Friends are medicine for a wounded heart, and vitamins for a hopeful soul." –Steve Maraboli

[19]

heavy. Sweat glistens off his back as his hands hit the worn out leather in front of him.

There are a lot of things I don't know about Adam Black. For one, I had no idea he is a boxer, or that his father died and most of all, the reason why he's so dark and mysterious.

In other words: why he's known as the 'bad boy'.

It's been a mystery to me. Why Adam decided to stop hating me and instead take interest in me.

I thought he hated me and then one day, it just stopped. Of course, the rivalry between David and him is still there, but why the sudden interest in the weird girl that never talked?

It's confusing and I don't understand why. I don't understand a lot of things though.

"Living up to the title I see, Bad boy," I yell, laughing at my own joke. Adam's head snaps back to me before a grin sets on his face.

"Hello, Prezioso."

I smile at him and wave my hand.

"Sup," I reply with a casual wave. I chuck Adam a towel and take a few steps back.

"Awh, Prezioso! Do you not want a hug?" He jokes as he lunges forward.

"Eww! Get away from me, you fat ogre!" I scream back. Adam stops his chasing and falls to his knees, his hand up against his heart as if he were 'wounded'.

"Prezioso..." he whispers. I grin at him as I watch his playful acting. "What have you done?'

I stand there, laughing as I watch my friend die in front of me. It seems quite evil, to be honest, but when you have a friend like Adam - mood swings and all - you learn to love this side of him. I punch his arm lightly and grab his hand, pulling him up to his feet.

"Thanks, Prezioso," Adam says. I wave my hand playfully and shake my head.

"Anytime, bud." I stand on my tiptoes and ruffle his hair.

That isn't the smartest decision of my life...

"Fucking hell, Adam! Did you pour water in your hair or something?" I scream in disgust. Adam grins at me and shakes his head.

"Nope, just my own body's delicacies," he replies with a wink.

My screams fill the room as I try to shake the disgusting liquid that belongs to Adam off my hand. "You're such a pig you know?"

"Of course."

"And I hate you so much for making me do that!"

"Mhm, keep talking..."

"You - you fat ogre!"

"You love me," he winks, again. I shake my head and glare at him.

"Sure, whatever floats your boat..."

"Oh but Isabelle, you float my boat!" Adam jokes in a sing like voice. I scowl at him and give him a soft shove.

"I'll be out in a few, just let me grab my things," Adam says before leaving the room. I decide to take a quick look at the gym.

Pictures of people in the ring and people fighting are basically the only things on the walls. There is one picture in particular that catches my eye, though.

I slowly start walking towards it. A man that looks to be in his late-thirties stands and smiles at a young twelve-year-old boy. My fingers trace the face of the oddly familiar boy.

"Adam..." I whisper as realisation dawns in on me. Adam is the boy in the ring, smiling at the man. His father, maybe?

"That was when I first started fighting..." a deep voice speaks from behind me. I quickly turn around and am met with a familiar face.

"Who's that?" I ask, pointing towards the man. Adam smiles.

"Coach, more like a father to me though." I softly smile up at him and nod.

"That's cool."

"Yeah..." He whispers.

We stand in silence for a few minutes, Adam deep in thought. I shuffle around on my feet awkwardly before I finally speak up.

"So - um...do you want to go out and grab something to eat? I don't really care, it's up to you..." Adam cuts me off with a chuckle.

"Sure."

"Yeah?"

"Let's go!" Adam takes me by the hand and drags me out the room. I can basically feel myself getting hungry just at the thought of food.

"She's kind of cute, though!" I say, laughing at Adams frustrated face.

"She's not! She's devil spawn, I swear!" Adam runs a frustrated hand through his hair, cursing at his little sister.

"At least you have a sibling..." I mutter, raising my eyebrows. Adam shrugs and sits back in his seat.

"One's life could be much easier without one, that's for sure." I burst out laughing and playfully punch Adam in the arm.

"Oh please! We all know you secretly love her..." Adam nods his head and grins at me.

"Touché, Prezioso."

We sit in a comfortable silence, our own thoughts consuming our minds. Who would have thought that I would be the one to break the 'bad boys' exterior.

It hasn't even two months when Adam didn't know who I was. It's crazy how far I've come. Not many people can say that they're friends with Adam Black.

Adam suddenly speaks, breaking me from my thoughts.

"Can I ask you something, Isabelle?" He asks.

I tilt my head to the side out of curiosity and nod my head. "Shoot."

"Do you remember that night we kissed?"

I freeze, all previous thoughts now are gone. The night where Adam kissed me and found that bruise on my face. That night was the most magical night of my life. That night, I almost forgot.

I, Isabelle Thompson, had kissed Adam Black. The most frustratingly, annoying but somewhat (to a degree), good-looking bad boy.

I nod my head.

"I've been meaning to ask you this for a while but I didn't want to make things awkward and all..." I narrow my eyes at him. This doesn't seem like it's going to go well.

"I know you said that the bruise was nothing, but I kind of feel like you're lying to me...I don't know, it's just that something about it didn't feel right."

My whole body is frozen. I don't move nor do I break eye contact with Adam.

That night.

"Isabelle," Adam pauses and shifts in his seat.

"I want you to tell me how you got that bruise."