Again, Eli smiled. "So smart," he said endearingly. Eli let go of her hand and wrapped her arms around her shoulders, pulling her into him. "You're so smart. I love that about you."
He fell back against her pillows and Odessa giggled when he took her with him. "You're sweet." She said and smiled widely. 
"You're sweet," Eli directed and he kissed her jaw, making her giggle again, the sound loud in his ears.











Oliver pulled into the Larusso driveway. He parked his jeep and turned to Demetri before they got out. "Ready for a day of pain?" He said with a playful smirk.
"Like we don't already live there every day," Demetri said sarcastically.
The red head tapped his hand on the steering wheel. Oliver twisted himself in the seat so that he was facing him. "Can I ask you something before we go out there?"
His boyfriend nodded. "Yeah, of course."
"Do you want to be one of the top ten? Cause I really want you to be. I think you deserve it."
Demetri looked conflicted. "I mean, yeah. Sure. I'd be nice to compete with you guys, especially you. But I'd be okay if I didn't make it. It would save me some broken bones which I'm sure I'd get."
Oliver frowned at the answer. He knew how good of a fighter Demetri was. He was strong even if he thought himself as weak. Oliver believed in him even if nobody else did. "I think you and I should work really fucking hard to make sure we're apart of the top ten cause I know you have exactly what it takes to take us to the top, D."
Demetri grew a soft, shy smile. "Thanks, Ol." He muttered.
"You got it babe," he winked and got out of the jeep. Oliver circled around and held out his hand. "It's you and me, right?"
The brunette smiled and took his hand. "Yep. You and me."
"It better be. Seeing as how we're getting our first tattoos together."
Demetri groaned. "Oh, please don't remind me."
Everybody was training harder than normal in hopes to gain a spot on the Sekai Taikai team. Odessa with her father practicing new moves for the tournament. Hailey's as on the other side of the yard with Sam and Devon. They hadn't talked since their argument at the restaurant which was unheard of for them. They were practically sisters and all sisters fought, but Odessa hated fighting with Hailey. But she didn't feel like she was in the wrong this time.
"So just watch me first, okay?" Christian instructed his daughter and positioned himself between two dummies he grabbed. "I did this move during one of my All Valley tournaments. You can basically—" he pretended to block two punches and he crouched down slightly, bringing his back leg up and kicking the dummy in the chest. Then, he dropped down and pretended fed to leg sweep the other dummy. Coming back up, Christian spun around and faced the dummy behind him, put his hands on the dummy's shoulders and brought his knee into his stomach. "What do you think?"
Odessa hummed. "Looks easy enough."
"Oh yeah?" Her dad challenged with a raised eyebrow. "Well come on, let's try."
She took his place between the dummies. Odessa raised her fists.
Christian stood with his hands behind his back. "Ready?. . . Fight!"
Odessa immediately acted like she was blocking her opponent's punches. She blocked them high and low.
"Down!" Her dad instructed.
She quickly went down and kicked the dummy in the chest, then she spun around and pretended to leg swipe the other dummy like he showed her.
"And switch!"
Odessa lifted herself back up and she faces the other dummy. She grabbed its shoulders and kneed its chest twice. Adding another layer to the move, Odessa stepped back on her left leg and brought her other leg up, kicking the dummy in the chest and knocking it over. 
Christian widened his eyes. "Wow. Nice ending," he pressed.
She smiled slightly. "Figured I'd add my own flare at the end." She explained herself. Odessa picked the dummy up and paused when she saw the look on her father's face. "What?"
He quickly shook his head. "Nothing. Nothing. It's just. . ." Christian quirked a smile. "You look so much like me when you fight. It brings back a lot of memories."
She grew up hearing that. You look just like your father. You have his eyes. You have his lips. You have his smile. You have face. Everything Odessa was made of, people saw her dad. She never wanted to believe it to be true but the longer he was back, the more she got to know and understand him, the more Odessa realized how alike they actually were. Not just like look wise, but their mannerisms were the same. They practically talked the same. Her flaws were like him. All Odessa wanted to know was her kindness his or was it her mother's, because that mattered the most to her.
"I think after a few more rounds of practice, you pretty much have it down," Christian continued, talking about the move. "Why don't you and Hailey take turns practicing?"
Odessa frowned. She turned her head and saw Hailey now talking to Grayson and Miguel. She looked over as well and their eyes met. "I don't think that's a good idea," she told him and broke the eye contact.
Her father frowned at that. "Why not?"
"We kind of, uh. . .got into an argument. We haven't talked since." She explained and tucked her hair behind her ear. 
"That's not like you girls," Christian said and glanced Hailey's way. "You two are thicker than thieves."
"We are, but she hurt my feelings."
The man nodded slightly. He put his hand on her shoulder. "My advice probably doesn't mean anything to you, but, life's too short to dwell on petty arguments. Love matters way more than hate, sweetheart."
Odessa met his eyes and he smiled at her. Looking across the yard again, Hailey and her locked eyes again, and the corner of her mouth turned upward. They'd been bets friends since childhood. Hailey did everything to protect her and Odessa was her voice of reason. They were opposites but that's what made them a perfect pairing. "Yeah," she muttered, responding to him.