3:35 PM Barry's Boxing Gym
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1" Barry counted down.
Liam was jumping rope vigorously, doing all sorts of variations: crisscrosses, double jumps, and alternating legs.
"Good work, Liam, now go for sit ups, do 20 of each, and 20 pushups, and we'll get started"
"Yes sir."
3:50 PM Beverly Hills Shopping Mall
The girls just left the Beverly Hills Shopping Mall
"I can't believe how nice she was" Clover referred to Liam's mother
The compowder then gave its beep.
"Girls we have a problem on our hands."
"What is it, Jerry?" Sam answered. With Clover and Alex looking at the compowder too
"Fighters around the area for the past few days have been captured and some of the cases include Jasper Echeivarra and Harry "Powerpunch" Bowles. WOOHP is currently tracking down the suspects. Our only details were that they wore black clothes and ski masks. Keep your eyes out." Jerry warned.
"There goes our day of relaxation."
Sam looked and found Liam at Barry's Gym.
"That's where Liam is"
"Girls look!" Sam said
Alex and Clover were interested.
The three girls walked towards the gym.
They spotted Liam.
Liam was doing various jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts, and body slips under the direction of Barry, who used boxing sticks.
Barry swatted and hit at Liam while Liam had to try and dodge and defend against them.
It was like dancing the way Liam dodged and weaved whatever was thrown at him, while throwing a few right back.
"Wow, you didn't leave any details out about the moves," Alex remarked.
"Cheeyeah...No kidding," Clover remarked.
"Wow, I got to learn that combo." Alex added
Sam looked intently at Liam.
"You two go ahead, I'll stick around a bit."
4:30 PM
"Not too shabby Liam, remember to use your hip rotation to give more power to your punches"
"Thanks, Barry. See you next time" Liam waved
Liam was walking home when he heard a voice that he wouldn't have guessed.
"Hi, Liam".
"Oh hi, Sam."
"I was just in the area, Heading home?" Sam replied.
"Um yeah. Are you headed the same way?" Liam asked this somewhat awkward question trying to break the tension.
Sam and Liam walked home.
"How long have you been in Beverly Hills?"
"I transferred here over a week ago."
"I heard that you had gotten suspended,"
Liam sighed,
"Yeah, it's what it is"
"But we all know what really happened, and that kid seemed a bit appreciative of you and so did a lot of the school,"
Liam was a bit shocked but relieved.
"Yeah, just wish that wasn't the first impression I gave,"
"I couldn't help but notice you at Barry's Boxing Gym. You seem to train a lot."
"Only 3 days a week." Liam shrugged
"And you also seem to be good at helping out with science projects."
"Thanks, I had some people in my family who were good at this."
"Really like who?"
"My Mom."
"Wow, she must have been a Top Student."
"She was a straight "A" student before becoming a member of the police force as a Crime Scene Investigator, but she retired after having me. She's been working as a lab assistant."
"You must be proud of her."
Liam looked kind of down.
"Is everything all right?" Sam asked.
Liam was silent for the most part. Then somehow, he got the nerve to say this.
"It's just that my mom is elsewhere, and my dad is in the military overseas, and I had to leave my mom after things went wrong."
"Do you want to tell me?"
"Let's just say I didn't make that many friends in the last place I lived, and the one place where I had a part-time job was broken into."
Sam was nodding solemnly, after hearing from Theresa, she knew exactly what he was talking about.
"Are you living on your own?" She asked
"No, with my uncle."
"How is that going?"
"He's a pretty solid guy, kind of jokes around but he's been good at fixing stuff and helping me with things."
"Fixing stuff?"
"After being in the military, he works as a carpenter and occasionally trains me when Dad is out."
"Did he used to box?"
"Yeah, but that was a while ago."
Not wanting to tell her about his uncle's boxing record, Liam kept that hidden from Sam.
Sam was more surprised by Liam's transparency than his story.
Sam then spotted her house and Liam kind of guessed the whole situation.
"Is this your house close by?"
"Yeah,"
"Okay, I'll just see you later"
"Yeah sure."
Liam waves before heading home...