The Academy

Part One: Chapter Eight

It's my birthday. February seventh. Not a big deal, I'm pretty sure no one knows. 

One week until Valentine's day- alone. But it's fine. I haven't seen Riley in the past three weeks. I think she's been avoiding me, and I'm grateful. If I saw her, I would probably punch her lights out. 

Anyway, what better way to spend my birthday than sparring? We're going out for drinks tonight, as I lucked out and it's Friday. I'm not sure if Lacey, Camilla, Liz, and Carmen know it's my birthday, hopefully they think it's just a random party. But first, I'm going to beat everyone in my group in the competition Skipton organized. 

No profiling class today, as there's an exam next week. Today is all for sparring. My entire group stands around in the gym, getting ready. As I tape my hands, my mind wonders to Amelia. She's usually here for my birthday, if she can't be, she finds a way to reach me. I have no doubt my phone, still charging in my room is going off like crazy, texts and missed calls from my parents. Crazy, obsessive, hovering parents. I'm the youngest, the baby of the family, and when Amelia's not around, they turn to all-consuming, extremely annoying concern about me.

"Olivia!" Lacey's voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I see the training room has mostly cleared out. "Move your ass, Skipton's posting the seeds for the tournament." 

I nod, tossing my shirt on the bench in the training room. When we fight like this, the guys go topless and the girls go in sports bras. Somehow, it's less restricting this way. Fifteen people crowd around the whiteboard on the side wall in the main area as our instructor fills in names.

This is a real tournament. It's a test of our hand to hand skills, we're getting a grade. God, my excitement is heightening just thinking about it. Once Skipton finishes writing, we all crowd around the board to see who's fighting who first. Sullivan has appeared in the back, so two fights will be going on at once, an instructor reffing each. 

I find my name, and see I'm up against Finn Alvarez first. I can't hold back a laugh, this is the guy who I scared the crap out of without so much as breathing on him during our first week. He has gotten better though. I step away, pulling out every memory I have of watching him fight, trying to figure out what he likes to do so I can be prepared and use it to my advantage.

He's slow. Finn can pack a mean punch, but he's slow. He puts every ounce of strength into every move, which opens him up for counter-attacks if I'm fast enough. That's how I'm going to win this. Speed and agility. No problem, I can be agile. I turn back to the board, trying to see who I'll be up against when I win this. 

 A few hours later, I'm four for four. One more fight and I'll win the championship. I stand on the side, watching the last semi-final fight. It's Lacey up against this big dude named Connor. He's pretty quiet, I don't have a problem with him, and he's a good fighter.

Thinking about it, I've never fought him before. I've sparred with Lacey plenty of times, winning and losing some, but never Connor. So I watch, I see how he moves, and try to put together a game plan for if I end up fighting him.

Lacey, on the other hand, she's unpredictable. She changes her fighting style just like I do, making us perfect opponents. If I fight her, it looks more like fifty-fifty odds. Lacey's winning right now, dodging and hitting Connor in the spots he leaves open. But suddenly, he throws himself at her. I suck in a breath, watching as her smaller body flies into the wall of the ring. Shit, that's got to hurt. 

She pulls herself back up. I'm rooting for Lacey. I usually root for the woman. If this wasn't a semi-final match, I'd be screaming my ass off, much like the people around me. But I stay quiet, observing every move that happens in the fight.