Heartbreak Weather, Eli Mosko...

LXXI. Heartbreak Weather

      Odessa was beginning to wonder if karate was cursed.

"Welcome competitors, senseis, sponsors, and esteemed guests to Barcelona!  This year's home of the world's greatest tournament, the Sekai Taikai!" Gunther announced into the microphone, resulting in an eruption of cheers. "The Sekai Taikai holds a rich and proud hi온라인카지노게임 and if you are here, it's because you embodied all that the Sekai Taikai stands for: leadership, respect, and sportsmanship."

"Don't forget determination," Oliver chimed in with a smile. His feel captains looked at him. "What? We have leadership, respect, and sportsmanship," he pointed to Robby, Odessa, and Sam, then to himself. "I'd be determination"

"More like stubborn." Odessa spoke, resulting in a hard elbow to the ribs.

"Robby, did you know?" Sam questioned, still eyeing Tory from across the mat.

"No," Robby answered quietly.

"Captains, step forward and tie on your headbands," Gunther instructed.

Odessa and the others stepped forward and she toed the white headband around her head, watching Tory do the same. She found herself clenching her teeth. She was a captain, a captain on Cobra Kai. She would always go back to Cobra Kai.

"Captains, you will have the honor and privilege to compete in our televised Tournament of Champions, but that is only if your dojo does well enough in our team competitions to make it to the final four. Once the tournament is over, we'll then tally all the points your dojos have earned. The dojo with the most points, wins the Sekai Taikai." Gunther explained further. "We have a field trip arranged for our competitors and for our senseis; a cocktail mixer with our extinguished sponsors: some of the world's finest martial arts brands. It's a beautiful day to make a first impression and I suggest you enjoy it because tomorrow, your lives change forever."

"Oh yeah, what a joy." Hailey sneered sarcastically, the brunette glaring at Tory with eyes so dark, it could burn holes in somebody's skin.

"Good luck and welcome to the Sekai Taikai."

"Think it'll get any worse?" Christian spoke.

"At this point, I have no doubt." Johnny answered.

Odessa had been silent the whole way back to the hotel. Her dad helped her get her luggage out of the vehicle. "You're being quiet. What's on your mind?" Christian asked, setting her pink suitcase in front of her.

"I'm fine, dad," she muttered and grabbed a hold of the handle.

"Oh, come on now. You forget you come from me." The blonde man insisted, quirking a smile.

"I can't believe she betrayed me again." Odessa slipped out, her intrusive thoughts winning. Her eyes went wide. "Shit, I didn't mean to say that out loud."

Christian sighed. He stopped fiddling with the luggage and turned his full attention to her. "Sweetheart, I wish I could tell you what I know you want to hear, but Tory's choice is her choice. You shouldn't let it affect you. Her being on Cobra Kai does not take away your talent."

"But it makes me feel lousy," she muttered sadly.

"I know, honey." He kissed the top of her head. "You just gotta remember what we came here for."

"Dessi, come on!" Sam called out and waved her over.

Christian winked at her. Odessa gave her dad a short, sweet smile and walked off with her suitcase. She passed by Eli, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before rushing to follow Sam, Hailey, and Devon inside, laughing along the way. Eli smiled lovingly, watching her blonde hair bounce as she ran and he heard her giggling. "Man, this is so great."

"Which part?" Grayson asked, the boys standing in a big group.

"The fact that I'm spending my anniversary in fucking Barcelona. Nothing gets better than that."

Oliver patted him hard on the back. "It'll be even better when we win the fucking tournament." He declared.

"Yeah, like that's gonna be easy." Demetri grumbled.

Eli sent him a glare. "Do you have to be Debbie Downer right now?"

"I'm being a Rachel Realists right now!"

Grayson narrowed his eyes. "A what?"

"He's being Susie Stubborn," Oliver came up with and he threw his arm around Demetri's shoulder. "Cheer up would ya, babe? We're in Barcelona. Live a little!"

"I know I will be. I have a smoking hot girlfriend I've been with for three years in two days. My life's great." Eli declared and laughed, walking towards the building.

"So what's the game plan here? You and I room together and Gray and Hawk room together?"

Odessa smiled the desk clerk when he handed her the room keys. "Thank you so much. Why would Gray and Eli room together?" She asked and handed Hailey her key.

Hailey gave her an obvious stare. "So we can sneak into each other's rooms at night." She whispered.

"Okay, do you not realize who's on this trip? There's three very protective dads here with us."

She scoffed. "Please, like Johnny's going to care whose rooms we stay in."

The blonde chuckled. "I think we'll be okay to sleep by ourselves." She stated and moved away from the counter.

Hailey rolled her eyes. She watched the group of boys try to decide who to room with. "I don't think it's us who's having trouble deciding who to room with," she observed. "Your boyfriend and his binary boyfriend are acting like children."

Odessa laughed. "Binary brother. And I know. I keep trying to tell them to grow up, but, it's not my place to say anything, I guess."

"Hello ladies."

The girls turned around and the Cobra Kai team stood behind them, all wearing matching jackets. One of them, the captain, was smirking at them. Hailey pulled a face. "Uhh, who are you?"

"The one who's going to take home the title." He stated confidently, still smirking. He looked at Odessa. "Hello gorgeous."

She shifted uncomfortably.

"Uhhhh," said Eli and he stood by her, immediately wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "What's going on here?"

"Yeah, that's a good question," said Grayson, doing the same thing with Hailey.

At that point, all of their team came and stood together. "So you are the famous Miyagi-Do. We've heard about you. But I do not know why," the captain observed them. "You do not look like much."

"Oh yeah?" Oliver voiced, stepping out from beside Demetri. "Why don't you say that a little louder. I didn't really hear you." He bend down and turned his head because he was at least a foot or two taller than him.

"C'mon Ol," said Robby and he created a barrier between them. "It's not worth it. Save it for the tournament."

"Robby's right. Forget them, okay? They're just any other dojo." Miguel agreed.

Oliver smirked at the captain who only glared in response. Miguel patted his chest and they finally turned away.

He winked at Odessa, the blonde immediately looking away and she shifted closer to Eli.

Hailey felt a gust a wind next to her and then she saw blonde hair, making her blink. "Oh, there she goes," she mocked, crossing her arms.

"Tory. Hey, wait," Robby followed her to the elevators.

"Yeah, this is definitely going to be a problem." Oliver stated as he watched.

"Cut him some slack, Ol. He just found out his girlfriend betrayed him," said Grayson.

"Well, I'm not cutting anybody slack and neither should anybody else," Hailey stated. "We came here to win the Sekai Taikai, not worry about betrayal. We can worry about that when we go home."

"Hailey's right. . .I think," said Miguel, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. "Robby'll be fine."

"I wouldn't be fine."

They all looked at Demetri. He just shrugged.

"I wouldn't betray you, good looking." Oliver said and slapped a loud kiss to his cheek.

Odessa was staying quiet. Her thoughts were indecisive, she was feeling both hurt and angry. After everything she went through with Tory, all the fighting and forgiveness, they were back to square one, and it was driving her insane.

Once they finished unpacking, Odessa and Hailey got ready for the aquarium. "We've been in Barcelona less than a day and you're already getting hit on. You're so grown up on me." Hailey poured and finished curling her hair, fluffing the blonde locks.

Odessa rolled her eyes. "Not by anybody that matters." She adjusted the long yellow skirt she wore, one that she bought at the mall. Then, she eyed the white tank top she had on. "My boobs are too big for this tank."

"Your books like fantastic. They look amazing in everything," Hailey encouraged. She stepped to the side and observed herself in the mirror. "You're lucky in that department. I'd do anything to grow some of those on my chest."

The blonde laughed.

"I promise in ten years time, I'm getting a boob job. Mark my words."

"Oh, I believe you." Odessa walked out of the bathroom to put on her shoes. She smiled at Hailey's outfit, her skin glowing in a pair of flowy white pants and a dark blue top. "You look so cute."

"Thanks. I know." Hailey smiled cutely and put her shoes on as well. "Should I wear hoops or no hoops?"

"Hoops, definitely. Wear the silver ones." Odessa answered while she clasped the butterfly charm around her wrist. She smiled.

Odessa distracted herself from her feelings about Tory by observing how gorgeous Barcelona was. The bright sun and the sweet smiling air, the architecture, the bright colors, and the beach that Odessa was dying to go see. She wished that her mom could be here to see it with her.

"Am I crazy or does seeing you in a foreign country make you even more gorgeous?" Eli flirted with her, their hands linked while they walked with everyone to the aquarium.

Odessa smiled big. "I think you're just crazy," she said with a laugh. She titled her head. "But thank you." She wrapped her other hand around his arm and stuck closer to his side. "I'm so happy we're here together.

Eli smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "Same, baby. It's been the best three years of my life."

When they entered the aquarium, Odessa saw a photographer trying to gather all of the captains together. "Captains, captains, come together, please!" He beckoned.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me?"

"What, don't want your picture taken, blondie?" Oliver teased, releasing Demetri's hand to go stand in the group. Robby reluctantly followed him.

"Not with any of them," she mumbled, watching Tory and Kwon stand beside each other.

She felt Sam grab her hand. "Come on," the brunette insisted and pulled her with her.

Giving in, Odessa stood in the group of captains between Robby and Sam, Oliver standing behind them because he was the tallest. She caught Eli's eye behind the photographer, the boy smiling at her. Miguel and Hailey were made a cameras with their hands, resulting in her glaring at them.

"Everyone say Barcelona!" The photographer shouted.

"Barcelona," the group of teens recited and smiled at the camera. Odessa flashed a pretty smile but it was brief because she really wanted to leave and go explore with Eli.

"Sexy! Everyone, louder!"

"Barcelona!" Sam said louder with a bigger smile. She elbowed Odessa in the ribs. "Smile."

"If I smile any more, my jaw will fall off."

"Then maybe you'll finally stop talking," Oliver chimed in while smiling. She stomped on his foot. "Ow, you bitch!"

Robby was staring longingly at Tory who was trying not to look at them at all. Odessa looked between them and she lightly hit his arm, making him snap out it. She raised her windows. Robby frowned slightly and looked at the camera again.

"Smile pretty. Big smiles. You, back there, smile!" The photographer ordered a boy standing in the back. He then eyed Odessa, who was too spaced out to smile. "You, pretty blonde in the front, pretty smile!"

Now she was just annoyed. Exhaling, Odessa flashed the camera another big smile.

"One more—okay, we're done." The photographer said when Tory walked away, fed up.

"Jesus, finally," Odessa muttered and instantly went to Eli. "Let's go, babe."

"Right behind you, Butterfly." Eli declared and grabbed her hand, the couple walking away to explore.

"Well." Oliver clapped loudly. "I feel the urge to buy an overpriced hoodie and a pretzel. D?"

"Hell yeah, baby." Demetri agreed cheerfully and they linked hands as well.