Always Been You- Eli Moskowitz

Chapter 8- He's My Best Friend

"I saw magic in his eyes.

Dirty, dark, beautiful magic."

-Anonymous

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Michelle walked up to the rest of the group, making her way to the front to stand next to Miguel and Aisha. For some reason, Johnny had them meet at an old junkyard down the block from the dojo. She decided not to question it because from her experience of almost drowning while learning how to kick, there was actually a method to Johnny's madness. Only it was at 6:00 AM on a Saturday. And Michelle was exhausted.

Johnny stood on top of an old car, taking a few sips of his first beer of the day. Michelle cringed at his ability to down insane amounts of alcohol throughout the day and still wake up and want more. Alcoholism at its finest.

"You've gotten stronger, tougher, faster. Youve done your best. You're ready for this tournament, am i right?" Johnny questioned out to the group.

"Yes sensei!

"Wrong!" He yelled while throwing his half empty beer can on the ground where it hit the twins feet. "You're best ain't shit. If you wanna win the All Valley Under 18 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?" Johnny said.

"Yes sensei!"

"Are you losers?"

"No sensei!"

"Are you nerds?"

"No sensei!"

"Are you sure?"

"No sensei!"

Michelle looked around at the group with a confused look on her face as Johnny face palmed. She was the only one to not say anything.  For a group of nerds, they really are dumb.

Johnny jumped off of the car and walked over to a stack of tires. He had them line up in one straight line. They were to each grab a tire and place them all together in a spot a few yards from them where there was a space between the cars.

Michelle got behind Eli towards the end of the line. She couldn't help but notice that these tires were significantly bigger than the ones that were at the top of the stack. (Not the same tires as on the show) She was able to grab one but it was too bulky for her to carry it consistently like the rest of the guys. She was about to place it on the ground and just roll it to the spot when someone took it from her hands.

"I got it, princess," Eli said as he turned back around and made his way to the spot. Michelle stared after him in complete awe as he effortlessly carried both his and her tires the rest of the way and set them down on the ground the way that Johnny had wanted them.

Aisha, who was rolling her tire to the spot, stopped next to Michelle and followed her line of sight. Her eyes landed on Michelle's blue-haired prince charming who she had watched take the tire from her. "What, you're crushing on Hawk now?" She asked making Michelle jump.

"What? No...Why would you ask that?" she said. She was shaking her head but her mind couldn't help but wander to their interaction the day before.

"Michelle, have you been on any dates since you've moved out here?"

"Why? Are you offering?"

"Would you want me to, princess?"

They had started walking again and were almost at the spot when Aisha stopped to look at Michelle. "Because I heard your conversation with him yesterday. And I see how you blush every time he calls you, princess.."