(Jay's POV)
The basement is loud.
Too loud.
Concrete walls. One hanging bulb. The smell of dust and adrenaline.
Raven is hooting like he's lost his mind. Benjamin is yelling instructions nobody asked for. Nova is calm but watching every move carefully. Luna and Noelle are hyping it up just to make it chaotic.
The six.
My idiots.
The guy in front of me smirks like he thinks this is funny.
Like fighting a girl is some kind of joke.
He won't be smiling long.
The metal pipe hits the wall.
Clang.
That's our bell.
He lunges first.
I sidestep easily. Let him feel fast for half a second.
Then I hit.
Straight to the ribs.
The sound knocks the air out of him.
The hooting doubles.
"THAT'S MY GIRL!" Benjamin shouts dramatically.
I ignore him.
Second round, he lands one punch against my shoulder.
It stings.
Good.
Now I don't have to hold back.
He charges again.
I pivot.
Hook.
Another.
Then an uppercut that snaps his head back.
He stumbles.
The basement erupts.
And that's when the door opens.
I hear it.
I always notice entrances.
I glance toward the stairs.
And freeze for half a second.
Keifer.
Standing there.
He wasn't invited.
He wasn't expected.
And the look on his face
Shock.
Not because I'm winning.
Not because I'm fighting.
But because it's me.
Because the calm girl who barely raises her voice…
Is in a ring.
Hitting like she means it.
The guy tries to take advantage of my distraction.
I catch his wrist mid-swing.
Twist.
Punch.
He drops.
Silence for one second.
Then chaos again.
But I'm not listening to them.
I'm looking at Keifer.
He hasn't moved.
His jaw is tight. Eyes sharp. Processing.
He didn't know.
He underestimated.
That's on him.
I step out of the ring slowly, wiping blood from the corner of my lip.
As I walk toward the stairs, the noise fades behind me.
We stand face to face.
He looks at me differently now.
Not amused.
Not superior.
Aware.