Fight Like a Girl Read online

  Fight Like a Girl

  Jessie Ash

  Kindle Edition

  Copyright 2017 Jessie Ash

  Kindle Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1: Pizza

  Chapter 2: Pete

  Chapter 3: Sewer

  Chapter 4: Problem

  Chapter 5: Hush

  Chapter 6: Different

  Chapter 7: Agent

  Chapter 8: Partner

  Chapter 9: Casey

  Chapter 10: Back

  Chapter 11: Scan

  Chapter 12: Red

  Chapter 13: Boot

  Chapter 14: Cook

  Chapter 15: Classified

  Chapter 16: Real

  Chapter 17: Who

  Chapter 18: Locker

  Chapter 19: Followed

  Chapter 20: Syringe

  Chapter 21: Tracked

  Chapter 22: Taken

  Chapter 23: Different

  Chapter 24: Steroids

  Chapter 25: Muscle

  Chapter 26: Scream

  Chapter 27: Back

  Chapter 28: Gift

  Chapter 29: Return

  Chapter 30: Decision

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Pizza

  "Six garlic knots and two slices?"

  "Three slices. I um actually ate one already," I sheepishly said as Vincent gave me that look of disdain. Sorta like the look my gym teacher had when I gave him a doctor's note excusing me from anything to do with running and climbing ropes.

  "Look, Stevie, I like you. You're one of my best customers. But..."

  "Could I have some garlic powder?" I asked trying to change the subject. I get it. I'm fat. Overweight. My parents refer to it as weight challenged. I can’t help it. I love food. Definitely for the taste, but it’s more than that. To me, it’s a comfort. A form of escape.

  "Yeah sure. Here you go, Stevie. That'll be ten seventy-six," Vincent muttered as I handed him my money and left with my food—without judgment.

  Chapter 2

  Pete

  "Thank you," Pete said as he stole one of my slices and a garlic knot as I walked outside.

  "Hey, I only have one slice now!"

  "Minus the one, I saw you scarf down while you were waiting to pay. C'mon, let's head b-b-back to school," Pete stammered. Ever since I’ve known him, he’s had a stuttering problem. Even though he’s tall, thin and somewhat good looking, his speech impediment still makes him a misfit at school—like me. “Let’s go.”

  "I don't think you need to worry," I muttered as I shoved half the pizza in my mouth while we walked. "A new burger place opened up two towns over. I heard that’s where the football and lacrosse ogres like to go."

  Pete wasn't buying it and kept nervously looking around as we crossed the railroad tracks.

  "Hey...Friday is my b-b-b-b..."

  "Birthday, I know." B words are hard for him. "I was going to get you that new video game. Zombie Patrol 5. If you want, we could stop at Little Vincent’s, I’d get us some pizzas, and we’d have an all-night fight fest at your house."

  "Cool. Thanks, Stevie.”

  "No problem. It’s the least I could do since you…”

  BEEP. BEEP.

  I looked down and saw the pill alarm on my phone. I smiled as I took out the pill, held it up to my mouth and then chucked it in the woods.

  "You're not taking those p-p-pills?"

  "Nope."

  "Why?”

  “They don't even work. I haven't lost an ounce of weight in all the years I've taken them."

  “So why not just d-d-dump all the pills, Stevie?"

  "'Cause I haven't told my parents yet. And if they see I don’t have any they’ll know something is up.”

  "Good f-f-for you."

  "Thanks. It’s weird, but now I actually feel a bit more…WATCH OUT!”

  SPLASH!

  Chapter 3

  Sewer

  We silently watched as the car filled with football and lacrosse players sped off. I could hear their laughter as one of the goons tossed the plastic bucket into the woods.

  "Ahhhhh!" Pete finally screamed as he took off his jacket covered in some foul smelling substance. My guess is it was sewer water and not dog urine like last time. "It's all over your shirt and p-p-p..."

  "Yeah. I can see that," I muttered as I tossed my pizza and garlic knots in a trashcan.

  I really hate those guys.

  Chapter 4

  Problem

  "Okay class, settle down. Settle down. Let's open our books to...what is that smell?" our science teacher Mr. Callie asked as he looked around. I sunk in my seat as I heard snickers from a few of the football and lacrosse players sitting behind me. This day totally…

  "WHERE were you?!” a man in a suit suddenly called out in a very pronounced English accent as he stormed into the classroom. What the hell is going… “We managed to push it off, but he has to be dealt with tonight!”

  He looked right in my direction. I looked around, and all the students were still looking at Mr. Callie who was continuing his lesson on cumulus clouds. No one sees him? “Are you just going to pretend like you haven’t heard a word I said, Stephen?”

  No. This isn’t real. Maybe the chemicals in here combined with the raw sewage on my body are making me hallucinate and…

  “Ahhh,” I cried as the man in the suit slammed his fists on my desk and shot me this cold, eerie stare.

  “So you do see me, Stephen. Good. Remember, tonight you need to...hang on,” he muttered as I took a big whiff and moved even closer to my face. “Why in God’s name do you smell like a sewer?”

  “I…”

  “Out with it!”

  “He did it,” I muttered as I pointed to Ryan. He’s one of the football players who poured…”

  “Say no more,” the man in the suit said as he went right over to Ryan who was still staring at the teacher like the other students. No one can see this guy? “This is him. Correct?”

  “Yes,” I muttered quietly as…“STOP!”

  “Relax, Stephen, I am simply eliminating the problem,” he casually said as he took out a gun from his pocket, aimed it at Ryan and…

  BAM!

  “NOOOOOO!!!”

  “So you disagree Stephen?” Mr. Callie calmly asked me. I looked around. Ryan and the other students were all okay, and that English man was gone.

  Chapter 5

  Hush

  “Hey…I need to talk to…”

  “Shhhhh!” Ms. Multer hushed me as she shot me her classic librarian look of disappointment.

  “Don’t you have g-g-gym now?” Pete whispered as he kept typing on the library computer.

  “We’re doing the rope climb today. I have a doctor’s note excusing me from….”

  “Shhhhhh!”

  “Boy, she doesn’t let up,” I muttered as I sat down near Pete.

  “I can’t really talk now. I gotta finish up my…”

  “I…I think I’m going insane.”

  “No d-d-duh.”

  “No. I’m serious, Pete,” I whispered as he continued to type. “During science class, I saw something. It was like a hallucination—only it seemed so real.”

  “Was it of Katie Weston in her cheerleader outfit?”

  “No. It was a British guy with
a gun. And he shot Ryan…well, pretend shot him. But it did seem so real.“

  “You still smell like sewage. Why didn’t you at least shower at the gym?”

  “Hey, are you listening to me, Pete? This is…”

  “Maybe, it’s the pills. You stopped t-t-t-taking them. Right? Maybe going cold turkey is…”

  “Yes! Pete, you’re a genius! That’s gotta be…”

  “Shhhhhhh!”

  “Seriously?”

  Chapter 6

  Different

  I’ll just go in and tell my parents I forgot to take my medication for the last three months. It honestly wasn't helping at...

  "Hi Stevie," my dad cheerfully said as I opened the door. Why is he home, now? And why is he sitting on the couch with mom?

  "So, Stevie, how was school? Did you...oh sweetie you don't smell too good. Let me get you some tea to calm your..."

  "I’m not sick, mom. I sorta had an accident with raw sewage," I muttered as I stared at their faces that looked extremely manic.

  "Sewage? Oh, that's not a big deal. See, Margie? He's not sick," my dad said as he fidgeted a bit.

  "What's going on? Why are you both acting different?"

  "Well, Stevie...the truth is...your mother and I..."

  "Oh God. You're getting divorced?!”

  "No. No. We're definitely not getting divorced,” my dad said in a less than convincing tone. Something is still up.

  “So, what’s wrong?” I continued to prod as I sat down on the couch and stared at my parents. They were both stiff as boards.

  "So, Stevie, you know how much your mother and I love you, right?" my dad stammered. "Ever since you were baby we tried to make sure you were always..."

  "Oh for God’s sake, I've seen paint dry faster than you two dolts can actually form a sentence," the English man in the suit snapped as he walked right out of the kitchen. No. This can't be happening. How am I dreaming again?

  “You’re not real! You’re just a hallucination ‘cause I stopped taking my diet pills!” I fired back at the imaginary man who continued to walk in the room.

  “I knew it!” the English man screamed.

  "Oh, Stevie, you stopped taking the pills?” my mom chimed in.

  "Yes, and now I'm insane. I actually see this crazy English guy in the room right now. I also saw him at school."

  "Crazy? Me? I am as sane as they come. In fact, in Oxford, they used to call me…”

  "Stop! Please! Get out of my head! I cried as I shut my eyes and held my hands over my face. "Please. Just go away. I'm sorry. I should never have stopped taking the..."

  "Stevie. You’re not seeing things. This gentleman is Mr. Brigs," my dad calmly said as my mom came over and put her arm around me.

  "You...you both can see him? I'm not crazy?"

  "No son, you’re not."

  “So why is he here?”

  Chapter 7

  Agent

  We all silently watched Mr. Brigs go to the liquor cabinet and choose a dusty bottle that dad never bothered to open.

  "May I?" he asked my mom.

  "Of course. Let me just get you a glass," she muttered as she started to get up, but Mr. Brigs motioned her to sit down. She immediately obeyed.

  "I'm fine," he said as he opened the bottle and took a massive swig, and then another one. “Okay, I’m calm now. So, Stephen.”

  “Yes?”

  “You know when teachers, family and even your pastor say it’s okay to make a mistake?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Well, I’m here to tell you it’s not. You not taking your pills have caused us to lose one of our finest agents.”

  "What agent?"

  "You Stevie. You're the agent.

  “Me?”

  “But he’s weight challenged and not allowed to climb ropes, Mr. Brigs?” my mom pointed out as she neatened my hair.

  “Honestly, Stevie has never really been the athletic type or…”

  "QUIET! Both of you,” Mr. Brigs snapped as he took another swig of the bottle. "Now Stephen, I am going to give you the abridged origin story since we are on a tight timeline."

  "What are you..."

  "Just stop talking. Your dad worked for the government while your mom was pregnant with you. Because your dad worked for us, your mom was approved for exceptional medical coverage that included weekly vitamin injections to help her through the pregnancy."

  "Are they like the diet pills I'm taking now?"

  "Your son is a quick one. Yes, one in the same Stevie. Negative side effects include the propensity to gain weight, dizziness, and rosacea. Positive effects include enhanced agility, strength, as well as a high intellect. Oh, and the ability to transform into...on second thought…we'll get to that later."

  "Later?" I asked as I glanced at my parents who now looked very nervous. "Mom? Dad?"

  “Don’t look at them, Stevie. Focus on me. In three point eight minutes our ride will be here.”

  “Ride?”

  BEEP! BEEP!

  “Ahhh, she’s early. Okay. Time is a wasting. Mom. Dad. Stevie will be taking leave of you now. Don't wait up."

  "Where are we…”

  "BAM!"

  Chapter 8

  Partner

  "Rise and shine Stephen!” I heard the familiar English voice drone in my ear. “My apologies, but this will hurt quite a lot."

  "What are you...aaaahhh!" I screamed as I opened my eyes to witness Mr. Brigs shoving a giant needle in my arm. The syringe contained some sort of blue liquid that... "There. That should hopefully start to counter the effects of the damage you caused. Okay, up!"

  He clapped really loud in my ear, causing me to bolt up and look around. I felt like I had a zillion cups of coffee coursing through me. I was all jittery as I looked around. I was in a van with all this weird tech spy equipment that looked like…

  "Get the hell out here, now!" I suddenly heard a loud voice scream from outside.

  "Who is that?" I asked as I looked at Mr. Brigs who was now on a laptop.

  "That I imagine is Casey."

  "Casey?"

  "Your partner."

  BAM! BAM!

  "What the hell is she doing?"

  "No clue. But it sounds like she's rather perturbed. Out you go." Before I could say a word, the van door slid open. Suddenly two slender arms encased in black spandex grabbed my ankles and...

  Chapter 9

  Casey

  “Ahhh!” I screamed as my body slammed into the ground.

  I opened my eyes and saw a woman about my age wearing a black spandex bodysuit standing over me. She had long red hair, an extremely tone body and the cutest… "Get up!"

  “Ahhhh!” I screamed again as she kicked me in the side with her boot...hard. I literally saw stars. I tried to scramble away, but she grabbed me by my hair and yanked hard, which forced me right up.

  "Mr. Brigs!"

  "I find it best to stay out of partner squabbles," he called out and then slammed the van door.

  "If we’re partners, why are you..."

  "NO! You’re not my partner anymore! You ruined everything!" she yelled, and then sucker punched me in the gut. I went right down, but once again she pulled my hair—forcing me up like a yo-yo. "Those pills were your life, and you threw it all away!"

  "My diet pills? Look at me! They obviously don't work. I'm still not thin!” I yelled as she started to walk towards me, but I frantically waved my hands. “Please don't kick me or pull my hair again!"

  As I scampered away, I glanced around and saw we were in some abandoned lot. Slowly Casey started walking towards me again. She stopped right in front of me. "Please, just tell me what the hell is going on?"

  Casey said nothing and just grabbed my wrist. I thought she was going to break my arm, but instead, she gently felt my wrist with her two fingers.

  "Pulse is extremely elevated!"

  "Give it a few more seconds!" Mr. Brigs yelled from inside the van.

  "A few more seconds for what?" I c
ried as I tried to back away but she suddenly held me tight. "What are you going to...ahhhhh!"