t w e n t y f o u r


I STARE OUT across the over grown field and lean back against the seats in the next row up. It had been raining all day and when it finally stopped, Noah and I decided to take advantage of it and sit outside on the bleachers.


"Hey, Hayden." Noah calls as I glance down at him as his big ass head lay in my lap, "Did you hear about that italian chef that died?"


My eyes widen in shock, "No, what happened?"


"He pasta away." Noah finishes his joke with a loud, amused laugh. I stare at him with the most blank expression I could muster.


"I hope you pasta away." I retort with an evil smirk plastered across my face.


"How can people believe you are cute when you are actually satan? Just curious." Noah replies up at me as I roll my eyes and let out a small little chuckle. I felt like I needed a cigarette pinched between two fingers to finish off the aesthetic of this situation. Overcast sky, metal bleachers, a dark surrounding forest. But then I remembered I'm a pussy and I don't even smoke.


"Quick question, do you know where Chase goes to blow off some steam?" I question subtly, trying not to sound too invested in Chase's extra-curriculars, "I know he's into some shady shit and I was wondering where said shady shit takes place."


Noah angles his neck as he frowns up at me, "How do you know about that?"


"Vera told me about it." I inform him with a small shrug, "Plus he came back to the dorm three weeks ago, all bloodied and bruised and I had to stitch him up."


"Well that would've been a blow to his ego." Noah scoffs and alI laugh along. That's what I'm here for, keeping people humble and actually alive. "Okay, I'm not suppose to tell you this so don't tell Chase I told you because otherwise he'll shove his foot so far up my ass the doctors will have to pick his toes from my teeth."


Yup. That sounded exactly like my roommate.


"I've only tagged along once way back in sophomore year because it was so fucking terrifying I almost peed my pants, so I don't even know if it's still there. But it was at an old boxing gym in Madison that's used as an underground fighting arena." Noah explains as I shive my hands into the pocket of my black coat covering my denim jacket.


I grin childishly at him, "So, are you up for a little adventure?"


"Will it involve us dying?"


"It's Tuesday. I know how to restrain myself." I announce proudly, leaning back on my hands as I pull my shoulders back and smile. I glance at Noah through my bottom lashes, seeing him not impressed in the slighest.


"You absolutely do not." Noah groans as he sits up and I stand, grabbing my bag and pulling it onto my shoulder. I smile down at him.


"I'll come over to your dorm after dinner and we can plan everything." I state before swinging my leg over the bench and making my way down the rusted bleachers.


I hear Noah shout from behind, "We're going to fucking die!"


♤♤♤♤


I heard the rustling, just like I usually do at this time of night. My back was to his side of the room just in case he decided to glance over and realise that I wasn't asleep like I should be. He was trying to be quiet and if I was asleep it would've worked. I hear the tinkling of his dorm keys before the door opens and closes as quiet as possible.


I wait five seconds before I throw my covers off me and roll over. I had underestimated the width of my bed and ultimately end up tumbling to the ground in a mess of blonde hair and limbs. Elegant as always, Hayden.


The room was pitch black so as I stumble to my feet, I flick on my bedside lamp and straighten out my clothes. I had borrowed Vera's leather jacket because I owned nothing remotely terrifying or badass. I'm not sure what type of people hang out where Chase fights, but just in case, I want to fit in.


I grab my phone from the charger, slip it into the back pocket of my black jeans and swipe my dorm key. I quickly and silently lock my dorm room again before basically sliding down the bannister to the second floor.


As soft as possible, I knock on Noah's door. It was harder to contact Noah because he wasn't allowed a phone or any technology for that matter just in case he wants to hack the FBI for fun.


He was awake, thankfully, and opens the door instantly.


"Has the eagle left the nest?" Noah whispers to me as he steps out of his dark dorm room into the hall, gently closing the door behind him.


"It's Chase, Noah. Not the fucking president." I stare up at him as he locks his door and glances at me with the most offended expression on his gorgeous face.


"I am way too sleep deprived to be dealing with your negativity right now, Hay." Noah expresses himself with very dramatic hand gestures as I laugh at him, "I only agreed because I thought it would be like a spy mission."


"You're even dressed for it." I giggle to myself as I quickly glance at Noah's black outfit. Black sneakers, black jeans, a black hoodie and over top a black coat. "Very mission-impossible of you, Noah."


Noah pulls at the lapels of his coat proudly, "Fuck yeah."


I laugh at him quietly as we turn and walk down the stairs, exiting Elwood quietly. It was freezing so we both basically sprinted to the student parking lot and tumbled into Noah's Jeep. It was too late for the security guards to be up and the parking lot was now wardened by security cameras.


Noah assured me that he clears the security tapes for Chase anyway.


I turn up the heaters to full blast when we were finally buckled into the car and Noah drives out smoothly. I was getting excited for some reason as I sat in the passenger seat. It was a while until we finally reached the welcome sign of Maddison, so Noah and I made small talk about the most stupidest things.


That's why I love Noah so much. He doesn't try to be anyone he's not and he's not ashamed of it either. He's so secure with who he is and anyone who has a problem with that can kiss his fucking ass.


♤♤♤♤


I was almost falling asleep by the time Noah's car stopped and I glanced out of the frosted window. The parking lot was filled with cars and I was surprised Noah actually managed to find a park. I roll out of the passenger seat and out into the cold night air. I pull the leather jacket closer to my body as Noah locks his car and we walk across the parking lot.


A group of guys burst from the paint chipped doors and I jump slightly as they slur drunkenly and pass us. Noah gives me a supportive smile as he holds my hand softly and I follow him in. It was much warmer inside than out and it's probably because of the massive number of people crowding the room. It was also awfully loud.


"I thought you said this was an old boxing gym!" I shout, pushing up onto my tippy toes as I try to get closer to Noah's ear. He leads me through the group, elbowing people out of the way while still holding onto my hand, "Where is the ring?"


"There is no ring!" Noah answer back as he glances over his shoulder at me. I frown in confusion as Noah pulls me through the front of the crowd.


There wasn't a ring because we were the ring. The large crowd was congregated in a circle and in the middle were two guys, bloodied and pummelling each other with there fists. I tear my eyes from the violent scene and instead lock eyes with a familiar face a few people down.


It was Lea. Without the fucking h.


She was smirking at me as if she was surprised I was actually here. She whispers to her two friends standing by her who both glance at me. They start giggling at me and begin whispering to each other. I sarcastically laugh back before flipping my middle finger at them before turning my attention to Noah.


"Hey, just ignore them." Noah whispers to me, giving my hand a tight squeeze as the fighters exit the circle. Well, one of them walked off while the other was carried by two guys. I gulped heavily at the sight.


"Ladies and gentlemen, it's the fight you've been waiting all night for!" The announcer voice booms over the commotion of the crowd and everyone begins cheering. I glance around the crowd, noticing people holding dollar bills in there hands while other slipping them into there wallets and pockets, "Introducing the menacing, the massive, thhhheeeee Monster!"


The crowd cheers even move as one side of the circle splits open and a lump of a guy stomps into the opening. My jaw literally hits the floor looking at this guy.


"How the fuck is that possible? It looks like he eats people like me for breakfast." I shout at Noah in shock as he laughs at me, "I would fucking hate to be the one fighting him."


I feel a tap on my shoulder and glance behind me, noticing a smiling Lea. She cocks her head to the side and folds her arms, "Funny seeing you here, Hayden."


I turn more so I was facing her and give her the fakest smile I could muster, "Fucking hilarious, isn't it?"


"I thought I told you to stay away from Chase? Why the fuck are you here then?" Lea questions with a smirk and I roll my eyes, in absolutely no mood to deal with her right now.


"Hmm, maybe because not everything revolves around Chase and I'm just here to see some good fights?" I hum sarcastically as Lea huffs and rolls her eyes before returning to her friends. I smile as I watch her retreat, "Nice chatting with you!"


I turn back to the circle, seeing the human version of the Hulk walking back and forth at the rim of the circle, bouncing on his toes. It's a solid win for him already. Just look at him, he's fucking huge. He could just fall on the other fighter and it would be game over.


The announcer's voice is heard once more, "And the challenging opponent. He's young, he's dangerous and he's got potential....it's Everett Chase!"


The crowd erupts madly at the name. Whistles and screams bouncing off the concrete walls and floors.


It didn't take rocket science to figure out the name.


Especially when the crowd splits and my roommate walks out into the circle, shirtless and glistening under the florescent lights. He was flexing his taped fists and bouncing on the tips of his toes. He didn't notice me, thank god, because he was too busy focusing on the fight to come.


The two fighters face each other, hitting there fists together as some type of weird, aggressive greeting. They then stand on opposite sides, staring each other down.


I wish that's all the match was. A staring battle. But that would've been lame as fuck.


The sound of the ringing bell painfully enters my ear and I inhale heavily.


The fighters walk in circle for a few moments, sizing each other up.


I keep my eyes on Chase, my stomach bubbling with nerves as I watch him. His hazel eyes were focused, he was determined and driven...it was really attractive.


The Monster swings his left fist in a wide hook suddenly, his fist a meteor and the planet; Chase's cheek. Chase goes stumbling to the floor from the impact as the roar of the crowd echoes through out the room, landing on his stomach on the dirty concrete floor. From here I could see his profile and as he takes a few breathes, I swear he was smiling.


He pushes to his feet, ignoring the heckles of the watching crowd. Chase was quick, abnormally quick and delivers a hard blow to the Monster's solar plexus. I couldn't blink otherwise I'd miss something, he was that fast. Chase followed up his blow with a knee to the Monster's head as he doubles over.


I screw up my nose as a waterfall of liquid blood spills from the Monster's mouth and hits the ground.


Chase doesn't wait, he continues, blow after blow to the Monster's stomach. Sending him stumbling back and into the crowd. I hear the grunts of the Monster before Chase is picked up into the air and thrown down onto the concrete. A string of painful "oohs" ripples through the crowd and I inwardly cringe.


He gets up nonetheless, but the second he turns around, the Monster's fist connects with his face once more. The Monster swings wide for another hit but Chase ducks, jabbing his oblique with his fist hard. The monster stumbles back, allowing time for both fighters to catch their breathes.


"I thought we were suppose to be giving these people a show!?" Chase heckles with a cocky smirk as he gestures widely to the crowd. To say the least, the Monster was not happy. Just as the Monster marches forward, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around to see who was trying to get my attention but all I saw was a hand emerge from the crowd and shove me forward.


I stumble out into the open, shocked and disorientated. And when I raise to my full height, all I could see was the big, meaty fist of the Monster of a direct flight path to my face.


Oh fuck. Goodbye life, it was fucking awful knowing you.


I feel arms wrap around my waist and in split second I was spun around. Chase tucks his face into the nook of my neck as the Monster's fist connects with his back. Chase groans out in pain as we're both sent flying backwards.


All air in my lungs dissipate the second my back slams against the concrete ground and I gasp out in pain as more weight lands on top of me.


The crowd starts booing instantly and Chase raises his head, frowning at me in confusion.


All I could do was smile widely at him, "Surprise?"


Without giving Chase another second to most definetly murder me I slip out from underneath him. I run to Noah, grabbing him bye the hand and hauling his ass out behind me.



so hayden and noah took a little field trip.


it's not really surprising though, hayden's middle name is basically snoop.

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