VI.                                           Heartbreak Weather

      Odessa didn't miss the fear that came from Eli. They stood outside of Cobra Kai where everybody was going to. She put a hand on his shoulder, feeling him flinch. "Hey. Don't worry, okay? It's just for one day. If you don't like it then we won't come back."

He tore his eyes away from the dojo and out them on her. "Are you sure?" He almost whispered.

She smiled. "Of course. I owe you one for having to listen to Oliver and Hailey fight the whole way here."

He chuckled.

They walked into the dojo together and saw how crowded it was. Odessa kept her arm attached to his so that he wouldn't be overwhelmed. Miguel and Aisha stood dressed in their gi's. "Why did I let you talk me into this?" Demetri asked the group. "This goes against everything I stand for. It's like extra gym class for no reason."

Oliver slung his arm around Odessa. "Yeah, and there like no hot guys here whatsoever." He observed all the nerds in the room.

Eli, Demetri, and Grayson gave him an offended look.

"Besides you guys. You're all like a bunch of adorable puppies."

"Let's just give it a chance." Eli said to his friend. "You saw the fight. Miguel kicked ass."

Grayson nodded. "More than one to be exact."

"QUIET!"

Everyone in the room immediately stopped talking and saw an older man standing in the room wearing a gi and headband. "Hot older man. Now we're talking,"  Oliver whispered out loud, making Odessa laugh.

"Face front!"  The man demanded.

They all stood in a front facing position.  Odessa and Eli stood side by side and she stood with her hands behind her back.  The blonde man walked through the rows of students,  eyeing each and every one of them intimidatingly.  He passed by Demetri.  "Nice shirt." He said and pointed to his attire.

Demetri grinned. "Thanks."

"I'm joking. It sucks."

Oliver accidentally snorted. Demetri looked to him with his jaw dropped. He immediately apologized.

"Word of advice,  if you've got shit for teeth,  don't smile,"

Odessa's eyes widened.

"God,  makes me feel like a virgin just looking at you,"
the sensei insulted again. "When I look around this dojo, I don't see Cobra Kai material.  I see a bunch of losers.  I see nerds.  I see a fat kid with a funny hat with his tits popping out."

Odessa could see Miguel standing there, feeling humiliated. Johnny Lawrence continued to walk around the kids before stopping in front of Odessa.  "You look like you'd be afraid of breaking a nail. What's your name,  blondie?"

"Odessa Beaumont." She answered with a shaky voice.

He began to walk away but then he paused. He turned to her again. "Did you say Beaumont?" He questioned.

Odessa blinked and quickly nodded.

Johnny narrowed his eyes as he observed her. She leaned her head back, feeling awkward, and everyone was staring. "You okay,  sensei?"  Asked Aisha.

Finally, Johnny looked away.  "Yeah. . . But my short time as a sensei,  i've also seen some miracles.  So maybe there's some hope for you yet.  But first I need to see where you're at.  So everybody,  fall in!" He shouted again. They all stood around, not understanding. "That means line up." They began form one big line. "No,  no!  Not like up in a line.  Lines!  Get in lines!"

"You mean rows?"  Asked Demetri, feeling dumbfounded.

Johnny groaned and put his face into his hands.

"Fighting positions!"

Some had no idea what they were doing, others did, while Odessa looked around to make sure she was doing it right. Eli followed her movements.

"Front jab, wait till I say go. Hi-yah!" Shouted Sensei Lawrence.

The class threw the punches on his command. Johnny walked between the rows of students and watched. Odessa tried her best but with her scrawny arms, she looked like she could barely through a baseball. "Stand up straight. Point your feet forward."  He instructed and straightened her shoulders. He focused on Eli. "Hey, Lip!"

Eli stopped his punching at the sudden call out. His friends stopped as well.

"Yeah, you, the one with the freaky lip.  Who do you think I'm talking to?"

"Oh no,"  Hailey muttered.

"Excuse me,  uh—Mr.  Lawrence,"  Demetri stammered.

"Sensei Lawrence!"  Aisha loudly corrected.

He looked at her weirdly. "Okay. . . You really shouldn't make fun of someone's physical appearance."

"Oh,  is that so?"  Johnny questioned. He motioned to Eli. "So,  i'm not suppose to mention his lip at all?"

Odessa almost rolled her eyes. "That's kind of the point."

Johnny pointed to the poor boy. "You have to have your girlfriend stand up for you?" He took a step closer to Odessa. "Listen up blondie. Maybe that's what they teach you in school,  but in the real world,  you can't expect people to do what they're suppose to do." He looked back at Eli. "You hear that,  Lip?  If you can't handle someone making fun of you,  how you gonna handle a elbow to the teeth?"

When Eli didn't answer, Demetri took over again. "By calling the police?"

Miguel shook his head. "Dude,  knock it off."  He warned.

"Why should he? All he's going is being a bully," said Oliver, his eyes glaring at the Sensei.

"He does realize that the nazis lost the war,  right?" Demetri followed. "Why should I be scared of him?  Because's he's got a snake on his wall?  It's not like he's a teacher who can give us a bad grade.  we're paying him.  He works for us.  It's not like he can actually hurt us."

"I don't think that's how it works." Hailey shook her head.

Everyone began to back up when Johnny stepped forward to Demetri with an all too calm look on his face. Odessa looked at Miguel. "What's happening?"  She whispered.

The boy only shook his head.

"You done?"  Johnny questioned.

"What?" 

"Hit me. Go head,  hit me,  strike me. Right here." He taunted him.

Hailey clutched Odessa's arm. "Technically,  we can sue him if he hits a minor, right?"  She whispered.

"Be quiet,  Hailey."

Demetri swung his first and Sensei Lawrence swatted it alway.  "Harder." The boy inhaled sharply and did it again. "Is that all you got,  princess?" Johnny taunted again.

Odessa sucked in a breath. "Oh god,  i'm scared." She squeezed Eli's hand.

Miguel shook his head as everyone watched Demetri throw another hit at Johnny. The Sensei took his arm and flipped him onto the mat.

Oliver glared harshly at the man, his breathing deep and sharp. Odessa stood behind him and out a hand on his arm to calm him down. When he got angry, it wasn't pretty.

Johnny looked at all the students. "Let that be a lesson to all of you."

Demetri looked embarrassed as he stayed down on the mat.

The Sensei stood in front of Oliver, their height almost the same. "Have anything to say, Red?" He taunted him as well.

"Oh, god. Oh, god. Oh, god." Hailey muttered, now feeling scared.

But to their surprise, Oliver shook his head. "No. . . Sensei."

Johnny stared at him for a solid minute before moving on.

Odessa found Eli standing at his locker with his head down. After what happened at the dojo, he went silent. She tried texting and calling but he never answered. She didn't blame him. He was embarrassed. Approaching him, she put her hand on his clothes back. "Hey, I tried calling you last night."

Eli lifted his head and looked at her. He shrugged. "I'm sorry. I had a rough night last night."

She frowned but nodded. "I understand. How are you feeling now?"

He didn't answer. He only shrugged again.

She took a step closer and watched him panic. "You know, he was wrong for that. There's nothing wrong with you. You can't help what you're born with. If anything it adds strength to you. I wouldn't change that for anything." She was passionate about him. She's never felt this way before.

Eli let out a small, shaky breath. He went home last night and locked himself away in his room, crying like a baby. He ignored her calls which made him feel more guilty. He was embarrassed because Johnny insulted him in front of everyone but mostly because it happened in front of her. Eli didn't want her to look at him any less than what he felt like he was. But Odessa stood up for him. And Oliver. He only ever had Demetri stand up for him. He smiled at her. "You look really pretty today."

Her smile widened. "Thank you."

"Are you thinking of going back to the dojo?"

"Not unless you want to."

His heart was unsettled on the decision but he didn't want to give up. "I think I owe it to myself to at least try."

Odessa smiled at his courage. "Then I'll go back. For you."