"You broke Lobsey’s nose? Seriously?” I tried not to laugh.
Fiona nodded. “Hell yeah. He’d pushed me into a fight on the beach with some fat brunette bitch. He told me she was easy to beat."
"She wasn't?"
"No! I thought he meant a soft bitch that was walking around wheezing. But this girl was strong like a bear."
"Oh gawd." I gave up and laughed. "Did you get off?"
She blushed.
“Your secret fetish is safe with me.” I giggled. “It’s all good. I know how it is…you can get such sensual stimulation from fighting,” I reassured her. “It’s a rush. I’ve fought myself – more than once.”
Fiona smiled, “Yeah, so you know too." It was more a question than a statement. After all, we didn’t know each other all that well; Fiona Burke was Alan Lobsey’s girlfriend and Alan Lobsey was a friend of my boyfriend; a friend I couldn’t stand. I’d never been able to see what Andrew saw in him. I’d heard the rumours that Fiona had broken Lobsey’s nose and that they’d broken up. So when I’d seen Fiona in the mall, I bought her a coffee to get the gossip myself.
I nodded “He told you you’d have an easy victim. He set you up and she outfought you.” I wondered how this led to Fiona breaking Lobsey’s nose but I’d wait for such a choice tidbit. "Well?" I prompted her to go on.
Fiona smiled. "Well?"
I nodded. "So why did you break Alan's nose? She beat you that bad?"
“She destroyed me. She knocked me down then she sat on my face. She masturbated on me! It was so humiliating. There was a crowd – so many people saw it.”
I clucked sympathetically. “Losing is always humiliating, I know. I lost on a beach myself once. At least you got off.” My laugh had simmered to a giggle. “Big, small, as long as you got off. Was she rough or did you get some sensuality from it?”
She looked at me. “We're sick.”
“No we're not.”
“We get off on beating up people. It's like that movie Crash, where those people get orgasms from being in car wrecks. We're like them, except we wreck our bodies instead of our cars.” Fiona looked almost upset.
I admit, I got moist thinking about crashing my body into another woman's. “Anyway, why’d you break Alan’s nose?
“Alan bawled me out for losing. He made me feel so small. So I punched him. I didn’t mean to hit him that hard, I really didn’t. It was an accident. “
“My dear, its just wonderful!” I hugged her. “I wish I’d done it myself. Alan Lobsey is a shit!”
“He understands me.”
I shrugged. "He gets off on seeing you fight."
"He likes it."
"Don't try making him more than he is. He's using you. He's arranging these fights for himself."
Fiona blushed. “Um…yeah. But I like them too. He saw me beat up this stupid slut last fall. I was going to hear a band, and he was waiting to meet some guys. They were going hunting. This slut – oh Becca she was such a slut, you should have seen how she dressed – like a cheap hooker! She reeked of scent too. Anyway she wanted to talk to me – wouldn’t take a hint. In the end I got mad and got stuck into her. She didn’t last five minutes. I got off so much! Alan saw it and after that he wanted me to fight again. That’s how he got me into this fight on the beach. Anyhow we broke up.”
"Yeah, I heard that happened after the presentation dinner at the sailing club. I’m so glad. I hear you fought Kelly McKenna.”
Fiona nodded. “Yeah. How did you know?”
“Rumours. Lots of rumours. After all, Kelly works with my sister. Kate says Kelly’s a very forceful person to work with – insists on having her own way. Even when she’s wrong she’s right.”
"That about sums her up. I knew her at college. She hasn’t changed. Mind you, she usually is right. And she’s a good friend – if you don’t cross her.”
I nodded. A plan started to form, but I changed the topic of conversation,. “I think you know my sister Kate?” We chatted for a while.
Over dinner that night, I told Andrew that I’d run into Fiona Burke earlier that day. “We should try to find a new man for her, now she’s broken up with that shit Lobsey. She did break his nose, you know. He had to go to the ER.” I rubbed that in. Andrew had been friendly with Alan Lobsey ever since college, and more recently they had hunted, camped and fished together. Lobsey was a man's mans. So I was glad to remind Andrew that a woman had broken the big guy’s nose.
“You have anyone particular in mind?”
“How about David? They’ve been friends for ages."
Andrew chuckled, “You’ve never forgiven Dave for bringing that redhead to the pool party here last spring. “
I nudged him, “And you’ve never stopped telling me how excited you got watching me tame her!”
“No,” Andrew toasted me with his wine glass, "because you were hot doing it."
"Yeah, you like watching us fight. You’re almost as bad as Lobsey. You ought to be more careful. I might break your nose too.” I giggled and kissed him. “Seriously though, let’s be matchmakers – but how?"
Andrew smiled. “I know. Get your sister Kate to invite Dave and Fiona to the next pool bbq she’s asked us to. She knows Dave – let’s bring Fiona too.
"Oh my, do you know who she’s invited along already? Kelly! Yeah! And Fiona had a fight with her.”
The evening of the party was the first time I met Kelly McKenna. Within a few moments I saw exactly what my sister meant. Kelly had to be right. She was an alpha woman all right.
I’d been at the party a while, mingling. Just before it was time for Kate’s kids – they were 2 and 4 – to go to bed, I was standing with Fiona, David and Andrew. They were talking. I was watching Kelly. Andrew nudged me. “Hey hun! Are you there?”
I jumped. “Oh…yeah. Fiona, is Kelly like that all the time?”
Fiona looked at me. She seemed puzzled. “Kelly? Like what?”
“Yes, Kelly,” I went on. “Look at her. It seems she has to be the best at everything. She’s sashaying and sauntering around my sister’s house like a model. It’s not enough that she looks like some stereotypical California beach bunny – she has to show everyone she does. And she the way she talked with Kate about t work!” I rolled my eyes. “Yeah I know everyone does that, but it was the way she did it! She’s reminding everyone just how good a job she has!”
“Hey now, you can’t talk about my friend like that!” Fiona defended her.
“Why not? It’s true enough isn’t it? You yourself said Kelly had to be the best at everything.”
“Yeah but you’ve got it wrong. She isn’t trying to flaunt herself. She just has the talent. And look, she has a great personality. See her now, playing with the kids.”
I gritted my teeth. Kelly was having more fun with my niece and nephew than I’d ever had. They just loved her and she pealed with laughter as she let them ride on her back while she crawled round on the grass on all fours. She was just naturally charismatic. “Yeah – she’s exciting them so they won’t want to go to sleep,” I snapped back.
“Becca, you’re jealous!” Fiona said.
Was I really jealous, I wondered. I thought about it for a moment. “No Fiona, I’m not jealous. I have no reason to be. After all, I’m a vet, a much more rewarding job than being some sort of advertising consultant. I get joy from seeing animals up and walking again. What does an advertising exec get? Pleasure from the people she’s persuaded to buy some cheap crud? And what's more I know I’m good looking.” I glanced at Andrew. “Andrew complains that I get more than my share of looks from men. What’s more,” I put my arm round him, "I have a great boyfriend.” I grinned. “I have it all.”
“So why are you so defensive?” Fiona retorted.
“I am not defensive!” I snapped back
“Ladies, ladies!” David broke in. “You’re both getting very angry. Calm down – please!”
Andrew chuckled. “David, I’ve got a better idea.” He whispered in our friend’s ear.
David laughed. “Oh yeah, man! You tell them!”
Andrew looked at me and Fiona. “You both look as if you could come to blows, any minute. Well, we can arrange this. We think we – yes, all four of us – should have a chicken fight in the pool. Bec and me against Fiona and David.”
“So long as we get to fight Peter and Kelly as well,” I snapped. I wasn’t going to let this chance go by.
Just then, my sister came up. We explained things. She got me to shepherd her kids away to the swings and slippery dip she had in the corner of the garden. There was a hedge between that corner and the pool. “I don’t want you to corrupt them!” she smirked. She was just envious that she and James weren’t going to be in the pool fighting with us.
By the time I came back, it was all arranged. Kate clapped her hands. “Now, everyone pay attention! Andrew and Becca are challenging Fiona and David, then Kelly and Peter to a chicken fight. You know the rules, girls on top – after all, that’s where we belong! –boys below, in the pool. The aim is to push the opposing girl off their guy’s shoulders. Let’s have some fun!”
Kelly took her time sashaying around the pool. She clearly thought there was no rush. Peter had gone to get some drinks for my sister from the makeshift bar next to the grill where James was starting to cook. Peter was always a gentleman, but that day carried his gallantry to excess.
I smiled at Fiona and David. I whispered to Andrew, "Look at the lovebirds! They have hardly stopped talking to each other."
Andrew chuckled, "Why do you think I suggested the chicken fight, its a good chance to get them upfront and personal!"
Andrew half squatted in the water, bobbing his head down so I could slip my legs over his shoulders. I felt his hands clamp my legs in place as he rose. Fiona smiled back as she and David stood in their corner. As we approached them, l swung my hands through the water sending a spray into David’s face. He spluttered and choked. I repeated my move, this time spraying water higher, into Fiona’s face, making her blink. Trying to capitalize, I pushed on Fiona’s shoulders, trying to knock her back and get an early advantage, perhaps even win the round before it started. She pushed me back too. We both giggled. This was fun.
“Go get her Becca!” My brother in law cheered me on.
I splashed some more water in Fiona's face. She shoved me and I rocked back on Andrew's shoulders.
“Almost had you then!” Fiona giggled.
"Nah! In your dreams, girl!" We grappled again, each trying to push the other off, each shoving, each grabbing onto the other's shoulders and neck, each slamming our bodies into each other while the guys held onto our legs. There was no technique, just a lot of fun. All of us – the four of us in the pool and the onlookers too – were laughing.
I felt Fiona's hand slide down my front. I gasped when she squeezed my boob. She giggled. "Oops! Sorry!"
“No she's not!” David insisted. “She loves feeling other girls up.”
“You fink!” she scolded, slapping him lightly.
I tried to grab her in a headlock and pull her off his shoulders while they were distracted. It almost worked. She toppled to the side, but grabbed my shoulders and pulled herself up again. She held on as our bodies pressed together. The boys below were close, standing perhaps a few inches apart, but they weren't doing much, just standing and keeping us upright, letting us get on at each other.
I pulled on her neck but this time it was my hands that slipped, my left hand snarling her bikini top, pushing the strap off her shoulder.
"Oh and who's sorry now?" Fiona said.
I bent forward and whispered “Not me! You've got great boobs. I know you'd like Andrew to see them.”
Fiona slapped water in my face. “That's enough of that!”
I got her in a headlock, pulling her again. “Don't tell me you're modest. I won't believe you!”
The boys must have pushed forward again for Fiona and I found ourselves pressed together, tummy to tummy, boobs to boobs. I tried to push Fiona's shoulders but my hands slipped – I was too close to get a good grasp on the front. I pawed her back and sides. She tried to push my boobs, sliding her hands in between our bodies. Again we were too tightly pressed together for her to get any purchase but she pawed and squeezed my breasts.
For a long minute we sat there on our men’s shoulders, pawing each other; almost pashing off rather than chicken fighting. I leant forward. “You're all hot 'n' bothered, aren't you, Fiona?” She coloured a little. “Just like you were when that brunette on the beach beat you!”
Fiona hissed something. I'd provoked her, just as I'd intended. I grasped the tops of her arms and shoved hard. She almost fell off David then.
David backed off. “Hey hun, you ok?”
“Yeah,” she replied. She bent down and kissed him. “I'm ok, Becca's just gross! Come on David, I want to win this!”
For a second I thought I'd let her. I'd tried to make her angry, angry enough to lose concentration, angry enough to lose the match, but perhaps the better way was to lose. That way, the victory would bring her and David together. I asked myself whether I wanted to throw a match, especially when Kelly was watching. No. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. My competitive streak – the one that had got me into fights before, the the streak that had got me through school and college, into a great job – took over. “Don't be so sure, Fiona Burke!” I yelled.
I shoved her hard as our bodies, borne on the shoulders of our guys, met again. She slapped my face hard. Her stinging blow left a mark. I parried her next slap, grasping her wrist, pushing her hand down to the water. I tried pushing her forehead to shove her head back. Instead she lashed forward. She hit my mouth hard with a backhand slap. The smack echoed. I was a little shaken. Andrew’s firm grip tightened as I let go of Fiona’s hand and grasped his head for support. Fiona seized the initiative, slapping hard with both hands. I felt Andrew lurch forward. Looking down momentarily, I saw David had snaked his foot forward and tried to trip Andrew. We shook as David’s hip thudded into Andrew’s side. “Hey Andrew! Keep up!” I urged as he shook from the blow.
Andrew backed away. We both knew the fight was serious now, not the fun it had been moments ago. My taunt had changed Fiona and the fight. We regrouped and he squeezed my leg, “Go for her tummy, babe,” he whispered.
We closed again. Fiona tried my trick of splashing water. I bent forward, over Andrew’s shoulder, to seize her left wrist. I pulled it hard. Fiona wailed. She rocked forward, then grappled me, her right hand round my neck. She lurched forward again, her boobs banging into mine. This was more like how it had been.
Clinging together, we tried to tug at each other, to push the other off. Our boobs pressed together. I felt her nipple press into my boob, just above my nipple. I squeezed forward, pressing even tighter, grinding my breast against hers. Fiona gasped. I giggled, whispering, “How about a tit fight? Nah – that that would be too easy. Mine are so much better than yours!”
She coloured again. “In your dreams!” She ground her boobs into me, returning the favour. I felt her firm nipples pushing against mine. I held onto her arm, tugging it sideways. She held onto my neck. We lurched in unison, our bodies pressed together. Andrew pressed forward, his foot between David’s . Bending at the knees – I felt him bob down an inch or two – Andrew rocked back, then forward. Fiona wailed again as David stumbled back. She let go of my neck as they pulled away. I held onto her arm and almost pulled her off David but her wrist was too slippery and she jerked herself free.
David stepped back, but Andrew kept the pace on, not giving them a chance to recover. Again he whispered, “What did I say? Go for her tummy! Hit her, punch her!” He'd gotten more competitive too. I wondered if he’d heard Fiona and I whispering.
I jabbed hard with my right. Fiona deflected it, her arm pushing my hand away. She wasn’t so lucky with my left. It hit, just above her navel. She gasped and rocked but recovered to slap her hand under my chin. The blow flicked my head up. I replied with another punch, but it went wild. Fiona tried to sweep her arm round. I blocked it, swinging my head down under her arm and then up, into her face. She jerked her head to the side and my head struck her shoulder. That was almost as good. The sudden movement and her shifting weight made David lurch. I shoved – and again. For a moment I thought they had had it. She teetered and only saved herself by clutching my hair.
I slapped at Fiona’s face. “Let go!” I punched at her tummy – then again. She let go of my hair, but now she had regained her balance. They backed off.
“Trust me, Bec,” Andrew whispered as we followed them . His hands left my legs. I pressed my feet down between his armpits. His hands darted up, chopping at David’s arms as David held onto Fiona. “Push!” Andrew yelled. I brought my right arm around in a swinging whirl, just as Fiona had tried to do, but this time Fiona was already shaken by Andrew’s assault on David’s supporting arms, and she didn’t defend properly. The inside of my elbow connected. I wrapped my arm round Fiona’s neck and pulled. She rocked, then recovered for a moment. Andrew shoved, pressing his body against David’s. I swung my elbow into Fiona’s side. Fiona gasped. I grabbed her shoulder with my right hand, her right hand with my left and shoved hard. Fiona squealed. Her legs jolted away from David’s arms and she toppled over, splashing into the pool.
I bent down to kiss Andrew.
“Good fight, David!” Andrew was generous. “You did well for a scratch team!” I slipped off his shoulders and hugged Fiona.
“I’d kill for a drink!” I said, then looked at Kelly and Peter. “You’re next - after we refuel.” Kate brought us our towels. David wrapped Fiona in hers and began to pat her dry.
I pouted and turned to Andrew. “See what David is doing for Fiona! You should do the same for me!” I winked at Fiona She giggled and wriggled under David’s ministrations. He was making the most of his opportunity to touch up Fiona, and Fiona clearly didn’t mind – indeed, she was encouraging him.
I smiled at Andrew. He whispered, “Fi might want to be more than good friends with David. He’s had the hots for her for ages. I’ll let you into a secret, that redhead you couldn’t stand was his substitute. Fi had stood him up that day. She was never really that close to Lobsey.” He wrapped me in my towel and touched me up, though not as much as David was doing with Fiona.
“Now you four, don’t be leading my children astray!” My sister smiled as she said it but smile or no smile, she meant what she said. We went over to the chairs and sat nibbling cheese and snacks, drinking the wine Kelly and Peter had brought – I had to admit she had an excellent palate – while we chatted for a while.
Finally I got up. “Come on, Peter and Kelly! It’s time for round two! Andrew and I can’t wait to defeat you as soundly as we defeated Fiona and David. Not that they seem to have minded losing,” I chuckled. “Come on, it’ll be getting cold soon."
The four of us got in the pool. Kelly hopped on Peter's back and I got on Andrew's. I could tell from Kelly's body language that this would be much more serious than the skirmish with Fiona and David. As we closed, Kelly immediately lashed out with her left hand as if to claw at my breast. I twisted my body just as her right hand snaked out to grab a fistful of my hair. She was trying to pull me off quick. It didn't work. My scalp burned as Kelly tugged back and forth. I slapped her face and pulled away. Andrew helped me, giving Peter a hard shove, thrusting his right hip into Peter's side. Peter's legs must have buckled. As he tried to regain his footing, I felt Kelly almost fall but she grabbed Peter's head to steady herself.
I squeezed Andrew's shoulders with my legs. “Well done, hun! We nearly had them!” I wanted to rile Kelly. Andrew stepped forward, again banging hard into Peter's body. In the first fight he had been little more than a platform but this time, he was actively helping me in the attacks.
Peter seemed to drop in the water- I guess he bent his knees – then pushed forward. Kelly shoved me hard in the chest with her right hand and in my right shoulder with her left. Peter pushed again, rising to his full height as he slammed into Andrew's chest. We teetered and I squealed, clutching onto Andrew's head as he backed away. We were lucky that Peter seemed to stumble. It must have been hard trying to balance someone as tall as Kelly on his shoulders when his own centre of gravity was changing. If they had been able to press on they would have won.
We recovered in the moment that they took to get their balance and in the next moment, we attacked. I grabbed at Kelly's blonde mane and pushed at her breast. “How do you like the receiving end?” Andrew sneered as he pushed against Peter. Kelly slapped at my face. Her blows stung. I yanked her hair, jerking it from side to side. She slapped again and then grabbed my wrist. Twisting it harshly, she jabbed her fingers into my armpit. I screamed with pain and let go of her hair. She slapped hard at my face, then pushed my shoulder again. Andrew twisted his body slightly, forcing me to twist further. I swayed for a moment. Andrew's shoulder crashed into Peter's chest. Andrew told me later that he had tried to trip Peter by sliding his leg between Peter's. It didn't work but it made Peter lurch backwards, forcing Kelly to break off her attack.
Again we regrouped. This time Peter and Kelly attacked. Kelly sent a punch at my chest, just to the left of Andrew's head. I grunted at the impact but sent one back aimed at her shoulder. It hit. Suddenly Andrew stumbled and almost fell. Peter had kneed him in the thigh. I seized Kelly's head, holding it, almost dragging her off Peter's shoulders. They backed away to recover . We were lucky again.
Peter pressed his attack, stepping forward, and Andrew had to turn sharply to avoid Peter banging into him. Kelly slammed her hands down on my shoulders, trying to shake me off Andrew. I shook and squealed as she almost pushed me off. Andrew grabbed my legs and I grabbed his head as we backed away.
Kate yelled, “They've got you on the run!” She was right.
We had to break away, and we moved to the deeper water where Andrew could hardly stand up. Thankfully he was an inch or so taller than Peter. It would be harder for them than for us to fight in the deeper water. Peter realised it and waited. Perhaps they needed to take a breather too.
Andrew looked up. “Ready babe?” I nodded. “Hold on tight!” He strode forward.
Peter came to meet him. Kelly splashed water in my face, and it made me splutter. She swung both her hands up to try to hit my ears. I jerked my head forward and slammed my palm into her chest just below her throat. I was lucky, she'd expected her move to work. She was defenseless. She wailed, she teetered, her arms windmilling. If I'd been able to follow up, I'd have got her off. But Andrew suddenly buckled and I almost lost my balance. He scurried back. Peter had kneed him in the stomach. This was no fight between the girls with the guys as platforms. This was no holds barred!
“Hold onto my thighs,” I whispered to Andrew as we caught our breath. He nodded.
Kelly had got her balance back. Peter pushed forward. They closed, Kelly splashing water in our faces. While we were still blind, her right hand lashed out, smacking my cheek hard. Her left hand smacked the other cheek. She got through my defenses with a shove to my chest, but I'd turned enough that the blow didn't push me back. Below us the men were shoving at each other, trying to trip one another. They were gasping for air. Kelly and I traded slaps. Both of us would have sore faces and shoulders tomorrow. We each caught a fistful of each others hair and tried to jerk our enemy off. It didn't work.
I saw Kelly was tiring – so was I. Now was the time. “Push hard, Andrew!” I yelled and swung my leg up, my foot striking Peter just below his chin. His head snapped back, he groaned in pain and stumbled. I shoved Kelly's chest hard. She faltered, already struggling to stay aloft on Peter' s shoulders as Andrew pushed him hard, thrusting his left elbow into Peter’s shoulder.
Peter groaned. I'd kicked his chest and though I didn't know it then, Andrew had kneed him in the stomach. Kelly swayed as Peter almost dropped to his knees. I shoved at her chest again, and somehow I caught her bikini top. I pushed and Kelly fell off Peter's shoulders, leaving her bikini top in my hand. I tossed it in the air in exultation. “Yes! We did it!”
I suddenly remembered my niece and nephew were there and quickly handed Kelly her top back. I dismounted from Andrew, hugged and kissed him. There was more than a little tongue in that kiss. I decided he was going to have a great reward later that night.
I stepped out of the pool, grabbing Kelly's towel and tossing it to her. “You fought well,” I said. “Great battle - thanks!”
Kelly muttered something. She tried to smile.
“I’m very sorry I pulled your top off and even sorrier that I tossed it in the air. I didn't mean to embarrass you.”
Without replying, Kelly turned to her boyfriend. “Peter, tie it up properly please!” Peter did so, and dried her and cuddled her. She stood there, just letting him. As Andrew dried me though, I kissed him, hugged him and ground my body against his.
"Now now! Not in front of the children!" Kate teased. "Great fight! You rock, lil sis!"
I pouted. “Isn't it time you got them bathed and ready for bed? I'll read them a story later.”
Kate nodded. “Yes, it is.” She turned to her children. “Come on, bath time! You heard Auntie Becca – if you’re good she’ll read you a story. Come along now!” She led her kids away. James came up and gave us all a glass. He half-filled each with some champagne. “To my kid sister in law and her man – the winners!” He made a mock toast.
“Becca should know better than to flaunt herself like that in front of her sister’s kids. I'm glad it was Kate who had children she knows how to bring them up,” I was stunned to hear Kelly say to no-one in particular. “Becca’s far too immature to have them. Just see the way she acted with Andrew! I shudder to think what she’d teach them.”
I turned to Kelly. “Did I hear you correctly?” I was furious. “You’re just a sore loser! You can’t bear that anyone can beat you!”
Kelly hissed something.
I snapped back. “Yeah, you’re just a bad sport! You always need to win and when you don’t, you’re cruel and bitchy, finding the most hurtful thing to say to someone! It’s you who’s immature!” Yes, I lost my temper and I shot my mouth off. If I’d been calmer – perhaps if I’d had a bit less to drink – might have thought before I spoke and remembered how little I really knew of Kelly. But I didn’t think that way then.
Kelly threw her towel at me, knocking my glass from my hand. “You clearly need to learn manners as well as morals!”
I stepped forward and slapped her face. “Don’t you dare say that! I don’t take crap from anyone.”
Kelly threw the contents of her glass in my face. The alcohol stung my eyes and I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision. Kelly slapped my ears. They rang and for a moment I could neither see nor hear properly. I was almost dazed. In that time Kelly pounded my body with hard, repeated punches. I backed away, breathing hard, already hurt. She kept the pressure on me, slamming her fists into my sides and my chest.
I heard Peter say, “Andrew, don't intervene. This is between the two of them.”
“Yeah, so long as your girl fights clean. She didn't when she threw her drink in Bec's face.” Then louder he cried, “Beat her, Bec! Beat her like you did those blondes at the beach!”
After what seemed ages, but was probably no more than thirty seconds, I recovered sufficiently to see and react coherently. I stepped behind the poolside table and for a few precious moments frustrated Kelly as she tried to attack. She didn’t have the reach to get to me and as she came round the table I retreated on the other side. As it always does though, that tactic failed after a while. Kelly tugged at the table, pulling it out of the way and lashed out at me with her free fist.
I sidestepped the punch but walked almost straight into her kick. I winced – she had hurt my thigh. I punched back, hitting her left breast. She hissed. I pressed the attack. She was now trapped in front of the very table she had moved to attack me. We traded punches. She hit me a few times but I pounded her more often. I’d gotten back into the fight.
I tried to kick her tummy as she slid free, but instead I found my ankle seized and my leg hauled high in the air. I lurched forward while hopping on one leg, lashing at Kelly's face and upper body. I was lucky – both fists hit. She dropped my leg. It felt like it had been wrenched. I was sure I'd damaged a tendon. I recovered my balance and stood breathing hard.
Kelly strode forward, full of confidence which I was determined to dent. She sent a hard punch to my chest. My damaged leg made me too slow to avoid it. She danced away before I could respond. She closed again and sent two hard jabs at my body. Again I copped them but this time I ducked a little and instead of hitting my midsection, they hit my chest. They hurt but didn’t do the damage she wanted. I flung myself forward, seizing her round the waist and we both stumbled. She hit the pool fence behind her.
She yelped as she shoved forward. I pushed her back into the fence. She tried to head butt me. I pivoted on my good leg, avoiding the head butt and swung the injured one into her gut. . She closed on me, her arms round my waist. I held her. We swayed, locked together, trying at first just to bear hug each other. I knew from her pants that I was winning. I was squeezing the air from her lungs. She changed tactics by trying to wrestle me to the ground. I resisted, pressed back. Despite my injured leg, I was still able to keep upright and hold my squeeze on her.
Kelly kept pushing. My back hit the pool fence. I groaned. My injured leg restricted my movements. I tried to head butt her but instead, she brought her knee up into my belly. I staggered. She shoved me back to the fence and body slammed me into it. I groaned again. I punched a left then a right at Kelly’s midsection. Both hit. Kelly seemed surprised and dropped back. I slipped from her trap.
I stood gasping for air. I needed to recover, to take the attack to Kelly. Given my limited mobility, I realised the only way I could do that was to sham defeat and trust she was over-confident. I let her score some punches. With each hit, I groaned loudly and limped backwards, glancing over my shoulder to check where the fence was, letting her hit me.
She closed. I lashed out with a sharp blow to her belly and another to her chin. She staggered, her head snapping up, and she all but fell backwards into the pool. I’d almost hoped she’d land there. Now I had to follow up my success. My limping was not pretense – each step hurt. I all but had to drag my damaged leg along.
That let Kelly recover her poise. She counterattacked with a kick to my already damaged thigh. I thought I was going to crumple. I rocked on my feet, trying to stay upright. She closed, wrestling me. I tried to fight back but my leg was too badly hurt – by now I knew I had a damaged tendon that would require massage and heat therapy if not physiotherapy.
She forced me to the hard tiling at the edge of the pool. My whole body hurt. Kelly pinned my damaged leg under her knee. She started to twist the ankle.
I panicked. I knew enough to know she could do some serious injury. "No, no! Stop, Kelly! I give!"
“Not good enough, girl! You chose to fight me! You started this – I’m going to finish it!” She grabbed my foot.
Andrew came to my aid. "Congratulations, you won! Now get off of my girlfriend."
Still holding me down, Kelly hissed, “You’re an uppity bitch! I hope you’ve learned your lesson. Don’t mess with me again.” She half-rose, then slid her arms under me and rolled me into the pool. I squealed as I hit the water and swallowed what seemed like half the pool before I stood up, spluttering. I heard Andrew say, “That was plain cruel! Becca had already given in. You didn’t need to do that!” He helped me out.
Kelly snapped, “She should be grateful I didn’t hurt her more!” She stalked off and washed her face under the tap.
Andrew dried me. He hugged and kissed me, “You did so well, babe.”
Kelly came back. She was more conciliatory now and said, “Good fight Becca.” She turned to Kate. “I need a shower. May I use yours?” Kate nodded.
I stood there, still more than a little shocked. Kelly had been so savage. Andrew got me a stiff drink.
A few minutes later, Kelly came back glowing, and not just from a hot shower. She basked in her victory. She had won yet again. Still, I had to admit that she had won fairly and that I had pushed her hard – a lot harder, I was sure, than Fiona had.
I took a shower. The hot water soothed my sore body. I came out to see Andrew waiting. We walked out. Fiona stepped over and kissed me. “You did so well!”
“Yes,” David agreed, “you did. As for Kelly, well – ” He turned to the blonde. “ – you were a little brutal at the end. Becca had conceded.” He hugged Fiona.
My sister came up with some salves. I sat on a deck chair while Andrew rubbed the creams on my leg. Everyone crowded round talking to me.
Everyone that is, except Kelly and Peter. They stood apart from the rest of the group, talking quietly, almost whispering. Peter's body language told me he was trying to calm Kelly down. It wasn't working – Kelly was clearly furious.
I got to my feet again. The party went on. Andrew and I chatted with my sister and James. Fiona and David withdrew to their own world. They spoke to us at times, but far more often to each other. They were holding hands. Every so often, Fiona stroked David's arm.
Andrew leaned close to me and whispered, “She’s' a flirtatious wench!”
I giggled. “I’m sure David’s enjoying it!”
Everyone had been ignoring Kelly. A few moments later she stood up and announced, “Peter, take me home. I'm tired!” She picked up her bag and walked off.
"I bet he’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight!” Kate said.
“But you won't be, Andrew,” I whispered and kissed him firmly
My thanks to the Scribbler and PJS and Kyle for their help. This story brings together some of my characters from different stories. Constructive comments are welcome
