Nothing Without Love

Louis POV

I'm exhausted. I didn't sleep much last night, felt a little like a kid at Christmas thinking maybe Josie and I can pull this plan off, I just kept sending her text message after text message so I wouldn't forget things. It would have been easier to just write it down myself but I felt like I needed to include her as well. I'm sure she got annoyed with it, she only responded to a few of the million text messages but at least I got my point across.

Probably sound like a crazed psycho if you think about it. I swear the older I get the more I'm losing my mind. Things that used to be easy and makes sense just don't anymore.

And now I'm here at this class, I just beat the shit out of myself, sweating all the toxins I've probably ever had in my body. But I think I've impressed Josie's dad at least. I tried, that's all I can say. Even if we're just fake dating, maybe one day it will be something more. Probably another crazed idea but one of many I have trapped in my brain.

“You did great!” Josie tells me as I come off the mat. She instantly reaches for my hands, helping me to loosen the gloves and take them off. I'm almost embarrassed at how much I've been sweating, I'm sure I smell horrid but at least I've been smoke free for a year. I know for a fact that if I was still smoking it wouldn't have gone over so well.

“Thanks. I feel like shit.” I moan, I'm so tired. All I want is a nap. Well I wouldn't mind other things but a nap is my top priority. My comment at least makes her laugh, which I've found isn't difficult to do but when it happens it's a sweet sound.

“You will for a while, tomorrow will be worse, take some aspirin and you'll feel better.” She assures me.

“Just be glad Adam wasn’t here.” Ophelia comes from out of nowhere and startles me a little.

“Ophelia! Nice of you to join us. When did you get here?” I ask, stretching my arms a little bit, I already know every part of my body will be sore, it already is.

“Like ten minutes ago. I prefer to sleep unlike you crazy children. And I need coffee.” She holds up her cup in a silent toast.

“So would Adam be worse?” I ask, I fear I already know the answer to it.

“Just ask Josie, he knocked out her two front teeth when they were sparring once.” She laughs, taking a sip and looking at Josie to continue the conversation.

“Your front teeth?” I'm completely shocked, they don't look fake at all.

“It was when I was six, they were just baby teeth. We were messing around and I didn't put the proper headgear on, I got distracted, my dad said something to me and I turned right into his punch. He as nine, my teeth were loose anyway. Ophelia is making it worse then it actually seems.” I watch as she makes a face at her too.

“Well he did knock them out Josie!” It's fun to watch these two interact, you can tell they've been friends for a long time. Nothing seems to bother them, the tone they take with each other, the things they say. Kind of reminds me of me and the guys when we were all together. I try to push that memory away as sometimes thinking about the way things used to be makes me a little sad and nostalgic. I don't need that here. Not in a manly place such as this.

“So what's the plan now?” I ask, taking a seat on a close bench as I'm exhausted.

“I think you and Josie should get in the ring.” Ophelia giggles like a school girl.

“Ophelia!” Josie is sharp with her tongue. Once again this friendship is something to laugh at.

“No, I think it's a great idea. I'm sure she could teach me a few things.” I know she can. I found myself getting a little distracted of her in her spandex shorts and loose workout shirt as she was kickboxing and sweating up a storm. It's hard to properly adjust yourself when you have a cup and sparring gloves on.

“Are you sure Louis?” Josie asks and I can't nod quickly enough. “Then lets get these gloves back on you.” She reaches for them and helps me slip them on. They're cold and a little sticky from the sweat. It's gross but at least it's mine. I watch as she pulls her own on and slips a headgear on. How is she so sexy right now? I close my eyes and shake the image out of my head, this will not help me focus. I'd rather get a take down on her and so we can mess around a little bit but this is her father's gym and I know he's still here. I don't think he'd take to kindly to someone who is trying to get with his daughter in his own place of business.

I join her on the mat as we start exchange some easy punches, blocking them with our gloves. I don't really want to swing at her, she's too pretty to mess up but she starts swinging a little harder and I can't help but just duck out of the way.

“Come on Louis!” Ophelia yells from the side, earning a smirk from me.

“You're suppose to be on my side Ophelia.” Josie yells over her shoulder as I can hear Ophelia just laugh. A few more exchanges and I'm starting to feel a little more confident. We're not going to all out beat each other but it's better then a punching bag.

“Adam!” Ophelia yells from the mat, literally her voice echoing off the walls. I turn my head to see him quickly.

“Watch out!” He yells as I whip my head around I connect right with Josie's left hook.

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“Louis, wake up!” I feel something cold against my face as things start to become less blurry. My head is pounding as I try to sit up. “Don't sit up, just lay there.” It's Josie, her voice seems so far away but I can feel her arms on me. “Open your eyes.” I force them open and I feel like my skill is just pounding. She starts to come into focus.

“What happened?” I ask, rubbing my head slightly. My cheek is sore. When I pull my hand away I notice it's a little red with blood.

“Ophelia distracted you and I kind of punched you in the face.” Josie scrunches up her face, I know it wasn't on purpose but Jesus she has some power with that swing.

“And the blood?” I ask, Ophelia hands me a towel and I keep wiping it.

“I kind of got your cheek and part of your nose. I feel like I didn't hit that hard but your cheek is still red, and your nose just busted open like a flood gate. I'm so sorry Louis.” Her lips are tight as she takes the cloth I was holding up to my nose and tries to clean it a little more. I sit, leaned up against the boxing ring and I'm even more tired then ever.

“It's okay Josie. It was an accident, I know.” I assure her but I'm so tired.

“We should have doc come check you out. You might have a concussion.” Her face is still wrecked with worry.

“Don't worry Louis, I got the whole thing on video!” Ophelia tells me as I notice she's sitting on one of the rows of chairs with Adam sitting next to her. I'm sure they're replaying the video over and over again. How grateful am I for the fact that technology is everywhere. My only hope is that they don't post it on social media. I can already see headlines of Louis Tomlinson getting the shit beat out of him by a girl. I'm sure it would even be trending on Twitter.

I let out a breath and use my hand to support my head, what a day it's been.

“Don't worry about them. She wouldn't do anything, I swear it. Ophelia is all talk.” She gently wipes my nose with the damp cloth. It's stopped bleeding now, it's only a little sore. “I don't think it's broken, it's not scrunched up or bruised yet. You're cheek is still red, I'm just worried that you have a concussion because you were out for just a little bit there.” She pushes my hair back gently and for some reason all I want to do is lean over and kiss her, messed up face and all.

That's a moment to remember, kiss her when we're both sweaty and she's just knocked me out.

“Doc is here!” Someone yells from the front doors as Josie stands right away to flag him over.

“Louis, this is Doctor Howard, everyone around here just calls him Doc. He's retired, just does stuff for dad and Adam when he's out on the road. He'll just do a few tests and see how you come up okay?” She squeezes my hand just enough to reassure me and then lets Doc get on with his findings.

“All right Louis, lets see what kind of a number Josie did on you. She's got a similar left hook to her dads. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of it.” He smiles and sits down with me as he gets to work.

Notes

Good Morning! Well, morning for me. Josie, Josie, Josie, taking after her father more then we think! :) Anyone think poor Louis?

Woke up to not so great news, someone has stolen two of my stories on Wattpad and marked them off as their own. Didn't change a thing, even stole the cover. I've made an account and reported the stories so lets hope they get taken down as soon as possible. These stories are not a breeze to write, each chapter takes thought, time, editing, and so much more. I'm constantly thinking about what can happen next. And for someone to take not only my story but other stories on this website and pass them off as his/her own makes me sick. Thankfully I have people looking out for me that let me know when this happens or else she/he might have gotten away with it.

I hope you all have a wonderful day, I can't thank you enough for all your kind comments, your votes, subscriptions, and reads on not just this story but all my stories. It means the world to me.

xoxoxox