"show me you can handle this"

bebe rexha — "bad bitch"

"I'm broke." I say to my mom, Celia, on the phone while my feet are quickly taking me to my dorm room. "I'm broke and I'm miserable."

"You're always so dramatic, baby." I hear her say after letting out a little laugh.

"Well, I got it from you, so, it's your fault." I joke. "I need to get new books for the new semester and I have no money. Might as well just look for a sugar daddy and kill him after getting married so I can get all the money."

"What about that job you had last year?" Mom ignores my comment like it's already normal statement in a conversation with me. "Maybe you can get it back."

"The babysitting job? Yeah— no. When the kid stole my jacket and tried to set it on fire I figured the life as a babysitter isn't just for me... and that kids are crazy little humans."

My mom lets out a chuckle. "It's the revenge for all those years you liked to throw your food to the floor as a little baby, you were a little troublemaker."

"I was a baby, this kid was five! It's the weird kid who eats glue in the making, that's for sure."

"What about getting a job on campus?"

I let out a sigh. "The jobs on campus suck and they have a shitty pay. I'll probably get one outside of school. It has to be something that will allow me to do homework and papers as well. Asking to much, I know, but unless we have a billionaire uncle that I don't know about, it is what it is."

"Lilith—"

"What? I do have a billionaire uncle that I don't know about?"

Her sigh allows me to read her next words already, almost automatically. "I hate that I'm about to say this, I even hate the fact that I'm thinking about this. But, you know, you could—"

"No, mom." I cut her off, already knowing what she's getting at. "I'm not talking to grandma and grandpa. Rather have a nightmare about cereal not existing."

"I hate the idea just as much as you do, baby. But you always have that option. They're your grandparents, just because I left in bad terms the last time we saw each other and that I'm mad at them now doesn't mean that you have to be as well, you can go and ask them for help. I don't want you falling behind just because you can't get the books."

"No," I shake my head "I let them pay my first two years of college while we played their little game of the perfect daughter and grandkids like they wanted. And I am grateful for that, believe me, I truly am. But we got tired of their shitty treatment, like we should've long time before that. I'm not gonna go back to them unless they change their behaviour towards us, specially towards you." I hear a sigh coming from my mom's mouth, so, I add: "Mom, they treated you like dirt that night. I'm not mad at them because you're mad at them, I want to be mad. You're their daughter, they don't get to treat you like that."

"I know, I just don't want you to get the consequences of my own big mouth that can't shut up sometimes."

"We got that from grandma so she can't blame us."

"Lilith, you haven't seen them in a year. I bet they miss you, really." I can feel the sadness in her voice and I immediately shake my head, annoyed. My mom and her heart, empathy where it isn't deserved.

"Listen, mom, they literally blamed you for being a single mother, rubbed in your face that you got knocked up by two different men and then acted like giving you money to help you was the biggest favor in the world like you aren't their daughter even if you always payed them back, remember?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then don't feel sorry for them because their granddaughter isn't talking to them."

As another sigh comes out of my mom's mouth, I open the door to enter my building. "You truly got your grandmother's stubbornness."

"You got it too!" I let out a tiny chuckle like my mom.

"Can I at least just send you some money and help you?"

"No, mom. We already talked about this. You have a lot to take care of back at home. Don't worry about me, I'll figure something out. I'll probably get a job and then for the college debt I'll sell a kidney or something, they like that in the black market, right?"

"Lilith, don't say that."

"Fine— I'll sell nudes then."

"Lilith! As your mother I don't want to know that, even if it's fake."

"I'm joking!" I let out a chuckle.

"Don't scare me like that."

"Mom, don't worry, if I ever become a stripper to pay rent I'm not gonna tell you."

"I hate that you got my sense of humor, I used to tell that joke to my mother when I was fifteen. Karma is truly an asshole." I let out a tiny laugh. "Alright. I have some good news to tell you, baby." She says with excitement.

I furrow my eyebrows immediately. A slight feeling of already knowing what's coming runs through my veins. Please, let me be wrong. "What is it?"

"I have a date tonight."

Thank you, for literally nothing.

"Mom—"

"Baby, listen. This guy isn't like the ones I dated before. I swear."

I roll my eyes. I've heard that one before. "What do you mean he's not like the guys you've dated before? Is he an alien or something?"

"He is a good guy, he makes me laugh and brings me a flower every time we see each other. This is the third date we're having."

I keep my mouth shut as I close my eyes to think about it first since crushing my mom's hope isn't on the agenda today. Seeing the door to my dorm room a couple of steps away from me, my feet stop walking to let my back rest on the wall, trying to calm my head from exploding on her. "Does Teddy know?" I ask, softly.

My mother doesn't have the biggest luck when it comes to dating. She has a history of getting her heart broken multiple times and then spending the rest of the month laying in bed while I just try my best to continue with my life as a big sister, to my brother Tadeo, or Teddy as everyone calls him. I basically grew up as his second mother while my mother tried to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.

I never turned against her or blamed her for anything, because I know that she's trying her hardest to give my little brother and I a normal life, with the "perfect family", but unfortunately, that isn't our case no matter how much she tries. We're just meant to be like this. In my eyes we are already fine, I told her multiple times that the three of us are already the perfect family, but her head and her wish to finally have someone by her side would shut my words down and make her continue with her unlucky love life, even if it always ends up with the same exact ending. Heart pieces on the floor.

"No, he doesn't know." My mom replies.

"He doesn't show it but—" I take a deep breath in to continue, annoyed at the situation. "he is more sensitive than me. I don't want him to get his hopes up and then end up like last time."

"He won't, because this guy isn't gonna leave. I promise you."

Yeah, I've heard that one before too.

"He already knows about you and Teddy. And he's happy to know you two, that never happened before."

No, it didn't.

"Are you happy?" I ask her after a couple of seconds in silence. I don't know what to say, everything that comes to my head is bad and would probably make my mom feel terrible about the whole thing. And I don't want that. My feelings about this are to keep to myself and no one else.

"Yes, I am baby. More than I've ever been with a guy."

"Then," I nod, closing my eyes "that's good, mom. Listen, I have to go—" I say before giving the opportunity of anything bad coming out of my mouth. I leave the wall and start to walk towards my room, ready to leave the hallway and the call behind. "Call you later?"

As soon as I finish the call with my mom I close the door of our common room behind. Quickly entering my room, I throw all of my stuff on the bed as a big annoyed sigh comes out of mouth. "Fuck." I let out softly, closing my eyes.

Even if I had been in this position before, like a thousand times, I still hate when my mom goes out and dates guys. Yes, there's a possibility of her finally getting with someone that is actually a good guy and wants to be with her, and won't run the second times get hard, but... is that guy even real?

Of course he isn't. Or at least, not for my mom. Her tendency to pick out the worst type of guys still stands over the years since she was a teenager, when she got pregnant with me and the guy ran away like a stupid little scared cat.

Most of my early years, I remember being the one having to carry my mother as she cried or couldn't get out of bed, and that, continued over the years after Teddy was born, when his dad left. I don't remember having any good memories when it came about her dating, and this time, I don't even have the slightest drop of hope for the situation, even if I want to. Because in every part of my body, I know how it's going to end.

"Ada!" I yell walking towards her room. Without waiting for an answer, I open her door to find her laying on her bed with the covers on top of her body. "Do you know any jobs available? Outside of school."

She slowly shakes her head, crossing her arms around her chest, still covered by the sheets. "No, I don't. Why?"

"Basically, long story short, I'm broke. As fuck. So I need to get a job."

"Maybe you can check online? There's always jobs to apply there."

"Yeah," I nod placing my hands on my waist "I—" My mouth dryly shuts when I notice her naked shoulders, something that my focused head didn't alert my eyes. My index finger points at her while I press my lips together. "You're naked under that, aren't you?"

She quickly smiles and I take that as a yes. Nodding, I travel with my eyes around the room when a memory comes back to my head.

I know exactly where to go next.

"Ryker." I say firmly when I touch the handle of the wardrobe, ready to open it. "You can come out."

As soon as I open the doors, a naked Ryker appears on my sight. My eyes catch his naked torso while his hands are holding a pillow over his pelvis, covering his private area. He's looking down like he can't make eye contact with me, embarrassed of the situation while Ada is trying her hardest to not burst out in laughter.

"Sorry." Ryker says softly with a half smile, still looking down. As soon as I let out chuckle, he confusedly locks eyes with me. "What?"

"You don't have to be sorry or hide!" I say. "Me and her," I point at both Ada and I repeatedly with my finger "we've been in worst situations than this."

"What—" he turns to face Ada. "Have you?" She quickly nods. "What's worse?"

"Trust me, buddy." I pat his bare shoulder as I shake my head when he goes back to me. "You don't wanna know."

"I kinda do."

"Ryker." Ada calls him. "For your sanity, no you don't."

"Well! Since I don't have my best friend to talk to about my problems," I complain looking at Ryker while Ada just lets out a laugh "thank you, Ryker, for that." I add, sarcastically. "I'll leave you two guys to get back at it— start— finish— whatever."

I turn to Ada who has a little smile on her face. "I'll be back in... an hour?" I lift an eyebrow waiting for Ada to nod, but when she gives Ryker a look an even bigger smile appears on her lips.

"Hour and a half."

As soon as she lets out those words I lift both of my eyebrows as well as my eyes, which go wide open, surprised. "An hour and a half?" She nods. I turn to Ryker. "An hour and a half?" He also nods. I nod back slowly, giving Ryker an approval high five. "Nice, dude!" I leave him behind to walk towards to the door and say: "Have fun!"

"Wait, Lilith?" Ryker stopping me forces my body to turn around. 

"You're not going to ask me to join you guys, are you?" I ask jokingly, but when I see the shook in Ryker's face and the worry in his eyes, I assume that he didn't catch my joke. He looks like he's about to die.

"What—?"

I can't help it, I burst out in laughter louder than I've ever laughed. Making innocent people freak out with my jokes is one of my favourite activities.

"Dude! She's kidding!" Ada says since I can't stop laughing to prevent him from dying in front of us.

"Oh, boy, if you're planning to stick around you need to get used to my jokes. Please." I say after gaining my voice back. "I wish I had a camera because your face was hilarious!"

"Lilith, give the boy a break." Ada says shaking her head, but I know she's holding a laugh in.

"Alright! Alright! I'm just gonna enjoy his face once I leave. Alone." I bite my lower lip to avoid the laugh that still wants to come out, even if I spent a couple of seconds already enable to fight it in. "What's up, Ryker?" I ask him.

"I heard my coach needing an assistant."

"Your coach?" I ask, lifting an eyebrow.

"Yeah," he nods "my boxing coach. His card is on the back of my pants." Seeing his finger point at the floor, I look down and kneel to grab his jeans. "There it says his name and the boxing gym he works at. Maybe you can work for him."

"Thank you, Ryker." I say reading the little card I pulled out of his pants.

James Covaliov. Boxing coach.
GYM at Street 88.
8 AM to 8 PM.

I leave it where I found it and lock eyes with him, who has a little innocent smile on his lips. "I'll definitely check it out."

He nods and I turn back to Ada to give her a wink and then grab the handle of the door ready to leave my friend with Ryker alone. "Now, I'm leaving." I smile and then walk out, closing the door behind me.

But I'm not done messing with my friend and the guy's sanity. "And remember! The no baby rule still stands, so use protection! And Ryker, you better make her finish!" I yell against the door. I hear a pillow hitting the door thrown by my friend, I assume. Letting out a smile and shaking shake my head as the joy of annoying my friend appears on my chest, I finally leave the room.

Messing with people. It's definitely my favorite hobby.

[...]

"This looks... promising?" I ask to myself as soon as I walk out of the taxi and look up to the building my eyes have in front of them.

It's grey and the walls are rusty, looking like they haven't been touched or cared for in years. The street is filled with stores and people walking around, a normal place that you see in a city, but the gym is placed on a corner at the end of it, hiding it from anyone walking around.

"Oh, they definitely sell drugs here."

I walk closer and the sound of the street immediately starts to fade away, as well as the strong light of the day. For some reason, the gym is less illuminated and it gives the impression that the sky is full of dark clouds, even if it's a beautiful day.

Opening the door, the sound of a little bell ringing on top of my head gains me a couple of eyes on my walking body. I look around to check the place out, finding not many stuff inside of it. From the right side of the room there's a middle sized boxing ring, dark red and well taken care of, perfect for practice. I assume. I've never seen one in real life and my poor knowledge of the boxing sport doesn't help me much. On the left, punching bags are hanging from the roof and a couple of heavy gym equipment are messily laying on the floor. By the right side of the door, closer to where I'm standing, there's an empty black desk, next to it, an old and light brown couch followed by a black door by its right.

Searching around the room a little bit more, I notice that a couple of eyes are still on me, interested on the strange girl that has walked inside this gym. Locking eyes with a black haired boy, side cocky smile on his lips, as he's standing in the middle of the room with boxing gloves on and a punching bag in front of him, I walk towards him with the intention to ask about his coach and where I could find him.

The guy keeps the eye contact with me, no trouble at all. When he goes back to the punching bag, fully knowing that my eyes are on him, he gives me the opportunity to see him in detail. He has some thick black eyebrows, in comparison to his lips that are a little bit more thin compared to everything else on his face. His body is fit, but not like the boxers I had seen already, he turns more to the side of thin and tall, still, strong and athletic. I can tell how tall he is that not even if I'm still a couple of steps away from him prepares me for when my feet arrive next to him.

Some earrings are hanging from his right ear and move quickly with his body, making me wonder how they don't bother him as he's working out. "Excuse me?" I ask him, gaining his dark brown eyes on me the second I let out those words. He stops punching the bag to turn and lock eyes. "Do you know coach Covaliov?"

He nods. "Yeah, James."

"Can you tell me where he is?"

"I don't know." He shrugs his shoulders as the grin goes back to his lips. "Can I?"

What—?

I tilt my head to the side as I furrow my eyebrows. "Well, if you know where he is, buddy, yes you can."

"How about a cup of coffee first? With me." A smirk appears on his face as soon as he's finished with his sentence.

Of course he's that type of dude. He had a plan since the moment he saw me walking through the door.

"You got money?" I ask, quickly.

"For the coffee?"

"No, to buy me a car."

"Well, beautiful, I have money for that too but first, coffee, you know? To get to know each other a little bit better."

"No." I shake my head. "First the car, then the coffee. No discussion."

He slowly nods as the smirk becomes bigger. "A woman who knows what she wants. I like it."

He has to be kidding.

"Unbelievable." I shake my head.

"That's me, beautiful. Colin, nice to meet you." He reaches me his hand for me to shake. As soon as I grab it, he winks at me with a smile.

Men.

This guy is the whole package, isn't he?

He looks confident, but not the type that play the part of confident but actually isn't. I can tell he actually is. Those are the most dangerous ones. Confident and full aware of it.

When the noise of a door quickly opening hits my ears, Colin quickly turns to the boxing bag and returns with his work. Seems like the boss just walked in and his confidence just burst out of his body.

"Anderson!" A strong and firm voice yells behind me. "Stop flirting with the girl and get back to work!" His loud tone feels like it can shake the walls around me, and if my ears work correctly, I think I also heard the roof almost breaking, letting dust fall from it. Like those scenes you see in movies when something really loud happens.

"That's your man." I hear Colin say almost in a whisper without looking at me. "Good luck, beautiful."

"Don't call me beautiful," I say ready to turn around "it's Lilith."

He furrows his eyebrows and mouthes my name silently, but before he can say anything back, I turn around to face the man that the strong and loud voice belongs to, now walking towards me.

He's extremely tall and has tattoos all over his arms and hands, his grey hair is perfectly cut as well as his beard, making him look even more tough than before. He's wearing a white shirt with some pair of expensive jeans, and for the way his shoes shine under the light of the gym I know that they cost more than my entire college education. He's rich rich. Nothing of that can compare to his sharp features, intimidating look that matches his voice like he was crafted by Satan himself and wanted to make sure people feared him.

He has quick steps, determined. Before I can introduce myself, he's already standing intimidatingly right in front of me spiting out words my way. "And you are?" Coach Covaliov asks firmly.

"Lilith Avery. I'm here because I've heard you need an assistant—"

"Heard? Who told you?"

"Ryker..." I start, when it hits me: I don't know Ryker's last name. I slightly tilt my head to the side to let out softly: "something."

Yeah, great start Lilith. You're gonna get the job in no time.

"Ryker... something?" He lifts his eyebrows while crossing his arms around his chest, making his muscles look even more stronger than before. Like they could crash my head with a single movement. "I only know one Ryker."

"Then that's probably him. He told me he trains with you."

"He's your friend?"

"Yeah— well, kind of—"

"He's a good kid, if he hangs out with you then that makes you a good person."

"Not necessarily."

"So you're not a good person?"

"What—? That's not— Yes, I am."

"Do you know how to fold towels?"

"Yes."

"Check if people come to practice?"

"Yes."

"Good at remembering names?"

"Yeah, pretty good memory."

"Be on time?"

"The most punctual girl you'll ever meet."

"Coffee?"

"Not to brag, but I can make the finest in the entire floor of my dorm."

"You're hired."

"Yes. Wait, what?" I ask, hoping to have a more formal interview. But then seeing him turn around makes me shut my mouth with a quick motion. I turn to the side to face at Colin, who has a little smile on his lips as I stare at him confused.

What the hell just happened?

"Don't worry," Colin says, keeping with his tough training on that poor punching bag "he's like that with everyone."

"Avery!" Coach yells, shaking the walls with him. Quickly turning to face him, he's standing by the black door on the side of the old couch, giving me the most confused feeling that not even math can give me. "Follow me."

Without hesitating, I do what he tells me and start to walk towards him, first doing a little run to catch up with him and his quick steps already ahead. He opens the black door so we both can walk through it. When he moves slightly to the side, he allows me to see a long corridor filled with grey lockers on the walls and long benches in the middle on the room. Covaliov turns to the right and I move a little bit to the side to see what's on the end of this corridor. Noticing a white door leading to the bathrooms and the showers, according to what the door says in big red letters, my head starts to build a map of this place to remember.

"Rule number one:" coach Covaliov starts saying as he's walking towards the bathroom, eyes glued to his phone "always check if anyone is in bathroom, we don't want you to see something that isn't pretty." I quickly nod, knowing what he's talking about. "We got that a lot with the lady that used to work here, it doesn't end up good."

"I can imagine."

It definitely isn't pretty to look at. But fun if used correctly, I have to be honest.

"Rule two!" He continues, while I, have to almost run behind him to keep up with his quick steps. "Don't ask me about my job or what the boys do. They box, I train them and that's all you need to know."

"And honestly, I don't care."

"Good girl." He quickly nods.

Excuse me— sr?

What did he just say? Are my ears working correctly or the smell of sweat has shut down my senses?

"Rule three, keep the towels off the floor. That's just part of your job and it shouldn't be a rule, but I've tripped more times that I could count because these boys forget and leave their dirty towels on the ground, so, I decided to make it a rule." I nod. "Don't worry, they're not extremely dirty, you can thank the old woman who worked before you, she trained them well."

"I'll make sure to thank her before I go to bed tonight." I say, jokingly.

"Rule number four:" for the first time since we walked into the long hallway, he turns around and faces me right by the bathroom door. "Do not sleep with any of my boys. Date, make out, whatever. Which also, takes me to rule five, the most important one: do not fall in love. If it happens while you work here, they'll get distracted. And I can't afford that. I know, it's hard, they are boys and you're a girl, horny college students not the easiest thing in the world. But I'm very persistent with that rule, Avery."

"I'll make sure to take out my eyes so I can't even look at them and prevent myself from falling in love." I say jokingly with a half smile on my face, but when coach Covaliov doesn't even let out a tiny smile, I add quickly: "I'm joking?"

"Funny." He nods.

Tough crowd.

"Basically your job is to be here on time, check if every boy gets to practice and tell me if any of them misses it. Give them their locker key once they get inside. Then, when that's done, you come to the bathroom and clean the towels, fold them and put them away where it says 'Towels'. Be on the desk in case anyone comes, answer questions, write their information if they want to practice here and, finally, at the end of the day clean the towels, again, so when you close it's all clean for tomorrow. Got it?"

"Got it." I quickly nod, even if my brain is trying to keep it all in. Making him mad isn't something I want to do, and less on my first day.

"You start at 4 pm, and close at 8 pm, Monday to Friday. I'll pay you at the end of the week, got that too?" I nod, again. "Perfect. You can start with the towels, Avery. And don't disappoint me."

"I won't, coach Covaliov."

He nods. "Good girl."

SR—!

I SWEAR—!

He walks away leaving me behind in front of the bathroom door, and on the inside I'm thankful for that because I can't assure anyone my face hasn't shown my confusion with all of this.

As a sigh comes out of my mouth, I close my eyes trying to process everything that just happened: First, my bank account was empty and I had no job ten minutes ago, now: my bank account is still empty, but, I have a job that requires me to clean dirty towels of boys that exercise for hours straight.

Lovely, right?

It's better than nothing, that's for sure. I can do my homework when my job requires me to be at the desk and no one comes in. That's good too... is that worth picking up dirty towels?

Yes! Yes—! We have to be positive here, Lilith. C'mon. My bank account won't be empty by the end of this week. Better keep that in mind every time I pick up a towel and smell the sweat from every boy in here.

As I try to be my positive and happy self, even if that feels hard for me to do in this particular moment, I walk a couple of steps closer to the bathroom door and knock multiple times with the intention to follow rule number one: check if anyone's in the bathroom.

"HELLO?" I yell as loud as I can. "Is anyone there?" I knock again, but no sound is coming from the bathroom. "If you're there but you're not answering, please do because I don't want to see your little friend!" Still, no response. Maybe I have a little bit of luck and I don't have to deal with any boys in the bathroom on my first day.

The door opens when I slowly push it with my hand. Once inside, I quickly realise I was right: no one is in here. No sound of the shower or even people walking around, it's dead silent.

Starting with my job, I pick the towels from the floor that are lazily laying there. Even the towels hanging, waiting for someone to get out of the shower. Since there's not a single soul in here, I grab every single one of them and walk outside to fold them and put them away like Covaliov told me.

The first chair my eyes land on by the right side of the room, I leave every towel on it when the noise of a door opening hits my ears. Turning around to where it came from, I find a very happy Colin walking towards me. "Lilith, you're still here?"

I lift an eyebrow as I grab my first towel to fold. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I thought coach Covaliov scared you back there."

I little laugh escapes my mouth, gaining a grin on Colin. "It takes a lot more to scare me. I was just confused," I shrug my shoulders "I didn't know I was going to get hired that fast."

He slowly shakes his head the moment he arrives by my side and lets his back rest on the wall. "He doesn't like to waste time."

"I see that."

"So? How about that coffee?"

Without stopping with the towels a smile leaves my lips while I shake my head, nice try. "You're cute."

"Thank you. Is that a yes?"

I lock eyes with him to see a smirk on his lips. "I'm not a coffee kind of girl. And something tells me you aren't either."

"What makes you think that, beautiful?"

I leave the towel on the side and lean over to grab another one. "Unless you made a deal with the Devil to ask every girl out on the very first sentence you ever say to them, it makes me believe that you do that a lot."

He slightly opens his mouth pretending to be offended while taking his hand towards his chest, placing it against his skin. "You see me like that? Hurts me. But also," he adds quickly nodding, agreeing with my words "the fact that you could see that, tells me you've been in this situation before. Or you're one like me."

"Oh, trust me pal, I'm way better than you." I add, jokingly.

"Debatable." He answers quickly gaining a little laugh from my mouth. "But I know, I know that it wouldn't matter how much I try to ask you out, you don't belong with me, Lilith."

Furrowing my eyebrows I stare at him, trying to understand what he means by that. "What?"

"There's someone you should meet." He says with a smile. "You two would go perfectly with each other, and I would gladly introduce you, even if it means losing a beautiful girl like you."

"You only know my name, why do think I would go perfect with this guy?"

Colin opens his mouth, but then, a yell cuts him off. "AVERY!" Covaliov's voice hits (quite literally) my ears. I immediately grab the folded towels ready to walk towards him. I don't want to hear his loud and firm voice yell again. The building is gonna collapse.

"Jesus, how can someone be so loud?" I ask turning around, soon followed by Colin with a little grin.

"Tell me about it."

As soon as I walk in the room I quickly leave the towels on the desk with the intention to free my hands in case Covaliov wants to give me something. And smart of me for doing that, thinking ahead, because I was right.

"Here." Coach Covaliov hands me a piece of paper. "These are the names of every boxer that comes when you're working, memorise it." I nod looking down to the multiple names on the list.  I start from the top slowly reading everything in detail, but before I can reach the names at the end, the bell on top of the door rings in my ears.

I turn to it ready to welcome the guy that just walked in. For my surprise, it isn't a boy. A bald man is now by the door with a expensive dark suit on, rings on his fingers and a watch that could buy an entire car for me to use. I can't see his face clearly because of the dark black glasses he has on, which increases the intrigue on my body. He looks like a villain in a cartoon movie.

Covaliov stops me by placing his hand on my shoulder. "I got this, Avery." He says soflty leaving me behing with the paper between my hands and intrigue growing inside my head.  The strange man doesn't take long to find coach, and immediatly smiles when he does so. He takes off his glasses and gives him a big hug...— Wait, I know who he is. He's one of the men I saw that night I went with Ada to watch Ryker fight, they walked out of an expensive car with expensive jewellery all over their bodies.

The intrigue on my body doesn't go away after I see them two talking softly, like they don't want anyone around hearing their conversation. Are they talking about an illegal fight? Drugs?

Probably the first one, even if this place still makes me believe they sell some kind of drug here.

Realizing that I want to investigate more, I shut my mind immediately. I can't ask myself any of that. Rule number two: do not ask about what Covaliov and the boys do.

As soon as I notice coach and the man hugging, ready to say goodbye, I quickly look down to the paper on my hand not wanting them to know I was staring. Soon later, telling me that the strange man just left the building the door bell surrounds the room. But I don't look up, still having my eyes glued to the paper even if my eyes aren't reading anything.

"WHAT THE—" A voice sounds from the bathrooms swinging my stare up, confused.

"Who's that?" I ask once Colin, who was lifting some weights, stops and walks towards me.

"WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE TOWELS?" The voice yells again and I slightly open my mouth when a feeling of hearing that voice somewhere hits my body. Before I can fully put my mind into it and figure it out the man who has that voice, I tall and muscular body walks in the room.

My heart immediately skips a beat.

Lucifer.

How come I didn't figure this out before? Of course he trains here. Stupid of me to not see this coming.

My eyes can't help it and trace down to his body. Seeing his naked body in front of me, it's captivating my attention that no voice that could speak by my side could take my eyes away. Lucifer has his hair all wet, sticking to his skin, his bare chest and stomach are dripping as well as his legs like he just took a shower and had no time to dry himself. Slowly going further down (even if my head is telling me not to), his pelvis is covered by a tiny black beanie to cover himself from the eyes on him. I have press my lips together trying to not burst out into laughter. 

Even if he's butt naked and showing it to everybody in the room, gaining a couple of laughs and confused looks his way, Lucifer doesn't seem to care. He's just walking with decisive steps towards me and everyone behind. My eyes can't believe what they're seeing.

"Lucifer?" I ask. His eyes go directly to me and I notice how his eyebrows furrow when he recognises me. They go up and down my body, like he's trying to see if me being here is real or not.

"Lilith?" He asks confused when he arrives couple of steps away from me. "What are you doing here?"

"You two know each other?" Colin asks by my side.

"She works here, Lucifer." Coach Covaliov answers for me.

"Since when?"

"Ten minutes ago."

I shrug my shoulders. I want to forget the fact that Lucifer is naked in front of me and his fit torso is dripping with water, but all of that is making him look even more desirable than the night at the fight. And I hate it.

He furrows his eyebrows again and points. "You took the towels out of the bathroom?"

"Yeah." I nod looking around to see everyone looking at him, pointing towards his hat covering his pelvis my eyes go back to his naked body. "Dude, I think you need to sort that out."

Covaliov moves closer to him and I see the anger on his eyes. Just like fire is waiting to burn his fighter alive.

Lucifer quickly looks down when I wave my hand towards his pelvis, but then quickly joins my eyes once again. "Well," he starts, annoyed and with anger on his voice "if you wouldn't have removed the towels out of the bathroom as I was taking a shower—!"

"What?" I cut him off. "I checked, the place was empty! I even yelled!"

"Then check your eyes and ears, baby! Because I was there!"

"Maybe you should check your brain because you weren't there!" My insides are getting angry. I'm not gonna let him accuse me of something that I obviously didn't do in front of the boss, and less on the first day. "I think you just went crazy and started walking around naked thinking that you were in the shower."

"I was there!"

"No, you weren't!"

"Where are the towels?! Penelope used to leave them on the left side of the lockers and now there's not a single one!"

I lift my hands into the air frustrated, getting even more louder. "Who the fuck is Penelope!?"

"The woman that used to work here!" He matches my tone.

"BUDDY?! "USED TO"?! Check your own words! I was just folding them!"

"Fold them faster!"

I let out a laugh as I shake my head. "What a brat!"

"Stop it you two!" Coach steps between me and Lucifer. "To the lockers! Now!" He grabs Lucifer and leads him towards the door. Before walking inside, Covaliov grabs a towel from the desk and throws it at Lucifer's face.

I take a breath out and look to my side when I hear a laugh coming from Colin's mouth. Everyone is staring at me with smiles on their faces.

Lucifer and his annoying ass made me have an awful first day. Fuck him.

As soon as I walk through the door, I hear a yell: "Unbelievable!" Coach Covaliov shows his annoyance when I arrive next to him. "Sort your problems out." He grabs Lucifer's shoulder and places him in front of me. He has his arms across his chest with his eyes looking away from mine, clearly as annoyed as I am. "I don't want to hire another girl. I don't have time for that, so, you two better fix this shit like the two grownups you are!" He turns around after letting out a long breath. "For God's sake! Fighting over towels!"

I turn away from his face and cross my arms on my chest. I'm not gonna be the one who says the first word, he blamed me for something that I didn't do. He's the one that has to apologise. Not me.

"You started it," Lucifer says once Covaliov leaves the room. "So you better apologise." I quickly turn to see his eyes on me.

"Alright." I say. I can see the surprise on his eyes when he quickly brushes it away, expecting my apology. I want to laugh. Does he really think I'm going to apologise? "I'm sorry for doing my fucking job and that your brain can't work correctly."

He rolls his eyes. "You're so fucking stubborn. Admit that you knew I was there and that you took the towels to play a little prank on me."

I let out a fake laugh. "Bold of you to assume that I would steal a towel to play a prank on you. I would totally go harder than that, you fucking idiot."

He quickly shakes his head. "Admit that you did it."

"I didn't do it Lucifer!"

"I don't believe you!"

"Then don't! I could care less." I lift my hands into the air, annoyed. I'm over and I want him to know that, I take a step to the side ready to leave him behind.

"Why did you take the towels?!" His voice stops me.

"Because that's my fucking job!"

He doesn't respond, instead, he leans back and smirks. "Maybe that's the problem."

I furrow my eyebrows. "What?"

"You can't work here." He continues more firmly than loud. My veins boil and my heart speeds up as the sound of his voice disgusts me on the inside.

"Excuse me?" 

"You heard me, you can't work here."

"Yes, I heard you the first time. I just wanted to check if I was hearing you right, and turns out you're as stupid as I imagined! Thinking that I would follow what you say!"

He stays quiet. He definitely knows I'm losing my patience and the annoyance rushing in my eyes. He crosses his arms around his chest and looks away. I unintentionally look down to his body when his arms move in front of me. I hate that I'm doing it, but I can't help it. He has an amazing body. 

Fuck!

I notice the towel slightly falling from his waist but I don't say anything, I don't want him to know I'm staring. "You shouldn't work here." Lucifer says more softly going back to me.

"Oh, now you tell me what I should or shouldn't do? Why can't I work here, huh? Enlighten me, please!" I lift an eyebrow waiting for him to talk, but I get nothing more than silence from him. "So? Your stupidity finally took over your entire brain?!"

"You just can't. That's it!"

"That's not a reason!"

"Yes it is!"

"No it isn't!" I yell back, and this time, I lean closer to his face. "Listen, I'm broke and I need money. I got this opportunity so I took it." As soon as I say that, I notice his eyes slowly going back to my lips, but this time the anger inside me and the blood in my veins running fast covers whatever that makes me feel pretty quickly. "So you better fuck off and let me do my job." I spit out and turn around. Before I can leave him behind and think my words, I turn around without stopping my walk and words already flying out of my tongue: "And your towel is falling, asshole!"

As soon as I sit down on the chair from the desk I let out the longest sigh ever. I'm annoyed and my body is letting me know with everything it can. The way that my heart beats faster and my hands want to punch him on the lips, "shit", "fuck" and "asshole" coming out of my mouth and my eyes feeling like they're gonna fall out of my eyes from all the times I've rolled them. Everything is making me look around, trying to calm myself down to keep doing my job like a normal person. Deep breath after deep breath. I already had a fight in front of everyone because of Lucifer, making me look like a difficult person to work with. I don't want to ruin things even more and hopefully go back to work, proving that I'm the one for this job.

When my heart is calming down, slowing down to normal, the noise of the door opening turns my head towards it and catch an annoyed Lucifer entering the room. The thought of calming myself goes immediately out the trash. Poof. Gone.

He's now wearing a pair of sport shorts and boxing shoes while his torso is still naked. This time, since words aren't coming out of my mouth and I don't have to focus on his annoying voice and words, my eyes immediately go down to his chest and stomach, admiring his tattoos with my eyes.

Slowly following him I bite the inside of my cheek as my leg starts to bounce up and down with speed. I shouldn't be staring at him like I am. But my eyes aren't listening to me. They don't even hesitate. 

He walks to one of the punching bags and kneels down next to it to grab something off the floor. I notice that they are a pair of practicing gloves and that Lucifer, with ease, places them on his hands ready to start his training. Even if his eyes are glued to his punching bag, his focus seems to be somewhere else. He needs to switch it, but troubled by something that I don't have the answer of what that could be, he just simply can't. His body is telling me that no matter how much he's trying, he can't get to where he wants to be. Giving up, out of nowhere, his eyes shift. His attention isn't on his training or the punching bag, it's on me. He doesn't move his face, just his eyes. They stay with me for a couple of seconds like he's fighting something.  And it looks like he lost. His stare goes down to my body as if he's admiring it. Tilting his head to the side, he quickly closes them and gives out another sigh, annoyed at what he's doing. Taking the opportunity that he's no longer staring at me and that I don't want his penetrating stare looking at me again, I look down to the paper Covaliov handed to me with the intention to read the list of names.

I try my hardest to focus and ignore the question in my head: is he still staring at me? Are his eyes admiring my body? Just by the thought of it, the nerves grow inside my chest. 

Letting out a sigh, annnoyed that my eyes don't want to focus on the words in front of them, I  stare at the paper without moving a finger even if my head is somewhere else but where it needs to be. I want to see him again. I want to see him practice, troubled and annoyed, maybe even answer the question I have on my head.

Before I can think about it, when I hear someone punching a bag I look up with my eyes as they go directly to Lucifer and his fit body working out. His muscles are flexing every time he punches it, making his arms look even more strong than they already are when he isn't moving. His legs are moving professionally, just like his hands, quickly and with determination. Every punch seems to be with speed and control, even then, they look like they can knock me out within a second of hitting my face. It all feels like a dance that he's been practicing for a long time.

As I'm staring at him, still with the paper between my hands waiting for me to read it, I remember his firm words: You can't work here. 

Why? I can't help but ask myself. What I do is not up to him or anybody, only me. He can't just expect because he told me to that I'm gonna be like 'Okay!' and walk away, that's not me. Never was.

So why did he?

We fought about towels. Does he actually want me gone because of that stupid reason? Or something else? The fight sounds so childish when I think about it, but as it was happening, I wanted to fight and yell at him until the end of the day, answering back to every word he let out from his mouth. He makes me feel so annoyed, so irritated, nothing like the night we went out to the festival.

It feels like we're both complete different people, during our fights not being able to stop fighting and yelling, but then at night, wanting to have the other on their knees. It's so strange, and I can't understand it.

Cutting my thoughts short, when Lucifer looks my way and meets my eyes, I can see his clenched jawline and his eyes burning looking my way. He's annoyed at something.

He proceeds to look away and punch the bag with even more strength. His curls move alongside his movements, getting quicker and quicker as the seconds pass. Looking at me once again, he then goes back to the bag to punch it, with even more speed and strength than before. He's doing it with a rhythm and a specific type of punch, I don't know what it is, but I know I've seen it before in his fight.

Each time he looks at me he either has to start again or he stumbles after doing a strong punch, making him let out a long sigh in frustration.

I know what he's annoyed at.

I tilt my head to the side as a little grin escaped my lips, my eyes on him are making him feel nervous.

Before I can do anything about it, Colin appears by my side.

"Hey, I think coach is about to check the towels." He says softly looking around for Covaliov. "You better put these away," he points at the ones on the desk "trust me, you don't want to get him screaming at you."

"Oh, right." I say getting up. "I forgot about these." Rule number three: pick the towels from the floor. Better check that too. "Thank you, Colin." He lets out a grin before placing his arm around my shoulders.

"How about thanking me by going out for a cup of coffee with me?" He asks more loudly.

"Again with that?" I lift an eyebrow as I grab the towels. 

"Worth the try." He leaves my shoulder free to start walking away and give me a wink. Before I can give him an answer with words or even my face, my eyes unintentionally go to Lucifer once again. He's no longer punching, instead, his eyes are slowly going back from Colin to me while his jawline is clenched, his hand strongly grabs the bag with a tired breath on his chest.

He clearly didn't like something. 

But I don't give myself time to think of an answer of what that could be, Covaliov walking inside the room is the warning I need to get back at my job. 

[...]

When the hour eight hits the clock I immediately close my eyes enjoying the fact that my day of cleaning towels and folding them, checking people in, smelling sweat and trying to not kill Lucifer every time he looked my way is finally over.

Everyone being out of the building when I check around, I grab the keys of the front door and walk towards it ready to leave the place behind.

"Good job, everybody." I hear Coach Covaliov say when the door is locked. I turn to face him. "Avery! Am I gonna see you tomorrow?"

"Absolutely." I quickly nod gaining a little smile and a single nod from him.

I swear if he says 'good girl' again—

"Great." He replies. Thank God. "Boys! Keep it up." They all say goodbye to their coach with their heads as I walk towards Colin to stand by his side. Covaliov turns around with his sight back on his phone as he walks a couple of steps away from the group to a parked car on the street. As soon as I recognize the brand, my mouth goes wide open at the surprise.

"Damn!" I say when Covaliov drives away in his dark blue Porsche. "Is that his actual car?"

"Yeah," Colin replies nodding "he is loaded."

"Is he single? Because I could use a sugar daddy." I say still with my eyes glued to where coach just left. When I don't get a response from Colin, I turn to him to find his eyebrows lifted and a little grin on his lips. "What? I have to clean your dirty ass towels to get money, don't look at me like that."

"He is, unfortunately, married beautiful."

"Son? Daughter? They, them?" I shrug my shoulders. "I can do everything."

Colin lets out a tiny laugh and then proceeds to place his arm around my shoulders, turning us both towards the two boys now standing by our side. "I like this girl."

"Sorry," I add with a half smile looking at Colin "but according to Covaliov, and his rule number four: I can't get with any of you guys."

Colin tilts his head backwards when he takes his hand and rests it on his heart, pretending like it hurts. "My heart! It hurts!" I let out a laugh as I shake my head when someone touches my arm by my other side it makes me turn around to the stranger.

He's a redhead boy that has the darkest eyes I had ever seen, his cheekbones are to die for and I know that I would kill to have a pair like his. He's tall and skinny, and the freckles all over his body and face makes me want to count them, but I would have to stare at him for hours to do so.

"She's good," the guy says looking at me while agreeing with Colin "I can't even remember the last time I used a hot and soft towel. I'm Paul." He smiles with his reddish lips and nose, like the cold is affecting his body.

I nod, thanking him. "Lilith. I learned how to do laundry at five, you could say I'm a pro at it."

"Yeah, you are." Another guy says next to Paul. He's the tallest of them all and has the thickest curls ever, his skin is darker going perfectly with the color of his brown hair. His thick and hairy eyebrows almost take the full attention of his face, but then his lips take away the spot as soon as I lay my eyes on them. "I'm Bobby." He says and I nod, greeting him. "Remember Penelope? She hated us!"

"I can't forget the look on her eyes when she walked into the bathroom and I was taking a shower." Colin says by my side looking down, the memory growing strong in his head.

"Poor Penelope." As soon as I let out those words, Colin looks at me and shakes his head quickly, offended.

"No, that day she gave me a five minute lecture about why I couldn't leave my bottle of water next to my bag. It wasn't my fault that she tripped because she didn't have her glasses!"

I let out a tiny laugh. "Five minutes?"

"Or when she find out we were hangover and told on us with coach," Paul says "our relationship really went down hill after that."

"She told on you?" They all nod. "Where you guys hiding it well at least?"

"Nope!" Colin yells by my side. "But still, she should've kept it a secret."

"She should've." I quickly nod, agreeing with him.

"Would you?" Paul gets my attention.

"Yeah," I quickly nod "but only if you guys give me fifty bucks first."

Bobby points at me with a smile. "Thinking ahead, I really like you. Thank God Penelope is gone."

Paul lifts his hands into the air while Colin waves my shoulders to the sides. "Let's go Lilith!"

"Lilith! Lilith!"

As everyone is singing I find myself liking this little group stealing little laughs out from me now and then. I don't usually find people to my liking, but them, there's something that I could find myself hanging out with. Crossing my arms around my chest when Colin starts to caress my hair jokingly, his mouth is still singing my name repeatedly. I turn to him confused when I feel some other pair of eyes on me, I slowly turn to the other side to meet his eyes.

Lucifer is laying against the wall with his arms across his chest, he has his black jacket on while a cigarette hangs between his lips. His eyes are glued to mine. Then, they slowly go to Colin's hand on my head and my shoulders. His jawline shifts and clenches, his eyes burn my insides every time he turns to my eyes. He's so focused on Colin and me that I remember when I looked at him when he was training after Colin jokingly asked me out again.

Maybe that is the thing that he didn't like.

Why are you so mad, Donovan?

"And you're hotter than Penelope, you can count on that." Colin says by my side making me turn my head to face him.

"Oh, for sure!" Paul quickly nods. "But I guess Bobby can't say the same."

"Guys! I flirted with her once! I'm into older woman!" I let out a laugh when Paul playfully pushes the side of Bobby's head. "You guys are never going to let that go, aren't you?"

"Never!" Paul and Colin say at the same time, which leads to everyone laughing.

"I liked Penelope." Lucifer says all of a sudden. I turn to him to see his eyes still on mine.

"What?" Paul asks confused. "You hated her even more than us!"

"I didn't."

"Uh, yes you did. You literally rolled your eyes every time she walked into the room." Lucifer leaves the wall with the intention to walk towards everyone before rolling his eyes, annoyed. "Yes!" Paul points at him. "Just like that!"

"Talking about parties." Colin starts by my side.

"We weren't talking about parties." Bobby adds after letting out a chuckle.

"Well, we should. Tomorrow night, party, at our house, you're in?" He says looking at me. I quickly nod.

"Are you kidding me? Me and the word party go perfectly together. I'm 100% in."

"Have I told you I like you already?" He asks leaning closer to my face.

"No," I slowly shake my head as a little smile escapes my lips "say it again."

"I really like you." As soon as he jokingly lets out those words, a shoulder pushes mine making me move frontwards and look away from Colin's eyes. I turn around to face whoever pushed me and not to much of a surprise for me, I find Lucifer with the cigarette between his lips taking a smoke in, but this time his eyes aren't on me, instead, he's looking at Paul and Bobby who are talking about the party.

What the fuck is his problem?

"The only rule is that you have to bring a hot friend." Colin points at me and I open my mouth pretending to be hurt.

"My hotness isn't enough for you?" I place my hand on my chest. "I'm offended."

"You're forbidden! What do you want me to do about it?"

"Fight for my love?! The audacity!"

"Baby let's go full Romeo and Juliet!"

"Bet!" I yell back jokingly and Colin lets out a laugh before letting go of my shoulders and walking towards Paul and Bobby. "See you tomorrow beautiful?" He points at me and I point at him back, with a smile on my face.

"Call me beautiful one more time and the only thing you'll see tomorrow night is your own ass." He nods as a smirk comes out of his lips. He closes his hand into a fist for me to bump it. "See you tomorrow."

Everyone says goodbye with a nod like they did with Covaliov. Colin lifts his hands into the air celebrating, clearly very excited about the party. "Party tomorrow! Party tomorrow!"

When the guys are out of my sight I grab my phone ready to order a taxi. It's gonna cost me half of that what have saved, but walking alone this dark at night isn't on my plans for tonight. Someone clearing their throat by my side steals my attention from the phone. I look to where the noise came from to find Lucifer with his eyes glued to mine. Still, with annoyance and anger in them.

"I see you're still mad." I say turning to face him. "Why are you gonna yell at me now? Towels? Or the fact that I shouldn't work here? I have to admit, it feels good to be on this side, be the one annoying you."

Lucifer stays quiet for a couple of seconds like he's thinking his words carefully.

"It's dangerous." He finally says, firmly.

I furrow my eyebrows, confused. "What's dangerous?"

"There's a reason Penelope quit."

"Saw Colin's little pal too many times?"

He lets out a chuckle before leaning closer to my face. "I see that you like to get yourself in situations you don't know shit about. Me, and that little game you like to play—"

"I like to play?" I cut him off. "Oh, sorry, I forgot I see ghosts and it wasn't you with me the other night." I add, sarcastically. "Please, Lucifer, don't play the mysterious and dangerous fuck boy with me, I don't fall for that. If you were looking for a girl to fall for your stupid words you should start looking somewhere else, because I'm not it." I roll my eyes when I turn to the side with the intention to leave the conversation and Lucifer behind, but when he takes a step closer to me I look at him again. Our faces are extremely close to the other making my heart sink to my stomach for a second.

I hate that so fucking much.

"So you're done?" He asks me with a grin.

"What?" I ask annoyed.

"Playing the little game. That means you lose, the first one to back out loses."

This isn't some romantic movie, what is he talking about? The smile on his face becomes bigger when no words come out of my mouth. Lucifer saying that I lost consumes my brain and I hate every single second of it. I don't lose, ever. And I don't want to give him that satisfaction.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because you lost the ability to handle the other. Or maybe worse," he says to then add more softly against my skin "you fell even deeper for me."

A laughs comes out of my mouth. He has to be kidding me.

"You definitely have the wrong girl. Besides— Covaliov told me that I can't do anything with his boys. I'm sure you're one of them."

He smiles and leans closer to my face. "So you think something is going to happen between us?" He says softly. "I'm intrigued on whatever is one your mind."

"Killing you is on my mind right now. But, I want to keep this job and I think it doesn't matter if it's not a rule, I can't kill you. Unfortunately."

"That's the only thing in your mind?" He looks does to my lips and an immediate feeling of getting closer to him appears on my chest.

No.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?" He smiles when I can't control my eyes and they go directly to his lips. "Don't back out, Avery."

Covaliov's rule goes back to my head but... I never lose.

"I won't." I go back to his eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sure of it." He gives me a side smile. And again, my eyes can't help it, they go down. I hear a chuckle coming from his mouth. "Something tells me you won't."

Before I can do anything else, he smirks and walks away from me with his eyes still glued to mine. "I still hate you." I say once he's a couple of steps away from me.

He nods. "I know, and the feeling is mutual." He turns around to finally leave me behind.

As soon as I lose him on the corner I replay what we said a million times. What am I doing? I'm not the type to be stuck up with one guy, and less have him affect my body like this. My heart is speeding up and my chest is tied up in a nod. I never let anyone make me feel like this, ever. But him... there's something about Lucifer. I'm intrigued and I can't stop staring at him, like a spell is still on me.

I like to flirt, since I started to be interested in people I've been flirting around. If I want someone I go and get it, once and move on, never something serious. That isn't me.

Then, again, what the fuck am I doing?

Even if I'm as confused as ever, I don't regret what I just did, following his stupid little game. I want it. I want to keep going and see where it goes, make him fall for everything I do and watch him get weak and lose it... that's what I do.

But what did make him so special that I want to see it more than once?

I want to understand why my body acts like that with him, I can't walk away and not know. My heart screams at me to figure it out.

I know one thing, though. His words: "fall for me even deeper"... he clearly doesn't know shit about me.

It's funny, Coach Covaliov thinks that the last rule is the hardest one, the most challenging one out of the rest, but for me, it's going to be easiest.

So, don't worry coach, I have this covered. I don't fall in love, that's not me. And nothing or no one is gonna make me change that. No fucking way.

...