#Eddie about Taylor. He waited for that opportunity to push back

[thetangycheesemanwithaplan]

911 + Text Posts pt128/?

[extasiswings]

15 + buddie

15. "Shouldn't you be with her?" On ao3 here.

When Eddie is eleven, his class gets a new student. Her name is Maria Esparza and her family is from Arizona. She has dark curls that look like they would be soft to touch and a smattering of freckles across her nose and she’s so smart—always reading and forever raising her hand in class, always with the right answers—but she never acts stuck up about it.

He thinks she’s beautiful and when he gets home from the first day of school he promptly announces that he’s in love. He doesn’t understand why his mother laughs or why Sophia rolls her eyes and calls him an idiot when he’s perfectly serious.

He’s in love, he insists, and goes on believing it for three whole weeks until he gets up the courage to give Maria a flower at recess and she looks at him like he has two heads. The rejection smarts for a couple of days, but then he’s fine. So, he figures...maybe it wasn’t love after all.

Eddie is fifteen when he finds his eyes slipping too frequently to Diego Reed in autoshop, lingering on the other boy’s long, dexterous fingers, his forearms, the sharp edge of his jaw. Eddie can’t explain it, he just knows those stolen glances make him squirm, make him flush, make him feel too warm and like his very skin is too tight.

Diego steals Eddie’s first kiss two weeks before winter break, pushes him up against the back wall of the shop where they’re hidden by a truck and licks into his mouth with a confidence that Eddie can’t imagine ever having when he himself can’t even figure out what to do with his hands. But it makes his knees weak and leaves him breathless and panting when Diego pulls away with a smirk and tells him not to say anything.

It’s not love—for one thing, Eddie knows he’s not supposed to love boys, and for another, the only time he suggests it might be anything at all, Diego gives him the same look Maria had once upon a time and walks away—but it’s nothing he’s ever felt before. The next year, Angelica Phelan asks him to go to the winter formal and he gets to second base in the science lab when they slip away from the chaperones. It’s different from kissing Diego. But it’s just as good, he enjoys it just as much, and part of him is…relieved.

He doesn’t think about that too much.

Eddie is eighteen when he’s not watching where he’s going and runs directly into his future on the sidewalk. Thankfully, the only casualty is Shannon’s coffee, and after she snaps at him for not paying attention and he offers to replace her drink—well. They close down the coffee shop, emerging, startled, from conversation only when interrupted by a mildly disgruntled employee trying to lock up. Eddie walks home in a daze, Shannon’s phone number burning a hole in his pocket, and he’s simultaneously elated and terrified because it’s never been so easy being with someone, he’s never felt so seen so quickly. He’s old enough to realize that love at first sight is bullshit, but he thinks he could fall very fast.

He’s right.

They take things slow because Eddie wants to do things right, doesn’t want to risk confusing love with the heady cocktail of teenage hormones and sex. So he knows by the time he does fall into bed with her, eight months in, that he’s in love. Really in love, thinking about the future in love, factoring her into the mix when he thinks about what the hell he’s going to do with his life in love.

And then Shannon gets pregnant. And it’s too soon, he loves her but it’s too soon, and he’s terrified all over again—

He loves her though. He loves her. And she’s pregnant so—they get married. He wants to do the right thing.

At their wedding the readings are selections from Song of Songs and Corinthians.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud....Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things...

With all due respect to St. Paul, Eddie doesn’t think he knew what the hell he was talking about. Or at least, maybe he did, but he was being pretty damn aspirational and left out a few things.

Because after the wedding…after the wedding, Eddie learns a lot more about love.

Love is beautiful, yes. But love is also…trying to do the right thing and fucking up. Love is fighting and knowing exactly what to say to cut the deepest and not always holding back. Love is forgiving, but after a point finding it difficult to forget.

Or maybe that’s not love, maybe that’s just marriage. Maybe it’s a little of both. Because love endures—sure. Love endured with Shannon even when trust was nonexistent, when their marriage was fractured, shattered pieces strewn across the floor ready to draw blood if either of them tried to pick them up.

Love isn’t enough. That’s what Eddie knows. Or maybe it is, maybe love would have been enough to fix what was broken if it hadn’t been his. Shannon’s gone, so they’ll never be able to have that conversation. He’ll never know the answer.

Love endures. Eddie kind of wishes it didn’t. It would make a lot of things a lot easier.

But…it’s fine. He’s fine. Shannon dies and he locks that piece of himself away and has no plans to ever fall in love again.

Then again, God has a funny sense of humor and never seems to resist an opportunity to be an asshole, so of course…he does. Slowly. Quietly. The threads slipping through the cracks in his walls so carefully that he doesn’t even notice until they’re twined around his heart, unspooling through his blood, through his veins with every pulse. Eddie doesn’t notice.

And then he gets shot and it’s like being hit by lightning, an electric shock of clarity down his spine, rooting him in place as he meets Buck’s eyes.

Oh.

Oh, fuck.

***

Eddie despises recovery.

He’s never been good at being still, at being useless, at being left alone with nothing but his own head. And maybe he’s not entirely alone—he has Christopher, after all, and Christopher is understandably a little clingy now that he’s home from the hospital—but Christopher sleeps and has play dates and spends time in his room and just in general isn’t in Eddie’s space every second of every day.

And then there’s Buck. Buck who offered to keep staying on the couch to take care of everything they needed when Eddie came home from the hospital. Buck who Eddie sent home to his own bed with promises to call if he needed help because having Buck so close after Eddie’s little realization was stirring him up, making everything a million times more difficult in his head. Buck’s still over frequently, but it’s less dangerous if he’s not staying overnight, if Eddie can’t wake up and be tempted to walk out to the living room and pull Buck into his bed. Not for anything sexual—he’s on too many medications and too immobilized for that even if it was remotely a good idea—but to be held. To feel wanted. To feel safe.

He knows Buck probably wouldn’t say no, wouldn’t think anything of it except that maybe he’s a little raw and fragile, which he is. Which is exactly why he can’t ask. So. Removing the temptation it is.

But. Being left alone with his own head is a terrible idea. He’s in pain because he lowered the doses of his pain meds so he would stop worrying about developing any dependency. He can’t sleep without waking up with screams trapped behind his teeth and the smell of blood and gunpowder in his nose. And he can’t stop thinking about Buck. About being in love with Buck. About wanting Buck. About whether he could ever have him or whether he’ll ever be okay enough to be in a relationship. About whether Buck could ever want him back or if he’ll ever feel safe enough to risk their friendship by even asking.

He broke up with Ana the second he was able to figure out how to do it without feeling like a complete dick. But he hasn’t told Buck that. He doesn’t know why.

And then there’s—

The key turns in the lock and Eddie starts, looking up from his place on the couch. Christopher is with his abuela for the night, and he didn’t expect—

“Hey,” Buck calls, stepping through the door. “I brought dinner.”

Eddie stares.

“What are you doing here?” He asks, before he can stop himself. “Shouldn’t you be with Taylor?”

—Taylor. Buck and Taylor. Which, Buck waited weeks to tell him about, hedging about why he wanted to know if it was okay to invite her to Eddie’s welcome home party. Which, Buck only did admit to when Eddie called one night at 2AM and Taylor answered Buck’s phone.

Eddie clears his throat, the question sounding a little too sharp and accusatory to his ears.

“I just meant,” he adds, softening, “I thought you said you had a date tonight.”

An odd look passes over Buck’s face.

“Isabel called me,” he replies. “She said you were by yourself, asked if I would check on you. We rescheduled, it’s fine.”

Eddie nods once and pulls the couch throw tighter around his shoulders with his good arm. A petty, possessive piece of him is pleased. That Buck’s there. That Buck would drop everything for him.

He’s always been wary of Taylor. Even way back when they first met and she was prowling around the station filming everyone and flirting with Buck. But now? Now he’s jealous, his stomach twisting at the very reminder that she has Buck the way Eddie wants him.

But at the same time…he hates that. Hates the jealousy, hates feeling possessive. Because what claim does he have over Buck’s affections? None. Especially not when he can’t even admit to loving him outside his head.

He hates it because he knows that more than anything, Buck deserves to be happy. And maybe Eddie could make him happy, but—

Even if Buck felt the same—and Eddie isn’t convinced of that, doesn’t have the arrogance to assume—what right does he have to say please, to say wait, to ask Buck to put his life on hold indefinitely while Eddie sorts through the tangled mess in his head in the hope that one day he’ll finally be ready? He can’t be that selfish. Especially not with Buck.

Buck deserves to be happy. Even if that’s with Taylor Kelly. Even if it means Eddie loses him.

He doesn’t get to be jealous.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Eddie replies quietly. “I’m fine.”

Buck sets the bag in his arms down on the coffee table.

“You don’t look fine,” he points out. “Actually, you look like shit. Isabel was right to call me.”

“I’m fine,” Eddie repeats. His heart pangs at the concern in Buck’s eyes. “Really, it’s okay—you should—you should—”

Go. Call Taylor back. Enjoy your date.

He wants to do the right thing. He really does. But the rest of the words refuse to leave his throat.

Buck shakes his head anyway. “I’m not going anywhere,” he insists. “So tell me what’s going on. How can I help?”

Eddie bites his lip. Drags his hand over his jaw before making a face. The messy, overgrown scruff is itchy and difficult to manage on his own, and the foreignness of it doesn’t help him feel grounded in his own body when he wakes up gasping in the middle of the night.

“It’s stupid,” he says.

“I’m sure it’s not,” Buck replies. “And I’m here, so you might as well just talk.”

I’m in love with you, Eddie thinks. And I can’t sleep. And I can’t shave. And everything hurts. And I just want to stop being afraid—

He swallows. He can’t say all of that. He can’t blow everything up that way.

So, he picks the easiest one.

“I can’t shave with my left hand and it’s driving me insane.”

Buck blinks. Then he laughs as the worry in his brow smooths out.

“That’s it?” He asks. “Well, that’s easy. I can do that. Come on.”

And that’s how Eddie winds up sitting on the bathroom counter with shaving cream all over his face while Buck wets a razor and steps between his legs.

His breath catches.

“You good?” Buck asks, his voice low. His eyes are soft and focused, and Eddie almost regrets everything because the proximity—god, the proximity. He’s been so cold since the shooting and Buck is so warm, heat spreading through Eddie’s body from every discrete point of contact. Buck tips his chin back and Eddie lets his eyes slip closed.

“Yeah,” he breathes. “I’m good.”

The razor drags along his skin. Neither of them say a word, the main sound in the room the drip of the faucet when Buck rinses the razor between passes. They’ve always been physical with each other, but this sort of thing is new. Intimate.

Eddie aches.

His eyes open a crack to watch. Buck’s lower lip is caught between his teeth, and having every ounce of that focus on him is…intoxicating.

I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you.

Buck steps in closer, Eddie’s legs spread ever so slightly wider. A spark of heat flashes through him and he inhales sharply—Buck’s startled enough that his hand slips and the razor nicks Eddie’s jaw.

“Shit,” Buck swears. The razor clatters into the sink. “Shit. I’m sorry.”

Eddie opens his eyes the rest of the way. “It’s fine,” he assures. “What, you think I’ve never cut myself shaving before? It’s still better than I would have managed myself.”

“I’m—” Buck looks stricken, his fingers reaching out to gently cradle Eddie’s jaw only for him to snatch them back almost instantly, the tip of one faintly smeared with blood. His hand trembles.

“Buck,” Eddie says quietly. Buck’s eyes are fixed on the red smear and Eddie is sent back—

Watching his blood splash across Buck’s face and not realizing at first that it was his. Being half-delirious on the way to the hospital worrying that Buck had been hurt—

All this time, Buck’s been moving forward, pushing ahead, for Christopher, for him, for everyone, and Eddie knew he wasn’t entirely okay, knew he was fucked up from the moment in the hospital when he said I think it would have been better if I was the one who got shot, but since Eddie’s been home, Buck has seemed…better.

Maybe not. Maybe he’s been struggling to pretend as much as Eddie has.

Eddie twists around to grab the towel draped over the faucet and wets it enough to wash the rest of the shaving cream off his face, feels the sting of soap and water in the cut. And then he reaches out to grab Buck’s hand, wiping the blood off of his finger.

There’s something profane about blood staining skin. And something sacred in the act of washing it clean.

Eddie wonders if anyone helped Buck wash his blood off when he was in surgery. Taylor, maybe.

But no, that doesn’t feel right.

Buck probably did it himself. Alone.

“Hey.” Eddie squeezes Buck’s fingers. When Buck doesn’t look at him, he reaches out and curls his hand around the side of Buck’s neck, tips Buck’s chin up with his thumb to force him to meet his eyes. “Hey. It’s okay. I’m okay. No harm done.”

Buck breathes out shakily. His throat works, his face passes through a million stages—finally, his hands fall to the counter on either side of Eddie’s hips and his forehead drops to Eddie’s good shoulder. Eddie lets his hand slip around to the back of Buck’s neck, his fingers combing up through the short hairs there. He turns his head and he’s close enough to kiss the side of Buck’s, but he holds off. It feels like it would be too much. Too much when Buck doesn’t know how he really feels, what he really wants. But even just this—the closeness, the touch—is good. Needed. A balm to the itch under his skin.

When Buck turns his face into Eddie’s neck and inhales, Eddie thinks maybe Buck might need this just as badly.

“I’m okay,” he repeats, closing his eyes again as his fingers comb through Buck’s hair. “We’re okay. We’re okay.”

They stay like that for a long time. Buck’s phone rings out once, but neither of them moves to answer it. Eventually, Buck lifts his head and clears his throat roughly as he steps back.

Eddie’s hand falls away from Buck’s neck. He feels the absence keenly.

“You good?” He asks. Buck nods. His eyes are red.

“Yeah,” Buck replies. He pauses. Shakes his head. “No. But—can we just—can I just finish this for now? I want to finish this.”

Eddie watches him for a moment. Wets his lips. Then finally nods and passes over the shaving cream again.

“Sure,” he says. “I trust you.”

I love you.

Maybe…maybe eventually he’ll be braver. Maybe eventually, both of them will be free at the same time and he’ll be whole and healed, or at least something closer to it than he is now. Maybe eventually…love will be enough. Maybe.

For now, he has this.

[matan4il]

I'm reading the meta for buddie in the finale and ... what's buddifer? Am I just being really dumb??? lmao

Awww, I hope you enjoyed it overall. :D And thank you for reaching out, sorry it was unclear! If Buddie is the combo of Buck and Eddie, Buddifer is a reference to the family unit of Buck, Eddie and Chris. Also, I just think it sounds cute. XD Hope this helped! xoxox

Oliver just did an interview and it wa so good for buddie.

Oooh, thank you for letting me know, Nonnie! If anyone has a link to this interview, I would love to read it. It also might sound weird, but I didn't think Tim's interview about Buddie was that bad. I might be wrong, but IMO he tried to keep things so vague that I suspect he ended up sounding more anti-Buddie than he meant to, I think he was trying to keep the door open without saying too much. Like that reference to Band of Brothers? Man, that show had a lot of people shipping those soldiers (I was one of them, yes). And this was back when fandom wasn't quite what it is today... Tim's been around enough, he must know about that. So my eyes actually grew bigger when I saw that reference... Thank you again, Nonnie! xoxox

Ooooookay the way Eddie was speaking and his facial expressions and mannerisms in that final scene.... FEELINGS REALIZED. Am I right?????? Sir you just gave this man your child. I am fully convinced Eddie knows and is pining away and we just have to wait for Buck to wrap his pretty lil head around it (and if that means trying things out with Taylor then fine BUT UGH)

LOL Nonnie, I absolutely love this ask! XD TBH, if we were talking about normal men, I would def think he knows. But we're talking about our morons, whose capacity for being oblivious has to be a world record of some kind, so who knows. Carla's words to Eddie def made me feel like he knew that he's with the wrong person, but has he managed to figure out who the right one is? Or is he still saying to himself, "Chris is my heart and I gave Chris to Buck, so that means I gave my... my friend a really nice reason to feel cheered up!" Like, the needle is on the record, the music is playing, it almost gets to the musical climax and then... a scratch noise and the needle bounces off. IDK, they both make me roll my eyes so hard (lovingly, but still). Taylor being around for s5 would give Eddie the perfect opportunity to finally figure it out if he hasn't yet. Because if he hasn't, you're right about everything in that scene, he's like a hair's breadth away from his feelings realization, he just needs the final push. Thank you for this ask, Nonnie! xoxox

Hi Alice!! I hope you’re well and I CANNOOOOOOT wait for your meta from the finale. I’m hoping you might do me a favour? If it’s not asking too much and you wouldn’t mind, would you please blog about it whenever the season 5 release date is announced? 🥺 I always miss the memo on these things and I’m not very active in the fandom but I have notifications set for your blog because I love to read your content so I know I wouldn’t miss it. If not that’s okay!! 💛

Awwww, Nonnie! This is incredibly sweet and you made my day much better! Thank you so much for the lovely compliment of having notifications set for my blog. I'm in awe and I wish I could hug you SO MUCH! I hope you enjoyed the 414 meta and thank you for being kind and wishing me well. I'll get there. Hopefully before my bday. XD And of course I'll blog about it for you! It would be my pleasure, lovely! I hope you're doing well, too! xoxox

(more ask replies soon... Sorry, like I said here, it's gonna take me a minute to get to them all, but I really appreciate them and please don't hesitate to send them in! xoxox)

[whateverthedragonswant]

Sooo I still have a few more rewatches to do before I break this down but damn were we fed well tonight!!!!

I don't lb because I don't want to get spoilers before I see it but so many reactions I had, this was awesome!!!!

Okay Resident Evil looking opening, cool, cool, cool

Missed opportunity of joke coming back “And you thought the zoo was safer” (someone mentioned this in a previous post, if I find it again, I'll link it)

The elephant pushing something over, refusing to be ignored...yep - universe is screaming

Buck is oddly pushy for Eddie to accept that meeting Ana’s family is serious & Eddie is oddly insistent that it’s not

More Maddie and Josh time, yes!!!!

Parallel #1: Eddie buying Christopher a new suit for the christening, last suit he had was for Shannon’s funeral

More Linda =D

Ah, Tim Minear is one of the ones who wrote this, interesting

Buck and Eddie synchronicity in water rescue again - emergency had to do with “left turn”, GPS messing up and sending in the wrong direction to where it sinks

Taylor is more concerned with work than she is about having sex with Buck

YES TO KAREN AND DAVID

Ransomware attack happening in Texas - hmm....

Denny and Harry!!!

I wish Athena didn’t have to see that jerk ever again

That fan club is disgusting, what idiots

DA is right because that’s exactly why the guy wants to do it

That whole suit store scene is cringe yet again, that whole “shh” thing made me flinch because it’s just so cringe (I did not cringe with Buck and Taylor at all) - love how Eddie basically confirms what Buck said about Ana wanting to show him off “Let’s just try it with a tie” - then the whole “Let’s ask Mom” thing - right…I wish I could say I was surprised the increased heartbeat started right after that and then the whole collapse

Four months time frame, interesting

“Repression” !!!!! A cardiologist saying this about Eddie - TIM I JUST WANT TO TALK!!!

Eddie denying the doctor’s diagnosis, looking to Ana twice who says nothing one way or the other, it’s only Christopher that speaks up

Okay thank God that was a dream Athena had, I got so worried for her =(

Bobby teaching Harry to cook is so freaking cute

I seriously want to hit this guy (the rapist) with my car, repeatedly

OMG why is the DA not objecting??? How is that relevant????

Judge that should be stricken from the record!!!! LET ME IN TV SCREEN, LET ME IN!!!! IF THIS DA CAN’T DO HIS JOB, I WILL!!!! ATHENA, I’M COMING!!!! *smacks into screen* DAMMIT

Sue in a leadership role in ATC interesting - LTY226 hmmm…

Oh thank God, the ATC scene made me so freaking nervous

Not surprising Eddie starts to feel woozy seeing Nick have a heart attack

25 million hmmm….

Oh shit here we go, I wondered how this would affect the jails

OH DAMMIT, COME ON!! How did he get away???? - well now we know why we got the summary we did for 5x03, shit

Holy shit, I’m just waiting for Eddie to step up and say “I told you Hildy was the enemy!” Holy crap if he was anxious before, he definitely will be now

Oh Eddie keeping the panic attack secret from Buck….oh Eddie

Omg I hope they move the survivors somewhere safe

“In a heartbeat” - 3 heart attacks, cardiologist, a heart being delivered (I think that’s what they said), hmm…Eddie thinking he might have a heart attack (meaning it’s not the real deal, happening with Ana with him and Christopher, and she remains quiet when Eddie looks over to her, doesn’t speak up at his look, um hmm) - can they make this anymore obvious?

Go get him, Buck! It seems like Protective!Buck may actually be a thing, I’m here for it

These girls are so freaking creepy

“Retrograde”, nice!!!

NO!!!!!!!!!! Son of a….I knew it had to be too easy, dammit, that poor detective

Okay, have no idea what's happening next week but can't wait to see the helicopter scene and eventually the protective!Buck scene with the zoo animals - holy hell what a ride so far!

[roman-writing]

bring home a haunting (2/12)

Fandom: The Haunting of Bly Manor

Pairing: Dani Clayton/Jamie Taylor

Rating: M

Wordcount: 16,092

Summary: Dani almost has her life together, when a familiar face arrives back in town after ten years. A childhood friends AU written with @youngbloodbuzz

read it below or read it on AO3 here

Danielle had never meant to delve into the habit of eavesdropping. She didn’t particularly like it, knowing it was a rude practice, but one developed out of necessity. It was a risk, sitting near the top of the stairs with an empty glass in hand, overhearing her mom’s daily phone gossip. If her mom were to step out of the living room and see Danielle there, she wouldn’t be happy at all. But after nearly a year of cold shoulders and being kept in the dark, there was a strange comfort in hearing the ongoings of their small town. 

There was a new family in North Liberty. A woman and a young girl her age, spotted moving into one of those old houses by the decommissioned train tracks. And it was without a doubt the most exciting thing to happen in decades. 

“And they’re British too?” her mom said with a small gasp. “How exotic. God, if only it were a man. The Lord knows I’ve been sick and tired of the men in this town, it’d be so refreshing to meet someone new and distinguished.”

Danielle twisted her mouth when her mom laughed. All she had wanted was another glass of orange juice and a sandwich, her stomach growling uncomfortably, but the news of a new girl at school was too intriguing. This though — the discomforting reminder of the revolving door of strange men knocking on their door to take her mom out on dates well into the night until Danielle couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer as she waited for her to return — it left her curling up into herself as her stomach twisted tight.

She didn’t like those nights. She didn’t like having to carefully peek open mom’s bedroom door to see if she was back, biting at her nails, only to find Karen asleep on the living room couch, smelling strongly of smoke and alcohol, still dressed in her nice clothes from the night before. It was almost as if dad never had existed at all. It left a rotten feeling in her stomach that she never knew what to do with except to drape a blanket over her mom’s sleeping form and help herself to some breakfast. 

But it was the smoke now that enticed her back into action, thin ropey entrails floating from the living room upstairs towards her. She winced and choked down a cough, and considered for a moment whether it was worth sticking around to make herself a late lunch, or sneaking out to the O’Mara’s across the street and trouble Judy for something more filling. 

By next week, on the first day of school, everyone seemed to know. 

Her mom had dropped her off nearly an hour early, flustered and late for work with a sharp grit to her teeth, leaving Danielle to sit alone on a bench by the playground. With the late August sun hot on her back and shoulders as she waited, head buried in a book, she had ample opportunity to observe the rippling wave of gossip underlying the happy reunions and chatter as other kids piled into the schoolyard. 

A familiar beige car rolled up to the curb and Danielle sat up straighter. From this distance, she could spot a pile of boys scrambling out of the car with half-hearted waves of goodbye. When the car remained idling on the curb as the boys made their way into the yard, something tugged at Danielle to stand, to rush over and say her hellos and receive her well wishes. Just as soon as the thought emerged, the car slowly took off down the street. 

Carson was the first to spot her, his arm waving so enthusiastically that it shook his small frame. She laughed and waved back. Eddie followed suit, his round glasses flaring in the sunlight as he started toward her mid-wave. The other two, the twins David and Tommy — older than the rest and already towering over them in both stature and something they claimed to be emotional maturity — merely raised their hands before wandering off into the crowd of kids. Danielle refrained from rolling her eyes, but only just. 

“Have you seen her yet?” Eddie asked in lieu of greeting. 

Danielle shrugged. “No. We don’t even know what she looks like.”

“How hard could it be?” He said, bouncing on his toes with his hands clutching the strap of his new satchel as he keenly scanned the horizon of the crowded schoolyard. “We know what everyone else looks like, right?”

“Do you think she speaks funny?” Carson asked, hovering just behind Eddie. 

Eddie spun around and sighed, as if just now noticing that his baby brother had followed him. “Why would she speak funny? She’s British, not an alien.”

Carson shrugged before turning a smile towards Danielle, and said, “Hi.”

“Hi, Carson,” Danielle said, patting the space next to her on the bench. “You wanna sit with me?”

Carson’s eyes lit up and he scrambled to sit with an eager grin. 

“Danielle,” Eddie hissed with a displeased frown when she caught his eye. She offered him a weak grin and a shrug. He looked to his brother and said, “Carson, don’t you have friends?”

Carson shrugged with a non-committal hum, not meeting either of their gazes. “Yeah. Lots.”

“Why don’t you go hang out with them before school starts, then?”

“But Danielle is my friend too.”

Danielle bumped her shoulder with his, matching his wide grin. 

Eddie huffed, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Fine.”

As it turned out, they didn’t have to wait long to lay eyes on the already infamous new girl. Homeroom was buzzing when Danielle found her seat in the middle of the room. Whispered wishes of hoping she’d be in their class that year. Witness remarks of catching sight of the girl as she was escorted into a side door by the principal, colorfully narrated in between questions on if she was actually as pretty as they said; the answer had been an unflattering snort. Danielle buried her nose back in her book, even as Eddie in the seat next to her twisted away towards the gossip. 

By the time the bell finally rang to start the new year, there was still a hum of restless energy as everyone quieted down and their teacher, Mrs. Walker, introduced herself to the class and took attendance. But a knock on the door, a sharp staccato, both promising and sudden, made the class erupt again into whispers and laughter. Without looking, Eddie reached out over the aisle and rapidly tapped at Danielle's arm. Caught up in the energy of the room, she grinned and pushed his hand away. Just as abruptly as sound had erupted in the room, it was just as quick to cease.

A drop of a pin could be heard as Principal Davis escorted a young girl into the room with a hand on her shoulder. It were as if all the air in the room had been sucked out by way of twenty-odd kids holding their breath in anticipation. Danielle leaned forward in her desk, unable to help herself, biting at her nail. She zeroed on the new girl, and tilted her head curiously at what she saw.

She was smaller than Danielle had imagined. Petite and hunched over, as if curling up on herself with her hands stuffed firmly and stiffly in the pockets of blue overalls that seemed a size too small for her. Long brown hair strung over one shoulder in a braid and eyes stared a hole into the linoleum floor with a firm frown. 

Danielle blinked, and thought with a surprising clarity, she was pretty. 

“Good morning, everyone,” Principal Davis said, guiding the girl directly to the front of the room and staring firmly down his nose at them. “As I’m sure you’re all well aware by now, we have a new student.”

Tearing her gaze from the girl, Danielle risked a glance around the room. No one uttered a word, all of them transfixed. 

Principal Davis continued. “I expect you all to show her your utmost hospitality, and welcome her to our school and town. Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Danielle murmured along with the rest of the class.

He smiled in that unpleasant way of his. “Good,” he said, and nodded towards Mrs. Walker before showing himself out. 

The sound of the door shutting echoed loud in the once again dead silent room. Danielle’s eyes strayed to the girl again, knitting her brows as the girl stood tense and alone at the front, shifting on her feet. 

“Well,” Mrs. Walker finally said, voice uncomfortably loud in the unusual quiet. “Why don’t you tell us your name, sweetheart?” The girl’s eyes flickered around the floor as she twisted her mouth, looking almost hesitant. “Go on. We’ve all been waiting to meet you.”

“Name's Jamie,” she said, eyes remaining firmly to the floor.

“Jamie…?”

“Jamie Taylor.”

Snickers and hushed giggles spread across the room, along with a loud whisper. “Isn’t that a boy's name?” 

“Quiet,” Mrs. Walker drawled with a stern stare. When the noise died down again, she turned back to Jamie with a smile that seemed too saccharine. “Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?”

Danielle frowned at Mrs. Walker, sparing another glance towards an increasingly tense Jamie. Surely, Mrs. Walker could see Jamie was uncomfortable, even Danielle could see that, suddenly all too aware of the anxious twisting of her own stomach as she watched Jamie stew silently. 

She didn’t know Mrs. Walker very well — just as much as any other kid in the room — but Tommy and David had once told her and Eddie that she had given another boy detention for yawning obnoxiously loud. So naturally, Danielle planned on being on her best behavior for the entire school year. 

“Well?” Mrs. Walker said, quirking an impatient eyebrow. 

Jamie shrugged. “What’s there to say?”

“Anything,” Mrs Walker said. “Tell us three things.”

When it became clear that Mrs. Walker wasn’t going to let her leave, wasn’t going to let her sit and hide away from being showcased like a prize animal at the state fair, Jamie finally cracked and rolled her eyes. 

“Fine. M’ten years old, I’m from Lancashire, and I hate the Beatles. Can I sit now?” She said it in one long rush of breath, rough and sharp all at once. 

Mrs. Walker’s mouth thinned, and after a brief tense silence, she finally relented with a sigh. “Yes, you may,” she said and gestured towards the class. “Sit behind Danielle. There’s a seat there for you.”

Danielle straightened at the sound of her name, and suddenly all eyes were on her. She struggled not to shrink down in her seat as a round of snickers made its way around the room again, and Jamie’s eyes finally lifted from the floor for the first time and darted towards Danielle’s direction. For one brief moment, their eyes met and Danielle almost made the stupid mistake of lifting her hand in an awkward wave. Instead, her mouth curled in what she hoped was something close to a sympathetic smile and not a grimace. 

Jamie blinked for a moment before returning her gaze back to the floor, her jaw hard-set as she stiffly and swiftly strode down the aisle to the desk behind Danielle, roughly settling into her seat with a loud screech of the chair against the floor. Wincing at the sound, Danielle somehow refrained from turning around and offering another smile. As Mrs. Walker finally resumed her syllabus introductions, the low exhale behind her was telling enough. 

Another day maybe, Danielle thought. Another time.

 --

The first week back went by in a similar fashion. Almost worse now that the student body had finally seen Jamie and decided she was some grand celebrity. The rumor mill churned steadily, and much to Danielle’s silent horror, continued to spew more outlandish things that she’d never repeat in polite company. The novelty of the new girl, as it were, hadn’t worn off yet. 

After a few weeks into the school year, somehow, throughout all of it, against all good reason, Jamie remained as silent as she’d been on that first day, barely saying a word unless called upon. Danielle still offered Jamie a quick smile when she would arrive to class each morning, briefly catching her eye on the way to her seat. But instead of smiling back, or showing any signs of acknowledgment at all, Jamie would duck her head and take her seat without a word. 

But when it came to recess and lunch, Danielle would usually spy her sprinting at top speed across the grounds to disappear around the corner or inside the school, followed by a small group of students a good distance behind her, jeering as they went. 

“Why are they chasing her?” Carson asked one day after such an event, sliding next to Danielle where she and Eddie sat on the ground against the brick walls of the school. 

“Chasing who?” Eddie muttered, head buried in a thick tome that said Lord of the Rings on the front. 

“Jamie,” Danielle replied, her own book held, forgotten, in her hands as she stared with a frown in the direction the group went. 

Eddie shrugged. “They’re probably playing, or something.”

“It didn’t look like she was playing,” Carson said, unconvinced. “Shouldn’t we tell someone?”

A part of Danielle was inclined to agree, but Eddie finally pulled his attention away from his book to give his brother a troubled frown. 

“You shouldn’t get involved with things like that,” he said. 

“But —” 

“It’s none of our business,” Eddie interrupted with finality in his voice, and shrugged again. “She seems like trouble anyways. Kyle said she called Jackie 'a daft cow' and stomped on her foot before running away the other day.”

Danielle had to bite her lip to refrain from laughing as Carson’s face twisted in bewilderment. “What does that even mean?” he asked.

“I don’t know. She’s weird. Just stay away and don’t get involved,” Eddie said, and stared at them both long enough for them to nod in agreement before returning to his book as if that was the end of it, satisfied with the outcome of setting things straight.

Danielle met Carson’s gaze and the pair shrugged in tandem. While Danielle still felt unsettled, Carson seemed mollified at Eddie’s guidance, and he reached into his lunch bag to pull out ziploc bags. 

“Mom packed you some snacks again,” he said, holding it out to Danielle.

Warmed to her bones, thoughts of Jamie briefly forgotten, she gratefully took the bags. "Thanks."

"Do you want to come over for dinner again?" 

Hearing that, Eddie's eyes jerked up from his book, and he looked at Danielle with an encouraging nod.

Danielle's hand froze in the bag, midway through fishing out a handful of cashews. The urge to accept the offer was overwhelming. The alternative was making herself a cold, barely palatable dinner and waiting for her mom to stumble home after dark. But it was the end of a week, the most likely time for her mom to go out and come back well into the night, needing someone to lock the doors and put out spare cigarettes littering the house.

In the end, she shook her head. "Sorry. I need to be home for dinner tonight. How about tomorrow?"

Eddie and Carson gave her near identical smiles. "Yeah," said Carson. "Tomorrow!"

 --

Out of all of her classes, Danielle hated gym more than anything. 

They were starting track and field this week. Warm up laps were already an absolute nightmare, and track meant constant running, constant movement, and zero opportunity for Danielle to find an excuse to hang back, to huddle in a corner, to rest for the duration of sitting out her turn, or hide from Mr. Roberts’ disapproving eyes. 

“Hurry it up, Danielle, you’re lagging,” Mr. Roberts said after her first lap around the clay track outside, his arms folded around his lanky frame. 

If Danielle had any energy or gumption left, she would have glared half-heartedly at him. Instead, she was distracted by the hot glare of the sun bearing down on her back, and more importantly, the burning in her chest. For more years than she could count, she’d lived with the inability to run long enough without her lungs burning with every struggling inhalation. Spring came with the annual occurrence of a cough that rattled her lungs for weeks, and the thick smoke of her mom’s cigarettes inhabited every room of the house until every breath Danielle took wheezed to the point where it was difficult to sleep. 

By a lap and a half, Danielle was already exhausted and red from the effort. She steadily ignored the beat of her classmates' footsteps as some of them already began to overlap her, focusing on just trying to breathe. It was difficult to not notice how Jamie was already ahead of the pack, jogging steadily with little effort as she and a few of their classmates pulled farther and farther ahead. Danielle scowled enviously after them, trying not to wince at the growing pain in her chest. 

Eddie came up to her next, shooting her a concerned look. He had kept pace with her at first, a quiet steady company by her side to suffer through Mr. Roberts’ relentless drills and heckling, but Kyle had egged him on into a race of who could run the fastest lap, and off he went, leaving her in the dust as if he had suddenly forgotten how much she hated track. She had scowled after him too. 

Now, she tried to smile, feeling it come across as a grimace. 

He slowed to match her pace, and asked in between breaths, “You okay?” 

“Yeah,” she lied, the words sending a sharp pain from her lungs up to her throat. She slowed, wincing and pressing a hand to her chest. 

Eddie slowed with her until they were walking along the track. “You should get some water,” he said, pulling her to a stop with a hand on her arm. 

She winced again and dared to shoot a short glance over towards Mr. Roberts, who was scowling at them. “Keep moving, or you get an extra lap!” Mr. Roberts called across the field. 

With a pained huff, Danielle and Eddie resumed walking. 

“Seriously, you should get some water,” Eddie said, wiping the sweat from his face with the sleeve of his t-shirt. Danielle twisted her mouth with apprehension. “It’s not like it’s illegal.”

Try telling him that, Danielle wanted to say, but even the thought of speaking in between heaving breaths kept her quiet. She briefly considered asking Eddie to come with her. Even if Mr. Roberts allowed only one of them a visit to the drinking fountain, at least she would have Eddie by her side to split his ire.

“Go on,” Eddie said, nudging her with a grin.

“Hey, Eddie! You better hurry it up if you don’t wanna lose!” Kyle taunted as he jogged passed them with a group of others. 

Danielle watched them pass by. She tightly crossed her arms, and in that same moment, her eyes briefly met Jamie’s as she overlapped them again, head turned to glance back at Danielle with a blank expression before turning and picking up the pace. 

Gritting her teeth, her cheeks burning, Danielle left Eddie on the track with one last weak smile and crossed the field towards Mr. Roberts with her fists held tightly to her sides and every breath a struggle. At her request for a water break, Mr. Roberts mouth twisted in more disappointment than he probably had any right to feel and nodded with a jerk of his head back towards the school. 

She didn't get very far. The burning sensation in her chest tightened until it abruptly felt like she was drowning on air. The thought was so alarming that a cold sweat broke out on her skin and she leaned heavily against the wall; her breath started coming in faster and her hands began to shake. She wished the pain and pressure in her chest would stop. She wished Eddie had stuck with her instead of leaving her alone. She wished she had stopped running sooner and stuck up for herself. She wished she could call her mom. She wished she didn’t feel like she was currently dying —

“You all right?”

The voice shocked her back into her body, blinking her eyes open that she didn’t even realize she had closed. The sight of skinny legs with scabbed over knees greeted her as she swallowed past the lump in her throat and the next panicked and pained breath. Danielle looked up from where she had unknowingly slid to the ground to see the newly recognizable form of Jamie standing a few feet from her, wearing an expression of hesitant concern. 

Humiliation crashed into her like a flash flood. Perfect. The first opportunity to speak with Jamie, and Danielle was curled up on the ground, red faced and having some freak out episode. Pressing her eyes shut, Danielle nodded and folded her arms across her knees where she promptly buried her face, telling herself that maybe if she hid here long enough, Jamie would go on her way and leave her alone. And with any luck and any sense of kindness, she would keep this moment to herself. 

It was quiet for a moment, beyond the sound of Danielle’s wheezing breath, until finally she could hear the sound of Jamie’s shoes on gravel. Rather than moving away, they slowly moved closer until Danielle could hear the ruffle of clothing.

“Is it Roberts, then?” Jamie finally said, her voice measured and calm in a way Danielle wished she felt herself. When she shrugged in response, Jamie huffed. “Prat. He’s gonna blow out someone’s ears with all his whistling one day, I swear. Though, I reckon you could give him a run for his money with the way you’ve been wheezing about.”

The laugh that erupted from Danielle was so sudden, that she pulled her face away from her arms from the force of it. After hesitating for a moment, she finally pulled her eyes up to find that Jamie was crouched in front of her, wearing a pleased grin. Slowly, the corners of Danielle’s mouth flickered into a frail smile, a hand moving to press gently against her chest as it slowly became easier to breathe.

A glint appeared in Jamie’s eyes. “Want me to have to have a go at him?”

Danielle’s eyebrows furrowed. “A go?”

“Y’know, beat him up.” At Danielle’s wide eyes, Jamie’s grin was wolfish and entirely too mischievous. “Could do us all some good I think.”

“You - you’d get in trouble,” Danielle said. “You could get hurt.”

Jamie shrugged. “Bet I could take him. He’d fall over the second I’d try to tackle him.”

At the image of a small skinny Jamie football tackling Mr. Roberts with ease, Danielle giggled breathlessly. At the sound, Jamie grinned again, looking almost surprised. 

“Thank you, but no,” Danielle said finally. 

“Suit yourself,” Jamie said, pushing herself to her feet and calmly looked Danielle over, her head tilted to one side. “You all good, then?”

Danielle took a moment to take stock, to inhale deeply. It was easier now, the moment of rest and the distraction of Jamie making her laugh having helped, but it still hurt, a dull ache like the embers of a dying fire. More than anything, all Danielle felt now was an acute sense of exhaustion. 

When she nodded, Jamie held out her hand. For someone who had been running for the past half-hour, Jamie’s hand was warm and dry when she grasped it and was gently pulled up from the ground. 

“Let’s get some water, yeah? This heat is a nightmare.”

“Is it different? Back in England?” Danielle asked as they made their way to the drinking fountain further along the building.

Jamie winced up at the unwavering glare of the sun overhead, and said, “Definitely didn’t feel like I wanted to crawl out of my own skin.”

The trip to the drinking fountain was short, mostly in fear of Mr. Roberts wrath after having already taken so long, regardless of Jamie’s courageous claims of winning in a fight. It was short, but it was still long enough for Danielle to get a sense of this more open and expressive Jamie who gulped down water for nearly a minute straight before splashing it all over her face and hair. This Jamie who leaned against the wall, patiently waiting as Danielle took slow careful sips and chuckled when she followed Jamie’s example and splashed her own face with a shock of cold water. 

Jamie walked back towards the field without another word of what had transpired, and playfully flicked the remaining water on her hands at Danielle’s face with a smile. At Danielle’s flinch and glare, she laughed and said, “Chin up! It’s almost over.” 

When Danielle smiled, shy and charmed, Jamie winked before jogging back onto the tracks. Watching her go, she decided then and there that she liked Jamie immensely. 

 --

It was a few days later during lunch when once again Danielle caught sight of Jamie sprinting across the grounds like her life depended on it. The small group of four or five chasing her was relentless, not having been the first time Danielle’s spotted them on the hunt. But Jamie was fast, faster than most kids in their grade. It wasn’t like the steady jog she kept up during gym glass, this kind of running was arms pumping and feet pounding, as if she learned how to move that fast from years of experience. The only difference this time was that Jamie was yelling back at them.

“Piss off you fucking wankers!” She shouted behind her as she sped past, the group hot on her tail, jeering and laughing. 

Any other day maybe, if Jamie had never spoken to her, Danielle’s eyes would have widened at the curse flowing freely from her mouth, but today her stomach sank like lead as Jamie disappeared around the corner, away from the watchful eyes of supervising teachers. 

Carson and Eddie’s head shot up at the shout, distracted from their game of marbles Danielle had been observing. 

“What’s...a wanker?” Carson slowly asked.

Eddie’s mouth thinned. “I don’t know, but I don’t think you should say it. Especially not around mom.”

As the group followed Jamie around the corner, Danielle’s eyes darted around for any nearby teachers to find none. At the sound of laughter coming from that same direction, panic and worry swelled within her chest, followed by the feeling of swift indignation and an anger that caught in the back of her throat. Before she knew what she was doing, Danielle shot up to her feet, her hands balled into fists. 

Eddie blinked up at her in surprise, and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Someone should do something,” she said.

“Like what?” Eddie sounded so incredulous that Danielle rolled her eyes. “It’s none of our business.”

“Well, I’m making it my business.”

Carson stood up next to her, his face wary but determined. “Should I get a teacher?”

Danielle paused. Getting a teacher had been her first option as well in the midst of her helplessness at the situation, but then she remembered Jamie’s hunched figure at the front of the class, shying away from the principal’s hand on her shoulder, looking for all the world like she would rather be anywhere than at the center of attention. 

“Let’s -” Danielle swallowed heavily. “Let’s check it out first, and then I’ll let you know.”

More serious than she’d ever seen him, Carson nodded and pulled his shoulders back as if that might make him look taller. She spared him one last brief tense smile before starting towards the sound of laughter and yelling around the corner, knowing he’d be following right behind her. 

“Hey! Wait!” Eddie called after them, panicked. “Danielle!”

She did not stop. Instead, she rounded the corner towards the small group crowded around one of the school dumpsters at the end of an alley, only to come to an abrupt stop at the sound of their voices.

“Isn’t that the same shirt you wore yesterday? Don’t you have any clothes?”

“It’s called laundry, you twat,” Jamie shot back, her voice seething. 

“I bet you clean them by the river. Is it true that people who live by the old tracks can’t even afford electricity?” 

“Ew, the river? How backwards do you have to be to clean your clothes there? How do you not reek?”

“Do you remember that scar on her arm the other day? My cousin Charlie said you only get scars like that from cigarette burns.”

“You mean the time you pinned me down and stole my lunch money, sure I remember,” Jamie snarled. 

“Wait, I didn't see it, I wanna see it.”

“Come near me again, and I swear to god I'll bash your fuckin' head in this time.”

Beneath the dark promise of Jamie’s words, there was a sense of panic underlying them that Danielle recognized after spending so many years in the O’Mara household when roughhousing became more than what the younger members of the family could handle. 

“Danielle…” Carson murmured, his voice worried as he tugged on her shirt. 

“Wait here,” she replied, and with her heartbeat rushing through her ears and a storm of indignant fire in her chest, Danielle started towards the commotion. 

The group of kids didn’t part easily, but Danielle was far beyond being polite at this point. She roughly pushed her way forward, ignoring the disgruntled sounds behind her until her eyes finally landed on Jamie, backed into a corner in between the brick wall and the green dumpster, her jaw squared and shoulders hunched, holding herself so tightly coiled that the only noticeable movement she made were her shallow breaths, the trembling of her fists, and piercing eyes that darted around at each face before her. 

When Jamie’s panicked gaze — somehow darker against the furious red flush across her cheeks — eventually landed on Danielle, she blinked. The muscles of Jamie’s jaw stood out as she clenched her teeth, exhaling slowly, as if steeling herself for a physical blow. It made Danielle pause. Sparing her one last look of concern, Danielle spun around. She was met with a collection of stares ranging from bafflement, to annoyed, to faintly amused.

“What’s going on?” Danielle said, bracing her hands against her hips. 

The boy nearest to her, Sterling, shrugged. “Just trying to get to know the new girl.”

“It didn’t seem like that’s what you were doing,” she said.

Jackie, standing just behind him, rolled her eyes and sighed. “We were just having some fun. What’s the big deal?”

Out of nowhere, Carson popped up right next to Danielle. “It didn’t look like she was having fun,” he said. 

Sterling snorted. “What would you know, dork? Aren’t you, like, seven?”

“I’m eight, so shut up!” Carson insisted hotly, his face flushed.

Sending Sterling a glare, Danielle didn’t notice Eddie finally arriving until he was pushing past the group. “Carson!” He hissed, rushing forward to pull a grumbling Carson back to stand near the edge of the crowd, away from the center of conflict. At the sudden movement, almost everyone turned to stare at him. He seemed to shrink away from their gazes, his eyes darting around. Meanwhile, Carson glowered.

“I think you should leave Jamie alone now,” Danielle said, calling their attention back towards her, straightening her shoulders and raising her chin. “She hasn’t done anything wrong, and you’ve already made your point anyways.”

“Aw, is the perfect golden girl actually sticking up for poor little orphan Jamie?” Jackie taunted with a smirk and tilt of her head, blonde hair glinting in the sun. 

Heat spread across Danielle’s cheeks as there was an audible growl from behind her. “Oh, I’ll show you little orphan, Pullman,” Jamie said darkly.

Danielle shot her a look so firm that Jamie jerked to a halt, glowering and breathing hard, before huffing and looking down to burn a hole in the ground. When Danielle was sure Jamie wasn’t about to make any sudden movements, she turned to face her classmates again and folded her arms tight across her chest.

“I think you should go now,” she said. 

“Or what?” Sterling asked, mirroring Danielle and crossing his arms. 

She worried her bottom lip for a moment, considering. Eddie, who had by now pushed Carson a little more behind him, stared at her. “Danielle,” he muttered, his eyes flickering around. 

He looked so anxious, so much like he wanted to grab Carson by the arm and run away, but Danielle knew he wouldn’t, that he’d never leave her to face the wolves alone. A pang of guilt struck her, knowing that this was exactly what Eddie had wanted to avoid. They had silently agreed to it, to keep their heads down after surviving their own fair share of ridicule over the years. To keep Carson out of harm's way, and yet, here Danielle was, dragging them right into the middle of it as if she’d lost all her senses. 

Another boy named Roger that she only vaguely knew due to an infamous fighting spree a year ago laughed. “What are you gonna do about it? Stare at us to death?” he said with a cruel smirk, taking a step forward.

Danielle’s heart was pounding in her chest like she had run a mile, and played her trump card. “If-if you try to bother any of us again, I’ll tell Tommy and David.”

At the mention of the elder O’Mara twins, older and bigger than any of them, many of her classmates visibly blanched and shrank back. 

Danielle held her breath. While Tommy and David had no qualms with wrestling around with each other and their younger brothers, they had once retaliated so swiftly and succinctly the last time Eddie had crossed hairs with some boys who had shoved his head in a toilet, that there had never been a repeated incident. Danielle only just happened to be an extension of that protection, being glued to Eddie’s hip for so many years. The closest Danielle could say that Tommy and David’s protective streak reached out to her had been two years ago when a boy had pushed her off the monkey bars at the local park. They had chased him two blocks down the street, and returned completely windswept, shrugging when she shyly thanked them, like there was more fun to be had in the chase than defending their little brother’s best friend.

“Yeah, they’ll beat you up!” Carson shouted.

“Shut up,” Eddie muttered, elbowing Carson in the ribs.

Jackie scoffed. “Whatever. I’m bored now anyways,” she said, and began retreating.

A few kids had already begun backtracking towards the main school yard, but at the first sign of Jackie backing down, they all began to shuffle away until all that remained was Roger, who sneered down his nose at Danielle.

Sterling and Jackie lingered by the end of the alley. “Come on, Roger,” Sterling called.

With one last smirk over Danielle’s shoulder towards Jamie, he sauntered away. 

“Bye, Jamie,” Jackie drawled with one last taunting wave and snort, and finally they were gone. 

An exhale escaped from her nose, long and trembling. Her jaw ached from how hard she had been clenching her teeth, and her shoulders finally relaxed from the tense hunched position she hadn’t realized she’d been holding that entire time. 

“Woah,” Carson said, awe in his voice. "That was amazing.”

“Was it?” Eddie said, grimacing. “I think I’m gonna puke.”

Carson made a face and promptly jumped away in case Eddie did just that. 

Turning, Danielle faced Jamie. She frowned in concern, glancing her over for any signs of bruises or scrapes. “Are you okay?”

For a long moment, Jamie didn’t answer, meeting Danielle’s gaze with wide eyes just this side of wild. “M’fine,” she said finally in between gritted teeth, gaze darting back down to the ground. “I was handling it.”

Danielle almost reared back at the caustic tone, blinking in confusion.

“Didn’t seem like it,” Eddie muttered. 

Danielle opened her mouth to tell him off, but stopped when a sizable rock dropped from Jamie’s shaking fist onto the ground. She eyed the rock for a moment, her brow furrowed deeply, before looking up at Jamie with unease. Jamie was still flushed red, eyes no longer panicked but still the center of a vicious storm as she was visibly shaking all over now. She wrapped her arms around torso, coiling tight around herself as if it would stop the trembling. 

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Danielle asked slowly. 

“Said I was, didn’t I,” Jamie said. 

Danielle frowned, but when she took a step forward with an outstretched hand, Jamie jerked away as if stung. Danielle froze.

When the silence stretched too long, Carson stepped next to Danielle. “I’m Carson by the way, and that’s Eddie, my older brother,” he said softly. “Do you want to sit with us for the rest of lunch?”

Jamie shook her head. “I’m good.” When there was no other response forthcoming in the awkward quiet, Jamie nodded to herself. “Right then,” she said softly, and marched off past Danielle without another word or glance back, disappearing around the corner of the school building.

Danielle felt her face fall as she watched her go and tried to swallow down her disappointment in the form of a thick lump in her throat. 

“Maybe I should’ve offered her some snacks.” Carson said softly, fidgeting with his hands. 

Eddie rolled his eyes, and said, “It’s not worth it, Carson.”

Wrapping her arms around her stomach, Danielle felt herself nodding distantly as she bit her lip, though she wasn’t sure if that statement was true or not. 

 --

Danielle didn’t really know what she had been expecting. Another day passed of her stomach sinking as Jamie continued to refuse to acknowledge Danielle’s daily morning smile. Maybe a part of her had hoped for something. She just wasn’t sure what. 

At least the bullying had stopped, as far as she could tell. She no longer spotted Jamie being chased about or harassed, but there still lingered a tension in the air, as if a penny was waiting to drop. Of who might be the first to risk Danielle’s proclamation of protection. When Tommy and David had heard wind of it and confronted her after dinner at their house one evening, she had put on her best doe eyes and promised to never do it again if they were to just help keep an eye on Jamie. Just for a little while. They had rolled their eyes and shrugged, surly but acquiescing in that big brother way. It was more than Danielle could’ve hoped for, and she went home that evening relieved and pleased as punch. 

Gym class turned out to be an outlier. For all her cool gazes and apathetic slouch throughout the day, in gym class Jamie lingered. During laps, instead of taking off ahead of the class, Jamie jogged at a steady slow pace just a little ahead of Danielle, letting everyone easily overlap her. When it became clear that Danielle needed to stop and rest, wheezing audibly, Jamie would take one glance at her and collapse on the grass, splaying out on her back where inevitably Mr. Roberts’ ire would skyrocket, giving Danielle the opportunity to sneak away for water without much issue. Jamie would shrug and smirk in the direction of his red face and take her extra laps without complaint. 

When they moved on to other field sports that didn’t involve running, Jamie would loiter. Arms loosely crossed just a few feet away, indifferent and visibly bored, but Danielle would always still feel her watching closely as she attempted a long jump or a shot put toss, frowning with a twist of her mouth. It always made her stomach tighten and her cheeks flush from embarrassment at her inevitably poor attempts at athleticism. Whenever Mr. Roberts took aim with criticism, Danielle would always turn around to find Jamie glowering darkly at him. Every time, it was as if Danielle could see the wheels turning in Jamie’s head, as if she were genuinely considering football tackling the man. 

By the next week, things remained the same with the exception that Danielle had finally admitted to her mom of her now daily episodes. She was promised a visit to the doctors soon to the sound of her mom’s sigh and a haphazard pat to her cheek. It was scheduled just a little after lunch on a Tuesday, but as lunch came and went, Danielle had completely forgotten about it, because Jamie hadn’t returned to class.

A ball of worry formed in Danielle’s stomach. Maybe Jamie was sick, or maybe she also had a doctor’s appointment. Whatever it was, she tried not to think too much about it, biting at her thumbnail as Mrs. Walker droned on in the background. Even so, she wouldn’t have had time anyways, because soon after lunch, she was called down to the school office. 

It wasn’t a place she ventured too often. If there was one thing Danielle was proud of, it was her impeccable record and her grades. When she arrived and greeted the receptionist, Ms. Reeves with a timid hello, the woman smiled kindly at her and carefully explained that Danielle’s mother had called, citing that she’d be unable to pick her up from school for her doctor’s visit.

“Oh,” Danielle murmured, feeling a sharp ache in her chest. “What about my appointment? Did she say anything about it?”

Ms. Reeves nodded. “She said that she rescheduled for sometime later this week. Is that all, sweetheart?”

Danielle pressed her mouth into a thin line and frowned. The ache in her chest grew, but she swallowed down her disappointment and finally nodded. 

Ms. Reeves smiled kindly again, sending her off with a gesture of her hand before busying herself with another phone call. Danielle hesitated, wanting for a desperate moment to ask if someone else could take her, knowing that if she was able to call Judy, she would agree immediately. Worrying at her lower lip, Danielle pulled away from Ms. Reeves' desk with her hands balled into fists by her sides. She turned to leave the office but jerked to a stop when her eyes landed on none other than Jamie, staring directly at her. She was sitting on the long bench along the wall near the principal’s office, slouched in her seat and holding up something to her face, hidden away in a corner. Danielle’s eyes went wide in the same moment as Jamie’s darted away. 

Risking a glance towards Ms. Reeves, who was still distracted by the phone, Danielle edged her way closer to Jamie. Jamie’s shoulders bunched up to her ears, scowling at nothing in particular, and Danielle could finally see that her knuckles were bruised red and purple. She held a ziploc bag with fast melting ice up to her cheek. 

Danielle swallowed heavily, her stomach twisting, and carefully she asked, “Are you okay?” 

Jamie shrugged. “Fine.”

Danielle looked her over, worrying again at her lower lip as she took in how absolutely miserable Jamie appeared. “What happened?” she asked, and then frowned, amending, “Who - uh - who did this to you?”

A long exhale escaped Jamie. She rolled her eyes and her expression settled into one of resignation. “Roger,” she muttered. “Jumped me in the stairwell. Fuckin’ tosser.”

With a quick glance around to see if anyone heard Jamie cursing, Danielle pressed her mouth into a thin line, and huffed. She was going to have to have an annoying conversation with Tommy and David in the future. 

Danielle wrapped her arms loosely around her stomach, shifting awkwardly on her feet. “What does ‘tosser’ mean?” she blurted out.

Arching a puzzled eyebrow, Jamie shrugged. “Dunno. Just means tosser.”

Danielle nodded, not knowing what else to say except for what she actually wanted to say. Taking in a steadying breath, she gingerly took a seat next to Jamie, eyeing her carefully, and finally said, “I’m sorry they’re so mean.”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Jamie said, not meeting her gaze, “I’m used to it.”

Danielle blinked at her. “But you shouldn’t have to be.”

Slowly, Jamie finally turned to meet her gaze, her eyes softening, and for the first time, appearing actually affected by Danielle’s words. But, as was expected by this point, Jamie's face shifted to indifference, hiding away whatever vulnerability Danielle managed to pull out of her.  

“S’alright,” Jamie said, then smirked, “You should see his face.”

Danielle was actually looking forward to it, but it still didn’t erase the fact that Jamie was also hurt, and now in the office, no doubt awaiting some kind of punishment. She glanced at Principal Davis’ closed door. 

“How bad is it?” Danielle asked, curious.

“Black and blue,” Jamie said with a proud smirk, and then abruptly frowned, flexing her right hand with a wince. “Got his nose pretty good too. That one hurt a bit.”

"Jamie Taylor!”

The pair jumped, startled at the sudden bellow of Jamie’s name. Even Ms. Reeves looked taken aback as they all looked towards the source of the sound where an old woman with silver struck red hair, imposing and livid, marched in with a cane in hand, and glowering directly at Jamie.

“Christ,” Jamie muttered under her breath, “Let’s get this over with, then.”

“What am I going to do with you?” The old woman said, standing before them. “Fighting at school? I’ll scalp your fuckin’ arse.”

“Nan,” Jamie whined. “I can explain, I — ”

“Not until I’m through with you,” Nan interrupted. “Imagine me picking up the phone at work to hear about this after all those promises.”

“Wasn’t my fault,” Jamie said, glowering and sinking in her seat.

“Aye, and I’m the Queen Mother,” Nan snapped. When Jamie only responded with a huff, Nan sighed and shook her head before looking down at Danielle with such shrewd eyes behind thick glasses, that she almost shrank back into her seat. She had an accent both like and unlike Jamie’s. More lyrical somehow. Every word held a burr. “And who’s this, then?”

As if suddenly remembering all her manners, Danielle shot to her feet and held out her hand with a polite smile, and said, “Hello, ma’am. My name is Danielle Clayton, and I’m Jamie’s new friend.”

Nan arched an eyebrow, staring at her for a moment before grasping her hand and giving it one hard shake. “New friend?” Nan said, giving Jamie a curious look who was looking up at Danielle with wide eyes. “Where’d you find one so polite?” 

Jamie shrugged, looking down at her lap with a petulant frown. 

“Might do you some good, finally. Stop you from getting into all these fights.“

“Ma’am?” Danielle started, hesitating briefly when Nan returned her piercing gaze to her. “I just wanted to say that it really wasn’t Jamie’s fault.”

“That right?”

Danielle fidgeted with her hands. “Yes. She was defending herself,” she said. “Kids here can be very mean.”

Nan stared at her for so long, Danielle almost thought that maybe she didn’t hear her, until finally she sighed and looked back at Jamie. “You and I are going to have a very long chat later.”

Still hiding her face, Jamie nodded silently, though she was visibly less tense than from moments before. Seemingly satisfied with Jamie’s response, Nan left them with a nod and marched over to Ms. Reeves’ desk. Danielle watched her go anxiously, avoiding looking at Jamie in fear that maybe she overstepped a line. 

“You’re not,” Jamie suddenly said.

A little startled by Jamie speaking without warning, Danielle faced her with a puzzled frown. “Not what?”

“You’re not mean,” Jamie said quietly, not looking at her. 

“Well, I sure hope not,” Danielle said, smiling when Jamie’s eyes flickered up to meet hers. Jamie smiled back, slowly as if unsure. 

Danielle returned to her seat. “So, how much trouble do you think you’re in?”

“Grounded for life, no doubt. Detention for a couple days too. Could be worse, I guess.” Jamie sighed, finally dropping the ziploc bag from her cheek where there remained some condensation moisture, revealing the dark bruise that spread across her cheekbone and underneath her eye. Jamie winced as she wiped away the wetness, and Danielle almost winced along with her. 

“I was wondering, when you’re not grounded anymore,” Danielle started slowly, briefly glancing down at her lap before catching Jamie’s eyes, “If you wanted to hang out after school. Away from all this.”

Slow like the sunrise, Jamie’s eyes brightened, a smile overtaking her face. “Really?” she said, and at Danielle’s nod, she chuckled breathlessly, “Okay, yeah. You could come to my place? We have lots of cool places to explore there.”

Danielle nodded, grinning wide. Though she was sure she had explored the majority of the town with the boys, the thought of exploring through the new eyes of Jamie was too exciting to pass up. But abruptly, Jamie’s eyes dimmed, her face flickering with a frown as she suddenly looked down. 

“What is it?” Danielle asked, concerned at the sudden change.

Jamie hesitated, her mouth opening and closing, until finally she started, “Danielle, I…”

Some part of Danielle recoiled, the sound of her full name out of Jamie’s mouth sounding so wrong, so suddenly and intensely, that she blurted, “Dani.” Jamie’s eyes darted back to her, blinking in confusion. “Call me Dani. I-I don’t really like Danielle.”

Jamie’s frown was puzzled, as though recalling Danielle’s introduction to Nan, but she only said, “Bit of a boy’s name though, inn'it?”

Danielle shrugged. “So is yours, and I like your name.”

A small smile emerged on Jamie’s face. “All right,” she said, “Dani then.”

The sound of it, said so simply and easily, felt almost like coming up for air for the first time in a year. Danielle bit her lip, containing what would surely be a thrilled smile, until Jamie sobered again, guilt visibly shining in her eyes. 

“I’m sorry,” Jamie said. 

“For what?”

“For the other day. Behind the buildings. With -” Jamie looked down, her shoulders tensing. “- Jackie and Sterling and everyone else.”

Danielle stared at her for a moment. “That’s okay,” she said, nudging Jamie’s shoulder with her own until Jamie returned her gaze, “And you’re welcome.”

Jamie’s shoulders dropped, nodding before exhaling loudly. “Christ, this day’s giving me whiplash,” she said, grinning when Danielle laughed. 

Principal Davis’ office door suddenly swung open, and out walked a balding man and Roger, an eye and cheekbone bruised red and purple, and his nose swollen and stuffed with gauze. 

Smirking, Jamie nudged Danielle in the arm and said, “What’d I tell you?”

Catching sight of the pair of them, Roger blanched, eyes widening as they landed on Danielle before shuffling away with what must be his dad to a bench as far away from them as possible. Danielle glanced back to Jamie to find her glowering after him. 

Before she could have a chance to comment on it, Principal Davis interrupted her. “Miss Taylor,” he said, his voice stiff as steel, holding the door open.  

Nan appeared before them again. “After you,” she said, gesturing with her head towards the office. She tapped Jamie’s ankle impatiently with the end of her cane. 

Jamie sighed and shot Danielle a grim smile. “Wish me luck,” she said.

“Good luck,” Danielle replied, standing along with Jamie to watch her go, to see her pressing her shoulders back and marching towards the office with her jaw squared, but not without twisting around to send Danielle one last wink and cheeky grin. 

Danielle snorted and rolled her eyes, crossing her fingers that Jamie wouldn’t be in too much trouble before finally running back to class.

 --

The timber-framed house was peeling with paint. Curlicues of white stripped away to expose sun-bleached beams and boards. Danielle stood on chipped concrete steps leading to the front door of a single-story bungalow along the old abandoned train tracks. The front lawn was obscured by a wild tangle of grass nearly as tall as she was, and an ancient oak tree leaned over like someone reaching for a jar in a cabinet, casting her in dappled shade. Sunlight beat down through the leaves, and she rubbed at the sweat beading on her forehead with the back of one hand.

She was still debating with herself whether she should knock or just leave, when the door opened, revealing a familiar old woman. One of her bony hands clutched a wooden cane, and she squinted at Danielle with eyes magnified behind a set of round tortoise-shell spectacles.

"Were you ever going to knock?" Nan asked. "Or were you just going to stand out there all day?"

"Um -" said Danielle.

Nan waited for her to form a coherent sentence, then quirked an eyebrow. "What happened? Few weeks ago you were bold as brass."

Straightening her shoulders, Danielle took a deep breath and announced, "Hello, Mrs. Taylor. I'm here to see Jamie. Is she home?"

"Mrs. Taylor, my fat arse. Call me Nan."

"Uh - Nan?"

"Better." Nan turned and began walking further into the house. "Come along, then. We're all out back."

Cautiously, Danielle poked her head inside before the rest of her followed. When she closed the front door behind her, the only light in the living room was shut out, so that it felt like the interior was encased in dark resin. The walls were wainscoted, clustered with artwork and pictures until the room curled round like a kenophobic mass, and all the furniture huddled within, worn yet comfortable. Danielle hesitated to venture too far inside with her shoes still on, but she wiped her shoes on the mat and hastened after Nan, who had already passed through a door leading to the kitchen and was now pulling at a screen door that opened onto the back porch.

"Your new friend's shown up, love," Nan said, and gestured for Danielle to head out through the door. "I'll put on the kettle. And don't forget that patch at the back!"

Danielle stepped out onto the porch, and there was Jamie kneeling in the backyard, wearing a battered old straw hat and a pair of workman's gloves that were four sizes too large for her hands. Danielle smiled, waving her hand enthusiastically so that her whole arm rocked. When Jamie waved back, the glove went flying, and she said a word that made Nan yell recriminations from the open kitchen window.

"Sorry!" Jamie grumbled, pawing through the grass for the glove, but then her face lit up again and she motioned for Danielle to join her.

The backyard was fairing far better than the front. A line of trees sectioned off the property from the old rail line, but Danielle could still see the tracks extending up the way. Most of the yard had been excavated of its weeds, and piles of uprooted greenery were strewn about, wilting in the heat. The trees had yet to shed their leaves, but they were just going yellow at the edges. It wouldn’t be long now until the ground was covered and crackling underfoot.

Jamie had found the glove and held it up in triumph before she put it back on again. "You came!"

"Well, you invited me," Danielle said.

"Didn't mean you had to come."

"I wanted to."

Jamie beamed, and it was almost as potent as the late summer sun burning high in a cloudless sky. Danielle found herself smiling back before she could help herself.

Nodding at the nearest pile of weeds with the toe of her shoe, Danielle asked, "Did you do this?"

Hands on her hips, Jamie said, "Yeah. Nan made me. Says it builds moral fiber."

"What's that?"

Jamie shrugged and made an 'I don't know' sound. Then she reached down and yanked on a particularly stubborn patch of dandelions.

"How do you know which ones to pull up?" Danielle asked. "They all look the same."

With a grunt of force, Jamie wrenched the plant free and shook out the dirt on her knee. "Dunno. I just find the ones that don't seem to fit and -" she chucked the weed into the pile. "- do that."

"But that's a flower."

"An ugly flower."

"It's not ugly. I like yellow."

Jamie grinned up at her from where she moved onto the next patch on the ground. Her shaded eyes seemed to sparkle beneath the brim of the hat. "We can plant nice yellow ones, then. Over there by the house."

Danielle glanced where Jamie was pointing, and saw Nan shuffling out onto the porch with a teapot. The old woman lowered the teapot onto a rickety round table before lowering herself slowly into a mismatched seat. At her feet, the flower beds already bloomed with a riot of small blue flowers.

"Did you grow those ones?"

Jamie shook her head. "Nah. Those were there when we showed up."

Danielle opened her mouth to say something but before she could speak, Nan called out behind them. "Tea's ready!"

Jamie was up like a shot. She raced towards the opportunity to strip the gloves and hat off, and toss them onto the porch while she clambered up after them.

"Use the stairs, you wee scrote!" Nan barked at her when Jamie trampled through the flower beds on the way. 

"Sorry," Jamie said, not sounding sorry at all. 

Danielle was already halfway up said stairs, and Nan pointed towards her. "At least Danielle’s got manners!"

“She likes to be called Dani. She doesn’t like Danielle,” Jamie corrected her.

For a moment it seemed that the two would come to odds — there were narrowed eyes and bullishly squared jaws that made the resemblance between the two unmistakable — but in the end Nan merely grunted into her cup of tea and muttered, “Dani, then.” Her gaze flicked to Danielle and she was scowling. “Could’ve just told me that yourself.”

Danielle had to tamp down the urge to apologize. The force of Nan’s attention was quelling and indivisible. Instead, she turned to Jamie, who was already reaching for a steaming mug of tea, pouring in a dollop of milk from a little saucer. Danielle watched this in confusion, taking the milk when Jamie handed it to her and dumping enough into her own chipped mug so that the tea looked like the bleached pine timbers of the house. It wasn’t until she had spooned a few heaps of sugar into the mug that she realized both Jamie and Nan were staring at her in abject horror. 

“What?” she asked slowly, setting the sugar spoon back into its bowl.

Nan just shook her head and took a sip of her tea. Jamie made a motion for Danielle to follow her, and soon the two of them were seated on the edge of the porch, their legs hanging down so that the bottom of their shoes skimmed the tops of the flowers. Jamie drummed her heels, while Danielle curled one foot up under her opposite thigh. The woodgrain of the boards beneath them dug into her knee and she shifted her weight until she was comfortable.

Jamie had already buried her nose into her mug, nearly a quarter way into her tea. Hesitating for a moment, Danielle lifted her own mug to her mouth. The first taste was a burst of bright sweetness, followed by the barest hint of earthy tea-tones. She made a face and set the mug aside.

"Ruined a perfectly good cuppa, and then doesn't want to drink it," Nan groused behind them.

"It's too hot for a hot drink," Danielle insisted, even as her fingers were curling around the handle of the mug again. "Can I make iced tea next time?"

The idea of a next time had Jamie twisting around to breathlessly await Nan's reaction. Jamie gave Danielle an encouraging grin when Nan just said, "So long as you don't expect me to drink it."

"Want to follow the track and see where it goes?" Jamie asked.

Danielle nodded, but behind them Nan's voice was stern, "Not until you finish your chores."

Jamie whined, but Nan was unrelenting. Chores first. Playtime later. Listening to this exchange, Danielle lifted the cup of tea for another experimental sip. It was still overly warm for a day like today, a day still clinging to the last gasp of summer before the inevitable autumn. She cradled the mug between both hands and craned her neck to watch the others argue.

And it wasn’t like any argument she had seen before between a child and their guardian. Jamie was belligerent in a way that made Danielle tense slightly and peek at Nan for some sort of physical reaction, but Nan only scowled and poured herself another cup of tea.

"You got a mouth like your mother," Nan said sharply.

Jamie's face flushed, and before she could retort Danielle said, "I can help."

The others turned to look at her. There was still the glimmer of a fight caught like a bit between Jamie's teeth, and Nan's expression was beyond stern at this point.

"With the garden," Danielle clarified. "I can - I can help with the garden. And then we can finish faster and go. Right?"

But Jamie shook her head. "No. It's fine. I'll do it quick."

"It's okay. I want to help."

"You can sit with Nan. Drink some tea," said Jamie. "The garden is hard, and you'll start wheezing again."

A hot blush rose up Danielle's cheeks. "I can do it!" She was adamant, gripping the mug tighter. 

"Nan, tell her she can't," Jamie said, twisting around.

Danielle turned as well, the two of them waiting for Nan — an ultimate arbiter as the only resident adult could be, no matter Jamie’s choleric streak — to hand out judgement. 

Nan’s frown had turned quizzical. “Wheezing? You’re sick?”

Danielle studied the milky white ripple of tea in the mug clutched between her hands. The doctor's appointment had finally gone through. Asthma. They'd given her a device that fit over her nose and mouth with a cylinder on the end with proper instructions and apologies. Incurable, they'd said. Just something she had to live with.

“Only -” Danielle licked her chapped lips and said, “Only when I run a lot. Or when there’s smoke. Or in spring. Or -”

Nan held up a hand to keep her from continuing. “Had a cousin like you. Used to beat him in foot races to the neighbor’s paddock.” She lowered her hand with a sigh to the handle of the cane which was leaning against the armrest of her chair. Tapping the end of the cane against the porch, she regarded the two of them thoughtfully. Then, she gave a dismissive wave of her free hand. “Go on, then. Go. Play. But when I flash the porch light twice, it’s time to come home.” 

The effect was immediate. Jamie set down her tea and Danielle barely had time to follow suit before Jamie had grabbed her hand and was hauling her off towards the abandoned train tracks behind the house. 

“C’mon!” Jamie urged and her grin was infectious. 

Danielle found herself stumbling to keep up until she regained her footing. She wouldn’t be able to keep up this pace for long, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Jamie slowed once they’d passed the trees, but she kept their hands linked firmly together. Behind them, Danielle could hear Nan calling after them, but Jamie’s hand was warm in her own, and her eyes were bright, and the day stretched before them like a promise. 

 --

The first time Danielle brought Jamie over to the O’Mara household, Mike was the only parent home. He greeted them with the smiling befuddlement of a man far too accustomed to seeing strangers’ kids trooping through his house as though they belonged there. He told them to have fun and not break anything, and then gently reminded Eddie that he had baseball practice in twenty minutes. Eddie, eyes widening behind his round spectacles, chucked his bag onto the ground of the atrium and raced upstairs to change his clothes, taking the steps two at a time. 

“Hey! Shoes off, buddy!” Mike yelled after him, then shook his head when Eddie’s shoes came tumbling down the staircase a moment later. He smiled gratefully at Danielle, who was already neatly lining up her shoes by the front door. “At least you always remember.”

Feeling far more proud than was probably good for her, Danielle grabbed Jamie’s hand and tugged her further inside, the two of them pursued by Carson, who was all too eager to have them to himself for the afternoon. Not long after they had pulled out a game of Operation, Eddie came thundering down the stairs dressed in his baseball uniform, hurriedly stuffing his curly hair beneath a cap. Carson jerked at the noise, and the buzzer went off as the tweezers touched the side of the board. Laughing, Jamie held out her hand for the tweezers and her turn. 

“Bye, Eddie!” Danielle called out as Mike held open the door, gesturing for Eddie to hurry up so they could get to practice on time. Eddie scrambled around for his mitt, found it, then waved goodbye on his way out. 

“Get the horse one, Jamie,” said Carson, pointing at the board. “I can never get the horse one.”

“All right, all right. Wind your neck in.” 

The front door swung open, and the three of them looked up, expecting Eddie to come charging back inside for some item he had forgotten. Instead, Judy strode through. Her arms were laden so high with brown paper bags that the top of her head was barely visible over them. 

“Eddie, Carson, Danielle,” she said, walking right by them and into the kitchen without a glance in their direction. “Can you please help unpack the car?”

The three of them exchanged puzzled looks. Jamie pointed at herself and mouthed ‘me?’ Danielle and Carson both shrugged at her.

“Now, please,” Judy urged, already pulling open the fridge and stowing things away. 

She used that brook-no-nonsense tone that immediately had Carson and Danielle jumping to their feet to do as asked. Jamie shuffled after them looking utterly bemused, and the three trotted to the car outside in their socks — Carson paused by the doorway to jam his toes into his shoes — and carry groceries inside. 

“Oh, thank you, Eddie, honey,” Judy murmured in an absent-minded way, as Jamie deposited a bag on the countertop. 

Frozen in place, Jamie’s face was a mixture of confused and horrified. Danielle snorted. At the sound, Judy glanced over her shoulder, then did a double take.

“You -” she said, pointing at Jamie, “- are not my second youngest son.”

“No,” said Jamie. “Thank god.”

Judy gave a snort of laughter, her mouth pulling into a wide grin which Jamie matched with a crooked one of her own. “Oh, I think we’ll get along just fine,” Judy said. And then she held out the car keys. “Be a dear and put the car in the garage for me?”

Jamie’s eyes lit up, and she snatched up the car keys, scampering outside at the opportunity to drive the car a few feet forward in a straight line. 

“Carson, go make sure your new friend doesn’t crash into the washing machine,” Judy said, her attention already turning back to stashing all of her groceries away in the pantry. Danielle remained in the kitchen, idly peeking into the bags to see if there were any goodies to eat immediately. Judy shut the bread box and tilted her head at Danielle. “So, that’s the new girl in town?”

Danielle ducked her head. “Yeah. Sorry. I should’ve asked before we just -”

But Judy waved her away. “Don’t be silly. The more the merrier.”

From a distant part of the house in the direction of the garage, they heard a crunching noise, followed by Carson’s excited voice.

Sighing, Judy emerged from the pantry. “Finish up here, won’t you, Danielle.” She walked off towards the garage, opening the door and saying, “Well, aren’t you a regular Kowalski, running over my laundry basket?”

Biting back a smile, Danielle continued unpacking the groceries.

 --

They found the old tire half buried by the train tracks. Jamie dug it up with her hands as if unearthing buried treasure, and the two of them rolled it all the way back to Nan's house, chatting all the way.

"What are we even going to do with it?" Danielle asked as she pushed at the top of the tire a little too hard and it went careening off in a wide circle. "Oh, shoot!"

Jamie made a whooping noise and chased it down, the baggy flannel tied high at her waist flapping like a cape. Rolling it back with both hands, she said mockingly, "Oh, shoot!'  You talk like an old lady at church."

Danielle stuck out her tongue at her. "But not your Nan."

"Oh, fuck no," Jamie laughed.

"If I said a bad word around my mom, she'd ground me for a week."

"Yeah, and my Nan boxes my ears. So, we're even, I guess. Here." Jamie shoved the tire towards Danielle, who rushed forward a few steps to stabilize the tire before it could fall over, keeping it rolling.

"So, what are we doing with it?" Danielle asked again.

"I found some rope in the basement," Jamie said. "We're going to hang it from one of the trees and make a swing."

At that, Danielle's eyes lit up, followed by a thoughtful frown. "Is that safe?"

"It's fine. I've seen it done before."

"Where?"

"Movies. You can twist the rope, too, and make the tire spin real fast. It'll be fun!"

It did, indeed, sound like fun, until she remembered — "Tommy did that to Eddie on the school swings last year, and Eddie threw up everywhere."

"Have you eaten recently?"

"Not since breakfast," Danielle answered.

Jamie shrugged. "Well, there you go, then. She'll be right. Pass it here!"

When Jamie surged ahead, scraped knees flashing red with every step, Danielle heaved at the tire with all her might so that it rolled forward. Jamie stopped it with the bottom of her foot as though it were an oversized soccer ball, then proceeded to nudge it along, hopping as she went. Danielle shook her head and laughed, loping easily along to catch up.

They reached the edge of Nan's property, and immediately Jamie left the tire behind to race towards the back porch. Danielle watched from the tree line, sitting down on the tire in a puff of dirt, as Jamie scarpered up the steps and yanked open the back door. She emerged not long later, fly screen banging in her wake, with a long black and yellow construction rope coiled around one shoulder.

Danielle nodded towards Jamie's dusty shoes. "Don't let Nan catch you running through the house with those on."

Jamie waved her off. "She's out. Running errands or whatever."

Unhooking the rope, Jamie unraveled one end and began twirling it through the air to gain momentum so she could fling it up at an overhead branch. The rope fell uselessly back down to the ground, draping itself across Danielle's legs.

Danielle did not move, and gave Jamie an unimpressed look. "Nice one, Taylor."

"Shut it," Jamie said, making a face and tugging at the rope, but Danielle grabbed the end and held on with a smirk. Jamie's eyebrows rose, the corner of her mouth pulling into a smile. "Oh? That how we going to play it, Danielle?"

The exaggerated lilt of her full name was incentive enough for Danielle to haul back on the rope as hard as she could. She managed to pull a good amount before Jamie yelped and tightened her grip. The tug of war scuffle that ensued was short-lived, ending with Jamie suddenly releasing the rope and causing Danielle to fall backwards off the tire with a cry of surprise.

"Shit!"

"Ohh!" Jamie crowed, pointing. "You swore! Perfect little Dani Clayton said a swear!"

Scrambling upright, Danielle brushed dirt from her hair and back. "You -! You cheated!"

"Won though, didn't I?" said Jamie, and she held up the end of the rope they had been fighting over. She waggled it back and forth, grinning.

"Bet you still can't throw it over the branch," Danielle challenged.

"Oh, you're on."

If Danielle hadn't spent so many years in the company of the O'Mara boys, she might have been less combative with her friends. As it was, she giggled when Jamie cursed fluently with every failed attempt to fling the rope high enough.

"Needs more weight," Jamie muttered to herself, tying the end into knots.

"Needs more muscle behind it."

"You're one to talk," Jamie shot back. "Miss. I-Die-In-Gym-Class."

"Hey!" Danielle said. "I try!"

"Stop being lazy, Danielle! Keep running, Danielle!" said Jamie in a scarily accurate impression of Mr. Roberts. "Honestly, I could kick him next time he does that, you know."

"Don't. Please. The last thing I want is you getting in trouble with your Nan."

Jamie grinned at her. "Not the principal?"

Danielle shook her head vigorously enough that her long ponytail swung over one shoulder. "No way. Your Nan is way scarier than detention."

"Aye, that she is."

Jamie, finished with the knots, began swinging the rope again. This time when the end skimmed the grass, it trimmed a trail through the lawn, until Jamie whipped it up into the air, where it just managed to sail over the branch.

"Yes!" Jamie punched a fist into the air in triumph, then jogged over to pick up the end.

Danielle stood to join her, dragging the tire with her. "Now what?"

"Uh -?" For a moment Jamie seemed at an absolute loss. She held the two ends of the rope in both hands, staring between them and the tire. "We tie them around it?"

"Test the branch first," Danielle said with what she felt was the most sensible thought of the afternoon.

Far more obediently than she ever was with adults, Jamie wrapped her arms around both ends of the rope and tugged. She sawed back and forth, and even dropped all of her weight onto them. Over their heads, the branch creaked slightly and a scatter of loose leaves drifted down. Otherwise, nothing happened.

"Seems safe to me," Jamie announced with a confidence Danielle could only dream of. "Give it here."

Danielle did so, and Jamie made quick work of the rope. At Danielle's insistence, she rolled her eyes but nevertheless looped the ends around once more before tying them off together over the top of the rubber. When they stepped back, the tire hung off the ground at waist height. It rotated gently in place.

Jamie nudged Danielle's elbow with her own. "Want to have the first go?"

"Mmm," Danielle said uncertainly.

"Oh, come on. I'll push you."

"Well -" said Danielle, but she was already stepping her feet through the center of the tire so that she sat partially through it. She clung to the ropes that held the tire aloft as though they were lifelines, while Jamie circled around behind her.

Jamie's hands covered her own, and Danielle jerked slightly when she felt as much as heard Jamie's voice beside her ear. "If you hold onto that any tighter, I think it'll run out of air."

With a snort, Danielle shrugged Jamie away, but loosened her grip all the same. Jamie laughed softly behind her. Not a moment later, Danielle could feel Jamie's hands at her back. She tensed, readying herself for the shove, but it never came. Instead, Jamie rocked her back and forth, building the momentum up until Danielle was swinging as gently as a pendulum, her toes just barely scraping the top of the grass.

"What?" said Jamie to Danielle's shocked silence. "Did you think I was going to fling you off or something?"

"Well - Yeah. Kind of." All too clearly Danielle could remember seeing David do exactly that to Tommy, so that Tommy was sent sprawling off the swing in a slurry of tan bark.

"What kind of friend do you take me for?"

Danielle felt something warm as honey flooding her ribcage. It was the first time Jamie had, herself, referred to them as friends. And though Danielle had assumed that was the case — of course, it was; it must be — that simple statement made her feel light-headed. As though she had just run a lap around the football field.

Danielle straightened her legs, dragging her heels against the ground to bring herself to a halt.

"Something wrong?" Jamie asked behind her.

"No," said Danielle, and she ducked through the center of the tire so that she could step out onto the ground once more. "I just think I should push now. It's your turn."

Jamie grinned. "Okay."

Unlike her, Jamie on the tire urged Danielle to push her harder, higher. She stood mid-swing, feet planted firmly in the tire's sagging center, hands gripping the ropes, and the shift in weight sent the swing in a wild twirl. Laughing, Danielle had to grab ahold of Jamie's legs to get her to stop.

"You're going to fall," Danielle said, though she returned Jamie's smile.

"Am not." Jamie held out a hand and crooked her fingers. "Come on. Hop on up."

Danielle opened her mouth to demur, but then found herself reaching out to grasp Jamie's outstretched hand when Jamie winked at her. A tug against her wrist, and then Danielle was lurching up onto the tire, which nearly tipped the both of them onto the ground. Danielle yelped, grabbing at the rope and clinging for dear life, while Jamie's laughter rang through the air.

It took a moment of repositioning — Danielle was stepping on Jamie's foot — before they both balanced on the bottom rung of the tire. They faced one another, and Jamie waggled her eyebrows.

"Ready?" she asked.

Danielle nodded.

"Okay. We're going to switch who pushes with their legs to get it swinging. Like this." Jamie lifted her weight slightly from the tire, so that the end leaned out, pushed by the soles of Danielle's shoes. Danielle followed suit, and soon they were chatting away while the swing rocked them back and forth.

"So, what did good ol' Ed want the other day?" Jamie asked.

"Oh." Danielle could feel a flush spread across her cheeks in spite of herself. "Nothing, really. Just to hang out."

Which was true. Eddie hadn't wanted to do anything more than usual. The two of them playing board games where his older brothers couldn't bother them. Teasing Carson, who by virtue of being the baby of the group was always the easiest target of his brothers' dubious affections. It was Danielle who had upended the afternoon. Not Eddie.

Jamie was giving her a funny look that seemed to cotton onto Danielle's skin. She shrugged it away and said, "Actually, I dared him to kiss me."

Jamie's face scrunched up as though she had just bitten into a lemon. "Ew. Why?"

To that Danielle could only shrug. "Jackie at school kept saying — anyway, it doesn't matter. I wanted to try it."

"Yeah, but — with Ed? Really?"

"Who else was I supposed to dare? Carson?"

Jamie rolled her eyes. "I don't know. Anyone else. Bloody hell. It's Ed."

"I like Eddie," Danielle said, knowing that the statement was somehow both true and false all at once, but not understanding exactly how. "He's a good friend."

"He looks like a mop."

"So do you, when your hair is down."

"Oi!" Jamie pinched Danielle's flank, and Danielle squirmed away from her as much as she could while remaining on the tire, laughing. "So, did he?"

"Did he what?"

"Kiss you."

Danielle nodded. "Yep. And then Tommy told him that's how you get a girl pregnant, so he came back and tried to get me to marry him."

With a snort, Jamie shook her head. "Idiot," she muttered. Then her eyes went very wide. "Wait — you didn't say 'yes', did you?"

"What? No! Don't be dumb!"

"Well, I don't know! You kissed him!"

"That doesn't -!" Danielle spluttered. "It's -! It wasn't even that nice!"

"What did you expect?" Jamie looked suddenly curious. "Did he poke you with his glasses?"

"A little?" said Danielle with a shrug.

"Should've taken them off."

"I'll have to remember that for next time," Danielle said dryly, and Jamie looked genuinely horrified at the notion. "I'm kidding. And how would you know? You've never kissed anyone before."

"I have," Jamie said.

"Liar."

"I have!" Jamie repeated adamantly, and she rocked her weight into the next swing so that the tire's arc was pushed higher.

"Who?" 

"Not telling,” Jamie said in a sing-song voice.

Danielle scoffed at that.

The corner of Jamie's mouth curled into a grin. "Why? Jealous?"

"Yeah, right," Danielle laughed. "Jealous of some boy?"

"Wasn't a boy."

It took a moment for Jamie's words to register. When they finally did, Danielle blinked. "Oh." Her brows furrowed. "Was it nice?"

Jamie lifted one shoulder. "Wasn't bad."

The tire swung back and forth a few times while Danielle contemplated this revelation. She was still thinking about it, when Jamie knocked their knees together. "Hey."

Danielle glanced up at her. "Hmm?"

"Want to see just how high we can swing?" Jamie asked, and her face was full of its usual mischief.

The branch had been fine so far even with the two of them. So, Danielle nodded, matching Jamie's smile. "Yeah. Sure."

The tire bowed beneath their combined weight as their feet pushed against one another. On each upswing, Jamie would sink down nearly into a crouch to gain as much momentum as possible, until the rush of air caught in their hair, and Danielle felt a swooping sensation in her stomach every time they began a new steeper descent.

They were too busy laughing, caught up in the exhilaration of it all, that they didn't hear the low groan of the old rope.

Something slipped. Danielle was cognizant only of a hitch, as if gravity stuttered, and then the rope unraveled at the peak of their swing. For a fleeting moment, she felt weightless, rising in a parabolic arc, until the earth was replaced by a revolving sky, and it all came crashing down. 

By some miracle, she rolled, tumbling headlong and landing in a heap, not knowing which way was up. Danielle tried to shake herself free from a heady dose of adrenaline, but her heart was hammering in her chest. She glanced around, orienting herself. She was sprawled on the back lawn, her clothes streaked with green from where she had skidded across the grass. With a wince, she pushed herself upright, but apart from a few scrapes on her palms and elbows, everything seemed to be in working order.

From a few feet away, she heard a low groan of pain. 

“Jamie?” 

Scrambling to her feet, Danielle’s head whipped around. Jamie was curled up in a ball nearby, and the tire had flown straight into the flower bed. Danielle staggered over and dropped to her knees. She reached out with shaking hands to roll Jamie onto her back. Jamie did so with a long drawn out moan, clutching one arm to her chest.

“Ow,” Jamie gasped. 

“Are you okay?” Danielle asked breathlessly. When Jamie hissed, Danielle tore her hands away as though scalded. “Oh, my god. Your arm -?”

Eyes squeezed shut, Jamie gave a jerky little shake of her head, and said through grit teeth. “No. My shoulder. Ow.” 

“Do - Do you have a telephone in the house?” She didn’t wait for an answer, already lurching to her feet. “I’m going to call 9-1-1. Just - Just stay here! Don’t move!”

She got no more than a step towards the house, when the back door opened, and there Nan was, one hand holding a bag of groceries, the other leaning upon her walking stick. The bag slowly slipped from her fingers, and she stared, taking in the scene.

“Jesus wept!” Nan said, gaping. “What the bloody hell have you two gotten up to this time?”

 --

Three weeks later Danielle's mom booked the local pool for Danielle’s birthday party, and invited kids that Danielle barely even knew. The day was hot, but clouds blanketed the sky an ocean grey the color of Jamie's eyes. The eldest O'Mara boys were the first in the pool, sprinting off into the deep end with a splash that encouraged others to follow suit. Carson lurked on the sidelines with Danielle — the two of them not confident in their swimming abilities — until Eddie came up behind them and pushed Carson into the pool, laughing. 

"Edmund, be nice to your brother!" Judy called out from near the barbeque, where her husband was arguing with a few of the other dads about how best to operate the grill. 

Eddie just shrugged. He squinted at Danielle — his glasses had been safely left behind on a chair draped with his towel — and nodded towards the pool. "Want to jump in?" 

Danielle looked down at Carson, gasping and paddling furiously in the water, feeling like she should throw him one of the floating pool noodles from shore. He managed to reach the concrete siding and clutched at it like a lifeline.

"Not bad!" Eddie said to him, sticking his foot into the water so he could splash his younger brother in the face. 

Carson spluttered. "Screw you, Eddie!" 

"Carson! Language!" Judy barked. Though how she managed to hear this exchange over the shrieking babble of ten year olds was a mystery. 

"Is the water cold?" Danielle asked. 

Hanging from the ledge with his elbows, Carson shook his head, his dark hair plastered against the back of his neck. "No. It's pretty warm. I think someone peed." 

"Yeah," said Eddie. "You." 

"Shut up, Eddie!" Carson lunged for Eddie's ankle in an attempt to pull him in, but Eddie danced out of reach with a grin. 

Danielle glanced around for a ladder into the pool, but the nearest one was being hogged by a group of girls led by Jackie who recently picked up the habit again of calling her names at school and avoided her in the hallways. She scrunched up her nose and looked away. Her eyes scanned the guests for any sign of Jamie, but she was nowhere to be found. Instead, steeling herself for the plunge, Danielle stepped off the ledge, splashing into the water feet first. Her arms lashed out and Danielle bobbed to the surface beside Carson, who was still holding onto the ledge. He'd been right. The water was balmy and her eyes stung with chlorine. 

Wiping at her face with one hand, Danielle gestured to the far end of the pool. "Want to swim over and get some noodles?" 

Carson nodded eagerly, and with a brief exchange of glances, the two of them began splashing in that direction. 

"Hey!" Eddie called after them, suddenly the man left out. "Hey, wait up!"

Behind them Danielle could hear the sound of Eddie jumping into the water and thrashing in their wake. Once in the shallower end, Eddie was just tall enough to stand without his head being submerged, while Danielle and Carson argued over who got the pink pool noodle.

"Pink's for girls," Eddie said firmly. Danielle nodded along. Not necessarily because she agreed, but because she really wanted that noodle.

Carson whined while he awkwardly treaded water with his legs. "It is not! It's just a color!"

"A girly color," said Eddie.

"I like it, though."

"Yeah, but it's my birthday," Danielle said, playing the ultimate trump card that nobody could deny.

Grumbling, Carson let her have it, and took the blue one with a grimace of distaste.

"Thanks," said Danielle.

"Yeah, whatever," Carson said, his voice burbling slightly as he bobbed away in the water.

"If you weren't so short," said Eddie, "you wouldn't need a noodle."

In answer, Carson took said noodle and thwacked his brother over the head with it. A scuffle ensued, Eddie yanking the noodle and flinging it away before shoving Carson's head under the water. Danielle watched them wrestle with amusement, but when the gate leading to the pool opened with a creak, she glanced up to find Jamie pushing through it, flip flops clacking along the pavement.

Jamie's arm was still in a sling. She had excitedly shown Danielle and the O'Mara boys the x-rays of her broken collarbone, and would have taken to carting the black and white photos around in her pocket had it not been for Nan snatching the pictures from her hands and hiding them somewhere in the house where Jamie couldn't find them. This had inevitably resulted in Jamie and Danielle tearing the house apart while Nan was out one day, and — inevitably — the two were found with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar. Or rather, with Jamie's feet on Danielle's shoulders as she pushed at loose ceiling boards in an attempt to find a hidden storage space.

Now, Jamie held the gate open with her hip for Nan, who limped through, cane in one hand and a lumpy wrapped present in the other. Danielle's eyes lit up and she waved across the pool. Jamie's head turned, a frown on her face as she scanned the crowded space, until she saw Danielle. She waved back with her good arm, and Danielle began swimming towards her.

"No swimsuit?" Danielle asked when she'd reached the ledge.

"What for?" said Jamie, crouching down on her haunches by the water’s edge and lifting her injured arm slightly. "I'll just get my feet wet. It's okay."

On land, Nan had approached Judy, who was reigning as the host of the party despite only being the next door neighbor. Danielle's actual mom was standing with a group of other parents in the shade, well away from any screaming children, a cigarette trailing smoke between two fingers, and a half-finished glass of wine cupped in one palm. The third glass of the afternoon so far, Danielle knew. She kept count.

"So glad you could make it, Ruth," said Judy, taking the present Nan offered her and setting it atop a small pile on a nearby table. 

“Not at all,” Nan replied. “Couldn’t have avoided it even if I wanted to. The girl’s been talking non-stop about this for weeks.” 

Danielle’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Your Nan’s name is Ruth?” 

“Yeah,” said Jamie. “Ruth Heron.”

“Heron?” Danielle repeated. “Not Taylor?”

“Nah. She’s my mum’s mum. Can’t stand my dad.” Then she added, “Or my mum, for that matter. Why?” 

The water rippled around Danielle’s shoulders when she shrugged. “I don’t know. She just doesn’t seem like a Ruth.”

“More like: Ruth-less. Eh?” Jamie winked, and Danielle gave a snort of laughter. 

"Danielle!" yelled a voice from the pool. "Dan -! Oh. Hey, Jamie!" 

Danielle turned, and Carson was making his way towards them. Eddie had been waylaid by his older brother, Tommy, who was attempting to lift him from the water with David so they could fling Eddie back into the deep end. From here, Danielle couldn't see Eddie struggling, which meant it must have been an idea cooked up between the three of them as a good time had all around. 

Jamie lifted her chin in a curt nod to acknowledge Carson. "Hey, yourself. Nice pool noodle." 

Carson beamed, balancing his weight atop the pink pool noodle that Danielle had left behind. "How's the bones?"

"Still broken," said Jamie. 

"Damn," Carson said. "I was hoping you and Danielle could throw me in, too." 

"Can't you get Tommy and David to do it?" Danielle asked. 

Carson mumbled something under his breath about how they didn't let him play with them.

Jamie tilted her head to one side. She straightened, kicked off her flip-flops, then gingerly sat back down — careful not to bump her arm in any way — to hang her legs over the ledge and into the water. "Why do you keep calling her Danielle?"

Carson blinked up at her. "Huh?"

Instead of repeating herself, Jamie turned to Danielle. "Didn't you tell them you prefer being called Dani?"

Danielle's mouth dropped open to reply, but no noise came out. What could she say? That Dani had been a nickname used exclusively by her father? That nobody since his death had deigned to use it despite her asking them? That her insistence on it had resulted in a row with her mother that she could still feel the sting of, as though there was a permanent impression of fingers against her reddened cheek? That Judy had told her Danielle was such a nice name, and she hadn't had the heart to correct her again? That it felt rude to impress her will upon a family who had always welcomed her into their home as though she were one of their own?

“It - uh -” Danielle fumbled for a response. “It never really came up,” she lied. And Jamie seemed to sense it, for she scoffed under her breath and rolled her eyes. 

Carson was watching her intently, but his voice was hesitant when he spoke. "I can call you Dani. If you want. Do you want me to tell Eddie, too?"

"No," Danielle shook her head, feeling her stomach clench unpleasantly. "No, it's - It's fine. Really. You can say Danielle. I don't mind."

Jamie arched an incredulous eyebrow at her, and Danielle could feel her face flush.

“But if you don’t like it -” Carson said, slowly, “- why didn’t you just tell me?”

Dani licked her chapped lips and gave a helpless shrug. She felt something drop atop her head. Flinching slightly, she tilted her face up and peered at the sky. Another fat drop of rain landed on her brow, followed by another, and another, until the pool was leaping with scattered rainfall and the air was filled with the shrieks of children caught up in it. Soon, parents were rushing about with bowed heads, urging their kids out of the water and back into their cars. Judy was orchestrating the saving of the presents and food, while Dani’s mom simply sighed and flicked her cigarette stub to the ground so she could shield the contents of her wineglass from the rain. 

Jamie helped pull Dani from the pool, Carson lumbering out behind her — ‘Wait up, Dani!’ — so the three of them could sprint for the safety of the awning extending from the changing rooms. Peeking into one of the rooms, Jamie quickly snagged a few towels, tossing one to Dani and Carson each. 

“Reckon I got the perfect present for you, then,” Jamie said. 

Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by the crack of autumnal thunder. Dani wrapped the towel around herself. “What did you get me?” she asked.

Jamie grinned. “A new jacket.” 

Sheets of rain were rolling down now. Huddled beneath the awning with Jamie on one side and Carson on the other, the three of them watched the stir of chaos caused by the abrupt shift in weather. Dani had to swallow down the sense of gloom that rose up in her throat as the sky only continued to darken, and another rumble of thunder ran across the plains. At least this birthday wasn’t as bad as last year’s, too soon in the wake of a funeral. 

“Sorry about your birthday,” Carson said.

“It’s okay,” Dani said glumly. 

“Want to have another one at our house?” he asked, eyes suddenly bright at the thought. “You can come too, Jamie. Mom likes you.”

The rain unraveled from the edge of the awning like pulled strings from a curtain. Jamie exchanged a look with Dani, who nodded, before she reached out to ruffle Carson’s head with her good hand. “Sure, mate. Why not.”

And just like that, the day didn’t seem like a complete waste after all.

[debbiechanclub]

Best Two Out of Three, Part 1

So this started out as anon request for a Chuck Taylor or Orange Cassidy fic, and with the help of @hotyeehawman it somehow morphed into a monster 26-part Adam Page and Kenny Omega fic, with a lot of other folks thrown in. So if you’re finding this for the first time, the good news is it’s complete. Enjoy!

Best Two Out of Three

Synopsis: Orange and Chuck both want their friend Alex to accompany them to the ring for their matches at Double or Nothing - so Alex devises a contest.

Part: 1/26

Pairings: None really in this chapter, but hints at Kenny Omega x OFC

Warnings: Alcohol use, some suggestive language

Word Count: 2,512

Find the rest of the fic here.

“Are you sure it’s cool if I come hang out with you guys?”

Alex sent Kris a look like she’d grown a second head. “Of course it’s cool. I adore Chuck, Trent, and James, but sometimes I need to hang out with another girl.”    

They walked into the hotel elevator and Alex hit the button for the fifth floor. It was the night before AEW Double or Nothing 2020, and the Best Friends were having a little get-together in their rooms. It was a much-needed opportunity to cut loose and experience a little normalcy in the midst of the pandemic, and Alex in particular could use a few cold ones to take the edge off. She was still annoyed with Kenny for giving the match against Kris tomorrow night to Penelope Ford instead of her. She rolled her eyes as the elevator doors slid open with a ding. If he wasn’t over at the arena pre-filming the Stadium Stampede match with the rest of The Elite and The Inner Circle, she might have marched up to his room and given him a piece of her mind.

“So who all’s gonna be there?” Kris asked as they stepped off the elevator.

“The usual suspects,” Alex answered. “My knucklehead stablemates, Scorpio, Frankie, Jack, Austin, and you and me.”

“No Maxwell?”

She smirked. “I told him he could only come if he brought Michael, and then we’d be over the 10-person limit for social gatherings.”

She let out a loud laugh. “So you totally invited Michael behind his back, right?”

“I did,” she confirmed. “But he politely declined.”

They arrived at Alex and Chuck’s room, and she slid her key into the electronic lock. “I’m back with an alien and beer!” she proclaimed as she opened the door—but she got no response. Chuck and James were embroiled in a heated debate; well, about as heated as James, a.k.a. the one and only Orange Cassidy, could get.

“Dude! Why would she come out with you for the ladder match?” Chuck charged.

James’s face remained as stoic as ever. “Because she’s my friend.”

Chuck’s eyebrows arched high onto his forehead. “She’s literally my best friend!”

Ever so slightly, James cocked his head. “Penelope’s probably coming out with Kip for it,” he coolly pointed out.

“Penelope is Kip’s girlfriend!”

“And Alex is my friend who’s a girl.”

“Hey!” Alex interjected as she set the case of beer on the floor. Everyone turned to look at her. “I’m right here.”

“Oh, thank God,” Trent breathed. “You need to settle this. They’ve been arguing since you left.”

Her face contorted with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. “About what?”

“About whether you should accompany Chuck and Trent to the ring for their match or Freshly Squeezed for his match tomorrow night,” Jack answered.

Alex blinked. “And why wouldn’t I just do both?”

“It’s the principle of the matter,” Chuck argued.

James didn’t so much as blink. “What he said.”

Kris snorted under her breath. Alex sent her a look. “Do you see what I have to deal with?”

“Seriously, please put us all out of our misery,” Frankie groaned. “And can I get one of those?” He didn’t wait for permission as he eagerly picked up the beer case and tore into it. But Alex couldn’t care less; the wheels in her brain were turning.

She put her hands on her hips. “Well, there’s only one way to settle this, then: a contest for my accompaniment tomorrow night. Best two out of three wins.”

Chuck pressed his lips into a hard line, thinking. And then he said, “You got yourself a deal.”

Alex looked at James. “Orange?”

He shrugged—barely. “Sure.”

She clapped her hands together in excitement. “Then let the games begin, boys.”

* * * * * * * * * *

They couldn’t just play Rock, Paper, Scissors and call it a night; Alex was more creative than that. In order to be graced with her presence during his match, the winner would have to prove both his strength and wit—and round one was a good old fashioned relay.

“Alright!” Alex commanded everyone’s attention, a beer in hand. “These are the rules for round one. First, you must chug a beer. Second, you must complete twenty-five push-ups—real ones, none of that on-your-knees bullshit. Finally, you must braid either Jack or Austin’s hair. The first one to finish is the winner. Obviously.”

“I can’t believe I agreed to this,” Austin muttered.

“But you’ll look so pretty!” Kris proclaimed. He just grunted.

“Alright; Scorpio, I need you to count James’s push-ups,” Alex delegated. “Frankie, you count Chuck’s.”

Frankie laughed to himself. “That won’t be hard.”

“Shut it and give me a beer,” Chuck ordered. He already had his game face on. Alex couldn’t help but admire him for it.

Frankie passed one beer to Chuck and another to James. And then they both looked up at Alex. Waiting.

“On your marks...” she started. “Get set… Go!”

They simultaneously flipped open their drink tabs and started chugging as the room all cheered them on. Alex was genuinely interested to see who would finish first—but she wasn’t surprised when Chuck did. He crushed the can in his fist and tossed it aside just as James finished, and they both got into push-up position. Scorpio and Frankie both started counting; James was going nearly twice as fast as Chuck.

“Twelve, thirteen, fourteen…” Scorpio counted.

“Dude, he’s smoking you,” Trent commented to Chuck.

“Why aren’t you counting out loud?!” Chuck shouted at Frankie.

“Focus!” he returned.

“Twenty! Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five!”

James jumped up and ran over to where Austin sat on one of the beds. He separated his hair into three parts and started trying to braid.

“Twenty-five!” Frankie shouted. Chuck hurried over to Jack—and stared at his hair in bewilderment.

“How the hell am I supposed to do this? His hair is as big as he is!”

“Thank you,” Jack grinned.

He grabbed a chunk of Jack’s curls and tried to separate it from the rest; but before he could figure it out, Kris let out a shout. “Orange wins!”

“Fuck!” Chuck proclaimed.

Alex walked over to inspect James’s braid. Surprisingly, it wasn’t terrible. “Round one goes to Orange Cassidy,” she confirmed.

“Why do you know how to braid hair?” Chuck shot.

James just shrugged.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Alright, boys; time for round two: trivia.”

Alex paused for dramatic affect. Everyone in the room stared back at her, waiting. They were thoroughly invested in this idiotic competition she’d concocted, and she couldn’t be happier about it. “I’ve given our lovely galactic game show host,” she motioned to Kris, “five questions with their correct answers—all of them about yours truly. She will read each question aloud. If you know the answer, buzz in on your respective cell phones with the convenient buzzer app that Trent found; thank you Trent. If you answer incorrectly, the other person will have a chance to steal. First one to three correct answers wins.”

“Cool, let’s go,” Chuck said, his thumb hovering above the buzzer button on his phone screen. Alex pursed her lips; he was too competitive for his own good.

Kris cleared her throat and stood up straighter. She looked down at the hotel room notepad Alex had given her, and read out the first question. “Alright, we’re starting off with an easy one,” she prefaced. “What’s the name of Alex’s submission finisher?”

BZZZ! They both buzzed in—but James beat out Chuck by a second. “Orange?” Kris asked.

“Eighty-Eight Sleeper,” he answered.

“Correct!”

Chuck stubbornly sucked his teeth. “I bet you don’t know why it’s called that.”

James sent him a blank look. “Because it’s a Dragon Sleeper and she was born in 1988, the year of the dragon.”

“He should get an extra point for that,” Frankie piped up.

Chuck rounded on him. “Are you trying to sabotage me?”

“Alright, alright,” Alex intervened. “While that is why it’s called that, there will be no extra points awarded. It’s one-nothing James. Next question, please!”

Kris looked back down at the notepad. “How old was Alex when she started training?”

BZZZ! Chuck shouted out the answer before James even had a chance. “Nineteen! And she was trained by Jimmy Valiant in the same class as Adam Page!”

Kris sent her a surprised look. “Really?”

Alex nodded. “Yup. Hangman and I go way back. But like I just said, there’s no extra points, so we’re tied one-one. I appreciate your enthusiasm, though,” she grinned at Chuck. He didn’t acknowledge it; he was still in competition mode.

“Okay, next question,” Kris started. “Who was Alex’s favorite pro wrestler growing up?”

BZZZ! James beat out Chuck by a hair. But then he paused; he didn’t actually know the answer. “Eddie Guerrero?”

“Wrong!” Kris proclaimed. “Chuck, you have a chance—”

“CHRIS JERICHO!” he shouted before she could finish.

She blinked. “That’s correct.”

“How did you get that wrong?!” Scorpio said to James. “Chris teases her about it practically every time he sees her!”

He shook his head in a rare showing of emotion. “I blanked.”

“Okay. For the third and potentially final question,” Kris dramatically announced. She looked down at the notepad and preemptively laughed as she read the question to herself before stating it aloud. “Who does Alex totally want to punch in the face right now?”

“What?” Chuck and James both sent each other looks of confusion.

“I know it,” Trent muttered.

“OH!” It was as if a lightbulb went off above Chuck’s head and he quickly mashed his buzzer. “Kenny!”

“Yes!” Alex proclaimed. She muttered under her breath as she took a sip of beer, “I totally want to punch Kenny in his stupid face right now.”

“Well then, round two goes to Sexy Chuckie T!” Kris announced.

“YES!” Chuck pointed a finger in James’s face. “You suck!”

“We’re tied,” he flatly returned.

“Yes; indeed you are,” Alex returned. “And that means it’s time for round three --sudden death.”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Sudden Death” was nothing more than “Never Have I Ever.” But, quite frankly, Alex was a little nervous. She knew this group of people—and she knew they had little to no shame.

“Okay, these are the rules,” she explained. “We’ll play like normal—but Chuckie and Orange will be the only ones putting down their fingers. The first one to put down all three fingers is the loser of the round.”

“Okay, just to clarify,” Scorpio asked, “so whoever still has fingers up at the end wins the whole thing?”

She nodded. “Correct.”

“I don’t like this,” Chuck said, even as he held up three fingers. “Y’all are gonna say things you know I’ve done to make me lose.”

“Never have I ever been a conspiracy theorist,” Frankie smirked. Chuck didn’t think it was funny.

“Especially you!”

“Alright, he actually has a point,” Alex begrudgingly admitted. “Let’s keep it unbiased. Kris, you start.”

Kris put a finger to her lips in thought. “Hmm… oh, I know,” she smirked. “Never have I ever slid into someone’s DMs.”

Alex let out a loud burst of laughter. “Maybe if Trent was playing,” she commented.

“Jeez, Alex, just put me on blast,” Trent returned.

She just smirked and took another sip of beer.

“So neither of you have done that, either?” Kris asked.

“I’m the Kentucky Gentleman, Kris,” Chuck said as James shook his head.

She arched her eyebrows. “Color me surprised.”

“Alright, all fingers are still up,” Alex said. Let’s go to the right. Scorpio, you’re up.”

Scorpio deviously stroked his chin as he looked back and forth between Chuck and James. “Never have I ever… walked in on people having sex.”

There was an anxious pause—and then Chuck put down a finger.

Alex gasped. “What? Who?!”

He cringed. “Someone at my wrestling school back in Kentucky. It was gross.”

She crinkled her nose in disgust. “Well then. Your turn, Trent.”

He had a statement at the ready. “Never have I ever seen Alex naked.”

“DUDE!” she proclaimed. Meanwhile, Chuck and James both put down a finger.

Jack’s brow furrowed. “Okay. No judgment, but please explain.”

Alex rolled her eyes. “It was an accident, and I was only half-naked. They walked in on me while I was changing earlier.”

“That happened today?” Scorpio asked.

“Hence why I said it,” Trent smirked.

Alex’s cheeks burned. “Next!”

That meant Frankie was up. “Alright. Never have I ever… pissed myself during a match.”

“Oh, gross!” Kris laughed—and James put down a finger.

“What!” Alex proclaimed, wide-eyed. “Okay, now you need to explain.”

 He pursed his lips. “Back when I was Fire Ant, Gran Akuma kicked me right in the bladder during a match. I drank too much water that night and a little came out.”

“Oh shit!” Chuck proclaimed. “I remember that!”

Alex and Kris looked at each other—and burst out laughing. “Okay, okay,” Alex eventually said. “You both only have one finger left. Whoever puts a finger down next is the loser.”

“Pressure’s on,” Jack said as he rubbed his hands together. He smirked. “Never have I ever drunkenly confessed my love for someone.”

“OH COME ON!” Chuck shouted as he put down his last finger. “You said that on purpose!”

Jack shook his head. “Dude, no I didn’t,” he said with a laugh. “I swear to God.”

“Who did you confess your love to?” Kris curiously asked.

Chuck looked sheepishly down at the floor. “Alex,” he muttered.

Kris’s jaw dropped as she turned wide eyes on Alex. “When did this happen?”

“After Double or Nothing last year,” she said.

“I was three sheets to the wind and we were in Vegas, alright?” Chuck explained before anyone else could put in their two cents. “Besides, I didn’t mean love like in love. I meant it like, ‘I love you, you’re my best friend.’”

Trent patted his back. “You keep telling yourself that, bud.”

“I did mean in that way!” he insisted.

“Okay, well however you meant it,” Alex interjected, “you lost the round, which means that Freshly Squeezed here has won the right to my accompaniment tomorrow night.”

Chuck pouted. “Man…”

“BUT.” Alex held up a finger. “We all know I don’t have the final say on that. It’s up to the EVPs and Tony.”

Chuck looked back up at her. “What? Then why the hell did you make us do all that?”

She shrugged. “Because it was fun.”

“It really was,” Kris agreed, and everyone else echoed the sentiment. Everyone, that is, except Chuck and James.

“If I explain to Kenny what happened tonight,” James started, “he’ll probably honor my victory.”

Alex’s eyes widened. “NO!” she proclaimed. “You’re hereby disqualified; I’m going out with Chuck and Trent tomorrow.”

“Yes!” Chuck raised his arms in victory. “You suck, Orange!”

The room erupted as everyone started arguing and talking over each other again. But Alex sat back, a contented smile on her face. The Best Friends really were her best friends and, in that moment, there was nowhere else she’d rather be.

[frontproofmedia]

Lara vs. Warrington 2 + Undercard Press Conference Quotes

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Published: September 04, 2021

Eddie Hearn: “Thank you for being here in Leeds today, what a turnout, it feels so good. I forgot what this felt like, the big stage, the media, the fans, the atmosphere and anticipation for a massive night on Saturday in Leeds. “20,000 people at Headingley Stadium, the home of Leeds Rhinos transformed for an epic night of boxing, live and exclusively on DAZN all around the world. “This is one of the best cards we have ever put on and on Saturday night you are going to have a night and experience you will never forget. Inside the stadium, inside the ropes, the fans in the arena will get one of the best nights of live boxing they have ever witnessed and on screen we will bring you the best talent line-up in boxing. “This Saturday Laura Woods leading the presentation with Tony Bellew, over to Darren Barker and Chris Lloyd, then we mix it up with Mike Costello the legend and Andy Lee. What a team we have here and what a night we have.” Josh Warrington: “It’s good to be back, it’s nice of everyone to turn up and nice to see there’s going to be a big crowd on Saturday night – it feels normal. This is what I got used to, I got used to this big stage ever since I won the World Title. I’ve been looking forward to this for such a long time, we were talking about conquering the world together, winning the Ring Magazine belt, Las Vegas, New York and ride off into the sunset. “What happened on February 13 happened, it was a hard lesson to take but this is where the next stage goes on, the next chapter begins. I’ve been about the game a long time and I can’t wait to redeem myself. “I take him [Lara] very seriously, I think the first time he said that he saw fear in my eyes, there’s not fear in there I was just looking straight through him. I didn’t think that he could bring what he delivered and that’s my mistake, that’s me being too cocksure of myself. I won’t make that same mistake again; I have the fear factor about this one. He said some random comments about me slagging his dad off, I slag my own dad off, but there’s no personal animosity between me and Mauricio – it’s just business. “When Anthony Joshua got his redemption against Andy Ruiz Jr, it was done and forgotten about and that’s going to be the same Saturday night. I’m sure he’s come over with a bit of an entourage, he looks smart today, had a haircut, but once he’s been done, he’ll have given me a massive lesson in my career but that will be it, we’ll move on. “I’m a proud man and it would have made my toes curl to see and watch somebody else fight Mauricio Lara. I want to get my redemption, I feel that Lara is a great fighter, a strong fighter, but I feel like I’ve been at a higher level for such a long time and beaten fighters that are such a higher level than what he is. “I turned a few book deals down last year and I think after February 13 publishers weren’t bothered about writing a book about Josh Warrington anymore. After Saturday night we’ll put it right, add a few zeros onto that book deal. Going back to normality, going back to a stadium, having people in the crowd – they’re my second wind, my adrenaline, my twelfth man, that little advantage. They’re part of Josh Warrington’s attributes, it’s going to be special to walk out, I’ll give them redemption.” Mauricio Lara: “I hope everyone is well, we have to think now that February 13 February is in the past. I’m now completely and 100% focused on putting on a good show on Saturday. I’m prepared not 100%, but 1000%. Perhaps people didn’t know me previously, but they do now in certain areas, there’s going to be a repeat of what happened – there are no surprises in life. “It really hurt me that a great champion like him [Josh] didn’t give me the credit for my performance but that’s in the past now. I can’t wait for Saturday to come along now and I’m going to show him, in his words, that we’re definitely not on the same level – I’ll have my hand raised on Saturday night. “I’ve prepared for a knockout, but I’ve also prepared for the twelve rounds, I can assure you it won’t go the distance.” Katie Taylor: “This is the first fight in a long time where I’ve actually fought in front of a live crowd, the fact that’s here in Leeds, some of my best memories as a kid are visiting this city, going to Leeds United games at Elland Road. This city has a special place in my heard and I never thought I’d have a chance to fight here. I’m just so excited about it. “This is a huge fight for both of us, I don’t overlook anybody, I can’t afford to get complacent and when you do it’s when you start to actually lose fights. I have prepared for this fight just like I’ve prepared for any fight. I’m expecting a tough challenge on Saturday, and I’m prepared for that. “I feel great, I know I can’t do this forever, but I still feel very fresh right now and I still have plenty more years in the ring. This training camp has gone great, I feel sharp and strong, I can’t wait to produce one of my best performances on Saturday night.” Jennifer Han: “My team and I have travelled a long way, all the way from El Paso, Texas, to be here to show the world what we have. I’ve worked my entire life for this kind of opportunity and I’m excited to be here – it’s my time. “It’s already been life changing, we’ve worked hard, and I’ve overcome many obstacles to get to this point. I’ve never fought on this kind of a stage, so this is going to be amazing. “I do have a lot of respect for Katie, I’ve studied her and it’s time to shine on Saturday.” Conor Benn: “It’s either going to be a proper serious fight or someone’s getting laid out, and it isn’t going to be me. That’s for sure. I work so hard, confidence is a luxury for the hard working, and people mistake by confidence for arrogance. But those people aren’t up with me running at 3 in the morning. I’m crushing it in the gym, and when I work as hard as I do, I have the right to be confident because I leave no stone unturned. “Look at the shape of me. That’s a testament to the five years hard work, that’s a testament to my team working overtime, my strength and conditioning coach, my physio, my nutritionist, Tony, my agent, it all plays a massive part. Teamwork makes the dream work they say, that’s where we’re at. All I have to do is focus on beating the geezer up in the other corner, my team allows me to do just that – I’ve done it now 18 times. “I’m very confident, Granados is a massive test, he’s been in with the top boys, the top dogs. He thinks he’s experienced and that he’s tested at a high level. What did Formella say, what did Vargas say. If they don’t want to believe the hype, I’ll make them believe the hype, it’s as simple as that. I work so hard to be denied and that’s where that ends. It’s been five years of hard work, I love this life, I’m a fighter. “You’ve seen the change, the transformation, it hasn’t come overnight, and it hasn’t come easy. I’ve put the work in every single time, I give 100%, I’m leaving it all in there Saturday night. “I don’t believe the hype whatsoever, not in the slightest, otherwise I still wouldn’t be getting up and doing my runs – I’d think I was all that and a bag of chips. I don’t rely on my power, I’ve been watching Granados’ fights, against Broner and Easter, he gave them one hell of a fight. One of the best Granados and I believe I’m going to get the best Granados. Create the hype and don’t believe it. “I’ve had so many people come up to me and say it’s going to be some reception you know; it’s going to be incredible. I’m thinking they’re going to top my O2 debut you know, I just have a feeling about it. I’ve had such a warm welcome here, big shoutout to the Leeds supporters, thank you. We’ve got a job to do Saturday but after that, I might join you lot in the pub and have a beer.” Adrian Granados: “First and foremost, I want to give thanks to God. Thanks to Eddie for reaching out for me, giving me this opportunity, everyone at Matchroom and DAZN. It was unfortunate, both of us were chomping at the bit for this fight, very exciting build-up and then a day before the weigh-in Conor tested positive for COVID. “This is the age we live in now, although I was very frustrating and upset, everything happens for a reason, and I believe it worked out. Now we’re fighting in Leeds in front of 20,00 people, I’m excited, I’ve already dreamt about fighting here, overseas, I come from Chicago. It’s a dream come true, everyone has been very welcoming and accepting. Now it’s fight time and I’m ready to get this fight going Saturday. “It’s boxing talk, I understand the confidence he’s portrayed and that’s why I’ve answered back and let him know I’m obviously not here to lay done either. I think it makes for an exciting fight, I think our styles are going to match well, l think we’ve got a classic in the making. May the best man win, may God protect us both and we both come out safely.” Jovanni Straffon: “It’s great to be back here in England. What I would say about the fight is it’s not a fight between Mexico and the UK, it’s me and my opponent in the ring. What I will say is that I have the hunger when I go into these fights, I look at this as if this belt was vacant and I have to go in and win it – I have to show that hunger to do that. “Any fighter that’s in front of me is a block in the road for and I have to take them away. They’re also a thief because they’re taking money from my family. I come to fight, and I hope he also comes to fight. “First and foremost, I’m not overlooking Maxi in this instance, he shouldn’t either. It’s dangerous when fighters do that, I want to show I have the hunger, if he wants to win this fight, he’ll have to kill me. On Saturday you’ll be shouting Viva Mexico.” Maxi Hughes: “I’m grateful for the opportunity, I’ve worked hard and been in the pro game eleven years. I believe I am just getting started, whoever’s the oldest world champion, I’m going to try and break that record. “A lot of people are now referring to me as the Cinderella Man, that couldn’t be truer, this morning my missus said to me this house needs cleaning before you leave this house. I’ve been cleaning the house, but when I go to the ball on Saturday night in Headingley I’ll be coming home with two glass slippers on. “It’s the experience, I’m older and wiser, you can’t buy or steal experience, you’ve got to go out and earn it. Doing this as long as I have and being around some top domestic opposition, it’s all led me to where I am. Everything happens for a reason, every fight I’ve took and not got the decision has led me to this, now’s the time to capitalise on it and reap the rewards of the resilience, hard work and dedication I’ve shown. “I want to put my name up there in the top ten across the world, hopefully across all the sanctioning bodies. While I’m in this red-hot form, get the win on Saturday and you better put me in the ring with Canelo in this form before it runs out. “Josh has been a great World Champion, not only did he win the World Title, but he defended it successfully in great fashion. You only need to look at what he’s doing in the gym, copy what Josh does because he’s laid out how you become and stay a world champion. We get on well aside from boxing, it’s been brilliant bouncing off each other in the gym. It’s been brilliant to share training camp with him.” Ebanie Bridges: “I’m actually really excited about this fight, watching her [Mailys] fight with Ellie, I think she has a great style, and our styles are going to gel really well together. I think with that it’s going to make it an exciting fight, she’s tough and I love tough opponents. I’m looking forward something exciting there, another good performance by myself. I’m only getting better, feeling stronger than ever, I’m looking forward to showing you all what I’ve got come Saturday night. “Training with Brian Cohen in America and having those eight weeks in Philadelphia, I’m really focused on footwork and balance – plating my feet. We all know I’m strong but if you can’t get into position, it’s not effective. Now I feel like I’m really nailing that, we saw that with Bec, about the positioning and planting the feet to throw those shots to get my full power into it. “My cut for this fight was easy, I just fought four weeks ago. I’m hungry as ever, I love to fight, I’m hungry to punch on.” Mailys Gangloff: “It’s a good fight because it will be at my perfect weight class, I think I’ll bring something that couldn’t bring the last time I was here. I’m very excited, I hope it will be a very good show.” Hopey Price: “It’s good to keep busy, I’m glad I got out two weeks ago and it’s good to be back home, in front of my hometown and fans. It’s another step up, another step forward in my career, there’s a lot of good fighters on this show, a lot of fighters from Leeds, but I’m coming to steal the show on Saturday night. “Another good performance this weekend and I’m looking to step up again and it won’t be long before the domestic titles come my way.” Zahid Hussain: “I’m definitely looking forward to it, in front of 20,000 people. I’d like to thank Matchroom, my manager Steve Wood and my coach for spending time training me.” “I’m just going to do what I do best. Experience is going to play a major part on Saturday night.” Jack Bateson: “I’m buzzing to be back here in Leeds with a crowd, now Covid’s on its way out. Thanks for the opportunity, Eddie and yeah, I’m looking to shine, it won’t be last time I’ll be on one of these big cards. I’m looking forward to it. “I’ve known Josh since we were young kids, growing up, I want to be where he is now. He paved the way for us and I’m sure that one day if I keep working hard, I can be where he is and doing it for the city.” Felix Garcia: “First and foremost, thanks for the opportunity to be here. I’m extremely happy to be here and I’ve prepared extremely hard for this night. Hopefully you’ll see the best of me on Saturday.” Brandon Stansfield: “This is a massive opportunity for me, a big stage now coming from Bradford Hotel on my last fight jumping to this fight, it’s a massive opportunity for me and I cannot wait. “I did quite well with tickets, a lot really. I’m one of the first ones on, I’ll get changed and watch Josh Warrington do his thing again.” Mali Wright: “I’m looking forward to it man, I can’t believe it, fighting in my hometown of Leeds. I went to university in Headingly, I used to live there, 2-minute walk from the stadium. It’s surreal even seeing my name here, so I can’t wait and I’m looking forward to it.”

(Featured Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

[wsmith215]

Coronavirus limitations to hit elite boxers hardest according to promoters

3:28 AM ET

Nick Parkinson

Close•Reports on boxing for ESPN.co.uk, as well as several national newspapers •Has been reporting on British boxing for over 15 years •Appears on BoxNation’s Boxing Matters show

Elite boxers will be hit harder than lower level fighters due to the limitations on sports events caused by the coronavirus pandemic, MTK Global vice-president Jamie Conlan has said.

As restrictions are being lifted in some parts of the world, boxers are weighing up whether to box sooner for less money without crowds or wait for a bigger pay day when crowds are allowed back.

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Some boxers don’t have a choice and face more months of inactivity before it will be possible for them to box again due to government restrictions on public gatherings.

Professional boxing events without crowds will be limited to five bouts per show and are expected to be staged in the United Kingdom (UK) from July after the sport was shut down in March due to the coronavirus crisis.

However, Conlan says it is the top names who could potentially lose out when boxing resumes again.

“I think the elite fighters will be in a worse position then the lower level fighters,” Conlan told ESPN.

MTK Global vice-president Jamie Conlan is concerned about the impact the coronavirus pandemic is going to have on the top performers. Photo by Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images

“The top guys rely on ticket deals, but now you are going to have to rely on a purse [without any crowds]. With the big names the money they were being guaranteed before is going to be skimmed down for these behind closed doors shows.”

MTK is planning behind-closed-doors events in July and August, held at venues around the UK.

Former two division world champion Carl Frampton, now operating at junior lightweight, and featherweight contender Michael Conlan — brother of Jamie — are being lined up to box on the same bill in non-title bouts, against British or Irish opponents, in August.

Josh Taylor, the WBA-IBF super lightweight champion, is another MTK-managed boxer and Conlan hopes he will box again in August or September.

Both Frampton and Conlan had been hoping for WBO world title shots this summer, but now face keep-busy fights next.

“We are looking to get out on ESPN+ in July, maybe on mainland UK or in Belfast, and then again in August in Belfast,” Conlan added.

Carl Frampton is looking to make history by becoming the first Irish boxer to win world titles in three divisions. Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

“Michael, Carl and Josh all need to get out as part of their Top Rank deals. We are still waiting for government guidelines before we say we can go here or there for sure but we are looking at kicking off in July and then another one after that.

“All three of them need to get out at this stage of their careers. It’s calculated risks for all three.”

Conlan says some boxers may walk away from the sport after potentially losing out on a year’s income.

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“It could potentially push some out of the sport,” Conlan said.

“They might be living fight by fight with purses and have a second job to get by. If you are 28 or 29, your mind might be willing but your body might be saying otherwise when things return to normal.

“It’s going to be vital to get the boxing circuit alive again after this and it all rides on how the next four or five months go and how we integrate into this new boxing normal. The longevity of boxing depends on how we adjust, and if boxing promoters can come together.”

While promoters like Eddie Hearn are planning on resuming boxing in July without crowds at events staged in the garden of Matchroom Sport’s headquarters in Essex, those promoters without a television income cannot say for sure when they will be back in business.

Steve Wood, a small hall boxing promoter and manager based in the north of England, says some of his stable have concerns over the future.

“It’s just started to worry a few of them now,” Wood told ESPN.

Michael Conlan is one of the boxers being lined up for a non-title bout in August. Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images

“Boxers are used to bot boxing, not getting an income for two or three months at a time so it wasn’t a concern for them when all this started because they were used to gaps. But now that gap period is going on and on and they asking me if they are going to fight this year. I can’t answer that at the moment.

“No small promoter can afford to do a show behind closed doors. I used to lose money even when there was a gate.”

Wood manages the likes of IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington, who was scheduled to box China’s Can Xu in a world title unification fight in Leeds, England, this summer.

Now Warrington has no idea when, or if, that fight will take place and Wood says the opposite end of the scale — the journeymen and prospects — will also be impacted.

“Kids who are in the early stage of development will not be on these initial TV shows of five fights, they will be 50-50 fights because there will be a lot of fighters putting their hands up for it,” Wood added.

“While boxing will be these five-fight shows behind closed doors, the journeymen will suffer because there will be no need for them. The broadcasters and top promoters will want reasonable fights, good opposition.

“The elite level will also suffer because unless they do pay-per-view, it doesn’t make sense what so ever doing big fights. Would you take a risk with an elite fighter getting cut or injured in one of these fights, and if he does he then loses out on a big pay day later down the line.

A future featherweight title unification fight against Shakur Stevenson could be a major coup for Josh Warrington. Dave Thompson/PA via AP

“I don’t think it will work for the elite level either so it’s the ones in the middle who are coming through and getting ready for title fights who will be fighting first.

“We’re not sure yet what it will be like when crowds do come back. I think everyone is going to reassess what they are doing. Are people going to be willing to come to shows like they were before? We don’t know at the moment.”

Conlan agrees that younger boxers will also suffer while there are restrictions on crowds attending boxing, while others are seeing this period as an opportunity to progress their careers.

“You might see 50-50 fights more and the prospects could be pushed back in their progress because of this,” Conlan said.

“You have five fights on these shows in the UK, and you have to put on your best fights to get the television audiences. There’s no room for building fights on a bill like that. That guy who is 10-0 will have to take a big risk if he wants to fight soon.

“But some fighters could look at this opportunistically, the ones who are not main event fighters who are perhaps 8-0, 9-0, 10-0, and they have a chance to get themselves out there. That’s what we are looking at in the UK right now. We will be asked, ‘is so-and-so willing to take a risk against our guy?’ We have 160 boxers on our books and some guys are looking at it glass half full, others glass half empty.

“People are looking at it with their age in mind too — maybe they need to take that leap, or others who are 22 or 23 will feel they are willing to sit out five or six months and meanwhile develop themselves in the gym.”

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Premier League: talking phases from the weekend’s war

Louis van Gaals luck may lastly be changing at Manchester United, Norwich may have found a plan to tackle Leicester and Aston Villa are too bad to stay up

1) Is Van Gaals fluke changing at Manchester United?

Who knows what is next for Louis van Gaals tremendously erratic Manchester United but perhaps the Dutchmans luck is changing. And changing big time: opportunity only knocked for Marcus Rashford when Anthony Martial was downed injured in the warm-up against Midtjylland. Fast presented to Sunday evening and United have a new four-goal hero in Rashford, as Arsenal were downed 3-2 to follow the 5-1 walloping of the Danish champions on Thursday. Both of these triumphs were at Old Trafford and there was a definite reconnection between the crowd and Van Gaal that teemed visceral passion. It attained when he did his falling follower number before Mike Dean, to present the fourth official how Van Gaal belief Alexis Snchez was trying to moron the referee, Craig Pawson. At that time the substantiate started ballistic and it did not find beyond the bounds of footballs operatic storylines for Van Gaal to rescue the season with a top four region, and/ or an FA Cup or Europa League triumph, and still be in place next season. If so, this would be the most recent illustration that it is better to be a lucky general than a good one. Jamie Jackson

Match report: Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal Rashfords second match even better than his first, does Van Gaal Amy Lawrence: Wenger faces familiar the issue as Arsenal frost

Manchester Uniteds director Louis van Gaal has terms with fourth official Mike Dean on the touchline before descending over. Photo: Oli Scarff/ AFP/ Getty Images

2) Tottenham desperate for Alli to remain fit

The one annoy for Tottenham Hotspur after Sundays spirited and essential 2-1 residence acquire over Swansea City was the slew of Dele Alli tottering heavily on his way out of the dressing room. The midfielder, who has been one of the stars of the season, said that he had kicked the field in the warm-up but he still got through the 90 instants. Perhaps it was the adrenaline that carried him, together with his desire but, with the visit to West Ham United tower on Wednesday night, Tottenham have to hope that he experiences no ill outcomes. There was a moment during the first half when Alli lost possession and the manager, Mauricio Pochettino, immediately signalled to the midfield equivalents, Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb, to embark warming up. It manifested a certain degree of anxiety over Alli, although he would not have completed the parallel if it had been too great. This was not one of Allis most effective performances Christian Eriksen moved the show alongside him but his significance to Tottenhams title push is extraordinary. David Hytner

Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Swansea City The Dozen: the weekends best Premier League photos

3) Norwich discover a blueprint for managing Leicester

For the best part of 89 instants Norwichs gameplan worked to perfection against Leicester and may support a blueprint for other golf-clubs to follow between now and the end of the season, particularly at the King Power Stadium, where the Premier League rulers still have to play West brom, Newcastle, Southampton, West Ham, Swansea and Everton. Norwich distributed a three-man center explanation, with Russell Martin virtually playing as a sweeper, sat deep and in fact requested Leicester to try to break them down without being able to go in behind. I look at how other teams set up against certain opposition and the only squad who has played that direction against them has been Manchester United, Alex Neil, Norwichs manager announced, referring to their three-man explanation. I watched that competition it was 1-1 but Man United should have won. I looked at that and thought we could distribute that and it would help us.

Leicester experienced 59% self-possession against Norwich singularly it was only the third season this season that they have had more of the pellet than their foes yet they registered only 3 shots on target, the first after 58 instants and the last when Leonardo Ulloa tapped in a drastic late win. Unable to break with alacrity and play on the counterattack, Leicesters threat was nullified for long periods. There was no room for Jamie Vardy to exploit behind the Norwich defence, which was compounded by the fact that Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton is impossible to form the best use of the ball in wide-ranging localities, until the latter eventually encountered his series with the cross that Ulloa proselytized in the 89 th minute. The good news for Leicester is that they still managed to find a way to win video games, mainly thanks to Ranieris tactical play late on. The bad news is that they could come up against these tactics again and will need to be more adept at finding a way through. Stuart James

Match report: Leicester City 1-0 Norwich City Ranieri swerves Thinkerman for Leicesters late winning

Norwich administrator Alex Neil went close to get a level against Leicester City. Picture: BPI/ REX/ Shutterstock

4) Chelsea focus is on Europe and the fitness of Terry

Chelsea may have registered back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season, reasonablenes in itself for confidence, but it is still hard not to be distracted by what awaits in the rematch against Paris Saint-Germain in nine daylights occasion. Trailing narrowly from the first leg, but bolstered by Mikel John Obis away goal, Guus Hiddinks side believe they can still force passage beyond the runaway Ligue 1 presidents and into the quarter-finals. Ensuring they are in the best district to strain the Parisians on 9 March has become a priority.

To that intention, Hiddink is already mulling over how to reintegrate John Terry into his lineup and ensure his captain, potentially weighing down his last few months at the organization, is fully recovered from the hamstring injury sustained against Newcastle. The 35 -year-old had admitted in the build-up to the expedition to St Marys that carefulnes are liable to be the very best approaching. We looked at him on the training slope and asked him how he felt, and he pronounced: Okay, but not ready to play, spoke Hiddink. Ill be careful because I have known in the past of these various kinds of injuries. They take longer to mend than an ankle trauma, or whatever, and its better to wait maybe even a game longer than everyone speculates. So we speak and I announced: Hey, gives take our times and not hasten things.

Terry, on 699 association images, will be infuriated at the untimely sort of the damage thrown his time at Stamford Bridge appears to be periphery towards the end. Tuesdays expedition to Norwich will come too soon. So, in truth, might Saturdays inspect of Stoke City, entailing Chelsea may have to rejig their training routine to render the command something akin to a competitive running around before PSG arrive in the capital. Its exceedingly, very tight[ in terms of his availability against the French side ], contributed Hiddink. Well see how he greets and, if he needs a game, we might organise one at Cobham: an intense recreation, perhaps 11 vs 11 or a smaller-side competition with strength. But its very tight, its very tight. The thought that he might have to sit on the sidelines and watch what could be Chelseas last Champions League game for a while will drive Terry to distraction. Ensuring the command can play some percentage is one of this clubs priorities. Dominic Fifield

Daniel Taylor: Conte court case could be a distraction for Chelsea Hiddink content after key players take bidding against Southampton Match report: Southampton 1-2 Chelsea

5) Gradels return can give Bournemouth a raising for run-in

Statistics show that Bournemouth participates have ranged more on average than those of any other unit in the league this season so topics have been asked about their ability to sustain their vigor for the rest of awareness-raising campaigns. But on Saturday it was their opposings who examined fatigued and it took got a couple of fine saves by Watfords Heurelho Gomes to stop the south coast back from striding two points a little bit closer to Premier League survival. Those saves were from hits by Max Gradel, who appeared sharp on his return from six months out with a knee ligament hurt. It was unfortunate that Junior Stanislas hamstring injury was the reason for Gradels introduction in the 21 st hour, but Bournemouth can take encouragement from Gradels return for the final part of the campaign. The winger, signed for 7m from Saint Etienne last summertime, mentioned afterwards that he was surprised at how fit he seemed during the course of its first equal back. He added that he is all the more determined to make an impact between now and the end of the season in order to repay Eddie Howe for standing him to do most of his rehabilitation back home in the Ivory Coast. When I came back this month parties were surprised to find me, articulated Gradel. People didnt expect me to qualify and then when he saw me I examined good. When someone relies you, you cannot make them down. I established him he did the right thing by relying me and letting me go home and today the result is Im back to carry on. Paul Doyle

Match report: Watford 0-0 Bournemouth Gradel thanks administrator Howe for his cartel

Max Gradels return for Bournemouth can boost the side. Photo: Jason Brown/ JMP/ REX/ Shutterstock

6) Villa are too bad to stay up

The Premier League has had some striking enormous flees, from Oldham in 1992 -9 3, to Wigan showing that “youve been” can elapse your way out of hardship in 2011 -1 2. In the first Premier League season, Oldham stayed up despite being eight parts behind Crystal Palace going into the last week of the season. Aston Villa still have 11 tournaments to make up eight moments on 17 th-placed Norwich, but scarcely any sentient beings give them a chance.

Rmi Garde knows as much: after their 2-1 defeat at Stoke on Saturday, he praised their feeling but spotlit their crucial shortcoming in a manner that evoked Martin Johnsons famous paraphrase about the England cricket team in 1986 -8 7. Villa, you experience, have just been two troubles: they cant score points and they cant stop admitting them. We know we are a unit that finds it difficult to score points, articulated Garde, and we are not scoring many. Relegation is the inevitable resolution of inexorable decline since Martin ONeill left in 2010, and the listing of Premier League ever-presents will soon be reduced to six. Villa, to overrule the term generally spurted in these times of year, are surely too bad to stay up. Rob Smyth

Aston Villa: the squad that pedalled downwards and expected to stand still Match report: Rekindled 2-1 Aston Villa Stoke win over Villa defaced by coin-throwing pretension

7) Spotlight on Berahino is becoming too bright

Is anybody else tired of the Saido Berahino story? Not a coincide goes by without Tony Pulis facing endless, repetition questions about the striker, who increasingly seems to have his head clamped back on and has perhaps realised that he is unlikely to earn a coveted transport to a big team if sat on the bench. Every question put to the West Brom manager in his daily newspaper briefing on Saturday was about Berahino and it is becoming increasingly difficult to remember a time at The Hawthorns when the stalemate did not dominate dialogue. It is also easy to forget that Berahino stands unproven in numerous respects; a musician with abundance of flair but a questionable mentality. Ask a neutral to call one standout minute and they are able to conflict. Ask an Albion regular for a definitive description and something negative would feature. Yet in this age of endless supposition, wouldnt “its been” refreshing to blur out delivery talk for the remainder of the season and simply celebrate a young striker try to develop his play? Alan Smith

Pulis tells Berahino to squeeze the pips at West Brom Laurie Cunningham: the dancing footballer with eternal youth Match report: West Brom 3-2 Crystal Palace

West Bromwich Albion devotees brace a banner dedicated to their musician Chris Brunt after coins were shed at him last weekend. Photograph: Tim Goode/ PA

8) Bilic foreground the altered in West Hams intent

West Ham rarely burst into life against Sunderland but the league counter does not lie and Slaven Bilic accepts its own position on the fringe of the European places owes plenty to their positive stance. Our fourth game of the season was at Anfield, remembered Bilic. Wed pulsated Arsenal in our first recreation and then lost to Leicester and Bournemouth at home. My assistant answered a time would be good tomorrow and I added yeah, it would be good but I wouldnt take it now. Sometimes you are over the moon with a part after the game, but beforehand I will ever say no thank you because we have a good squad and I believe in it. They won that match at Liverpool 3-0 and have gone on to brighter things since. It is something of a oddity that two such forward-thinking line-ups as West Ham and Everton have more sucks than any of their top-flight competitives, with 10 and 11 respectively. That statistic does not bother the Upton Park faithful, who visualize the proof of their teams intent unfolding before them. There is little exhilaration in compounding the disappointment of their former manager, Sam Allardyce, after his team played well enough to deserve a reap of their own on Saturday but Bilics words unwittingly foreground the fundamental change in prospect that has arisen at West Ham since he took his contenders old place. Nick Ames

Allardyce suspicions for Sunderland future despite Bilic support Sunderland commit free shirts to fans passing to West Ham away accord Match report: West Ham 1-0 Sunderland

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CONOR BENN VS. CHRIS ALGIERI + UNDERCARD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

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Published: December 10, 2021

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman: “It’s a bit chilly here compared to Las Vegas, we’re on one hell of a run, of course in Madison Square Garden just a couple of weeks ago – we saw a fight of the year contender between Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos Jr. Last week we were at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for another great fight between Devin Haney and JoJo Diaz Jr. “We’re in Liverpool for a tremendous fight card, a doubleheader with Conor Benn and Katie Taylor. We're expecting around 7,000 at the M&S Bank Arena, a great city and we can’t wait to be back on Saturday night.” Conor Benn: “I know Algieri’s a test, he’s a step up, he said I haven’t been tested but it’s getting a bit boring saying I haven’t been tested. Every fight moving forward for me is potentially going to be a test, Formella said exactly the same thing, so did Vargas. You don’t get ranked top five in the WBC, WBA, ranked in the IBF, and WBO for nothing. I plan on passing these tests with flying colors and that’s exactly what I do. “I know Algieri’s going to come in there to win, I’ll exploit his mistakes as well because I see holes in his armor. I’m just ready to fight man, I always get like this during fight week, get intense and animated – ready to go. I want to get in there Saturday night and iron someone out. “Algieri is a better version of all my last opponents, and he beats everything they do in my opinion in terms of boxing IQ, cuteness, knowing his way around the ring. People say he can’t punch but anyone with 8oz gloves can punch. I’m well prepared, I’m not concerned about what he brings to the table because I know what I can do. “Algieri is going to come, he’s going to throw and try to win, which him and his team believe he can. I’ll exploit holes in his armor, he’s up against a young lion, up against someone who’s on the come up. Every single camp I go in to I give it 100%, I level up every single time and can only beat who you put in front of me, and I will deal with them. Not only do I beat them, but I learn, school’s never out. “I had to show a lot of grit and determination of overlooking an opponent early on in my career, I know now never to do that. When someone asks me about other fights, I don’t entertain the thought, at the end of the day none of them materialize if I don’t get through Algieri. Once I get through him, and I believe I will, then the doors can open.” Chris Algieri: “Training camp has gone great, I feel great and got in here early, we’ve all adjusted very well to the time zone. We’re happy to be here, I know a lot of European fighters are enamored in fighting in the States, but a lot of us are enamored about fighting here because of the fan base here in Europe and in the UK – the UK fans are some of the best in the world. The opportunity to be here and fight in front of those crowds is a big feather in the cap for me in my career. “I’m excited for fight night, it’s going to be electric, I think we have the opportunity to put on a fantastic fight. You [Eddie] mentioned Lopez vs. Kambosos as a potential fight of the year, I think this fight will potentially be a rival to that in terms of a style match-up and what I bring to the table. I think this is going to be a fantastic fight and everybody should tune in. “I’ve been around this game a long time and I’ve been in with the elite of the elite, I’ve been on both sides of the table. At the end of the day, skills pay the bills and experience kills, so we’re coming in here with our experience, our skills, and we’re going to utilize that plan to find a victory. “I’m in fantastic shape, fight week is a lot longer when you don’t have to worry about the weight. I’m just raring to go, I just can’t wait for fight night, I still feel like it’s far away. The weight has been a bit of a blessing.” Katie Taylor: “I’m very aware of the challenge on Saturday night, I haven’t overlooked Sharipova at all, I know what she brings, and I’m prepared for whatever comes my way Saturday night. I’m also aware that there’s so many big fights out there for me, the bigger names that could possibly happen next year, so I’ve got to get through Saturday night first and focus on the bigger fights ahead. “You’ve seen so many upsets so far this year in the boxing world when people have maybe gone into the ring underprepared or overlooking certain opponents. I know that obviously can’t happen, I’ve made that mistake before as an amateur fighter where I have overlooked opponents – being beaten and learning the hard way. I’m 100% prepared and focused coming into the fight, I’m ready to put on a big performance. “I can’t wait, this is such an amazing card with so many packed fights, it’s going to be an amazing atmosphere and an amazing night – full of so many Irish people traveling over for the fight. It’s going to be a loud arena so I can’t wait to get in there and perform.” Firuza Sharipova: “I feel very confident and welcomed here in this city, I have a great respect for Katie Taylor. She’s been my idol all the time but I’m coming here to win. “I was preparing well, thanks to my team for their support and I’m ready for the fight on Saturday night.” Robbie Davies Jr: “It’s a great fight for me to come back to definitely, Hank’s been in with some of the top names in the division. In Liverpool fighting is embedded in us so I won’t be shying away from anything he brings to the table. I’ve been working hard in the gym and I’m ready to go on Saturday night. “There’s definitely a big team bonding in the gym, Shane has had a lot of belief in me since I started, picking out a few things we need to change. Each step forward now we’ll showcase a little bit more of what we’re working on in the gym with Shane – Saturday night is going to be the start of it, and we’ll push on for a big 2022. “This is a must win for me, the Lewis Ritson defeat didn’t go my way, it was a bit disappointing. When I fought the Mexican kid, everyone watching seen what went on, but I’m a much better fighter since being with Shane. It’s given me a belief back in myself and I’ll show that Saturday night.” Henry Lundy: “We’ve been training hard, preparing for this fight, we’re ready to get this title. “After that fight fell out, we went back home and stayed in the gym, stayed ready. We always stay ready to fight man, you show up and be prepared and ready to fight – that’s what we do. “This is going to be a great fight; it’s going to be war. I will be victorious.” Joe Cordina: “I can never overlook anybody, I’ve got Miko on Saturday so he’s my focus at the minute. I’ve never been shy to make clear that being a World Champion is what I want and that’s where I want to be. First thing’s first, I’ve got Saturday to deal with. “My performance wasn’t the best at Fight Camp, I felt comfortable and didn’t get out of second gear and I still got the win. I was out for eighteen months and when I got back in the gym I worked on a lot of things and took it into the fight. All I want to do this fight is building on my last camp, building on that performance, and getting a similar result.” Miko Khatchatryan: "This is a great opportunity for me, it’s a last-minute fight but I’m in great shape and ready to make a good fight on Saturday night.” Peter McGrail: “It’s good times, obviously fight number one was a belter, belter card in Liverpool. You’ve [Eddie] brought another belter card to Liverpool, got me and Joe on it, I’ve trained alongside French and Cordina, I know Robbie Davies, watching Benn and Taylor for years. Boxing on a card alongside these is a privilege and I’m looking forward to Saturday. “The experience of the first fight will be with me for life, probably won’t get anything like that until I’m fighting for titles. It’s good to get that on my debut, I’ve got that under my belt, a good six rounds and the first of my professional career. I’m looking forward to performing on Saturday, keep the ball rolling and pushing on for a big 2022.” Caoimhin Agyarko: “It’s a great opportunity to showcase myself on this platform and what an honour it is to fight on Katie Taylor and Conor Benn’s undercard. I’ve had the privilege of being in training camps with Katie so fighting on her card means so much to me. I’ve got 150 crazy Irish fans coming over for Saturday night so it’ll feel like, I can’t wait to get in there and put on an explosive performance. “I want to be in the best fights possible and in the past, it has been hard to match me. I’ve got an unbeaten fighter in front of me on Saturday night, so I look forward to getting past that test, being in some fights next year and going back to Belfast and headlining a show there – putting my name in the Middleweight division.” Noe Larios Jr: “I’m happy to be here, I feel blessed, I’m super stoked to have this opportunity. I’m just here to do my job on Saturday and get the job done. I’m happy to be part of this undercard. “I think at some point there’s a time you have to fight the bigger guys and bigger opponents. This is that time and we’re ready for it on Saturday.” Paddy Lacey: “I’m lucky to be here and to be in this situation. Five years ago, I was playing professional football looking upwards of getting to the Premier League and then some. If you’ve followed me recently, you’ll see what the story is and the what the journey has been.” “I’ve got quite a big following, I think it’s relatable to loads of people in Liverpool, we’ve all made mistakes and I’m just trying to build myself back up – not in football anymore but in boxing. Hopefully the support continues, and I can climb up these rankings and do something in boxing. “People used to snigger when I was boxing and playing football but in my 17 amateur fights I snoozed half of them – I was knocking out everybody in the amateurs. If people will comment and look down, they’ll find out when they fight me.” Jordan Gill: “I’m glad to be still fighting, thanks for having me on the card, I was absolutely gutted when Guerfi pulled out, I thought this was going to be the weekend I won that European Title and push on. This is boxing and these things happen, it’s been delayed, and I look forward to a good fight on Saturday. “I was miserable for about an hour, horrible to be around and upset, but you have to get out of bed in the morning and push on. I’ve stayed in the gym all year, I feel like I’ve been mandatory for this title for ages so I’m looking forward to getting the win on Saturday night, looking good for the fans who have travelled and pushing on for the European Title. “It’s a great division and I’m glad to be a part of it, I feel like getting Saturday out of the way, win a European Title and my name’s well and truly in the mix. If I get a final eliminator or a defence of the title, maybe even a straight World Title shot next year, let’s go for it and push on – I want these big fights.” Calum French: “I’ve been boxing in these sports halls, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, all over the world over the past five years, it’s going to be nice to come out and box in front of all my friends and family in a big stadium like the M&S Bank Arena. “Hopefully I can take that amateur experience into the pro game, I had a few WSB fights for the five rounds distance so I can hopefully take that experience into the professional ranks and be Matchroom’s next star.” Joe McGrail: “It’s a brilliant card to be making my debut on, it’s special for me to be on the card with my brother Peter – I’m happy. “My older brother, he’s like my best mate but I also look up to him. He’s a role model to me.”

(Featured Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

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Joshua Buatsi Stops Ricards Bolotniks In World Title Eliminator

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Published: August 15, 2021

12 x 3 mins WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title Eliminator JOSHUA BUATSI WTKO11 (2:08) v RICARDS BOLOTNIKS (Croydon, England) (Riga, Latvia) Joshua Buatsi continued his march towards a World Title shot with a stunning 11th round knockout win over Ricards Bolotniks in their WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title Eliminator on the third and final week of Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex live worldwide on DAZN. Last year’s MTK Global Golden Contract winner represented the biggest test of Buatsi’s career, but the Croydon man passed the test impressively as he maintained his unbeaten record, progressing to 15-0 (13 KOs). “Most importantly I have to thank God for the victory, different fighters have different things that work for them, I made it clear to you lot that that’s what works for me," Buatsi told DAZN. "In my changing room I don’t need to hear anything, don’t tell me what I did in camp, tell me Josh is written in the bible. That’s what gears me up when I walk down there, what’s written in the bible. “I’m grateful man, Bolotniks big credit to him he pushed me. I think he said Josh hasn’t been past seven rounds before so after seven we’ll see. I was there until 11 and landed a good shot. I worked every round, but I want to congratulate him – he’s a good champion. “When I sat down, I said, 'Buatsi who told you to empty the tank, you’ve got six left?' but I’ve worked hard. You see in camp the sparring is hard man, big credit to my sparring partners they know who they are. I do a hard six run then a fresh one gets in so into the second half I said I’ve been here: I’ve done it before I’ve been here many times in camp. “I’ve got a great team, I’ve got a promoter that believes in me, he’s been pushing for fights like this because he knows I can do it. Tonight, I went out there and showed people I can do it, we just build from here. “We all make sacrifices, I don’t want to single myself out, everyone sacrifices to be where they want to be in life. For me, yeah, I sacrificed, I’m always away from my family and I truly miss them but most importantly I want to get to the top. I feel like I’m in the right team with the right people, I’ve got a great promoter who gives me the opportunities I need. I’ll keep sacrificing.” 10 x 3 mins International Lightweight Contest JOE CORDINA WKO1 (0:53) v JOSHUAH HERNANDEZ (Cardiff, Wales) (Chicago, USA) Joe Cordina blew away Chicago's Joshuah Hernandez inside the opening round to progress to 13-0 (8 KOs) and continue his pursuit of a World Title opportunity. 'The Welsh Wizard' was intent on causing damage from the opening bell, landing hurtful shots early on before dropping Hernandez with a stunning right hand that he never recovered from. “Chris Colbert went eight rounds with Hernandez and what I watched of it, it was quite a tough fight for him," Cordina told Matchroom. "I watched that fight and a couple others of Hernadez and me and Tony came up with a game plan. We were going through in the changing rooms, and it came off a peach. “I had to prove a point, I said in an interview earlier in the week that I don’t take criticism from people I wouldn’t go to for advice. I don’t really value many people’s opinions so yeah, it’s one of those things, you’re going to get people criticizing and it’s whether you take it onboard or not. A lot of people didn’t take into consideration that I’d been out the ring for 16 months, had an operation of my hand, we proved the point tonight and got him out of there early on. “I always look to just get the win, box, if the knockout is there, I’ll take it. As soon as he threw his first jab, I knew he wasn’t going to catch me with that, my sharpness of feet and head movement would get me out of trouble. I started putting my lead hand downstairs and whipping the right hand over the top and I caught him the first time, I knew he was a little bit wobbly. I didn’t want to rush in and try and get him out of there straight away, I knew if I could catch him twice with it there’s going to be a third time and I did exactly that. We got him out of there in great fashion. “I was watching Fight Camp last year and there was no crowd, but even when there wasn’t a crowd it felt like there was a massive atmosphere. When I saw the first Fight Camp week at home, I thought, 'oh my god I’m fighting there in two weeks, it’s going to be amazing'. I’m glad that I’m able to tick it of my list now. “Eddie watched me in York Hall in 2009 and said, 'you’re going to be a World Champion'. It’s nice to hear that but I’ve got to keep improving, keep pushing on and proving him right. I know I’ve got the ability to be a World Champion very soon, but I’ve just got to keep winning. I’ve got the ability to mix it with any of them, it’s just about taking those steps up the ladder to become a World Champion and that’s what I plan on doing. Maybe have two weeks at home, go back to the gym and see what I want to do with Tony. “I know people say it but if you speak to my S&C coach and Tony this was probably one of the best camps I’ve ever had. That’s with the boxing, plus my S&C, everything just came together. Don’t get me wrong I had to be at home for my new-born son but everything’s coming together now. I’m glad I got the win tonight in great fashion and now it’s time to build on it.” 10 x 3 mins WBO Global Welterweight Title MICHAEL MCKINSON WUD10 (99-91, 99-91, 98-92) v PRZEMYSLAW RUNOWSKI (Portsmouth, England) (Slupsk, Poland) Michael McKinson avoided a potential banana skin in Przemyslaw Runowski as he outpointed the brave Pole after ten rounds of skilful boxing from the Portsmouth man. 'The Problem', now 21-0 (2 KOs), dominated on the cards to maintain his unbeaten record and retain his WBO Global Welterweight Title. “I’m happy, that was easier than I thought it would be, I didn’t really get out of first gear,” McKinson told Matchroom. “I visibly hurt him a few times, but I boxed to instructions and got the win. To be fair I didn’t think he won a round against me, but he was a tough guy. Him and his team were very confident beforehand, I liked the energy they brought all week, but I just had to show I was a level above, and I was a few levels above – I’m happy. “They keep giving me harder opposition, they keep telling me it’s a step up and I’m making it look easier and easier. What people forget is I’m learning every day on the job as well; I’m developing and who knows where I can be in a year or twos time. I’m in a position where a lot of boxers dream of being in, all I can do it stay focused, keep learning and keep working my way to the top. “First time on the A side you know, not many people can say they’ve boxed in Gibraltar and not many people can say they’ve boxed in Eddie’s back garden and done both this year. I can’t moan or complain, I’m really happy and blessed. “2021 and my career has just started, 21-0 and making it look easy. I really want to keep stepping up, keep challenging myself, keep having more and more tests. I’m still learning but I’m learning quick and finding it easy now. I want opponents that will make me step through the gears, a few times I hurt him there like I can punch, I don’t need to, I boxed to instructions. I didn’t really get out of first gear. “I believe I’m the best 147 pounder in the country. I like Conor, I get on well with him, but if he can’t get them two guys the Brooks or the Khans, I’m always here. I’ll fight whoever they give me, I’ve never turned down a fight and that’s a fact – I don’t plan on turning down fights. I really do believe in myself, and I believe in my development as well. I’m going to be going to the top I promise you. “I’m really happy for Liam Taylor because he never really gets a fair ranking and he’s a good fighter so I’m happy he’s got that opportunity. I’m not far behind, I’d like the winner, but I’ll fight whoever makes sense and whoever my management team want to get me next – the answer is always yes. That guy there I just beat took Josh Taylor to points on short notice, he had a full camp against me, his team were so confident talking to me in the hotel. “Like I said, I make their confidence fade round by round, they don’t call me ‘The Problem’ for no reason. I will carry on being a problem as I step through the levels as the opposition gets better, trust me. “Josh Kelly has got a lot of ability, he’s a skilful fighter, I like Josh – even after the Avanesyan defeat I still think he’s a top fighter. Florian Marku talks a lot doesn’t he, he didn’t know who I was a few months ago on social media on an interview, he said he didn’t know who I was. At least they’re talking about me now, let him prove himself because I don’t think he’s proved himself at a decent level yet, not saying he’s not a good fighter, but he does need to prove himself as a fighter to be respected. Good luck to all of them, I wish nothing but the best for all my rivals, you know I’m here and I’ll fight anybody. “Even when we go back to proper arenas and stuff, wait till we get hundreds and hundreds of Portsmouth fans loud and proud. I’ve got great support and it’s always growing; I know there’s a lot of people that didn’t come today but when they’re allowed everyone will see the Portsmouth fans.” 6 x 3 mins International Super-Bantamweight Contest HOPEY PRICE WPTS6 (58-55) v CLAUDIO GRANDE (Leeds, England) (Massa, Italy) Hopey Price continued his ring education with a solid six round points win over Claudio Grande. The 21-year-old from Leeds was in control throughout and his dominance showed in the final round when he floored the Italian with the last punch of the fight. Grande made it to his feet but was defeated 58-55 on the referee's card. Price's fifth win in the pro ranks sets up a showdown with Leeds rival Zahid Hussain (16-1, 2 KOs) on the huge Mauricio Lara vs. Josh Warrington 2 show at the Emerald Headingley Stadium on September 4. “It was a good performance, considering I had six months outside the ring, which for a young prospect like me isn’t ideal,” Price told Matchroom. “You can spar as much as you want but it’s not the same feeling as when you’re under the lights. Now looking forward, I’ve got Leeds in three weeks, that’s put me in very good stead – you’ll see the best of me in three weeks’ time. “I remember Dave [Coldwell] shouting at me finish strong, finish strong, and he was just coming in – what we’ve been working on in the gym – I felt like I was catching him with that shot all fight and he just walked onto it lovely at the end and he was gone. “I’m not fighting these journeyman and people with losing records, that’s a proper fight, he’s 5-0, three knockouts, I’m sure he wanted to be a star over there in Italy. He was coming to win and was defeated, I put a stop to that and gave him his first loss. “You began to see it, it’s been coming slowly but surely, now over the next year or so you’ll see the best of me. “I feel like I’m developing more as a fighter under Dave and more as a man – big thanks to Danny Wilson at Boxing Science, he’s making me a lot stronger, and I think you saw it there in the last ten seconds. I’m not just a young kid that people can walk through. “I want to go right to the top. I don’t want to be a World Champion; I want to be a pound-for-pound star and Dave’s the man to take me there. I’ll keep listening, learning, developing and I promise you I will get there one day. “I think fighting in Leeds on September 4 shows the confidence and ability – and the confidence my team has in me – to take a fight like that three weeks before and coming through with flying colours, no injuries. I’m ready to go in my hometown in front of 20,00 fans, I’ll steal the show there 100%. “I’m ready for Zahid Hussain, 100%, I was ready for it back in September and the magic man didn’t turn up. So, we’ll see this time if he comes and if he does, I promise Hopey Price will come out the victor. “I said it from my second pro fight, I believe there are levels to boxing and my boxing brain is one of the best in Britain. I believe I’m levels above Zahid Hussain.” 10 x 3 mins vacant WBC International Bantamweight Title KASH FAROOQ WUD10 (100-90, 100-90, 100-91) v LUIS GERARDO CASTILLO (Glasgow, Scotland) (Jiqulipilco, Mexico) Kash Farooq showed off his wide repertoire of skills to get the better of Luis Gerardo Castillo and pick up the vacant WBC International Bantamweight Title. The Mexican fighter never stopped coming forward but he had no answer for Farooq's frequent bursts. Scores from the ringside judges were 100-90 x 2, and 100-91. “I boxed to the game plan, that was it, you want to get in there and always entertain but I followed the game plan that was it," Farooq told Matchroom. "I listened to my trainer, and he just told me to box, you couldn’t get any footage of him, so I didn’t know what he was about, I adapted on the night and did what I had to do. “I showed tonight the other side of me that can box as well. He’s not world class but it’s a different side of my boxing that I showed, he was tough and game. We didn’t know what we were up against. “If you let anybody hit you, they can punch, he had a bit of sting to his punches, but the name of the game is hit and don’t get hit and that’s what I did in this fight. “He [Gerardo] can’t speak and can’t hear so it’s something different, people were saying he’s come to win, and this was going to change his life, these types of boys want to win but he was up against me so – I wanted to win as much as he did. “These boys are coming from nothing, some of them grew up in poverty and it’s a different lifestyle in Mexico – they fight for a living to make their lives better. It’s either me or him and it wasn’t going to be me today. “It was another learning fight for me, and I’ll progress again, it’s something I picked up – for me it’s just about developing and getting better. This is just another clinical performance by me. “My job is just to fight, and they tell me what route they’re going to go through. If I had a choice I’d fight [McGregor] but it’s down to them and they’ll make the right decision for me. “He wants to fight just like I do but he’s got managers telling him what the best options are like I do as well. The next few weeks my managers are going to sit down with Eddie and discuss what the best options are and what route to go down – if it’s that one next then I’m more than happy to take it. “It is a big fight for Scotland, me and Lee can sell out the SSE Hydro, if it’s the right time and it has a good build me, we can do it. It’s just me and him boxing each other. “For me I’ll take a few days off but it’s back to training. When I’ll really take some time off is when I call it a day and retire. Now I’ve still got levels to progress, go back to the gym and work on things, it’s a lifestyle in boxing and it a short career, you don’t know when retirement is coming. For me I’m going to put everything into boxing for the next few years of my life.” 10 x 3 mins vacant WBA Continental Featherweight Title RAYMOND FORD WTKO3 (0:39) v REECE BELLOTTI (New Jersey, USA) (Watford, England) Raymond Ford earned his first title in the pro ranks by stopping Reece Bellotti in three rounds to capture the vacant WBA Continental Featherweight crown. The New Jersey youngster promised to steal the show ahead of his second fight in the UK and went some way to backing up his pre fight prediction by turning in a savage performance. The 22-year-old demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in US boxing as he took out Watford's Bellotti with a quality attack in the third. “In the third round I was going to start to box and slow it down because I was throwing too many fast, hard shots to hurt him early,” Ford told Matchroom. “My team told me to settle down because we had ten rounds to go and then he came on and ran into the shot. I knew if I didn’t get him out of there when I had him hurt, he was just going to be a tough guy and keep coming forward. When I hit my shot, I had to get him out of there. “It feels great, one of my dreams that came true, the real dream and goal is to get to these World Championship titles. “I knew that he [Bellotti] was kind of the bully and everything so I wanted to beat the bully in the fight. I heard a lot about his power, guys saying his power was up there at the top, I just wanted to show I can be a bigger bully and that’s what I did. “I said yesterday that I was going to handle the pressure. I was just starting to warm up and settle in but the more the fight would have went, the more you would have seen me relaxed and be sharper. I was getting hit by some dumb shots but that was because I was warming up and getting a feel of everything – being back after five months. “I love it in the UK, all week people have been showing me love so I want to come back and fight here again. I want to be one the greatest to ever do it, not just in my division, I just want to be the best and go down as a legend. “It’s important to be patient but I feel like I have the skills and I was blessed with the talents I have where I can fight these top guys at a young age. I want to keep stepping up and get these tougher fights.” 8 x 3 mins International Lightweight Contest ZELFA BARRETT WRTD4 v VIOREL SIMION (Manchester, England) (Lehliu Gară, Romania) Zelfa Barrett stopped Romania's Viorel Simion in four rounds to potentially set up a rematch with Kiko Martinez later this year. The Manchester man dominated from the opening bell, forcing Simion back with hurtful shots that were landing at will. “It was good to get back out there, a long layoff since February, an active fighter is a god fighter,” Barrett told Matchroom. “As you guys know, my mum passed away in June, so we’ve had a lot going on. I wanted to just go in there and tear him apart, professionally, but they put the reigns on me. Sometimes I was eager to go and wanted to unload on him, but my uncle is the greatest coach, I just listened to what he was saying. He was taking punishment and he didn’t continue the fight. I was putting more pressure on and letting my hands go. “It’s a thing of believing in yourself, I know I’ve got the punch power and when you hit correct it hurts anybody. We were working on it with the body pad before we came out and the shots just landed, and he went down. The right body shot would hurt any man, so it was about following what I’ve been practicing in the changing rooms – good performance after a long layoff. “There are some good fighters on this card, I believe I’m one of the best fighters in Britain aside your World Champions, I believe it and I believe in myself otherwise I wouldn’t be here. That fight had to finish like that, if it went 8 rounds, I’d have to be questioning myself as a fighter that’s going to be world champion. “He wasn’t able to continue, he quit, no disrespect to him but he quit. Making a man quit is better than any knockout because his brain hasn’t shut down, the ref hasn’t jumped in, he’s physically quit. Good little fight, good little stoppage. “I’m doing it for myself because I want to be a successful man, that’s all I want to be, believe in God and God will make that happen. I’ve got more motivation, my beautiful daughter Amelia and my beautiful mum on me, my brother, and my cousin Wayne, I’ve got three angels watching me. Onto the next one now and thanks to everyone for watching. “It was better than nothing, I would love to be on about 8 o’clock just looking out, it just brings something out of a fighter that you didn’t think you had. I don’t know, I just love it, you can’t buy that, that feeling that you get, that’s when I’ve had my best performances when there are crowds, and I can feel their energy. “I’d love that fight [Kiko] in Manchester, I respect Kiko as a person, he’s a cool guy. He believed he won, I know I won, the judges thought I won. We can run it again because I want to, not because anyone else wants to, but because I want to. We can run that again and I’ll look good doing it. “I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing, don’t get me wrong the European Titles out there I’d love to get, because you know you’re ready for that jump. We can’t cherry pick, Eddie’s a man who gives you opportunities and you’ve got to be ready. I’d love a shot at the European, but now I’m just going to rest, spend time with my beautiful daughter. Daddy’s a champ and I’m her champ, on to the next.”

(Featured Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

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Eddie Hearn Previews Canelo-Yildirim and Estrada-Chocolatito Cards

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Published: February 12, 2021

Eddie Hearn is expecting fireworks in Miami and Dallas as Canelo Alvarez defends his World Super-Middleweight titles against Avni Yildirim at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on February 27 and Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez clash in a unification rematch at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on March 13, both live worldwide on DAZN (except Mexico for Canelo-Yildirim). TICKETS FOR CANELO VS. YILDIRIM ARE ON SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER – TICKETS START AT $55 (PLUS FEES) – FANS CAN VISIT HARDROCKSTADIUM.COM FOR MORE DETAILS TICKETS FOR ESTRADA VS. CHOCOLATITO ARE ON SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER – TICKETS START AT $35 (PLUS FEES) Canelo (54-1-2 36 KOs) makes a rapid return to the ring at the home of the Miami Dolphins, taking on his WBC mandatory challenger Yildirim (21-2 12 KOs), with the WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine titles on the line. The Mexican pound-for-pound king defeated former undefeated 168lber Callum Smith in clinical fashion in San Antonio, Texas in December and the 30 year old looks to stamp his authority on the division, with Hearn looking at pitting Canelo against WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders next should Canelo win. “It’s great to see Canelo so active, especially in the world we live in at the moment, I think it’s a real statement from him,” said Hearn . “He’s mixing it up by fighting in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium, to be promoting Canelo at the home of the Miami Dolphins is pretty special. We’re going to have around 15,000 in there, Avni is the mandatory challenger and it’s a great opportunity for him and a big opportunity for Canelo to stay active hopefully before a big Billy Joe Saunders fight and on a huge night on February 27.” Chief support on the night comes in the form of Canelo’s stablemate Julio Cesar Martinez defending his WBA World Flyweight title against his mandatory challenger, McWilliams Arroyo . Martinez (17-1 13 KOs) has been frustrated by injury ruling him out of two previously scheduled defenses, so Hearn expects the pintsized tyro to be at his thrilling best in a classic Mexican-Puerto Rican war with Arroyo (20-4 15 KOs). “Julio Cesar Martinez is special,” said Hearn . “I think he can go through everyone in the division and even move up to Super-Flyweight and start looking at Estrada and Chocolatito, he’s so exciting and I can’t wait to see him in February 27. “He will fight anyone, and Eddy Reynoso is confident in his ability. He was supposed to fight on the Canelo card in December so he should be hungry. Arroyo was a fantastic amateur with good pedigree and he’s a smart fighter, but I think that the footwork, strength and unpredictability of Julio will see him victorious.” Elsewhere on the bill…. Zhilei Zhang (22-0 17 KOs) faces Jerry Forrest (26-4 20 KOs) over ten rounds: “I’m really excited about Zhilei Zhang, he punches very hard and he’s something different for the division. Forrest is a good Heavyweight and I expect a stunning KO and hopefully it’s from our man Zhang. I think he is getting to the point now where Zhilei needs to fight some of the guys in the top 15 like Derek Chisora, Joseph Parker, Filip Hrgovic and so on.” Marc Castro (1-0 1 KO) faces Raul Corona (4-2-3 1 KO) over four rounds: “Marc was waiting for so long for that debut that he was a little over-excited in the first round, but when he settled down his shots were fantastic, and I loved the aggression from him. The kid is a star and it’s a big opportunity to have his second fight on a second Canelo card. Diego Pacheco (10-0 8 KOs) faces Rodolfo Gomez Jr (14-4-1 10 KOs) over eight rounds: “Diego is still so young that you want to hold him back, but we have to progress him forward and we have done so on this card. It’s a big step up and he’s getting a great wave of support growing, Diego is a big star. Sparring is so important for young fighters and Diego is getting great sparring with the likes of Canelo and David Benavidez; Diego has been out for a while, but I expect a big performance. Alexis Espino (6-0 4 KOs) faces Ashton Sykes (5-3 1 KO) over six rounds: “Alexis has had a nightmare with injury and then COVID, it was a frustrating 2020 but he’s out of that now and onto a busy 2021. He’s a good puncher, exciting and someone that in one or two more fights he’ll be ready to step up.” Keyshawn Davis makes his pro debut against Lester Brown (4-2-3 1 KO) over four rounds: “When we announced Keyshawn was on the bill, I got 20 or so messages from amateurs and pros saying ‘this kid is the real deal’. It’s the biggest platform in boxing and Keyshawn is ready to go. Aaron Aponte (1-0 1 KO) faces Harry Gigliotti (6-1 3 KOs) over four rounds: “It’s always great to have local talent on bills. Aaron has sold lots of tickets, I met him at our GGG show in December. Good amateur, tall, good looking, and with these guys you don’t know how they are going to progress, so you give them the platform and wait and see.” The next action for Matchroom in the USA comes two weeks later and it doesn’t get much bigger than the mouth-watering rematch between Estrada (41-3 28 KOs) and Chocolatito (50-2 41 KOs). The pair first clashed in November 2012 in Los Angeles, with Chocolatito successfully defending his WBA Light-Flyweight title via unanimous decision, and now over eight years later, they will meet again for the WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine World Super-Flyweight titles in a fight that has Hearn salivating. “This is a great card, probably one of the best we’ve ever done,” said Hearn . “Everyone in boxing knows Estrada-Chocolatito is one of the fights of the year before the bell has rung - two legends, pound-for-pound greats, in a unification fight - this is everything that’s great about boxing. Juan Francisco wants to avenge his defeat and unify the division, but Chocolatito, who sprung back to life against Kal Yafai, has other ideas. The winner will fight Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, providing the Thai star is victorious on home turf the same weekend.” Chief support action is provided by a rematch for the undisputed Welterweight World championship ��� repeat or revenge as Jessica McCaskill defends the belts against Cecilia Brækhus . McCaskill (9-2 3 KOs) ripped the titles from Brækhus (36-1 9 KOs) on the streets of downtown Tulsa in August, with the Chicagoan becoming a two-weight World champion in just her 11 th pro fight and handing the Norwegian star her first career defeat. “Jessica doesn’t get the credit she deserves,” said Hearn . “She took on Katie Taylor when she was vastly inexperienced and gave her one of her toughest fights. Came back to win the World title in Chicago and she’s never turned down a challenge, she unified the division and beat Cecilia to become undisputed at 147lbs. Jessica is a star, but Cecilia looks like she’s got the bit between her teeth and this is her last chance.” There’s a Matchroom debut on the card for Hiroto Kyoguchi as he defends his WBA and Ring Magazine World Light-Flyweight titles against Axel Vega . Kyoguchi (14-0 9 KOs) defends the titles for the third time against Vega (14-3-1 8 KOs), and Hearn is looking forward to introducing the 27 year old to a global audience. “Kyoguchi is a top pound-for-pound boxer, the number one in the Light Flyweight division and such a good fighter,” said Hearn . “Vera is an all-action guy and Kyoguchi is a class act so this will be a great fight – we would love to do something in Japan with him, but the plan is to unify the division and probably move up to Flyweight and you are going to enjoy watching him fight on an amazing card.”

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Matchroom Boxing USA Media Day: Jessie Vargas vs Thomas Dulorme

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By Steven Weinberg | Contributing Writer and Photographer

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Published: October 04, 2018

On October 6, in Chicago, Illinois, Matchroom Boxing USA will be holding its first U.S. fight card available on the DAZN app.

Jessie Vargas and Thomas Dulorme will headline the show in a battle for the WBC Silver Welterweight title. Artur Beterbiev returns to the ring, and Chicago, to defend his IBF World Light-Heavyweight title against unbeaten Callum Johnson. Daniel Roman defends his WBA Super-Bantamweight crown against second time World title challenger, Gavin McDonnell. Big talking heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller squares off against Polish legend Tomasz Adamek, in a fight that may put the winner in line to meet Anthony Joshua. Also, Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill will be making her second world title bid by facing WBC World Super Lightweight title holder, Erica Anabella Farias.

With three belts on the line and a third fight with title fight implications, Matchroom held an open media workout in downtown Chicago’s Millennium Park. Frontproof Media was on hand and able to speak to many of the participants ahead of the historic event.

Jessica McCaskill

FP: I’m here with Jessica McCaskill who has a world title fight coming up on Saturday night. How did training camp go?

JM: Camp was great. It was actually about a ten-month camp considering we haven’t had any fights since December. Every plan we’ve had fell through, but we kept pushing.

FP: You had a fight scheduled in the Caribbean?

JM: Yes, it was actually scheduled and then rescheduled. We had bad weather so it just got dropped from there.

FP: You were essentially training straight through from that until Saturday’s fight got made?

JM: Yes. There were a couple of other fights that were supposed to get made. They all fell through. Four or five fights. We’ve just been ready and waiting for something to come along.

FP: I’ve had the opportunity to see you fight a couple of times here in Chicago. I have to say, with all due respect, I think you’re like the Shawn Porter of women. You just have relentless energy, and the body attack is just unreal. Where does that come from?

JM: Well, my gym is “Body Shots” so I gotta live by the name. Females don’t really go to the body. They just sort of head hunt and rely on combinations. I came from St. Louis where I started out as a brawler. Once I got to Chicago with Coach Ramos he taught me how to box, so he uses that brawling technique when necessary and we just kinda flip in between whenever we need to.

FP: Your last fight was against Katie Taylor. She did a lot of clutching and grabbing that seemed to get to you, and that was the big difference. If the ref didn’t allow that, I think the fight would have been a lot different.

JM: I think it would have been different, but I used it to my advantage. Until the ref said break, I was punching the whole way, so I actually got a lot of punches in that way. I think I wore her down on the inside. We were pretty much ready for whatever and were ready to fight under any circumstances, so we expected it, prepared for it, and trained hit until the ref breaks you up kinda of a thing. It wasn’t bad.

FP: Did you prepare for the same thing this Saturday - your opponent grabbing and clutching you to slow down the body attack?

JM: We always prepare for that. We have a few different things we prepare for and try to mix up the sparring and mix up the skills we’re trying to accentuate for the fight. It’s never really one game plan. I do remember the fight I had for the ABO title, we were expecting one thing, and then she came out and did something different. She fought a totally different fight. From there you learn not to expect too much of one thing.

FP: Are you going into this fight not expecting anything, just playing it by ear, round by round?

JM: We’re going to have play it round by round, but we know what’s she’s good for, but have prepared for everything.

FP: How close are you to making weight?

JM: (Laughing) I’ve had to gain weight. The last few weeks I’ve had to put on weight because like I said we’ve been training for so long and ready. I had a great croissant and coffee, fruit and eggs this morning (laughing) so we’re good to go.

FP: Thank you very much, good luck on Saturday night.

Tomasz Adamek

FP: Tomas Adamek is facing Big Baby Miller on Saturday night. First, welcome to Chicago.

TA: Thank you. Not first time, I came into the U.S. through Chicago. I was in Chicago in 2005. Last time I fought in the U.S. I think 2007.

FP: How’s the weight for this fight?

TA: I think around 225 lbs. I fight at my natural weight, so I’m not worried.

FP: There’s a good chance you’re going to be giving up 60 pounds to Miller. What do you plan on doing about that?

TA: My speed. Speed always wins. When I lose, I don’t have speed.

FP: Do you plan on using foot movement to move around the ring?

TA: My feet and my hand speed. My hand speed is very good.

FP: There’s a good chance that the crowd will be majority Polish. How does that help you?

TA: Listen, it’s not a fight without a crowd. The crowd helps. But I feel very good and very confident that on Saturday I will have my arm raised.

Callum Johnson

FP: We’re here with Callum Johnson who will be facing Artur Beterbiev on Saturday night. How did the training camp go?

CJ: Training camp’s gone well, man, it’s gone really well.

FP: Are you on weight right now?

CJ: Yeah, I’m thereabouts, thereabouts. Everything’s done, the work’s done. You know obviously, we’ll make weight on Friday and then we’re good to go.

FP: What are you expecting on Saturday night?

CJ: I’m expecting a tough fight. I’m expecting to go through something I’ve never probably had to go through before. But, I’m ready for it. Mentally I’m ready. Physically I’m ready.

FP: Are you prepared for the inside game which Beterbiev is known for?

CJ: Yeah, I can fight on the inside and the outside and whatever I’ll need to do I can do.

FP: Did you do anything different in this training camp?

CJ: Not much that amounts, not much that amounts. We worked on getting me to the best that I can be, and that’s it really.

FP: Is this your first time in Chicago?

CJ: Yeah, Chicago, lovely city, great city.

FP: Have you had the opportunity to enjoy it all?

CJ: Yeah, we had a look around today, actually. It’s a great city, really nice.

FP: Thank you, and we hope to see your arm raised on Saturday night.

CJ: Thank you, take it easy.

Gavin McDonnell

FP: Gavin McDonald, you’re facing Danny Roman on Saturday night.

GM: Yeah man.

FP: You’re absolutely no stranger to world title fights.

GM: No.

FP: Are you expecting anything different in this one?

GM: End of the day at this level, every fight is a mad fight, and you can’t expect anything less. But I am expecting to come over here and take that title home because I’m very, very confident. And how things have gone, and how I’m feeling, I can come over here and grab that belt and take it back home.

FP: How are you feeling?

GM: Great, unbelievable. Like I say, I’m full of confidence, and it’s just this next day or two and then its show time.

FP: Where are you as far as making weight right now?

GM: We’re nearly there, you know what I mean? Every fight I’m always making weight, you know what I mean, and our goals, and we’re right on track. We got a day or two and then weigh in and get a chance to refuel and then time to shine.

FP: Have you ever faced any Mexican fighter before with the prototypical Mexican style?

GM: No, I’m not really sure, but we got plenty of sparring, and I’ve sparred guys with that style, the Mexican style, so we’re very well prepared for this fight, and it will show on Saturday night.

FP: Are you expecting to be able to come forward or fight going backwards and counter?

GM: I’ll do whatever I need to do, and the game plan is generally what my coach says I’ll stick to, and I’ll follow his instructions on whatever he wants me to do, and then I’ll do it, and you’ll see on fight night I’ll put on a win and not just a win but a good win. And I’ll make a statement to the world scene.

FP: Has the time change effected you at all (from Great Britain to Chicago)?

GM: We’ve been here a long time now so. . .

FP: How long?

GM: Ten days, so we’ve been here a long time and back into the swing of things, and everything is fine, and so yeah, that won’t bother us.

FP: Thank you very much, we’re looking forward to a great Saturday night and best of luck to you.

GM: Thank you mate, Cheers.

Jessie Vargas

FP: Jessie Vargas – you’re headlining on Saturday night. It’s a pretty big event. How did this all come about for you? This is the first or second Matchroom/DAZN event.

JV: It is the first fight in the U.S. for DAZN. The very first one. The first international one was Anthony Joshua v. Povetkin a couple of weeks ago, but this is the first one in the U.S. We’re looking forward to shining, we’re looking forward to entertaining the fans with entertaining fights, and with great fights at that. And we do have a good line up from beginning to end. How did it come about? We have a great promoter in Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, including DAZN we have a great network, a great platform. And we’re going to do great things together. You’re going to see entertaining fights so don’t miss out. Come out to the Wintrust Arena or tune in through the DAZN app, it’s $9.99 per month, no contract deal. It’s month-to-month, and not only that, the first month is free. So subscribe now. Don’t hesitate.

FP: Is this your first time in Chicago?

JV: Second time. First time was to promote it. Now it’s actually to fight for my fans.

FP: How are you enjoying Chicago so far, have you had the opportunity to see the City at all?

JV: I did when I was here about a month and a half ago, and I enjoyed it. I wish I could to know more of it, but I’m here to fight. But right after we’ll probably make sure to get to know a little more of the City and there are a few museums I have in mind to see. It’s a beautiful city, and I’m looking forward to hanging out after the fight.

FP: How long have you been in town before the fight?

JV: I’ve been in town for about two days. There isn’t much to do but stay in the room and be focused and concentrate on wanting to win come Saturday night.

FP: How’s the weight going?

JV: Extremely well. I’ve got it all under control.

FP: How did training camp go?

JV: Training camp was great. I’m looking forward to giving the fans what they want to see: a victory.

FP: What can we expect on Saturday night?

JV: Expect fireworks.

FP: Should we expect boxing or a brawl?

JV: Usually a little bit of both. Any time you see a Jesse Vargas fight, you’re going to see fighter that comes to brawl at times and a fighter that is showing off his boxing skills and doing what he needs to do to win.

FP: Thank you very much.

Danny Roman

FP: We’re here with Danny Roman ahead of his Saturday night fight with Gavin McDonald. How’d the training camp go?

DR: It was a great training camp like always. We’re always working hard to get a strategy and work on changes and to always stay ready and get in the best shape for fights.

FP: When you say change the strategy, what did you do different this training camp?

DR: I know this other guy I’m fighting has the reach, he has the height, so we saw little mistakes we made [in the past], and we’re going to try and work on them.

FP: Your opponent is certainly no stranger to title fights. Are you expecting anything from him because this is a major title he’s fighting for opposed to the minor titles he fought for in the past?

DR: This is his second chance at a world title. He lost against Ray Vargas. I’m sure he learned from his mistakes there. He lost, you learn from your mistakes. So he’s going to come at me with everything because he got another chance at a title. I’ve been in that situation before against a challenger so we’ll be ready for anything.

FP: How’s the weight going?

DR: It was good, it was good. This morning I was 126, so I’m still eating good and training a little bit, so we’re good with the weight. In my old career I never struggled with the weight, so we’re good.

FP: So four pounds by Friday, no problem?

DR: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

FP: Thank you, we’re looking forward to a great Saturday night.

DR: Thank you.

Josh Greer

As a bonus, also on hand was Chicago native and newly signed Top Rank fighter Josh Greer.

FP: We’re here with Josh Greer coming off a big win, his first fight with Top Rank. How’s it feel?

JG: It feels good. It was a blessing. The game plan worked out, and it all came to fruition.

FP: As a Chicago guy, why did you move to California?

JG: Well, I have to go where I can be focused, and I can get the best out of me because and the end of the day I have to make sure I’m in the best predicament to be a world champion.

FP: When you moved to California, did you already have a trainer picked out, or did you have to find somebody?

JG: I had an idea of who I wanted to work with so when I went out there, me and John Pullman clicked right away, and we started working together.

FP: Are you living out there permanently?

JG: I have a place in LA, and I have a place in Chicago also because my kids are still here?

FP: So you come back to Chicago a lot?

JG: Yes, I come back and forth.

FP: How did the whole thing happen with Top Rank? You fought on a couple of Warrior cards here in Chicago.

JG: Well, Top Rank knew I needed a promoter, and they gave me the best deal. And also, I’m managed by Jay Prince so when he came into the picture, we did some research as to who would have my best interests to heart, and Top Rank came with the best deal, and everything looked good, and we made it happen.

FP: Do you have anything planned in the future? I know it’s only been a week or so since your last fight.

JG: Yes. Top Rank is already talking to Jay Prince, my manager, and they’re looking at a fight possibly in December before the year is out.

FP: Do you know where that will take place?

JG: I’m not sure yet, but I know next year, maybe in January there will be a fight here in Chicago that I’ll probably be the main event on.

FP: Oh, fantastic! Any idea if that will be at the Wintrust Arena or the UIC Pavillion?

JG: I’m not sure, I like UIC.

FP: I hear the locker rooms at Wintrust are nicer.

JG: (Laughing) I don’t know, I haven’t fought at Wintrust yet.

FP: Well, thank you, and welcome back to Chicago.

JG: Thank you.

(All Photos: Steven Weinberg/Frontproof Media)



[apsbicepstraining]

Premier League: talking phases from the weekend’s war

Louis van Gaals luck may lastly be changing at Manchester United, Norwich may have found a plan to tackle Leicester and Aston Villa are too bad to stay up

1) Is Van Gaals fluke changing at Manchester United?

Who knows what is next for Louis van Gaals tremendously erratic Manchester United but perhaps the Dutchmans luck is changing. And changing big time: opportunity only knocked for Marcus Rashford when Anthony Martial was downed injured in the warm-up against Midtjylland. Fast presented to Sunday evening and United have a new four-goal hero in Rashford, as Arsenal were downed 3-2 to follow the 5-1 walloping of the Danish champions on Thursday. Both of these triumphs were at Old Trafford and there was a definite reconnection between the crowd and Van Gaal that teemed visceral passion. It attained when he did his falling follower number before Mike Dean, to present the fourth official how Van Gaal belief Alexis Snchez was trying to moron the referee, Craig Pawson. At that time the substantiate started ballistic and it did not find beyond the bounds of footballs operatic storylines for Van Gaal to rescue the season with a top four region, and/ or an FA Cup or Europa League triumph, and still be in place next season. If so, this would be the most recent illustration that it is better to be a lucky general than a good one. Jamie Jackson

Match report: Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal Rashfords second match even better than his first, does Van Gaal Amy Lawrence: Wenger faces familiar the issue as Arsenal frost

Manchester Uniteds director Louis van Gaal has terms with fourth official Mike Dean on the touchline before descending over. Photo: Oli Scarff/ AFP/ Getty Images

2) Tottenham desperate for Alli to remain fit

The one annoy for Tottenham Hotspur after Sundays spirited and essential 2-1 residence acquire over Swansea City was the slew of Dele Alli tottering heavily on his way out of the dressing room. The midfielder, who has been one of the stars of the season, said that he had kicked the field in the warm-up but he still got through the 90 instants. Perhaps it was the adrenaline that carried him, together with his desire but, with the visit to West Ham United tower on Wednesday night, Tottenham have to hope that he experiences no ill outcomes. There was a moment during the first half when Alli lost possession and the manager, Mauricio Pochettino, immediately signalled to the midfield equivalents, Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb, to embark warming up. It manifested a certain degree of anxiety over Alli, although he would not have completed the parallel if it had been too great. This was not one of Allis most effective performances Christian Eriksen moved the show alongside him but his significance to Tottenhams title push is extraordinary. David Hytner

Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Swansea City The Dozen: the weekends best Premier League photos

3) Norwich discover a blueprint for managing Leicester

For the best part of 89 instants Norwichs gameplan worked to perfection against Leicester and may support a blueprint for other golf-clubs to follow between now and the end of the season, particularly at the King Power Stadium, where the Premier League rulers still have to play West brom, Newcastle, Southampton, West Ham, Swansea and Everton. Norwich distributed a three-man center explanation, with Russell Martin virtually playing as a sweeper, sat deep and in fact requested Leicester to try to break them down without being able to go in behind. I look at how other teams set up against certain opposition and the only squad who has played that direction against them has been Manchester United, Alex Neil, Norwichs manager announced, referring to their three-man explanation. I watched that competition it was 1-1 but Man United should have won. I looked at that and thought we could distribute that and it would help us.

Leicester experienced 59% self-possession against Norwich singularly it was only the third season this season that they have had more of the pellet than their foes yet they registered only 3 shots on target, the first after 58 instants and the last when Leonardo Ulloa tapped in a drastic late win. Unable to break with alacrity and play on the counterattack, Leicesters threat was nullified for long periods. There was no room for Jamie Vardy to exploit behind the Norwich defence, which was compounded by the fact that Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton is impossible to form the best use of the ball in wide-ranging localities, until the latter eventually encountered his series with the cross that Ulloa proselytized in the 89 th minute. The good news for Leicester is that they still managed to find a way to win video games, mainly thanks to Ranieris tactical play late on. The bad news is that they could come up against these tactics again and will need to be more adept at finding a way through. Stuart James

Match report: Leicester City 1-0 Norwich City Ranieri swerves Thinkerman for Leicesters late winning

Norwich administrator Alex Neil went close to get a level against Leicester City. Picture: BPI/ REX/ Shutterstock

4) Chelsea focus is on Europe and the fitness of Terry

Chelsea may have registered back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season, reasonablenes in itself for confidence, but it is still hard not to be distracted by what awaits in the rematch against Paris Saint-Germain in nine daylights occasion. Trailing narrowly from the first leg, but bolstered by Mikel John Obis away goal, Guus Hiddinks side believe they can still force passage beyond the runaway Ligue 1 presidents and into the quarter-finals. Ensuring they are in the best district to strain the Parisians on 9 March has become a priority.

To that intention, Hiddink is already mulling over how to reintegrate John Terry into his lineup and ensure his captain, potentially weighing down his last few months at the organization, is fully recovered from the hamstring injury sustained against Newcastle. The 35 -year-old had admitted in the build-up to the expedition to St Marys that carefulnes are liable to be the very best approaching. We looked at him on the training slope and asked him how he felt, and he pronounced: Okay, but not ready to play, spoke Hiddink. Ill be careful because I have known in the past of these various kinds of injuries. They take longer to mend than an ankle trauma, or whatever, and its better to wait maybe even a game longer than everyone speculates. So we speak and I announced: Hey, gives take our times and not hasten things.

Terry, on 699 association images, will be infuriated at the untimely sort of the damage thrown his time at Stamford Bridge appears to be periphery towards the end. Tuesdays expedition to Norwich will come too soon. So, in truth, might Saturdays inspect of Stoke City, entailing Chelsea may have to rejig their training routine to render the command something akin to a competitive running around before PSG arrive in the capital. Its exceedingly, very tight[ in terms of his availability against the French side ], contributed Hiddink. Well see how he greets and, if he needs a game, we might organise one at Cobham: an intense recreation, perhaps 11 vs 11 or a smaller-side competition with strength. But its very tight, its very tight. The thought that he might have to sit on the sidelines and watch what could be Chelseas last Champions League game for a while will drive Terry to distraction. Ensuring the command can play some percentage is one of this clubs priorities. Dominic Fifield

Daniel Taylor: Conte court case could be a distraction for Chelsea Hiddink content after key players take bidding against Southampton Match report: Southampton 1-2 Chelsea

5) Gradels return can give Bournemouth a raising for run-in

Statistics show that Bournemouth participates have ranged more on average than those of any other unit in the league this season so topics have been asked about their ability to sustain their vigor for the rest of awareness-raising campaigns. But on Saturday it was their opposings who examined fatigued and it took got a couple of fine saves by Watfords Heurelho Gomes to stop the south coast back from striding two points a little bit closer to Premier League survival. Those saves were from hits by Max Gradel, who appeared sharp on his return from six months out with a knee ligament hurt. It was unfortunate that Junior Stanislas hamstring injury was the reason for Gradels introduction in the 21 st hour, but Bournemouth can take encouragement from Gradels return for the final part of the campaign. The winger, signed for 7m from Saint Etienne last summertime, mentioned afterwards that he was surprised at how fit he seemed during the course of its first equal back. He added that he is all the more determined to make an impact between now and the end of the season in order to repay Eddie Howe for standing him to do most of his rehabilitation back home in the Ivory Coast. When I came back this month parties were surprised to find me, articulated Gradel. People didnt expect me to qualify and then when he saw me I examined good. When someone relies you, you cannot make them down. I established him he did the right thing by relying me and letting me go home and today the result is Im back to carry on. Paul Doyle

Match report: Watford 0-0 Bournemouth Gradel thanks administrator Howe for his cartel

Max Gradels return for Bournemouth can boost the side. Photo: Jason Brown/ JMP/ REX/ Shutterstock

6) Villa are too bad to stay up

The Premier League has had some striking enormous flees, from Oldham in 1992 -9 3, to Wigan showing that “youve been” can elapse your way out of hardship in 2011 -1 2. In the first Premier League season, Oldham stayed up despite being eight parts behind Crystal Palace going into the last week of the season. Aston Villa still have 11 tournaments to make up eight moments on 17 th-placed Norwich, but scarcely any sentient beings give them a chance.

Rmi Garde knows as much: after their 2-1 defeat at Stoke on Saturday, he praised their feeling but spotlit their crucial shortcoming in a manner that evoked Martin Johnsons famous paraphrase about the England cricket team in 1986 -8 7. Villa, you experience, have just been two troubles: they cant score points and they cant stop admitting them. We know we are a unit that finds it difficult to score points, articulated Garde, and we are not scoring many. Relegation is the inevitable resolution of inexorable decline since Martin ONeill left in 2010, and the listing of Premier League ever-presents will soon be reduced to six. Villa, to overrule the term generally spurted in these times of year, are surely too bad to stay up. Rob Smyth

Aston Villa: the squad that pedalled downwards and expected to stand still Match report: Rekindled 2-1 Aston Villa Stoke win over Villa defaced by coin-throwing pretension

7) Spotlight on Berahino is becoming too bright

Is anybody else tired of the Saido Berahino story? Not a coincide goes by without Tony Pulis facing endless, repetition questions about the striker, who increasingly seems to have his head clamped back on and has perhaps realised that he is unlikely to earn a coveted transport to a big team if sat on the bench. Every question put to the West Brom manager in his daily newspaper briefing on Saturday was about Berahino and it is becoming increasingly difficult to remember a time at The Hawthorns when the stalemate did not dominate dialogue. It is also easy to forget that Berahino stands unproven in numerous respects; a musician with abundance of flair but a questionable mentality. Ask a neutral to call one standout minute and they are able to conflict. Ask an Albion regular for a definitive description and something negative would feature. Yet in this age of endless supposition, wouldnt “its been” refreshing to blur out delivery talk for the remainder of the season and simply celebrate a young striker try to develop his play? Alan Smith

Pulis tells Berahino to squeeze the pips at West Brom Laurie Cunningham: the dancing footballer with eternal youth Match report: West Brom 3-2 Crystal Palace

West Bromwich Albion devotees brace a banner dedicated to their musician Chris Brunt after coins were shed at him last weekend. Photograph: Tim Goode/ PA

8) Bilic foreground the altered in West Hams intent

West Ham rarely burst into life against Sunderland but the league counter does not lie and Slaven Bilic accepts its own position on the fringe of the European places owes plenty to their positive stance. Our fourth game of the season was at Anfield, remembered Bilic. Wed pulsated Arsenal in our first recreation and then lost to Leicester and Bournemouth at home. My assistant answered a time would be good tomorrow and I added yeah, it would be good but I wouldnt take it now. Sometimes you are over the moon with a part after the game, but beforehand I will ever say no thank you because we have a good squad and I believe in it. They won that match at Liverpool 3-0 and have gone on to brighter things since. It is something of a oddity that two such forward-thinking line-ups as West Ham and Everton have more sucks than any of their top-flight competitives, with 10 and 11 respectively. That statistic does not bother the Upton Park faithful, who visualize the proof of their teams intent unfolding before them. There is little exhilaration in compounding the disappointment of their former manager, Sam Allardyce, after his team played well enough to deserve a reap of their own on Saturday but Bilics words unwittingly foreground the fundamental change in prospect that has arisen at West Ham since he took his contenders old place. Nick Ames

Allardyce suspicions for Sunderland future despite Bilic support Sunderland commit free shirts to fans passing to West Ham away accord Match report: West Ham 1-0 Sunderland

The post Premier League: talking phases from the weekend’s war appeared first on apsbicepstraining.com.

from WordPress http://ift.tt/2rVRFRm via IFTTT

[apsbicepstraining]

Premier League: talking phases from the weekend’s war

Louis van Gaals luck may lastly be changing at Manchester United, Norwich may have found a plan to tackle Leicester and Aston Villa are too bad to stay up

1) Is Van Gaals fluke changing at Manchester United?

Who knows what is next for Louis van Gaals tremendously erratic Manchester United but perhaps the Dutchmans luck is changing. And changing big time: opportunity only knocked for Marcus Rashford when Anthony Martial was downed injured in the warm-up against Midtjylland. Fast presented to Sunday evening and United have a new four-goal hero in Rashford, as Arsenal were downed 3-2 to follow the 5-1 walloping of the Danish champions on Thursday. Both of these triumphs were at Old Trafford and there was a definite reconnection between the crowd and Van Gaal that teemed visceral passion. It attained when he did his falling follower number before Mike Dean, to present the fourth official how Van Gaal belief Alexis Snchez was trying to moron the referee, Craig Pawson. At that time the substantiate started ballistic and it did not find beyond the bounds of footballs operatic storylines for Van Gaal to rescue the season with a top four region, and/ or an FA Cup or Europa League triumph, and still be in place next season. If so, this would be the most recent illustration that it is better to be a lucky general than a good one. Jamie Jackson

Match report: Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal Rashfords second match even better than his first, does Van Gaal Amy Lawrence: Wenger faces familiar the issue as Arsenal frost

Manchester Uniteds director Louis van Gaal has terms with fourth official Mike Dean on the touchline before descending over. Photo: Oli Scarff/ AFP/ Getty Images

2) Tottenham desperate for Alli to remain fit

The one annoy for Tottenham Hotspur after Sundays spirited and essential 2-1 residence acquire over Swansea City was the slew of Dele Alli tottering heavily on his way out of the dressing room. The midfielder, who has been one of the stars of the season, said that he had kicked the field in the warm-up but he still got through the 90 instants. Perhaps it was the adrenaline that carried him, together with his desire but, with the visit to West Ham United tower on Wednesday night, Tottenham have to hope that he experiences no ill outcomes. There was a moment during the first half when Alli lost possession and the manager, Mauricio Pochettino, immediately signalled to the midfield equivalents, Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb, to embark warming up. It manifested a certain degree of anxiety over Alli, although he would not have completed the parallel if it had been too great. This was not one of Allis most effective performances Christian Eriksen moved the show alongside him but his significance to Tottenhams title push is extraordinary. David Hytner

Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Swansea City The Dozen: the weekends best Premier League photos

3) Norwich discover a blueprint for managing Leicester

For the best part of 89 instants Norwichs gameplan worked to perfection against Leicester and may support a blueprint for other golf-clubs to follow between now and the end of the season, particularly at the King Power Stadium, where the Premier League rulers still have to play West brom, Newcastle, Southampton, West Ham, Swansea and Everton. Norwich distributed a three-man center explanation, with Russell Martin virtually playing as a sweeper, sat deep and in fact requested Leicester to try to break them down without being able to go in behind. I look at how other teams set up against certain opposition and the only squad who has played that direction against them has been Manchester United, Alex Neil, Norwichs manager announced, referring to their three-man explanation. I watched that competition it was 1-1 but Man United should have won. I looked at that and thought we could distribute that and it would help us.

Leicester experienced 59% self-possession against Norwich singularly it was only the third season this season that they have had more of the pellet than their foes yet they registered only 3 shots on target, the first after 58 instants and the last when Leonardo Ulloa tapped in a drastic late win. Unable to break with alacrity and play on the counterattack, Leicesters threat was nullified for long periods. There was no room for Jamie Vardy to exploit behind the Norwich defence, which was compounded by the fact that Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton is impossible to form the best use of the ball in wide-ranging localities, until the latter eventually encountered his series with the cross that Ulloa proselytized in the 89 th minute. The good news for Leicester is that they still managed to find a way to win video games, mainly thanks to Ranieris tactical play late on. The bad news is that they could come up against these tactics again and will need to be more adept at finding a way through. Stuart James

Match report: Leicester City 1-0 Norwich City Ranieri swerves Thinkerman for Leicesters late winning

Norwich administrator Alex Neil went close to get a level against Leicester City. Picture: BPI/ REX/ Shutterstock

4) Chelsea focus is on Europe and the fitness of Terry

Chelsea may have registered back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season, reasonablenes in itself for confidence, but it is still hard not to be distracted by what awaits in the rematch against Paris Saint-Germain in nine daylights occasion. Trailing narrowly from the first leg, but bolstered by Mikel John Obis away goal, Guus Hiddinks side believe they can still force passage beyond the runaway Ligue 1 presidents and into the quarter-finals. Ensuring they are in the best district to strain the Parisians on 9 March has become a priority.

To that intention, Hiddink is already mulling over how to reintegrate John Terry into his lineup and ensure his captain, potentially weighing down his last few months at the organization, is fully recovered from the hamstring injury sustained against Newcastle. The 35 -year-old had admitted in the build-up to the expedition to St Marys that carefulnes are liable to be the very best approaching. We looked at him on the training slope and asked him how he felt, and he pronounced: Okay, but not ready to play, spoke Hiddink. Ill be careful because I have known in the past of these various kinds of injuries. They take longer to mend than an ankle trauma, or whatever, and its better to wait maybe even a game longer than everyone speculates. So we speak and I announced: Hey, gives take our times and not hasten things.

Terry, on 699 association images, will be infuriated at the untimely sort of the damage thrown his time at Stamford Bridge appears to be periphery towards the end. Tuesdays expedition to Norwich will come too soon. So, in truth, might Saturdays inspect of Stoke City, entailing Chelsea may have to rejig their training routine to render the command something akin to a competitive running around before PSG arrive in the capital. Its exceedingly, very tight[ in terms of his availability against the French side ], contributed Hiddink. Well see how he greets and, if he needs a game, we might organise one at Cobham: an intense recreation, perhaps 11 vs 11 or a smaller-side competition with strength. But its very tight, its very tight. The thought that he might have to sit on the sidelines and watch what could be Chelseas last Champions League game for a while will drive Terry to distraction. Ensuring the command can play some percentage is one of this clubs priorities. Dominic Fifield

Daniel Taylor: Conte court case could be a distraction for Chelsea Hiddink content after key players take bidding against Southampton Match report: Southampton 1-2 Chelsea

5) Gradels return can give Bournemouth a raising for run-in

Statistics show that Bournemouth participates have ranged more on average than those of any other unit in the league this season so topics have been asked about their ability to sustain their vigor for the rest of awareness-raising campaigns. But on Saturday it was their opposings who examined fatigued and it took got a couple of fine saves by Watfords Heurelho Gomes to stop the south coast back from striding two points a little bit closer to Premier League survival. Those saves were from hits by Max Gradel, who appeared sharp on his return from six months out with a knee ligament hurt. It was unfortunate that Junior Stanislas hamstring injury was the reason for Gradels introduction in the 21 st hour, but Bournemouth can take encouragement from Gradels return for the final part of the campaign. The winger, signed for 7m from Saint Etienne last summertime, mentioned afterwards that he was surprised at how fit he seemed during the course of its first equal back. He added that he is all the more determined to make an impact between now and the end of the season in order to repay Eddie Howe for standing him to do most of his rehabilitation back home in the Ivory Coast. When I came back this month parties were surprised to find me, articulated Gradel. People didnt expect me to qualify and then when he saw me I examined good. When someone relies you, you cannot make them down. I established him he did the right thing by relying me and letting me go home and today the result is Im back to carry on. Paul Doyle

Match report: Watford 0-0 Bournemouth Gradel thanks administrator Howe for his cartel

Max Gradels return for Bournemouth can boost the side. Photo: Jason Brown/ JMP/ REX/ Shutterstock

6) Villa are too bad to stay up

The Premier League has had some striking enormous flees, from Oldham in 1992 -9 3, to Wigan showing that “youve been” can elapse your way out of hardship in 2011 -1 2. In the first Premier League season, Oldham stayed up despite being eight parts behind Crystal Palace going into the last week of the season. Aston Villa still have 11 tournaments to make up eight moments on 17 th-placed Norwich, but scarcely any sentient beings give them a chance.

Rmi Garde knows as much: after their 2-1 defeat at Stoke on Saturday, he praised their feeling but spotlit their crucial shortcoming in a manner that evoked Martin Johnsons famous paraphrase about the England cricket team in 1986 -8 7. Villa, you experience, have just been two troubles: they cant score points and they cant stop admitting them. We know we are a unit that finds it difficult to score points, articulated Garde, and we are not scoring many. Relegation is the inevitable resolution of inexorable decline since Martin ONeill left in 2010, and the listing of Premier League ever-presents will soon be reduced to six. Villa, to overrule the term generally spurted in these times of year, are surely too bad to stay up. Rob Smyth

Aston Villa: the squad that pedalled downwards and expected to stand still Match report: Rekindled 2-1 Aston Villa Stoke win over Villa defaced by coin-throwing pretension

7) Spotlight on Berahino is becoming too bright

Is anybody else tired of the Saido Berahino story? Not a coincide goes by without Tony Pulis facing endless, repetition questions about the striker, who increasingly seems to have his head clamped back on and has perhaps realised that he is unlikely to earn a coveted transport to a big team if sat on the bench. Every question put to the West Brom manager in his daily newspaper briefing on Saturday was about Berahino and it is becoming increasingly difficult to remember a time at The Hawthorns when the stalemate did not dominate dialogue. It is also easy to forget that Berahino stands unproven in numerous respects; a musician with abundance of flair but a questionable mentality. Ask a neutral to call one standout minute and they are able to conflict. Ask an Albion regular for a definitive description and something negative would feature. Yet in this age of endless supposition, wouldnt “its been” refreshing to blur out delivery talk for the remainder of the season and simply celebrate a young striker try to develop his play? Alan Smith

Pulis tells Berahino to squeeze the pips at West Brom Laurie Cunningham: the dancing footballer with eternal youth Match report: West Brom 3-2 Crystal Palace

West Bromwich Albion devotees brace a banner dedicated to their musician Chris Brunt after coins were shed at him last weekend. Photograph: Tim Goode/ PA

8) Bilic foreground the altered in West Hams intent

West Ham rarely burst into life against Sunderland but the league counter does not lie and Slaven Bilic accepts its own position on the fringe of the European places owes plenty to their positive stance. Our fourth game of the season was at Anfield, remembered Bilic. Wed pulsated Arsenal in our first recreation and then lost to Leicester and Bournemouth at home. My assistant answered a time would be good tomorrow and I added yeah, it would be good but I wouldnt take it now. Sometimes you are over the moon with a part after the game, but beforehand I will ever say no thank you because we have a good squad and I believe in it. They won that match at Liverpool 3-0 and have gone on to brighter things since. It is something of a oddity that two such forward-thinking line-ups as West Ham and Everton have more sucks than any of their top-flight competitives, with 10 and 11 respectively. That statistic does not bother the Upton Park faithful, who visualize the proof of their teams intent unfolding before them. There is little exhilaration in compounding the disappointment of their former manager, Sam Allardyce, after his team played well enough to deserve a reap of their own on Saturday but Bilics words unwittingly foreground the fundamental change in prospect that has arisen at West Ham since he took his contenders old place. Nick Ames

Allardyce suspicions for Sunderland future despite Bilic support Sunderland commit free shirts to fans passing to West Ham away accord Match report: West Ham 1-0 Sunderland

The post Premier League: talking phases from the weekend’s war appeared first on apsbicepstraining.com.

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