The wall was pretty self-explanatory. It was a brick wall with dozens of photographs, new and old, littering it's surface. And in the center of all the pictures, was one of Cassie.

"These are all the winningest fighters to ever box at this gym," Micheal explained.

"Wait," Cassie gestured at her picture "But I've never been in this gym before. I just moved here," She pointed out.

"They caught you on a security camera, whipping this guy's ass, out front," Big M nodded at the picture of an older teen, a couple photos away from her's. "He was the win streak leader at the time. But you broke his streak, and he hasn't fought since,"

"I remember him," Cassie nodded slowly. "He stole my brother's glasses off his face, right after we moved here,"

"Is that what it was?" Micheal laughed. "Nobody knew if you actually had a reason for kicking his ass,"

"I always have a reason. Whether or not the reason is publicly acceptable, is another matter," she informed him grimly, then turned back to the wall. "So who's got the longest win streak now?"

The Big M motioned at a picture of himself, next to hers. "You're looking at him. 22 and counting," he puffed out his chest.

"Do they have a ring here?" Cassie asked, grinning sideways at him.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Cassie!" Jakob rushed over, with Tyler limping along behind her.

"Hey Jakob," she greeted him."Look. I'm on the Wall for beating this guy up outside,"

"Isn't that the guy who stole Leo's glasses?"

"Yep," Cassie confirmed, straightening the picture with an air of pride.

"And who is this?" Jakob asked, staring daggers at Micheal.

Cassie sighed, exasperated. "Jakob please don't start th-"

"I'm your big brother, I have a right to know everything about anyone you hang out with," Jakob turned to glare at the, just barely shorter, Big M. "Your name,"

"My friends and admirers call me the Big M," Micheal smirked.

"Why?"

"Because my name is Micheal, and I've got big muscles," he flexed, defining his muscles for the room. Tyler swooned.

"So does the M stand for Micheal, or muscles?" Jakob rose his eyebrow.

"Kind of a package deal," Micheal shrugged.

"Riiiiiight. I don't approve. Come on Cassie, let's go," Jakob grabbed Cassie by the forearm, and started homewards. But he was jerked to a stop, when Cassie refused to move.

"No," she yanked her arm free. "Micheal and I are going to fight,"

"You're what?"

"We're what?"

Cassie rolled her eyes. "I'm going to end the Big M's win streak,"

"Aren't there rules that separate men and women fighting?" Jakob demanded.

"If there are," Tyler grimaced "it's for our own protection,"

"Doesn't matter, does it Micheal?" Cassie grinned.

"If you say so," Micheal grinned back.

"You can't Cassie," Jakob said desperately.

"You say that like you can stop me," she replied.

"I will carry you out of here," he said.

Cassie's eyes narrowed. "If you touch me, I'll grab one of your testicles and squeeze it in half. Then you'll have four nuts,"

"Four?" Tyler echoed.

"She's already done it once," Jakob shivered at the recollection. "So... physically, I can't stop you. But I'll tell Dad,"

"Dad would be happy to hear that I'm asserting my dominance over teenage boys,"

"I'll tell Mom,"

"Mom would come and cheer me on with face paint and shit,"

"I'll tell Josh,"

"Scraping the bottom of the barrel now, are we?" Cassie laughed. "Josh went hungry on the couch yesterday, because his lo mein was on the coffee table and he couldn't reach it. But you think he's going to get in the middle of a boxing match? Face it Jakob, you're the only one against this,"

"I want to see it," Tyler offered.

"Suck up," Jakob hissed.

"I'll get Dovie to open up the ring," Micheal ran off.

Jakob glared at Cassie. "You think you're tough, huh?"

"Wrong. I know I'm tough,"

He leaned forward and whispered "If you kiss that guy, he's going to die,"

"Yeah," Tyler agreed. "She'd probably break every bone in his face,"

"Does anyone here know how to mind their own business?" Jakob yelled.

"No," Cassie snapped, giving him a nasty look. "That's why you fit in so well," she turned on her heel and followed Micheal out.

Jakob shook his head and put his hands on his hips.

"Damn," Tyler whistled, covering his mouth "Aloe stocks are on the rise after that burn,"

"Shut the fuck up!"

***

"And then you can meet my family," Jakob was saying, trailing Dovie like a lovestruck puppy, as she unlocked the boxing ring. "Our wedding will be in a big open field. How many kids do you want? Because ten is out of the question. Three? Four? Should we retire in an old folks home or bunk with our children every-"

" 'ow about we start wiz ze first date, yes?" Dovie giggled, putting the keys back into her pocket.

"Oh. Yeah," Jakob gaped. "Sure,"

Dovie patted his arm and walked out past the, apoplectic, Mr. Johnson.

"I have to admit..." Mr. Johnson said slowly, "I was not expecting that,"

"I know," Jakob sighed, relieved.

"How the hell did you do it?"

"I'll let you have a signed copy, after I write a beat seller on my technique," Jakob replied smugly, polishing his knuckles on his shirt.

"Hey Love Doctor!" Cassie called. She had her fingers looped through the chain link fence, as she leaned forward to smirk at him. "When's your date?"

Jakob opened his mouth to answer, and left it hanging there like a trap door, after he realized he didn't even know. "I, uh... I'm gonna..." He held up a finger and ran out the door. "Don't start without me. Dovie!"

"I'll keep him busy," Mr. Johnson promised, following Jakob, and closing the door behind him.

Cassie grinned, and turned to face Micheal across the ring.

"How about a little wager on this?" Micheal asked, straightening his gloves.

"Sure," Cassie thought about it a moment. "If I win... you'll let my sisters dress you up in front of all of your friends,"

"With make-up?"

"Oh, little Taylor loves playing with make-up,"

"I see," the Big M stroked his chin dramatically. "I would be at the height of humiliation, being seen like that. Which means it should only be fair, if I put you in the height of humiliation too. So if I win..." He snapped his fingers "You go on a date with me,"

"Deal," she replied, readying her fists.

"You seem eager to accept that idea," Micheal grinned slyly.

"It doesn't matter what you bet," Cassie informed him. "Because I never lose,"

"No," Micheal corrected her. "You've never lost. There's a difference,"

"There is a difference. And I stand by what I said," she replied.

Micheal brought his fists up quickly, to deflect several light punches fired in quick succession.

Cassie sidestepped a quick jab, and pounded his own glove into his face, making him stumble backwards.

"Wow, I hit hard," he laughed. Then rose his fists, and fought off a lunging Cassie, for breathing space.

She circled him, like a panther searching for the best angle of attack.

"You're scaring me," Micheal admitted with a chuckle.

"Get used to it," she replied, bouncing forward, and striking him with a quick uppercut, before bouncing back again.

There was an amused look in her eyes. The kind that draws moths to fire. Her movements made one thing clear: this ring was hers, and he was trespassing.

Micheal took a step forward and jabbed Cassie in the face, and followed it with a hook. But it barely rattled her, as she boxed his ear, and sent him stumbling backwards. She followed his retreat, pounding him over and over, only drawing back when he threw another jab at her face, and forced her to back off.

Micheal took another step in, and bounced back out immediately, testing her response. But she didn't bite.

"How long have you been fighting?" Micheal gasped, breathing heavily. For her size, Cassie could hit hard. And he was pretty sure the average fighter, wouldn't still be up, against her.

"I gave my Dad a black eye when I was four, and I wore my first gloves when I was six," she replied still circling. "I had my first lesson three years ago. I'm mostly self taught,"

"It must be a nightmare living with you," the Big M said, blocking a swing with his glove, and returning the strike full force. "You're tough as nails,"

"And you're soft as jello," she replied, kicking out and buckling his knee. Micheal fell backwards and Cassie leapt over him pounding him down onto the ground when he tried to stand.

Micheal rolled over and clubbed her in the stomach, causing her to lose her breath just long enough for him to retreat.

Cassie followed and struck again, knocking him back into the fence. Then Big M lunged forwards, and Cassie jabbed, twisting her whole body into the punch.

Pain bloomed behind the Big M's eye, as he was lifted off his feet, and landed flat on his back.

She shook out her tingling arm, and burst out laughing.

"You going to help me up?" Micheal groaned, gingerly touching his eye. Then hissing as it sent a shock deep into his skull.

"Once I'm done laughing," Cassie snorted, and wiped away a couple tears. Then she pulled him to his feet.

The sudden movement made the world black out for a second, and Micheal stumbled. Cassie caught his shoulders and chuckled some more. "You hurt?"

"Of course not," he snorted, sarcastically. "Just tell me which one of your faces is the real one,"

She laughed and supported him from the side. "Come on. I'm going to get you a treat. I'll buy you a fro-yo for your eye,"

She threw her arm over his, much taller, shoulders, and led him out of the ring.

"I lost, didn't I?" Micheal sighed.

"I must've hit you pretty hard, if you can't remember that,"

"Damn. My win streak,"

"Aww," she gave him a look of pity. "What win streak?"

"Fuck you,"

"Don't let Jakob hear you say that," she snickered. "He'll skin you alive,"

"Where is your brother?"

"I don't know, now shut up," she hissed "Don't jinx it,"