C o b r a   K a i
season one, episode five and six
✹ ❞ Counterbalance / Quiver ❞ !

     WILLOW SIGHED IN PAIN as she walked into the cafeteria, following behind the three boys that continued talking about something not interesting to her. She was too focused on her boobs that were a little touched after the forced fight she had with Aisha ── the girl that suddenly jumped at her, crushing it meanwhile ── to just pay attention on the situation that played out a few steps away from her. Well, she wasn't until a lunch tray fell under her feet, causing her to lose her balance for a while, Miguel stabilizing her at the last minute.

     ”Who, the heck, did that?” she asked, looking around and frowning when her eyes met Samantha LaRusso's apologizing ones. Everything went clear in her head as she started understanding the brunette girl when she heard Kyler's words.

     ”You know that billboard with a big–ass dick on it? I guess Sam takes after her dad” the Asian boy shouted, and a lot of whoos were heard in the cafeteria. Willow had to blink several times to realize the seriousness of the situation, and find Miguel's gaze that she did not like ── it only told her that something was going to happen.

     A grimace showed on her lips when she slightly shook her head at Miguel, already knowing what was in his mind. She wasn't going to let him get in trouble again ── her promise was still current.

     ”Miggy, I know what you're thinking about, and I say no. A firm no” she muttered to the boy, her not actually listening to her as his gaze was still focused on Sam ── the girl he was thinking about very often. With that, he could never let someone say something like that to her.

     ”It's fine, Wills. I promise” Miguel reassured her, which didn't satisfy Willow at all.

     Another thing should be noted by her ── when there was a trouble, Miguel Diaz needed to be around.

     ”Have you stolen your senses? What did I tell you about not boosting your confidence?” Demetri joined in the conversation with a dramatic voice, Eli stepping in too, looking at the ground as the three started shouting.

     ”Miguel Diaz, I swear to God──”

     Willow couldn't end her sentence, because Miguel rushed towards the Parks, clenching his jaw in anger. Seeing that, the blonde and the Alexopoulos shot themselves disappointed glares.

     ”I hope that he won't get beaten up again” the girl sighed, Eli's hand squeezing her free one in a reassuring way.

     ”Hey, Kyler! Why don't you shut the hell up, and stop being such an asshole?” The Diaz's boy's voice rang in the cafeteria, silencing everyone around. The Froud girl parted her lips, still in shock, but also trying to get ready if she would have reacted ── there was no way she could let someone hurt one of her boys.

     Also, it should be added that Willow was truly outraged when Kyler pushed her friend away. A hope for revenge showed in her mind as soon as she saw the look on Miguel.

     ”Want another beatdown, 'Rhea? I'm ready for your lame-ass karate this time” with those words, Willow could see Aisha standing up, and started wondering what the two of them were up to.

     The Froud girl broke free from Eli's embrace, handing him her lunch tray and immediately started walking towards the scene, ignoring Eli's and Demetri's calls as Kyler just pushed Miguel even harder than the last time, making him stumble to the table. When she passed by Aisha, the girl stopped her, telling her to have a little hope in Miguel.

     With that, she sighed, and watched the boy with a mix of emotions.

     ”It's not a lame-ass karate” Miguel said, and when Kyler raised his hand to punch him, he grabbed it, pinning it to his back. ”It's Cobra Kai” with that, Miguel hit the boy right in the face with his fists, making Willow open her eyes widely in surprise.

     ”Oh, shit!” the blonde yelled, seeing the blood that got out of Kyler's nose. Satisfaction was too small a word for what the girl felt ── she felt relief, and a desire to continue what the Diaz had just started.

     Willow watched as the two boys stumbled together at some tables, Kyler putting Miguel into a chokehold, but the boy quickly got out of it just like Johnny had taught him.

     ”Double oh, shit!”

     Miguel punched the boy right in the face once again, and then spun around, kicking him in the back, making him fall to the ground.

     As a result, a total war starter in the cafeteria. ”No mercy!”

     ”Miggy, behind you!” Willow instructed her friend as Brucks came at him from behind, but Miguel could quickly dodge his attack, and knock him to the ground just like the other boys that came at him.

     ”Wills, wanna join in?” The Hispanic boy called for the girl, knowing how much she had waited for the moment to get revenge on the boys. Still, she seemed unsure ── what if something will go wrong? She didn't want to be imagined as an aggressive person.

     But, oh, well, she had no choice, because Brucks was literally rushing at Miguel, and he seemed to not know it. With that, Willow found herself kicking the boy in the ribs, and slapping him in the face with a random tray that was left on the floor. Her focus disappeared as soon as her eyes met Eli's, his face having a glimpse of shock, and pride because of the girl.

     Catching the unfocused girl in sight, Kyler went at her, but Miguel quickly stopped him, by punching him in the face with his tray. In the end, the teens found themselves applauded by the others for what they did, their eyes finding the people they were interested in; Willow Eli's, and Miguel Sam's.

     But of course, the moment was broken by the school counselor that walked into the cafeteria.

     ”Hey! Get down from there right now!”

     When the woman started to pull the boy by the hand, Willow was ready to follow them, but Miguel, sensing that she would do so, turned his head to her, and shook it firmly, mouthing a ’don't do this’ to her.

      So as a result, Willow ended up not being one of the blamed students, which was good to her ── at least her parents won't find out.

━━ ᕦ ✹ ▪ ✹ ▪ ✹ ᕤ ━━

     THE SNOW-HAIRED GIRL was really happy when she looked at her phone and saw a notification with a couple of messages that Eli had sent her a few minutes ago. She couldn't help but grin like a psychopath as she looked at her phone screen, which probably wasn't the way anyone was supposed to react to a text from their friend. But what could Willow say? She was aware of how she looked at the boy, or even reacted to the mention of him, which made things even scarier for her because she had no idea what love felt like.

     But how could she know when her parents never showed their love? How could she know when her parents lived in a separation ever since she remembered?

     She couldn't, so every time she caught herself thinking about Eli Moskowitz more than a friend, she tried to push everything away; him, her feelings, her thinking. Literally everything.

     Remembering that she was supposed to read the boy's messages and not overthink about it, Willow sighed, but finally opened the chat with her friend.

eli ᰔᩚ
hey, loo

eli ᰔᩚ
sorry if im interrupting
something but i just wanted
to ask if you want to hang out
and watch some movies together

eli ᰔᩚ
take your time to reply : )

loo ᯓᡣ𐭩
hi, e. youre not interrupting
anything < 3

loo ᯓᡣ𐭩
we can meet at your house
in like thirty minutes

loo ᯓᡣ𐭩
and of course continue
watching 10 things i hate
about you

eli ᰔᩚ
sounds great

eli ᰔᩚ
see you there, loo

loo ᯓᡣ𐭩
bye, e

     Willow put her phone on the bed, and hid her face with a pillow, groaning loudly as she felt her face grow hotter ── she needed to stop feeling like that. For the better.

     Her body finally forced itself to move from the bed and she stood in front of her closet, feeling the need to change the clothes she already had on into something more comfortable ── she was at Eli's enough to know that she didn't have to wear anything elegant for him and his mother to compliment her anyway. A proud smile appeared on Willow's lips as she pulled out a pair of her gray sweatpants and a light purple top that seemed like the perfect outfit for the girl.

     It didn't take long for her to change and tell her mom that she was going to Eli's house once again, the woman giving the girl a smile in response. Adelaide was glad that her daughter had friends that she could spend time with ── especially when it came to someone as kind as Eli Moskowitz. The boy was like the sun for the girl ── he could always made her day better, just like her humor.

     Willow had no idea what she would do without him. I guess her life would come back to what it was like in the past; boring, exhausting and depressing.

     When the blonde was in front of the building Eli was living in, she texted him to open the door for her as she was sure that his mom was at work. The Moskowitz answered her right away, making a sound of him walking down the stairs, so that the girl wouldn't know that he had been standing at the door for several minutes ── he just couldn't wait to finally see her.

     A sigh escaped Eli's lips when he opened the doors, the girl already hugging him tightly.

     ”Hello, pretty boy” Willow greeted the boy, making him look down nervously, because she had never called him that when someone was with them. It was just a . . . their thing.

     ”Hey, Loo” after a while, Eli hugged her back, unsurely putting his hands on her waist.

     The two pulled away from each other after a minute, and walked inside the house that was spread with a smell of an just prepared food, which confused Willow. Seeing that, the Moskowitz boy muttered;

     ”I wasn't sure what you would want to eat, so . . . so I made you your favorite cookies and a butter popcorn”

     Hearing his explanation, Willow nodded her head and couldn't help but think that what he did was cute.

     ”That means a lot. Thank you, E”

     He returned her glimpse, and let her walk into the room first. ”You're welcome, Loo”

     Willow's happiness increased when she saw the look of Eli's room, now decorated. The light from blue-colored LEDs flashed around the room, paying particular attention to the boy's bed, where food was spread out. There were strawberries, melted chocolate, the girl's favorite cookies and a butter popcorn ── every each thing that Willow loved, and every each thing that made their 'hang out' look like an actual date.

     ”Oh my God” Willow whispered to herself, shock washing all over her face.

     Eli, being anxious by the girl's words, looked at her with his eyebrows pinched. ”Is there something wrong? You── you don't like it, Loo? I'm so sorry, I thought . . .”

     The blonde interrupted him, shooking her head. ”No, no, that's not what I meant. It's really amazing, thank you,”

     ”Oh . . .” the Moskowitz replied. ”Well, I'm glad you like it then,” he admitted.

     Willow took a deep breath as she wanted to stop herself from screaming, because of how much of an affection the Moskowitz boy had on her ── he was really one of the sweetest persons in her entire life, and she couldn't help but hope that one day he'd find someone as lovely as he was. He deserved someone better than everyone around, and the thought of him wasting his time on such a hurtful person like her made her feel a lot of things inside. Even the questions that stayed in her mind for a little too long. What if it was really a date? What if she was going to hurt him, and they won't be friends anymore?

     No, she couldn't think of that. Not when she wanted to spend time with the boy in a great atmosphere.

     ”I like how you stood up to Brucks,” Eli cleared his throat after the silence between them started deepening when they sat on the boy's bed. Willow looked at him, and a sigh escaped her lips, because she was not sure what she felt about that. It wasn't normal for her to beat someone up, and because of that, it somehow felt wrong.

     ”You do?” she narrowed her eyes, and the boy nodded his head in agreement.

     ”Yeah, I, uh, actually thought about joining your karate dojo. What do you think?” he asked, the girl's opinion being really important to him as he always listened to what she had to say, even when he wasn't into the subject of it.

     Relief was felt by the brown-haired boy, because happiness and pride were the only things that could be seen on his best friend's face.

     ”Oh my God, yeah! Trust me, that's a wonderful idea,” she reassured him, but then opened her lips as if she was going to say something more. And she did. ”Did you talk with Demetri about that?”

     ”Yeah, at first he tried to talk me out of this idea, but . . . then finally agreed,” he explained, eating one of the chocolate strawberries, and then offering one to the girl, who accepted it with a grin.

     ”Well, that's new. I thought he would scream at you because of that or something” she confessed, chuckling with the Moskowitz at her own words. ”Shall we start watching or . . .?” she spoke as the silence fell between them once again.

     Eli, acting as if he didn't stare at the girl's side profile all the time, cleared her throat. ”Oh, yeah, sure. Sure we can,”

     And so after these words the blue-eyed boy turned the movie on, and the two best friends only spoke to themselves when they wanted to comment on some scenes or laugh together, understanding each other's jokes. So yeah, movie nights together were definitely their own things.

     More than an hour later, the two's eyes met once again, them not actually realizing how their faces were drifting to each other. The blonde's lips parted as she saw the unfamiliar gleam in Eli's eyes ── she had seen it before, but could never understand it. The boy's head leaned to the side, just so he could have a best look on Willow. The two knew pretty well what is going to happen if they won't stop each other, but none of them really wanted to do that, so the gap between them closed immediately. One move was enough to bring their lips together in a kiss. One move was enough to remove the barrier between them.

     But the real question was, were they ready to do it?

     ”Loo?” the Moskowitz said quietly, his eyes shifting from her beautiful eyes onto her lips, her doing the exact same thing with him.

     ”Yeah?” she asked.

     Eli took a deep breath before speaking up again. ”Could I── Can I be your first kiss?”

     Willow felt as if her heart was going to jump out of her chest. Her fingertips touched the boy's cheek, meanwhile her breath sped up, making it hard for her to find the courage to tell him those few words.

     But she finally managed to do it.

     ”Yes, E. Yes, you can”

     And with that, Eli's hand touched the girl's fakes, pulling her face towards him, and connecting their lips in a magical kiss. It felt as if the world around them had stopped ── they were the only ones that actually mattered to them in that moment.

     Willow was sure that she was doing the wrong thing, and that she'll regret it later, but she didn't care ── she had been waiting for that moment for so long that Eli being her actual best friend didn't matter.

     And the strawberry taste of his lips made the situation even worse for her.

     So, instead of pulling away, she deepened the kiss, her hands playing with the boy's hair. It was really a magical moment, until Willow's phone rang in her pocket, making her quickly pull away from the boy, and check, who was the person that had the urge to ruin the two's moment.

     Miguel.

     ”I'm sorry, I have to pick up that one,” Willow apologized and Eli gave her a nod, still being surprised by what happened seconds ago. They kissed. ”Miggy? Did something happen?”

     ”Can you, please, come to the dojo? I need to show you something with Sensei” the Diaz boy asked and Willow sighed hesitantly as she looked at Eli from the corner of her eyes. Seeing that, he muttered;

     ”You── you can go, Loo. We can continue watching on the other day”

     ”Are you sure?” she asked, still being unsure of the decision.

     Miguel's voice echoed in her phone once again.

     ”Wait, is this Eli? Hey, Eli!” the sudden shout caused the girl to pull the phone away from her ear with a grimace.

     ”He would hear you without shouting, Miggy,” she told him. ”I'm going to be in the dojo in ten minutes, okay?”

     ”Alright, bye”

     When Miguel hung up, Willow sent Eli an apologizing look once again ── she didn't want to leave him, and make him think that what happened between them didn't matter to her, because it did, but knowing Johnny and Miguel, they wouldn't leave her alone untill she would show up in the dojo.

     ”We're gonna talk about that later, okay?”

     Eli agreed. ”Yeah. Later”

natalia speaks . . . !

how i feel after reading your comments;

AHHHHH ELI AND WILLOW FINALLY KISSED 😜😜🤫🙏🏼🙏🏼✌🏿🤫😜🤫🤝