Heartbreak Weather, Eli Mosko...

XX.                                                Heartbreak Weather

      Eli thought about his old self constantly. He remembered when he would cry to his mom about what kids at school were saying about him or when he came home crying after being made fun of about his lip. He was always crying. Always. He cried to himself about his life would never be normal, how he wouldn't have any friends besides Demetri, how no girl would want to be with him because of his facial deformity, and how he would always be a loser. Being confident was something Eli had never felt in his entire life. He never thought he would have courage to stick up for himself and come away from his shyness. He never thought a girl would ever blink in his direction,  let alone want to be his boyfriend. 

Eli was in love. Completely in love and he didn't know how to handle it. Odessa was his first girlfriend. She was the first girl to ever take interest in him. It was all still so new. He thought maybe that was the reason he forgot sometimes that they were together because he had been pining after her and now he finally got her.  It didn't seem real to him sometimes.

But it was real. He knew that as he laid on his stomach in the tattoo shop, his hand in hers as she was standing beside him, rubbing her thumb across his knuckles. Sometimes he cried to himself about her, about how lucky he was to have her and how stupid he could be for lashing out when she was just trying to make him better. That's who she was;  the peacemaker. Odessa was the goodness that the world needed but she still human and she had feelings. He hurt her feelings and he knew that. He wanted to make it up to her the best way he knew how.

The last motion of the tattoo fun etched his skin as his tattoo artist wiped it clean. He had changed the color of his mohawk from blue to red and had the blue on his tattoo changed to red as well. "There you go brother."  Rico announced.

"Thanks, Rico." Eli said and he got up from the seat. 

Odessa shook her head in disbelief with a grin on her face as she eyed the fresh tattoo on his chest. It was a small but beautifully detailed butterfly.  He had gotten it for her. It was a nickname that her mother gave to her when she was still a baby. She was her butterfly. It stuck with her throughout her entire life and now her friends knew about it.

"What do you think?"  He asked her with a smirk.

"It's beautiful." Odessa answered truthfully. She cupped his face in her hands. "Don't you think the guys will make fun of it when they see it? Think it's kind of girly?" 

He shrugged. "Who cares what they think. This is for you and you only."

She beamed and pressed her lips to his. She followed him hand and hand to his car. She turned her head to him when he didn't start the engine. "Everything okay?" She lightly asked.

Eli sucked in a breath. "I have something I wanna say to you," he started

Her heart dropped to her stomach. "You're not breaking up with me are you? You just got a tattoo—"

"No, no, no!" He instantly said and his eyes nearly widened out of his head. "God, no. Don't ever think that."

Odessa exhaled deeply. "Okay, good. Jesus."

He chuckled. "I'm sorry. Didn't mean for that to come off so strong."

"It's okay. I'm just an over thinker."

Eli turned in his head so that he was facing her. The mood suddenly changed. She looked nervous. He looked really nervous. "I know that I've been acting different. My attitude's changed a lot. I can be more harsh,"

She nodded slightly.

"I'm just angry. I've always been angry but I feel like now I can finally express it. I'm angry at all the people who've given me shit my entire life. I don't ever want to go back to being that person I was before Cobra Kai."

When he started to get emotional, Odesa grabbed his hand. "It's okay. It's okay." She softly said.

"But most of all, I'm angry at the people who have treated you badly. Because you're so amazing. You deserve the best. I want to be the best for you." Eli continued. His eyes glazed over. "Because I love you."

Her face softened incredibly.

"And I know you're scared of love because of everything that's happened to you in the past but I'm telling you that I will never treat you the way they did. I'll never hurt you. I'll never put you down. I love you so much, Odessa. It honestly hurts how much."

When she started to cry, he got nervous again. But he knew why. She was vulnerable. She spent her whole life giving her heart to people just for them to break it over and over again. She loved with all of her. He loved everything about her. They were the perfect balance.

Odessa never thought anybody could love her so much. Her mom, of course, but this was different. She trusted so many boys and they all betrayed her. They took all she had until she was almost completely gone. But Eli brought her back to the surface. He was kind hearted, sensitive, and he was learning to find himself. She loved him. God, she loved him. She knew she was going to love him. "I love you. Of course I do." She finally responded with a teary eyed laugh.

All the nerves in him disappeared and a smile stretched on her lips. Eli grabbed her face and pulled her into him, kissing her like he never had before.

Odessa adored Demetri with her whole heart. He was one of her closest friends but sometimes, she wanted to knock him out cold. His yelp review was a huge mistake. "I just don't understand why you wrote it?  Are you trying to get killed?" She asked as they stood in the line of the food court in the mall.

"That was not my intention, no, but people should know what they're getting themselves into, Dessi. The man should be in jail!" Demetri told while waving his hands.

"He's not wrong. I just think you should have thought about it a little bit more before actually doing it." Said Oliver, who joined them for the day because he had nothing better to do.

"You should know this by now, Oliver. I work up to things."

Odessa rolled her eyes and paid for her burger and fries. She left the boys in line to go sit with Robby and Sam. Their relationship was on the rocks. They hadn't really spoken since what happened at the beach club. Odessa didn't know what to say. Sam felt guilty. It was all about who was willing to be the bigger person first.

But Sam was Demetri's friend. Odessa wasn't going to argue when he asked if she would come to the mall with them.

Robby pulled out a chair for her and Odessa smiled his way. "I'm really happy you're here, Odessa." Said Sam, it being the first words she had said to the girl.

"I'm shocked. Seeing as we're not friends." Odessa said back, bitterly.

The smile on her face fell and Robby looked between theme awkwardly. He didn't know their situation. Frankly, he was afraid to ask.

Oliver came back with his food. "So! What's knew everybody?" He asked out loud to cut the awkward tension.

"We were just talking about how Robby's named after Patrick Swayze." Sam informed with a small laugh.

Odessa looked at him with wide eyes. "No way. Are you really?"

He pulled out his drivers license and showed her.

Oliver peered over her shoulder and looked at it. "HA!" He laughed out loud.

"That's so cool. My mom was, like, obsessed with him." Odessa told him and have him back his license.

"So was mine. She made me watch Dirty Dancing a thousand times growing up."

She scoffed. "Um, made? It's his best movie. Other than The Outsiders."

Robby formed a smile. "Okay, I won't lie. I started to like it."

"You two have that in common. Dessi always makes Grayson and I watch romantic movie marathons with her." Oliver spoke up.

She gave him a look. "Don't act like you did cry during Me Before You."

He pointed a finger at her. "Hey, when they were on the beach and he told her about him planning to die all that time —cinematic masterpiece."

"I'm more partial to his performance in Donnie Darko," Demetri chimed in when he finally came back to their table. "Interesting movie. Time travel logic left a lot to be desired."

Oliver shook his head. "You are one of a kind, Metri."

Odessa laughed and bit into her fries. Robby smiled at her. She smiled back.

"Wait, is today Wednesday?" Demetri suddenly asked while leaning up from his chair.

"Yes."

Oliver gasped and their eyes widened. "Dungeon Lords!" They shouted together.

Demetri swiftly stood up. "Do you guys want anything from the comic book store?" He asked them.

Robby chuckled. "No, thank you."

"Okay, we'll be back. Don't let anyone touch my chicken!" He shouted and took off running.

"Dessi, watch my burger!" Oliver exclaimed and followed him.

Then there were three. There was another awkward silence. Odessa glanced at Sam. "I'm going to get s refill." She said while holding up her drink. She stood up and walked away from their table to go stand in line.

Robby's eyes followed her and then shifted them to Sam. The girl sat there with a frown. "Okay, what's going on with you two?" He finally asked.

"You don't know the half of it." She muttered sadly and fiddled with her straw.

He raised his eyebrows.

Sam sighed. "Okay. . . Odessa and I used to be really close. Like,  best friend close."

"What changed?" He questioned.

"I did, apparently." She admitted with another sad frown. "The girl we were friends with spread a rumor about her. It ruined her life. I should've stopped being friends with that person but I didn't because I was scared. It ruined our friendship. I can't seem to make it better."

Many questions circled in Robby's head. He glanced back at the blonde in line who was swaying side to side. Rumor. What rumor? "Have you tried apologizing?" He asked.

"Yes, but, I just made it worse." Sam responded. "Odessa's such a forgiving person. What kind of person does that make me if I'm the one person she can't forgive?"

Robby shook his head. "A human being that makes mistakes. Just talk to her. Really talk to her. From what I've learned, her heart's really big. She'll forgive you."

Sam wasn't so sure.

Oliver looked around the comic book store excitedly. "Dude, this awesome. I never get to come here."

"How come?" Demetri asked and they took off to find Dungeon Lords.

"Odessa's not a comic book person and Grayson's more into clothing. And Hailey, well. . . She's Hailey."

Demetri laughed. "Well, I take pride in being their number one customer. I once got design my own here."

"No way. Really?" Oliver said and hit his arm. "That's fucking cool, dude."

"Really?" The boy asked with wide eyes. Nobody ever thought him making a comic book was cool. Only Eli, who wasn't Eli anymore. He was Hawk.

"Totally. I have a huge binder full of comic book ideas. Come over some time and I'll show you."

Demetri smiled and looked away.

The two of them were flipping through comic books when Hawk came into the store with Mitch and Chris. "Still can't wait to read that new issue, huh?"

Oliver beamed at the sight of his new red hair. "I like the new hair! You're starting to look like me."

"What, is this your new red hulk phase?"  Asked Demetri.

Hawk ignored them and glared at him.  "I saw your Yelp review. Take it down." He demanded.

Oliver stepped between them. "Hey, hey, let's take it easy." He tried to mediate.

Demetri scoffed. "And ruin my journalistic integrity. Look, i'm sorry but someone had to say something."

Hawk looked up at Oliver. "Why are you still hanging out with him? He trashed our dojo's name."

Oliver gave him a look. "The boy just said journalistic integrity. . . he means no harm." He defended Demetri.

"Besides, taking it down could hurt my Yelp elite status."

Hawk moved around Oliver and shoved Demetri into a stand of comic books. "Hey man, back off!"  The red head nearly shouted and put his hand on his chest. 

"Stay out of this, Oliver!" Hawk pushed past him. He stared darkly at Demetri. "I said take it down!"

"You think i'm afraid of you?" Said Demetri and Oliver stood by, watching them intensely. "I know who you really are. . . Eli."

Hawk faulted.

"So why don't you, Rocksteady, and Bebop just leave me and Oliver alone, okay?"

Suddenly, two more boys came in and stood behind Demetri, blocking him from going anywhere. Oliver scoffed. "Really? Five on two? Is that your plan?"  He asked Hawk. "You think Odessa's going to forgive you for beating up her best friends?"

Hawk didn't answer and he tried to ignore the fact that his girlfriend was just across the mall. "Take it down or we take both of you down." He threatened again.

Oliver glared. "You think you're tough shit, don't you little boy?  I can take out all of you with one punch."

The other boys took notice of the red head's muscles through his T shirt. Since joining karate, Oliver's fitness levels increased. He also spent a lot of time in the gym.

There was a look of hurt on Demetri's face. "You'd actually hurt me?" He said to Hawk, who couldn't give him a straight answer because he knew it was wrong.  "Well, guess what? You're not the only one who knows karate. I just joined Miyagi-Do." He boasted and awkwardly started shifting on his feet.

Oliver sighed frustratingly and stood by him.

"Alright. Let's see what you got." Hawk taunted.

"You realize if you do this, your relationship with Odessa is over?" Oliver pointed out, trying to get in his head.

He paused. Eli knew the consequences of what he was about to do. He would lose friends and his girlfriend, the girl he just told the other day that he was in love with her. There was a voice in the back of his head telling him not to do it, that his life would be over, but there was a greater voice also. Kreese's voice telling him that he would be the greatest student at Cobra Kai. His life would mean something.

He was already too far gone. Without warning, Hake kicked Demetri in the stomach and bent down, swiping his legs from under him.

"Hawk!" Oliver shouted and shoved him back.

"Hey, what's going on back there?" One of the store workers intervened.

Quickly climbing to his feet, Demetri pushed past one of the boys and ran out of the comic book store. Hawk ordered the boys to follow him. Oliver noticed Chris standing back, looking guilty.  "You don't have to do this, you know?" He reminded him.

"I want to prove myself." Chris admitted.

"What are you proving? That you're a bully? That you take orders from a bully? That's not what Cobra Kai is." Oliver lectured with a shake of his head and he quickly ran out of the store.

Odessa was throwing her trash away when she saw Demetri and Oliver running back to the food court at full speed. "Metri? Ollie? What's wrong?" She quickly asked.

"It's Hawk. He and his rookies ganged up on us in the comic book store. He's trying to beat the shit out of Demetri." Oliver explained though heavy breaths.

She felt her heart sink into her stomach. Eli appeared from one of the corners and made his way to Demetri.  "It didn't have to be this way." He taunted.

"Eli? What are you doing?" Odessa questioned and stood in front of him.

"Get out of the way, Dess. You shouldn't see this."

"See what? You beating up my best friends?" 

His rookies started appearing behind him.  Eli walked around his girlfriend and glared at Demetri. "You could have joined Cobra Kai if you weren't such a pussy."

"At least i'm not an asshole!" The boy shouted back.

Mitch walked up behind him and grabbed him,  holding him in place. "Hey, let go of him!" Odessa shouted and started walking towards them but Oliver pulled her back.

"There's too many of them." He warned her.

"We have to do something!"

Before Eli could do anything, Sam can running in and swung around Chris's back, kicking them all done. "You guys need to back off." She jeered. 

"I don't want to have to hit a girl." Eli threatened her.

His words made Odessa want to throw up and she stared at her boyfriend disbelievingly.

"You wouldn't stand a chance." Said Robby and he stood by Sam's side.

"Five against four? More like one in a half."

Odessa broke out of Oliver's grasp and walked up to Eli, standing face to face. "I'm telling you right now. If you do this,  we're over.  This'll be my last straw." She snapped while pointing at him but her voice and eyes were practically begging him to back down.

They all watched as Eli's face visibly fell.  The couple stared at each other, almost afraid to say anything.  Her eyes were pleading at him but he just stared
blankly. 

"You just told me the other day that you love me." She added in with a break in her voice.

The others looked sympathetic. Maybe even Mitch and Chris. But Eli sucked in the emotion he was feeling, hiding it so nobody would think he was soft. He did love her. But he also loved Cobra Kai. He was standing on a tight rope. "I'm sorry,  Odessa." Was all he could say.

Mitch started to try and grab her but Oliver was quicker. "If you fucking touch her I will rip your head off of your body." He threatened.

He looked at the much taller boy up and down before cowering back. Odessa felt tears form in her eyes as Eli motioned his head behind her. Chris grabbed a hold of Robby and Sam quickly pulled the blonde back as Eli kicked at him. The fighting started.

One of Eli's rookies in a white shirt grabbed Odessa from behind and she quickly jabbed him in the stomach, making him topple over.  She kneed him in the face and he went flying onto the floor. Another one threw a punch at her and she quickly ducked causing him to miss and she took the opportunity to swipe his legs from under him. One by one,  the group fought them off. One of the boys kicked Odessa in the stomach and she groaned in pain. She threw a jab at him and he bent down to dodge it, giving her room to knee him in the face.

By this time, everybody in the mall was crowded around them recording on their phones. When she wasn't paying attention, the same boy in the white shirt grabbed Odessa by the hair and pulled her back,  punching her on the side. When she stumbled, he quickly grabbed her arm and twisted it around her back, only a few seconds from snapping it. Odessa yelped in pain.

From across them, Robby quickly came in and kicked the boy behind his knees. It caused him to let go of Odessa and turn to fight Robby. Before he could throw a punch, Robby kicked kicked him in the stomach and he fell back to the floor. He quickly grabbed Odessa's hands and helped her up. "Are you okay?" He asked rapidly.

She nodded, not being able to say anything. She just stared at him.

Eli watched them from where he was standing. He saw the way they looked at each other. More important, the way he was looking at her. His eyes went black. Hawk ran forward and grabbed Robby by the back of his shirt. He threw him into one of the tables. As they were fighting, Sam grabbed Odessa by the arm and pulled her back so she wouldn't get hit.

Odessa stared at her in shock. Sam stared back, breathing heavily. They weren't friends. That's what she said. But they were in some way shape or form.

Robby kicked Eli in the face and he fell to the ground in pain. There was silence. His eyes found Odessa in the crowd and he looked almost regretful. Guilty. Defeated. But she looked betrayed. Sad. Also defeated. She grabbed Oliver's hand and pulled him away. Eli called out her name. She ignored him.

Thalia was making dinner when she heard the front door open and slam shut. "Dess, is that you? I'm making country fried chicken and mashed potatoes!" She shouted out, her southern accent deep. When she saw her crying daughter come into the kitchen, she dropped the pan. "Odessa? What happened?"

Odessa cried out and ran into her mom's arms. She wrapped hers tightly around her neck.

"Baby, what happened? Tell me right now." Thalia begged and hugged her daughter back. "Was it Kreese? So God help me—"

"It wasn't Kreese. It was Eli." Odessa cried. "H-He was going to beat up Demetri and Oliver. . . A fight broke out at the mall and his f-friends started fighting me — I broke up with him mom." The girl explained through fits of cries. "He told me he loved me. He lied to me, mom."

Thalia closed her eyes. It was happening again. Kreese was doing it again.  She pulled her daughter closer to her. "It's okay, honey. Just cry. I'm right here."