Read Paradise Fought (Abel) for Free Online

ring to cheers for Spider. I’d learned to ignore the sound of others. They were the same cheers I’d heard for another fighter. I became excellent at selective hearing. I knew how to turn inward, practice the skill of mind control, to center myself. My name was called without much attention.
    “And in this corner, Bayyyyy – ttttta.” The name wasn’t as strong as Spider, but it had meaning. Bettas were warriors, and so was I.
    The fight began. With a crushing blow to the midsection, I was stunned into action. While I stumbled back with the first contact, it ignited my passion to crush him. His fist connected with my eye and the pain shot through my cheek like a lightning bolt. Spots of silver danced before me as a fist connected with my ribs. Spider had earned his reputation well. While I had practiced and reviewed a tape, my mind lost focus and his body parts whirled over mine. Three minutes were up and we separated.
    “Don’t give in, Betta,” Shepherd coached. “Center. He’s your mirrored image. Weak. Meek. But out to beat you. Don’t let it happen.” Using my father’s words against me was encouragement.
    We returned to the center. Despite the radiating pain in my midsection and the throbbing sting in my cheek, I had speed. I reminded myself to use it. I had stamina. I could dance and dodge, while he worked his ass off to get me. In his exhaustion, I struck. A left hook to the ribs, right uppercut to his nose and blood sprayed between us. The crunch of bone echoed in my ears.
    I could do this , I coached.
    Spider was a courageous fighter. He caught me off guard again when I tried to predict one move and another happened. I went down.
    “Get up,” Shepherd yelled. It was the only voice I allowed into my head.
    I stood slowly.
    “Going down again, newbie,” Spider spit. My anger surged. I could not go down. This could not end before it began. My body spun and I jabbed with my left. Spider crumbled when my fist connected with his already fragile nose. The count was called and the match was over. I stared down at my opponent in wonder. I’d won. I’d actually done it. The euphoric high of victory shot through me. The arms of Shepherd embraced me from behind, and my wrist was lifted into the air to signal a winner.
    There were groans from those who lost the gamble, and a few cheers from those who bet on me. My name was mixed in the rumble, but I only wanted one person to recognize me. I searched for her in the crowd. She had to be there. For him. On the perimeter of the ring, I saw her. Her eyes met mine, but they were glazed. Once again, she wasn’t seeing me.

The past Friday night had been a disaster, so I wasn’t surprised to find Elma ignoring me on Monday morning. As I sat in my auditorium seat before class, I recalled the awkwardness as I felt it that night.
    Elma stepped back and I moved in front of her when Thor entered his room.
    “You,” Thor groaned.
    “Me,” I replied.
    Elma looked between us in confusion, but it didn’t matter. Instantly, Thor pushed past us both and entered his room. He held an almost empty bottle of Jack in his hands. I had shifted so my back was to the open entrance.
    “Get your own room. And get your own girl,” Thor slurred.
    “Get your own bottle,” I replied. It was a lame response and I knew it. I could sense my transformation from the confident man, pressing Elma against the door, to the dorky guy Elma wished to avoid earlier. I didn’t understand what had happened. I was suddenly clumsy.
    “I’ll take the Jack,” I said, reaching out for the bottle and easily removing it from Thor’s hands. He was drunk. It was evident in the way he swayed and the slur of his words. The last thing he needed was another pull from that bottle.
    “And I’ll take the queen,” he garbled, catching me unaware and shoving me backwards. His arms slipped around Elma’s waist as I fell into the hallway. The door slammed in my face, and I heard Elma giggle on the other