[center][color=teal][h2]Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey[/h2][/color][/center]

Jess flexed her fingers, the pain subsiding. She'd feared Roxy would judge her on some level, but thankfully the anchor hadn't. Instead, she'd returned the smile - even if it was just a slight one, it showed a different side to her. And there was no scorn. Only... a twinge of envy? From what she knew of Reginald, Jess couldn't imagine Roxy had been able to train at her own pace like this.

[color=teal]"Yeah... I guess we've all gotta start somewhere."[/color] Making a fist with her other hand, she braced her legs. She knew Roxy wouldn't think poorly of her, but for some reason, that didn't stop the sensation of butterflies in her stomach. A sensation she was pretty sure was her own. As reassuring as Roxy's smile had been, it had only made that fluttering feeling stronger.

Trying to ignore it, she struck the bag again, this time with only a grunt and a wince at the flare of pain. [color=teal]"Nice try bag, but you're not gonna get the better of me,"[/color] she said with a playful chuckle before shifting her stance and punching with her other fist. [color=teal]"Take this!"[/color] Trying to lift the mood was her go-to response to stressful situations, even if success wasn't guaranteed. At the very least, it could break down the tension a little more.

[color=teal]"How was that?"[/color] She looked Roxy's way for feedback on her technique. [color=teal]"Did I teach it a lesson?"[/color]