Snakes and Splinters [PUBLISHED]

3

"So that's the reason why none of the boys will talk to her," Hayley said as we watched a couple of the boys from our class give Antonia quick looks before continuing on their way.

"Do you think they're her older brothers?" I asked Hayley as we went down the steps slowly, watching Antonia laugh as she took a shiny black helmet from one of the boys. Or should I say man rather? He was big and muscular. Even through his jacket, that was evident. He was certainly in his early twenties and reminded me of Phoenix.

"Three older brothers?" Hayley mulled over it. "Very possible, yeah. They do look like family. That one has curls like she does."

I spotted the one Hayley was talking about. He was slimmer than the first man, and younger too. His thick, black curls screamed Greek and I'm sure if he was smiling he might have even looked like Antonia too.

"Maybe the last one is the youngest," I said.

The last boy had brown hair with lighter regions where the sun had highlighted it. He was sitting on his bike, revving it up loudly and ignoring the glances from passer-bys.

"I think so," Hayley said.

Eventually we had to reach the bottom of the stairs and walk on as if we hadn't been staring at the group the whole time. I kept my gaze on the pavement as we passed by, but I heard them speaking and it sounded like Greek to me. Well I didn't know for sure, but it wasn't English or Spanish or French or German and we already knew that Antonia was a Greek girl. It only made sense.

***

Walter dropped Hayley off close to, but not at her place, and then we drove home. After getting changed into sportswear, he took me to the boxing club. It was less busy during weekday afternoons, as most students were still in school and most adults were still working. The main hall had a large ring in it that was surrounded by a lot of space so that there was enough room for an audience to watch a bout. The entire back wall of the hall was a mirror and there were a few punching bags hanging up too. There was a section for the use of weights, exercise balls and skipping ropes, as well as doing things like sit-ups and push-ups.

There were other members present, some (like me) were using the boxing club for their own health and fitness and others (like Walter) were amateur boxers who were training. A couple of the coaches were around also, and I'm sure more would appear during the evening. They greeted me and Walter friendlily and I beamed back at them whilst Walter gave them polite nods.

"I didn't know you were coming in to train today, Walter," one of the coaches came up to us.

Walter, who was taller than him, shook his head, "I'm not doing anything much today."

"He's just helping me," I smiled.

"Ahh," the coach nodded his head and then he sent Walter a knowing look with a wiggle of his brows. "You two have fun."

Walter ignored the suggestive gesture and thanked him quietly before he took me to one of the smaller, side rooms which had even more punching bags hanging from the ceiling and a mirror along one of the walls. It was dimmer in there as the walls were painted a darker shade than the main hall, and Walter and I liked it because it felt a lot more private. The coach clearly knew that too.

"You have to take it easy today, Walter," I said once he had closed the door.

"I know," he smiled down at me. "You tell me so all the time."

"But I mean it even more this time," I insisted. "The fight last night was a rough one. You're bruised all over. I'm surprised the coach didn't say anything about it."