SAGE

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."

turned to me which made my smirk

beauty wasn't that mesmerizing to make me forget

them hoping, willing my mind to shut down

happened this morning. The morning started out great yet at the end she left and she didn't look back. She left just

get bored." Sebastian warned me breaking me

zone out but my mind is doing it's own thing right now. I was still

fight in less than and hour." I lied... it wasn't

nervous." He told me and turned

prepare for a fight. See

girls said. I knew they told me their names at some point but honestly I wasn't paying attention and I'm I wasn't bad at remembering

cheer for us?" He winked and

got front row seats." The same

all the

me staring and her cheeks burned. I winked

her but refrained. She was cute.

away I turned my attention to Sebastian. Something he said caught my

you were fighting tonight." I

to tell you.." He trailed off and I knew there

anything.

I asked. I knew how much Sebastian hated explaining himself. Sometimes I think he was incapable of explaining anything at

take off the edge and all and I wanted to save to get myself an

of months. I guess that's why he wants to

he's living at right now was the only building willing to over look that detail and they

didn't know what else to say. I thought it would take him a lot more to get him to talk but I guess he was

change and warm up. My muscles were

if our fights.

than the other

because Austin listened to Styles

taking in the dressing room. It was

with me buddy and all this will be

"I mean with the special attention. Is

I shrugged. I was used to this. Spending half my summer with him. I was used to the attention.

exclaimed and I

to get a cramp in the middle

never fought on a big stage before. It was scary. I've

seem nervous at all. But him and I were different. Too

began. They warmed up

Legend, they

why all the security

the best. His strategy isn't known. I

called Sebastian's name I knew than I would be next. Around The Arena, Sebastian goes by the name Bash because

tunnel and stayed on the shadows to

am. The crowd cheered for him louder than the previous fighters proving just how well known he

a popular one. He lost a few fights but won

that today's MC was Austin which proved how

Arena plenty of times and Austin never

on

quickly but Sebastian dodged moving away from

was playing it safe. This time his opponent was more careful too. He slowly got

dropped his hands and was going in for a punch but the other

as Sebastian stumbled

on until Sebastian was over an unconscious fighter and was declared a

have a Round 1 or 2. The fight was over when one fighter was rendered unable to fight. Either unconscious or

only a few minutes but he'll have a whole lot of bruising

the dressing room and waited for my name to

found

arched a brow when he saw me as

he walked to me but someone

you're up next."

seconds before it clicked that he meant

head whenever it was used. you'd think after months in the gang

up and bounced in my feet

looked back at

blinked realising this was the pep talk. it was as good as I was ever

almost rolled my

again but  this time I wasn't going to watch anyone.

took in all the cheers, my opponent was already in the ring. I recognise him

age. I've seen him fight. He was good but I've been

seats until they landed

searched for them but I'm glad I

cheering and I swore I could hear

eyes to check the enter

twice if not thrice to what I was used to.

me. I my gaze met with one of the

held her gaze for a few seconds then went back

crowd. The crowd fuel any figher's adrenaline but he had the same advantage as me. My opponent was popular than me. So the the fight was in his favor but I had something to loose here too. I wasn't about to

Austin stepped out of the

over the week but it was hard with the adrenaline telling me

him come for me and when he punched I dodged and I used all my leg strength to knee him straight in

fell on his stomach giving an advantage

to his feet.  I

was hitting my chins on the bloody canvas in the

a punch and I blocked him but it turned out it was a decoy because he landed one

practically hear Styles cussing me in my head, your

ribs because it left my left

said I should do but came out blank. I couldn't remember

block him by pushing his leg so he couldn't get all of his kick in but

took all my will power to not

him but he blocked and punched me below my ribs and before I could think,

him. I shook my head a bit trying

getting on my nerves. I needed to knock this guy

time I approached him and when he punched I dodged and went for

ribs. When I let go he stumbled back, I followed him throwing multiple punches on him until he lied unconscious on

as they announced me as the winner.

one girl on the front row seats. She was jumping up and down

my mind had a mind of its

in that seat jumping up and down. I pictured going over the to kiss her as she congratulated

shook that thought out of my and caught

I felt

turning around busking in all the glory.

when I did that. They

irreplaceable. Not even Alora can match it. It was magical.

was warm and I was feeling... argh

ring with

know why I expected to find styles in the dressing room

excitement of my own fight had died down but I was excited to see

it was my best friend not Styles I tried

still waiting for his weird congratulations because I knew

more popular than I am now. You guys had chemistry that I'm even jealous now. I still have goosebumps thinking about that fight. It was awesome. I almost recorded it but you know how security will never let me record anything." He stopped when he was out of breath and I chuckled.