Chapter 25: T.K.O.

“My what? Mom wh-what, why are you here?” He could barely get his words right. The shock of seeing his mother registered quickly, making his solid frame unmovable as he stood blocking the entrance.

His mother waved him away as if she had been doing so on a daily basis rather than not in the last four years. “Oh Justin don’t be rude. Introduce me to your wife-or am I jumping the fence here?” She glanced over Justin’s shoulder at a stunned and closed mouth Celeste.

“Are you his fiancée?”

“Uh uh-no.” Celeste coughed out her response.

“His girlfriend then?”

Celeste glanced at Justin, who turned at the same moment, before answering. “Um-I don’t think so, no.”

“Well, then you’re his wife? You never said no to that one.” She smiled brightly before rushing towards Justin and enveloping him in a suffocating hug, despite her small stature. Unaccustomed to affection, even in his young life, Justin immediately stiffened.

“I’m so proud of you son for actually doing something with your life instead of fighting and running the streets like you used to do.”

Justin peeled her arms from around him. “I’m still fighting mom.”

She gasped dramatically. Again, she looked over at Celeste for a response. “How could you let him go out and get hit upside the head every night? Do you like that he fights?” Actually, she did not, however Celeste chose not to voice her opinions.

“What she likes doesn’t matter.” Justin snapped and then slammed the front door. He watched his mother scoff and frown at his ill-mannered reaction.

“Justin Randall Timberlake behave yourself!” His mother warned. If the atmosphere wasn’t so obviously tense, Celeste would have laughed at the fact that a grown man was being reprimanded by his mother.

“Oh please.” He mumbled while rolling his eyes, annoyed by the performance his mother was putting on. He couldn’t say that he wasn’t used to it though. His mother, Lynn Harless, always the actress, had pretended to own the fanciest of material things, even if she didn’t know where her next meal would come from.

She would dress Justin, her only child, in her best thrift store finds so it wouldn’t appear that she was struggling to make ends meet. Unfortunately, she wasn’t as fascinated with being affectionate and nurturing as she was with designer labeled things that allowed her to keep her pride and be someone she wasn’t.

Therefore, what she lacked Justin found elsewhere. The connection he had been longing for, he found in neighborhood boxing one night at the age of eighteen when he stayed out past curfew. Fighting for enjoyment and relief had been a part of him ever since.

“Justin don’t dismiss her opinion like that? How do you deal with him? He has always been so hardheaded and emotionless.” Celeste nodded quickly in agreement before Justin could see her.

“Like you can talk,” Justin wanted to say, but settled for, “Whatever mom.”

“See!” Lynn tossed her hand up in the air. Her bracelets clanked noisily. “There’s nothing passionate about him. He’s his father’s son I guess.” She shrugged and moved closer to Celeste, dismissing her distant son completely.

“Let me ask you something. It may be somewhat on the personal side, but we both know how Justin is…impassionate and standoffish. So my question to you is how is the sex?” Her blue eyes widened as she anticipated an answer. Celeste erupted in a fit of coughs, her face turning a bright shade of red. And Justin simply erupted. He stalked to the door and prepared to throw his mother out.

“Mom what the hell are you doing! You can’t ask her that!”

“Sure I can, woman to woman.” She fluffed her newly died blonde bob. “What is your name dear?”

“Celeste is her name.” Justin replied instead.

“Surely she can talk for herself. I heard her just a few minutes ago. Don’t be an overbearing and controlling husband Justin. It’s truly not becoming of you.” She focused her attention on Celeste, who had just now regained the ability to breathe.

“What is your name sweetheart?” Justin smirked at his mother’s use of the affectionate term. Still waiting for his mother to leave, he opened his door.

“Celeste-Celeste Morgan.”

“Celeste Morgan? And not Morgan-Timberlake? Interesting.” Before she could say more, Kyle entered the apartment with Tatiyana attached to his hip. He was smirking as if he was trying to stifle his laughter after listening to the conversation outside Justin’s door. He whispered something in Tati’s ear before going to stand beside Justin’s mother.

“Hi I’m Kyle Parker. I live in the next building. Nice to meet you.”

“Lynn Harless, Justin’s mother.” She shook his hand and then her eyes drifted to the suddenly giggly toddler in his arms. “Hello.” Lynn’s eyes twinkled.

“Hi Nana!” Tati shouted in response, to which Lynn’s hands flew to her chest and she stumbled back with a gasp. She quickly recovered, moving to retrieve the toddler from Kyle. However, Justin got to her first.

“Half-pint why did you say that?”

“Kyle told me to.” She snitched while turning in Justin’s arms to point an accusing finger at the culprit who was the only one laughing and loudly. “And he say I have to say it real loud so evry’body can hear me.” Justin narrowed his eyes at Kyle.

“What? I thought it would be funny. Guess I was wrong huh?” He shrugged, “So has the party started yet?” He glanced into the still shocked faces of Celeste and Lynn but refused to look at Justin.

~*~*~*~*~

The moment Lynn got Justin away from the small crowd gathered in his living room, she pulled him into the kitchen. She cornered him by the broken dishwasher, yet not before grimacing at the kitchen’s unsightly appearance.

“So…” His mother began.

“So…what mom?” Justin sighed and leaned against the fading countertop.

“So that’s really not your daughter?”

“No, for the last time that is Celeste’s baby sister.” He confirmed a little louder than needed. “And before you ask, Celeste and I aren’t married.”

“Is she your girlfriend?” Justin hesitated before saying no and then his mother gasped. “Oh no. I’m so embarrassed. I probably embarrassed us both. I shouldn’t have asked her about her sex life.” She suddenly remembered Celeste’s mortified expression.

“No you shouldn’t have. Her sex life,” Although nonexistent, he thought, “is none of your business.”

“You’re right. I should go apologize to her, but I’ll do that later.” She sighed, disappointed all of the sudden.

“I was so happy when I thought you were married with a family. It made me proud that those mistakes we both made in the past didn’t have any real effect on you. I guess you had to give up that dream of fighting taking you places. Everyone can’t make a career out of something like that.”

“I’m still fighting mom. I need the money to support-”

“Who are you supporting dear?” She shifted her weight to her right leg as she concentrated on his words.

“Celeste and-”

“I thought you said you and Celeste weren’t together, but she’s obviously staying here otherwise this place would look like a roach motel.” She interrupted him once again and most likely wouldn’t be satisfied until he gave her an explanation.

“I’m helping Celeste out and have been for a while. It’s a long story that I don’t want to explain. And frankly it’s none of your business.”

“Frankly?” She mocked him. “Honey, am I rubbing off on you?”

“Please mom, I’ll never be anything like you.”  Justin retorted and scooted through the tight space, between his mother and the dishwasher, and exited the kitchen.

“Too late to say that now.” Unwillingly, accepting her son’s brush-off, Lynn tossed her hair behind her shoulders, and headed towards Celeste who was chatting with her friend Bridgette.

Lynn decided that she would find out the best way to get through Justin’s hard shell from Celeste, since he seemed to be quite taken with her, watching her from the far corner where he figured no one else would notice. However, little did she know, Celeste had barely scratched the surface on getting Justin to express any deep emotions towards anything besides boxing, especially a person of the opposite sex.

When Celeste and Bridgette noticed Lynn approaching, Bridgette suddenly had to use the bathroom and Celeste was suddenly uncomfortable. She wasn’t quite ready for another too personal conversation with Justin’s mother.

“Hello, Celeste. I didn’t quite catch what this celebration was for?”

“Um, oh, I just got a job. I’ve been in a bind lately and I really needed it.” Lynn raised her chin hoping Celeste would continue, but she didn’t.

“So how has Justin been?”

Celeste put her hand on her hip, “I’m not sleeping with your son Ms. Harless so I wouldn’t know what sex with him is like.” She sounded rather bold, but she felt humiliated and embarrassed all over again. She hoped Lynn didn’t notice the blush tinting her cheeks.

“Oh, I know dear. Justin cleared that up for me so I wanted to apologize.” Celeste quickly accepted her apologies. “It’s just that I haven’t seen Justin in so many years and it’s easy to hope for or assume things. When you see a woman and a child in your son’s home you can only assume one thing. Well at least that’s how it is for me.” Lynn had long ago started rambling and since then she had retrieved a glass of champagne off a side table, but her ramblings continued.

“I always knew that when I saw Justin again, he would have something great to show me.” She glanced around his living space. It reminded her too much of where she used to live when Justin was a young boy. The difference, however, was that she wouldn’t have dared allow this many people in that house.

“Maybe it was just wishful thinking.” She ended, and it seemed that she was finally finished, content with just sipping her champagne.

Celeste, a quiet observer chose not to offer any words of advice or encouragement. And when Justin frowned at her from across the room, she only shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t know anything about the relationship between Justin and his mother but she believed that his indifference towards her stemmed from it.

~*~*~*~*~

As soon as the guests started clearing from the apartment, Justin dragged Celeste away from her conversation with Bridgette and into a vacant corner.

Bridgette smirked and winked before grabbing her belongings and exiting the apartment.

“What was that all about Justin?” Celeste gently extracted her arm from his grasp and adjusted the lace hem of her camisole before hesitantly meeting his gaze.

Justin released a frustrated breath, his lips tingling with the urge for a cigarette. He threw a glare at his mother and then turned back to Celeste.

“What did Lynn say to you about me?”

“Oh she didn’t say much. She just apologized for jumping to conclusions about us being married.” Celeste expertly left out the fact that his mother seemed to be disappointed in him, his living arrangements as well as his choice of profession.

“Alright,” he said rubbing his hand over his face. When he met Celeste’s gaze again, he appeared to be in somewhat of a lighter mood.

Justin absently reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. He gave her fingers a light squeeze then quickly released them before either of them had the opportunity to enjoy the odd sensation.

Justin stuffed his hands into the pockets of his denim jeans, suddenly nervous. While Celeste had several unnamed feelings swarming inside her, mainly feelings brought on by his closeness.

“So…”

“Yeah…”

“Did you enjoy your party?” Justin figured he should initiate a topic that he’d be comfortable with.

Celeste’s eyes twinkled and her smile lit up her entire face. “I loved it. Thank you so...” Her words faltered as she remembered what happened the last time she had attempted to express her gratitude. “…much. I really enjoyed myself.” She took a deep breath, leaning against the wall.

“That’s great. Um sorry about that, you know…kiss earlier. It got out of hand.” Justin apologized, focusing on a dark smudge on the wall behind her head. He was caught off guard when her hand reached up to touch his lips.

“I didn’t mind it,” she said with the softest smile he had ever seen.

The temptation to take her finger into his mouth and savor it like the finest chocolate, had him wanting to do nothing more but to kick everyone out of the apartment and lock her in the bedroom until they both collapsed with pleasure.

However, since he couldn’t exactly act on his temptation, he would have to punish himself to a cold shower later on either that or a romp in the hay with some random female. And since a random female didn’t sound too appealing to him at this point, a cold shower would have to suffice.

Justin forced himself to only kiss her fingertips before repositioning her hands at her sides.

“I’m gonna walk across the hall to get half-pint.”

“Fine. I need to ask you something when you get back though.” Celeste avoided his gaze as he peered at her closely. Finally, he gave up and proceeded to leave.

He halted at the threshold and turned back to her, “I have something to ask you too.”

Celeste nodded silently although he had left moments before. She looked up to meet the questioning yet surprising gaze of Lynn Harless.

Oh shit. Has she been watching us the entire time? Celeste surely hoped she hadn’t seen the exchange between them. If she had, everything Celeste had told her regarding the status of her and Justin would now seem invalid. As quickly as the thought entered her mind, Ms. Harless crossed the room in quick strides.

“Now Celeste, did Justin tell you to lie to me?” Celeste didn’t answer right away. Instead she stood dumbfounded.

“Nice to know Justin has his mother in his corner.” She mumbled, shocked that his mother had outright accused him of lying.

Thank God, Justin entered the room before she had to bother with an explanation as to why she and Justin seemed like a couple.

He rolled his eyes heavenward, adjusting the sleeping toddler on his shoulder to close the door without waking her.

“Mom, leave Celeste the hell alone. She has no answers for you so you can stop preying over her every time I leave the room.” Justin walked over to grab his mother by the elbow.

“I think it’s time for you to leave, mom. Half-pint needs to sleep and Celeste has to work in the morning.”

“And what about you?”

“I have a fight to get to in a few hours.” His mother immediately frowned at his words, but Justin held up his hands to stop her from declaring her disappointment in him. He had heard the same story more than enough in life to not have to hear it again.

“Alright then. Bye Celeste it was nice meeting you dear. And Justin I’ll see you later?” The answer to her question hung in the air for a full minute before she gave up with a sigh and exited the apartment.

The door slammed behind her departure. “She pisses me off with all her fucking judgments. She has no right to judge anything I do.” His outburst startled the toddler a little, but she did not awaken.

“If I want to fight. I’ll fight. If I want to shack up with you, then damnit I’ll do that shit too.”

Celeste examined Justin’s behavior closely. She had never seen him react this way. He was so angry. So frustrated. It was much different than that time when he had punched a hole in the wall. This was much more personal.

The need to question him crept up on her, but she didn’t entertain the idea any further. Celeste knew that this was a topic that was off limits for Justin, no if and or buts about it.

He was quick to change the subject, “So what did you want to talk to me about?”

“You can go first.” Celeste insisted.

Justin scratched nervously at the curls atop his head. “Uh…let me go put half-pint in the bed.” He left the room quickly, buying himself some much needed time.

He sat on the edge of the bed, tucking the toddler under the covers, while his thoughts chased each other in circles. Justin tried to analyze his emotions but there were too many.

Celeste challenged him, annoyed him, and angered him even more. Yet at the same time, she was funny, sometimes cheesy, sexy and on her way to being a damn good kisser.

God, help him, he liked her.

His hands balled into tight fists at his sides. It didn’t help ease his frustrations though; he was still a big jumble of nerves.

“Are you okay?”

When did she get so light on her feet?

Justin shook his head, removed his t-shirt and drew in a deep breath, “You are going to be my date for the Boxer’s Gala.” His words were rushed, but they still maintained his bluntness.

He waited for her response for awhile and wasn’t happy when it came in the form of laughter. He hadn’t expected to hear the ripple of laughter sound from her lips nor had he expected to feel a rush of disappointment.

“That must’ve been hard for you to say.” Her face was serious as she uttered the words, but amusement still twinkled in her gaze.

He forced a smile. “Painful.”

“No.”

“Come again?”

“No, nada, unh huh.” She rattled off different phrases to reiterate the fact she was not going to accompany him to his Boxer’s Gala.

Justin stood up abruptly, his frustration getting the best of him, “Why the hell not?” He lowered his voice to a whisper when he noticed the toddler had begun to stir.

“C’mere.” Celeste beckoned with the wiggle of her fingers, urging him to continue this discussion in the living room as to not disturb Tatiyana.

Justin followed, mumbling incoherent phrases the entire way.

“Damn Celeste, are you going to really stand me up?”

Celeste chuckled in disbelief, “Stand you up? You didn’t even ask me to go…” Her words trailed off as his gaze narrowed in confusion.

“I already bought the tickets. Shit, they cost me fifty dollars a piece, Celeste. What do you expect me to do now? I told them that I was bringing a fucking date.” Justin plopped down on the sofa next to Celeste. He didn’t bother looking at her, just focused on the disarrayed threads in the fabric of his well worn jeans.

“Justin, you didn’t even ask if I already had something planned, which I don’t, but the point is that you didn’t ask me. So, no I’m not going.” Celeste said defiantly, poking Justin in the arm with a freshly manicured nail.

Justin glanced down at her manicured nail on his arm and then stared at her with wide eyes. “Celeste, stop playing with me.”

“I’m serious. See that’s what’s wrong with you.” Celeste curled a hand around his bicep, moving closer to him.

“You’re what’s wrong with me.” Justin said honestly, but telling the truth did nothing to ease the sudden nervousness he felt.

“You are right. I am what’s wrong with you and you’re what’s wrong with me.”

“Exactly. Whoa…wait a minute. What did I ever do to you?”

“If you don’t know the answer to that then I can’t help you.” She made an attempt to smile, but failed.

Justin looked thoughtful as he contemplated her words, “Well besides the obvious. I don’t see why you just can’t give in and go with me. Please.”  He whined, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

“Do you like me Justin?”

“Shit.” He mumbled as his hand tightened on her shoulder.

“Do you?”

“Um..yeah a little bit, but I blame your new look. Especially those tight ass jeans you like oh and those damn tanks-”

“Camis.”

“Whatever! Can’t you go back to wearing my sweatpants and t-shirts?”

Celeste leaned in to whisper in his ear, her hand trailed from his bicep to rest on the back of his neck. She fingered the hair at his nape.

Justin tried to jerk away from her touch, but instinctively pulled her closer to him.

“But don’t I look better in clothes made for me, made for my body?”

Justin closed his eyes against the rush of desire he felt as her sweet whisper tickled his skin. “Yeah.”

“And, don’t you think I’m just a better person when I dress this way?”

“Yeah.” No. Not a better person for me.

“I wouldn’t like you like that if you didn’t dress this way. It’s as if you put on these clothes and suddenly you’re this sexy woman and the last thing I need is for you to look that fucking hot.” Justin ran a palm over his face in frustration.

“Okay.”

“Okay, what?” He turned to her, staring at her skeptically.

Celeste sighed. “Okay, I’ll go to that gala with you.”

“Yeah? Thanks. I’ll give you whatever money you need to go shopping. It’s in two weeks.” Justin reached for the remote, removing his arm from around Celeste and creating a comfortable amount of space between them.

“Two weeks! How long have you known about this?”

“Not long really. To be honest, I haven’t even said I was going, but I wanted to go this year. Especially, now that I have a hot date, but don’t dress too sexy. I wouldn’t want to have to kick some ass on my day off.” His eyes crinkled in amusement.

Celeste laughed, burying her face in between his neck and shoulder. “Justin, you say the sweetest things,” she mumbled sarcastically.

“But I like you too.”

“Don’t say that Celeste.” Justin tried to push her away, but she tightened her hold.

“Why do you always brush my feelings to the side?” Her lips grazed his ear and then settled on the lobe to kiss it softly.

“Celeste, shit. What the fuck are you trying to start?” He wanted to move away from her, escape her seductive clutches, but damn it felt too good and it had been a long week.

Her light kisses trailed from the lobe to behind his ear, one of his most sensitive spots. “Stop. Oh shit.”

Drowning in his satisfaction, she husked out, “You really want me to stop?”

Lord knew he didn’t want her to stop, but he didn’t want to take advantage of Celeste’s sudden need to be this overtly sexy woman.

“Do you?” Celeste placed an open-mouthed kiss against the pulse at the base of his throat.

“You little tease.” Justin whispered, harshly. “What the hell has gotten into you, Celeste? Fuck, who taught you how to do that?” His breathing became erratic when Celeste began to lightly suck on the pulse.

“Oh shit.” Justin balled his fists at his sides, fighting the urge to flip her beneath him. If only Celeste were like those other girls.

Celeste’s lips finally journeyed to his lips, and that’s where her kisses varied between nips and little licks of her tongue. She had even worked up the nerve to suck his bottom lip into her mouth and that’s when Justin couldn’t take it anymore.

Justin pinned her under him and attacked her lips with fierceness. His kisses were possessive, stealing each moan that fell from her lips, simply to give it back to her with the sweep of his tongue.

Shiver after shiver ran through her body, only to come to a halt when she lost the ability to breath.  Justin’s hands slithered down to caress the bare skin above her thigh high stockings. Celeste gasped, unfamiliar with the exotic sensation, it was absolutely thrilling. It was even better coupled with the kisses that Justin rained on her collarbone.

Celeste didn’t feel the awkwardness she thought she’d feel at being so intimate with Justin. All the kisses they had shared had never been this passionate.

Suddenly, he extracted his lips from hers and his heated gaze watched her with wide eyes.

“Why did you start that shit, Celeste?” He seethed, trying to gain control of his breathing again.

“What?” She asked, barely paying him any attention as her head lolled to the side.

“You started this.” His hands waved around them, mistakenly brushing against her right breast.

Celeste jumped away from his hot, almost scorching touch. She looked at him with almost a dazed expression. “I’m sorry.” Her apology seemed almost meaningless.

Justin laughed in disbelief, “You’re sorry? What are you apologizing for?”

“Are you mad?” Celeste asked and surprisingly her voice was calm.

He stared down at the rise and fall of her chest, watching the lacy camisole tighten around her breasts with each breath she took.

“Of course I’m mad. I’m mad out of my fucking mind right now, Celeste! Do you even know how close I was to…never mind. Just don’t do that again, you aren’t that type of girl and I only have so much sanity left before you know…” Justin allowed his meaning to hang in the air as he lifted his body from hers. The sudden coldness he felt, almost made him want to pull her into his arms again.

Celeste frowned, her bottom lip hung so low that it almost touched her chest. She pulled herself into a sitting position, watching him pace back and forth, until dizziness took over.

“I didn’t tell you to stop Justin.”

Justin sighed in frustration. “You’re a piece of work Celeste.” He almost laughed at the audacity of what he was about to say, “The truth is I can’t be the type of man you need and you can’t be the type of girl I need.”

“How do you even know that?” She was standing now and moving towards him.

“I just know, okay? I don’t do the relationship thing. I don’t wine and dine. I have had sex with women that I haven’t even brought into my house. It’s just so many things you don’t know about me.”

“Justin, I don’t care about that shit. I never asked you to be my boyfriend and I certainly didn’t ask you to,” She lifted her hands in the form of quotation marks before continuing, “Pop my cherry.”

Justin’s lips fell open in surprise. “I can’t b-believe you just s-said that.” He stammered, glaring at her and grabbing her arm as she tried to walk by him.

“So what? It doesn’t matter now.” Celeste removed her arm from his hold.

“So, what does that mean? Celeste? Come back here!” His voice fell on deaf ears as she went into the bedroom and locked the door.

“Whatever.” Justin looked around the empty small sized living room and groaned, “I have a fight to get to anyway.” He removed his wife-beater and tossed it to the side as he entered the bathroom. He figured a cold shower should restrain his hormones long enough for him to be able to fight a good fight at least.

Justin looked down at the bulge in his boxers, “We’re in trouble.”

~*~*~*~

Justin had remained in the shower until the water turned tepid. He suddenly felt cold and alone. So many questions ran through his mind, the main one being, what had prompted his mother to visit unannounced. Her visits always led to heated arguments because she passed judgment on the lifestyle he led. She had no right to judge him! She barely even knew the real him, whatever the real him consisted of.

He stepped out of the tub and wrapped a large cotton towel around his waist. “Shit!” The expletive echoed in the bathroom almost simultaneously with the slamming of the medicine cabinet, the glass shattered from the force.

The hard knock appeared at the door faster than expected. Justin quickly pulled on a fresh pair of boxers and opened the door.

“Justin, what happened? Are you okay?” Celeste stepped around the door and glanced at the shards of glass in the sink and around the toilet.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Justin replied, without turning around.

“No you’re not.” She settled a palm on his still damp shoulder, forcing him to face her. Immediately, she noticed his troubled expression.

“You’re still mad? Look Justin-”

He held up his hand silencing her, “I’m not mad about that anymore.”

Celeste looked thoughtful for a second. “Your mother?” To her question, Justin nodded.

“Just go to your fight and win, not for her, but for you.” She attempted to massage the tension from his shoulder with both hands, but that didn’t seem to be working very well.

“I’m not fucking winning for her or me. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing anymore.” Justin pinched the bridge of his nose to ease the pressure.

Celeste watched him with open curiosity. She had never heard him express such feelings in regards to what he loved the most, which was fighting. Fighting was what he lived for and it paid the bills.

“So, are you not going to fight tonight?”

“Yeah, I’m going. Can you go with me?” He looked hopeful.

“Why?” The question left her mouth before she had the chance to regret it.

“I j-just want you to be there.”

“Okay.” Celeste had wanted to turn down his offer, but she couldn’t get the words out and not to mention he needed her support.

“Thanks.” His eyes roamed over her attire, white boy-shorts and matching tank top.

“Don’t worry, I’m going to change.” Celeste said when she noticed his eyes widen.

“Good.” Justin smiled, watching the sway of her hips as she left the bathroom.

~*~*~*~

Justin repetitively jabbed the cylindrical rotating bag of sand, practicing his body blows and power punching.

“How much time you got left?” Celeste asked breaking through his concentration.

Justin threw a glance over his shoulder at her. He watched Celeste remove the necessary equipment from the bag as well as a first aid kit; she had come prepared for the worst.

Her stance was rigid and her movements were anxious, giving the impression that she was on the verge of a panic attack.

“Are you sure you want to be here? Justin placed his neatly wrapped hands around the rotating bag to cease its movements.

Celeste met his gaze, forcing a smile, she said, “You wanted me to be here, so I’ll be here.” The smile didn’t quite reach her eyes as she walked up to him. She inspected the bandage work she had done on his hands, repositioning the neat gauze wrap to her satisfaction.

Justin pulled his hands away from her grasp, “It’s fine, Celeste. Stop stalling.” He pinched her nose.

Celeste sighed, “Don’t punch too hard.”

He laughed, “Hopefully, he knows how to bob and weave.” Justin bent at the waist, doing his imitation of a bob and weave. He straightened his posture and strutted over to the sink. Filling his palms with water, he splashed his face hoping to wash the nervousness away.

Justin crouched low, allowing the water to drip from the short curly tips of his hair.

Celeste crept up behind him, resting her head against his back and wrapping her arms around his midsection. “I’m so scared, Justin. Do you have to…to fight tonight?”

He could feel the tremors vibrate off her skin onto his. Then he heard sniffling.

“Are you crying?” Justin turned around to observe her and quickly noted the streak of tears. Against his better judgment he pulled her into his arms.

“Look, Celeste. I’ve done this, thousands of times already. It’s the same ol’ shit each time, I’ll be fine.”

“You promise?” Her words were muffled by his shirt.

“I promise. Besides, if I get hurt, who else will,” Justin paused to hold his hands up to imitate quotation marks, “Pop your cherry.”

Before she had the chance to be startled by his bold words he planted a quick kiss on her lips and walked out the door. The fogginess cleared from her brain after the door closed and the anxiety quickly returned. Neither the kiss nor Justin’s blatant remark had helped to ease her conscious.

She still worried about him. And as the sounds of the revved up crowd penetrated the thick walls, her concern increased and hundreds of question floated in through her mind. Would Justin win? Would he lose? Would he walk away untouched or would he be injured so severely that he would have to be carried in?

Celeste definitely didn’t want to think about the latter possibly occurring. Trying to at least stay positive, she occupied the wooden chair at the steel pedestal table in the corner. Despite the eerie coldness she felt at not being able to watch Justin fight, she managed to calm herself down a bit. Now all she had to do was wait for the fight to end and for Justin to walk through those doors perfectly fine. 

~*~*~*~

Justin attempted to mentally prepare himself for one of the hardest fights in his life, not because he wasn’t physically ready, but because for the first time his mind truly wasn’t on the fight.

For days, Celeste had occupied every part of his thoughts and even found a way to creep into his dreams. Although, his dreams mostly occurred during the day, the dreams he had about her were anything, but decent. In fact, they could be deemed as downright scandalous. It was wrong for him to imagine what her naked skin would feel like against his, under his, or on top of his.

Justin ran his rough fingers through his hair in frustration as he tried to focus on the exuberance of the crowd.

“Timberwolve, Timberwolve, Timberwolve!” The audience chanted loudly, thrusting their fists into the air.

Celeste leaned her head against the wall trying to absorb the audience’s excitement. If only she could experience some of the same bliss instead of the constant fear that overwhelmed her.

Justin approached the ring, a nervous wreck. How would he get through this fight when his mind was elsewhere?

He stared into the cold hard gaze of his opponent, wishing that he was staring into Celeste’s tender yet seductive gaze. He wished that he was surrounded by the warmth of his apartment instead of this bitter atmosphere.

Celeste twirled a curl around the tip of her manicured nail, staring at the clock that hung on the filth-covered the walls. It had only been ten minutes since Justin had left her and the safe confines of the room and each minute after that ticked by in slow seconds.

She listened closely, trying to determine if Justin was winning or if the fight had even started yet.

Justin stepped into the ring and he immediately walked to the center of the ring and stepped in Slugger McGee’s face. Although, his challenger was twenty five pounds heavier, Justin didn’t seem intimidated in the slightest as he locked eyes with the bigger man.

The referee signaled the bell to start the match, but neither man wanted to make the first move. They stood in the center of the ring for a few seconds before the opponent raised his right hand and socked Justin with a hook to the jaw.

Justin shook away the pain and licked the blood from his lips, his steps faltering momentarily. He instantly jumped to his feet before Slugger could capitalize.

Celeste sprang from the seat when the deafening crowds’ disapproval floated into the small room. “Oh shit. That can’t be good.” She paced back and forth, expecting the worst.

Slugger seemed a little fazed by Justin’s sudden recovery. The two marched towards each other once again and Justin threw flurries of intense punches and combinations of hooks and uppercuts.

They locked up in the ring, but Slugger slipped free and barreled Justin into the ropes. On the rebound, Justin leapt forward and drilled him with a clothesline.

Justin had never fought with this much intensity in a fight, advancing on his opponent with the quickness of a savage beast.

Slugger McGee tossed a right hook and missed, disrupting his balance, allowing Justin to counter act with an uppercut to the face.

Celeste contemplated opening the door to peek at the fight, but at the last minute thought otherwise and locked the door instead.

 
However, the chanting of the crowd seemed to get louder and louder, making her go insane with worry to the point where all she wanted to do was block everything out.

Justin swayed back and forth on his toes after being hit by a fast one to his abs. Slugger McGee made another swift short jab to Justin’s ribs, but he was able to dodge it completely. He reached up to hit him square in the right cheekbone, sending his opponent sailing back against the ropes.

Justin wiped the drips of blood from his busted lip, smearing it on his left cheek. He clenched his teeth tightly, glaring at Slugger. In an instant, his punches seemed unstoppable as they connected hard, piercing any part of the Slugger’s body.

Completely exhausted, the two fighters stumbled into each other, falling back against the ropes for support. Justin hurled tired punches, only getting in a few good ones here and there.

Celeste crouched low on the floor, burying her head against her folded arms as she willed herself not to start crying like a big baby. It’s not as if this was her first time attending one of Justin’s fights, but now that she had begun to develop feelings akin to affection for him, it all seemed very different. She just hoped he wasn’t badly injured.

Despite the fact that his body was wrenching with pain, Justin managed to smirk at his opponent as he jabbed forcefully at the Slugger’s head, each punch costing him more pain. His arms could barely keep up to perfect the variations of crosses, jabs, uppercuts and hooks.

His brain was muddled and his swollen eyes could hardly make out the scene in front of him. He watched the blurry figure dance on his toes, before dropping to his knees in what Justin hoped was defeat.

Justin fingered the lucky dog tags in the pocket of his jeans, removing them and tossing it at his opponent’s feet. He sneered, rubbing a bloody and bruised hand over his sweaty face.

The first tear fell, before she even had the opportunity to stop it. She quickly wiped it away with the sleeve of her blazer and focused on the numerous smudges of dirt on her new jeans. Things she would normally care about all seemed trivial when she was scared out of her mind.

Just when her sobs started to magnify, a hard knock sounded at the door. Celeste’s first thought was to open the door, but wasn’t completely sure if the person was Justin or not. She didn’t care, she would risk the chance.

“Justin!”

His body plunged forward and Celeste immediately tried to catch him before he hit the concrete floor. She kicked the door close with her heel and used all her strength to drag him across the room and perch him up against the corner.

Celeste almost cried at the extent of his injuries. His face consisted of a mass of blood and bruises, sweat poured from every pore, and his eyes were almost swollen shut.

“Oh my God, Justin.” Celeste lightly ran a finger over the one perfect uninjured patch of skin. She nearly gagged at the sight, but managed to keep the bile from rising.

“C-C-Celeste?” Justin finally spoke up, his words barely audible.

“Mhm?” Celeste removed the blood-stained gauze from his hands to reveal peeling skin and gashes.

“Can I have a kiss?”

“What?” She stared at him with wide, teary eyes, before she found her voice again, “Are you crazy?”

“Y-Yes, I am.” Justin allowed his head to flop back against the wall. “But, it’ll make me…make me feel better.” He choked out.

Celeste quickly kissed his forehead.

“That isn’t what I meant, b-b-but thanks any-w-w-way.” He peered at her through swollen eyes.

“Were you crying?” She nodded her answer.

Justin sighed and shakily lifted his arm, pulling her to lean against him.

“No.”

“It’s okay.” He insisted, tightening his arm around her and that’s when her tough façade finally cracked.