The Day I Got Caught

I had been going to the martial arts school secretly for six months before Roger finally caught me.

I wasn't trying to be sneaky, really. We were going to the same school. Classes were right after each other. We were both taking multiple sessions. There was a chance to see each other every day, some days multiple times. For weekse, I was taking pains to make sure that he never saw me. I was unable to adequately explain why, even to myself, until he reacted the way he did. That's when I realized what it was I had been trying to avoid.

After months of stealth, it had gotten to the point that I forgot I was even hiding it from him. So when I walked into the large warehouse style building that evening for my daily lesson, I smiled at Roger standing in the lobby without thinking.

"Hey Roger, your class ran late."

"Sam?" Surprise covered his face. "Did we have plans tonight?"

Senses returned. Oh shit. "Uh no. Um, I'm here because..." What other possible reason could I have for being there besides the obvious? And why didn't I take Roger's out? He practically gift wrapped it for me. But I was dressed in a stretch tank and pants, not something worn to go out to dinner. I was just going to have to be honest. Seriously, maybe this was all built up in my head and Roger won't make a big deal out of it.

"Actually I'm here for my class. Tonight is Muay Thai, I think. I'm taking like three different classes right now." I waited, looking at the floor. He wasn't saying anything. Cautiously I looked up.
Roger's face was covered with a giant grin. "You're taking classes?"

"Yeah."

"For how long"

"Not quite as long as you."

"And it isn't just because of Braylon?"

"Not entirely." Braylon, was the owner of the martial arts school. We were both from the same home town and had known each other in high school. When I decided to get Roger martial arts lessons as a gift, it never entered my mind to go anywhere else but Braylon's school to get the certificate. And we had been dating for the past four months now.

It started with phone calls, checking on Roger's ever increasing skills, but when I decided to take classes myself the phone calls didn't stop even though we saw each other every day. It wasn't long before Roger's was no longer mentioned and instead we were talking about our likes and dislikes, favorite colors (I like green, Braylon prefers black), and the best concert we ever attended (Roger and I went to this Deftones show quite a few years back. Chino was dead on, the opening bands were way beyond expectation, and we had a blast, getting sweated and stomped on in the middle of the pit. This was before Roger got his job and had to be all serious and we switched to sitting in seats instead of getting floor tickets. And Braylon saw a fantastic Jimmy Buffet show that he said changed his life. I didn't quite know how to react to that one).

One night after we had been on the phone for a good hour, Braylon finally asked the big question, "Are Roger and you, like, an item?" After assuring Braylon that while Roger was the man in my life it most certainly was not in that way, he asked me out.

"So you've been taking classes for how long exactly?" Roger pressed.

"About five months. Listen is this going to be much longer? I do have a class you know."

Still grinning, Roger gestured that I was free to pass. I went to the back to drop my bag. As I turned I saw Braylon talking to Roger, who was sitting on the benches usually warmed by parents watching their child's class.

Roger was going to stay to watch. I could feel my face start to burn. It was one thing to do the punches and kicks in front of Braylon, but it was something else entirely with Roger watching. I just knew he had the wrong idea. I mean, I wasn't taking classes so I could fight as Mini-Might. I wanted to get in shape. I wanted to impress the guy I was dating. I liked the feeling I got as I punched and kicked on the bags. It had nothing to do with Leviathan and Mini-Might.

Who was I kidding?

Not Roger, that was for sure. I was watching him out of the corner of my eye as he watched me. He knew. He had to know. He was sizing up my skill. Determining how we would work best together, he analytical mind going through different scenarios, assessing, evaluating, apraising. I was going to have to set him straight as soon as class was over. Cancel my plans with Braylon and talk to Roger. I was not doing this to fight along side him. I was only doing this to protect him. Just in case he was down and someone tried to hurt him. That's when I would come in with all my hot new skills. There was no way I was going to be standing by and watch as some thug takes a knife to him. Never again.

Now just how to convince him.