Jasmine moaned from behind clenched teeth at the contact but pushed Ava away. “Baby, come on, be serious. We can’t get caught,” she whispered, turning towards the mirror to re-apply her lip gloss.
“Get caught? Why can’t we? We aren’t doing anything wrong.” Suddenly a question popped into Ava’s head. “Are you ashamed of me?”
Jasmine’s head snapped up to look at Ava through the mirror. “What? How could you think that? We’ve talked about this, and we agreed this is the way it has to be.”
“Jaz, I’m tired of this sneaking around bullshit. I want to hold you in public. I’m tired of holding this in whenever I’m with you. Our families will just have to accept it. Why is it such a big deal?”
“For one thing, we’re only seventeen, living at home under their rules. And we both know how our families feel about the LGBTQ community. But while we are talking about admitting truths to them, a personal trainer? Really? That’s what you’re going with? When you’ve had a poster of Veronica Nash in your locker, for I dunno... forever?”
Ava flushed the toilet, a sign for downstairs that they had actually done something other than sneak a kiss or two. She knew Jasmine was right. She didn’t want to be a personal trainer. It was just the only plausible excuse she had for spending so much time at the gym.
Veronica Nash had captured the first ever professional Undisputed Bantamweight World Championship at just nineteen years of age. Seven years later she was still the only woman to have ever worn the belt. Still undefeated, she was the greatest fighter of her generation and Ava's idol. Though Ava had been caught by her parents practising kicks she’d learned at the gym’s free MMA classes, she passed it off as fitness training. The truth was that’s what Ava wanted to do. Fight. She knew exactly how that would be received and lied every day. Strangely, when it came to Jasmine, Ava felt she could take on the world and even their families.
“I guess when it comes to me, alone, I get tense and check myself. But you...” she said, unable to hide her smile, “you make me feel like I can do anything.”
“You can,” Jasmine replied as they both stepped out of the bathroom. “You will. We will. It’s just not the right time, baby.”
Ava turned down the volume on her phone and put her earbuds in as the video started. She had watched the match at least forty times, yet she never failed to get goosebumps at Nash’s entrance.
Meticulous. Unstoppable.
“All eyes on the champion, Veronica Nash—this, her fifth defense in two years—as the bell sounds. Both fighters circling the ring. The challenger, Lucille Robbie, already bobbing her head, anticipating one of those lethal rights, John.”
“So would I, but that doesn’t mean they can be stopped... oh CRUNCH! Great jab there by the champion! Robbie moves away. That punch stung her, right on her jaw.”
“Broke through all of her defenses. She didn’t even see it.”
“Here comes Nash. Creeping forward. Weaving. Like a snake about to strike... THERE IT IS! Tremendous body shot! Right hook directly in the ribs! Ooooo that hurt her! Robbie moves away... hesitant now. Nash might’ve seen her opening.”
“Closing in for the kill, John...”
“The Champ looks focused, honing in on the retreating challenger. BANG! Stunning straight kick from Nash sends Robbie backpedaling into the Cage. Left and right hooks from Nash! BANG! BANG! Robbie is covering up! Will it be enough? Nash is hammering away! Listen to this crowd! Robbie ducking! Blocking! She can’t stop the onslaught, so shoves Nash away, trying to get some distance NO! NASH SHOVES ROBBIE RIGHT BACK INTO THE SAME POSITION! YOU AIN’T GOIN’ NOWHERE SHE SAYS! A right punch to the temple! Another right punch direct to the face! It sends the back of Robbie’s head bouncing off the steel!”
“The challenger is down!”
“It’s over! Nash wins!”
Ava shook her head in amazement at the force, the strength. The win at all costs attitude. It didn’t just impress her. It inspired her. She hooked her phone to the velcro arm slot she used for running as she hit play yet again. Shaping up to her bedroom mirror, she moved like she had seen Nash do, imagined herself in the Cage and just for a second, in her own mind, replaced the name Nash with Beckinsale.
2
Math class wasa bore as usual, but thankfully it was one of the classes Ava shared with Jasmine. As its ending bell rang, they headed to the toilets and were the only two that remained after the starting bell for the next class sounded.
Once alone, they entered the furthest cubicle, and placing a hand over Jasmine’s mouth to silence her moans, Ava eased a hand down the front of her pleated skirt. A sharp bite after an eye clenching groan, plus the saturation of her fingers, told Ava she had done well. Jasmine took several deep breaths before leaning in to reach under Ava’s skirt and peel her panties down. She curled her fingers back up Ava’s thighs to ease her legs open as Ava leaned her back against the cubicle and rummaged around in her pocket for her phone.
Holding the record button as she aimed the camera over Jasmine’s head, more inspiration for self-pleasure late at night, Ava said, “Look at me, baby...”
Jasmine looked up at the phone, smiled and blew a small kiss before delicately placing her mouth over Ava’s clit. Ava sighed softly and leant her head back, only to see the assistant principal looking down at them. Staring over the cubicle wall from the next toilet over, her own phone hovering over them, looking livid.
Ava screamed and covered Jasmine’s head to shield her from the camera. But it didn’t matter. The school official had seen all she needed. Jasmine covered her mouth, tears beginning to form.
Hearing Mrs Coyne step off the toilet she had been standing on and walk out of the cubicle, Ava wrenched the door open and faced her. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” she screamed.
“Spying on us? Taking pictures? What gives you the right? I’m going to the cops.”
“First, you can take that foul mouth of yours to the principal. Bring your phone with you. Don’t you dare even think about deleting anything.”
Ava grabbed Jasmine, who seemed in shock, her feet barely moving, by the hand.