I know, I know I deserved to be hanged for this high act of disrespect and not updating in ages. I'm really truly sorry, but I have a peace offering! Here you go!
10 years later…
Almost there just a little further, I thought to myself as I pushed forward. Ugh I'm getting slower. I ran around the warehouse in my last 20th lap, sprinting through it as my legs and belly screamed in mercy. I felt the burn and revealed in it.
"Aye yo Z! Time's up, back to work!" yelled Josh from his place at the door of the Underground as I passed him by. I turned back around, the November breeze sharp and cold against my t shirt and sweats. By the time I made it to the door Josh was gone and it was 12:25. I cursed at my watch as I saw that I was almost a half an hour late to work. I pushed the rusty metal side door that was labeled 'Employees Only' open and was greeted with the sound of all of the guys of the Underground getting ready for holding their fights. I saw the Techs moving around on the catwalks above head, setting up and fixing the lighting and sound systems that were used through the matches. The Movers were using their muscled bodies to move all the heavy mobile stages around the warehouse's 160,000 by 160,000 square feet floor. The Fighters were lounging around as usual, some of them shadow boxing their bots, and others practicing their voice commands and the rest fixing up some loose wires and broken things. It was always comforting to know that even though some things change, robot boxing won't. It was like the land of misfit toys for all who like metal pounding on metal. I climbed up stairs that were to my right, attached to the paint less walls, reaching all the way to the 5th floor catwalks and searching for the right door.
When I finally got to the door that was labeled 'Residential' I opened it and walked the hallway that the door opened to. When I finally got to my room I ran in and had to fight every cell in my body from jumping on my bed and knocking out for the next 3 days. Instead I grabbed my towel and toothbrush as I passed by my wooden desk, covering in drawings, pictures, and a few bottles of Mabi Taino. I walked into my beige painted bathroom and took the fastest shower possible, only cleaning the important parts with my mango smelling body wash. As soon as I was finished I rushed back into my white painted room, slightly disgusted at how messy it was with all the paper and clothes strewn every which way. I made a mental note to clean it up when I had the chance. Soon I was dressed in bartending uniform and was on my way down the stairs to the main level. By the time I made it onto the 3rd floor landing I was an hour late and I heard the people rushing and yelling as they flooded through the main gate. I made my way through the crowd and over to the bar where I saw Josh, Aaron, Ezekiel, and Rashawn manning the never ending demand of drinks that people threw their way.
"I'm here!" I shouted at them over the sound of a man yelling for a Little Manhattan. I pushed through the small mob and made my way behind the counter.
"What the hell Zera! Might as well just not show up if you showing up late every damn day!" Josh scolded. He was a prick; always blaming me for something. I rolled my eyes at him and greeted the rest of the boys with a nod.
"Hey boys" I said as I handed out Budweisers to the group of middle aged betters. They were regulars here at the Underground, always looking for someone to scout for the big leagues; the big leagues meaning the legal version of robot boxing.
"Hey Zera, how you doing sweetheart?" said Arthur, a tubby man with a good head on his shoulders. Well the head isn't that good if he's betting in an illegal sport but a good one none the less.
"I'm good, did you find out anything about Atom for me?" I asked as I handed another waitress a tray with two rounds of shots on them. After that I started pouring out a Scotch on the rocks for Toby, one of Arthur's friends that had just walked in. "Hey Toby"
"Hey there Zera, I see you remembered my drink, as usual" he said with a smile. The rest of guys came in and gave me their orders, all of them waiting for Arthur to say something about the big leagues. You see Arthur is one of the announcers in the real deal league. He always has pity on us lower class people and fills us in on the events going on.
"Come on Arty. What'd you'd hear about my boy" I said, I felt my excitement raising and my hopes getting high. Ever since that day years ago I've tried hard to get on track with that robot.
"Well your boy hasn't shown up in the last 8 months. I don't know why but I heard its 'cause the son of the guy who owns it is going to school. Man in charge has to wait until the kid gets back." He said shaking his head. "I don't think the kid's coming back personally"
I sighed in disappointment. I kind of had high hopes for him. For some reason or another, I thought that he and his robot would go far. I shook off the thoughts and got back to work. The night went on like is usually does; me throwing different types of drinks left and right, Josh yelling at me every now and then just to remind me how much he didn't like a girl in a guy's place, and the boys yelling at him to shut up 'cause he doesn't have legs as good as mine.
It was the last five rounds of the night that were coming up. These were the most intense. The last five rounds were filled to the brim with the rowdiest, drunk, and the best fighters of the night. The place was louder than the usual with people screaming out insults and bets. A few guys were actually there just to watch; just to revel in the fun of the morbid sport, but the rest had something riding on the game, whether it is money, a career, or maybe it was their lives.
"They're killing me out there!" hissed a man with a cowboy hat as he took a seat on a stool to my left. My ears perked up at his agitation as I refilled a man's glass with water, telling him it was Vodka.
"They're all a bunch of college boys that heard 'bout this from dey daddy's. Talkin 'bout them being the next Zeus or somthin'" he said before chugging down half of the Bud Light in his glass. I knew he was a sleaze bag not only from his bad taste in beer, but from the greedy look in his greedy eyes, and in the way that he tried to where teenage clothes when he was obviously well into his 50s.
"You never know" said a new voice. I turned to see a young man, an attractive young man at that. He was probably a few years older than me with his harden figure and boxer like body structure. His hair looked a bit to dark for his pale skin and brown eyes that also seemed a bit too dark for the guy's pale complexion. "We college boys just might surprise you". The sleaze bag redneck looked like he was about to start something so Rashawn decided to step in.
"Hey now, this is a bar. So if you got ya booze best get to steppin'. If you don't, Zera ova there would kindly get you something" Rashawn said as he placed a hand in front of the sleaze bag. "Do I make myself clear?" he said with a pointy gaze at said man.
"Crystal" the redneck replied with a leer. He got up and made his way through the small group of people that surrounded the bar, his designer tight jeans threatening to fall from his massive weight. And to think he probably had respect in some point of his life, I thought as I watched him go.
"Can I get a coke?" said a voice, bringing me back out of my head. I turned to face the guy that was talking with Mr. Redneck.
"I'm sorry. H-how can I be o-of service?" I said. Let me explain to you that I was speaking to a Greek Adonis, so I was feeling a bit shaky. The guy gave me a very thorough once over that made me feel like I was naked under the gaze of is calculating blue eyes.
"Let me get a Coke, coldest one you got" he asked in a deep voice. I was trapped by his piercing blue eyes and could only nod. He stared at me for a second and then chuckled deeply. "You might want to close you mouth, you're drooling a bit". That snapped me out of it. I made a face at him and went to the cooler to grab the warmest Coke I could find. I made my way back to him and saw the guy, whom I am naming Blonde, talking with two other guys. By the looks on their faces it seemed like he was recounting a story, and a good one at that.
"…was the last time I saw him" I heard him finalize as I drew near with his drink.
"1.50" I said to him as I place the drink in front of him. A smirk grew on his face as I asked for the payment.
"You want me to pay?" he scoffed. I gave him a look and thought, Who the hell does this nigga think he is?
"No I want you to lick my toe. Yeah I want you to pay!" I scoffed back at him. He looked at me with raised eyebrows and a surprised look on his face.
"What? Nobody ever told you to carry you own weight?" I joked as I crossed my arms over my chest. His eyes flicked over my breasts and I felt myself heat up a bit.
"Nope, not in a while." He said. "Don't you know who I am?"
"Nope, I've been living under a rock. Do you know who I am?" I asked. Once again the guy looked taken aback by my statement.
"Well no-"
"Would you like to know?" I asked. I felt a smile playing on my face and by the way he smirked I bet he could see it too.
"Very much so, yes" he smiled, revealing dimples on his cheeks and perfect white teeth. Oh that's not fair, I thought to myself. Dimples too!
"Name's Zera. Zera Rodriguez" I said extending a hand out to the guy, excited to learn his name. His smile widened a bit at the mention of my name and he took my hand, his massive hands seeming to swallow mine whole.
"Max Kenton. It's a pleasure to meet the girl who almost beat me and my dad in a match" he said with a grin.
