“Nice!” Carr praised. “Again!”
He ordered her five more times to repeat it before she exhaled with exhaustion. Along with anger, irritation and frustration.
Carr could practically smell it off her. “Something bothering you, Skin?”
And yes, her nickname had gotten around. From her friends and into the gym. Nik had raised a quizzical brow -his mouth curved up in his usual barely visible smile- the first time Carr had used it on her. Jaz had bitten her lip, then smiled like a teenage girl on crack and avoided Nik's eyes the whole session. Carr had found it all a little too amusing.
But now after two weeks, the nickname, the banter, it was commonplace. The norm. Except for the fact that Nik wasn't there.
Nik, she huffed inwardly. Jab! Her left fist hit the pad. He's such an idiot.
Jab!
Carr grunted from the force.
She inhaled. Exhaled. He's gonna get himself killed.
Thwack! Inhale. Exhale. And I can't do a damn thing about it! SMACK! JAB! THUMP!
“O-kay! I think that's enough for today.”
Jaz blinked out of her mad trance, her eyes not seeing Carr's face; not comprehending that he was sweating much more than usual. She still had her fists up, guarding her face; her chin protected by a thick bandage. The moment she thought about it, she felt the aching, throbbing pain that had kept her awake at night for the past two days. And she'd just been clenching her teeth. Not a good idea.
She released her guard position and exhaled. “Sorry, I was...”
“Distracted?” Carr said sarcastically as he smirked at her.
Jaz shrugged and nodded one after the other.
“Listen, I get why you need to blow off some steam, but you're still injured. You need to take it easy,” he said as he removed his focus pads. “I wouldn't even be doing this if you hadn't called me this morning.”
“I know. I'm sorry.”
He smiled, not looking up as he replied, “Don't be. I'm glad you're enjoying this now. A huge change from a month ago, innit?”
She cocked her head to one side, remembering her attitude that first day with a small smile on her face.
“To be honest, I don't think it'll hurt to reduce your sessions a little. Your boxing in particular. You've already proven you can handle yourself well there. We can take it easy, at least for a short while.”
She studied him for a moment, unsure of whether to ask or not. “Hey, um... are you mad at me?”
“What?” He stopped what he was doing and looked at her.
“I mean, are you decreasing our sessions because I made you mad?” He looked very confused so she added in a hushed voice, “About the fight with Fraya?”
His eyes brightened in comprehension but he said nothing.
“I mean you looked...I dunno... upset with me that day. I know what I did was wrong but- I just was a little- confused I guess. But was it because you...Do-do you like Fraya?”
Carr grinned and released a chuckle. “You're cute when you stumble all over yourself like that.”
She hunched her shoulders. “I just felt really bad. Worse than I already did, after I acted that way, and I saw how you looked at me. Like I'd really upset you, hurting Fraya. I've wanted to apologize. I think it would be wasted on Fraya, but not on you.”
He smiled. “That's really sweet of you. You know... I've never met anyone like you before. You're always so... apologetic... about who you are. Or more accurately, what you are.”
Jaz blanched.
“I get it. I do. You don't need to say anything. And, even though it's not necessary for you to say it, if it makes you feel better, I accept your apology.”
Jaz beamed. She removed her gloves and then Carr began taking off her hand bandages.
After a moment she asked, “Why are you friends with her?”
He laughed out loud.
“I'm sorry, I mean, I find it hard to see... her good qualities...”
He suppressed a smile. “She's had a lot of heartache. A lot of pain. We both have. So I guess we understand each other.”
Jaz nodded, a ghost smile on her face. She understood that very well; and was glad that despite the fact it was Fraya, Carr had someone who he could share his pain with, and if she was being overly forgiving, she was glad Fraya had him too. Now she felt even more guilty for using her as a chew toy and cracking her jaw. “How is she?”
He smiled at her gently, sensing her guilt. “She'll live.”
“I guess she's happy karma came around my way, huh?” She pointed to her jaw for emphasis.
“I doubt she'd be sympathetic about it when you bump into each other.”
Jaz didn't like the use of 'when' in that statement. Or 'bump' either. But it was inevitable in a small community. She couldn't hide from her forever. “Karma is a bitch, huh?” she sighed.