Page 44 of Girl Like Me

“I can’t speak for everyone but I think they would all agree that we don’t care what people think. We’ve all spent our childhoods broken and for the last ten years, we’ve been slowly healing and putting ourselves back together. When you came along though, we felt complete, like the last missing piece just fell into place. If people don’t understand that, then that’s on them. We’re complex and you haven't tried to fix our broken pieces. You just walked in and tipped yours amongst ours and that is the type of person we all need. We just hope that you need us just as much. Will people have opinions, of course they will but I for one don’t care.” Levi says, his voice thick with emotion.

Rocky jumps up and comes to push in beside JD.

“Let them talk, jealousy is a curse. I mean, look how hot we are. Who wouldn’t want a piece of this?” Rocky says and gestures to his body, which causes JD to laugh and whack him on the arm.

“Okay, as long as you’re all happy because I’m only one person and there’ll be times I can’t be there for everyone at the same time but I’ll try my best. You’ll have to throw me out if you want to get rid of me.”

We spend the rest of the night talking and making plans for when we graduate. It's sneaking up on us really fast and we need to work out the details but after tonight we will all know where we stand. So far everyone is in agreement that we all need to be together. We also agree to sit down and work out where we want to live, a place central to everyone's needs. I know we’ll all talk about this more in depth when JD leaves to go back home. We need to have a heated debate on housing and money. Rory is adamant he has it covered but we don’t want to take handouts. We all want to be equals.

Rory and Mercer pull out the big mats for us to sleep on again whilst Mac and Chloe take the guest room. JD comes and curls up next to me. Without thought or hesitation, I pull her in closer to my body. She links our fingers and she pulls them to her lips.

“Good night,” I whisper in her ear.

The fight between Mercer and Echo is in an old run down warehouse building on the Eastside. The inside of the building is vastly different from the outside. In the centre of the room is what Mercer explained is called an octagon, there is no seating anywhere in the building, so it must be a standing room only type of an event. A huge bar runs along the back wall, filled with all the liquor imaginable. I’m amazed at how busy it is here. There is no if or maybe about this all being illegal. The smell of weed fills the air and kids I have seen at parties have drinks in their hands. I can guarantee that my uncle's name is nowhere to be found in relation to this building but he would make a pretty penny from these fights. All the guys are here except Maximus, his anxiety couldn’t handle a crowd like this.

Mercer is out the back somewhere with Rocky getting ready for the fight and Levi and Rory are on babysitting duty with me.

“How good is Mercer at all of this?” I ask them. I’m all for watching him fight but it never occurred to me to ask if he was any good. I just assumed that he was. I don’t want him to get hurt.

“He's really good,” Levi assures me.

Echo must not have gotten the memo that he should be getting ready; he swaggers over towards us wrapped in a red silk robe and bare foot and gives me a megawatt smile.

“Sure you don’t want to change your mind about all of this B,” he says, opening his robe to show off his naked chest. I laugh at him and shake my head no.

“In your dreams.”

I use my hands to grab Rory and Levi’s arms to stop them from doing anything stupid.

“Every night until I met a girl with big brown eyes.”

I know he is talking about Chloe. “I never was into brunettes.”

“Is everything above board here?” I ask with a stern expression on my face. I need to know if he's going to fight dirty.

“Depends on what you mean about being above board,” he answers with a shrug of his shoulders.

“The fighting Echo, are you going to fight dirty?”

“I’m wounded B, but to answer your question. No, the one thing above board are the rules. Your uncle doesn’t need unnecessary deaths or injuries to make the cops sniff around more. MMA rules apply. I can’t promise I won’t mess up the pretty boy’s face though.”

“Give it your best shot, I can play nurse after,” I tease and Echo groans and looks at my guys.

“I hope you know how lucky you dudes are.”

Rory and Levi nod and Echo’s attention is pulled away by one of his friends.

Fights have started in the octagon and the announcer is doing his thing, I don’t understand a damn thing they are saying and the crowd is super thick around the ring. People are yelling and cheering as the guys punch and kick the shit out of each other.

The guys lead me around to the back of the ring to an alcove where we can wait until Mercer’s fight and move in closer. Between each fight people tend to move away and mingle while waiting for the next fight to start.

I spot my uncle heading our way, dressed to impress in his all black suit, his gold chain and rings that sparkle under the lights as he moves closer.

“Bristol, I’m glad you could make it,” he says, pulling me into a hug.

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

“Your brother is here so just be careful, he’s a bit weird that one. I’m glad your father has taken him under his wing for his business. The kid ain’t cut out for this side of the fence. It’s a shame Milo isn’t around, he had potential. You my dear were always my first choice but a deal is a deal. If you ever decide to join me, I would be happy to have you.”

---