Hidden Bruises

Hours later, N finally stood up from her bed.

Her room looked like a storm had passed through it clothes everywhere, dishes in the sink, curtains still closed. It smelled like sadness.

She exhaled slowly.

"I can't keep hiding," she whispered to herself.

She didn't text Mullet Girl.

She was too embarrassed.

She was thinking about the letters so she pushed the coffee table aside and started shadowboxing in the middle of her living room.

Left jab,Right cross,Slip,Guard up.

But something felt off.

Her punches didn't feel sharp. Her form felt sloppy. Frustration bubbled up in her chest.

"Ugh!" She groaned and rubbed her face.

She closed her eyes.

Okay. Think.

She pictured the gym.

The smell of rubber mats. The sound of gloves hitting bags.

Then she pictured her. Mullet Girl standing behind her, adjusting her stance.

"No, like this," she had said softly.

Her hands guiding N's elbows into place. Fingers brushing over her forearm. Steady. Warm.

"Relax your shoulders." N remembered the feeling of her breath close to her ear.

Her chest tightened. Her eyes flew open.

"...Oh my God."

Heat rushed through her body. She pressed her hand to her face.

"No. No way."

N then goes to her room Her mind replayed it again the fitted gym shirt, the way her muscles flexed when she held the pads, the concerned look on her face when she came to check on her.

N blushes hard

"Oh, I'm screwed."

"I cannot exist."

Because what was this feeling?

It wasn't just attraction,It was comfort.And that scared her more.

The next day, Mullet Girl stared at her phone.

No text."She said she'd text me," she muttered.

She paced her apartment.

"I don't wanna be pushy... but..."

Five more minutes passed.

"That's it. I'm going over there."

Knock knock. N opened the door and immediately looked away.

"H-hey." Mullet Girl studied her face carefully.

"You said you'd text me. I got worried."

"I was just... going through it. I'm fine now."

She wasn't.

"Can I come in?"

"...Yeah."

They sat in awkward silence. "Do you wanna talk about it?" Mullet Girl asked gently.

"No."

"Okay."

Another pause.

"When do you wanna start training again?"

N shot upright. "Training? Like... gym shirt training?"

Mullet Girl blinked. "Yeah? Why are you yelling?"

N's face turned bright red.

"You gotta go."

"What-"

The door shut in her face. Outside, Mullet Girl stared at the door. "She's losing it."

Inside, N slid down the door and covered her face.

"I'm a disaster."