Time After Time 🌹 Daniel LaRusso [1]

Chapter 8: The Family

Rosalía sneaks up on Daniel and pokes his sides, yelling out, "boo!" He jumps a little and spins around. His puzzled expression is replaced with a happy one when he realizes who it is. "Hey, there you are! I've been looking all over for you today. Where have you been?" he claims as he leans on the lockers with one hand and rests the other on his hip. Rosalía leans on the lockers and giggles. "Guess you weren't looking hard enough."

Daniel smirks at her and sarcastically says, "oh, excuse me. I'll form a proper search party next time." The girl rolls her eyes and playfully shoves him, leaning off the locker and walking away. Daniel follows and asks, "Hey, are you doing anything on Saturday?" The girl pauses and faces him. "Mr. Miyagi is coming over for dinner," she answers.

"Oh..."

"Do you want to come? I'd love to have you there," she offers. Daniel searches her eyes, looking for any sign that could indicate that she's only asking to be nice. "Come on, please? It's free food," she continues, trying to convince him. He gives in and says, "alright, sure." The girl gleams in victory. "Yay! Oh my God, you'll get to meet my parents and I swear to you, my dad is just like Mr. Miyagi. They have the same sense of humor," she chatters. They both laugh at the last sentence but stop when they see the Cobras a few feet in front of them. Rosalía's smile fades into a blank expression.

"You think they'll try anything?" she asks. Daniel looks down at her and replies, "Nah, watch this." He confidently steps toward them and voices, "Hey, guys! How you doing? It's good to see you!" He gets close to Johnny, who angrily stares him down. "Hey, sorry about the eye there, Johnny. Your shoulder okay, Tommy?" he taunts as he and the girl pass through them. "You guys be careful not to go stepping in front of any more buses now, alright?" he mocks before turning around. Johnny slams his binder onto the ground and tries to jump at Daniel but Bobby stops him. "Hold it! Remember what Sensei said? You gotta wait for the tournament," he reminds him. Tommy immediately shouts, "must be take-a-worm-for-a-walk week!" Johnny angrily pouts as that familiar sour feeling burns his chest.

Rosalía snickers with Daniel as they keep walking. "Well, damn, they really do listen to their psycho teacher. I mean, whatever the cult leader says, the followers must do, right," she comments. "Yeah," Daniel says, chortling. Those boys are scarily loyal to that man. "So at what time should I come over on Saturday?" the boy suddenly asks. "Mr. Miyagi is coming at 7:00, so I'd say around that time. Do you remember which apartment it is?" she answers. They stop walking and Daniel affirms, "yeah, I remember. I'll be there at 7:00."

They smile at each other and the girl can feel her mind starting to scramble. The bell rings, pulling her out of her trance and she says, "Uh, I gotta go. See you then?" She begins to slowly walk away as she waits for a response. "See you then," Daniel confirms, smiling timidly. Rosalía turns around and leaves. Oh my God, I have to get away before my heart explodes, she freaks out while quickly departing. Daniel's gaze lingers on her disappearing figure. Even though he didn't get to ask her out due to her Saturday night plans, he's ecstatic that he'll still get to see her. Plus, now he'll get to learn just how many of her qualities come from her parents. A goofy smile is plastered on his face as he turns around.

Johnny and his crew had been watching the two from afar. The obvious chemistry between them irks him. The boys approach Daniel once Rosalía is gone but he thinks quickly and avoids a confrontation by starting a discussion with a nearby teacher. When the teacher offers to explain his history lecture to them, all the Cobras scurry away, leaving Daniel alone with the man. Johnny roams the halls and pauses when he spots Rosalía coming out of the restroom. He immediately bolts to her and calls, "Lia!" She looks up and throws her hands up when she sees him. "Ah shit," she exasperatedly whines.

"I just want to say something," he tells her as he blocks her path. "What," she grumbles. She stares at him with a blank expression, waiting for him to talk. "Stop hanging around that LaRusso kid," he says. The girl raises her eyebrows as she glares at him. "You cannot tell me what to do," she lowly voices. "Well, I am! He's bad news, Lia," Johnny quickly responds. This angers Rosalía, she hates when people stick their noses in her business. "Oh, and you're such a saint, huh? If I recall correctly, you were the one who started that fight at the beach and YOU are the one who repeatedly bullies him!"