─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────
──EPISODE TWO

            ÉLODIE HAD BEEN STARING at her phone for almost an hour, eyes lingering on her boyfriend's comment on her instagram.

She'd posted some photos with Sam on instagram, after getting glammed up and putting on pretty dresses for a mini photoshoot. She looked hot, and she was aware of that, and the fact he thought so too had made her stomach fill with butterflies.

'that's my girl' — the comment had read, and though it was undoubtably cringy, it made Élodie's heart swell anyway. She was still mad at him, of course, but he'd been texting her non-stop all morning apologising for the previous night.

She just hoped it wasn't just because he could tell she'd been mad, and was because he actually wanted to make it up to her.

"So uh, what did you end up doing last night?" Eli asked nervously as he stood at the LaRussos front door, meeting Élodie to get lunch before training.

She'd been reluctant to agree, and so she remained quiet for a moment as she shut the door and followed him away from the house. He reached out for her hand, and she hesitated in giving it to him, but eventually did.

"Look I'm really sorry, Ellie," he frowned, swivelling her round and pressing her to his chest, pulling their connected hands up below his chin, "I promise I didn't mean to let you down."

Élodie avoided eye contact for a moment, but when she caught his gaze she couldn't help but become fixated on the sad sparkle in his eyes.

"I know," Élodie barely even whispered, "I just don't want to be second best to karate already. And I think I am," her last sentence was even quieter, half hoping he didn't hear it, but he did.

He shook his head, kissing the back of her hand, "You're not, I promise. It's just been... a lot, recently. But I promise you I'll pick you up after training later and we can have a do-over, yeah?"

"Oh," Élodie looked down again, "I'm uh, going over to the LaRusso's again tonight. Mr LaRusso is... Well... I've joined Miyagi-Do."

Eli's facial expression twisted from confusion, to disappointment, to anger all in a split second as he stepped back momentarily.

"You're joining them?" he spat, "They're the enemy, Élodie."

She scoffed, "Eli, they're not the enemy. We're not the enemy... This doesn't have to be some all-out war, and I won't let it be one. I've always trained with the LaRussos, I'm not stopping now just for this petty fight."

Eli shook his head, his jaw clenched, "I can't believe this... Is it because of Keene?"

"You're making this a jealousy thing, really? I've told you it's because I've always trained with them," Élodie crossed her arms over her chest, "I don't want this to be a big deal, Eli. I've liked you since long before you joined Cobra Kai... We're on the same team even if we're in different dojos."

Eli drew in a sharp breath, stepping towards her and cupping her face in his hands, "Alright."

It seemed that no matter how angry he got, he seemed to calm at the slightest touch of Élodie.

He didn't say anything else for a moment, pressing his forehead against hers, "But I don't trust Miyagi-Do."

"Then trust me, baby," she bit her lip, "You know I wouldn't have an ulterior motive for joining."

"I know," he nodded, before capturing her lips in a deep kiss as her arms curled around his neck.

Élodie pulled back from the kiss for a moment to send him a teasing grin, "Besides, if it came down to it you know I'd kick your ass."

"I don't think so, princess," he mocked, pulling her even closer to his chest and kissing along her jaw to her ear, "Not a chance."

"Hm," Élodie hummed, pulling him back in by the collar for another kiss, smirking into the kiss as Eli did too.

Eli ever-so-slightly pulled back again after a minute or so, "Right c'mon, because as much as I could stand here kissing you for hours... We'll end up missing lunch."

———

Élodie was sat in the Miyagi-Do dojo at Robby's side, as Sam was somewhere in the LaRusso house. She was going to get drinks, and planning to call Aisha to ask if she wanted to come over after she was done training.

"So how're things with Hawk?" Robby asked, a teasing smile on his face as he emphasised Hawk.

"Hey, will you stop saying it like that!" Élodie gently shoved him, "But they're good I think. He's still got a complex about Miyagi-do, though. And about you," she scoffed.

Robby feigned offence at her scoff, "Why?"

"He thinks I joined Miyagi-do for you, or something," she shrugged with a laugh, "If only he could see the way you and Sam drool over eachother, eh?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Marshall," Robby tried to cover his blush, but she just poked her tongue out at him as she continued to tease him, "Sure you don't, Keene."

She rose to her feet, "I'm going to go to the bathroom and I'll check on Sam, be right back." and Robby just nodded.

As she entered the LaRusso house, she heard Sam's voice loud and clear at an exact moment she didn't want to hear, "Well you couldn't get Élodie off your mind while we were dating, so..."

Well that definitely wasn't Aisha.

Élodie scurried to the bathroom, rushing back to find Robby, Sam and Mr LaRusso preparing to begin training. She pretended she'd not heard what she had, standing at their side with a heavy sigh.

"Hey, Élodie, sweetheart. All right... Perfect attendance on day one," Mr LaRusso smiled.

"So what's our first lesson?" Élodie asked, excited to get going.

"You'll see. Follow me. Come on."

———

"If we're gonna play in the sand, can't we just go to the beach?" Élodie groaned as Mr LaRusso shook his head, "No, not today. It's been a long time since this dojo's had more than one student, and with more people, you multiply the defence, right?"

The teenagers before him just shrugged, half-nodding.

"Wrong. One of the cornerstones of Miyagi-Do Karate is: Always moving in a circle. And with the wheel technique, you'll soon see that three people could be as strong as 20. Now, are you ready?"

"Yes, Mr. LaRusso."

"Let's do this," he grinned, before his face settled into an expression of intense concentration, "All right. Let's get in the circle."

Élodie, Sam and Robby complied, confused but not wanting to question any further.

"Face me... Bow." they did as he asked, "Face each other. Bow."

Élodie figured today would be a long day.

———

"Hey princess," Eli greeted, and Élodie felt her heart almost burst at the nickname, "Sorry it's loud we're uh... Well I'll explain later. Sensei's sensei is here and training is a lot... tougher."

Élodie gulped, "John Kreese?"

"How do you know who he is?" Eli questioned, and Élodie sighed, "Mr LaRusso has told me all about him. He's a nasty piece of work, babe."

Eli shook his head, forgetting she couldn't see him, "Maybe he's changed. Besides, LaRusso doesn't know shit about him, really. He seems badass."

"Of course he does," Élodie huffed, "But he's an asshole, Eli. I don't even think Johnny probably wants him around."

"Look, El, if you're going to join the rival dojo and just spend your time shit talking Cobra Kai we should probably keep karate conversations to a minimum," Hawk rolled his eyes, "Look, I've gotta go anyway, Sensei wants us back. Do you want to come over tonight, or something? Since you didn't get to yesterday?"

"Oh, uh, yeah... Okay," Élodie frowned, looking down at her feet, "I'm seeing Grams for dinner and then I'll come over, okay?"

"See you there angel," he sing-songed, "Can't wait."

———

"Thanks for dinner, Grams," Élodie beamed as Marjorie Marshall took her empty plate from her, "It was amazing."

"Don't be silly, darling," she shook her head, glancing out of the condo window, "Oh, that Miguel boy has been loitering a lot, looking across here like a lost puppy constantly these past few days. I think he wants to talk to you, sweetie."

Élodie sighed, "I'm scared to talk to him alone, to be honest. He apologised but I just feel... Awkward."

"Don't you miss spending time with him, though? You were awfully close," Marjorie raised her eyebrow, and Élodie knew she was right.

She nodded, "Yeah, you're right. I should speak to him, shouldn't I?"

There was silence, as Marjorie just stared at her expectantly, "What, now?"

Marjorie nodded, "Go on, honey. His longing stare has been driving me crazy," she shook her head.

Élodie drew in a deep breath and stood up, "Okay, thanks Grams," she pressed a kiss to her grandmother's cheek and collected her things, "I love you, see you in a few days."

She stepped out of the door and made eye contact with Miguel immediately.

"Oh, uh, hey Élodie," he gulped, nervous. She swallowed hard, pacing over to him, "Hey Miguel, can we have a chat?"

"I thought you wouldn't want to talk to me, to be honest," he pouted, and she shook her head, "I was mad at you and... confused... but I've missed you. You're my best friend, Miggy."

A genuine smile spread on his face as he gazed at her, and things felt almost normal for a moment, "I really am sorry about what happened. I...I just thought... well the alcohol made me think that maybe I had a chance."

Élodie avoided meeting his eyes as she fiddled with her thumbs nervously, "I don't get it, you like Sam... Since when did you even like me?"

His head dropped back as he sighed, "I've been so confused, El. I think I just convinced myself I liked her more than I did because you were with Hawk. And then when you kept coming to check on me, and I saw him with Moon... I thought, and I know it's stupid now, but I thought maybe you might feel the same."

Élodie was lost for words for a moment, but she reached out and pulled him into a hug, "I just want to forget about it all, I've missed my best friend."

She pulled back, sighing as Miguel stepped ever so slightly close to her again, "Can you be completely honest with me, El?" he asked.

Élodie nodded, "Always."

"You 100% don't have any feelings for me, right?"

Élodie felt like she'd been winded by that question, but before she had the chance to answer she heard the footsteps of her boyfriend approaching, and Miguel looked dejected as he saw Hawk getting closer.

"Hey gorgeous," he curled his arms around her waist from behind, pressing a kiss to her cheek, "I thought I'd come get you now I've got the car... Save you getting the bus to mine. Hey Miguel," he nodded to his best friend.

"Are you guys, uh, off on a date or something?" Miguel asked, cursing himself for stuttering nervously as he asked, "I'm just going over to Eli's for the night," Élodie shrugged, placing her hand over Eli's as she did so.

"Oh cool, cool," Miguel nodded awkwardly, and silence befell the trio for a moment, "Well I'm gonna head back— back inside, see you at training tomorrow, Hawk."

Hawk nodded him goodbye, and Élodie waved him off with a shy smile too, her heart racing at whatever the hell had just happened.

"So, beautiful," Eli spun her around as Miguel's front door slammed shut, "Shall we go and say goodnight to Grams before we head back to my place, eh?"

He linked their arms, knocking on apartment 106 with a confident smile and the girl of his dreams on his arm.

When Marjorie opened the door, she eyed the pair carefully, and Élodie could tell she had been watching through the window...

They'd need a big chat when she was next over alone.

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────
AUTHOR'S NOTE !
eee thank you for reading, how do you think that
conversation with miguel would've ended if eli
hadn't turned up???

i know everyone's a lil too easily forgiving but at the
end of the day they've got a lot going on n they're
teenagers who are v confused nd in their feelings
lmao... besides, that may change soon 👁👄👁