The Serpent Queen

Counterbalance | Part Three

Five weeks later, Phoebe's karate training with Miguel never let up. Johnny had taken them to Laurel Canyon and had them run uphill.

The female student hated running uphill, but downhill was a lot more fun and easier. It was strange not to have freezing cold weather in mid December. It became quite disorientating to have warm weather all the time. Cars passed them. The teens focused on breathing and running, not having enough energy to speak to one another, but when they reached the crest of the hill, it was a completely different story.

Staring out at the picturesque scene in front of them of the entire San Fernando Valley. On most of the houses and large businesses, Christmas lights twinkled on them. Phoebe's eyes lit up just like the lights. She loved Christmas lights there was something about them that it made them so magical.

"I love Christmas. I just hate the cold."

"You'll enjoy your Christmas here then."

"Yeah....I guess I will."

A smirk appeared on Miguel's face, "You'll get to kiss Eli under the mistletoe."

"Oh God, Miguel. Shut up." She pushed him playfully.

"Phoebe and Eli sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G...."

"Shut it, Miguel." She hissed as her face burned red.

"Aww, you're blushing." The boy teased.

"We're still just friends." She said. In truth, they were. Phoebe had gone to hang out with him in his house and they watched the second Harry Potter movie, carrying on where she left with Demetri. They had watched it on the sofa with a blanket over them. They had also seen each other in school and been more talkative and open to one another. They had also been texting a lot more. The friend group of four actually celebrated Eli's 16th birthday at the end of November. Miguel, Demetri and her went over to his house and had a Star Wars original trilogy marathon including birthday cake, popcorn, and other calorific treats. It was a lot of fun.

Phoebe almost laughed as she tried not to let her breathing take the sound of Darth Vader. She decided fight back against Miguel, "Well, you can't have what you want."

Miguel sighed, "I don't know how Sam is still with Kyler."

"Me neither."

Johnny drove by them in his car. "Quit chit chatting and keep running!"

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Sophie and George decorated the Christmas tree with tinsel, baubles and lights in the living room of their apartment. Meanwhile, Phoebe did a series of knuckle push-ups on the floor.

"Can you put the wreath on the door?" Her mum asked.

"In a minute....ninety eight, ninety nine, one hundred."

"I don't know why you're doing that, Pheebs. Knuckle push-ups were a punishment in my day, not training." George put the star at the top of the tree.

Phoebe jumped up from the floor and faced her dad, "Not necessarily. Johnny uses them for training. It's to make Miguel and I stronger. Whatever works right." She went over to the box and grabbed the decoration, taking it outside and pinning it just below the metallic numbers on the door. Her first Christmas in the Valley was vastly approaching.

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After the run in the canyon and some time at home, the teenagers and Johnny were back in the dojo. Miguel had his turn sparring Johnny and now it was hers.