Love Punched | COMPLETED

08. Black & Blue

(Lila's P.O.V)

I hummed along to the tune of the song blasting in my separate training room as I covered my hands in the purple handwraps.

Halsey's 3am blasted from my playlist and the soundproof room I'd made my sanctuary over the past two years smelled faintly of cleaning supplies and sweat.

I sang along softly.

"While I'm runnin' through the numbers in my phone
And yeah, I'll take fake moans and dial tones
Let 'em spill right down the microphone
I need it digital 'cause, baby, when it's physical
I end up alone, end up alone."

Only an underlying smell of peaches from my perfume gave the purple whitewashed room a personal feel.

But I guess the purple did too.

Eh.

Shrugging to myself, I walked up to the punching bag and took up my position. Slightly bouncing on the balls of my feet, I exhaled heavily and emptied my mind while waiting for the lyrics to come on like a cue to start.

"Know that my identity's always getting the best of me
I'm the worst of my enemies
And I don't really know what to do with me
Yeah, I don't really know what to do with me."

The moment the lyrics of the song ended, my first punch landed on the black punching bag.

And then I didn't stop.

Not when my muscles started aching or sweat ran down my temple and the back of my neck, making my hair sticky. Mot when my knuckles started hurting. I breathed heavily and imagined the face I wanted to pummel so badly.

That did the trick to keep me going and as the bag swung with my power packed punch - a different song playing now - I ducked to avoid getting hit.

It was an outlet for me and my emotions and I respected the art that was kickboxing.

Frankly speaking, today wasn't a day I'd usually visit the gym and work out at all but my annoying neighbor wasn't a calming presence at all.

Of course, tricking him had been the highlight of my day. Derek thought James was a guy - for obvious reasons - but finding out that I'd just been referring to my best friend by her last name to fool him was so satisfying.

Though the last time I saw him he was with Veronica and then Michael told me how Rebecca was definitely interested.

He made the soccer team too, I'm sure of it. And Derek's a good source of amusement much like Warren yet still different.

But I was still in a sour enough mood.

Maybe it had something to do with pent up frustration from having spent three days in Looney Tunes' AKA Derek Greyson's orbit.

I clenched my jaw and landed a roundabout kick before steadying myself onto my feet and starting right back up.

Left hook, right jab, duck and punch.

I repeatedly carried out the combination and so immersed was I that I didn't hear or feel him until he spoke.

"What's got you so aggravated?"

I huffed and stopped punching, grabbing the bag to stop it from swinging as I hugged it and caught my breath.

I turned my head to see Diego walking towards me with a bottle of elixir.

Elixir equals water in my case if you didn't catch that.

I walked over to the couch and he followed as I remained silent.