𝕮𝖆𝖗𝖕𝖊 𝕹𝖔𝖈𝖙𝖚𝖒 - ʀᴏʙʙʏ ᴋᴇᴇɴᴇ

𝟟

The next day at the dojo, it was apparent that most of the boys were either too prideful or didn't want to get wet. It was thirty minutes into the lesson, and none of them had attempted to use Lexi's strategy from the day prior yet.

Julian had slept surprisingly well during the night, and when he woke up, he had a burst of energy that made him feel like it would it was going to be a good day - a great one even.

Sensei Lawrusso had pulled Lexi and him aside to continue the basic training, as she had already caught the fish, and they both needed to learn. It was a big difference from the only technical teachings of his last dojo, especially being able to spar with more people.

It was strange to use the foreign moves and blocks, but the more they practiced, the easier they seemed to flow. Wax on, wax off. Julian had a love-hate relationship with repetition. The comfort of knowing he could do the task easily but the boredom that followed with it.

When he looks, he can see the group of boys reluctantly getting into the water after Miguel; finally understanding what to do. If they wanted to have any chance of getting a koi, they would have to get a bit of water on them. The boy instructed them to form a circle around the fish, guiding them gradually closer to the wooden raft in the center.

Miguel reached under the wooden board in the center of the pond board and swiftly pulled one of the fish up in a much more graceful manner than Lexi's lunge.

"Nice job, Miguel!" The Sensei praised as Julian stared at the fish still wriggling in the boy's hands. He should probably put it down soon before it ran out of air.

After everybody had dried off, Lawrusso presented Miguel with a white bandana identical to his. Julian could tell Lexi was irritated at the favor towards the boy - where was her bandana? - but she kept quiet, knowing it was a big moment for him.

When the Miyagi-Do group arrived with Sensei Lawrence, they did a few drills, eventually ending early. Julian and Lexi chatted for a bit with Sam, who talked about the life-threatening building jumping activity they had done the other day.

Soon they went their separate ways, with Lexi promising Hawk he could come over and see Bertrard any time. Only ten minutes out from their flat, Julian spotted a skateboarding shop.

In hindsight, it was a terrible idea, but at the moment, he thought, why not. Just because Robby had been the one teaching him didn't mean he should quit learning to skateboard all together. He would not let that boy win.

Plus, he would get a job soon, and he would only be spending the Christmas money from his grandma, who still thought he was a girl. That fun conversation with her would come when he was the ripe age of never.

Against Lexi's doubting comments, he entered the shop and picked out the cheapest possible one. The salesperson tried talking him into getting extra things, but Lexi shot the man down almost immediately, calling him out.

Finally, they walked back to the apartment, parting ways outside the flat as Lexi yelled back at him to stay safe as she went to finish her homework. After pulling out google maps and finding the closest skatepark, he set on his way.

The destination wasn't far, only a mile and a half away. When arriving there, Julian managed to find a slight concrete slope, walking up to the beginning of the incline as he observed the skaters around him. As he got to the top, he crouched low, sticking his hands out for balance- slowly rolling down as he ignored the amused looks from other skateboarders.

As the board rolled to a stop at the bottom of the hill, he smirked gleefully. "See, not so hard after all."

Now, this is where he made a big mistake. Picking one of the medium-sized half-pipes, he went to the top and readied himself. How tough could it be? It was just like the hill but steeper.