TateSitting in the waiting room, Journey eyes me from across the room."What?" I can't help the venom dripping from my voice. I can't believe she brought that punk to dinner. If she would have just listened to me the first time, and stayed away from Scotty, this would have never happened. "I'm sorry," she mumbles under her breath. She looks down, her blonde hair shielding her face.Sitting forward, I rest my elbows on my knees. My anger dissolving instantly, I hate how she makes me feel like a jerk so easily."Don't be sorry, just... tell me you're done with that prick," I sigh.Her head jerks up. "Oh, I am so done," she chokes with emotion. Her eyes filling with tears.Nodding I rub at my left eye, the one Scotty managed to hit, it hurts."I've been hearing stories that you're out of control, Journey. How many guys have you been with Journey?" She crosses her arms, giving me a sideways glance. I feel like her mother, but if Dad isn't going to dive into her persona

Camden18 years oldPulling Tate close, I breathe her in. She leaves tomorrow, and it's literally ripping me apart. I want to kill her father for making her do this. He's sending her off to college. He is making her believe it's what her mother wanted, but I know it's because she looks just like her mom. Tate won't let me come with her either. I caught the interest of a coach at my last match, and if I can deliver in the next fight he has set up, it could mean big things for me. Because of this, Tate is refusing I follow her to LA.She says it would be good for us, to develop individually, to find ourselves without depending on the other. But how can I do anything without her? We've been inseparable since we were kids. I won't be able to do anything with-out seeing her face, hearing her laugh, or smelling her sweet perfume.I'd throw my future to be with her, because none of it matters without her.She stirs in her sleep, and my hands tighten on her naked breast, pulling h

TateI run two miles before the sun even rises. The whole time my feet plow into the asphalt I think about Camden training me.We will be so close in the ring. His body next to mine, the smell of him lingering on me for hours afterwards.I close my eyes turning onto my block. My mind battling with the pros and cons, but the only thing I can solely focus on is I'm going to be with Camden in a ring. Like old times. He may not want to be with me, and that hurts on a whole other lever. But this is the best move for my career. If anyone knows what it's like in the ring... it's Camden Steel.***Stepping into the gym I find Camden by the ring tapping his hands. It's just us at this early hour.His eyes rake me up and down and butterflies swarm in my stomach. I know he was watching me undress yesterday. I can't deny that I liked it. Though I wish I knew so I could have been a little sexier about it. My shirt got caught in my hair, and my shorts stuck to my sweaty thighs. My

Camden Steel is like a snake in the ring. Quick, and unpredictable. I on the other hand am about to pass out from lack of oxygen. I really have to get my endurance up.Sitting down to take a break, he hands me a bottle of cold water."You're a natural Tate," he sits down next me. I look down, not good with compliments."I don't know about that," I chuckle, looking at the plastic bottle. "Sometimes I think I should just stick with boxing instead of attempting MMA."He shakes his head in disagreement, taking his a sip of his sports drink. The way his lips curve around it makes mine pout, wanting to be on the receiving end. Fuck Thomas, and Debs."Stop looking at me like that." He doesn't even look at me, he can just feel me looking at him. Quickly I look down, and bite my lip to keep from blushing."It takes a lot to premeditate your next move, to be able to use your whole body like you do. You need to use it."The door rings as a tall slender woman walks in. She has dark

20 Years OldCamdenSitting in the locker room I hear the announcers call my name. The girls cheering and screaming for me to come out. Wrapping my knuckles in red tape Thomas barrels through the door. He's been on edge for days, and it's starting to become contagious. I can feel the panic starting to spread through my chest. We've done this a dozen times, and each time we get a better fight for next time, but Thomas has it in his head that this fight might be the one to get me into the MFC."Kid, this is it. You take this guy down, you'll make the big leagues. There's big wigs in the crowd like you wouldn't believe!" his voice wavers with excitement.My lips curl into a smirk at his demeanor."You do this every fight, Thomas. Calm down will you, it's just like any other match."His eyes wide, as he stops my wrapping."No, this is the real deal. Potential sponsors, endorsements, people waiting to sign you and make you the next big thing."My heart skips a beat, the