Tidal Wave (Robby Keene/Book 1)

Twice in the Gut

I looked up from waxing the blue convertible to see Mr. LaRusso showing the mystery boy to wax in big circles, switching hands each time. I looked back to the cloth and waxing sponge in my hand. I started doing the motions he was showing the boy while listening to Falling Like The Stars by James Arthur. When Mr. LaRusso came to check up on me, he saw I was already doing it properly and left me alone to continue. I kept sneaking glances up at the mystery boy, admiring the way the sun bounced off his brown hair, or how the light brought out his light freckles. 

I moved on to a different car, this time a black range rover. Taking my time, going back and forth between my hands. After I had finished the range rover Mr. LaRusso came over and brought me to the flagpole, along with the boy. Removing my headphones and resting them around my neck, my eyes caught his name on his shirt. It read Robby. I half smiled to myself, watching Mr. LaRusso raise the flag in a certain motion. He then moved aside letting us try. I went first, doing exactly what he showed us to do. When It was good enough for him, he lowered the flag and made Robby do it.

Afterwards, he brought both of us inside and wash windows. I started doing it in circles only for Danial to come and help me correct my posture and movements, then he went and helped Robby. Once we had finished all of the windows in the store he asked us to lift some of the cars up in the showroom. I was doing a black mustang when Mr. LaRusso went to show Robby the certain way of doing, I couldn't hear anything, thanks to my headphones, but I saw his form and corrected myself again. All he did was take one look at me and decided not to come over. 

Once we finished, he had us sweep the floor. He showed us to take two steps forward and do a kind of spinning move to turn around. It looked more like a dance to me. 

Then next thing he did was have us help Amanda. I liked this one, because I felt comfortable in her presence. We were helping her staple some papers together, until Mr. LaRusso came back in and showed us the proper way to do it. I looked at Amanda, with my headphones on, she looked at me and smirked. I smiled and ran my hand through my ponytail. I grabbed some papers and did it like he showed us. He gave me a thumbs up and walked back out of the office with his muffin in hand. 

The last thing he had us do was to finish waxing the cars. Again, I kept sneaking glances at Robby. He looked better than almost all the guys back in Jersey. His hair was tucked behind his ear on the one side, and dangling in his eyes on the other. He had his shirt sleeve rolled up just below his elbows, showing off his tanned forearms. Towards the end I started to get sweaty, I ran my hand through my hair again. Why did I have to wear sweats and a black tank top on this extremely hot day?

I smiled and finished up the car I was working on, leaving no more cars in the lot. 

As I walked up to Mr. LaRusso with my cloths and waxing sponge in hand, Robby joined me. I tried not to look at him, focusing on the music blasting in my ears. When we reached Danial and Amanda, I took off my headphones. "Uh, Mr. LaRusso. We're all done." Robby said signaling towards the lot we finished. He looked at me for confirmation, I nodded my head. 

"Really?" He said looking behind him pointing to more cars. I looked at Amanda, thinking where this conversation was going. She shrugged and looked smugly at me. "Both lots?" He said smiling at us. I looked at Robby quickly to see his reaction. 

"This is bullshit. I thought you were gonna teach me karate. I'm just doing your shitty chores." He exclaimed from beside me bitterly before walking off. 

I hung back for awhile, smirking as I watched him walk away. "I think your enjoying this a little to much." Amanda said before walking away as well.

"God I love this part." He said, staring longingly towards Robby.

"Trust the process." I said to myself smiling before walking off to wax more cars. 

Afterwards, we all found ourselves back the Larusso home, in the Dojo. I stood off to the side while Mr. LaRusso showed Robby first. "Show me wash the window." He told Robby. He threw two punches at him, which Robby blocked by using the technique Danial showed us for washing the windows. "Now show me wax on, wax off." Again he threw two punches at Robby, and again, he blocked by using the wax on wax of technique he showed us earlier. He switched his stance. Out of nowhere, Mr. LaRusso started throwing multiple punches and he even threw in a few kicks at Robby, who was using all of the techniques one after the other, blocking every attack Danial threw at him. Robby then used the sweeping technique and maneuvered his body to the other side of Danial, and continues to block punches at a fast speed, his hair flying all over the place.

The last punch Mr. LaRusso threw, Robby blocked. He looked surprised with himself while Mr. Larusso looked proud. "Woah." Was all Robby could say.  They placed their hands at their hips and bowed to one another out of respect.

"Alright your turn." He said to me. I switched positions with Robby and used the muscle memory I had built up today to defend myself.

***

In the end, I only ended getting punched twice in the gut. I was happy with my work. "Alright, I'm going to have a shower. Sam should be here, if you want to say hi." He told me. 

"Nah, I should get home. Mom will be waiting for me." I said, sticking my hands in my pocket. 

"Alright, see you tomorrow Robby." He commented before walking off. I went to grab my bag of the ground in the corner. 

"What's your name?" Robby asked from behind me.

"Lydia." I threw the strap over my head. 

"I'm Robby." He said, formally introducing himself to me.

"I know. I read it on your shirt." I referred back to his custom Larusso Auto shirt.

"That seems hardly fair that you knew my name the entire day, when I'm just getting yours." He sighed.

"Life isn't fair." Was all I responded with before exiting and going home.

Who-hoo! I'm so happy with this chapter. they finally got introduced, and as you guys can tell, this is a slow burn. So I hope you patient! Tell me in the comments if you prefer slow burns or fast ones, personally, I like slow burns. Comment and Vote!!

Thanks

-Daisy