Sequel: Two Lives As One
Status: Check out Two Lives As One! Picks up at Christmas time after the events in this story :)

One Life To Live

An Old Friend

I had a craving for a hard workout.

A sweat-is-dripping-off-my-forehead kind of workout.

So, I hopped into my green Alero clad in my swishy black gym shorts, and tight purple Nike top. It displayed a little more cleavage than I thought was necessary, but considering it was a couple years old…it worked. Bethany Lynn told me this morning that she was going to spend the day in upstate New York visiting her roomies - the people that had roomed with her before I even thought about travelling to New York for college. She said she knew it was an awkward situation, but that she’d be back late tonight.

As I was driving in my car, I tried not to think about the fact that the only place I had familiarity with to work out in was a gym in Harlem. If I was a resident there and had roots there, obviously it wouldn’t be a problem. I was most likely going to cause a scene going where I knew Ziggy’s place was, but that was fine because I had a cell phone and I had a can of mace in my purse. Plus, Ziggy would never let any harm come to one of his customers. He had a reputation for upholding his place with quality.

I found the place - right in the knooks and crannies, of course - and parked my car in the almost vacant lot except for the three or four cars there. I approached the door, noticing that the hinges were rusty, and the green paint was chipping off slightly. None the less, I saw Ziggy grinning at me from where he was sitting analyzing two guys pounding on each other in the boxing ring.

"Hey! My girl!" He smiled. "It's been a while."

I nodded, and gave him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Ziggy. Been busy with school and all."

"Oh yeah? So how's the New York life style treatin' ya?"

I grinned. "Good, good. Always on the move, y'know?"

"Don't I know that," he winked, "So any fellas calling you up?"

"Well..." I hesitated, smiling. "Maybe, Zig."

"Aaahhh, I knew it kid." He nudged me playfully, and I followed suit with him as he led me over towards where everyone was training. "So you'se feelin' like boxing today, or maybe lifting the weights? We got machines in the back too-"

"I can box today," I decided.

"Great, great. Here are them," he handed me boxing gloves and stood behind the bag. "Now I wanna see a good right jab, honey." I balled my hands into fists, and smacked into the hard, red bag with gusto.

"Perfect - get your jabs short and quick. Boom, boom, like this," he demonstrated for me. "Both arms together protecting, rememeber. Good."

I jerked my arm forward and snapped it back; ten times in a row getting into a rhythm.

"Get your feet stable - power stance. Good! Now let's try left hand jabs. I know, you're a rightie, I get it." He smirked. I smiled back at him, striking the bag awkwardly anyway giving my best effort.

"That's a'ight. Just get a feel for it. See? Already better."

We worked on right and left jabs for another five or ten minutes. Ziggy even got one of the guys boxing in the ring to help - Benny was his name. I practiced on him - he held the mitt in front of me while I forced my first into it. My body and arms were heating up, and sweat came soon after that. Ziggy showed me combinations then; jabs and swings in sync with my feet movements. He thought my technique was good and sturdy, but could always be improved, which I expected.

The circle kicks were always fun to do, too. One time I lost my balance and dropped to the floor laughing in surprise and embarrasement. Ziggy and Benny just shook their heads, but they couldn't help but smile at the rookie's mistakes.

When an hour passed, however, that was when I had started to get my mojo. My arms and feet collaborating together well - I even got a shot at Ziggy once because he couldn't keep track of which way my fists were coming from.

"A'ight, love - we'll take a little break, and then get you up in the room to show them boys how to fight, eh?" He looked excited and eager - I couldn't help but say yes.
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This chapter was so long, I had to split it into a part one and two!!
Be prepared for a really fast update, guys!!! For the part two (:
Thanks for the cooperation,
Lauren <33