A/N: This chapter is dedicated to lola, the first person to review my fic.
The next afternoon, right around four o'clock, A.J. came back to the gym. She walked to the heavy punching bag and began hitting it. Jonny noticed she was punching slower and not as hard as she had the previous day.
"Is something the matter?" he asked.
"No," A.J. replied.
Her face was flushed deep pink. The jacket she'd worn before was still on her.
"Maybe you should take off your jacket." said Jonny. "You look like you're getting overheated."
"Nah, I'm fine," said A.J. with a shrug.
The unzipped sweatshirt slipped loose, revealing a large purple bruise on her left shoulder.
"You mind telling me what happened?" said Jonny.
"I slipped in the shower the other night. I wore the jacket because I didn't want you to worry." A.J. explained.
Jonny saw through that in an instant. If A.J. had really slipped in the shower, most of her arm would probably be bruised, instead of just one spot.
"Listen, if you're being abused or something, you can tell me," said Jonny.
A.J. tried to keep her voice steady, but it came out high and shrill. "I'm not, all right?"
The teen grabbed her gymbag and started for the door. "I think I better go."
"But you just got here," said Jonny.
"Well, I have...something to do at home. I'll see you tomorrow."
A.J. began to come to the gym every day at precisely four o'clock. Jonny admired her dedication. And with each visit, her boxing skills improved.
She has a lot of heart, too, Jonny thought.
After a while, he learned that A.J. was a movie buff and a sophomore at a nearby high school. Whenever Jonny inquired about her family, however, A.J. had the habit of dodging the subject. Every couple of days, a fresh bruise would appear on the girl's arms. She always had explanations ready.
"I tripped," she'd say. Or "I fell during gym class."
Again, Jonny would ask if she was being abused.
"No, I'm just clumsy!" A.J. would insist.
At this, Jonny would sigh. He could feel in his gut that something more was going on with A.J. than she was saying.
After their work-out, Jonny would offer a ride home, which the teen always refused. By the fifth rejection, he just stopped asking.
A/N: Chapter three is coming soon! Remember to review. Your opinion counts.