Fight. For. Love

Theo's POV

I stuck out like a sore thumb the moment I stepped inside the gym.

The atmosphere inside was just as crazy as I thought it would be, left and right and in front of me were men and women working out like their life depended on it, whether it be running super-fast on the treadmill or lifting weights that would crush me, I couldn't help but feel out of place here.

Maybe I picked the wrong gym?

Everybody here was seriously in shape, and everyone looked beautiful and perfect in every way, the women were way out of my league and the men made me feel insecure just by looking at them, tall and muscular.

I felt like an idiot, wearing a warcraft t-shirt and the only shorts I owned, that were bright red and very noticeable in a room full of people wearing dark gym clothes.

If I left now nobody would even know I stepped inside, like me coming here today never happened.

Turning around, my hand on the doorhandle, I feel someone grab my shoulder making me freeze and pale once I turn around to see who it was.

Freaking huge.

"Hey kid, you the new guy?" A man asked, sporting a huge white beard, with arms the size of my head.

I didn't know what to do so I nodded my head sheepishly, making the bigger older man grin and put his arm around my shoulder, dragging me away from the exit and more into the gym.

"Perfect, you came at just the right time kid." He said as I started sweating from just how heavy his arm was over my shoulder. "Let's get you fixed up with a locker and I'll show you the equipment."

"You signed for a trainer, yeah?" He asked and I nodded my head.

"You're lucky then because I just got an opening with one of my best guys, these bitches would love for this spot but it's all yours kid, if you want it." He said as he led me through the people working out, their eyes looking at us momentarily as we passed.

I felt like everyone was looking at us, and they probably were, this guy spoke too freaking loud, and I probably looked like a skinny bag of bones next to this muscular man who probably worked out every single day.

"Um, d-do I start today?" I ask nervously, as the man moves his hand from my shoulder and comes behind the front desk to grab something.

He looks at me and grins. "If you want to, the first lesson is always free on us."

Wait, the first lesson was free? I didn't know that, but lucky me, because I wasn't planning on spending so much money, I felt a little better about coming knowing I had money for the bus back home and didn't have to walk over an hour.

"I'm Rick by the way, I own this place and if you need anything, just shout and I got you kid." Rick said, handing me a locker key with the number 13 on it, as I nodded my head.

"Oh, t-thanks and it's Theodore but j-just Theo is fine." I said sheepishly as he nodded his head once and then signalled for me to follow him with two fingers.

Rick showed me the locker room where I put my bag inside and then he showed me where everything was, this place was huge and had everything you could possibly need.

It had a sauna, showers and a pool, not only did it have three floors of equipment, but it also had a basement where they teach kickboxing and other combat sports, also defensive lessons which I really wanted to take.

After Rick showed me the basic equipment for what I wanted to start on, the weight machines looked the easiest then everything else, I already did enough cardio running from the football team at school, I didn't want to do it in the gym.

"That's it Theo, you got any questions before I leave you?" Rick asks as we stop near the stairs.

I was starting to get nervous, I was seconds away from my private one on one training with someone and the more I stayed here the more I just wanted to go home, I felt so out of my depth around everything.

"No, I think I got it..." I said looking around nervously before I looked at the large man in front of me.

"Mads is just down there, he should be finishing up so just head on down." He said as he nodded down the stairs, where the words 'underground' was labelled above the double doors leading to the basement.

I got chills just looking at the doors, I had to wonder if I could really do this, I didn't know anything about fighting other than how to take a punch.

Was I making a huge mistake?

"Right, I got you Tuesday for defensive lessons so I will see you then Theo." Rick said before walking away, leaving me stood there frozen.

Rick's teaching me defence? That guy?

I'm really going to die if he gets me in a chokehold, there's just no way I can survive... but I was looking forward to learning something that would atleast help me.

Carefully, I started walking down the steps, and the closer I got to the door the more I heard the sounds coming from inside the basement room, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. but I had a sneaky suspicion I was about to find out and regret it.

Should I knock?

Would they even hear me?

"Ugh." I groan out and shake it off, before I grabbed hold of the steel handle and push it, only to realise it was a pull door.

Luckily nobody was around to witness how lame I was as I pulled the door open and took a quick peek inside before walking in nervously.

There was a large ring inside the room, and punching bags on the right side with other equipment I didn't recognise on the left, and some I did recognise, but what made me the most nervous was the two men in their own world as they fought inside the ring.

I slowly walked over to the ring and watched as the two men fought, what they were doing was something I only saw in youtube videos, using moves I could never name or do, but they did it effortlessly.

Suddenly a bell rung out and made me jump into the air, the two fighters stopped and then started taking off their helmets.

"Nice footwork but your punch is stil shit, you need to fix that before Friday unless you want to get your ass handed to you." One man said, with tattoos all over his arms and legs.

"You're just too fucking fast." The darker man grunts out, making the tattooed man grin smugly before turning around.

I froze the moment his eyes met mine, but unlike me he didn't look surprised to see me as I was to see him, because I knew exactly who he was from TV.

My dad would turn the TV on and force me to watch the sport channel with him, and there was always one sport in particular he made me watch, and that was kickboxing, and that is exactly how I know who he is.

Maddox Zane, a champion kickboxer.

"I'll see you next week Mads." The other guy said, stepping down from the ring, and walking past me, giving me a nod before he picks up his bag and head for the exit.

I swallow hard and go over to where the steps were, and where Maddox was, my nerves high with each step, knowing that my personal trainer is someone famous, and a legend in the world of kickboxing.

"I-I'm Theodore Banks... I was told by Rick y-you had an opening..." I said nervously, hating myself for stuttering in front of him.

His eyes snap to mine as he looks me over from head to toe, making my hands sweat once his eyes land on the shirt I was wearing, before his eyes went back to mine.

"Maddox Zane."

"You're not exactly dressed for training." He said as I laughed nervously, rubbing my arm.

"I-I didn't know I was going to train today so..." I said lamely as he sighed, then stepped down from the ring.

"Do you have any kickboxing experience?" He asked, going over to a bench where a bottle of water was.

Oh, I had experience with fighting, but I was always on the receiving end... but I'm not going to say that I probably look pathetic with just standing here without saying the truth.

"Not really..."

I watched him as he wiped his face with a towel and then took a drink from his bottled water before coming over to me and grabbing hold of my arm, making me freeze once his larger, and warm hand wraps around my wrist.

"You're too skinny, what's your diet like?" He asks, letting go of my arm.

"I... don't really have one."

He simply gave me a look before signaling for me to follow him to where a bench and a table was inside a room, behind the ring, it looked like it was his office as I noticed photos of him from being a professional kickboxer.

"Let's get you on a regime and then we can do something about you gaining some meat on your bones." He said as I nodded my head nervously stood and watched him grab something from inside his table.

"Here." He hands me a card with his name and number on it.

Why was he giving me this?

"I give that to all my clients, that number is for you to tell me if you're going to be late or not showing up at all, I'm a busy guy so I don't have time for bullshit, understand?" He said tightly as I nodded my head and put the card in my short pockets.

"How old are you?" He asked, looking me over as he stood next to me.

"Eighteen." I said, frowning as he looked me over again.

Why did he need to know how old I was?

"Follow me." He said, before moving past me and then started walking towards the front of the room where there were a few lockers.

"I have some stuff that might fit you, you can have those until you get your own gear." He said as he opened a locker and handed me a bunch of clothes.

I felt overwhelmed with everything, he kept handing me things before he turned and then stared at my feet, and for some reason, whenever he looked at me, I felt weird, and it wasn't because he was famous, but because he was intimidating to look at.

He was probably the most good-looking guy I've seen, the guys on the football team would instantly kick my ass for saying so, probably call me gay for comparing their looks, but screw them.

Maddox was a guy who got any woman he wanted, he was tall, good-looking and in shape, really in shape, I don't think I'd ever reach his level of manhood, I was just a twig compared to his guy. "Let's go over days I can see you and then we'll work out your routine and diet plan."

I followed him back to his office, but before he passed me again, I didn't miss the way he looked at my face, or should I say my nose, as it still was newly bruised with tape over it, obvious it was caused by someone.

Unlike other people though, he didn't look at me with pity, he didn't say a word about it and kept professional, only then did I start to feel like this wasn't a mistake, and probably one of the best decision's I have ever made.

Not only do I have a private trainer, but I joined the gym, I should be proud of myself... but I knew the moment Maddox started talking about food intake and training, I couldn't help but feel pathetic.

I didn't stay in shape, and I ate whatever was simply in the fridge, nor did I know anything about any sports, only when I watched kickboxing with my dad.

Something told me that Maddox didn't judge me, if anything I got the feeling, Maddox wanted to help me, so I'm going to put my faith in him.

I'm going to try my best, failing this wasn't an option.

"