Heartbreak Weather, Eli Mosko...

XXVIII.                                          Heartbreak Weather

      Odessa didn't know how much longer she could take all of the staring. Even when the rumor first started, she didn't get this much attention (Okay, maybe that was a lie). She was extremely tired. She was drained. She had no motivation to do anything but stay home in bed. She was just so sad. She felt this feeling before. Perhaps it never actually went away.

"Odessa?" She heard someone say her name.

She turned around and saw Sam standing behind her. She instantly shook her head. "Not now, Sam." She dismissed.

Sam grabbed her arm before she could walk away. "Odessa, please. I don't know what to say or do. This has been so hard." She pleaded.

"Yeah. Imagine how Miguel feels."

"i'm sorry, Odessa. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Odessa faced her. "Look, Sam, you know me. We were best friends. I don't hold grudges. And I don't know what happened at the party. I get it. You were drunk and hurting. But right now I don't want to be nice. I don't want to forgive. My best friend is in a coma because of something you and Tory started. Right now, I don't want to see either of you." She walked away without saying anything else.

When she walked by the staircase, she froze. It call came back to her. She closed her eyes and suddenly heard the fighting. She saw Robby and Miguel by the ledge. She saw Robby push him off. Then, the cracking of Miguel's spine. She felt nauseous.

Odessa sprinted down the hallway and rushed into the bathroom. She threw her backpack in the floor and ran into one of the stalls. She dropped to her knees and emptied everything in her stomach. Her throat felt like it was on fire and she was thankful that nobody was in the bathroom. She remembered feeling this way. She remembered the mental state she was in and the toll it took on her. She was afraid it was happening again.

Odessa battled herself about going back to the dojo. Thalia did everything to keep her going. Karate started this. It got Miguel and everyone else hurt. But then she thought about how it was the first place Miguel would go to if he was awake. She didn't want to give up. She owed him that much.

Hailey finally left her house after two weeks. She looked tired. She looked miserable. Grayson stood close by her side. He had been with her every step of the way. He knew Hailey couldn't handle something as big as what happened. It was taking a huge toll on her. Grayson was her saving grace.

Aisha was gone. After the fight, her parents moved her to a private school. Odessa missed her. She felt like her world was crashing down. She stood by Eli and the boy kept looking at her with concern. Her feelings towards him were still uncertain but she didn't have the strength to argue or stay away from him. At one point he was her best friend. He knew her like the back of his hand. She needed someone. She didn't care who it was.

"Weakness is unacceptable," Kreese started. "The fight at the school was an embarrassment. You lost soldiers, and you lost the battle, but you will not lose again. Diaz was one of our own. What they did to him, they did to all of us, and it will not go unanswered. We will show no mercy. We will show no weakness. We will strike back and we will strike hard! Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sensei!" Shouted the class. Odessa didn't say anything. She felt as if she couldn't talk. The sound of her own voice make her cringe. She didn't want to be here. All she couldn't think about was Miguel. Thalia had Carmen and Rosa flowers and a card for Miguel signed by both of them telling him how much they loved him and were praying for him. Her mom was with Johnny and Daniel as they were out looking for Robby. This was all too much. She didn't know how to process it.

She let her anger out by practicing her punches and kicks but it wasn't enough. Eli walked up to her. "If you're trying to knock its head off, you're getting pretty close." He tried to lighten the mood.

She tried to smile. It didn't work.

"You don't look so, Odessa." He told her with a frown.

"Thank you, Eli." she responded with sarcasm and threw another punch at the dummy.

He shook his head. "No, I mean, you look exhausted. When's the last time you slept?"

"Two weeks ago."

He touched her shoulder and she flinched away. He immediately retracted. Odessa dropped her fists. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I understand." He said back. "I'm just really worried about you."

She stared at him with deep sadness. She was so tried that she felt as if she could pass out. But she didn't want to sleep. If she slept, she dreamed of the fight, and it terrified her. She saw Hailey sitting on the floor with her head in her hands. "I'm sorry. I know i'm not the only one struggling but I don't know how to process all of this."

Eli's hand brushed her cheek. "Everyone grieves differently. I understand but you need to take care of yourself. You take care of everyone except for you. It's what I love most about you."

She wanted so badly to tell him that she loved him too, but she couldn't. Everything they'd been through, everything that happened recently, it was too much for her to handle. She didn't know if they could ever go back to the way things were before.

Kreese came out of his office. "Class." He announced.

Eli dropped his hands from her face and left behind a cold feeling.

"You worked hard today. So, before you're dismissed, I have a little treat for ya."

The class joined him and Odessa grabbed Hailey's hand. The brunette laid her head on her shoulder.

"I want to introduce you to a friend of mine," Kreese said and pulled his hands from behind his back to reveal a small white mouse making the class smile.

Bert smiled. "Aw, cool. What's its name?"

"I don't know. What should it be?"

"Hawk Junior." Eli answered.

"That's very fitting." Odessa blurted out, making them all laugh.

"Bert, what do you think?" Their Sensei asked

Bert thought to himself. "Um. . . Clarence?"

Kreeese nodded with raised eyebrows. "Clarence. Good. Here, take him." he said and handed him the mouse.

Beer lifted him up close to his face. "He's so cute guys." he said with a smile.

Odessa smiled at him.

"You know, it's almost lunch time."

"Ooh, can I feed him?" The young boy asked in excitement.

"No," Kreese answered and began walking over to an object covered by a black sheet. "But you can feed him." He took off the sheet off and revealed a black cobra in a glass case.

Odessa widened her eyes. The students gasped. "Uh, what does he like to eat?" Bert nervously asked.

"Oh, my god. I can't watch this." Hailey whispered and closed her eyes.

"He likes to eat. . . Clarence." Kreese answered with a viscous smirk.

Odessa glared at the man.

They all looked at Bert's face. Kreese urged him forward. The young boy hesitated to walk up to the snake cage while clutching the small mouse in his grasp. Sensei removed the small opening on the top of the cage. He stared at Bert, waiting for him to drop the squealing mouse.

"Wait. You're not going to make him do this, are you?" Grayson blurted out.

Kreese looked directly at him. "Yes, Mr. Hamilton. I am." He confirmed.

Hailey clutched Odessa's arm with her free hand. Kreese stared at Bert impatiently. "I can't." Said the young boy with a sigh.

Their Sensei gave him a sinister smile and took the mouse from his hands. "It's okay. I understand. Clarence is your friend. It's okay to object. Who else objects?" He asked the class. Only a few raised their hands. "You're off the team. . . get out!" He wasted no time shouting.

Bert's eyes widened. "But—"

"I said out! Get out!"

Odessa's heart dropped. Bert turned around to walk out. She held her hand out and he took it, squeezing it quickly before leaving with all of the others that were kicked out. She watched as Kreese dropped the mouse in with the snake and the animal lunged at it, killing it.

Thalia joined Johnny and Daniel on their mission to find Robby. After leaving the rehab center, the nice rehab she might add, to talk to Robby's mother, the trio made their way to the prison facility to talk to Robby's old friends. They sat outside with the inmates. She shifting uncomfortably as she sat between the two men. "Worse than rehab. Nicer than jail." Johnny commented.

"Aren't you the one who almost ended up somewhere like here?" Thalia questioned and Daniel laugh quietly.

He tilted his head. "Oh, come on, you're still holding that against me?" He scoffed.

She nodded. "Yeah, i'm still holding that against you."

"Just, let me or Thalia do all the talking." Daniel butted in.

"We're not selling bummers to soccer mom," Johnny said. "Also, why do you trust Tal more than me?"

Daniel scoffed. "If I was being burned alive and eaten by bugs, I would trust Thalia to save me more than you." He visualized. "Also, should I remind you that she literally saved me from you kicking my ass that one time?"

Thalia smirked and flickered her eyebrows upward. Johnny rolled his eyes but didn't argue.

A police officer shoved two boys in front of them. "Bitch ass Kevin James punk." One of them hissed.

Johnny snapped his fingers at them. "Hey, morons."

"Hey what—"

"We're looking for Robby," Daniel interrupted, taking the gentle approach.

"If y'all are the search party, I say he's pretty screwed." Trey joked.

Thalia leaned forward with a harsh look on her face. "Aren't you the two who tired beating up my daughter at the beach club?" She questioned.

They stopped laughing and went wide eyed at the woman. "Y-You're her mom?" Trey stuttered.

Johnny nodded. "Yeah, she is. So start talking or you'll be drinking your toilet wine through a straw." He threatened.

As they two continued their banter, Thalia grew annoyed. She slammed her hands down on the table and stood up. "Enough!" She shouted. They looked at her, frightened, along the Daniel and Johnny. "Tell us everything you know about Robby or these five inch Versace heels will make their way into both your eye socketed. Twice for my daughter."

"S-Sorry, Mrs. Reid." Cruz stuttered.

The woman smiled in victory and sat back down gracefully. Johnny threw his hands up. "What the hell? You listen to her but not me?"

"Her daughter knows how to kick ass. I don't want both of them sent on me." Trey objected.

"And she ain't no punk ass bitch!" Cruz added.

Johnny glared at him and punched him in the face.

"Johnny, what the hell?" Daniel snapped.

"He just hit me!" Cruz shouted to the police officers, who just shrugged and turned their backs.

Thalia snorted. When he turned back around, Johnny back handed him again. "Okay, okay, enough!" She objected and pulled him back down.

"Damn!" Cruz groaned again while holding his face.

"Better start talking. I can do this all day." Said Johnny and he raised his hand again.

"No, hey. Hey, hey, it's not necessary." Trey quickly said. The man lowered his hand. "Look, we all used to scam people at tech town in Panorama City. He knows how to get by around there, all right?" He explained to them.

"You better be telling the truth or i'm sending both of them back alone next time." Daniel motioned to Johnny and Thalia, who smiled simultaneously.

Miguel was awake. Carmen called her and told her the news. Odessa wasted no time going all the way to the hospital when visiting hours were open. When she got to the hospital, she ran down the hall and saw Carmen and Rosa. "Mrs. Diaz!"

Carmen spun around. "Odessa, sweetheart." She uttered and opened her arms. The girl ran into them. "Thank you so much for coming."

"Of course. I'm so sorry. I'm so happy he's awake." Odessa said and closed her eyes, hugging her tightly.

"Go in and see him, honey. He'll be so happy to see you." Carmen said in her ear and cupped her face gently.

When she walked into his room, Miguel was laying in bed. Her eyes started to water. "Hey, player." She uttered weakly.

Miguel lifted his head up and smiled at the sight of her. "I was hoping you'd be here."

She smiled and walked into the room. "God, they really stuck you in here? You should've at least got the bigger room." She scolded when she looked sprung the bland hospital room.

He grinned and motioned his hands to himself. "How do I look?" He joked.

She ruffled his hair. "Adorable as always. You know, chicks dig injure guys."

"I'll have to come here more often then." He played along, making her laugh.

She got serious. "How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"

Miguel shook his head. "No, I'm feeling okay. I can feel from my waist up, but, my legs are still iffy."

She nodded and touched his arm gently. He noticed the purple bags under her eyes and her paling skin. "Wow, Dess, you don't look so good." He said with concern.

Odessa scoffed. "What is it with you and Eli telling me that today?"

Miguel smiled at the fact that she was calling him Eli again. "No, I just mean, you look really tired. . ." He frowned. "I can't imagine how you're feeling."

"Don't worry about me. You're more important."

He titled his head and grabbed her hand. "Don't do that. Your health is just as important as anyones. Tell me what's wrong." He spoke gently like a brother. He was her brother. They were best friends.

Her eyes darted around the room and she tried to keep the tears from escaping. She sucked in a deep breath. "Um. . . After the accident, I threw up for two weeks straight. I couldn't eat anything and when I did I would throw it back up. I haven't been able to sleep. All I keep thinking about is you and then I start to get angry. I get angry about how this whole thing could have been avoided if we never joined Cobra Kai in the first place." The tears came falling. "You are the most amazing person in the world and this shouldn't have happened, especially to someone like you. You're my best friend and I didn't realize how important you are to me until I thought I would never see you again."

Miguel wiping his own tears and opened his arms for her. She leaned down and hugged him tightly. "I'm so happy you're awake."

He nodded against her shoulder. "Thank you for coming. Thank you for worrying. Promise me you'll take care of yourself, for me?" He asked of her.

Odessa felt herself nodding. "I promise." But she didn't know if she could keep that promise.

I write odessa's character how I feel when I think i'm going to lose someone. family and friends are the most important thing to me. when my brother died, it took me months to fully recover and i'm still not fully recovered, but it gets better. she's going through ptsd right now and for everyone who's experience it knows it doesn't go away in a day or a week. she'll be feeling the after effects for a while, unfortunately.