MARTIAL HEARTS - Eli Moskowitz

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄

1etherealuniverse™

Athena's hand brushed over Miguel's bruised face, earning a wince from him. "sorry." She mumbled as she pulled her hand back.

"so that's it? no more karate?" Demetri asked Miguel, the group sat in the library during their free period, "I guess so." Miguel said, his eyes still stuck to his paper.

"Miguel, this can't be the end of karate for you. you have potential, you can't just throw that away because Kyler beat you with a hockey stick." Athena held the unresponsive boy's shoulder.

"lacrosse stick." Eli corrected the girl. "lacrosse stick." Athena repeated. "It's no use, Athena. my mom won't let me anyways." Miguel said as he slumped down to the table.

"It's probably for the best. it was starting to boost your confidence." Demetri said, failing to cheer the boy up. "isn't that a good thing?" Miguel asked, looking at him.

"no." "yes." Demetri and Athena said at the same time, giving each other disagreeing looks. "it's good that you're getting your confidence up, don't let Demetri brainwash you with all his negative words."

"I'd like to think of it as a realistic way of seeing the world, remember the last time you had your confidence through the roof?" Demetri asked Athena, who was now remembering the last time she had her ego boosted.

Athena grimaced at the thought, turning back to Miguel, who now had a confused look on his face. "you know what, maybe it is for the best..." She quickly spoke.

"what has confidence ever gotten anybody except for a black eye, having to wear nothing but a dirty pillow case down the street, and their bag thrown in the trash?" Demetri said.

"Well, I thought it was kind of cool how you stood up to Kyler." Eli spoke, making Miguel softly smile at his words. "are you insane? Let me ask you. what is the best superpower anyone could  have?" Demetri asked rhetorically, pointing a pen to the group.

"super strength." Miguel nodded. "shapeshifting." Athena answered immediately. "wrong," Demetri said to the pair. "invisibility."

"a distant second would be super speed to run away fast." he continued. Kyler stood behind Eli, putting a hand on his shoulder. "run away from who?" his presence made Athena roll her eyes and Miguel groaned in annoyance.

"whom." Brucks corrected, as he leaned close to Kyler, who still had his hand on Eli. "it's the object of preposition. Remember English class?"

"we were just leaving." Miguel said as the group quickly gathered their items and started to get up from their seats. Kyler grabbed Eli, forcefully turning the boy to look at him. "Hey, where are you going? Oh, look at this freak."

Kyler held Eli's neck, forcing his head up. Demetri and Miguel stood behind them as Athena stood closer to them, wanting to make a move, but was quickly pulled back by Miguel.

"oh, shit!" Kyler exclaimed as Brucks started to laugh. "what kind of girl would ever kiss this shit?"

"Leave him alone, Kyler." Miguel said to the boys, annoyed by their antics. Kyler pushed Eli to the side, now looking at Miguel. Eli gripped his bags with his shoulders tensed up as he stood behind Kyler.

"what did you say?" Kyler stood closer to Miguel. "You haven't had enough, 'Rhea?" Brucks shoved Miguel's side as Kyler pushed his head. "get the hell out of here, man."