up.

A few seconds later Esmeralda walked into the office.

"Ah Mrs. Dawson," Mr. Anderson shook her hand, "Have a seat."

Esmeralda sat down in the chair beside Antonio.

"Now Mrs. Dawson-"

"Don't call her that!" Antonio clenched his fists together so tight they became white, "My Dad died!"

"Antonio! That's quite enough!" Esmeralda turned to look at him. "You know better then to speak like that."

"Mr. Anderson may I please wait outside?" He asked through gritted teeth.

"Of course Antonio."

"Thank you," He left the room and closed the door behind him.

"I'm so sorry for my son's behavior. As you know he's not usually aggressive."

"Yes. I was surprised when I discovered he'd been in a fight."

Meanwhile In the waiting room

A young teacher in his late twenties to early thirties walked into the office and semi smiled when he saw Antonio sitting in a chair swinging his legs back and fourth.

"Hi," He approached him and sat in an empty chair beside him. "Remember me?"

Antonio briefly looked up at him, "Yeah. You're the teacher who brought me here."

"That's right. I want to talk to you."

Antonio sighed, "Mr. Anderson already punished me."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Two weeks of after school detention."

"Oh well that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. You're names Antonio right. You're in the sixth grade."

"Yeah."

"Good. My names Mr. Zambini I'm a Grade Eight Teacher. I also teach the boxing team."

Antonio looked up and didn't remove his gaze, "Yeah. You're really good right? Don't you have a gym or something?"

Mr. Zambini laughed, "Something like that. I have a friend who owns a gym I also volunteer at a really good boxing club. Very elite."

"Okay."

"I think you have a shot."

Antonio looked shocked, "You want me to fight?"

"No. No I'm not saying what you did was right but you have some skill; some of that isn't teachable."

"My Dad showed me some moves."

"Well it certainly paid off. Next year you'll be eligible to be on the boxing team and I really think you should consider it. I'd even personally coach you over the summer. You have raw talent with a little coaching and guidance I think you could go far."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Ah Antonio, I seen you've met Mr. Zambini," Mr. Anderson walked into the waiting area, "What do you think?"

"About boxing Sir?"

"Yes. Of course after your suspension."

"Mom?"

"I told them we'd talk about it Antonio."

"Cool," Antonio jumped out of his seat, "Can I go home now? Or back to class?"

"Back to class and I want to see you right here after school. Your detention starts today."

"Yes Sir," Antonio grumbled as he turned and walked back to his classroom.


After school Antonio walked to the main office where he saw Mr. Zambini leaning against the glass wall of it. "I'm serving detention with you? He sighed.

Mr. Zambini chuckled, "Your enthusiasm is killing me."

Antonio shrugged his shoulders in response.

"Follow me," Mr. Zambini started walking down the hallway and then down another hallway; just passed the school gym he stopped at an office with his name on it, "You will meet me here at 4:00 sharp every day during your dentition."

"And if I'm late?" Antonio usually wasn't one to challenge authority but something about Mr. Zambini made him tick.

Mr. Zambini stated at Antonio; a stare like Antonio has never seen before and his entire body shook with fear, "You don't want to know. Follow me," He turned on hid heel and walked back into the gym where around fifteen boys waited on the benches in boxing gear.

"Sit over there and watch."

Antonio did what he was told and for the next hour he watched as the boxing team practice. He now wanted more then ever to be apart of this team. He knew that he would be good; some of the things they were practicing were things he could already do."

"Antonio, come here!" Mr. Zambini called him over towards the end of the practice.

"Yes Sir!" Antonio got off the bench and walked onto the matts.

"Go into my office and get the boxes of t-shirts and bring them here."

Antonio nodded and walked back towards the office. He returned a few minutes later walking backwards and dragging both boxes with him.

"I didn't say take them both!" He shook his head, "You're going to break an arm!"

Antonio pulled the boxes onto the matt with relative ease and then dragged them all the way to where the team was sitting, "No Sir its fine."

"Dude you're pretty strong for eleven," One of the eighth graders spoke.

"Yeah!" A few echoed.

"Okay, okay, don't blow up his ego he's supposed to be in trouble."

"I saw that fight," Another boy said, "I heard it too. That guy had it coming. I would have pummeled him too."

"Hey! Hey!" Mr. Zambini waved his arms around, "You're supposed to be a good example to him."

Antonio chuckled, "They are."

Mr. Zambini gently shoved him away, "Your detentions over for today. Go home and have your Mom look at this," He threw him a brown envelope, "It's about that boxing program I was telling you about earlier."

Antonio eagerly nodded his head, "Yes Sir!"

Antonio walked out of the nearest door and around to the front of the school. There sitting on the grass doing her homework was Laura.

"Laura?" Antonio called out as he approached her.

At the sound of his voice Laura looked up and smiled, "Hey you. Heard you got detention for starting the fight. Hope it wasn't that bad."

"Nah," He attempted to shrug it off, "I just helped the coach of the boxing team that's all."

"Boxing?" questioned as she began putting her homework into her backpack.

"Yeah he says he thinks I'm good enough to try out for the team next year."

Standing up Laura bit her lip, "REALLY! But Antonio boxing's pretty dangerous."

"Yeah so is hockey but it's a popular sport!"

"That's not the point," She made a quick move to grab the brown package he was carrying, "Race you home!" She laughed as she ran ahead of him.

"Hey!" Antonio chased after her. "Laura!" He ran as fast as he could and easily caught up to her before they crossed the street at the stop sign. "It's mine." He took the fourm back.

Out of breath Laura nodded, "Geez Dawson I didn't know you were that fast. Forget boxing you should do track."

"Why can't I do both," He playfully punched her shoulder and sprinted ahead of her.

Squealing quietly to herself, Laura rubbed the spot he'd touched her and smiled. He was so strong and so good-looking;

"You coming?" Antonio yelled from across the street.

Shaking her head Laura looked both ways before sprinting across the road and joining him. The rest of the walk to her house was for the most part silent; neither one knowing what to say.

Laura's parents' house was a simple white two-story house with a paved driveway and a basketball net. Needless to say it fit in with the rest of the houses on the block all of which were of the same design. Walking up the paved driveway Antonio saw his mother's car, "Uh-oh," He shook his head, "I was hoping I'd be able to have some time before she yelled at me."

Laura didn't know how to respond; in fact, she didn't know much about the new feelings she felt for Antonio and so with her hand on the front door she told him, "I'm going to go to my room and call Terry, but Make sure you say bye before you leave." "

I promise I will" Antonio acknowledged.

Laura smiled and open the door and ran upstairs, as Antonio looked on and whispering for no one to hear, "beautiful" as he turn and went to the kitchen, to face his punishment.

TBC


A\N: So...what did you think? Please leave a review and let me know what you thought as well as any ideas or story lines you'd like to see in later chapters.