The Recruit(18)

‘Yeah, I picked that up.’

‘Okay, remember late extension and changing line and throw in some feint attacks.’

Jaz nodded obediently. She’d do what ever he asked…but he never asked the things she wanted. Hold me, Kiss me. Maybe if she won this bout?

Taylor pushed her towards the strip, his words of ‘good luck’ lingering in her ears.

She put on her mask and saluted the Ostrich Boy and the referees. She let him get the first hit in; making him think she was an easy target. ‘That’s the only one you’ll get free,’ she whispered.

After a few attempts, Jaz started going with her gut instinct, or tempo, as Coach Belmore called it. She had a good read on Ostrich Boy, started to choose the exact psychological and physical moment of his weakness, and made her attacks. The gym faded away into the background. No longer could she hear any cheering or chants. It was just the beating of her heart and the swish of her blade with each cut.

Triple advance-lunge/en garde, triple retreat-lunge/en garde, balestra-lunge recover/en garde. She didn’t think about her footwork, she just did it, letting it come naturally, as it did with Bags in the ring. Her body moved on its own accord, and when Ostrich Boy started to move his left shoulder she knew he was about to attack and met his sabre with a block. She could sense his annoyance with a) that he was losing and b) that it was to a chick. However, all it did was make him sloppy with his head full of those thoughts.

Jaz won another point and the crowd’s noise reached her ears. This was the final and she’d kicked her game into gear. Jaz also realised that at training she’d not fought as hard as she could, not wanted to be the one beating the boys all the time.

Only one more point to get and she already knew the move she was going to take. The beeper went off as the crowd jumped to their feet. Jaz had just won the final.

In a daze, she staggered back to her team, trying to take off her mask as they all congratulate her.

Taylor gave her a hug and said something but everyone was cheering so loud she missed it. The crowd milled around as they announced Jaz as the winner and team Aramis the overall winners.

Jaz had her mask tucked under her arm and Taylor was holding her sabre as she went to collect her medal and Taylor picked up one for third. She felt overwhelmed at all the commotion, almost a little uneasy. Her eyes started seeking out the green exit signs.

After the presentations, Jaz saw Anna and Ryan make a beeline straight for her.

‘Yay, you big star!’ said Anna, proudly giving her a hug and looking at her medal. ‘Jaz that was amazing, and to think you weren’t even interested in fencing.’

‘Why not?’ asked Ryan who had just congratulated Jaz. ‘You’re a natural.’

‘Well she only joined last year to spend more time with…’ As Anna spoke, Jaz felt like her guts had been spilt all over the floor. She punched Anna in the arm to shush her up. ‘I mean she’s really good considering she hasn’t been doing it for long.’ Anna corrected and turned a pretty shade of pink.

Jaz blushed, even possible with her olive skin, and lowered her eyes. Thank God Taylor didn’t hear what Anna said.

Ryan reached out to touch the ‘Team Aramis’ red stitch on her jacket with a sabre under it, but just stopped short when he realised where it was positioned. ‘So…Team Aramis…as in The Three Musketeers?’ he asked.

Jaz looked up, her eyes twinkling like sapphires. ‘Yeah, you got it in one. I had to ask Anna what it meant,’ she laughed.

‘Nice work-out there. Very impressive,’ he added.

Jaz tried to shrug off his compliment and tried to hide behind her hair.

‘So what are you doing now?’ asked Anna.

‘She’s coming to celebrate at my place,’ said Taylor as he wrapped his arms around Jaz and kissed her on her cheek. ‘I knew you could do it, Jazzy.’

Ryan took a step back and Taylor glanced across at him, seeing him for the first time. He let go of Jaz and held out his hand. ‘Hi, I’m Taylor. Are you a friend of Anna’s?’

Taylor was sizing him up and trying to find the connection.

‘Name’s Ryan,’ he said shaking Taylor’s hand and added, ‘I’m actually Jaz’s stalker.’

Jaz and Anna spluttered out laughter while Taylor raised his eyebrows in confusion. ‘Well you’re all welcome to come back to my place. I think we should go out tonight. It’s Friday so we should celebrate in style.’

‘Cool, I’m in,’ said Anna.

‘Thanks but I better head off, things to do,’ said Ryan.

‘You feeling too old for us now?’ Jaz asked, straight out.