He simply didn't want to look at her.
"Ryan went hard."
Angela's expression changed.
"How hard?"
"I don't know."
"Did you ask him to slow down?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"He did."
Angela waited.
"For how long?"
Ethan sighed.
"Like twenty seconds."
Then he closed the refrigerator.
Angela leaned against the counter.
"What happened after that?"
"He got faster again."
"Did you tell him?"
"I didn't want to keep whining."
Angela had looked at her son for a long moment.
Then she had asked the question every parent eventually asks when they realize their child is hiding something.
"Are you afraid of him?"
Ethan had immediately said no.
Too quickly.
Angela knew the difference between an honest no and a frightened one.
She hadn't pushed him that night.
Instead, she had made a decision.
She would go to Westbridge.
She would watch.
She would listen.
And she would find out exactly what was happening to her son.
She had not expected to end up standing barefoot on the mat with three black belts laughing at her.
But life rarely asked permission before changing direction.
Michael raised one hand.
"Ryan first."
Ryan stepped forward.
The laughter had disappeared from his face.
Now he looked curious.
"Ready?" he asked.
Angela nodded.
Ryan moved.
He expected hesitation.
Instead, Angela stepped forward too.
Their hands met.
Ryan reached for a collar grip that wasn't there.
Angela rotated her wrist, slid beneath his arm, and moved one step sideways.
Ryan blinked.
She had not resisted him.
She had simply disappeared from the line of pressure.
He tried again.
This time faster.
Angela shifted her weight.
His fingers brushed her sleeve.
Nothing more.
Ryan smiled.
"Okay."
He moved again.
Angela moved with him.
For several seconds, the room became strangely quiet.
Ryan tried an arm drag.
Angela turned.
He attempted to establish a body lock.
She lowered her center of gravity.
He pushed.
She yielded.
He pulled.
She stepped.
Nothing happened.
Ryan began breathing harder.
Angela hadn't even broken rhythm.
Then Ryan made his first mistake.
He lunged.
Angela pivoted.
Her right hand caught his wrist.
Her left hand controlled his elbow.
She stepped behind his heel.
For one brief second, Ryan's balance disappeared.
Angela released him before he fell.
Ryan stumbled forward two steps.
The room erupted in surprised murmurs.
Derek stared.
Jason's eyebrows lifted.
Michael's eyes narrowed.
Ryan turned around.
"What was that?"
Angela calmly answered.
"Balance."
Ryan frowned.
"You've trained before."
Angela didn't answer.
He moved again.
This time, his pride was involved.
And pride was precisely what Angela had been waiting to see.
What Ethan Had Been Hiding
Ryan attacked with more determination.
Not recklessness.
Not yet.
But enough that Michael stepped closer.
"Ryan," he warned.
"I've got it."
Angela heard the words.
She also heard what they meant.
Ryan didn't want to be corrected.
He wanted to prove something.
He drove forward.
Angela caught his shoulder.
For an instant, Ryan thought he had trapped her.
Then she turned.
The movement was so small that several students didn't understand what had happened.
Ryan's momentum carried him past her.
Angela placed one hand between his shoulder blades.
He dropped to one knee.
She released him immediately.
Ryan stared at the mat.
Then at her.
Nobody laughed.
Michael finally spoke.
"Round."
Ryan stood.
His face was red.
Angela stepped away.
"Good round," she said.
Ryan looked offended by the kindness.
"What belt are you?"
Angela smiled faintly.
"None."
Jason laughed.
"Come on."
Angela looked at him.
"What?"
"You don't move like someone with no belt."
"I didn't say I had no experience."
Jason's smile disappeared.
Michael looked at Angela.
"Where did you train?"
Angela looked down at the mat.
"Long ago."
"How long?"
"Long enough."
That answer irritated Jason.
He stepped forward.
"My turn."
Michael looked at him.
"Technical."
Jason nodded.
He approached Angela.
Unlike Ryan, Jason had less patience.
He wanted immediate control.
He shot low.
Angela sprawled.
Jason's hands slapped against the mat.
Before he could adjust, Angela had moved to his side.
She didn't attack.
She simply controlled his shoulder and wrist.
Jason twisted.
Angela released.
He stood.
His expression had changed.
"You've done this before."
Angela said nothing.
Jason attacked again.
This time he managed to establish a grip.
For several seconds, the two moved around the mat.
Jason tried to force Angela backward.
She refused to meet strength with strength.
She angled.
She redirected.
She waited.
Finally, Jason overcommitted.
Angela hooked his ankle.
His balance broke.
She guided him down.
Then she immediately released him.
Jason rolled away and stood.
The students were silent.
Derek cracked his neck.
"I don't know what everybody's so impressed about."
Michael looked at him.
"Derek."
"What?"
"Don't."
Derek stepped forward anyway.
Angela looked at him.
"You don't have to."
Derek smiled.
"Neither do you."
Michael moved between them.
"That's enough."
But Angela raised one hand.
"It's fine."
Michael studied her.
Then he stepped back.
"Two minutes."
Derek nodded.
Angela took a breath.
Derek came forward.
His size was immediately obvious.
Angela's body looked small beside his.
Ethan watched from the edge of the mat.
His hands were clenched.
He remembered the last time Derek had sparred with him.
Derek had laughed when Ethan tapped.
"Too quick."
Ethan had whispered, "I said my shoulder hurt."