Get your ass outside

Reyna stared down at the text on her phone, and a small frown settled her face. She didn't know the number, but it had the same area code as her. It was probably a case of the wrong number, so she chose to ignore it.

Reyna went to put her phone back down, but before she could, it vibrated again. Reyna looked at the new message.

Im serious Ramirez. Ass outside. Now

Who is this

Clarisse

Reyna blinked a few times and reread the message chain. Was this some kind of prank. What was going on?

Clarisse? Why are you texting me

Why dont you get your ass outside and find out

"Screw it," Reyna muttered to herself. She stood and pocketed her phone. If Clarisse was really going to be dumb enough to start a fight with Reyna right outside of Lupa's gym, it was her funeral. Reyna turned and made it out of their break room.

Annabeth was sitting in the corner, but she didn't even bother to look up. Why would she? Annabeth was the golden child now. She had successfully pushed Reyna out of the picture. An angry sigh escaped Reyna as she passed through the hall and down the stairs.

Her anger doubled as she crossed the gym and saw Romy standing there. He was watching Hazel and Frank spar. The two were waiting for their food to arrive before they took their break.

Another angry sigh left Reyna. She tried to call the therapist multiple times, but her finger could never make contact to start the call. She had given up on it and was just going to simmer in her frustration because it was the only thing that she could do.

Reyna tried to clear her thoughts as she made it to the front foyer. She stepped outside and stopped as she saw an unfamiliar car in the parking lot. It was parked close to the door. Reyna slowly walked towards the car, and Clarisse stepped out of it. There was a scowl that blemished the woman's face, and she impatiently crossed her arms.

Reyna came face to face with Clarisse as she stopped in front of her. The muscles in her arms tensed, and her fists clenched tightly. Clarisse stared her down but didn't say a word. Reyna finally broke the silence, "Is this some kind of new taunting tactic? Are you going to keep showing up here to piss me off?"

"Gleeson is using you," Clarisse stated bluntly. Reyna's glare hardened and crossed her arms as well.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Reyna began.

"Don't bullshit me, Ramirez."

"Ramirez-Arellano."

"I'm not saying anything that long, and stop trying to change the damn subject," Clarisse chastised. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. "I know all about Gleeson trying to poach you from Lupa. I know about the contract offer."

Reyna just stared at Clarisse. She tried to speak, but Clarisse talked over her, "Gleeson doesn't want you at his gym. He wants Lupa's number one; the person that she gave her personal nickname to. It'll give his gym a lot more rep and undercut Lupa.

"All that stuff he said to you is just him screwing with you," Clarisse continued. She showed Reyna her phone. "Swipe right for the other pictures."

"You broke into his emails and phone?" Reyna slowly asked.

"Damn right I did," Clarisse answered almost proudly. Reyna debated it for a moment, but she finally looked down at the picture, reading the texts between Hedge and one of his business partners. As she read on, a pit formed in her stomach.

Reyna and I went out to dinner. Thanks for the reservations. After a few glasses of wine, I had her feeding out of my hands. Took her to a bar and got her more drunk. She ended up hitting it off with some chick, so I bought them a room

And is she going to join your gym?

I think she will. I still have to butter her up, but Mellie's helping her a lot by running interfence.

Interference how

Not passing on Lupa's invitations. Stuff like that. Just driving in the nail to make it look like Lupa doesn't care for Reyna

That girl is an idiot if she can't see how much that old hag cares for her

Reyna's hothead and ill tempered. Shes easy to manipulate. Its like all those troubled kids I used to help. Give them a little attention and theyll do whatever you want

Did you offer a contract

Yeah. Im sure she'll sign it soon

Good. Its time we undercut Lupa and drive her out. Make sure to find that junkies old dealer and convince him to come around

Reyna lowered the phone and felt anger blazing in her chest. Clarisse studied her, "There's more emails in there about what they'll offer you to pull you away and about the others."

Reyna just handed Clarisse her phone back and felt sick to her stomach. Hedge went out of his way to treat her to a fancy dinner and a night on the town, only for it to be part of his charade. All to mess with Lupa. And what the hell did Lupa do to him? She had given his wife a job and helped him if he ever needed it.

"Don't tell me you even considered his contract offer," Clarisse almost spat. Reyna remained silent. "You dumbass. How many people would kill to be in your shoes and be trained by the greatest fighter in the league? Hell, I'd kill someone to be trained by Lupa, but you want to throw all of that away for Gleeson Hedge!?"

"You don't understand," Reyna muttered through clenched teeth.

"Because Lupa knew your mom?" Clarisse demanded. Reyna's eyes flickered up, and her glare burned with renewed rage.

"How the hell do you know about that?" Reyna questioned as she balled her hand into a fist.

"Hedge told me. How else would I know? He coaxes it out of Mellie and shares it with me. How do you think I knew about her miscarriage? Or even your car wreck? I'm good, but I'm not a damn oracle," Clarisse explained.

"Hedge told you all that," Reyna whispered. She swallowed painfully and felt her stomach drop and twist. How could she have been so dumb? Why did she even listen to all of that?

"He did," Clarisse confirmed.

"W...we have to tell Lupa," Reyna began, but she felt like she wanted to do nothing more than turn away and vomit. Clarisse nodded her agreement. "Come on."

Reyna turned and led Clarisse into the gym. She tried to control her racing heart and aching stomach along the way. Reyna walked through the foyer and realized just how odd this was going to look to everyone. Before she could dwell on it, she stepped into the inner part of the gym with Clarisse right on her heels.

Hazel and Frank were finishing sparring and looking at their phones. They looked up, and both froze as they saw Clarisse. Reyna just led her temporary ally up the stairs. They walked through the hallway, and since it was just her luck, Annabeth stepped out of the room at the far end of the hall. Surprise exploded on her face as she saw them.

Reyna kept her gaze forward and made it to Lupa's office. The door was cracked open, and Reyna slowly started to open it. She heard a voice, belonging to a male, that she didn't recognize. A glance inside showed that Lupa was behind her desk and talking to Jupiter.

Reyna took a deep breath and stepped into the office. Lupa glanced up at her, and an annoyed look crossed her face, "We're busy."

"You're not," Clarisse stated as she walked in behind Reyna. A frown split Jupiter's face, and Lupa slowly looked up, confusion dancing in her eyes. "It's a good thing you're here, old man. I have something to show you and Lupa."

Clarisse walked towards the desk and placed her phone on it, "Gleeson Hedge has overstepped his bounds. He's trying to poach Reyna from this gym. And, he's given me a lot of private information about Lupa."

Jupiter frowned and slowly looked at the phone. He looked through the pictures with Clarisse directing him. Then, he read through them again. The phone was passed to Lupa, and she read through it quietly. Anger slowly began to boil, her eyes reflecting her growing wrath.

"Is this true, Reyna? Did Gleeson Hedge take you out for dinner and attempt to convince you to join his gym?" Jupiter questioned. Reyna nodded and nervously looked at the floor. "The league takes this very seriously. When a fighter is signed to a gym, they are exclusive to that gym until the contract ends or when they are released from it."

"Did Gleeson Hedge give you a contract?" Jupiter asked. Reyna nodded once again. "Do you have it?"

"I...I do," Reyna said after a moment.

"Reyna, you are not in trouble here," Lupa began. Reyna slowly looked up at her. Cold fury kindled on Lupa's face. "Do you have the contract here?"

"Yeah," Reyna said softly.

"Will you retrieve it?" Jupiter asked, but it didn't sound like a question. Reyna nodded and turned away. She walked out of the office and down the stairs. Reyna made her way to the locker room, grabbed her backpack, and made her way back to Lupa's office. Hazel and Frank were not in the gym, probably getting their food. Annabeth had disappeared somewhere.

Reyna tried to calm her beating heart as she walked back into the office. Jupiter was looking right at Clarisse, "And, why would you tell anyone about this? Gleeson Hedge may get into serious trouble."

"Because Gleeson wants to replace me with Reyna. No way in hell am I just taking that lying down," Clarisse stared her intentions. She moved her gaze to Reyna, and even Jupiter looked back at her. "If he wants to screw me, I'll screw him first."

Reyna slowly opened her backpack. She reached inside and grabbed the contract. Reyna placed it on the desk and looked at Lupa. She tried to apologize, but her voice wouldn't work for her.

Lupa and Jupiter looked over the contract. Both of them carefully read every line. Reyna crossed her arms and leaned on the wall. Her gaze stared at the contract as Lupa and Jupiter crawled towards the end of it. Part of her hoped it would just burn up before they could finish reading.

Lupa flipped to the last page, and she stared down at it. Reyna tensed as she focused on the line where her signature rested. Where she had signed her name because she was debating dropping off the contract later that day.

How could Reyna be so stupid? This home was her gym, and even though Lupa withheld information about her mother, that didn't mean Reyna could just leave this place. Her teammates were like her family, and Lupa was like a mother to her. Which is why her heart still ached from Lupa's betrayal.

"I'm sorry," Reyna whispered, but her voice barely worked.

"Can I have copies made of this?" Jupiter asked. Lupa nodded and stood. Jupiter looked at Clarisse. "Can you send me those pictures as well? I need to have a long talk with Hedge."

"Yeah," Clarisse agreed. "I can do that. You know any gyms who need a new member?"

"Stay here, Reyna. We need to talk," Lupa said. Reyna didn't say a word. She just stared at the ground and rested her mouth against her fist. All she wanted to do was throw up. Why did she sign it? Reyna regretted it, and she just wanted the day to be over with.