XXXIX.                                       Heartbreak Weather

trigger warnings: mentions of abuse
important message at the end <3

      Johnny's loud words made them all confused. Odessa furrowed her brows and looked at everyone. Odd stares went around. Demetri raised his hand that wasn't in Oliver's. "Uh, begin what exactly?" He hesitated.

The Sensei's looked at each other. Johnny only shrugged. "Begin a new era," Daniel conjured up. "Many of us used to be enemies,"

Many eyes looked to Eli and he looked at them as well. Odessa sent him a quick smile.

"But rivalries don't need to last forever. The All Valley tournament is just a few months away," Daniel continued. "And this year, the stakes are higher than they've ever been. We know that Cobra Kai is gonna use very dirty trick in the book. There's only one way we're gonna be able to beat it—"

"By kicking their asses so hard they shit themselves!"

Odessa blinked in shock. Again, everyone looked at each other. Daniel was speechless.

Johnny began pacing back and forth. "We gotta take things to the next level. We're gonna teach you an aggression stronger than anything Cobra kai can throw at us. They strike first? We'll pre-strike."

"Okay, we're getting ahead of ourselves," Daniel butted in. "We are going to respond to what they do—"

"Eagle's do not respond!" Johnny interrupted again. 

Hailey rubbed her face.

"They swoop down and take whatever they want. That's what we're gonna do.Take back the Valley!"

"Take it back in a measured and organized approach!"

"We bite first!"

"Wow. This is great." Grayson uttered with a happy smile.

"Okay, let's warm up with some simple exercises,"  Daniel suggested. "Just breath and follow me."

"Fighting positions!" Johnny ordered. "Right leg back. Front kick ready. Hi-yah!"

Mitch ended up kicking Nathan in the back and making him fall. Hailey, who was standing next to him, let out a loud gasp.  "Shit, dude, i'm sorry!" Mitch quickly apologized.

Nathan only groaned in response. This was going to take a lot of work.

Their Sensei's had them move to the middle of the yard as their training started. Johnny motioned for Mitch and Bert to stand in the middle while the others stood by the fence and watched. "Ready? Fight!" He waved his hand between them.

The two boys began throwing punches at each other. Mitch threw a punch at Bert and he was quick to duck. Odessa had her back leaned against the big rock while Eli's arm resting above her head. Daniel got in the middle of fighting boys and tried breaking them apart. "Hey, hey! You're just swinging at each other!" He looked back at Johnny with a crazed expression. "Don't you teach any defense?"

"Best defense is more offense." Mitch pointed out.

Bert used the opportunity to kick him in the side and sent him flying into the rock. Eli quickly grabbed Odessa and pulled her out of the way. "Holy. . ." Johnny started in shock.

Mitch groaned from the ground. "Why do you have a rock in the middle of your dojo?" Johnny questioned Daniel.

Bert walked back to the group of students and secretly gave Odessa a high five in victory.

Next, they moved to the area of the backyard where the deck was. This time fighting was Demetri and Sam.  Odessa sat on the deck with her legs crossed and  Oliver stood beside her with his arm resting on the top of her head. The pair circled each other slowly, not throwing any punches. Daniel nodded slowly. "That's it. Keep circling. Don't anticipate. Stay focused."

Grayson yawned from boredom. 

"One of you do something. What the hell is this?"  Johnny yelled out.

Demetri dropped his arms. "Yeah,  that's not how this works. One of us has to be provoked." He huffed.

Before anyone could blink, he threw a water bottle at the teenager. Everyone flinched back at the action. "Provoked yet?" Johnny questioned with a stupid grin on his face.

Grayson raised his hand. "Can I go? I've been working on my spin kick?" He begged his Sensei.

"Sure, why not."

He merrily hopped down from the deck and stood in front of Demetri.

Oliver closed his eyes. "Oh, I can't look." He said and turned away.

A scared look flashed on Demetri's face and he nervously got in his fighting stance. "Ready? Fight!" Johnny shouted.

Before Demetri could do anything, Grayson quickly spun around and kicked his foot in his chest and sent him flying back a good foot. Everybody grimaced and slowly turned Grayson, looking at him with disbelief. He shrugged. "What? I have long legs."

After making sure Demetri's heart was still beating, Daniel had all the students learn wax on and wax off. He paired them off and had them stand by one of the cars. Odessa was paired with Hailey. "Wax on, wax off," he instructed as he walked by them. He showed them how to wipe in circular motions. "It's doesn't matter how many times you've done it. You always need to practice your fundamentals."

She felt eyes open her from the other side. She looked over to see Eli staring at her as he washed Johnny's vehicle with Mitch and Bert. His lips were turned into a small smile. She flashed a row of white teeth at him, her eyes bright. His face turned red and the small turned into a boyish grin.

"Quit with the googly eyes, Hawk! Get to cleaning!" Johnny shouted at him, making him turn even more red in embarrassment.

It went on for a while longer and the exhaustion was starting to get to everyone. They had set up obstacles courses. Right in front of Odessa was Eli and they waited in line as Sam ran through the bins. Chris, who was spinning around with his head on a baseball bat, suddenly started stumbling. "Oh man, I think i'm going to barf." He let out.

Odessa's eyes quickly widened and she shook her head rapidly. "No, no, no! Please don't—"

As soon as he ran over to Mr. Larusso's boat and emptied his stomach, bile rose in her throat. Hailey's eyes widened as panick. "Oh, no."

"Dess, please, go inside—"

But it was too late and Oliver was cut off by the girl bending down and throwing up on the dirt. Eli cringed but grabbed her hair and pulled it out of her face.

Everyone groaned in disgust and backed away. Not even ten seconds after her, Hailey projectile vomited, causing Grayson to flinch away from her. Daniel slowly turned to Johnny, glaring harshly. Johnny let out a nervous laugh. "Haha, whoops?"

After getting water in their systems and making sure to steer clear of all the vomit, the students headed in to the dojo. Johnny had Eli and Oliver fight which made Odessa was nervous. Our of all the people that had a problem with Eli, Oliver held the biggest grudge. Not only for what he did to Demetri but what he put them all through. He wasn't an easy person to crack. He believed Eli had a lot of making up to do.

"Fight!" Johnny yelled.

Oliver threw a kick at Eli but he was quickly dodge it and throw a punch at his stomach. He smiled evilly and threw his fist forward but Eli ducked down and avoided it. They switched sides and Oliver kicked him in the stomach which making him stumble back. Eli moved forward and threw a punch at Oliver's face but he grabbed his arm and shoved him out of the way.  When Eli went in for a kick, his foot went through the paper wall of the dojo.

Odessa grabbed Hailey's arm in shock and covering her mouth. Oliver laughed at the incident but Eli wasn't and guilt washing over his face. Daniel looked at the kicked in screen with a gaped mouth. "You see,  this is why we don't spar in here."

Out of all the people Daniel could have chosen to balance on the wooden wheel, Odessa wondered why he had to pick her. Sam stood across from her on the wheel with perfect balance while she looked around nervously. She held her arms out to keep her balanced. "Um, are we sure this is okay?"

"Yeah, dad, she's never done this before."  Said Sam.

Daniel shook his head. "Don't worry, Odessa, it's completely safe. All you have to do is follow Sam's movements and you'll stay balanced." He explained to her.

"And don't fall into the fish." Said Grayson. He laughed and Hailey hit him on the arm,

Sam gave her a look of encouragement. "Just trust me, Dess." She began to move slowly around the wheel and Odessa felt herself stumbling. She held her arms out and took small steps in the other direction so they were moving in a circle.

"You're going great girls. Just keep moving in a circle. nice and slow," Daniel encouraged.

Oliver leaned toward Miguel. "Is it bad that I want to throw something at her and make her fall?" He whispered.

Miguel sent him a look. "You know she'll kill you, right?"

He paused and thought about it. "Demetri, give me your shoe." He demanded.

Demetri looked at him like he was crazy. "What, why?"

Oliver held his hand out. "Don't you trust me?"

He raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah, don't answer that. Shoe, please."

Demetri huffed and rolled his eyes. He bent down and untied his shoe before handed it to him. He watched as Oliver walks backward and stood beside Johnny.

"What's he doing?" Eli asked after seeing the interaction.

"It's Oliver, who knows."

Odessa and Sam's movements were in sync as they slowly made their way to the middle of wheel. They threw punches at each other and were quick to dodge, the wheel spinning from under them. An object flew at her and hit her square in the head. Odessa screamed and fell into the pond with a loud splash.

Daniel threw his arms up and everyone turned around to Oliver to see him laughing. A head full of blonde hair popped out of the water with a face full of anger. She spit the water out of her mouth. "Oliver Dean Benson!" She shouted, immediately knowing who the culprit was.

"Uh oh, the full name." Hailey panicked.

"Is the full name bad?" Said Johnny.

"You'll see." Grayson answered.

Oliver held his stomach from how hard he was laughing and staggered over to the pond. "I-I'm sorry Dessi, I couldn't help myself." He said through the laughter.

"Well then help me out, please!" She snapped and held her hand out.

Oliver stood on the edge, still chucking, and reached for her hand to pull her out. As soon as she grabbed his hand, Odessa tugged on his arm and he went flying into the pond. Grayson busted out laughing, along with the others. Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled loudly.

After trying to drown each other in the pond and Eli and Demetri pulling them apart, the teens dried off and training was over. Sam and Daniel let them borrow some dry clothes. The students grabbed their belongings and began making their way out of the backyard. "Hey, Dess!" Eli shouted and jogged up to her.

Odessa slowed down and smiled at him. "Hey, you."

"Uh, I was wondering if you want to hang out? Like watch a movie, or play cards, or go swimming?" He questioned, a slightly nervousness to his voice.

She frowned slightly. "Oh, Eli, i'm sorry. I have therapy after training. . ."

His lips turned downward. "Oh, right, totally. I understand. Very important." he rambled on.

She twisted her wattled bottle in her hands. "It's only two hours though. I'll call you when it's done and you can come over?" She suggested.

He shook his head. "No, it's okay. I'll see you tomorrow. I hope you have a good session." He said and walk away with his shoulders slumped.

It was awkward. She hated it. It was like they were two strangers in love but couldn't talk to each other. Odessa knew things were different and were going to be. But she didn't want them to be different. She wished she could go back in time to where Hawk and Cobra Kai never happened. But it did happen and people got hurt. Things were said that wouldn't be able to be taken back. She owed it to not only her friends but to herself to put herself first. Her health was her first priority.

But that didn't stop her from feeling guilty. Odessa trudged forward and met Oliver and the others out front. Hailey saw her long face. "Why do you look sad?" She asked.

The boys looked at her. She only shrugged. "I'm fine. Just tired." She dismissed.

"Wanna go out for ice cream after therapy? I could use a good gelato," said Grayson.

She smiled and shook her head. "No, i'm good. Maybe tomorrow. I just want to be alone tonight."

"Did Hawk say something?" Oliver asked.

"No, no, no, not at all! Things are just still awkward between us."

"They should be," Hailey scoffed. "It's been one day. You don't go from being an asshole to a good person in one day."

They looked to Oliver, who stood with his hands on his hips. He narrowed his eyes. "Oh, thanks." He said sarcastically.

She shook her head. "Anyways. .." She trialed and looked back at Odessa. "He has a lot to prove. He broke your heart and called you a slut, had his Cobra Kai minions almost beat Gray to death, and he broke Demetri's arm."

Odessa frowned. "I know. I know, but I think he's serious this time. I can see it. I know Eli."

Oliver wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "We like Eli, Dess. But like Hailey said, he has a lot to prove." He stood his ground.

She stared at her friends with an annoyance buried deep in her. She knew they were right but her good heart shielded her judgment. Hawk hurt a lot a lot of people. Forgiveness wasn't a one day journey. She understood where they were coming from. If she wasn't so nice she would probably hate his guts. But Eli wasn't just some guy to her.

Odessa sat on the comfy couch in Dr. Carmichael's office. "How have you been since the last time we talked, Odessa?" Addison asked and pushed her glasses up on her face.

She nodded with a closed lip smile. "I've been good. I can tell i'm really improving."

The woman smiled back. That's great. Can you tell me in what way?"

She shifted her legs from under her. "Well, uh, i've been eating more. Mom and I had burgers and milkshakes the other day. It was really good," she said with a giddy smile. "And um. . ." She motioned to the multiple hair ties on her wrist. "I've been doing better at wearing hair ties on my wrist if i'm feeling anxious. You know, picking at them. . . I'm also doing karate again, which is exciting."

"What made you want to go back?"

She pursed her lips. "I owed it to myself to not give up. I love karate. It's changed me in a lot of ways. My friends do it with me. My Sensei's can be idiots but I love them, too. We're also in a healthier environment. So yeah, it's been good." She ended it with a tight smile.

Addison smiled. "You sound like you're happy."

Odessa shrugged slightly. "Yeah, I guess I am."

The therapist paused for a minute and took of her glasses. "Is there anything in your life that you think might jeopardize that happiness?"

Oh yeah. She said to herself. "I don't know." She partially lied. "Uhh, my ex boyfriends are still around. One of them's in karate with me. The other. . ." Odessa paused. "He, uh, just got back to town."

Addison nodded with a hum. "I bet that's really hard."

She nodded heavily. "Like you wouldn't believe." She breathed out a small laugh. "But I'm trying not to focus on that. I want to get better."

"That's great, Odessa. I love that way of thinking," her therapist told her. "But you know dating doesn't hurt, right? Just because you've been struggling doesn't mean you can't allow love back into your life."

"No, I know that!" She quickly said. "It's just. . . I really don't know. It's hard to explain."

Addison nodded. "Is there still love there? For one of them, I mean?"

Odessa began to sweat. She secretly messed with the hair ties on her wrist. "I love them both for different reasons." She answered.

"Can I ask what those reasons are?"

The girl inhaled deeply. "I love Robby because he was a light in my life that I needed. He's so kind. He's had it rough, too, so that's how we can relate to each other. He made me happy again." She explained and her heart warmed when she thought of Robby. It also hurt.  She released another sigh. "And then Eli. . ." This one was harder. "It's really complicated."

Addison didn't interrupt her.

She tried hard to find the right words. "He changed. A lot. He was bullied because he has a scar on his lip from a deformity he was born with. It pushed him over the edge. He wasn't the same person I met and fell for. It was like he was locked in a box and put away on the shelf. . ." She paused. "For a while, I tried giving him the benefit of the doubt because I knew how hard it was for him. But then. . . He turned on me." She emphasized with a laugh of disbelief. "He said awful things to me. Held things above my head that I got bullied for. And he hurt my friends. He broke my trust. He treated me like I was nothing when I was the only person who still saw good in him."

When Addison saw her start to cry, she handed her a box of tissues. "What did he say, Odessa?" She gently asked, not wanting to push her.

Odessa thought she'd never have to talk about it again. "After the rumor went around, I was branded the school slut. That day we got into an argument, he said that everything everybody said about me was true. He called some weak. After that I felt completely numb. That's how I ended up with. . ."

She froze. Addison raised her eyebrows in the slightest. "Robby?" She asked.

She nodded. It wasn't to say that she was just using Robby. Or maybe she was in that moment. But she did love him. He held a special place in her heart. She could never hate him as much as she wanted to.

"Do you know what emotional manipulation is, Odessa?"

She looked at her therapist. Of course she knew what it was. She watched her father do it to her mother for years. She just nodded.

"It's when someone intends to use exploitative or controlling behavior to take advantage of someone," Addison educated. "I've seen it happen many times. A lot of people know exactly what to say to someone to make them feel bad. Make them feel guilty about things because they know it hurts them."

There was a twist in her stomach. A stab at her heart. Odessa closed her eyes and covered her face.

"It sounds like Eli knew exactly what to say to tear you down. Maybe it wasn't him talking and he didn't mean it, but he did it to hurt you. It happens between couple, friends, parents, and even strangers."

She bit her lip to keep herself from crying but it was too late. She grabbed another tissue. "I'm sorry."

Addison shook her head. "Don't be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry about. You've had a lot of trauma in your life and you're only sixteen. It's a lot for one person to handle. Especially when it comes to someone you love. But you want to know something? What they say doesn't define you. From what i've learned about you, you are a beautiful girl with a beautiful heart. Anyone who tries to tell you differently just hates that they dont have your spirit."

Odessa's bottom lip started to quiver. Everybody made her think she was weak and unimportant. But overtime, karate helped her find herself. It made her realize she was stronger than what people gave her credit for. She wasn't weak. She was powerful. She wasn't fragile. She was fierce. She didn't need the opinion of a man to determine whether she was a good person or not.

When her therapy session was over, Odessa walked out with her head held high. Thalia was waiting for her in the waiting room while reading a fashion magazine to waste time. Her head lifted when she saw her. "How was it?" She asked with a smile.

Odessa didn't say anything. Instead, she walked up to her mom and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Thalia flinched in surprise but slowly returned the hug. "What's this for?"

She laid her head on her mom's shoulder, shaking it slightly. "I just love you."

Thalia's face grew soft and she tightened her grip on her daughter, smiling to herself.

this chapter contained mentions of abuse and emotional manipulation. It took me a lot of thinking about how I wanted to explain it and express it. It is a hard subject for anyone who's experienced any type of abuse or bullying. When I was 16, I was in an abusive relationship with my first boyfriend. I spent a lot of time looking down on myself and feeling like it was all my fault. It took me a long time to get over it and I still go through hard times because of it now. My mother was in an abusive marriage for 3 years.

Abuse is real and is rarely every talked about. There's so many types and every one important to talk about. Emotional abusive is just as bad as physical abusive. As young girls, we are judged in the world and feel like we have to prove ourselves to the world. We are taught to keep our mouths shut because it's easier. We are told what we should and should not wear and how to act. It's all bullshit. Women powerful and intelligent and deserve to treated like such. For anyone who is or has had experience with abusive relationships (male or female) my heart goes out to you. I love every single one of you <3