Chapter 67

*Payton's POV*I was mad.

Angry, even, or maybe I was just confused about how I was feeling overall. I was stressed out and scared of what Alicia could do, and what I could loose in turn.

But all I know is that I'm in dire need of getting the infuriating feeling I had towards Alicia out on something other than other human beings.

Driving to the old boxing ring that I hadn't stepped foot into in over a year, I stopped by my house first and picked my old gloves up. They were hidden somewhere in the back of my closet, but I managed to fish out the old black monogrammed gloves.

I pulled up to the boxing gym, and got out of my car, taking in the familiar sights I saw before me. The wind blew against my bare skin, as I was only wearing my black nike sports bra and neon green Nike pros, and some black Nike Free runs(pic in media slot).

Taking a deep breath in, I walk through the front door, bypassing a lady I didn't know that was working the front desk.

I knew everyone at this gym, I've been going here since before I moved to LA, and didn't come back since. I guess they hired some new help, but I've been gone for a year so that doesn't surprise me.

Entering the main door, I was now in the gym, and it looked exactly the same as I last saw it. The hardwood floors were perfectly polished, and the usual gym-goers were working the punching bags and equipment around the main ring, where I saw someone, a trainer I suppose, working with a guy I have never seen before. (Pic of gym in media slot).

Walking through unnoticed, I tied on my black gloves and made sure my Nikes were tied up well.

"Are my eyes deceiving me, or is Payton Foster actually here?" I heard a male voice boom through the gym and I look up to find all eyes on me. A couple of hoots and hollers appeared throughout the gym at my presence. I find the source of the voice, and it's my old (favorite) trainer, Macklee. He's the best in the business, and he used to be a title holding boxer.

"I think your eyesight's pretty spot on then," I joked, getting up from the bench and making my way towards the ring in the center of the room. "Nice to see you guys again," I nod towards the people at the equipment on the side of the gym. I recognized some, but others I'd never seen before.

"What brings you here," Macklee asked, leaning over the ring's barrier, the guy who he was working with going into the other corner to take a chug from his water bottle.

"Running away from my problems, I guess," I chuckled.

"Well, Payton, running away from your problems is a race you'll never win." He concluded as I got up into the ring.

"Whoa, what do you think you're doing, Princess?" The guy in the ring asked as I tugged the barriers over my head. (Pic of guy in media slot).

"Seniority goes, hate being bitchy about this but things aren't going my way, because I basically have a stalker ex best friend that's out there right now doing God knows what trying to screw up my life more than it already is. I've had a hell of a day, and unless you want to be my punching bag, please move," I sighed.

"I don't know who you are, or where you've been, but I happen to be Macklee's favorite, and we just started. You should go skip some rope or something while you wait," he said smirking.

"That's funny, because last time I checked, I'm Macklee's favorite." I said and put two fingers on his chest and pushed him back. "So why don't you go skip some rope, and while you're at it, skip across the bridge you'll build to fucking get over it." I smiled sarcastically.

"Mason," Macklee nodded his head towards the weights section and Mason sighed in defeat.

"You're lucky you're so hot, otherwise I'd put up a real fight for cutting into my time," he rolled his eyes and got out of the ring to walk to the weightlifting section.

"Why'd you show so suddenly?" Macklee questioned as I started punching rounds.

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"Needed to punch something before I punched someone," I explained, trying to steady my breathing so I wouldn't tire myself out easily.

"You got a stalker now, I hear?" He asked, throwing a few punches himself and me dodging them as a reflex of my old habits.

"Of some sorts.. I'll deal with it later," I sighed.

"Well that's what comes with being so famous now, I thought you've forgotten about me," he chuckled.

"I've always thought about coming back here and getting back into it, I've just been really preoccupied with Football and work...."

"How's football going by the way, heard your team won the cup by the way, congratulations. And you and that beckham boy, huh? David's a friend of mine, trains here sometimes," he winked at me as we took a break from our round.

"Yeah.. He's on my team and our parents are close friends," I smiled.

We started back at the punching before continuing our conversation.

"Well if he breaks your heart, you can literally break his neck," he joked. "Still haven't lost your swing, Foster, I'm impressed for the long time you've been out for," he said.

"Hey, Princess, your phone's ringing. A lot." Mason yelled. I got out of the ring, slipping off one glove and walking over towards the corner of the weights section where my phone was in my bag. I dug through it and saw Brooklyn calling. Hesitantly, I took the call.

P- heyB- where are you? I stopped by earlier and Sean said he hasn't seen you all day and I just came by again and you weren't there. I don't wanna be clingy or anything, I'm just worried is all (laughs)P- I'm uh, at the nail salon. Lie.B- Oh, well did Mark ever call back? Do you know who did it?P- No, he hasn't called yet but I'll call him later. Lie. Again!B-Oh, okay. Well I guess I'll see you a bit later then?

"Hey, Princess, mind if I have your ring time if you're busy over there?" Mason yelled over extra loud, even though he was a few feet away, smirking back at me.

I shooed him away and prayed that Brooklyn didn't hear anything.

B-who was that? (Chuckles)P-er, just the TV on in the salon, but yeah I'll see you over later then?B-....okay.. Bye Payton, Love youP-I love you too Brook. I'll be home within the hour.

After that I hung up, and sighed in relief, then my anger rose again and I found myself face to face with Mason.

"What the hell Mason! Couldn't you see that I was on the phone?!" I smacked his arm extra harshly.

"No, you were at the nail salon," he cracked up in laughter and continued curling weights in each hand.

"Not funny. It's bad enough that I have to lie about this, I don't need to be caught in the lie because of some smart ass like you," I scoffed.

"Why're you lying about where you are?" He rolled his eyes as if I was being ridiculous.

"I can't have my boyfriend knowing that I'm back at boxing, that raises questions about why I'm boxing again, and those I can't answer because I have some psycho stalker after me and everyone around me!" I rubbed my temples in attempt to try and calm myself down, but I really just needed to punch out my anger.

I turned to the punching bag next to me and began full speed punching.

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"You're really something, you know that?" Mason chuckled rolling his eyes and moving to the bench press packing on a lot of weight on both sides.

"So I've been told," I stepped back from the punching bag and took my gloves off, stuffing them into my Nike gym bag.

"Done already Princess?" He asked, beginning to bench the weight effortlessly.

"I have to go get my shit together, and it's Payton," I snapped.

"Alright, Princess Payton," he rolled his eyes. "And you really should wear less slutty gym clothing, you know, other eyes might wander," he smirked.

I swung my bag around my shoulder and stopped short of the bench that he was on. "Sorry, what'd you call me?" I threw my head back and let out a small laugh. He moved to the end of the bench and grabbed hand weights, and started lifting again in a sitting position.

"A slut, what ya gonna do?"

"Not you," I rolled my eyes forcefully.

I leaned down and rested my hands on his knees, letting my top hang low and reveal a good amount of cleavage.

His eyes widened and I heard him take a big gulp.

"Hmm, I guess I am a slut.. But no one seems to be complaining.. especially you." I said as I heard a clank next to me.

"Shit!" He said through gritted teeth, apparently he dropped the weight onto his foot. I laughed and got up from the position I was in.

"I hope your wifi dies," I said lastly before leaving.

"Ouch, Princess. I'll see you around then?" He yelled after me as I was walking away.

"Unlikely," I yelled back at him, not bothering to look back as I kept walking out of the gym.

Now that my anger was gone, it was replaced with irrational fear of what Alicia could do to my life.

On the drive home, I kept contemplating on if I should tell someone, or even how for that matter. I wouldn't even know if that would even help, but two or more heads is better than one, right?