SAGE
Chapter 20
Sage Miller
I was buzzing with excitement as I walked inside Styles's SUV. This was finally the day I was going to the Arena as it was fight night.
Finally my summer was looking up. Everything was going as it should've been from the start.
The atmosphere, well, my atmosphere anyway, was buzzing with excitement.
I was literally jumping throughout the day. I felt lighter, bottom line is, I was fucking excited.
In just two hours I'd be fighting and I trained hard for this. Styles did set my match and all I had to do was show up to win. I know he picked an easy opponent for me but that's whatever, I don't care as long as I win.
"Don't react to fast, wait for him to make the first move. And most importantly don't let him rile you up, you'll make mistakes and he'll exploit them. Focus!" Styles gave me what sounded like a pet talk.
"I know." I said to him. He's been telling me all this for the past two days.
"Good. Just making sure you won't forget." He said.
I followed him into the long narrow dark tunnels. Even with all the lightbulbs every 6 feet, the tunnels was still dark and cold.
"Hey Styles!" He hummed. "I invited Sebastian."
"Of course you did." He sarcastically said and I rolled my eyes.
Styles doesn't mind Sebastian but I won't dare say he likes him. I don't know if he does.
"You don't mind?" I asked careful.
"Why would I?" He shrugged. "He's your problem not mine."
I don't know why I thought he'd mind.
But the news of an underground Legend coming to Miami after almost a year of not fighting had everyone excited.
I know a little about him and I've never seen him though. News has it he's the best trained by Booker, the best and most of all, I know he's from New York and they say he's the best.
I know I won't be fighting him. I wouldn't want that. Sure I wanna be the best but fighting him will be humiliating.
The Arena won't be open for another two hours but Styles wanted us to come early because he has some things to take care of or something like that. And as usual I am the tag along.
In some weird sort of way I wanted to impress Styles with a win tonight. I knew I shouldn't feel that way but fuck, he's someone that holds a significant status in this game. of course I want to impress him.
Let's not forget who he is.
I noticed someone coming towards us. I didn't know him though.
"Godfather." He greeted Styles bowing his head a bit.
My eyebrows shot up stunned a bit. The guy looked 30 and it was, I don't even know how to put it, unnerving, shocking seeing him how to a 18 year old.
Then again many people respect the heck out of him, me included, sometimes anyway.
Another weird fact was that he knew who Styles was. Only a few selected knew who the Godfather was but then again apparently The Arena is owned by the Casias Cartel.
"Welcome." The man added. "It's a pleasure to be in your presence."
He gushed in the most manly way possible. Styles nodded at turned to me.
It always catches me off gaurd how different this world views him and how different the rest of the world sees him.
He isn't just a bad boy because of his looks and stereotype. He was really bad. The rest of the world doesn't know it yet.
"This is a close acquaintance of mine. Treat him as you would treat him." His tone was threatening. I blinked a couple of time processing his whole demeanour.
Holy shit! He didn't just introduce me like that.
"Of course." He bowed his head to me and I frowned.
Holy motherfucking crap! That didn't just happen. For the past month, I've experienced the special treatment I got from just walking next to Styles but today topped all of the other times.
"Austin, this is Sin." He gave him my code name. It's a name I got when I joined the gang.
I've went to many places with Styles but he had never ever introduced me so this was mind blowing.
We followed the man, which I now knew as Austin, inside.
I noticed the security detail. Man posted almost everywhere. I've been here before whenever Sebastian was fighting and there was never this much security around this place.
Styles noticed me looking and before I could ask he gave me a vague answer.
"Big night ahead of us. Some people need protection more than others." He vaguely told me. I didn't pounder on it, I nodded and left.
This is an illegal underground fighting ring and with illegal shit, there's always a possibility of cops busting into the place.
So Styles and Austin were mapping escape routes incase of a raid. Styles was protecting his identity so he can never be caught by the cops.
I guess you could say Styles is that type of man. Always planning ahead and taking security measures.
Randomly, he came to me when no one was looking. He had an unreadable expression on his face but I could read him easily. I always have.
"In here you refer me as the Godfather, nothing else, okay?" He warned and I was taken aback.
I didn't know what to say I just nodded and he went back to his business.
I've always knew how to act or address him whenever we were not alone. I knew I had to be respectful towards him and think twice about everything I said to him.
Thirty minutes before the first fight was due to start people started arriving. It was more people than anytime I've been here.
I got a text from Sebastian that he was here. I was so bored out of my mind since Styles was doing his business.
I stated holes in the back of Styles head hoping he'd feel them and turned around.
I didn't feel like going over there and telling him where I'm going and I didn't want to just leave.
I felt like I needed permission.
Just as I had hoped, he whipped his head and scowled at me.
I opened my mouth to mouth something at him but he nodded in understanding.
I smiled at exited the roomed.
That's what I liked about our relationship. We always understand each other in a wierd sort of way. I can't put it in words but we do.
I found Sebastian right where he said I'd find him but he wasn't waiting for me alone. He was flirting with some chicks.
I smirked at the sight. I missed this little shit. I missed hooking with girls with him by my side.
Styles isn't into the whole hooking up scene. Either he's not doing it on my presence because of Eve or he's just isn't the type. I can't confirm which is it.
"You don't waste time, do you?" I chuckled earning myself some eyes on me.
"Sage? Come over here." He called out. "So this is the guy I was telling you about."
which made my smirk even wider. I wink at them causing them to
I almost forgot about Smurf but their beauty wasn't that mesmerizing to make me forget but I went along
them hoping, willing my mind to shut down even
at the end she left and she didn't look back. She left just like I knew she
get bored."
zone out but my mind is doing it's own thing right now. I was still operating on Smurf
less than and hour." I lied... it wasn't a lie but it wasn't the truth either. it
He told me and turned
have to prepare for a fight. See you later." He
I knew they told me their names at some point but honestly I wasn't
He
front row seats." The same girl promised
noticed that the same girl was doing all the
me staring and her cheeks burned. I winked at her and her
almost laughed at her but refrained. She was cute.
attention to Sebastian. Something he said caught my attention.
me you were
trailed
upset or anything.
how much Sebastian hated explaining himself. Sometimes I
myself an apartment in a better building.. "
in a couple of months. I guess that's
anything to a minor. That building he's living at right now was the only building willing to over look that detail and they were charging
know what else to say. I thought it would take him a lot more to get him to talk but I
went to the dressing room to change and warm up. My muscles were slightly sore because of
our fights. Sebastian's was a lot earlier than
the
was because Austin listened to Styles and was
used to the special attention." Sebastian gushed taking in the dressing room. It was a bit fancy and clean
buddy and all this will be
special
shrugged. I was used to this. Spending half my summer with him. I was
He exclaimed and I went
wanted to be ready. I didn't want to get a
fought on a big stage before. It
at all. But him
The fights began. They warmed up the crowd for a bigger
VS Legend,
all the
the best of the best. His strategy isn't known. I know he's
goes by
on the shadows to watch my
who I am. The crowd cheered for him louder than the previous fighters proving just how well known he
lost a few
noticed that today's MC was Austin which
to The Arena plenty of times and Austin never made
focused on watching the
too quickly but Sebastian
playing it safe. This time his opponent was more careful too. He slowly got closer punching but Sebastian was
see that. He dropped his hands and was going in for a
as Sebastian
on until Sebastian was over an unconscious fighter and was
fights didn't have a Round 1 or 2. The fight was over when one fighter was rendered unable to fight. Either unconscious or with
Sebastian's fight lasted only a few minutes but he'll have a
room and waited
I found Styles
as if asking about
and he walked to me but someone approached
up next." He told
for a few seconds before it clicked
name always flew over my head whenever it was used. you'd think after months in the gang I'll be used to the code name
up and bounced
I looked back at him with the same expression waiting for my pep
me." He warned seriously and I blinked realising this was the pep talk. it was as good as I was ever
my
again but this time I wasn't going to
cheers, my opponent was already in the ring. I
a rising fighter like me. Also my age. I've seen him fight. He was good
until
know why I searched for them
I could hear their voice over
to check the enter
if not thrice to what
could get the better off me. I my gaze met with one of the girls. The quiet
held her gaze for a few seconds then went back to staring at my
My opponent was popular than
rang and Austin stepped out of
me over the week but it was hard with the adrenaline telling
stayed rooted in my spot. I let him come for me and when he punched I dodged and I used all my leg strength
on his stomach
rolled away and made it to his feet. I smirked when I saw
was hitting my chins
out it was a decoy because he
practically hear Styles cussing me in my head, your
I tried covering my ribs because
tried remembering what he said I should do but came out blank.
I tried to block him by pushing his leg so he couldn't get all of his kick in but
will power to not
before I could think, he landed a punch on jaw
I shook my head
to knock this guy out before he knocked
he punched I dodged and went for
shoulders and I kneed him hard on his torso and ribs. When I let go he stumbled back, I followed him throwing multiple punches on him until he lied
as they announced me as the
the front row seats. She was jumping up and down with
her but my mind had a mind of
that seat jumping up and down. I pictured going over the to kiss her as
and caught on the crowd as
I felt big as they boosted my
busking in all the glory. I paused
whole crowd cheered differently when I did that. They
feeling was irreplaceable. Not even Alora can match it. It was magical. I couldn't even
warm and I was feeling... argh I can't
exited the ring
the dressing room but I didn't.
shower and for dressed. The excitement of my own
door bursted open and when I realised it was my best friend not Styles
his weird congratulations because I knew he wouldn't
still have goosebumps thinking about that fight.