The Way I Loved You | Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz

11. stargazing

season 1, episode 7

"all valley"

Catalina was at practice as usual after class, she stood in front with Eli, Miguel, and Aisha, as their sensei walked around looking at their fighting positions , correcting Eli as he did. When Sensei did a slight lunge at a boy next to Eli the boy flinched.

"Did you just flinch, virgin," he asked the boy which Cat really didn't think was appropriate. Sensei went to a different student and pretneded he was going to hit him.

"Holy shit, we have a room full of flinchers."

"Yes, sensei!" Cat heard the rest of the students say, she looked around in confusion.

"That was not a question!" Sensei shouted at them.

"Raise your hand if you've never been punched in the face," Sensei instructed, Cat raised her hand and noticed the only two that hadn't were Miguel and Aisha. "Put your hands down. All your lived, you've been avoiding fights, so you don't break your nose or lose a tooth. This concussion nonsense, so there's only one solution, and that is before you leave this dojo, each and every one of you is gonna take a punch, very hard, to the face."

"Ms. Robinson, line them up. Unflinch this group, " He told Aisha. "Yes, sensei." The girl went to the end of line and started punching the students, Cat was dreading her turn, she looked at Eli who gave her a reassuring smile. Aisha walked up to her and looked at her empathetically. Cat gave her a nod and closed her eyes not wanning to see the punch coming, the girl quickly felt a punsh to her face directly on her nose and making her head shoot back. The girl groaned in pain and grabbed her nose quickly.

"Sorry, Cat," she hear Aisha say, "No worries, doesn't even hurt," Cat responded her teeth clenched in pain. The girl looked at the boy next to her who looked scared to be next, she just gave him a thumbs up with one hand while the other held her nose. Aisha stepped in fornt of Eli and quickly punched him in the face, this punch knocking him to the ground in pain, making Cat wince.

"I'm okay its just a tooth the boy said on the floor, Cat going over to help him up, which he gratefully accepted.

♡♡♡

As the school day ended, Cat was gathering her stuff from her locker and listening to music in her headphones, ready to get to practice. As she was doing so, she felt a tap on her shoulder, the girl turned and saw Eli, she took one headphone out her ear before saying hi.

"Hey Eli, what's up?" The girl asked as she closed her locker and then turned to face him. The boy looked nervous, something she hasn't seen on him since he changed his hair. The boy took a shaky breath before speaking.

"So I was thinking since we didn't go on that ice cream date the other day, we could maybe go on one tonight?" Eli asked with more confidence than the girl expected. Cat smiled, "I would love to go on a date with you, Eli."

The boy smiled widely, "great, I'll pick you up at 7." the boy said, after a moment of contemplation on the boy's face, he leaned down and in and kissed the girl on the forehead before running off.

♡♡♡

"I need somewhere romantic but not too romantic," Catalina listened to her brother as he went on and on about his date tonight with Sam, the girl was happy for her brother but she wouldn't mind some peace and quiet while she stretched. Aisha seemed to feel the same way as she saw the girl roll her eyes at his words.

"You should take her to get tattoos," Eli cut in, Aisha and Cat laughed. "What?" Miguel said. The boy stood up and untied his Gi, "I know a guy, just hooked me up with this bad boy," Eli said as he turned around to show off the giant haw tattoo on his back. Cat slapped her hand over her mouth in shock, "Oh, shit," Miguel said staring at it while Aisha laughed.

"That is badass, " Aisha said, "Right? Fourteen hours in the chair" Eli responded.

"Wait are your parents okay with that?" Aisha asked, "Oh, they have no idea. Definitley gonna have t wear a t-shirt until college. Probably longer. Please don't tell them." Eli said. Cat laughed.

"Well I sure hope that's not where you plan on taking me tonight," Cat teased the boy making him blush and roll his eyes.

"Wait you guys are goin on a date?" Miguel asked.

Eli whipped his head to look at her brother his eyes wide, "Please don't be mad," Eli said to him. Miguel laughed and shook his head, "Dude of course im not mad, im just glad Cat will finally shut up thinking you don't like her," Miguel said, Cat glared at him, and kicked his leg, muttering a small shut up as she looked at the ground avoiding eye contact with Eli.

"Well, any other suggestions?" Miguel asked directing it more towards Aisha than the other two there.

"Don't look at me," Aisha said, "Sam and I used to be friends. We're not anymore."

"OK, but I need your help." Miguel insisted.

Aisha let out a sigh, "Fine. Um...I know that she likes chocolates and astronomy."

"Oh, how about a picnic on the lawn at the observatory, that'd be so cute!" Cat said, her brother looking excited and nodding at her words. Before he could say anything the group heard their sensei in the office.

"Banned? What are you talking about? " Miguel quickly got up to run and check on the older man. The other three continued their stretching.

"So Hawk, where do you plan on taking sweet Cat here to?" Aisha asked breaking the silence, Cat looked over at Eli curious to see what he was going to say. The boy looked between the two girls nervously, before gathering himself again.

"Can't say, it'll ruin the surprise," he responded nonchalantly.

"Well I for one have no preference on where you take me, I'm sure it'll be fun no matter what," the girl said giving the boy a toothy smile in which he returned. Aisha fake gagged at the interaction making all three of them laugh.

♡♡♡

a/n

sorry for the slow down on updates life got busy unfortunately, but more consistent posting will happen again trust me !! i hope youre all enjoying this so far, and eli x cat date next chapter and im so excited !!!