"I'm sorry, did you just say 'underground boxing ring'?"

"Yes."

"And that causes you to get beaten up so badly?"

Tyler sighed, taking a sip from his juice and plopping back down in front of me. "Not exactly. I'm really good at it... there's just this one guy."

"Who?"

"I can't really say. He's a freak of nature. Probably on some weird drug, I think he's the son of some big-time mafia guy or something.

I flicked him on the forehead and he winced. I can't believe Tyler was involved in this stuff. He always seemed so... chill. Free and relaxed. I guess I didn't know my best friend as well as I thought I did.

"Alex please. You can't tell anyone okay? Ezra is the only one that knows about this."

"EZRA KNOWS ABOUT THIS?!"

Tyler flinched again, backing away from me as I stood up and menacingly walked over to him. "Please explain to me why the fuck you do this?"

"Hey I'm sorry, okay? I really love boxing and its where my grandfather used to take me. I can't give up on it. I know this sounds stupid, but it feels like... I'd be giving up on him."

Well damn. I sure as hell can't yell at him now. He looked so sad, all the anger in me just evaporated. I gave him a hug, which was a little uncomfortable for me, but it was worth it. He seemed to feel better after that.

"Thanks Peirce. If you want to leave, you can."

"Like hell I'm going anywhere."

After that the two of us drove off together in his car, not sure where we were going yet. We somehow ended up at the school, so we decided to go to the basketball court and practice our skills.

"You shoot like this."

"Wait, so I put my foot here?"

"Yes Ty, do you even listen?"

We had reached the school, just the two of us practicing on the court. Technically we weren't allowed to be in here since the school had closed for today, but we just jumped over the fence. I swear to god, the security in here is pathetic. Literally a child could break in here.

I was helping Tyler with his shooting, in the same way Shawn had helped me. Surprisingly, his advice had actually worked and he happened to be right. It was annoying that he was, but oh well.

Tyler shot and I high fived him. "Whoo hoo! I told you it would work."

"Holy shit, this technique is really something else! Where on earth did you learn this?"

"Oh, um... just a friend."

We practiced for another twenty minutes, until a security guard walked in and we ran for our lives, laughing and tripping along the way like we were drunk. We lost him soon enough since the guy could barely run, and we made it to the fence. Tyler threw his bag over and jumped, landing not so gracefully on the other side. His legs gave away and he fell, groaning as he held his side.

"Shit, Ty are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, don't worry about it." He managed to push himself up, and picked up his bag. "Coming?"

"Yeah."

I jumped over the fence and we walked back together, talking with ease. My phone rang with a call from Megan and I picked up.

"Yeah?"

"Ezra's place. Hang out session for the four of us. Get here or I'll slit your throat."

***********************

"What seriously? You actually did it on a Ferris wheel?"

"Well, the ride had broken down so we were stuck there for a while. Then it started up again unexpectedly, and we were not so kindly asked never to return again."

The rest of us burst out laughing, listening to Tyler's completely weird hilarious stories. The four of us were hanging out like old times, no dates and no other complications. I mean, almost old times. I just had to watch stupid Ezra shove his tongue down Megan's throat.

"So, Alex. Tell us about this mystery Asher dude." Ezra insisted. I protested for about five minutes but soon gave up. These guys were impossible.

"Fine! You already know his name. He's nineteen and in college. He works down at the frozen yogurt shop."

"YOU'RE DATING A GUY IN COLLEGE?!" Megan practically screeched. "We've got to go down to the froyo place."

"Are you freaking kidding me? Hell no."

"Too bad, we're going."

All three of them got up and practically ran out the door, getting into Megan's car and starting it. I groaned. "Guys, come on! The store is probably closing soon."

"Another reason to hurry. Come on!" Ezra yelled, and dragged me into the backseat next to him. Looks like I didn't have much of a choice. I sent Asher a text ahead of time, warning him that my crazy friends were coming to hound him and not to mention that I work there. His reaction was pretty calm, he simply texted a laughing emoji and said okay.

We reached within five minutes and the three of them stumbled outside, pushing and pulling each other like they were crazy. Everybody around us stared, and I wanted to melt into a puddle of embarrassment.

They burst into the store, laughing and teasing. I looked towards the counter where Asher was standing. He was busy with a customer, smiling and talking with ease.

"Is that him?" Megan asked, and I nodded. She looked beyond excited. "Holy crap he's hot."

Ezra who was standing right next to her, cleared his throat and pouted. "But not as hot as you babe." Megan said, and they were making out again. I rolled my eyes and turned towards Tyler, who had been standing frozen to the very spot he was in, his eyes wide.

"Ty? Are you okay?"

He didn't respond, but his fists were clenched, and his jaw was so stiff that he was clearly gritting his teeth. I turned back to look at Asher, who was now looking at me. He smiled and winked, walking over from the other side of the counter to stop in front of us.

"Hey Alex." He gave me a small peck on my lips, turning around to greet Tyler who was still next to me. Ezra and Megan had walked off to find a table. Something flashed across Asher's eyes for a second, something that looked an awful lot like hate. But it vanished so quickly I must have imagined it.

"I'm Asher. Pleased to meet you." He held out his hand, but Tyler didn't shake it. He stared right up at him, and I could have sworn I almost heard him growl. What the hell?"

"Um, shake his hand, Ty."

He finally did so, shaking his hand so roughly that Asher winced. "Alex, can I talk to you for a second?" Tyler burst out abruptly.

"Sure?"

He grabbed my hand and dragged me off to the side, leaving Asher standing there awkwardly. 

"Are you fucking kidding me? Your new boyfriend is Asher Jennings?" Tyler said angrily. I stared at him in confusion. "Yeah... so? I told you who he was ages ago."

"I thought it was just some other high school kid named Asher! Not this freak."

"Excuse me?"

"Do you remember when I told you about the boxing ring? That there was this guy that I hated? That's him."

I gaped at him, not quite sure to react. I only found out about his weird boxing thing today morning, and now he's telling me that Asher was involved in it too? Nothing made sense anymore.

"Alex, you have to break up with this guy. Trust me, he's bad news."

"Are you serious? He's a part of the boxing ring, so what? So are you. Doesn't mean he's a bad guy."

"You have to trust me on this one." He held my hand, but I snatched it away.

"Fucking hell Tyler. What's up with you? I feel like I don't know you at all these days."

"Are you going to believe a guy you barely know over your best friend?"

"Of course not. But I might give him a chance to explain himself."

Asher walked over before Tyler could respond, looking at him menacingly. "What do you think you're doing Thompson?"

"Get the fuck out of here Jennings."

"Step away from my girlfriend."

"Step away from my best friend, you fucking pill popper."

Asher face twisted into rage and he punched Tyler in the face, knocking him onto the floor. I gasped and backed off, unsure of what to do. Everyone in the store turned around and stared as Tyler got off the floor and punched him back, blood actually flying out of Asher's mouth. He pounced on top of him, getting ready to punch him in the face again, but Asher dodged and kicked him off. Ezra and Megan ran over, staring at the scene in shock.

"Tyler! What the hell?" Ezra yelled to him.

"You remember Asher?! This is him!"

Ezra expression changed from confusion to anger. "Oh, hell no."

He joined Tyler in the fight, but Asher still managed to keep up with the both of them. I still stood there in shock like an idiot, clueless as to what to do about it. The manager seemed to have made the decision for me, yelling as he ran out from the back, pulling the three of them apart.

"Jennings! What kind of behaviour is this?"

"I'm so sorry Mr. Clark, I-"

"Save it! You're done! Get the hell out of my shop!"

Asher didn't say anything, but stood there panting heavily, blood leaking from his nose and his apron loose. He gave one last death glare at Tyler and stormed out, taking off his apron and slamming it on the nearest table.

Megan ran over to Tyler and Ezra to see if they were okay, while they manager chewed them out. They seemed to have fared better than Asher. Tyler had a slight bruise under his eye and Ezra had a cut lip but they seemed to be okay. Tyler walked towards me; his face full of pain.

"What did I tell you Alex?"

"I..."

He suddenly gasped, hugging his side and falling to his knees. I crouched down next to him, my eyes wide in panic, lifting up his shirt. The bandage seemed to have come off, and fresh blood was now seeping from the wound.

"Oh my god! We have to get you to a hospital right now!" I made to help lift him off the floor, but he grabbed my wrist. "No! Not the hospital please. Just take me home."

"What? But Tyler-"

"Just do it!"

Ezra and I exchanged worried glances, and helped him get up together, his arms around each of our shoulders, while Megan ran out to start the car, the entire crowd gaping at us.

Megan got us to his Tyler's house in record speed, and he instructed us to take him to his room. He was losing a lot of blood and I still felt like we should take him to the hospital, but he refused to do so.

He stumbled to his dresser drawer and pulled out some bandages and a bunch of other medical stuff. The three of us just stood there and stared at him as he cleaned up the wound all by himself and applied new bandages.

He fell back on his bed, panting heavily. We stood there quietly, waiting for him to speak. He finally looked up from his pillow after two minutes, pushing himself up against the headboard. "So." He started. "I'm sure you're wondering."

"No shit!" Megan cried out suddenly. "Can somebody explain to me why Alex's boyfriend just tried to kill Tyler? Because I seem to be the only one who doesn't know anything!"

Ezra put his arm around her, trying to get her to calm down. "Tyler?" We all turned to look at him, and he sighed.

"For fuck's sake can someone get me a glass of water?"