Chapter Twenty

~🖤~

Anna kissed both of Antonio's cheek before turning to the twins, to introduce him.

I leave them behind, sending a warning glare to Antonio, not to mess up my plan. I go inside, as if, I am entering the first time in the gym and I looked around all the equipments, for the first time in my life.

Anna enters the gym, clutching Antonio's arm, while the draggers aimed at Antonio, by the twins, is hard to miss.

Ace looks like he could rip Antonio's hands off, while Heath suddenly, glares at me. It was extremely fun to watch.

"Come on, Heath! Teach me." I yelled from across the room.

He walked furiously, his muscles tense, to me and grabbed my wrist.

"Who's he?" He growled.

"My friend. He's the owner of this gym." I shrugged, jerking my wrist off but my insides were dancing with glee.

"Keep him away from Anna." I felt numb, hearing this.

I became afraid. Not because, he was angry but he cared about Anna, a lot more. And, the dumb that I obviously am, I thought he would tell me to keep away from Antonio. I wouldn't though.

I became afraid, because, I was starting to hope. My feelings were growing for him, within this short time, I don't know how.

He could break me, betray me. But, I hoped too much that Heath will care for me. He doesn't care, if Anna and Ace have something, he wants Anna.

My best friend.

"Yeah. I will tell him." I mumbled, avoiding him.

"You better." He growled. "He's still being so clingy to her."

I didn't answer him, I just kept walking, pretending to examine the equipments.

But instead, I was sad, maybe, desperate for Heath, to care about me. I was afraid, for the depth of my feelings towards him. I knew, I didn't own him, so, he could like anybody. But, still, I felt desperate.

"Come on." Heath was going to touch my shoulder, but I flinched back.

Heath's jaw clenched but didn't question anything. We walked up to the other three, to see them laughing.

"You didn't tell me." Ace gave me a glare.

"I didn't get to. But obviously you came to know." I shrugged.

"What am I missing?" Heath asked.

"Nothing." I answered quickly.

When Anna, Ace and Antonio asked me the silent question 'Why didn't I tell him?', I gave them a glare to tell them, to follow me.

I was surprised, when, each of them, kept silent.

"Ace, you're gonna teach me, right?" I grinned at Ace.

Anna laughed, knowing my game.

"Of course." Ace fist bumped me, "Change to your sports gear."

"But, wasn't it me, who was going to teach her?" The other twin, asked awkwardly.

"We never promised." Anna and I synced together.

We grinned, Heath scowled, for what God knows. While the other two in the room, rolled their eyes.

"But I'll teach. No arguments." He ordered.

I groaned, but the others nodded. This time, I scoffed.

"Sorry, babe." Ace chuckled at my obvious discomfort.

"Don't tell him." I whispered to Antonio, walking to him. Then quickly pecked his cheek.

Collecting my headband, I trudged off to the changing room, not waiting to see any of their reactions.

I discarded my loose t-shirt, adjusted my sports bra and tight slacks and redid my hair. Then, I prayed, I could act in front of those two twins.

"Woah!" Ace hooted, Checking my body and earning a smack from Anna, in return.

I laughed and fist bumped Anna.

When she gave me a glare, I mouthed, "Yours. He's Yours."

She rolled her eyes, but smiled at me.

"Do you have an extra?"

I turned towards Anna quizzically. She blushed.

"I'll teach her." Ace answered.

My eyes popped out of my sockets. Then I gave her a very hard glare.

Whenever, I used to tell her, before this, to learn a little self defence, just in case, she brushed me off. And now, when Ace told, she agreed. I was sure, Ace didn't had to try too hard. So, my glare was satisfactory.

"I guess so." I shrugged, "I need to talk to Anna."

Before she could deny me, I dragged her to the changing rooms.

Then, I rummaged through the lockers, to find some extra sports wear. I handed them to her with force.

"Bitch, how many times?" I narrowed my eyes.

Anna frowned. "What?"

"How many times did it take Ace, to convince you?"

She blushed but held her index finger. I gasped.

"Ugh! Just one time?" I hissed. She nodded.

"Why are you not babbling about how much you like him?" I nudged her.

She blushed some more, if it was even possible.

"You guessed, huh?"

"Nope. I know, Babe." I chuckled and she laughed.

"Yes, I like him a lot. It's like love at first sight." She sighed, dreamily.

"Okay, Girl! But, you like every boy, so, damn fast." I stated the obvious.

"No, he's different. I don't want sex with him, I feel different,"

"He better be different or he won't stay alive." I hissed.

"Okay!" She held up her hands, shaking her head.

"Come on let's go." I again, dragged her outside.

Ace and Antonio, were laughing while, Heath, gaze was to the changing room, obviously, looking for Anna.

His and mine eyes met for a minute, but I removed it to Ace and Antonio, again.

Exactly, I was avoiding him. Because, I didn't want to be desperate. If he didn't want me like that, it wasn't his fault, but I wasn't going to dig deeper into my feelings.

"Hmm..." Ace licked his lips, sensually, staring at Anna, and the schoolgirl, she was becoming around Ace, she blushed furiously.

"If you two are done with that, can we move on?" I rolled my eyes.

Ace and Anna scoffed. They were very similar. While, the others two laughed, I turned my head to Heath, giving him a glare. He flinched. Good.

I didn't why I did that. I convinced myself, he could like about anyone. I didn't own him and I certainly, didn't want to feel anything for him. That's why, I wanted to suppress his emotions too. Not good.

Ace gripped Anna by the waist, kissed her on the lips, then took her to the nearest tread miller for a warmup, I guess. It seemed, like nothing happened now.

I followed them, then turned halfway, to the nearest boxing ring.

A place for Leavenworth, This gym was pretty loaded. Today, was cold, Of course, I was shivering, but, I knew, I could manage myself.

Heath's presence behind me, sent a rush of warmth through me. It was soothing until the moment I realised, who he is.

I flinched back, instantly missing the warmth, but I ignored it best and walked a few steps for some warmup.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

I frowned, my back to his.

"Nothing." I stretched my arms and legs, giving him a view of my ass, to him.

He groaned. "You are and why?"

"Teach me." I ordered, dismissing his recent question.

"Fine then." He huffed, then discarded his jeans, revealing his jersey, loosely hanging to show the prominent V and pulled out his t-shirt, his bare torso, in my view.

I avoided his sexy, Adonis body, quickly. I knew, he was teasing me and to that, I'm not attracted to him. I told myself or at least tried to do so.

"Having a problem?"

I faced him, my anger taking over my lust.

"None." I jabbed a finger at his chest, to indicate I was not attracted to him.

He looked taken aback, from my anger issues or my face was clearly pretending, I was not attracted to him, I don't know.

"What has gotten into you? Relax." He frowned.

"Fuck yourself." I hissed and turned around.

I didn't even know, Why was I even angry at him? He could like anybody, why did it matter to me? I didn't know. And I definitely, didn't want to complicate my feelings with lust, but I knew, they ran in a much greater depth.

I wrapped my hands in black tape, silently.

He finally sighed, did the same with his hands and moved inside the ring.

I finished the wrappings and got inside the ring, avoiding eye contact with him.

"You exercise, right? But you don't box?" He asked, cocking his head.

I looked past him, avoiding his intense eyes. I knew, if for once, I looked at them, they would captivate me and sidetrack me. I can't handle either.

"We'll see." I mumbled.

"If you want to train, look at me." His eyes, trying to catch mine's attention.

Finally, I gave in. And for a moment, I forgot, I am in a gym.

His eyes held a lot of emotions, but as usual, I couldn't comprehend any. There is so much tension, swirling us.

I wanted to believe, he cared about me. I wanted him to care for me, the way, my feelings have grown within this remarkably, short time. Didn't he even feel this tension?

But, I don't own him.

I removed my eyes, from his burning intensity and took several deep breaths.

If he liked and cared for Anna, he could. I am no one, to stop him. It was hard to admit it, but reality is harsh.

"Let's start." I looked past him, my voice, extremely steady.