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Part 52

After a few minutes, I saw her outside, looking for me. I felt a little dumb; I forgot that she did not know what my car looked like. So, I sent her a text letting her know where I was parked and what color my car was. She looked at her phone, saw me, and started jiggling in my direction.

As she approached my car, I could see her happy smile and genuine joy in seeing me. I remember thinking, “She can’t be that happy to see me; she doesn’t know me,” but that thought was overshadowed by another, “Someday, I want to be as happy as she looks.”

She approached my car but raced to my side and, with a big smile, said, “Red, get off, I want my hug!”

Hmm… maybe that’s why their hugs feel good, they practice all the fucking time.

I nervously got out of my car and went in for a hug. Again, it felt more like I was receiving her hug rather than giving her a hug. I felt a connection with her that is difficult to describe, even today, but I felt at home when she hugged me.

When the hug ended, she held my hands, looked into my eyes, and said, “Red, thank you so much for picking me up and for taking the time to spend it with me. I really appreciate it.” Looking at her smile and hearing her words, I couldn’t help but smile and say, “You’re welcome, Chrissie.” We got in the car, she told me where we were going, and I started driving.

The drive itself was uneventful. She excused herself to spend some time on her phone and said, “I am just going to let Gabriel know we’re together already.” Umm… okay.

When she was done, I asked, “Does he expect me to let him know too? Is that like a rule?” She laughed and said, “No, silly, I want him to know that we’re together. He really doesn’t demand things like that, but he does worry at times, especially when I am doing something outside of the norm, and I don’t like for him to worry, so I let him know.”

I thought that was thoughtful, but I was starting to see that they were both thoughtful. I mean, every morning since I met her, she’s sent a good morning text, same as Gabriel. It was easy to assume that they also sent each other a good morning text. I should probably get up a little earlier and do that as well. I don’t like constantly receiving without giving anything back (ha! Someone should tell Gabriel that!). Also, I didn’t want to wait for Gabriel to feel like he had to have a conversation with me about it, you know?

Besides, looking at Chrissie, I could tell that it would make her happy, so why not?

I said, “I just get nervous sometimes. I tend to be forgetful, and I am very clumsy. I just don’t want Gabriel to be mad at me for something stupid that I am supposed to do and didn’t, you know?” Chrissie smiled and said, “I get it, I used to go through that. But he is really not like that at all. He is not needy, like some of the guys I’ve been going out with, sooooo fucking needy!

He doesn’t need to know where we are and what we’re doing, he just likes to know that WE are okay. So, instead of letting him worry, I just let him know.

But if it helps, if he expects something, he is not shy about telling you!”—she laughed, and continued— “Go ahead, send him a text and see. He probably won’t reply right away, but every so often he checks his phone to see if everything is okay, and if I don’t let him know, he will call or text me to make sure. But it doesn’t happen that often. He-is-not a phone guy.”

I laughed and said, “I KNOW!!!!!” Then she laughed too and said, “You get used to it. It is that bad though.”

After we had our moment of laughter, we just talked about her day and my day, nothing too crazy. She said that while she loved Gabriel and he is a VERY important part of her, she did not want the evening to be completely about him, but rather about her and me just spending time together, just two girls on the town kicking butts.

Well shit, there goes my hope of asking questions about Gabriel.

I asked her what to expect when we got to class, and she told me not to worry about it, just to follow her and everything would be fine, which worked beautifully for me because I sucked at new things, especially with people involved!

I said, “So, just follow you like a lost puppy,” and she said, “If that’s how you want to look at it, works for me. Just don’t bite my ass; Gabriel might get mad at you… I won’t, but he might.” And she laughed… I didn’t know if I should laugh, but it WAS funny.

When we got to the place, it was just like I had seen on TV—a bunch of people just punching and kicking these padded things, and the smell of sweat was potent to the point that if I hadn’t promised that I would stay, I could easily have used it as an excuse to leave.

Fucking Ulysses agreements!

We went up to the front desk, and Chrissie did all the talking, telling the girl at the desk that I would be taking the free trial classes… Yaddy, yaddy, yadda…

Anyway, when the class that was in progress ended, it was our turn, and I was damn near hyperventilating, so I told Chrissie that I was nervous, and she said, “It’s okay, Red, I am here with you, just hold my hand for a little while,” and I did… and it helped.

When it was time for us to get on the mat, I did as I was instructed; I followed Chrissie around, I felt like that little fish that hangs out with the shark, just mooching off her assertiveness as she walked about. A bunch of little formalities happened, and then they showed us what to do.

When the instructor told everyone to find a partner to work with, he also instructed some guy, who I think was like the top guy in class, to work with the new person, meaning me.
I was like, oh fuck!

However, Chrissie still partnered up with me, and when the guy came over, he said to Chrissie, “Christina, find another partner. I am going to work with her, you know, show her the basics.” Chrissie responded, “No, it’s okay, I’ll stay with her.” The guy insisted and said, “No, COACH said that I should.” Chrissie said, “I heard, but no, I will work with her.” The guy would not give up, which I guess was enough for Chrissie, because he said, “But I’m supposed to work with her,” and she turned to him and said, “And I told you NO, I am going to work with her. What are you, deaf in one ear and stupid in the other?”

My mouth dropped, and the guy just stood there for a moment, blinking in disbelief. His mouth opened slightly, like he was trying to find words but couldn't. Then, with a frustrated shake of his head, he turned around and walked away to find someone else to work with.

I just quietly said, “Chrissie! What are you doing?!” She replied, “We went on ONE fucking date, I told him that I am submissive, and I guess he thought that meant I wanted to be submissive TO HIM… I think he learned, what do you think?” And she snickered a bit… I kind of joined a little.

During class, I learned, Chrissie might be jiggly and bubbly, but she kicks fucking hard!
I guess Gabriel is right, Chrissie is one tough cookie.

The rest of the class went smoothly; we noticed that the guy went to talk with the main instructor, who smiled, and that was that.

Honestly, I felt like Chrissie went out of her way to take care of me—I felt good and protected. If anyone wanted to bother me, they had to go through one tough cookie to get to me… one tough, jiggly cookie. Not to mention the wittiness of her comment; I don’t know if I could come up with something like that, let alone say it. I better watch out and stay on her good side, I’d hate to be on the receiving end of that attitude.

When we finished class, I was relieved. It was finally over, and I felt good that I survived. I had accomplished something, and I did it well, at least I thought.
I said, “You were right Chrissie, that was fun,” but just when I thought I was out of the woods, Chrissie said, “wait for the next class, it’s even more fun,” which was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—see, the class we had just finished was Muay Thai, which as most of you know, is Thai Kickboxing, and the next class was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which, as I would soon find out, specializes in grappling and fighting on the ground… I did not know that—what the actual purple fucklings, Chrissie! What are you trying to do to me?

Again, some formalities, blah blah this, bleh bleh that. Anyway, just the warm-up was enough to make me not like Chrissie anymore. As I was gasping for air, she looked at me and smiled while she was just-a-rolling on the mats like she didn’t just finish another class… jiggly, super-fit bitch.
As with the first class, when it was time to do what the instructor showed, Chrissie paired up with me, the guy from earlier just kept avoiding looking in our direction, it was funny… I felt bad, but I couldn’t help the fact that it was funny.

The next hour felt like twelve and it was all a blurry memory of me being moved from one place to another on the floor. Chrissie explained every move in detail, and I was able to follow along, but I was eeeexxxhausted.
The potent smell of sweat that was unmistakable in the beginning, was not even noticeable anymore because I was wearing it all over me.

A lot of rolling on the ground later, it was finally done. I was sweaty, tired, but fucking amazed at how much fun it was!
There were times when I thought I couldn’t do anything more, but Chrissie didn’t let me quit. She was supportive, gentle, and a great teacher… didn’t see that coming.

Honestly, I thought that after the class, I’d be too tired for anything, but I was very energized and looking forward to coming back.

After it was all done, Chrissie turned to me and said, “And now we dine, Red, we’ve earned it, we’re going to eat like grown men,” and I happily replied, “Yes we will!”

When she asked me where we should go, I told her not to worry about it because I had a plan. She smiled and said, “Yes, boss lady!” We got in the car, and I started driving. The ride was quiet—I guess we both just needed to catch our breath. But when I pulled up to the place, Chrissie jumped and happily said, “You’re bringing me here? You rock, Red!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Then she kissed my cheek and started doing a little dance in her seat that I can only describe as the “Chrissie Dance.” She was every bit as excited as Gabriel said she would be.

Her joyful reaction was worth every bit of sweat and traffic I had to go through, and on top of that, I would be trying food I had never had before… so it was a win-win.

to be continued...