Chapter Four

I glanced up at Parker quickly.
“ What?”
He nodded towards Rafe, who was standing in the middle of the wrestling mat.
“ Rafe’s gonna teach आप how to fight.”
“Uhh.” I balked as Parker tried to gently push me onto the mat.
Rafe stood there patiently as I leaned back against Parker.
“Umm.” I struggled to think of an excuse why I couldn’t start my lessons today.
Parker’s finger drifted up to touch the skin under my lip.
“ आप might want to take that out.”
I twitched as Parker’s rough but gentle finger tip coasted around my stud. Yeah, so I had the skin under my lip pierced. No big deal. I wasn’t Goth. या Emo. Like I said, it was the ‘in’ thing at my old school.
I recoiled from his awful words, fingering my stud.
“ I never take this out.”
Parker arched his eyebrow but didn’t say anything. At first.
“ OK, go ahead and get it ripped out.”
I winced and dropped my hand.
“Really?”
Parker shrugged.
“ Rafe fights dirty.”
A heat blossomed in my stomach. Why did that make me feel good instead of scared? I could feel a blush staining my cheeks.
“ Oh come on guys. She’s new. At least let her watch first या something.” Jess piped up. I shot her a “thank you” glance. I liked her.
Emma snorted and rolled her eyes, mumbling something about ‘city slickers’.
I clenched my hands into fists, ready to do this just to prove her wrong.
“ Em, why don’t आप दिखाना us how its done then?” Hunter, who seemed to be the oldest, challenged.
A grin filled Emma’s face and she stood, yanking off her कमीज, शर्ट to reveal a fit body and a sports bra.
My jealousy increased. My nails bit into the tender skin on my palms as I watched Emma slowly वृत्त Rafe. I stopped watching the girl as my eyes landed on Rafe. He was standing easily, loosely, waiting for Emma to make her move. She charged him, and he dropped low, taking her down द्वारा her waist. My stomach revolted as their bodies slid over each other, trying to secure a holding grasp. Finally it all ended, just when I thought I was either going to blow steam out of my ears या puke. Rafe was kneeling, his knee in Emma’s back, and one arm twisted behind her. She was panting, but Rafe looked hardly winded.
Parker had left my side, I noticed now that Rafe and Emma weren’t rolling around, and had sat down द्वारा his brother. Hunter stood and walked over to stand द्वारा me. His dark hair was short, but he had stunning blue eyes. He looked to be almost twenty या so.
I instantly felt control radiating off of him that made me a little nervous. But when he rested a hand on my shoulder, I felt reassured.
“ Did आप see how Rafe kept waiting for the right time to हटाइए and how he counteracted on her movements?”
Hunter kept talking, but I zoned out, watching Rafe drag a towel over his body instead.
“Okay then. आप ready to try?”
I snapped back to reality.
“Huh?”
“ Go ahead.”
Hunter nudged me with his shoulder.
“Wait, wait. Let’s get her something to wear.” Jess jumped up.
“I cant stand to watch her ruin her outfit.”
I glanced down at my outfit. I just had a tank चोटी, शीर्ष and skinny jeans with a pair of heels. No big deal.
“ Oh its ok.” I persisted.
Logan and Bristol looked at each other and starting laughing. Emma smirked and Natasha gave me a small smile. I decided I didn’t like Emma at all. We’d see about Natasha.
“Come on.” Jess looped her arm through mine and directed me toward a door.
“ I think you’ll be able to fit into my stuff.” Jess opened a duffel bag and pulled out a pair of shorts and a कमीज, शर्ट that had the sleeves cut out.
I wrinkled my nose when she wasn’t looking. How tacky. But then I scolded myself. She was being nice. I shouldn’t complain.
“Thank आप so much.” I thanked her as she handed over the clothes.
“No problem! Its really nice to see a new face here. Emma is just… Emma and Tashie is great, but I’ve grown up with them. I’m so excited about having a new friend!”
Any other time I might have been skeptical about her calling us फ्रेंड्स after such a short time, but I actually liked her. I felt we probably would be fast friends. And she didn’t really like Emma either. Brownie points to her.
I smiled at her. She grinned back and then looked down at the clothes in my hands.
“ Ok, well. आप better get changed. Just come back out when you’re done.”
I nodded and looked down at the clothes in my hands. At least they smelled like they were clean.
I slowly shrugged out of my clothes and put on Jess’s. They actually fit pretty good, and I was lucky she liked her things a little short. I had always been pretty slim, so most things were big on me, but I could make do with this.
I left my clothes there and slowly slipped back into the room barefoot. So much for looking cute on my first day.
I slowly approached the wrestling mat that seemed to have people gathered all around it. I literally felt like dragging my feet.
“Here she is!” Cole hollered and everyone turned. My face grew hot yet again. I really hated being the center of attention.
“You ready?” Parker grinned at me.
“ Sure.” I replied.
The crowd parted and I slowly walked onto the mat. I liked the feel of it under my bare feet. I took another step and the mat bounced underneath me.
“ आप ready Shayda?” Rafe’s voice was low and soft, but it was like he was the only thing I could hear in the dull noise of the crowd.
“ Um, not really.”
He smiled and my दिल thumped.
“Just follow your instincts.” He offered and started circling me.
“ आप know, I could learn about this more, and then try it.”
Rafe smiled again, but didn’t answer. I was starting to feel light headed. I could feel all eyes on me, so I was nervous already and turning in circles like this wasn’t helping. I glanced at the crowd. This was going to be horrible.
“Tip number one. Never take your eyes off of your opponent.” Rafe said.
I snapped my attention back to him, but he was already moving. His long arms snagged around my waist and I landed flat on my back. My head bounced off the mat, still managing to hurt somehow.
“Oomph.” My breath exited my lungs in a whoosh.
“Tip number two, never let your guard down.”
“I didn’t let my guard down!” I panted, trying to breath. But it wasn’t because of the breath being knocked out of me. It was his nearness. He was basically in a push up position, only over me. His arms braced over my head, but our bodies still touched. He shifted slightly and flames shot through me as our bodies slid slightly over each other.
I stared up at his face. His eyes had deepened into a dark forest green, and I wanted desperately to run my fingers through his hair that was flopping into his eyes.
“ Ok, try it again.” Hunter called. I didn’t move, and I was happy that Rafe didn’t either.

“Rafe! Again.” Hunter’s voice was a little sharper. Rafe blinked and started to rise. that’s when I noticed I had been gripping his forearms. Hard. Great job Shayda, I chided myself. Way to basically hold him on you.
“ आप ready?”
Rafe’s voice rasped huskily and he cleared his throat. I smiled.
“I guess.”
Who was I kidding? As long as he was going to touch me, who wouldn’t want to do this?
“ Just focus.”
I snorted. Easy for him to say. He obviously wasn’t having a hard time fighting the attraction between us like I was. I frowned. That was a depressing thought.
“Shayda!” I turned toward Jess’s voice, just as I saw Rafe rushing me from the corner of my eye. I groaned as I landed on my back. Again.