AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sixteen years old/10th Grade/December
“Look at you, all badass with your black belt with the stripe,” Morgan said before high-fiving me. I proudly displayed the black belt with the yellow stripe I’d earned last weekend.
“Damn right,” I said.
“What are you doing after karate?” he asked.
“I’m going over to the jiu-jitsu studio for a while. It’s open practice this afternoon, and the instructor said he’d work with me.”
Now that wrestling season was just about here, I spent most of my Saturday working out and training in the two martial arts disciplines. Working out with the weights helped me get stronger, but it was the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that helped me the most with wrestling. Karate kept me focused, and I continued to work toward the next black belt level.
“Have fun, Hollis.”
I packed my gym bag and left the house. Being a Saturday morning, there wasn’t a ton of traffic and I made it to the Beverly Hills Shotokan Karate Studio well ahead of the start time for class. Once inside, I took my shoes off and set them beside my bag.
Every other Saturday, the black belt students in class received our specific training. But on the other Saturdays, we were expected to attend class and assist the newer students or the less advanced students. Part of being a black belt is to mentor and help others. One of the assistant instructors led those in attendance through some stretching exercises while the main instructor greeted everyone who came in.
Usually, I didn’t pay too much attention to who walked into the class, but I noticed a lot of new faces. Most wore white belts, but some were yellow. In the mirror, I watched a familiar face with a yellow belt come into the studio and awkwardly walk to a place on the floor. It was the kid from school whom I’d seen in the locker room. I’d seen him a few times since then at school, but he was always alone.
As I watched him in the mirror during warm-ups, I could tell by his movements that he was really inexperienced with moving his body. What would be simple moves even to Chase were exceptionally awkward and uncomfortable for this kid.
After warm-ups, the instructor explained that his novice class would be joining us on Saturdays. For the benefit of the novices, he explained that his experienced students, those with blue belts and higher, would be here to partner up and assist them. The instructor gave each new member a moment to introduce themselves and say why they decided to take up karate. When it came his turn to speak, I paid close attention so at least I’d know this kid’s name.
“My name is Patrick Dawson, and I want to learn karate for self-defense.”
Yeah, I bet.He must be used to fighting because he had a yellowing bruise on his cheek.
The instructor and his assistants walked around the room and paired up novice students with experienced students of similar height. And as I guessed, Patrick and I were paired up. As soon as the instructor left us, I decided to be the man here and forget about the last time I was face-to-face with him.
“Man, of course you’d have a fucking black belt too,” he murmured.
I ignored that.
“I’m Hollis.”
“I know who you are.”
“I doubt it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re the most popular guy in school. As if any of it matters. The guy with tons of fucking football scholarships waiting for him. Every girl in the school wants to date you—”
He wasn’t going to do this shit here.
I interrupted him. “So here’s the deal, Patrick. You’re here because you want to learn something. So save the tough-guy attitude for when you’re not in the studio.”
“You don’t know shit about me.”
“You’re right. I don’t. And you don’t know anything about me. So, again, let’s forget the past and move forward.” I held my hand out for him to shake. “I’m Hollis.”
I waited for him to meet me halfway. He sighed and shook my hand.
“I’m Patrick.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Patrick.”
