"This was a mistake!" Ian said on the driver's seat of Cindy's car while clenching his stomach.
"That was... harder than last time." Cindy commented while doing the same on the passenger's seat.
"But we did it."
"Ah. Yes, we did, Baby."
"I wish we bloody hadn't. But we can't go back now."
"I won't eat for a week after that."
"At least you had something to down it with."
"You could have had water, silly! Why didn't you?"
"I don't want tap water from such a place." Ian answered.
Cindy started giggling but quickly stopped because it hurt too much.
"You wanna go home already?" Ian asked whilst looking through the windshield.
"Nooooo, not yet." Cindy answered.
Ian sighed.
"What else do you want to do then?" Ian asked and got to thinking.
"She's two lagers deeper now. Why did I even ask that? I should take her home now no matter what." He thought inside his mind.
"I want to go to the sea shore." Cindy said and smiled with satisfaction, seemingly being all right already.
"Why? It'll be cold as balls in there. It's already chilly out there."
"I know, but I like being there."
"You go there regularly?"
"No."
"Then why now? Why not just go home?"
"We could go there too if you want." Cindy said and rotated to look at Ian.
"No, I didn't mean that we would... Ugh. Fine. Let's go to the shore then to get it over with."
"Mmm yessss." Cindy said in response.
Ian got the car started and asked Cindy for directions again, which she happily gave. Even if she was slow in giving them.
"Put the bloody seat belt on this time." Ian said as he was already driving.
"Why? You'll be careful. I trust you." Cindy said and let out a tipsy giggle.
"Not if you're so distracting."
"Ohh, you find me distracting? Can't keep your eyes off me?"
"Not what I meant."
"Keep denying it."
"I will."
"Ha. You've enjoyed our time together tonight. I know it. You asked to crash for a reason."
"Oh fuck, I did! I had business at the town tonight! I'm late for that now! Fuck! I need to get there!" Ian blabbered.
"Is it more important than this?" Cindy asked.
"Way more important. There's money to be made there. And I really need money right now." Ian explained as calmly as he could.
"Here." Cindy said and put something on Ian's lap.
"What was that?" Ian asked.
"Eyes on the road. You'll find out once we're at the shore. If you go anywhere else, I'll take it back." Cindy said playfully.
"If I don't even know what it is, then I don't really care."
"The shore is left of this turn. Make your choice now. I think you'd like my offer." Cindy said earnestly as the car was coming to a turn.
"I'll have more chances to fight at the factory. Being on Cindy's good side would be smart. I saw that tip she gave at the burger place." Ian thought to himself and made a decision.
He took the left turn where there was a parking lot. Down from the parking lot was a rocky shore where waves were hitting against it and splashing. Ian parked the car in the empty parking lot in a way that the front was pointing to the sea.
"You made a good choice. Now look at your lap." Cindy said and leaned her elbow on the backrest.
Ian looked at his lap and his eyes widened.
"Five hundred quid? What's that for?" Ian asked.
"For being a good date." Cindy answered and kept looking at Ian with a smile.
"This wasn't a..." Ian was about to correct Cindy but then realised that he should probably keep Cindy happy now for his own benefit.
"Hm?" Cindy let out.
"I mean... It's been a nice date."
"Mmm, glad you agree." Cindy said and got up from the car, stumbling as soon as her foot hit the asphalt.
"Where are you going now?" Ian asked and also got out of the car.
"Getting a closer look." Cindy said and stumbled over to the edge of a concrete downhill where the rocky beach awaited below.
She sat down at the top of the low concrete slope and looked into the sea.
"You want to join me, Baby?" Cindy called while looking into the dark sea.
Ian sat on Cindy's right side and looked at the banknote on his hand.
"You're really just giving this to me?" Ian asked.
"Of course. You said you need money. I've got money to spare. Simple as." Cindy reassured.
"But you're obviously not thinking all straight. You're knackered. You can't handle alcohol that well."
"It's not the alcohol. I would have given you anything you asked anytime if you had just asked." Cindy assured cheerfully.
"Really now?" Ian asked with doubt in his voice.
"Of course, Baby." Cindy said and leaned her head on Ian's shoulder again, like she had done a lot this evening.
"She said that she'll pay me anytime. Is this how I'll pay for that repair now. I don't want to be her bloody prostitute, but sure beats getting punched in the face for less money. But boxing is my dream and it's been too long since I had any practice and I want to get back in the feel before starting training again. Might as well get paid for it. Being with Cindy again is not something I want even if I get paid more." Ian thought to himself while looking into the dark sea.
"Cindy." Ian said.
"Yes, Baby." Cindy said while feeling satisfied where she rested her head.
"Enough of this already." Ian said firmly.
"Hm?" Cindy let out.
"I need to say something I should have already said." Ian added.
"Me too, Baby!" Cindy desperately exclaimed.
"Wait, what? I don't think you underst..." Ian was about to say but he stopped when he felt the awkward feeling of Cindy assaulting his jawbone with her lips without opening her eyes at all, presumably thinking that she was doing it to another part of Ian's face.
"I understand you, Baby. Better than anybody else." Cindy mumbled in a drunken trance and then continued what she was doing.
"No, you don't understand. I don't want this." Ian explained calmly with an annoyed expression on his face.
"Mmm, I don't want this act of denying our feelings anymore either." Cindy mumbled and continued her unwelcome assault again.
"Not what I meant." Ian stated.
"I never stopped thinking about you, Baby." Cindy said and then rested her head on Ian's shoulder again.
"Great. So that's how she feels. Now she won't be happy just being friends. She'll only be happy if we're more than that. And I reckon she'll only help me with money if I agree to get back together with her. There goes that money making opportunity." Ian thought while looking into the black horizon while Cindy snored in her resting position.
"Guess I should finally take you home now."
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After Ian had put Cindy in the backseat and driven her car to her driveway, he pulled the keys out of the ignition switch and looked at all the keys in the same ring, trying to figure out which one unlocks the house's front door. He found a key that looked right and stepped out of the car and looked at the front door of the house only to find it open.
"Did she forget to close the door? Makes my job easier, I guess. Hope no one snuck in while we were gone." Ian thought and figured he should take a look inside to see if he could see any signs of uninvited guests.
He left Cindy in the backseat and walked to the front door. He pushed the door open and quietly stepped in. Everything in the house was dark but the streetlights from outside brought a little bit of light in. The light coming in made muddy shoeprints on the floor visible.
"Oh fucking hell." Ian quietly said when he saw the prints.
He saw that they led up the dangerous looking steps. He decided to follow them quietly. Up the stairs it was harder to see the prints, but that was no longer necessary, as he heard a noise. It sounded like a drawer being pulled open.
"I haven't got a weapon, but I'll fucking take this bloke down with my hands." Ian swore in his mind and went towards the room where the sound came from.
He peeked through the door that was slightly open. In the darkness he could see a red tracksuit wearing figure with a black hood on.
"This cunt is going to regret ever coming here."
Ian pushed the door open but to his misfortune, it creaked, alerting the person in the room. The person turned around and was ready to throw a crowbar at Ian before stopping.
"Ian? The fuck're you doing 'ere?" A familiar voice said from under a half mask.
The mysterious figure took off the hood and the half mask and revealed himself as Ian's factory buddy Ronnie.
"Ronnie? The fuck are you doing here?" Ian asked back.
"This is the fucking risky job I told you about." Ronnie answered.
"What, burglary?"
"Yeah, mate. I told you it pays well. Usually."
"Are you fucking crazy?"
"Crazy rich maybe. Or soon to be. This bitch is bloody loaded, mate."
"You're not taking shit from here, mate! Put everything back!" Ian pleaded.
"Why would I do that? And how did you get lost in 'ere anyway?"
"Because I bloody know the bitch who the house belongs to!" Ian whisper shouted.
"You do?"
"She's my bloody..."
"You know what? Don't matter what she is to you. I went through all this effort and all this risk. Would it kill you to turn a blind eye?"
"Suppose it wouldn't but I can't just let you take her shit!"
"Why not? She'll be fine. Look at this place!" Ronnie pointed out to Ian.
"Well. I guess she won't die if she loses some of her useless valuables but... Hey! What's that on your neck?" Ian asked Ronnie and pointed at a necklace.
"Oh this? I found this in the bottom of a drawer buried under all kinds of paper rubbish. Almost like the owner never wanted to see it again or something." Ronnie answered.
"Do you know how fucking long I saved money to get her that necklace?" Ian whisper shouted again.
"Of course I don't fucking know, ya daft cunt." Ronnie answered.
"It was the only birthday gift I ever got her. Surprised she still has it."
"Listen, mate. It was literally buried under receipts from a year and half ago. She had put it out of sight for a reason. She didn't want your shitty little gift. But somebody else might, and I'll provide." Ronnie argued.
"If she didn't want to keep it, she would have thrown it away or sold it. Almost like she couldn't let go of it but also didn't want to see it." Ian quietly pondered in his mind.
"Anything else to say?" Ronnie asked and hoisted a rucksack on his shoulder.
Ian went quiet and took a good long moment to argue in his head what he should say, and how much does he truly value Cindy. Ronnie had already made his decision and was ready to walk past Ian when Ian grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"Fine. Take it. Not my fucking loss." Ian said.
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"I can't carry her inside now. When she wakes up and finds her valuables sacked, it'd be obvious that I knew about it but didn't do anything. Best I just leave her in the backseat and give her the keys. She can make the discovery on her own and I can just say that I left her in backseat and couldn't have known that someone broke in." Ian thought as he left the house and locked the front door.
He opened the door to the backseat and tossed the key ring to Cindy who was still asleep. As Ian did that, he noticed a smartphone poking out the pocket of Cindy's suit jacket. He got an idea. He noticed that the phone had fingerprint unlock, so he put Cindy's right index finger on the censor and as expected, the phone unlocked.
"Good night. And good bye." Ian said as he deleted his own number from Cindy's contacts along with their message thread.
"Bitch thought she could just bribe me into being with her again. I changed my mind. I'd rather get beaten in the fighting ring every night than be her escort. Fuck that. I have a at least some amount of pride left." Ian thought while jogging towards home.
Once he ran past the usual houses on his way home and looked at the valuables inside, he got certain ideas now that he knew that Ronnie does burglary jobs. He also knew that doing such jobs on the same street where he lives would a sure way to get found. Once he reached his home, he caught his breath by the front door before carefully stepping in and sneaking into his own room where he collapsed on the bed once again.
"No fucking school tomorrow. For once I can sleep as long as I want. I reckon tomorrow's another fight night. I won't need to ride to school anymore but I'll still need to ride to the factory. I'll get that bike fixed eventually and I'll be good. Even if I just get the the loser's pay every night, it still pays better than any job my useless arse would get anyway." He thought as he closed his eyes and took a comfortable position on his bed.
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"What time is it?" Ian said to himself in his bed and looked for his phone that wasn't in his pocket anymore.
Daylight shone into the room where the messy bed under lots of sports themed posters and a combat sports team's banner. By the opposite wall from the bed was a television stand and a telly that hadn't functioned in years. Next to the television was a badly organised wardrobe.
"There. Fucking Hell. 1 PM. I never get to sleep this late on a school week. And what the fuck does Lloyd want to say to me now?" Ian said when he found his phone on the floor and checked the time.
He opened the messages and saw that Lloyd had send him six messages.
"Hi."
"You coming to school today?"
"First class over."
"They announced the date for the retry of the test if you're interested."
"Are you?"
"I fucking hate these people."
Are what Lloyd's messages said, each of them having about ten minutes between them before the messages had stopped.
"That fucking loser probably has his head in a toilet right now. Not really my problem. I want to just chill at home. Though I'll have to quietly go somewhere before mum comes out of her little office and then return at my usual time so she doesn't wonder why I'm home so early. And looks like she was really worried about me last night based on her messages here. I probably should have told her that I'm going somewhere but sod it." Ian thought to himself and lied down.
"But what do I do now? Fights are in the night and I don't have a job, or anything to dedicate my time to. Already slept and don't really feel like I need any more rest." He thought to himself on the bed.
"Might as well ask Ronnie about his other gigs." He concluded and took his phone out.
"Any fights tonight?" Was the message that Ian sent to start a conversation, and then waited.
"It's every night this week. Just tell me and I'll relay the message to Bloodhound." Was Ronnie's reply.
"Is the payment the same as the last time?" Ian asked.
"For your first few fights yeah. If you become a regular favourite in the betting odds, your winner's pay might go up."
"Hm. Guess I have an incentive to keep fighting there. If I can start getting some wins, I'll get that bike fixed in no time." Ian thought and lied down again.
"I can do anything but I don't want to do anything. Fights start at 10 PM so I have all of the time in between for myself. Guess I could go train at a gym. But that costs money. I still got to train somehow or I'll never get better." He thought to himself and got an idea.
"I could fight the fuckers who fuck with Lloyd." He thought and a light bulb lit up.
He took a shower and noticed that his ear was no longer bleeding, only smelling horrible. He cleaned the ear thoroughly and got dressed in a school uniform that passes the dress code. He walked all the way to school, not worrying about being late since he was no longer interested in it. He was going there for other reasons.
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Once in the university, Ian noticed that class must be in session since the front of the building was empty and not even the usual punks were in their usual break spot. Nobody was in the hallways either. Ian sat down by one of the classroom where his class often is and just waited.
"Fuck, this light is hurting my eye. Why does it have to be so bright?" Ian complained quietly.
He took his phone from is pocket and sent a message.
"Come outside to the hallways." Ian typed and sent the message to Lloyd.
"Why?" Was Lloyd's reply.
"Just come here. I've got something to say."
"Where are you?"
"Building C. Floor 2. Room 12." Ian replied.
No reply came from Lloyd but a door was opened downstairs and steps could also be heard downstairs. The steps moved across the hall below and after ten seconds, the same door downstairs was opened again and the sounds of more steps followed it. Steps started coming from the staircase towards floor C and Ian stood up. Coming from the staircase Ian saw Lloyd who was looking around nervously and walking towards Ian.
"Anyone follow you?" Ian asked once Lloyd was closer.
"I don't think so. Why did you ask me here?"
"Damn. I specifically wanted somebody to follow you. But hey. Who's that cunt over there? Oi!" Ian said to Lloyd and then turned his attention to two pupils who he recognised as two of those who always bully Lloyd.
As soon as they noticed Ian, they turned back.
"Where are you going? You came here for a reason, right?" Ian yelled at them.
"There's two of 'em. There's two of us. Nobody's watching. Why are we turning away from them?" One of the bullies said to the other and they both stopped.
"Come here if you've got some business here!" Ian yelled at them from a distance.
"What are you doing? Are you looking for trouble?" Lloyd said to Ian who didn't reply.
The bullies looked at each other and then looked at Ian and Lloyd and tuned to walk towards them.
"I've been waiting to teach you fuckers a lesson." Ian said to the bullies who were now close to him.
"We've been waiting to get you out of the way." One of the bullies said back to Ian.
"I'll just return to class." Lloyd meekly said and tried to walk past his bullies but they shoved him down.
"Fight me, cunts!" Ian yelled at the bullies, feeling a little bit of genuine anger over what they just did to Lloyd.
"Fight you? You sure you want that?" One of them said.
Ian's response was to punch the other bully and knock him out with one left hook.
"Fight me!" Ian repeated to the one remaining.
His response was to punch Ian with a left hook of his own, but Ian didn't go down. Ian took a step back and put his dukes up, as did the remaining bully. Lloyd stood up and watched from aside. Ian waited for his opponent to throw the first strike so that he could practise his reflexes. The first strike was thrown. It was a right hook that Ian ducked by going low. He responded with a punch in the bullies gut that made him bend over slightly. The bully's head was unguarded and Ian could have finished him, but decided to keep the fight going. Or at least that is what Ian thought he was doing, as the bully surprised him with an uppercut to the chin. The hit caused Ian to back away and as he was stumbling, he got a kick in the gut. Something he never got in the boxing training that he did once upon a time. When he saw a straight right hand coming, he ducked and landed one of his own. The bully felt it and took a step back, but clearly had enough of this. The bully tackled Ian to the ground and landed on top oh him. The landing took the wind out of Ian, but the worst was yet to come. Strikes came raining down. When Ian would protect his face, the strikes went to his stomach. When he protected his stomach, the blows landed on his face. Lloyd started dragging the bully off Ian but only got an elbow in his chin for his troubles. This distraction allowed Ian to land a strike on his opponent's chin that caused him to roll off. That's when a teacher got in the middle and spread his arms around to separate Ian and the bully and Lloyd. Without Ian noticing it, the classes had ended and people were coming out of the classrooms. Another teacher came to the scene to check on the other bully who was knocked out on the floor, and lots of students were watching from the sides. Some looked worried, some looked pumped.
"Maltman! Ashworth! What is happening here?" The teacher shouted in anger between the two young men.
Neither one said anything. Ian noticed that Lloyd had disappeared and the knocked out bully was being taken away.
"You do understand that fighting will get you suspended or even expelled?" The teacher threatened both of them.
"Good? I'm fucking done with this place anyway. I came here specifically to fight these cunts. I got what I wanted." Ian said and walked away from the scene, pushing everyone out of his way as he made his way towards the staircase.
After he had broke free from the crowd, the rest of the hallway was less populated. He walked along it towards the staircase trying to be invisible but before he made it there, he stopped by the bathroom.
"Might as well take my last piss here so mum won't have to pay for the water." He stated and pulled the door handle.
It didn't open. It was occupied.
"Of course." Ian stated and leaned on the wall next to the door.
"Guess that was a good bit of training. Learned that I should be prepared for things that boxing training didn't teach me. Like kicks and tackles. Not sure if those are legal in the factory. Guess I'll find out eventually." Ian thought to himself while leaning on the wall.
He didn't have much else to think about so he just leaned there like he was still a student there and like this was just like any other day. In the relative silence his ears perked up when he started hearing quiet cussing and the sound of slapping coming from the bathroom. He listened more closely and recongised the voice.
"You fucking wanking in there, Lloyd?" Ian said to the door after recognising the voice as Lloyd's.
"Huh? What?" Lloyd's voice replied.
"That's what it sounds like." Ian said back.
"No, that's not it." The voice replied and the door opened.
"The fuck were you doing here?" Ian asked after noticing that Lloyd's face was red with handprints.
"Just... washing my hands." Lloyd answered, being a bad liar.
"You were abusing yourself again, weren't you?" Ian asked, being familiar with one of Lloyd's old habits.
"I... I was." Lloyd answered, not wanting to lie to his only friend.
"That's not healthy, man. Stop that. And what were you even angry at yourself over this time?" Ian asked.
"Nothing really..." Lloyd said and came out of the bathroom entirely.
"Nothing really? So you were just slapping yourself and calling yourself a fucking idiot for the fun of it? Come on, man. You only do this shite when you're angry at yourself. What is it?" Ian asked seriously.
"Why do you even care? Like you've ever cared about any of my shit." Lloyd said back, trying to sound edgy.
"I don't fucking have time for this. Good luck then. Enjoy this shithole and the ants living in it." Ian said and turned away to walk out.
"Are you quitting the school because I'm such a burden?" Lloyd blurted out.
Ian stopped walking and returned to Lloyd.
"No? I'm quitting because I can't stand studying, and I'm not going to endure a year more of this shite just to get some white collar job that I'd also hate. I can't stand the people here and I can't stand the teachers here. I want to make money!" Ian explained.
"Oh. I guess I get you." Lloyd said back.
"So you were abusing yourself because you thought you were the reason I'm quitting?" Ian asked.
"Well... sort of."
"Cute that you think that I even think about you that much. You had nothing to do with my decision. Though I feel a bit sorry for you now that you'll be alone."
"Well... thanks for the sympathy."
"You think you'll manage alone here?" Ian asked.
"No." Lloyd answered.
"Well... fuck." Ian said and chuckled.
"Yesterday was awful." Lloyd quietly said.
"Oh. How?"
"William and his mates."
"That cunt." Ian said bitterly.
"Yeah..."
"I almost want to stay here just so that wanker won't win." Ian said.
"Could you?"
"I said Almost."
"Could you teach me to fight then?" Lloyd asked.
"Didn't expect you to ever ask something like that." Ian said and chuckled.
"Well, can you?"
"Mate, proper training costs money. That's why I don't have any."
"You obviously can fight a little."
"I'm a little busy on the evenings and you'll be busy at days. But if you want to see me fight again, come to the industrial district tonight and go to the building where you see lights and hear music." Ian told Lloyd.
"I'm not sure where that is. Could I go there with you?"
"Ugh. Fine, mate."
"I can pick you up from your house." Lloyd suggested.
"Fine. Deal. Not like anyone would see at that hour anyway."
"Did I overhear my name mentioned?" William called while walking towards Ian and Lloyd and being accompanied by two of his questionable friends.
Ian rolled his eyes and Lloyd looked down.
"Yes. We were talking about what a cunt you are." Ian said back to William who just chuckled and smirked.
"Rude." William said back without losing his smug expression.
"Best you deserve." Ian said.
"And the best you deserve is to be expelled after that stunt you pulled. My my. How did someone like you even get accepted here? Actually, right before you came here I think I saw your mother come out of the headmaster's office..." William was telling Ian just before Ian grabbed William's collar.
Ian raised his hand like he was ready to break William's teeth but before he could do it, William's friends tore Ian away.
"Barbarian." William said and adjusted his shirt.
Ian was let go as William and his friends walked out of scene, noticing the headmaster approaching.
"Mister Ian Maltman." The headmaster called while walking closer to Ian and Lloyd.
"That's me." Ian said.
"I know. Based on the incident report of what just happened and reports of your ongoing attitude problems, you should be expelled from the university. But things happened and we decided that you still deserve to stay here. So remember to come to school tomorrow as well. That is all."
"What? But I wanted to get expelled. What kind of decision was that?" Ian said back to the headmaster.
"Let's just say that something influenced our decision. You should be grateful." The headmaster said and walked away.
"What an odd thing to say." Lloyd pointed out.
"Yeah. Well. See you at the factory tonight. Come pick me up at ten."
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