It was really Ethan

Chapter 20

Kierra's POV

"Mom, who's he?" I asked again when my mom didn't speak. I saw both of them exchange looks before my mom walked over to where I stood and wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

"Kierra, this is David," she introduced, and 'David' waved. I glanced at him for a second before looking back at my mom. I had a lot of questions and she could tell.

"Are you guys... dating?" I asked the most important question first.

"Well, not exactly but we have been on a few dates," was my mom's response. I couldn't hold back a groan.

"That's dating, Mom!"

"Okay, okay. You're right. I didn't want you to find out like this."

"So how exactly did you think I'd find out? Were you even planning on telling me?"

"Of course, Kierra! Honey, I know you're mad right now but you know me. I was planning to tell you and it's not like I'm going to change just because I decide to date again."

"Whatever you say, Mom!" I replied and rolled my eyes before running up the stairs to my room. After locking the door so I could be alone, I walked over to my bed, spread my arms, and fell back on the bed.

I looked around the room from my spot on the bed and couldn't help but think back to the day my dad and I painted the room together.

I had been looking forward to it for weeks and when the day finally came, I was excited and it was worth it.

Not only did we paint the room, but we also ended up painting ourselves too. Mom was not happy.

My lips turned up a little at the thought from the past. Except for a few spots that had started to fade which I had painted myself, the room was still pretty much the same.

It wasn't like I wanted to be hard on my mom. She'd done so much for me and she had every right to date if she wanted to but the thought of someone else moving in and wanting me to call him Dad didn't excite me. I didn't ever want to feel like I was erasing my dad or moving on.

It was dumb to feel that way but I couldn't help it.

I continued to stare at the ceiling for a while before I sat upright again and looked at the clock. It was a few minutes to eight. I was bored and I didn't want to go back downstairs in case David was still there.

"But what could I do then?" I placed my hand on my jaw and pondered on a few ideas that came to mind. Just then, a gust of wind blew in through the open window and I shivered. I stood and walked over to the window to close it when I got an idea.

Without hesitating, I grabbed a jacket, put it on, and climbed out the window. My house wasn't very big so it was easy and not too high. Once I was on the ground and I was sure my mom hadn't seen me, I ran as fast as I could.

I only stopped when I had put a sizeable distance between myself and my house. I wasn't really the sneaking-out type of girl. This was probably my first time doing it and I didn't exactly know where to go but it felt better than staying in my room like I always did.

The night air felt cold and yet refreshing as I walked down the streets, unsure of what or where I was heading. I was beginning to feel like my night out probably wasn't going to be as fun as I'd hoped.

A taco truck caught my eye and my stomach growled so I walked over to the truck and ordered a taco. While standing there waiting for my taco, two men approached the truck as well and they seemed to be in a hurry.

"Do we really have to stop for tacos, Rick? The fight has probably already started!" one of them said to the other, sounding impatient.

"I know, I know. This won't take long. It's not like I want to miss the fight either," Rick said to his friend and I couldn't help but be curious.

What fight? Did I dare ask them?

"Here you go, dear," the owner of the truck said, handing my taco to me. I accepted it quietly, paid him, and went to stand by a corner, waiting for Rick and his friend to get their tacos. They did and started to walk away quickly and I followed them.

I knew it was a little dumb of me to trail two strangers heading to a fight but I was intrigued. I was already going to be in trouble anyway. Why let the night go to waste anyway?

Eventually, Rick and the other man walked into a bar as I did and l watched them head towards a door and walk in. I followed them and was a little surprised to find that it was just a plain storage room.

The only thing that looked out of place was the tall, buff bouncer guarding a door at the end of the room. Rick and his friend spoke to the bouncer for a few seconds before he grunted, stepped aside, and let them through.

Now I was even more interested in knowing what was behind the door so after taking a moment to calm myself, I approached the bouncer and asked to be let in.

He arched his eyebrow and gave me a once-over look before saying, "No."

"What? Why?" I asked.

"For one, you're not dressed right and you look like a twelve-year-old," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Hey! I do not look like a twelve-year-old!" I argued, clenching my fist.

"Whatever, kid. Get lost. This is not your kind of scene."

"I have money," I said, reaching into my pocket and bringing out the bills in there. "There. Is that enough?"

The bouncer eyed the bills in my hand before he sighed and took the money.

"Don't say I didn't warn you, kid," he said as he stepped aside so I could go in. I flashed him a big grin as I opened the door and stepped in. All I saw was a dark, narrow passageway and stairs that seemed to be neverending.

Before I could ask the bouncer where to go, he closed the door and I was all alone in the dark. I quickly grabbed my phone and turned on the flashlight before heading down the stairs.

It was a long trip down and I was beginning to wonder if I hadn't made a terrible decision when I heard music, screams, and cheers in the distance. That reassured me and I hurried down the stairs, stunned when I finally got to the end.

I had walked into an underground boxing arena. Music was blasting from all sides but even louder were the cheers and screams coming from the crowds gathered around the cage where the fight seemed to be happening.

I got closer to the crowd and tried to sneak a peek at the fight but I couldn't. Then again, most of the spectators were grown men so that was to be expected.

But I was about to let that stop me. I braced myself and fought through the crowd to get to the front. This was one of the times that I appreciated my small stature.

Now that I was closer, I saw two men in an iron cage having a boxing match and it looked brutal. One of them, the one who looked kinda younger had the upper hand and the crowd was going wild.

I didn't know how to feel about the entire thing. I wasn't one for violence but at least, my night wouldn't be so boring.

While standing there and waiting for the fight to be over, the fighter with the upper hand suddenly punched his opponent on the jaw sending him crashing down. The crowd went wild and cheered and I was about to join in too when I finally caught a glimpse of his face.

My jaw went slack and I felt all the blood leave my face. This couldn't be! This wasn't happening! I was seeing things. I had to be!

I rubbed my eyes and looked again but nothing changed. It was really Ethan. What in the world was going on?