Chapter 13

I felt like a complete zombie. I won’t understand why I bothered going to school. I would probably learn nothing by the rate I’m processing things.

“Dude, you look like shit.” Dom exclaimed once he saw me going down the stairs. My clothes were ruffled, my hair was a mess and I’m pretty sure my face was pale and have bags under my eyes.

“Yeah, I feel like it too,” I muttered to him. Monday is so not my day.

Not soon after that, I was greeted by sweet Monic who had a look of pure horror. She didn’t even bother hiding it. “Case, are you sure you’re fine?”

“Never said I was, Mon, never said I was.” I mumbled to her.

Jake and Adam were eating breakfast in the kitchen and since Adam’s back was towards the door, he still hadn’t said anything, yet. But that soon ended when Jake started choking on his food. Adam looked at him worriedly and reached over the counter to pat his back.

“Dude, you okay?”

Really? Did I look that bad? Probably. Meh.

Jake just nodded and gulped down some water before raising his eyebrows towards me but kept his mouth shut. Adam, though, saw the motion and took a glance behind and saw me. Although it looked more like he saw a butchered baby bird.

Yeah, their expressions in response to my state, yeah, it was that bad.

“I know, I know, I looked like shit that just got trampled over by some dick ass truck driver.” I offered before he got the chance to voice it. He let it go and nodded instead, seeming terrified to make any further comments.

The guys decided to have a sleepover and we spent the weekend together, catching up, eating junk food while watching movies and going out for a walk and ice cream.

I took a plate and started filling it with some eggs and bacon that I think Monic cooked. If I haven’t mentioned it, I can’t cook even if my life depended on it. Once, I tried heating up something in the oven and ended up almost burning half of the kitchen down.

I took a seat beside Adam and started wolfing down on the food. I started choking on it because my throat was too dry and Adam rushed over to the water dispenser and filled a glass “Go easy on it, Case.” He advised softly.

I sighed after successfully swallowing it, “Sorry, it’s a crappy morning today.”

“I can tell,” Jake retorted almost mindlessly, earning a glare from me which resulted in him raising his hand in mock surrender.

I made a mental note to visit the Underground Place tonight before I go insane from the inner battle going inside my head. What can I say? It’s my number one refuge. While other people have an ice cream parlor to go to after a bad breakup, I have an illegal street fighting club as my go to place. Deal with it.

I tuned in to Adam and Jake’s conversation, catching a few words. “... Yeah, we should try it out.” Jake said with just as much enthusiasm a 5 year old would have after being offered cookies.

“We should try what out?” I asked warily.

“The Underground Place.”

Okay, that’s not creepy at all. What? So now they’re psychics too? Great, just great.

Why am I being so moody?

Groaning loudly, I realized I’m probably close to that time of the month. About that, I need to buy some necessities.

Wait, hold up one sec. Did they say Underground Place? Oh shit. How the hell did they know my haven? If I ever get my hands on the guy that’s been telling strangers about my place, they’ll wish they’ve never been born. That’s my safe haven they’re inviting strangers into.

I felt my facial expression go stoic and blank, trying to play dumb.

Remember, Case, they don’t know you street fight and that means you do not know what the Underground Place is.

“What’s the Underground Place?” I wanted to pat myself for sounding so idiotic but caught myself.

“Adam’s got connections all over the state and one of his cousins is a badass street fighter. When he decided to move here, his cousin gave him pointers on the best place to street fight and the Underground Place was on top of the list.” Jake explained and this time, I didn’t need to pretend.

My eyes widened in shock as I processed what I just heard. So the new kid’s not so innocent after all. He street-fights and knows about illegal street fighting places, impressive and aggravating at the same time.

I had to refrain from choking on air. “You what?!” I sputtered out in disbelief.

Adam shrugged and gave me a smirk, “Don’t look so baffled, Nerd.”

“Oh yeah and he’s pretty good too,”

I could tell Jake wanted to say more and elaborate but was silenced when Adam shot him a look.

“Anyways, my cousin told me he was going to visit and wanted to take me there himself while he’s in town and we’re supposed to meet today. He invited me to go with him and I thought why not. So, do you want in?” he quirked an eyebrow.

I pulled off an unsure demeanor as I pulled the last card to see how far he’s going to take this.

“Is it legal?” My inner self beamed at me at how convincing I sounded.

“Does it matter?”

I scowled at how nonchalant he sounded. What if I was an innocent girl who knows nothing about these shits? He would be dragging some rookie’s ass into our world.

Adam sighed in defeat, “Okay, maybe it’s not that legal.”

That’s an understatement. I shot him a pointed look and he threw his hands in the air. “Alright, it’s nowhere near legal,” he dropped the agitated look and wiggled his eyebrows at me, “but rules are meant to be broken, are they not?”

I snorted mentally, bro, you have no idea.

But the thought got me thinking. Should I?

At one point, I miss the adrenaline I get every time I so much as step inside the building and hear the crowds cheering and going wild whenever someone was able to pin their opponent down but in the other hand, no one is supposed to know I am Casey here and no one is supposed to know that I am Pixie there.

My two lives can never mix. I can put my family in danger if I ever do that and I will not be held responsible for another family member’s death.

Adam looked me in the eye, that glint in his eyes were back and he helped me make the decision the second he opened his mouth. “What’s wrong, Nerd? Too scared to break the rules?”

There is one thing you should know about me, when I’m challenged, I will never back down under two circumstances; the risks of dying has a high percentage or it has something to do with God forsaken Mathematics. Other than that, consider anything I say next as a yes.

I narrowed my eyes at him, all thoughts thrown out the window as I eyed him, “Bring it on.”

He smirked at me and I knew that I just got myself buried in some deep shit.