I eye her suspiciously. “By who?”
“Some guy in my calc class, and you’re never going to believe who’s fighting.”
Oh, I think I can.
“My stepbrother?” I say, deadpan.
“You knew?”
I shake my head. “Not exactly, but I saw some bruises, and then I ended up having to meet him at the gym to give him something, and I put two and two together.”
Her mouth curves. “Do you wanna go? Maybe you’ll get lucky and see him get his lights punched out.”
The thought of showing up to his secretfight makes me far too excited.
“He’ll kill me if I show up…” I say.
Sawyer’s shoulders drop with disappointment. She heads for her bed, but I put my arm out to stop her.
When our eyes meet, I smile maliciously. “Which is all the more reason to go.”
The stuffy basement of an abandoned building on the outskirts of town is full of college students from all over, and it sends nerves skittering across my skin. I’m hesitant to walk any farther into the crowd, especially because they took our phones at thedoor, but with Sawyer pulling on my wrist, I have no choice but to follow.
It’s like stepping into a brand-new world.
The music thumps so loud it vibrates my chest. The only light is centered over the make-shift ring in the middle of the floor. Bodyguards much older than your typical college student stand guard, making sure the spectators don’t come too close to the fight already occurring.
I reach up on my tiptoes to get a better look.
The energy buzzes when one of the guys–definitely not my stepbrother–lands a right hook to another guy’s face. His head snaps to the right, and spit flies through the air.
“How’s this for exciting?” Sawyer shouts into my ear.
A nervous laugh works itself up out of my chest as the scene unfolds. The two guys land punches back and forth, both of them with sweat dripping down their faces, landing on their bare chests.
It’s like UFC gone rogue, and I hate to admit it, but it is exciting.
The crowd is in a trance, and when I look over at Sawyer, she’s zeroed in on the fight too. Flickering lights wash against her face, her eyes glittering with excitement.
The only reason I’m here is to piss Cross off and to get some dirt on him like he has on me, but without my phone, it’ll be hard to prove his double life to our parents. There is no way they’re aware, and who's to say he’ll even spot me in the crowd?
It’spacked.
Just how many college students are aware of this exclusive, invite-only fight? It seems like the entire school is here, plus more.
I can’t help but wonder why Cross is here to fight.
Is it just a hobby?
Is it for money?
Is lacrosse not enough of a workout for him?
What would his mom think if she knew?
My lip curves into a devious smile. Even without my phone for proof, webothhave something on each other now.
A ringing clamors throughout, signaling the end to the fight. Everyone claps and yells at the top of their lungs. Some guys exchange money up ahead, and there are a few girls that lift their shirts to show off their boobs.
