Chasing Aurora

Friday

I took a half-day so I could prepare for my fight. Robby and I went through my old tapes to try and figure out a strategy for tonight. I knew that I needed to end the fight as quickly as possible if I was going to win. Whomever I was fighting had the advantage of knowing who I was and how I fought. I was completely blind which scared the shit out of me. I am not a spontaneous person; I like to plan things out in advance. Even as a kid I was like that.

An hour before the fight Robby and I drove to the fight together. Just in case I got injured and couldn’t drive, it was a good idea to get someone else to drive me. Robby pulled into the parking lot and the two of us went inside. I signed in and was shown to my dressing room. After that, we went through our pre-fight routine of stretching and getting ready physically.

“Alright, I’m going to change.” I said once I felt I was ready, “You go see if you can hear some gossip about the new girl.”

“You got it boss.” He winked and left the room.

I chuckled as I locked the door behind him. Once I was dressed, I sat down on one of the benches. I closed my eyes and cleared my mind. A deep breath in, hold and exhale. I just kept doing my deep breathing and let my mind wander.

-----

14 years old

Aurora was laying on the beach by my cottage soaking in the sun while I was working through some of the combinations I had learned before my first fight tomorrow. I was so determined to win even if I didn’t stand a chance. Every spare moment I had was dedicated to training, even my dreams.

“What are you going to be called when you’re in the ring?” She asked.

“Just Piper.” I shrugged.

“Come on. You need a better name than Piper. Piper isn’t scary.”

“I don’t need a scary name. I just need to be good. My dad said that an intimidating nickname means nothing if you can’t back it up. If I get good enough people will give me a nickname.”

She sighed as she sat on the sand and began tracing her finger in the sand. “Piper Blank Jennings.”

“Blank? You think my middle name is blank?” I asked.

“Well, I don’t know your middle name and I like to imagine that it starts with a B so that your initials are PB and J.” She looked up at me with the cheekiest little smile on her face.

“My middle name is Raleigh so that isn’t going to work.”

“I’m still going to keep calling you Peanut Butter in my head.”

“Wait? You have been calling me Peanut Butter?”

“Yeah! It’s cute, I love peanut butter and you’re my favourite person. It just makes sense.” She shrugged as her cheeks took on a rosy flush. I found myself stopping my exercises to look at Aurora. I already knew that the mere thought of her made my heart beat faster. Even if she was just a dream, I loved thinking that she thought so much about me. I dropped down to my knees in front of her causing her to look up at me in surprise.

“I’m your favourite person?” I asked. She looked down as her face turned even redder. I smiled as she nodded. “You’re mine. I think about you all the time Aurora.” When her electric green eyes met mine again, I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. I found my eyes drawn down to her lips. I got that same impulse that came around every time I dreamed of her lately bubbling up and this time, I didn’t want to push it down. “Can I kiss you?”

Her eyes widened slightly as her eyes darted down to look at my lips. That singular moment as I waited for her answer stretched out into an eternity. When she moved, it was almost in slow motion. The slow nodding of her head made my heart soar, and I wasted no time capturing her lips with mine. As far as first kisses went, it was pure magic. The awkward fumbling of our lips was overpowered by the sparks that flew between us. A cataclysm of explosions went off between us so powerful that I thought my heart would stop.

It was those sparks I’d been chasing ever since.

-----

“Hey, Piper? You decent in there?” Robby called through the door.

I don’t know what it was with him and ruining my moments thinking about Aurora, but he had the worst fucking timing. I pushed myself to my feet and opened the door for him. “What did you find out Robby?”

“Alright, so you’re fighting a woman named Yolanda Markovich. She is shorter than you, so you have the reach on her. People are saying that she has wicked endurance but that could always just be her people spreading rumours. Just in case that is true, we want this over as quickly as possible. Find her weakness and exploit it. You’re smarter than most people I know so use that to your advantage. Do not let yourself be lured into any stupid decisions.”

“Got it boss.” I grinned. Robby and I left my change room and began the trek through the arena.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” The announcer called out over the PA. I stood with Robby just outside the doors preparing to walk into the crowded room that was filled with cheers. Even these amateur fights brought in big crowds. Although I hadn’t won my first fight all those years ago, I had won a lot since then. Just like my dad had told me then, I had gotten good enough to merit a nickname and a badass one at that. “In the red corner, we have our hometown girl! Piper the Viper Jennings!”

I put in my mouth guard and walked out to the deafening sound of cheers. I fed off the adrenaline pumping through the crowd. When I got into the ring, I lifted my hands to the crowd earning myself even louder cheers. I smiled as I lowered my hands and went to my corner. I jumped around a bit to keep limber while I waited for my opponent to be announced.

“And in the black corner, we have our challenger, new girl on the block Yolanda Markovich!” The crowd was just as deafening as with me but that didn’t discourage me. I knew that they were just looking for blood and a show. A new girl was an unknown variable. It was exciting. I watched as a blonde woman with her long hair pulled back in Dutch braids entered the ring. I quickly found myself analyzing every piece of her appearance looking for a weakness.

We shook hands before retreating to our corners. With the sound of the bell, the match began. My training took over as I quickly went on the offence, attacking and trying to knock her off her feet. Robby’s words ran through my head. Look for weakness, exploit it, end it quickly. I barely avoided a punch of hers and suddenly I was pushed back onto defence. I didn’t allow myself time to panic. I had the reach, I had the technique, I could do this.

It didn’t take long before I saw my opening. She tripped slightly while attempting an attack leaving her off balance. Before she could recover, I landed one well-timed blow leading to a knockout before the first round could finish. The sound in the arena rivalled a thunderclap as I was declared the winner. A euphoria that could only come from victory washed over me as I felt the ring. Robby was there waiting for me with his signature goofy smile.

“That is what I’m talking about! Piper the Viper for the win!” He cheered.

“Yeah, yeah doofus.” I waved him off as I headed to my changing room eager to wash off the sweat from the match.

“Seriously though, she didn’t stand a chance. Not a scratch on you! That is what we call a professional right there!” Robby followed me into my dressing room, “What are we doing to celebrate?”

“I’m going to shower then go to bed early.” I grabbed a towel and began to wipe my sweat off.

“You are so boring sometimes. I really hope you know that.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m taking Samson out in the bush tomorrow, so I need my rest if I’m going to keep up with him.”

“Well have fun with that. I’m going to see if I can get the new ring girl’s number.” Robby gave me a wink before he left the room. I shook my head at my friend and his womanizer ways. I can’t say that I was much better. The only girl I’ve ever wanted existed only in my dreams. Everyone says that I am too picky but once you’ve tasted perfection, it’s hard to go back.

So, I packed up my things and went back home. Samson was eagerly awaiting my return. I gave him some good pets before I showered and got ready for bed. As I tucked myself in for bed, Samson jumped up and got under the covers with me. I smiled as I placed a kiss on the top of his head. If I couldn’t have my Aurora, at least I have Samson to keep me company.

As my eyes closed and sleep started to take me over, all I could think of was that maybe tonight I’d get to see Aurora again and all would be right in the world.