“Debs, this is…” he pauses, eyeing me to find the right words, “HellCat, good luck.”
She turns, her hands frantically smoothing out the rats nest the wind caused of her thin hair.
“Tate. My name is Tate.” I smile.
Her bright green eyes meet mine, they’re fierce looking.
“Tate, I’m Debs.” She smacks her gum, walking toward me. “Let’s get one thing straight. If you don’t give me all you got, then we’re done. I ain’t got time for little girls looking for a life altering experience. You want a thrill, do a line of cocaine and play hopscotch on the train tracks.” She lowers her head, her eyes penetrating me like daggers.
Cate clears her throat, catching my attention. She uses her hands like she’s pushing something. Push back.
Push back. Years ago I would have set this woman straight. Seems I lost a lot more than my heart when I moved to LA.
Digging deep, I find my bravado and pull it out.
“Well, you got one thing straight. I’m not looking for some lady on a power trip. I need someone who knows what they’re doing, and has the patience to teach me what I need to know. If control is what you’re after, then coach some cheerleaders,” I jab. My stomach flutters with butterflies. A rush of adrenaline surfs through my limbs, and a wicked smile forms on my face. Damn, that felt good.
Her lips curl into a small smile.
“I think we will do just fine.” Her freckled nose twitches. “Lets get you taped up, and see what you’re made of.”
Debs props her foot on the bench in the locker room. Apparently they do have a women’s bathroom, but a lot of the room in here is used for storage. There’s old boxing bags, and equipment sitting in the showers.
“You know how to wrap your hands?” Debs asks, grabbing on my palms.
“Yeah,” I reply, but that doesn’t stop her from continuing. She loops my thumb in the hole at the end of the wrap and starts winding it around my wrists and hands.
“Ok, so I drew up your dietary plan,” Cate states, walking into the locker room.
“Dietary plan?” I scrunch my nose. I knew this was coming, I just dread what it entails.
“You want to be serious about your training, eating is one of the biggest priorities,” Debs adds, wrapping the tape between each of my fingers.
“You need to follow this religiously.” Cate hands me the folder to my hand that isn’t being strangled with boxing tape.
I can’t eat sugar, fast food, soda, chocolate, cheese, and the list goes on. I knew fighters ate a pretty clean diet but this is going to be brutal.
“Do I get to eat popcorn? It’s my favorite snack.” I look through the papers that are labeled with calories, and fat intake.
“No. I mean, you can if its air popped I suppose. Just don’t drown it in butter, that defeats the purpose of air popping it,” Cate instructs. I frown. I love burnt buttered popcorn. I might die without it.
“Do I get a cheat day?” I close the folder and set it down. I can’t look at it anymore. I might cry.
“No,” Debs barks.
“Yes, you get a cheat day,” Cate objects. “If anything you’re underweight.”
“Alright, I’m going to take a piss while you do some stretches.” Debs smacks my ass and heads to the one stall not filled with jock straps.
She’s an odd one, there’s something about her I can’t place.
Flexing my fingers wrapped tightly in the wrap I head out of the bathroom. Looking at my hands, not paying attention, I run into someone.
“Shit, I’m so sorry.” Looking up I find Camden, staring down at me with a vengeance. My body tenses, and I shift on my feet nervously.
“You’re here.” His voice is dark, and unfriendly.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Everyone is welcoming me so nicely around here.
“Because I don’t want you here.” He tilts his head to the side and glares. That hurts, and I probably deserve it. That doesn’t mean I’m going to take it though.
“Well, we don’t always get what we want, do we?” I shove past him.
“Stay out of my way, Tate,” he hollers at me.
Anger blooms in my chest with his arrogant tone. Turning, I walk backwards and throw my arms out at my sides.
“Since when did you become a whiny little bitch?” I fire back before turning my back on him.
My heart beats a mile a minute against my chest as this cat and mouse game continues.
Back where Debs is, I begin stretching, but keep my eye on Camden from the corner of my eye.
“Alright. Do twenty pushups, jumping jacks, sit ups, and then we’ll hit the jump rope.” I gulp. I’m going to die.
Taking a deep breath, I drop to the ground and attempt twenty pushups.
My arms shake from my weight and my lungs scream for air.
It takes me entirely too long to finish the set. I’m sure I look pathetic. I never knew how out of shape I was.