[color=lightgray][right][sub]TIMESTAMP: After [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5535308]This is How We Roll[/url] [@LovelyComplex], [@smarty0114] & [@Hey Im Jordan][/sub][/right] [center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240630/4aa4c578b0088eaf8e2827b4aedd69ca.png[/img] [b][color=D2D2D2]____________________________________________________________________[/color] [/b] [img]https://i.imgur.com/3m7qcOU.png[/img] [b][color=D2D2D2]____________________________________________________________________[/color] [/b][/center] [/color] [color=lightgray][indent][indent][color=#a52521]“See, Dash this is how you paint a pinstripe, dude. Your line was squiggly... Dash?”[/color] Owen spoke confidently as he wheeled around on his heel to find that Dash was… nowhere to be found. That wasn’t a big deal, Owen had already lost Dash’s attention three or four times, and getting it back wasn’t that difficult. What did bother him though, was how when he looked at the chair where his phone had been sitting, there was a whole lot of nothing. [color=#a52521]“OI! DASH! WHERE THE FUCK’S MY PHONE?”[/color] Owen had gotten a text, requested that Dash respond to it… and now he didn’t know where anything was. Did he just get punked? As he peered around the gym, Owen found himself to be not as angry as he would have been with anyone else. He and Dash had been hanging out and chatting for a while by the time they’d gotten this far in the painting. Anyone else, and Owen probably would have been having a bit too much fun envisioning all the ways he could pound their face in, but Dash Day? Owen had known him for [i]almost[/i] a single entire evening, and they would already kill for each other. His phone was fine. It was just… missing. [color=#a52521]“Dash! Seriously!”[/color] [color=#dc143c]“Why are we yelling?!”[/color] Kylie yelled back, opening the door to her husband’s office and there appeared a wild Dash by her. [color=#dc143c]“We were just talking and he found my snack stash.” [/color]There was a quick instant where Ky turned to the smaller boy and gave him a wink. Obediently, Dash did what he was instructed by Mama Lyon. Running to Owen he gave the boy one, his phone back and two, a box of condoms.[color=#21a525] “Your mom told me you’re going to need this!”[/color] Owen frowned as he wondered what his mother and Dash could have been talking about in the office by themselves, but he felt an immediate wave of relief wash over him as his father followed them out. [color=#3545c4]“I asked her to leave it alone.”[/color] Troy said with a shrug and Owen looked down at the box of condoms Dash thrust into his hands, and then at his phone where he read back through the texts Dash had sent. Owen frowned and Troy shrugged. [color=#3545c4]“I’m going home. Your mother is coming with me. Your padawan stays. Your demon cat stays. She’s upstairs asleep, I think.”[/color] Owen listened to Troy’s words, but he couldn’t stop the pink tint appearing on his ears as he realized what was happening. His mother, Dash, and Jamie (unknowingly) had teamed up to hook him up with a girl he’d never met, or even seen. [color=#a52521]“Man, what if I don’t like her. Did you think about that?”[/color] Owen asked the group, but he knew his words would fall on deaf ears. His father was nearly at the door already, and gesturing for his wife. [color=#3545c4]“Kylie, let’s fucking go. Kid’s gonna be fine. It’s called the 365 Combat Club. Someone’s gotta be here 24/7. We live like fifteen minutes away. Chop chop, I wanna get out of here before more teenagers show up.”[/color] He paused. Then, he continued. [color=#3545c4]“I fucking hate teenagers.”[/color] [color=#dc143c]“It’s The Lyon’s Den, you promised!” [/color]Kylie protested as she gave a little wave to her son’s duo. Rushing to her husband, who was now waiting for her by the door, she had a sudden realization. [color=#dc143c]“Oh, lover of mine. I just remembered, Sunday I have a brunch planned with all my friends. From highschool. Meaning I’ve sent texts and we’re in discussion for obvious girl time.” [/color]Grabbing onto his muscular arm, she beamed up at her man, batting her eyes and being the dutiful, loving wife, always at his side, [color=#dc143c]“Belle already said she’s down. She’s flying here tomorrow!”[/color] Troy Lyon did not like this revelation and it was almost immediate even to Dash with the way his shoulders slumped, and he squinted down at his wife as she hung off of his arm. [color=#3545c4]“Are their husbands going?”[/color] Kylie thought about it for a second, looking around as if she was searching for an answer. [color=#dc143c]“Obviously! When have we ever had a girls night without our men? You’re so funny, baby. Oh wait, I guess we aren’t all coming with our husbands… Izzy has been talking about some serious stuff. She hasn’t even told her children yet.”[/color] [color=#3545c4]“Yeah? Sounds dramatic. Izzy doesn’t even like me. I decline.”[/color] [color=#dc143c]“What if…” [/color]Kylie purred, turning her chest toward her husband and pressing it against him not so subtly. She let her fingers walk up him, leisurely and playfully, before she caressed his bottom lip and giggled, [color=#dc143c]“What if I do the thing you really like… you know when we…” [/color] Troy frowned as he looked down at his wife, considering it. She only really did that for anniversaries and his birthday… He wondered if his son or Dash would judge him… but that didn’t stop him from nodding and speaking with absolute reluctance. [color=#3545c4]“Fine. Twice.”[/color] [color=#a52521]“Please stop talking aloud.”[/color] Owen pleaded, tossing the box of condoms off to the side. He’d get those when he needed them. If he needed them. [color=#dc143c]“THRICE!”[/color] Kylie shouted, so her son heard clearly. [color=#21a525]“Why not all night?!” [/color]Dash hollered after Mama Lyon, not knowing the context. Troy looked back at his son and shrugged. [color=#3545c4]“You’ll get it when you’re married. You two better be done painting by the time I get here in the morning.”[/color] With that, Troy spun on his heel toward the door, having been ready to leave long before Kylie appeared and begged him to let Owen’s ‘other friends’ come to the gym. That had gotten Troy at least one morning wood removal service. He felt pretty smug about that one - he would have let them come anyway. He yanked the door open, and found himself face to face with a girl and a boy he’d never seen before. Neither of them looked like they worked out, and Troy frowned. [color=#3545c4]“Wrong place. Go away.”[/color] Owen was quick to get involved at that point, appearing behind Troy and shaking his head. [color=#a52521]“Dad, dude. Those are my friends. Fuck off and go do something else. You told me you’d kill to have the house alone with mom… wellllll.”[/color] Troy frowned and thought about it, before he nodded. [color=#3545c4]“Good point. Kylie, no talking. We’re leaving.”[/color] To make sure things happened the way he wanted them to, Troy lifted Kylie up into his arms bridal style and walked past both of the other two standing in the doorway, headed toward the minivan in the parking lot. Owen looked at Jamie first, but then his eyes found Trixie and he was unable to stop himself. [color=#a52521]“Whoa.”[/color] Neither Trixie or Jamie had time to react or respond because Dash was dashin’. [color=#21a525]“You made it! Welcome to the Lyon, rawr, den, where Owen is here to show you how to kick ass like a ninja.” [/color]Dash began to fight an imaginary sparring partner, showing them his sick skills. Chop. Slap. Kick. Hadouken. The show of how not to fight ended with Dash breathing heavily in front of them, proudly grinning, hands on his hips. [color=#21a525]“So are you going to help us paint?” [/color] Jamie’s eyes bounced between Trixie and Owen and Dash, and he praised himself for the foresight to bring the second bottle of champagne. After catching a ride from Jim, the forty two year old Uber driver who was now spiriting away in his Honda Civic, Jamie was well and truly drunk, but he could still pick up a vibe. And here, there was most definitely a vibe. [color=#31ba9c]“I guess we are. Owen Lyon, this is Trixie Kingsley,” [/color]he said, gesturing between the pair. He did not bother introducing Dash. Everybody knew Dash. [color=#31ba9c]“We brought wine,” [/color]he slapped his palm against a bag, hanging from his shoulder, [color=#31ba9c]“and I would like to add, I am really killing my role as Peer Mentor.”[/color] He pushed past the boys, into the gym, and took a look around. [color=#31ba9c]“It’s cute. Bit industrial, but it’s a consistent aesthetic at least.”[/color] Trixie had a whole uber ride to sober up and gather her thoughts. She couldn’t believe Jamie convinced her to do this. All for what? To see a boy! Scott’s cousin at that. When they arrived, she did a double take when she saw the redhead clinging to the brawny man, feeling like she’d seen her before but unsure where and when. That, of course, wasn’t something of importance at this moment. What was important was for her to try her best to not embarrass herself in front of the new transfer student. Throughout Dash’s tangent, Trixie examined the boy who grabbed her attention by how he held himself, how he looked at her and how he behaved in her presence. Pushing her hair behind her ear when Jamie gave her introduction, she smiled at the boy, letting her friend take the lead on this one. [color=#21a525]“I don’t think I should drink,”[/color] Dash answered, knowing that booze would not be good for him because his mind was wired differently and he didn’t want to risk forgetting or doing something stupid. “I can’t make my mama worry about me so no can doooooo, Jamie. Thank you for the offer though! Super nice. Super dope. Super awesome.” He made an X with his arms, as his formal decline of the champagne. “You know,” he slyly continued. [color=#21a525]“Owen hasn’t taken a break yet. Maybe we need an ice breaker! That way he can get to know Trixie better since he knows me and he knows you, Jamie!”[/color] [color=#15603a]“That’s a very sweet suggestion, Dash,”[/color] Trixie acknowledged and validated the smaller boy, her pleasantly smooth and mellow tone voice finally out in the open air. While she was free from harshness, at least in this second, Beatrix was still raised with spice and vigor. She was feisty, feral and full of attitude given the circumstances. Don’t ever let a Latina fool you with their softness. Behind her calm demeanor, behind her beautiful brown eyes, there was a calculative she-wolf, protective of what was hers. The person she trusted the most in this gym was Jamie and as much as Owen Lyon was a looker, she wouldn’t let that distract her to the point that she let her guard down. She wasn’t raised to fall for some boy just because of his looks. No, Trixie deserved more. Not just someone that was handsome but someone that matched her energy and treated her with respect. Someone that loved her and didn’t blame her for their problems. Someone who wouldn’t get her to second guess herself and gaslight her until she barely knew what was true or not. Trixie deserved better and she would make sure if she gave into her impulses, it was because she wanted to and wasn’t pressured into it. [color=#15603a]“I’m sure Owen and I will have plenty of time to get to know one another tonight.”[/color] Trixie approached her new acquaintance, small yet mighty, and looked up at him, sizing him up as she did so. [color=#15603a]“Jamie talks highly of you.”[/color] That almost threw Owen off. Jamie talked highly of him? Jamie had known him for less than an hour, but Owen supposed he wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. He couldn’t deny the relief he felt when he realized that both he and Trixie were mutually eye-fucking one another, though he was still a bit embarrassed to admit he had audibly reacted to her appearance. Unsure of any other way to greet someone for the first time, Owen stuck out his hand for her to shake. [color=#a52521]“I’m Owen, it’s nice to meet you. I’m sure it isn’t as highly as he talks of you.”[/color] He beamed. Dash suggested something about an ice breaker, but if Owen was honest, he was so focused on Trixie that he hardly heard a word anyone else said. That was for the best, because if he had heard Jamie’s comments about the aesthetics of the gym, he might not have taken it very well. He turned to look out at the gym, a sweeping gesture toward the ring at one end of the building, [color=#a52521]“Jamie asked me if I can teach him how to beat his ex up. Do you think you’ll sign up too? It might be nice to have you around more often.”[/color] Trixie held a chuckle back, amused at how surprisingly adorable Owen was being. Her eyes rested briefly on his firm grip on her hand and the size of it in comparison to her’s. Her mind lingered, thinking about things she shouldn’t, until he gave her new information. She raised an eyebrow, finding it strange Jamie was going to do an MMA class. For self defense, against AJ. Anything physically taxing wasn’t really up Jamie’s speed but what made this even more surprising was that this desire to fight was ignited because of AJ. That told her that AJ [b]did[/b] hurt him. Why else would he want to beat up his ex? She looked over her shoulder at her friend, slightly irritated he didn’t tell her the whole truth. Trixie did wonder though, if this was all a ploy for her to get close to the new kid, which would be rather excessive even for Jamie. If that was true, she didn’t know what to think. She would much rather be mad at Jamie telling her half truths. Turning her attention back to Owen, crossing her arms, Trixie pointed out, almost defensively, [color=#15603a]“I’m not a beginner.”[/color] Yes, it was sweet that he wanted to see her more but there was no way she’d go to a class that didn’t challenge her. She had experience having learned some mma techniques from brothers. She built natural stamina, strength and endurance from a strict routine when she figure skated. She played hockey with her brothers from time to time, still to this day, and when she was angry or needed to clear her head, she boxed a punching bag. Trixie needed to release tension somehow and her home gym was made just for that. [color=#15603a]“Who is the one that decides the level? Do I need to prove myself? Because I will.”[/color] She said matter-of-factly. Trixie might be tipsy but that didn’t mean she would hesitate in fighting if it meant she wasn’t going to the baby class. Beatrix Kingsley was no baby fighter but she supposed, against someone like Theo, who could easily overpower her, she wasn’t nearly as good as she wanted to be. [color=#15603a]“If I take a class I want to learn how to defend myself against someone twice my size. My brothers taught me a few things but I don’t think it’s enough for… certain scenarios.”[/color] Trixie looked away when she said that last part, thinking of Theo once more and hating every minute of it. Walking to the ring, taking the lead, Dash immediately followed behind, energetic as always, she continued to give Owen her undivided attention and admitted, [color=#15603a]“I don’t like being underestimated.”[/color] [color=#21a525]“I don’t underestimate you Trixie! You’re actually kind of scary at school but not in the punchy sense,”[/color] Dash invaded the conversation. Owen frowned. He wasn’t sure why she felt the need to mention she wasn’t a beginner when he hadn’t called her one, but then… girls could be difficult. He followed her through the gym, but Owen would have been lying if he said he heard a single word Dash said as she approached the ring. It was like she was an angel sent from the heavens to make sure she was singly and holistically the only thing in his world that mattered. And who could blame him? Owen didn’t even know it was possible for hips to sashay from side to side like that. Was this just how she walked? Owen made a mental note to give Jamie a thousand thank yous, though he knew not even that would be enough. Trixie was going to change his life - hopefully for the better. Owen snapped himself out of his trance as she stopped in front of the ring and turned around to look at him. [color=#a52521]“Me. I teach the beginner class, so it’s up to me who goes up. You wanna do it right now? Here, hold up.”[/color] Owen stepped up onto the ring apron, and sat down on the middle ring, grabbing the upper one and holding it up, using his body to create an opening for Trixie to slip through. [color=#a52521]“You’re already dressed. We can spar. Dash, go get us gear. Gloves and two hea—”[/color] Owen paused to think about it. [color=#a52521]“One headpiece. I don’t need one.”[/color] [color=#21a525]“Aye aye Captain!” [/color]Dash saluted and just when he was about to run off, Trixie whispered for Dash to retrieve more water. Although she was distracted by Owen, and everything that he was, she did keep in the back of her mind how much Jamie was drinking. [color=#21a525]“Aye aye other captain!”[/color] While Jamie’s master plan had been executing itself, he had been busy finding a seat, watching the pair with a knowing, drunken smirk as he uncorked his champagne, the pop piercing the silence that Dash had left behind. He made a mental note to clean up the wine that had overflowed onto the floor. It was a note he would forget. [color=#31ba9c]“So, uh,” [/color]Jamie took a sip from his bottle. [color=#31ba9c]“why the hell did you guys move here? Are your parents models? They kinda looked like models,” [/color]Jamie shouted across the gym, unconcerned by this point with things like decorum, or decency. [color=#a52521]“I guess the guy who owned this gym passed away, and left it to my pops. He wants to make it popular like it was when he was younger.”[/color] Owen said with a shrug as he rested on the ropes, looking over at Jamie. When he said his parents looked like models, Owen laughed and shook his head. [color=#a52521]“My dad’s a UFC fighter, he’s out of the game though. My mom? My mom is a professional housewife and trust fund baby. She spends her days drinking wine, gossipping with her friends all day, and watching unhinged amounts of The Great British Baking Show and Real Housewives.”[/color] [color=#a52521]“You should tell her you think that, though. You’ll make her whole week.”[/color] When Owen offered to spar her to gauge her level, Trixie nodded, thinking that was a good idea. As the boys talked, she walked ahead and slipped into the ring. Scanning the area, staying silent as ever, she went to one end of the ring and began to warm up to get her blood moving (a set of jumping jacks, a set of sit ups and a set of push ups). She didn’t mind if the boys were watching her, she wasn’t going to be an idiot before sparring. Owen was a boy clearly twice her size and if she wasn’t smart she could get hurt. Raising her leg and resting it on the highest rope, she stretched and hummed to herself. The tiny girl with meat in all the right places and clearly flexible was serious. He made the offer and she was going to take it. Trixie wanted to see where she needed to improve to take down someone like… someone like Theo. She worried if things were to escalate she wouldn’t be able to protect herself. That was a scary thought. Jamie nodded. He was pretty sure that he’d be far too drunk by the end of the night to really retain much of this information, but hey, it was the thought that counted. [color=#31ba9c]“Very cool. Explains a lot about your general vibe,” [/color]he said, matter of fact. He didn’t bother explaining who his parents were or what they did. He’d gotten tired of that exchange years ago. [color=#31ba9c]“How did the first day treat you? Better than…wherever the hell you’re from?” [/color]Jamie was a California native to his core. If it wasn’t on a coast, he didn’t care much about it. [color=#a52521]“It’s different. It’s definitely different.”[/color] He gestured toward the bottle of champagne, [color=#a52521]“where I was going to school before, kids didn’t really do that. I’m supposed to go to that party? It sounds to me like it’s about to be like nothin’ I’ve done before.”[/color] Owen explained, shaking his head. When he [i]was[/i] living in a party town, he’d been too young to really get crazy. But the tiny town he’d grown up in on the east coast? People were quiet, and they definitely didn’t throw parties his mother described as ‘legendary.’ [color=#a52521]“Day was alright though. I told you, dude. I’m not looking for any trouble, head down. School, home. I don’t wanna my dad complain again.”[/color] As Owen talked, he took a seat on the stool in the corner, a spot where he could both keep Jamie in his peripheral for their conversation, and keep an eye on Trixie as well. Watching her stretch, Owen couldn’t help but let out a sigh. He could feel himself folding as she lifted her leg onto the top rope. [color=#31ba9c]“Yeah, yeah, very serious, I remember. Trix, he was made for you,” [/color]he shouted. [color=#31ba9c]“And you do have to come to the party, because yeah, knowing Ethan, you’re probably right. Plus, it’s a very serious insult to turn down an invitation on your first day. I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules,” [/color]he said, only half joking. [color=#15603a]“What?” [/color]Trixie turned her attention back to the boys. [color=#15603a]“Yeah right, no one was [i]made [/i]for me.” [/color]The small latina scoffed, still fighting her attraction toward the transfer student. Finishing her stretches, she approached the rope closest to the others and watched as Dash sprinted back with gear and water in hand. Having taken off the label, just as Trixie told him, Dash yelled out, [color=#21a525]“Jamie I got [b]VODKA[/b]!” [/color]Trixie knew Jamie wouldn’t drink it if it was clearly water so Trixie told the boy to make it look believable. Dash didn’t know how to do that so he grabbed a marker and wrote VODKA big on it. [color=#21a525]“I got it out of that room riiiight there.” [/color]He pointed to a room that appeared to have a little kitchenette in it. [color=#21a525]“It’s strongggggggg stuff. It’ll hit the spot, trust me.” [/color]Dash did his best at lying, he wasn’t very good at it, giving the other boy the bottle that was clearly water and then bounced to his newly achieved best friend. [color=#21a525]“I got the gloves and headpiece, boss.”[/color] Owen took the offered gloves and headpiece away and handed the headpiece and a pair of the gloves over to Trixie. [color=#a52521]“Okay, Dash. You wanna watch me and Trixie spar? Sit down.”[/color] Owen paused, thinking about it before he quickly added. [color=#a52521]“Still. Sit still.”[/color] He clarified before he glanced over his shoulder at Jamie and nodded. [color=#a52521]“Don’t worry. I’m gonna go, but you can’t get fuckin’ upset when I follow you around because I don’t know nobody.”[/color] He cracked his neck, rolling his head from side to side as he looked back at Trixie. He pulled the gloves down onto his hands and pulled the velcro straps tight, [color=#a52521]“you think I’d complain if I was made for you?”[/color] Owen asked, pulling his shirt off as he did so and tossing it over his shoulder to the gym floor below. [color=#a52521]“Jamie can ring the bell.”[/color] [color=#31ba9c]“Dash this is, quite obviously, water,” [/color]Jamie shouted, though he still unscrewed the cap and took a gulp. He stood and walked over to the bell, footsteps far from straight. [color=#31ba9c]“You do that now?” [/color]Before he got a response, he gingerly pulled a lever, and sent a loud [i]clang[/i] ringing through the gym. [color=#31ba9c]“Gooooo, or whatever they say. Fight? I don’t know,” [/color]he waved his questions away and leaned up against one of the bench presses, watching the ring. [i][color=#15603a]Fuck, does he plan to get wasted the whole weekend? [/color][/i] Trixie worriedly thought to herself but was immediately pulled away from her mind and Jamie when she was brought face to face with Owen’s… bare chest. His abs. His firm… snap out of it girl! Trixie avoided eye contact when she realized how distracting this boy without a shirt was. He needed to focus and show him that she could fight. That she wasn’t a beginner. She walked toward him, burying the butterflies, to grab her gloves from him and put them on. [color=#15603a]“So you like what you see?” [/color]She commented on his flirtatious quip. [color=#21a525]“I won’t move! I promise. I can be completely still. So still you won’t even know I’m here!” [/color]Dash yelled, going exactly where Owen told him to go to watch a fight ensue. He failed one mission. Jamie knew he was given water. He wouldn’t fail this one! He was a statue. One with the floor. There was nothing distracting… there was him and the fight. The fight and him. Focus. Concentration. Locked in. He was ready. Born ready. This fight would be dope. So dope. The dopest. His squirrel brain went from Owen to Trixie, Trixie to Owen, before he looked at Jamie and saw the bell. Heard the bell. THE BELL IS SO COOL! Could he ring the bell?! Owen gave a side eyed glance to Dash as he rambled about… whatever. It was hard for Owen to hear, or even see anything in the room other than Trixie. Had he ever seen a woman this attractive in person before? He definitely didn’t have any memory of it if he had. Trixie was… hot. He took the headpiece from her and carefully situated it on her head as he explained, [color=#a52521]“it’s pretty simple. If you can take me down, we roll around and I’ll put you in a few basic holds.”[/color] He secured the clasp under her chin, [color=#a52521]“if you can get out of at [i]least[/i] one of them, and make [i]me [/i]tap out… then you’re good to go. Otherwise?” [/color]And he couldn’t stop the devilish smirk that curled across his lips as he challenged her with a teasing tone to his follow up taunt. [color=#a52521]“You’ll just have to accept you’re a beginner.”[/color] He winked and took a step back as he finished putting the headpiece onto her. His wink was rewarded with a faux glare. As much as she wanted to be mad at the prospect of her being put in a beginner’s class, his words were smooth as silk and made her melt. She never felt like this before. Everything this boy said and did caused her to ache and it was extremely hard to concentrate. Trixie was completely and utterly out of her element. She wanted him. She wanted him bad. [i][color=#15603a]Shut up! Show him you can fight. [/color][/i]She scolded herself internally. As she backed away, putting distance between them, she rolled her eyes, [abbr=We’ll see][color=#15603a]“Ya lo veremos.” [/color][/abbr] [abbr=Come find out.][color=#a52521]”Ven a descubrirlo.”[/color][/abbr] … okay. Yeah. That was unexpected and forced her brain to picture those shorts off, him running his fingers through her hair, and them… STOP! They were about to fight. Those gorgeous blue eyes were not going to bring her down to her knees. If she could fight her brothers, she could fight this boy. Taking a deep breath in, she scanned him, trying to think of anything else that wasn’t his body. The way he was looking at her, practically undressing her, making her feel… so very vulnerable… was not helping. Breathing out, she met his gaze once more and ran toward him, quickly raining blow after blow and seeing how he reacted to each hit. A hook, an uppercut, another hook… she was searching for an angle to bring him to the floor but being this close to him and catching a whiff of how sweaty he was, which she found… really hot, Trixie realized she was folding. Quick. He smelled so… fucking manly. It was fucking up her game. Owen weaved backwards and put up his hands to block and dodge most of her attacks. Trixie had either underestimated Owen or overestimated herself, and there was a smirk on his face as he held her hand after her last punch. [color=#a52521]“You almost had me on the last one… Geeze, just a little faster next time, okay?”[/color] Owen was having fun, messing with her and smiling all the while. He stepped forward and went onto the offense himself, taking her hand he held from catching her punch and rolling her over his shoulder. They crashed to the ground together and Owen rolled her into a rear headlock. [color=#a52521]“You have a look in your eye that I don’t like, so I’m just gonna remind you: Biting’s against the rules, missy.”[/color] What was that supposed to mean?! And missy???? Trixie could not believe what she was hearing! Was she [i]that[/i] easy to read? God, now she was to her side, with him wrapped around her, and their size difference meant she’d have a hard time escaping. No matter, she was a fighter. Even if she could feel him, pressed against her ass, she was going to FIGHT. Trying her best to not be flat, staying on her side, she squirmed hoping she could free one of her legs to use in a kickstance, to reverse the hold. She could already tell he wasn’t using all his power on her and yet it was still extremely hard to escape. Intentionally, she pressed herself against him, to make him aware of his position and the fact that she could [i]feel[/i] him. He began adjusting himself and that’s when she decided to escape his heavy side control and give herself power in this fight. Driving her elbow to his ribcage, which opened her window even more, she turned herself, escaping his headlock so their angle was more facing one another. She was lucky he loosened her grip (intentional or not, she was free). Making a bridge quick, she shrimped her leg and shot it around him; her legs were now wrapped around his waist, as she gable gripped his arm that she had freed herself from. [color=#15603a]“I like to take things slow,” [/color]she purred into his ear. Owen had never been in a situation like this before. He’d never been this… frustrated when he was in the ring before, but he supposed he’d never had to wrestle the walking, talking girl of his dreams. It was hard not to have the reaction he was having, and his cheeks flared up in a blush as she spoke to him. Why did Dash and Jamie have to be here? Why did he want to kiss her so bad? Trixe was able to maneuver him however she wanted, but then in that moment Owen probably would have barked if she asked him to. He chose not to immediately respond to her whispering in her ear, figuring whatever he said without thinking would be dripping with so much thirst that Dash would never respect him again. He let her hang onto his arm as he thought about what to say, [color=#a52521]“I kind of like to take it fast.”[/color] Owen had seen enough. She rolled around and knew a couple of holds well enough that he knew she could cut it in the intermediate class. Which meant their sparring session could be over. Owen reached up with a hand to Trixie’s cheek, and gently tapped her. [color=#a52521]“I give up. Dash, ring the bell.”[/color] He looked at Trixie, [color=#a52521]“do you wanna go check out the upstairs bedroom? There’s… some paperwork you need to fill out.”[/color] He lifted her up with so much ease. Letting go of him, she proceeded to take off her gear and helmet, trying her best to hide her burning red face. She had teased him just as much as he teased her and now he likely thought she was [i]experienced[/i]. The fire in her eyes turned into nervousness. Tightening her legs together, her confidence shifting to bashfulness, Trixie whispered, [color=#15603a]“I never… I…” [/color]She was a virgin and she didn’t know how to express that without making herself look like a fool. Focusing on her rapid breathing, she slowly explained, [color=#15603a]“You’ll need to show me… what to fill out.” [/color]And bit her bottom lip. He was a little surprised to find out that she was a virgin, but it wasn’t like that made him think less of her. Owen just nodded and gave her what he hoped was a calming and even reassuring smile. [color=#a52521]“Yeah of course. I’m a good teacher, and I can be gentle.”[/color] Owen promised in a quiet voice. He was trying to make their private conversation as private as possible, in spite of the other two in the room. With desire and need in her anxious gaze, Trixie breathed, unable to hold back what he was doing to her, [color=#15603a]“I want to. With you.”[/color] The bell rang. [color=#21a525]“That was so sick, bossman. You two were like, really good. Some of the moves I didn’t even understand!”[/color] Dash complimented, still replaying the match in his head. Trixie did her best but Owen, his best friend? He was so strong! Dash couldn’t wait to be just like him. Muscles and all. [color=#21a525]“Is it okay if I play some music on the speakers? I think me and my boy needs to get some energy out,” [/color]Dash gestured to the zoned out Jamie, immediately catching the vibe that he needed a distraction. [color=#21a525]“And Dash knows how to busta’ move.” [/color]The energetic gremlin crouched down and did a weird wobble and wave. Trixie giggled at that, nerves easing thanks to both Owen and Dash. Quickly, she placed the gear on the ring floor, eager and ready to be taken upstairs. When she returned to a standing position, she instinctively grabbed onto Owen’s hand. Owen let his fingers interlace with Trixie’s and he gave her hand a squeeze. Tugging her in his direction, he walked toward the stairs to get down from the ring. Owen could have used his words, but he hoped Trixie would get the message - his words were too busy telling Dash what the fuck was up this time. [color=#a52521]“Dash, bro, you can do whatever you want as long as it doesn’t interrupt me and Trixie working on our paperwork. Okay?”[/color] [color=#21a525]“HELL YEAH! I mean helllll yeah. We won’t bother you, and you can trust us. There won’t be any trouble. Just a dance party, right Jamie?” [/color]Dash turned to the melancholy boy and nudged him out of his stupor. This had all started out as a much better idea. The champagne and the forcible matchmaking, that is. Yet, as Jamie watched Trixie and Owen weave themselves around each other, the thoughts he’d been doing such a good job of drowning suddenly broke free and came up for air. Visions of himself and AJ, in the backseat of his car, or pressed up against the walls of the garage. AJ’s lips on his, or pressed against his neck, or trailing down his chest, or…The breath he was holding slipped out, a low hiss, as the memories pierced him. They felt all too real, yet just out of reach. What had he done to fuck that up? What had he done to earn the pain in his chest, and how the hell could he make it stop? One hand clenched around the neck of the champagne bottle, the other beating out an unsteady rhythm against his leg, Jamie stirred at the sound of his name. His eyes, which only moments ago had been staring through Owen and Trixie as if they were ghosts, refocused, at least partially. His mind felt torn between his memories, the only place he could reliably find the version of AJ he’d fallen into so helplessly, and the here and now. He forced a smile. [color=#31ba9c]“Yeah, yeah, we will be fine. Go ‘fill out paperwork,’” [/color]Jamie said, spinning on his heel and taking another gulp of champagne. [color=#31ba9c]“Show me your playlist Dash, let’s see how much of it holds up.”[/color] The almost lovers disappeared, leaving Jamie with the special-kind-of-special Dash Day. [color=#21a525]“Okay I have three modes. But I think the mode you need is my mom’s playlist.”[/color] Connecting his phone to the Bluetooth speaker, Dash explained, far more in tune to what the editor-in-chief was going through than he’d probably like, [color=#21a525]“When my mom found out my dad was cheating on her, this really helped her relax and vibe. There’s something about Cher that really makes you want to belt and completely lose yourself in the moment. That and just 90s-80s vibes in general.”[/color] [color=#31ba9c]“I’m not your mom, and I do not need to go on a heartfelt, musical journey to rediscover myself, if that is what you’re implying,” [/color]Jamie said, as he slowly walked over to Dash and his phone, leaning over the shorter boy’s shoulder so he could watch as he scrolled. [color=#31ba9c]“I do like Cher though.”[/color] His first playlist had songs like Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield and The Man by Taylor Swift. His second playlist, which was the one he was going to, had music from These Dreams by Heart and Heaven is A Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle. The last playlist, however, was unlike the other two. It was rap focused and masculine, with many songs from his dad Damon Day, and songs his dad suggested every week, like the set from the Drake-Kendrick Lamar Feud. Dash scrolled down his mom’s playlist and chose a [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eij6Vs7FGo]classic[/url]. [color=#21a525]“Do you always not have chill?” [/color]Dash tossed his tank of a phone, with an otter box, on one of the mats and turned on his heel, shimmying, to face a kid he surprisingly rarely interacted with in their four years. [color=#21a525]“Okay, Jamie. Show me how much a Callaghan can let loose. I’ve seen your sister belt, can you?” [/color]The Limit Breaker backed up, placing his hands on his heart, and swayed to Cher’s voice. [color=#31ba9c]“My entire [i]thing[/i] is a distinct lack of chill,” [/color]Jamie said, gently swaying to the music, despite his armor of cold, nonchalance. He rolled his eyes. First JJ, now Dash. Was he truly such a hot mess that he was becoming a magnet to the misfits of BHHS? He exhaled quickly, laughing to himself, because if he didn’t he might cry, and he’d really had enough of that for today. [color=#31ba9c]“I got dumped less than twenty four hours ago, I am truly not in the mood for karaoke.” [/color]He began to pace, hands animating his speech. [color=#31ba9c]“Do I look like someone who gets dumped? Apparently I do.” [/color]He sighed. [color=#31ba9c]“Love is just a chemical reaction, Dash, remember that.”[/color] [color=#21a525]“Aw come on man, that’s the best time to karaoke. I wouldn’t know because I’ve never, but it looked soooo cathartic for my mom.” [/color]Dash hopped and hopped and hopped close to Jamie like a bunny on crack then playfully bumped the other boy’s hip. He began singing. Poorly. Dash was no singer like his dad. He could rap though! But that's besides the point. Where was he? Oh yes, the song was at mid chorus. [center][i][color=#21a525]♬ There’s no more to say. [/color][/i] [i][color=#21a525]So save your breath and [/color][/i] [i][color=#21a525]Walk away[/color][/i] [i][color=#21a525]No matter what I hear you say I'm strong enough To know You gotta go ♬[/color][/i][/center] [color=#21a525]“Oh! To answer your question, IDK MAN! I think you’re cool. You deserve a happy ending…” [/color]His voice trailed off when he heard a thump from upstairs, laughter and… [color=31ba9c]“Jesus they did not waste time, did they? I don’t know why the Candies act like this matchmaking thing is so hard.”[/color] [/indent][/indent][/color]