You Have To Quit

Author's Note: We're back. Expect weekly chapters from this point on.

It was dark when Suzanna got home. She stepped out of the cab, her head and hands heavily bandaged and throbbing from spending the day punching the cinder blocks and headbutting bricks. She painfully pulled her keys out of her pocket and unlocked the door.

"I'm ho- Oh!" She had walked in to see Sarah on the couch, making out with a tall well-built Indian man. There were textbooks and notepads on the table. They didn't seem to notice her so she quietly closed the door and tried to go to her room quietly. Better not to bother them.

Sarah finally noticed her and hastily disengaged in embarrassment,

"Oh, S-Suzy. You're ho- Oh my God!" She pulled away from her partner and was in front of Suzanna in the blink of an eye, gripping both her bandaged hands, "What happened?"

"Ow!"

"Sorry," She grabbed her wrists and pulled her over to the couch. Sarah's "study buddy" moved to the end so Suzanna could sit. Sarah squatted down and examined her hands,

"Um, hi," He said, with a nervous wave, "I'm Omar,"

"Suzanna," She responded with a dry smile, "Nice to meet you,"

"Sorry, Omar," Sarah said, "Could we do this another time? I need to take care of Suzy,"

"Oh yeah, sure," He said grabbing his things and heading for the door, "I'll, uh, see you in class tomorrow. Nice meeting you, Suzanna,"

"Yeah, you too,"

The moment he left, she felt Sarah squeeze her hands again.

"Ow!"

"Answer my question," Sarah demanded, "What happened?"

"I-It was training. Simon had me-"

"Simon?" Sarah stood up in anger, "You were with that Thompson creep?!"

Suzanna reeled back against the couch and raised up her hands in fear, "I didn't have a choice! Mrs Gamal said she'd fire me,"

"And you didn't argue against it at all?"

"She said he was the only one who could train me without me hurting them?"

"And you believed her? No one asked, whatsoever?"And you believed her?"

"W-Why wouldn't I?"

Sarah turned away and pinched her nose in frustration, "Because these people are carnies and ____-stirrers first; athletes and businesspeople second!"

"What do you mean?"

Sarah turned around, "What, you think your uncle was chewing bricks on TV for fun? Think! They're probably going to have you endure months of abuse for finally letting you take a swing at him and then-"

"That's not what's happening,"

Sarah put her hands on her hips, "How so?"

"If I don't make it through the trial, he's fired too,"

Sarah's eyelids drooped, "So you're his punishment for being a troublemaker?"

"I-I didn't... say that..."

Sarah folded her arms and cocked an eyebrow. Suzanna sighed and looked down,

"Okay, yeah," She quickly straightened and continued her retort,

"But he's serious about training me. He had me punching cinder blocks to help with my fear and pain tolerance,"

Sarah hummed in suspicion, "I guess I can see the reasoning and you definitely need it... Wait, did he have you headbutt them too?"

Suzanna shook her head, then put a hand on it due to a sudden spike of pain, "I had to hit myself with a brick anytime I hesitated,"

Sarah's eyes widened.

Suzanna held up the number four with her free hand, thinking it would reassure Sarah,

"But that only happened four times, so it's-"

"You need to quit,"

Suzanna was flabbergasted, "W-What?"

“Look, I get it’s important to you and I was the one who made you call them back…” Sarah explained, attempting to be as delicate as possible.

Suzanna’s brow furrowed, “Sarah…”

“But I’m sure there are plenty of not insane places for you to perform or even other not insane jobs that you can-"

"I'm not quitting," Suzanna plainly stated,

"I'm serious," Sarah sternly retorted, "You can't go back there,"

"Sarah," Suzanna stood up to her full height and looked down at Sarah with a deep, determined glare, “I’m. Not. Quitting,”

Sarah froze at Suzanna’s sudden intensity.

“I signed a contract, remember? If I break it they’ll sue me,” Her intensity disappeared, allowing Sarah to release the breath she was holding, “And I don’t want to quit. I want to see this through,”

“Fine…” Sarah said, exasperated, “Just don’t… die,”

Suzanna smirked and folded her arms, “Whatever you say, ‘Rose of Ferocity’,”

“You looking for more bandages?” Sarah threatened. That nickname should never be mentioned again. It was a mistake, born from a disease.

Suzanna raised her hands defensively and gave her a cheeky smile, “No no, I’m good,”

She suddenly pouted, “Anyway, when were you gonna tell me you had a boyfriend?”

Sarah’s face became beet red, “Oh…. yeah… Uh… IIIIII…..” She shook her head and started pushing Suzanna towards the bathroom, “A-Anyway, you need to get cleaned up,”

“Wow, I don’t think I’ve seen you blush before,”

“J-Just shut up and get in the shower!”