Call It Whatever

Chapter 4

I have to go back to the dojo.

I have to go talk to Yugo again.

I really don't want to. I know he's going to be super mad at me. But I'm mad at him, too. I can't wait to punch him. I say goodbye to Zac and the Superstars once we reach the bottom of the mountain. From there, it's a journey through the trees and up the trails. Over the river, and through the woods, to the dojo we go.

I don't even know why I bothered thinking that nursery rhyme. At this point, nothing can lighten the mood.

There's so much tension in my body. Every single muscle feels tight. It must be the adrenaline. My heart is racing, too. My breathing has deepened. My blood is boiling in my veins and arteries.

Yugo, you're about to get a black eye and a broken nose.

I hope you're ready.

I reach the dojo, at last. I stand outside the door. I brace myself. I have to look confident. I have to look like someone that nobody would mess with. I shut my eyes and take a deep breath. I roll up my sleeves. I narrow my eyes and clench my jaw.

I'm more than ready. I put my hand on the door, and push it open with all my might.

I then hear the door slam into the wall on the other side.

Dang. Either I'm really strong, or that door is really light.

That slamming door adds to my power. I storm into the dojo. The two boys in there are on their knees, meditating. At least, they were before I stormed in. Xander is staring at me.

"Ukyo!" he says. He then notices my facial expression. "Hey, what's going on?"

My eyes narrow at Yugo. "Ask. Him." I growl.

Xander looks over at Yugo. Not to my surprise, he's glaring at me, too. I watch him stand up, and roll up his own sleeves. He's scowling at me.

"Oh, like I'm the only one with a problem," he says.

We glare at each other. I can feel the string of tension between us. Xander is backing away, to my surprise. "Jeez, can someone tell me what happened?"

"Nothing, Xander," I say. "At least, nothing that concerns you."

I imagine us in one of those old movies. I picture us walking in a circle, glaring at each other. We're both ready to fight, we're both ready to attack, but neither of us does. Neither of us dares to start the battle. So we walk, and wait for the other person to jump in.

That's pretty much what's happening right now. We're circling.

Watching.

Waiting.

We both step closer to each other. Eventually, we get the nerve to walk over to each other. I would do anything to be able to sock him, right in his stupid face. I clench my fists. We're both glaring at each other. We're not saying anything. We don't need to say anything.

We know we got in a fight.

And we know exactly what that fight is about.

"You've been acting weird lately," I say.

"Really?" he responds coldly.

Our glares get more intense.

"Yes, really," I go on. "You haven't been acting like my friend."

"I haven't?" Yugo narrows his eyes even more. "Because neither have you."

Seriously? What the hell, Yugo? "How have I not been acting like your friend!?"