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Was it love? How could she know? It was too early. Too soon. She always did this. She got too attached too soon and always thought it was love. Odessa's deep affection scared of every guy she was with. She came on too strong. She couldn't express her love full stop because it would scare them off but then if she acted like she didn't care, they would get mad at her for it. Odessa tried holding in her feelings because she was so scared to lose him but her feelings for Eli were strong. He was special to her. She would be a fool to drive someone like him away.
When the next day came, Johnny had ordered his students to meet him at the junk yard for their training session. She sat in the front seat of Oliver's car with Hailey and Grayson in the backseat. She was noticing his phone buzz in the cup holder every five minutes. "She keeps texting you?"
"Yeah, we know you don't have that many friends," said Hailey and Grayson laughed.
"Fuck you." Oliver said and flipped her off in the mirror. He looked at the girl in the passenger seat. "And no one. Probably just my mom even though she tells me all the time to not text and drive."
He grabbed his phone and turned it off completely, making Odessa give him a weird look. When they got to the junkyard, they saw that the majority of the class was already there. She got out of the Jeep and smiled when she saw Eli standing with Miguel. She quickened her pace and jumped on his back, startling him. "Hey, you."
Eli's hands automatically grasped under her thighs and he looked over his shoulder, smiling at her. "Hey pretty girl."
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "How was your date, Mig?" She asked the other boy.
Miguel smiled widely, his braces on display. "Oh, it was great! We went to Golf N' Stuff and then she flipped me over on the ground and kissed me."
She titled her head and hummed. Oliver came up behind him and clapped him in the back. "You work fast don't you, Mig?" He praised.
Miguel's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No, no, not like that—"
"QUIET!" Johnny's loud voice interrupted him and they all flinched. Odessa slid off Eli's back and they all turned to face him. He was standing on top of one of the old cars. They watched as he cracked open a can of beer and chugged it quickly.
"I bet getting drunk with him is awesome." Oliver thought out loud.
"Shut the fuck up," said Hailey.
"You've trained hard. You've gotten stronger, tougher, faster. You've done your best. You're ready for this tournament, am I right?"
"Yes, Sensei!"
"Wrong!" Johnny screamed and threw his can of beer at Bert's feet, the loud splashing on Miguel's pant leg. "Your best ain't shit! If you wanna win the All Valley Under Eighteen Karate Tournament, you gotta give me better than your best. Which is why, from now on, you're gonna get my worst. Do you understand?"
