Heartbreak Weather, Eli Mosko...

LXXXII.                                       Heartbreak Weather

Odessa didn't think about anything else other than proving that she deserved to make top ten. She channeled everything she learned over the years and she let it all out in that moment. Odessa punched the dummy in front of her twice, once in the chest and once in the ribs, then she front kicked it in the chest again and spun around, bringing her other leg up in a high extended kick across the dummy's face.

"That's good, Dess. Keep it up," her dad encouraged her as the senseis walked around with Mike, who was writing down notes.

"Thanks, dad–I mean Sensei Beaumont," she corrected herself and smiled.

Christian grinned.

Across the yard on the other sparing deck, Grayson was showing off his nunchucks skills that won him in the All Valley. He grunted and stung the nunchucks around his body, around his head and then around his shoulders. He grunted and twirled the nunchucks around his hand then he switched it to the other hand.

"Badass, Stretch!" Johnny praised with a raised fist.

Mike hummed and wrote down his notes.

Oliver's greatest strength was quite literally his strength. He had gained more muscle over the years, standing at a tall 6'2. He sparred with Miguel on the deck, shuffling forward on his feet and he leaned over with a side kick. Miguel stepped back but did the same move. Oliver ducked under his leg and quickly stepped forward, throwing a punch. His friend held his arms up in a x position, blocking his punch and then Miguel reciprocated, going in with a punch and Oliver hit him in the chest, following with a an elbow to the gut. He watched Mike write down in his notes and he smirked. "That all you got, Diaz?"

"In your dreams, Benson." Miguel answered and they continued.

Odessa punched a board to her left that was held by Bert. Grunting loudly, she punched the one to her right that Oliver held up and side kicked the one Eli was holding in front of her. Then, she quickly spun around and forcefully kicked the one behind her, held by Mitch. He stumbled backward from the force and fell to the ground. Odessa cringed. "Sorry, Mitch."

"Dess, more's coming your way," she heard Eli say. "Get up, Penis Breath!"

Odessa faced forward again and the boys picked up the other boards on the ground. She saw Mike circling around everyone, observing their technique while writing down notes. She inhaled a breath. Go for it, Dess. Odessa grunted loudly and punched through the two boards on her left and right. Then, she jumped and kicked through Eli's board, the boy stumbling back, and she spun herself around in mid air, kicking the board behind her before landing on her feet.

They were all in shock, as well as some of the people around them that witnessed it. "Holy crap, that was awesome!" Bert said while searching for his glasses that got knocked off.

Eli stood back up and he had a large smile on his face. "Holy shit, babe, that was awesome. Where'd you learn that?" He asked, getting close to her face.

"Back in my cheer days. Being a flyer really paid off," she answered with a bashful smile.

"Hell yeah! I knew you still had it in you," said Oliver and he shook her shoulders back and forth. "That was way cooler than watching Gray and Kenny fight over that chicken."

Odessa was living a nightmare. Despite how strong she had gotten over the years from being in karate, she still had the weakest bones a teenage girl could have, and holding a giant rock was proof of that. She, along with the others, pressed their backs against the fence and held their rocks out in front of their bodies. Naturally, Oliver had no problem with the task. Also naturally, Grayson and Odessa were dying. "Bro, I think my arms are going numb."

"My thighs are shaking," said Odessa and she steadied her breathing. She turned her head to Miguel. "What about you, tough guy?"

She watched him smirk. "I'm great. How about you guys?"

"Never better," Robby answered with slight sarcasm.

"Yeah, this is great. I'm enjoying this so much." Grayson matched his sarcasm even though he felt like his arms were about to fall off. "Hails?"

"This is the dumbest thing ever."

"I figured you felt that way."

"I'm doing better than all of you," Oliver spoke with confidence. "I can do this all day."

"We get it, Oliver. You're strong," Eli said and rolled his eyes.

"Your words, not mine."

Soon after the excruciating pain settled in their muscles, they dropped their rocks. Odessa felt excruciating pains in her thighs and calves and she collapsed onto the ground. "Holy shit."

As they groaned in pain, Oliver smiled triumphantly. "Ha ha, losers!" He cheered and put his rock down. He stood up straight and threw his fists into the air. "They don't call me Superman for nothing." He flexed his muscles.

They groaned. "Ol, nobody calls you that." Hailey complained and rubbed her calves.

"Well now you can all start."

Soon, they all gathered around the sparring deck and Mike called two of them up a time to fight. Odessa watched Oliver and Grayson fight each other. Oliver swung his left arm an Grayson grabbed ahold of his wrist, ducking under his arm and kicking his foot into his ribs. "That's good, boys." Johnny encouraged them from the sideline.

"Next, Odessa and Hailey," Mike called up.

Odessa's face stilled and she turned her head to the left, seeing Hailey on the other side of the group. The two girls awkwardly walked onto the deck.

"You got this girls," said Christian and he clapped. He leaned closer to Johnny. "This might not end well."

Odessa raised her fist and rocked back and forth on her heels. When Mike called for them to fight, Hailey swung first. Odessa backed up, dodging the punch, and she went back in with a punch of her own. Hailey blocked it with her wrist and used her other fist to hit her in the chest. Odessa was quick to block it with her forearm and the two backed up, stepping back on their feet and kicking at each other in sync. Then, they switched legs and did it again. Hailey huffed and stepped forward again, throwing two punches, Odessa blocking them both and she grabbed her wrist, ducking under her arm and she wrapped her arm around Hailey's neck.

At the attempt to drag her down, Hailey doubled over and threw the girl over her shoulder. Odessa landed on her feet and she quickly spun around, kicking her leg towards her face.

Eli glanced at Oliver with a nervous look. "Maybe this will work?" He hoped.

The taller red head watched the fight intensely. "I'm not sure what else will."

Odessa grunted and spun around again, going in with another kick that was blocked by Hailey's wrist. The brunette stepped forward with a front kick, Odessa kicking her foot with hers and she leaned more to the side, kicking her in the chest.

"Good job girls," Daniel said and clapped, noticing the extreme tension between them.

"Alright, let's have Robby and Miguel next," Mike announced as the girls walked off the sparring deck.

Odessa returned to Eli's side. "You okay?" He asked, noticing her rigid body language.

She locked her hands behind her back. "I'm sick of this," she admitted quietly. "She's my best friend. We know each other's movements. We're not supposed to be fighting."

The boyfriend frowned in the slightest. "What are you gonna do?"

Odessa didn't answer. Instead, she watched Robby and Miguel fight with her mind weighing heavy on her shoulders.

By the end of the training session, they were all exhausted. Odessa's legs were screaming at her and all she wanted to do was go home and take a bath. The senseis called for them all to return to their rows. She held her breath, nervous for the results even though part of her was confident in herself. She looked to Oliver on her right and he sent her a smile.

"Congratulations, you didn't die," Mike announced rather bluntly. "But still, half of you wouldn't last one match in the Sekai Taikai. To the top sixteen who might, join me up here when I call your name." He looked at the names on his list. "Hawk."

Eli's eyes widened in shock and he immediately turned to Odessa, the blonde smiling big and she squealed quietly. He made his way up to the deck, Christian giving him a pat on the back. "Good job, son."

"Robby," Mike called out and Robby stepped forward with a proud smile. "Miguel, Oliver,"

Oliver exhaled the breath he was holding in. "Oh, thank god," he whispered and stepped out of the group, joining his friends on the deck.

"Grayson,"

The boy broke out into a big smile. Hailey winked at him as he walked by and he bowed to Mike as a sign of appreciation. Grayson and Oliver immediately embraced. "I know that's right!"

Mike read the next name. "Odessa,"

She shuddered from shock and Odessa sighed with relief. Smiling at her other friends, she walked through them and stood on the other side of the sparring deck, smiling bigger at the boys who clapped for her. Catching her dad's eye, she saw his wide set smile and she laughed to herself.

"Sam, Tory, Hailey,"

The girls joined her on the side of the deck. Odessa caught Hailey's eye and she smiled lightly. The brunette seemed to be in shock but she smiled back, though it was small and awkward.

"Muscles,"

Odessa narrowed her eyes. She shared the same look with the other girls. What?

Mike's eyes landed on Mitch. "Yeah, you," he spoke like it was obvious.

Mitch was in shock. "Me?"

"Him?" Hailey emphasized.

"I have a new nickname? I have a new nickname!" He bursted out and quickly made his way to the deck. He stood in front of the girls. "What's up, ladies? Name's Muscles. Nice to meet you," he said with an excited grin. He held out his hand.

Hailey gave him an unimpressed look. "Not gonna happen,"

He put his hand down. Odessa laughed quietly along with Sam and Tory.

"Kenny," Mike called next and the young boy smiled, going to stand next to Eli. "Kenny, good job. Nobody ever catches the chicken," the sensei praised.

"I almost had it," Grayson brought up.

Kenny narrowed his eyes. "Tackling me to the ground and trying to pry the chicken out of my hands isn't almost having it," he explained and looked over his shoulder.

The older boy quietly mocked him. "Whatever," he muttered.

"Nate, Chris, Demetri. . .oh, right, Devon," the sensei kept on.

Sighing with relief, Devon stepped through the crowd and took her spot on the deck.

"And the last name, Anthony."

Odessa was in slight shock at being called the last name, as was Anthony, but she clapped for him anyway.

The top sixteen stood together proudly. "Congratulations, top sixteen. Meet me back here tomorrow for round two. The rest of you, you're out. Better luck next time."

Once they were called to be dismissed, the first person she ran to was Eli. The boy smiled and opened his arms wide. Odessa squealed and hugged him tightly. "Anniversary trip, here we come!"

Oliver stepped off the deck and walked over to Demetri, slinging his arm around his shoulder. "I told you that you could do it," he said and pressed his other hand to the side of his face.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. You're always right and I should listen to you more," Demetri recited and placed his hand also to his cheek.

The red head smirked. "Your words, not mine." He teased and kissed him.

As Odessa and her dad walked out of the backyard, she saw Hailwy walking to her car. She tightened her grip on her bag strap, debating with herself if she was going to walk over there or not. If you don't do it now, things will get worse, the voice in her head told her. But she had nothing to apologize for. Her feelings were hurt. What did Hailey have to be hurt about?

What's more important? Being stubborn or repairing a lifelong friendship?

Dammit. "Hey dad, I'll be right there, okay?" She told him.

Christian nodded his head. "Okay, sweetheart."

Odessa slowly made her way over to Hailey, the girl about to open her car door. "Hailey," she spoke her name, stopping her.

Hailey paused and lifted her head. "Hey," she said back sheepishly. She dropped her hand from the door handle.

She tapped her nails on the strap of her back. "Can we talk before you leave?"

"Umm, sure," the brunette muttered and walked around the front of her car. She came and stood in front of her, awkwardly crossing her arms over her chest.

Odessa stared at her for a few seconds. She hummed a laugh and threw her hands up by her side. "This is stupid."

Hailey frowned. "I know," she admitted and looked down at her feet.

"We don't fight, especially over something as silly as a boy. Which if I must remind you, I'm not even saying said boy," Odessa continued a little more aggressively and she crossed her arms.

The brunette uncrossed hers and met her eyes. "I know, okay? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I said."

"Then why did you?"

"I don't—" Hailey stopped herself. She watched the others exit the backyard, Grayson, Oliver, and Eli seeing them talk and they paused. She looked away. "I've just been stressing over the tournament and I took it out on you when I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, Dess."

Odessa frowned. "Why are you stressed?"

"Because if I win a spot in the tournament, there's a possibly that I can go to college!" She expressed herself with a sad, bitter laugh. "My mom works her ass off to provide for me and sometimes it's not enough. Sometimes she can't pay the bills on time. If I enter the tournament and we win, I could get scholarships and it would mean she wouldn't have to worry about sending me to college."

The frown deepened. "Hailey, I'm sorry," she muttered and stepped closer to her, grabbing her hands. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't want to make it sound like a big deal, especially since you, Oliver, and Gray already know where you want to go," Hailey explained herself shamefully.

"Hailey Alexis, your problems are always going to matter to me," Odessa said and her frown started to turn into a smile. "You're not just some girl that I'm friends with. You're my best friend. You're my sister. You're the maid of honor at my wedding, the godmother to my future children, the one I'll be sharing a room with in the nursing home—"

Hailey laughed and her dark eyes filled with tears.

"You're everything to me, Hails. Don't ever think you're not," Odessa finished, her own eyes watery, and she released her hands to wrap her arms around her neck.

The brunette hugged her back tightly. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too."

There was a loud cheer. "Finally! Damn!" It was Oliver, of course.

The girls giggled in unison and pulled away. Odessa turned around and saw the boys standing there smiling, along with her dad. "Now that's a sight I love to see." Christian said and smiled at his daughter.

She smiled back wholeheartedly.