The Dance Room brawl

Dance room 228. Finals week. Morning.


Tom entered the room and flicked on the lights. The newly illuminated grey
floor was reflected in the mirror, creating a generally drab atmosphere. He
dropped his bag, went over to a pole, and started stretching. He wore a tank
top and basketball shorts. He was prepared to work for hours.

After a few minutes, before Tom had completely finished warming up, Rachel
entered the room. She wore yoga shorts and a pink crop top which left her
toned mid riff exposed. Her long brown hair was tied back in a ponytail.
Normally she wore glasses, today it was contacts. She was going to be dancing
for a while and she didn't want to bother with it.

She had already gotten a leg up on the bar when she noticed Tom, and he her.
They went still. "What are you doing here?" Tom asked.

"Practicing. I have a big final Thursday. What are you doing here?"

"Choreographing. I have a presentation on Wednesday. Look, I reserved the
space."

"No, I did. Online. There's nothing available any other time this week, I need
this room."

They looked at each other for a moment. He cleared his throat. "So do I. This
grade is important. I 100% officially booked this space. I don't know what
website you used. And besides ... I got here first."

They looked at each other for a long time, neither willing to yield. Finals
were serious in the dance school, and dance space was rare.

"Okay, I'll tell you what," she said, "I'll fight you for the room. One
submission. Winner takes it, loser leaves." Tom was taken aback by the
proposition. Both dancers were, out of necessity, in respectable physical
condition. Both also had training in the fundamentals of combat, as required
by the major.

She looked tough enough, and was in fantastic shape, but he was bigger, and at
least a foot taller. Still, if she was confident enough to challenge him to a
fight, she must have had a reason. He contemplated her proposition. He thought
about a coin-flip, but couldn't leave the room to chance; it was his. And it'd
been awhile since he'd practiced this kind of motion; time to dust off.

"Fine." He said.

"Clean fight," She asserted, "punches and kicks alowed, no privates, hair, or
anything like that."

"Deal," he said, and took a step to the side, beginning to circle. She slunk
to her side as well, and they circled one another on the dance room floor.

He looked focused and ready, a potential challenge, but she was confident. "If
you want to save the trouble, you can just leave now" she offered.

"No way, I'm keeping this room. Just hope you'll be able to take your final
after this. Lightly on their feet the two dancers circled each other as they
looked for a opening. Rachel suddenly stepped forward and snapped a quick kick
at his belly. Nimble like a butterfly Tom stepped to the side and the kick
missed him. Before she could respond he backhanded her over the cheek and made
her stumble backwards. "You better leave now sweetie", Tom said with a
confident smile on his face. She lunged forward and aimed a punch for his jaw,
but he quickly leaned out of the way. She used her momentum to drop to the
floor and swipe with her leg, knocking his feet out from underneath him. He
landed on his back with a thud. She sprung on top of him and attempted to pin
his arms back, but he pushed her off of him and quickly got back on his feet.
She rose too, plunging a fist into his stomach. He tightened his muscles to
lessen the impact, but still stumbled backward. She directed another shot at
his jaw, but he caught it and darted behind her, twisting her arm behind her
back.

"You can not beat me girl", Tom said as his face was next to hers while he
forced her arm high between her shoulderblades.

He's good, she thought, taking a jab at his stomach with her elbow. Her angle
wasn't ideal, and she hit with little momentum. She kicked backwards, making
contact with his thigh and sending him down most of the way to his knee. She
wrenched her arm free and backhanded him across the face, temporarily dazing
him.

She grabbed the neck of his tank top and kicked hard at his chest, sending him
backwards with a rip. He tore through his shirt as he fell to the floor,
leaving it hanging from her hand and revealing his dancer's upper body. She
smirked slightly.

He felt the blood rushing to his face. Anger, with a bit of embarrassment.
"Seriously?"

"Ooops," she replied, tossing his shirt to the side. She glanced him up &
down. "Not bad, really. Shame you're going to be all black and blue by the
time we're done here."

"I'm not the one who has to worry about that," he grunted as he lept to his
feet. He ran at her, she threw a punch, he blocked it. He countered with a
punch to the face, which she took with only a moment's pause. This was long
enough for him to grab her shoulder and que up another punch, but not for him
to throw it. In a swift motion she knocked his hand off her shoulder, grabbed
his shoulder in return, and pulled him close to her, sinking her knee into his
gut.

He doubled over, but followed through with it, charging into her and bringing
them both to the floor.

He had gotten the last hit in, but she knew that knee had been a doozy. She
saw this as her chance to take control. The wind had been knocked out of him,
and he knew he was in trouble. He couldn't slow down, or things would go south
real quick. Seizing her wrists he pinned them to the floor. However as he was
on top Rachel wrapped her legs around his waist. Rachel squeezed her legs
tightly around his waist and Tom winched in pain as he had trouble inhaling.
Having trouble breathing Tom lets go of her wrists and hammered the tip of his
elbow hard against her thigh. As Rachel winced hecocked his fist for a punch
to her belly. However Rachel quickly flipped him over and ended on top.
Sitting high on her chest she used her position to send a hard punch to his
cheek. Tom groaned but then bucked up and threw her off him. Both of them
quickly got back to their feet. However at this point Tom was frustrated how
she was handling him. He lunged at her, grabbing her shoulders. She kicked him
in the chest and he let go. She aimed another kick, but he caught it and
pulled her towards him. He punched her in the chest. His knuckles hitting her
right breast To her, the fist seemed to come out of nowhere. Ouch, she
thought. As she resisted the urge to hold her aching boob, he punched again,
this time hitting her in the ribs. He knew he had to keep these coming. He
focused another punch, but before he could fire she locked her arms around his
body. She refused to let him take the advantage.

They pushed against each other, grappling low down on the floor. He was trying
to force her under him, and he was succeeding inch by inch, but she was
stronger than he had estimated. She dug her nails painfully in his sides,
sending shots of pain up his spine, but he kept pushing down. She managed to
stop his momentum and, seizing the opportunity, delivered a head-butt. She
wasn't an expert, but it worked well. He was stunned. Slapping him across the
face she then slipped behind him and wrapped her legs around his neck in a
scissor hold, pulling him to his back.

She clenched hard, and Tom instantly felt panic. He sunk his fingers between
her legs and tried to pull them apart, but they were too strong. He could
barely take in air, and he was beginning to feel the short supply. He pushed
with his feet, still holding on to her legs, and they slid a few inches across
the floor, but the hold remained. He tried to roll over, but it was no use.
She placed her hand under his chin and pulled towards her chest, increasing
the force of the hold. She looked down at his face. They were both sweaty, but
he was looking far worse for wear. She had him right where she wanted him.

A vein bulged in his forehead. He gasped, but nothing came to his lungs. He
kept prying at her legs, but his arms were getting weaker.

He began to grow dizzy, and realized he'd have to tap-out soon or he'd be out
of commission. He slipped a hand off of her thigh, but before he could tap the
floor, he felt her grip slacken.

He looked up as best as he could with his eyes, but he couldn't see anything.

She opened her legs, placed a foot on his shoulder, and pushed him away. She
wasn't finished just yet. She wanted a little more.

He didn't know why she had let him go, but he knew this was his last chance to
stay in this thing. He needed to be smart, and he couldn't afford mistakes. He
was still dizzy, but he took in deep breaths, calming himself, as he rose
shakily to his feet. He took a few steps back.

She rose as well, cracking her knuckles.

"I had two older brothers, I know how to handle boys"

He swallowed just a little.

She knew she'd worked a number on him and that, if she played her cards right,
she could take the fight. But he was pretty quick; she wasn't ready to relax
just yet.

Tom blushed as this situation reminded him of the countless times his older
sister had bullied him. Especially after he had picked up dancing she had
tirelessly picked on him and humiliated him in her so called practice matches.

He moved cautiously as he did not want to expose himself in a reckless move.

However Rachel simply smiled and with a swift step she moved forward and
connected a hard round kick just above his knee.

Tom grunted as the kick knocked him off balance and nearly made him drop to
his knees..

Rachely stepped aside and punched him hard in his belly. Despite his strong
abs the punch made him gasp for air. As he nearly doubled over she slapped her
hands hard on his ears, dazing him.

Tom was stunned as Rachel stepped back and smiled as she crooked her finger
and motioned him to come at him.

He took another step back and they started circling each other again, hands
raised. She took a step forward, he a step back. They circled. She threw a
quick snapping kick, and he tried to step out of the way, but it connected to
his ribs. Knowing he had to retaliate quickly he punched back, Rachel ducked
under the move though, catching Tom's arm and using the momentum of the punch
to pull Tom forwards. The brunette slammed an elbow into Tom's bare back
causing the dancer to wince. Panicked Tom spun towards her and grabbed her
shoulders while trying to slam his knee into her gut. However she slipped free
from his grasp and countered his knee with a hard backfist across his face. He
tried to elbow her but she dodged it, sending a punch which caught him
straight on the chin. He was dizzier now. Staggering on his feet he darted
backwards in an attempt to avoid her precise, punishing blows. Rachel had a A
small, amused grin cracked her lips as she slowly stalked him through the
dance room.

As Tom struggled to stay on his feet he suddenly thought back on all the times
his sister had dominated him in their practice matches. How he had been
bullied at school for stopping his position at the elite basketball team in
order to dance.

If he would fail his choreography his dreams would shatter. He could not let
her beat him.

This thought gave him new power and as Rachel sended another punch at his face
he quickly blocked it with his arm and replied with thudding a uppercut to her
toned belly.

Rachel had a suprised look on her face as the punch made her nearly double
over.

However she then looked at him with a determined look and replied with an
elbow strike at his jaw.

Tom blocked the elbow on his forearm and countered her with two swift jabs
which snapped her head backwards.

Now Rachel seemed on the defensive and Tom managed to connect a hard punch
towards her belly that made her grunt in pain.

However as he aimed a hook punch to her jaw she quickly blocked his arm. At
the same time she cupped her hand behind his head and snapped his head down.
Before Tom could respond she had wrapped her slender arm around his neck and
trapped him in a tight front headlock.

Feeling her forearm dig in his throat Tom tried to break free by pulling her
arm.

However Rachel kept her hold tight and to make matters worse she slammed her
knee hard towards his gut.

"Talking about a second wind, however I am not done with you yet cutie"

Tom grunted as another knee slammed in his belly and knocked the air out of
his lungs.

Two more knees and Tom felt like he was about to faint.

Rachel fell backwards and slung Tom over her and made him fell hard on his
back.

With a thud Tom hit the floor and gasped for air.

Calmly Rachel stood up and crooked her finger as she gestured him to come at
her.

Weakly Tom got back to his feet and shook his head while he inhaled deeply.

"You sure are a lot of fun, I hope you enjoy this as much as I do"

Rachel giggled and snapped a jab to his abs which made him nearly fall over.

Tom tried to reply with a punch but Rachel easily sidestepped him.

With a quick kick she collapsed his legs and he was on his knees. She walked
behind him and stepped down on one of his shins, pinning it to the ground. She
twisted his left arm behind his back and wrapped her right arm around his neck
in a tight chokehold.

Panicked Tom tugged with his right hand at her forearm which was digging in
his throat and deprived him of precious oxygen.

"This is over now" Rachel chuckled as her mouth was close to his ear.

Reminding himself of his goal Tom gathered what was left of his power and spun
towards his left as he yanked himself free.

As he slipped free from Rachel her grip he followed up with a elbow towards
her gut. Rachel grunted and stepped backwards which allowed him to get up to
his feet. Gracefull like a butterfly he moved towards Rachel and sended a
spinning kick which she barely managed to avoid.

Rachel replied with a kick of herself but he deftly avoided it and countered
by dropping low and slamming his fist against the thigh of her supporting leg,
this made Rachel stumble backwards to not fall over..

As Rachel replied with a chop aimed at the side of his neck, he stepped to his
side and took her incomming arm with both hands.

Like guiding his dance partner he spun her around and brought her to her
knees.

Before Rachel was able to comprehend what just happened he had her right arm
firmly twisted behind her back and wrapped his left arm around his neck in a
tight chokehold.

"Thank you Rachel" Tom whispered in her ear while increasing the pressure of
the choke.

Rachel grunted as she strained hard against his hold.

He could see her wide eyes popping wider in the dance mirror. They darted to
meet his. He stared at her reflection calmly, smugly. "Hm?" he asked, "what
was that?"

She choked the words out, "I GIVE UP!"

"Oh? You want to yield the dance room to me?"

No breath left to speak, she nodded vigorously.

"And you're sorry you hurted me during our fight?"

Even more vigorously.

He chuckled softly, satisfied with her newly submissive attitude.

"Well, it's a bit too late for that. However I want to thank you, this fight
will give me closure for all what people like you did to me. I can now finally
let go off the past and focus on the future. So my deep thanks for that
Rachel"

Her eyes, though it was seemingly impossible, grew even wider. She bucked and
pulled like a wild cat, using her last ounce of strength to escape his grasp.
He held firm, marveling at his victory, thrilled to own his last moments of
consciousness.

Her struggles slowed, weakened.

Finally, he went limp.

Exhaling, he gently lowered her body to the floor. He breathed heavily, his
body glistening with sweat. he looked down at her limp form.

Then he straightened his back, smiled and made a deep bow towards the mirror.
It had not been an easy fight. Not at first, anyway. But there he was feeling
almost like reborn. He felt an enormous gratitude towards Rachel for having
put him through this baptism by fire.

He turned her over with his foot, so that she was lying flat on her back,
before placing it on her chest, just below her breasts. He rested his hands on
his hips. He knew nobody was watching, but the victory pose felt good
nonetheless. "Well," he said, "let's hope you dance better."

When Rachel awoke, she was laying in a laundrycar. Stripped to her
undergarments with tape securing her ankles, her wrists behind her back, and a
pair of gym socks in her mouth.

Tom practiced for 4 hours. And on wednesday the examinators told them they had
never seen a choreography this good from a student.