Archive of Our Own

-November 2019, Six Months After The All Valley Tournament-
-Miyagi Do Dojo-
-Sam’s Pov-

“Okay, but one question. How are we going to get the alcohol?” Chris asked as he jumped off the sparring deck. “Usually the Thompson brothers always supply, but they are off on vacation with their parents in Mexico. And you can’t have a party without alcohol.”

“Eli has a fake I.D. That’s how we got the alcohol for the party at the canyon a while back.” Demetri told him.

Eli has a fake I.D? Well, I guess that really shouldn’t surprise me, considering his past when he was in Cobra Kai. It was weird. Last year, when he was in Cobra Kai, we couldn’t stand each other. We hated each other. We were always getting into an argument or into a fight. Then something shifted. I really don’t know what. And I really don’t know when. But now when I see him my heart races a little faster and my stomach gets into all sorts of knots. I remember feeling a pang in my stomach when he and Moon kissed at the tournament and got back together. I would get irritated when he would talk about Moon or when he would bring her on our group outings. It was almost as if I was jealous of Moon. But that’s crazy, right? Me? Jealous that Eli was with Moon and not me? I hated him at one point. So how could I possibly have feelings for him now? It didn’t make any sense…

And about two months ago, Eli and Moon broke up. Which was honestly shocking to say the least. They never had any relationship problems and they were incredibly happy while they were dating. Neither one told anyone the reason they broke up except they just said they were better off as friends. I didn’t completely buy it but it wasn’t any of my business, so I never questioned them about it. But I do remember that a small part of me was happy that Eli was single again. A part of me hoped that maybe, one day, we could be together. Because in the end, he was the only person that understood me…

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-Flashback, One Month After The Tournament-
-Miyagi-Do Dojo-
-Sam’s Pov-

I was at the dojo, hitting the punching bag, over and over again. I had felt nothing but guilt for the past month. Guilt for being the reason why Miyagi Do lost the tournament. Guilt for why Miguel went to Mexico. Guilt for why Robby went to Cobra Kai in the first place. And even though he was no longer in Cobra Kai (or any dojo as of right now), if he wasn’t in Cobra Kai, Eli’s mohawk probably would have never got shaved off. And after Miguel and I had broken things off (again), Cobra Kai dojos taking over the Valley, and these feelings that I had for Eli, it was almost too much for me to handle. All of that guilt eventually turned into anger, which was better than feeling guilty all of the time, I guess. I found myself at the dojo multiple times a week hitting the punching bag. It was the only way to get my anger out. I won’t talk about the time I started a fight with a couple of the Cobra’s last week. That really pissed my dad off. I had been so absorbed in hitting the punching bag that I didn’t hear the gate unlatch.

“You know, you’re gonna make your knuckles bleed if you keep hitting it that hard barehanded.”

I recognized the voice immediately. I stopped hitting the punching bag and turned towards the voice. What was he even doing here? Shouldn’t he and Moon be making out or something?

“How would you know?” I scoffed as I turned back around and continued to hit the bag again.

“Well, for one, it’s common sense. And two, because I’ve done it before.” He said as he dropped his bag on the ground and stood by me, his eyes landing on my knuckles, that had in fact, started to bleed.

“Figures…you were kind of a psycho then. Always hitting something…” I muttered as I continued to hit the bag.

It was easier to act like he still annoyed me rather than act like I liked him. I didn’t need to think about a crush when I was trying to deal with everything else.

“Yeah. I was pretty angry then.” He said with a shrug of his shoulders. “But I know when I see the same thing in someone else.” He said as he looked at me.

I stopped hitting the bag and looked at him up and down. Did he really think that I was like him when he was in Cobra Kai? He had to be joking, because I was nothing like him. I suddenly felt more anger rise up in me. How dare he even think that? Much less say it to me.

“I’m nothing like who you were while you were in Cobra Kai.” I told him with a glare as I turned back to the punching bag and continued to hit it.

“So you don’t feel guilty about something but would rather feel angry about it instead? Or that fight you started with a few of the Cobra’s last week wasn’t started because you were angry and nothing else?”

I stopped at his words and turned towards him and looked at him again.

“You don’t feel like you’re angry all of the time and that you can’t escape it? That you feel like you’re drowning but you can’t make it back to the surface?” He asked.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said as I crossed my arms.

Part of me was uncomfortable with the fact that he was the only person so far to know what I was going through. I wanted him to stop asking questions. But another part of me wanted him to keep asking. To see how much he knew what I was going through. Because so far, nobody has seemed to understand, except him. And that scared me.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a first aid kit, pulling some rubbing alcohol and a few cotton balls from it. What was he doing?

“This might sting a little.” He told me as he took my hand in his and placed some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and then placed the cotton ball onto my bleeding knuckles.

I winced at the pain but watched him as he gently wiped away the blood. His hands were a little calloused but warm. They made me feel safe.

“How’d you know I was here?” I asked, anger still evident in my voice.

He looked at me and gave me a small smile as he continued to clean off my hands.

“I drive by the dojo everytime I come home from Moon’s house. Saw your car here a lot recently late at night. Figured I would stop by to see if everything was okay.”

Of course he was over at Moon’s house. Where else would he be?

“Well, I’m fine, so you can go.” I told him.

“Says the girl with the bleeding knuckles.”

He then grabbed some gauze and wrapped my hands. I watched him and he was careful, as if he was afraid he would hurt me.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked.

I wanted to be annoyed. But I wasn’t. Because it felt nice that someone was taking care of me like this without scolding me that I was out of control or that I needed to get my anger in check.

“Because we’re friends and that’s what friends do, right?” He said with a small smile. “Alright. Good as new. Next time be sure to wrap them or wear gloves. I know your dad taught you at least that much.” He told me with another smile, which sent my heart to beat a little faster and my stomach to go into knots.

“I-I should get going.” I told him as I pulled my hand out of his.

I was having too many feelings right now and I needed to leave before I did something stupid like kiss him. I grabbed my water bottle and started to quickly walk out of the dojo.

“Princess.”

My heart stopped at the nickname that he had given me last year.

“It’s not your fault that Miguel went to Mexico. And you can’t keep blaming yourself about the tournament.”

I turned to look at him as he walked up to me.

“Blaming yourself will just make you more angry, trust me, I know. You don’t want to go down that path. It’s dark and scary and you feel like you can’t get out until it’s almost too late.” He told me, his eyes gentle. “And if I’m being honest, you kicked ass at the tournament. If anything, you should be proud of yourself. Because I am.” He told me with a smile.

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-End of Flashback-
-Sam’s Pov-

Ever since that night we became close friends, and even more close after Eli and Moon broke up two months ago. I felt as if I was the only person that truly understood me and never once judged me.

“Yeah, Dem, but that’s when I had my blue mohawk. Obviously, I don’t look anything like I do in that picture anymore.” Eli told him with a scoff.

Eli’s voice broke me out of my thoughts. I tilted my head and looked at him. His hair had grown quite considerably longer since the Cobra’s shaved it off last spring. I smiled as an idea came to me. I walked up to him and ran my hand through his soft hair and gently pulled his hair upwards.

“Hey, what are you-” He began but I cut him off.

“Well, it looks like it’s long enough now. Why don’t you say we do a little dye job and get this mohawk back?” I asked him with a smirk.

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-Later That Day-
-Eli’s House-
-Sam’s Pov-

“Hand it over.” I told him as I held out my hand as Eli sat on his bed while the bleach sat in his hair.

“Hand what over?”

“Uh, your fake I.D of course. Gimme, gimme.”

With a sigh he pulled his wallet from his pocket and took out the fake I.D and gave it to me.

I looked at it and a smirk came over my face.

“Walter Hawkman? Really, Eli?”

“What?”

“And you seriously wore your karate gi for the picture? How did you even get this?” I asked as I held up the I.D.

“I made it myself. And you’re not going to make fun of it when I’m the one supplying the booze tonight.” He said as he took the I.D from me and stuck it back into his wallet.

“Sorry Walter, I mean, Eli.” I said with a chuckle.

He playfully rolled his eyes at me as he threw a pillow at me, which I caught. I then looked at his hair and got worried.

“You sure your hair isn’t going to fall out?” I asked

“No.” He told me with a chuckle as he scrolled through his phone.

“Okay, but I’ve seen these youtube videos where people try to bleach their hair themselves and it doesn’t turn out like they expected it to. Sometimes it even falls-” I began but he cut me off.

“Princess, trust me, I know how to bleach my hair. I’ve done it a few times now.” He told me with a light laugh.

Even his laugh was attractive. Literally everything he did was attractive. It wasn’t fair.

“Okay, but I just don’t see why you just don’t go somewhere to have them do it professionally. I mean you have the money to do it. Wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry?”

He looked up at me and tossed his phone to the side.

“I don’t like other people touching my hair. Especially not after-” He stopped, his eyes looked to the ground.

Right…

I knew what he was talking about without him even saying it. The night the Cobra’s jumped him and shaved his mohawk off. The image of how he looked when he came to the dojo that night-his tear stricken face, looking utterly broken-was embedded into my mind still to this day. Just the thought of what they did to him made me angry. Of course I was too absorbed in striking back and getting back at Tory for everything that she’s done to me to take the time to actually ask how he was doing. Or be there for him. I suddenly felt like a terrible friend. Moon and Demetri were the only ones that were really there for him to help him get his confidence back…

“I’m sorry…” I told him quietly.

“You didn’t do anything. You have nothing to be sorry for.” He told me as he got up from his bed and stepped into his bathroom to check his hair in the mirror.

“But that’s just it. I didn’t do anything, Eli. I should have done something.” I said as I stood in the doorway of the bathroom.

He turned and looked at me as he leaned against the counter. My eyes wandered to his biceps and I wanted nothing more than to run my hands down them. No Sam. Not the time to be thinking like that…

“I kind of got what I deserved after all of the shitty things that I did. It was just karma catching up with me.” He told me with a shrug of his shoulders.

He couldn’t be serious, could he? He really didn’t think that he deserved this?

“No, you didn’t deserve that, Eli. Not at all. They violated you.”

A silence then fell between us. I shifted between my feet as he gave me an unreadable expression.

“I’m gonna wash this out and then I’m going to add the color.” He suddenly said, pushing himself off of the counter.

He was obviously wanting to change the subject and I wasn’t going to press the matter anymore.

“What color did you end up choosing?” I asked.

“That’s for me to know and for you to find out, princess. I’m gonna stay in here and color it and then hop in the shower. I’ll style it and then we can go.”

“Go?” I asked.

“Yeah. To the party? Well, get the booze first and then to the party. We might as well go together. You’re already here, right?”

Like a date? No. Not like a date, Sam. This was Eli. Why would he want you to be his date? He doesn’t like you like that.

“Feel free to make yourself at home and watch something on my T.V while I finish up in here. It’ll be about an hour.” He told me.

“Okay…” I said as I turned to leave the bathroom but then I stopped and turned to face him again. “Since I can’t watch you color it, can I at least watch you style it?”

“You want to watch me style my mohawk?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, I’ve actually always been curious to see how you do it.”

“Sure thing, princess.” He told me with a smile.

I gave him a thankful smile before leaving the bathroom, closing the door behind me as I plopped on his bed and scrolled through Netflix, settling on some cake competition show. A little bit later I heard the shower turn on and I felt my cheeks flush. He was in the shower. Meaning he was naked. Right in the next room. Maybe I could pretend that I didn’t hear the shower running and I could walk in and ask where something was at and I could get a little glimpse…no, Sam, stop it…

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-A Little Bit Later-
-Sam’s Pov-

I was watching the show, even though I really had no idea what was going on. My mind was on other things…he was in the shower, naked, while I was laying on his bed, neither one a good combo of where my mind was traveling at the moment. Suddenly, the bathroom door opened and he emerged, wearing nothing but a blue towel that was wrapped around his waist. Holy mother of all that is good. He trained without his shirt mostly all summer and it was hard enough then to keep my eyes off of him then but now? Wearing nothing but a towel that was wrapped a little too low on his waist…damn…my thoughts went somewhere they shouldn’t have gone…

“Sorry. Forgot my clothes…” He told me with a sheepish smile.

“You can forget your clothes anytime…”

“What was that?” He asked, turning to look at me.

Shit…Did I just say that outloud? I felt the heat rise to my cheeks.

“I-I said you probably forget your clothes all of time…you know, since you probably don’t usually bring clothes into the bathroom with you since you’re used to getting dressed in here. You’re not used to having someone else in here. Well, unless it was Moon, and then obviously you wouldn’t mind if she was in here because you were dating and you probably saw each other naked all of the time, but now you’re not dating…so that would be really weird if she saw you naked…”

I stopped and felt more heat rise to my cheeks. Why did I keep saying the word, ‘naked’? Friends don’t talk about each other being naked, right? I suddenly found interest in the T.V show that was on the T.V.

“Have-have you seen this T.V show? The cakes they make, crazy, right?” I asked nervously.

He smiled at me and then looked at the T.V and his smile grew even bigger.

“Yeah, I’m sure they make some pretty crazy cakes, but you do realize the show’s over, right?” He asked, a big smile still on his face.

I felt even more heat rise to my cheeks. Shit…

“It’s okay, sometimes I get distracted with cute things too, princess.” He told me as he gave me a wink before he went to his dresser to grab some clothes.

“Right. Like I would be checking you out, Moskowitz…” I muttered as I rolled my eyes and grabbed my phone and aimlessly scrolled through it, trying to look anywhere but at him as he headed back into his bathroom to get dressed.

“So you like the color?” He asked on the other side of the door.

Shit. Right. The color. What color was it even? Damn it Sam, you didn’t even look at his hair? You were too preoccupied with his damn abs and other things to even look at his hair.

“Yeah…I-” I began but he stepped out of the bathroom, pulling a shirt over his head, revealing his loose, blue hair.

Well fuck me. I’ve never seen his hair down when it was colored and damn. I about combusted right then and there. Why had he never worn his hair down before? Did he not realize how good it looked like that? Surly Moon had to tell him how good he looked with it down when they dated, right?

“Decided to go back to the first color, huh?”

“Yeah. But blue also symbolizes Miyagi Do and I figured since I’m part of Miyagi Do now, why not color it blue?”

He colored it blue because of Miyagi Do? My heart warmed at the thought. Just one more thing that made him all the more attractive.

“Well, it looks good.” I told him with a smile.

Wait. Do friends tell each other that? That their hair looked good? Was that weird? No. Friends totally tell each other their hair looks good. Moon just told me the other day my hair looked good. But maybe it was only girls that told each other that their hair looked good. Shit…

“Thanks, princess.” He said with a smile. “Well, I’m gonna blow dry it and then I’ll style it.”

I watched him blow dry it and then once it was dry he grabbed the can of hairspray and began the process of putting it up in a mohawk. I couldn’t help but notice how happy he looked. He was always using his hair to express himself. And he was finally able to do it again. I smiled as he continued to work on his mohawk with ease.

“What?” He asked with a smile.

“What?”

“You’re thinking about something. What are you thinking?”

“You just look happy.” I told him honestly.

“You want to try it?” He asked me with a smile.

Try? Try what?

“What?”

“Style my hair?” He asked with a smile as he handed me the can of hairspray.

“Uh, sure…” I said as I took the can from him.

Didn’t he just tell me that he doesn’t let anyone touch his hair? Maybe that was just strangers. I bet he let Moon style his hair all of the time when they dated. I began to mimic the process, just like he did, hoping I was doing it right.

“Here, like this.” He told me as he placed his hand over one of mine and showed me the motion to make.

I had to force myself not to jolt my hand back. It felt as if a bolt of electricity went through my veins from his touch. I’ve never felt that from anyone. Not Miguel and not Robby. And definitely not Kyler.

Kyler. Right…

“I broke up with him because of you…” I said as I continued to do his hair the way that he showed me.

“What?” He asked as he turned to look at me.

“Kyler. Sophomore year when we dated for like two seconds. I saw what he did to you, Demetri and Miguel in the library that day. We went to the movie theaters that night and I called him out on it and he just played it off like you were all friends. Then he tried to feel me up and I told him to stop and he didn’t and that’s when I pulled out a little karate move on him and shoved him into his seat…probably why he started that stupid rumor about me going down on him in the movie theater…” I said as I gave his mohawk one last finishing spray.

“Wait, hold on…Kyler tried to take advantage of you?” He asked as he stood up and turned to look at me.

He looked upset.

“Yeah, I guess, but it’s not a big deal. I-”

“No Sam, it is a big deal. Why didn’t you tell anybody about this?”

“I didn’t think anything of it I guess. I was just upset that he treated you that way. You didn’t deserve that. I should have never dated him in the first place. He’s a jerk…”

“He’s a piece of shit, Sam. When I see him next-”

Woah. Where was this coming from? Why was he getting so upset about what Kyler did to me two years ago?

“Hey, it’s done and over with. I kicked his ass in the movie theaters and you kicked his ass at the tournament. More than likely he’s going to leave us alone now, so there’s nothing to be upset about, okay?”

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-Eli’s Pov-

I couldn’t believe what Kyler did to her. I wanted nothing more than to get in my car and go to his house and beat the living shit out of him. I don’t know when or how it started, these feelings for Sam. I remember after I destroyed Demetri’s science project in the cafeteria, she came up to me and we had a spat. But the crazy thing? I wanted to kiss her afterwards. She ignited something in me that nobody else ever had. And then the feelings just kept on coming as time went on. But then she got back with Miguel and I got with Moon.

Moon…

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-Flashback-
-Two Months Ago-
-Sam’s House-
-Eli’s Pov-

“Ugh. Why didn’t anyone tell me that playing that stupid drinking game was a bad idea…” Sam groaned as she sat down by the toilet in her bathroom.

“Pretty sure I told you like five times it was a bad idea, princess.” I said with a chuckle.

”How are you not even drunk?” She asked as she looked at me up and down.

“Because I only had one drink. You on the other hand had a lot more than that.” I told her as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

I saw that she was about to throw up again. I held her hair back and rubbed her back as she emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet.

“Remind me to never drink again…” She said with a groan as she leaned against the wall.

“You do realize the only people who say that end up getting drunk again.” I told her with a light laugh as I sat down by her.

“Shut up, Moskowitz…”

I playfully rolled my eyes at her.

“Moon’s getting some pajamas for you. And some water. And some tylenol.”

“She’s literally the sweetest.” Sam said with a drunken smile. “But you guys do realize you don’t have to stay to take care of me, right? I can take care of myself.”

“Considering you about burnt the house down by trying to make toast earlier, I think it’s best if we stay.” I told her with a chuckle. “Plus Demetri and Yasmine are passed out in your guest bedroom. I really don’t trust them either when they’re drunk. Demetri tried to go streaking last time he got drunk.”

“Yeah, that was funny.” Sam said with a giggle. “Although an image that is now unfortunately burned into my mind.”

“Yours and mine both, princess.”

“I like that.” Sam said with a goofy grin.

“What?”

“That you call me princess…”

“I guess it just kinda stuck when I called you that last year when we didn’t get along.” I told her with a smile.

“Thank you for taking care of me tonight…you really are a sweet guy, Eli…”

“Now I know you are drunk. You just gave me two compliments in one sentence.” I told her with a smile

“Yeah, maybe…but it’s the truth…you know, you were the only one to understand me when nobody else did after the tournament. You never once judged me when I got upset or angry. You just helped pull me out of the darkness…”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been there before. I get it.”

“You’re my best friend, Eli…” She said sleepily. “I don’t know what I would do without you…”

I looked at her and that strange feeling came over me again. And I realized that I would do anything for her. No matter what. And then it hit me. I don’t know what I would do without her, either. She had become such an important person in my life and I didn’t want to go through life without her. Her head had found its way snuggled against my shoulder, her eyes now closed.

“I’ll always be here, Sam…promise…”

Just then I looked up and saw Moon standing in the bathroom doorway, with a small smile, holding the clothes, water and tylenol.

“Hey beautiful.” I said with a smile.

“Looks like she passed out.” Moon said nodding towards a sleeping Sam.

“Yeah…she had a lot to drink…” I said with a chuckle. “I’ll get her into bed.” I said as I got up from the floor and picked Sam up and carried her to her bed and laid her down and gently covered her with a blanket.

I then turned to Moon and took the bottle of water and tylenol from her.

“Pretty sure she’s gonna need this. She’s probably gonna have a killer headache in the morning.” I told her with a chuckle as I placed the water and tylenol on her nightstand.

“Hey, so since everyone else is gone and we are on babysitting duty for Sam, Demetri and Yasmine, what do you say we grab some snacks from the kitchen and we crash on the couch and watch a movie?” I asked when we got to the hall.

leaned in to give her a kiss but she put a hand on my chest to stop me.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked, confusion coming over me.

“You really like her, don’t you?”

Liked who? Who was she talking about?

“Who?”

“Sam.”

“Sam?”

“I’m not mad. I-I think I’ve always known you two had some kind of connection. Even when you guys always got into fights or arguments, there was always something there-but when I saw you two just now, in the bathroom, what you said to each other, how you looked at each other, just confirmed everything.” She told me with a small smile.

No. I loved Moon. Moon was my girl. I mean, I cared for Sam. I would do anything for her. But how could I like her like that? We used to hate each other. It made zero sense. Plus, even if I did like her like that, she could never like me like that after everything that I did.

“Moon, I-”

“It’s okay.” She told me with a smile. “You didn’t do anything wrong. But I’m not the girl for you. I know that and you know that. The girl for you is in that room sleeping.”

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I had feelings for Sam that I never felt for anyone else. I suddenly felt guilty for developing these feelings for Sam while I was with Moon. Moon didn’t deserve that.

“Moon, I-”

“I know. You didn’t mean for any of this to happen. But you deserve to be happy, Eli.”

“But I am happy. You make me happy.” I told her.

She smiled at me.

“But you deserve to be happy with the right girl, Eli. You two understand each other. You get her and she gets you. You guys have a real connection, even if you don’t see it right now, it’s there.
And that’s why we can’t be together anymore. You’re an amazing guy, Eli. And you deserve the best.”

“Yeah, but she-she can’t like me like that. Not after everything that I’ve done…”

“I’ve seen the way that she looks at you. She likes you, Eli. Trust me.”

I looked at her. She really was one of the most amazing people that I’ve come to know. She’s always wanted the best for everyone. She’s always put others before her.

“I am sorry, Moon. I never meant for this to happen. I never meant to hurt you…”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Eli. The heart knows what it wants.”

I gave her a hug, which as always, was warm and comforting.

“Thank you for everything, Moon. And I do care about you and you’ll always have a special place in my heart…you helped me through alot…”

“I know. And you’ll always share a special place in my heart too, Eli.” She said as she pulled out of the embrace and looked at me. “Just do me a favor and don’t let her get away, okay?”

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-End of Flashback-
-Eli’s Pov-

And two months later I was still trying to build up the courage to tell Sam how I felt.

But I was being a damn pussy about it.

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-Later That Night-
-Yasmine’s House-
-Sam’s Pov-

“No way, princess. You’re high if you think the prequels are better than the originals.” Eli told me as he took a swig of beer from his cup as we sat at the kitchen island with Demetri, Miguel and Chris.

“What are you even talking about? Everyone knows the originals are great, they are the originals, but the prequels are so much better. The whole Anakin to Darth Vadar storyline is everything.”

“Whatever, you’re just saying that because it had Hayden Christensen in it.” he said with a scoff. “I saw how you ogled over him when we watched it last month with Demetri.” He told me. “You were like “ohhh, he’s soooo hot you guys!” He said with a laugh as he mimicked me.

I gave him a friendly shove in the shoulder.

“Shut Up. Hot guy or not, the prequels will always be better in my mind and you can’t change my mind, Moskowitz.” I said with a giggle.

“Woah, lip, I almost didn’t recognize you with your mohawk.”

I felt instant irritation at the voice. What was Kyler doing here?

“Pretty bold of you though, to grow it back. It was easy enough to cut it off the first time. Don’t think it won’t be hard for us to do it again.”

I saw Demetri and Chris stand up, ready for a fight.

“Why don’t you shut the hell up, Kyler?” I said as I stood up and glared at him.

Kyler looked between Eli and I and smirked.

“No way, you and lip together? You’re making your way through everyone that’s in karate, aren’t you, Sam? First me, then Miguel, then Robby and now lip? Not really surprised, though. You are the dojo’s mattress. Should have known when you went down on me in the theater that you were going to be a fucking slut.”

“What the hell did you just say?” Eli asked, anger in his voice, as he stood and lightly pushed me to the side so he was standing in front of Kyler instead.

“Are you really defending her?” Kyler chuckled. “What? She already fuck you and you think she’s gonna stay with you? Sorry, man, that’s not really her style. She’ll find another guy to sleep with by next week. I’m surprised she hasn’t made her way through the whole dojo yet, or maybe she already has.” He said with a smirk.

And that’s when Eli punched him in the face.

“Why don’t you get the fuck outta here before I beat the living shit out of you.” Eli growled at him.

Shit. If I didn’t do something a fight was going to break out. So I grabbed Eli by the hand and dragged him outside. I heard Chris and Demetri say something to Kyler, but I wasn’t for sure what. When we got outside, Eli started to pace back and forth on the patio. He was upset. That much was clear.

“I don’t like him talking like that to you, Sam.” He said as he continued to pace back and forth outside.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m okay.” I said in an attempt to get him calmed down.

“No, it’s not okay, Sam. He’s a fucking asshole. I really couldn’t stand him in the first place with all this shit he put Demetri and I though. But when he talked to you like that just now and after you told me what he did to you in the movie theater…”

I looked back into the house and Kyler was leaving. Good…

I put a comforting hand on his arm and this seemed to calm him a little. He stopped clenching his jaw and flaring his nostrils.

“Hey, it’s okay, okay? He’s gone. So we can enjoy the rest of our night.” I told him with a small smile. “Let’s go back inside, alright?”

He didn’t say anything but merely nodded as we made our way back inside.

xxxxxxxxxx

-A Little Bit Later-
-Sam’s Pov-

I was talking to Yas and Moon as we watched Eli and Demetri play beer pong. But if I was being honest, I didn’t have a clue what they were talking about. I was too distracted by Eli. From the way he threw the ping pong ball to the way that his eyes sparkled when he smiled to the way that he laughed. Everything about him was so intoxicating.

Yasmine waved a hand in front of me.

“What?”

“I asked if you wanted to go shopping with Moon and I tomorrow?”

“Uh, yeah. Sure. Sounds like fun.”

“Didn’t think you’d ever answer me by the way you were eye banging Eli.” Yasmine said with a coy smile.

“Wh-what?” I sputtered out.

“You’ve literally been staring at him this whole time.” Yasmine told me with a smile.

“I have not.” I said as I crossed my arms.

“Okay…whatever you need to tell yourself. But you guys are pretty much on a date, yeah?”

“A-a date? No…we-we aren’t on a date…”

“But didn’t you come together?”

“Yeah, just as friends though. I mean I was already over at his house when I was helping him with his hair.”

This caught Moon’s attention.

“He let you fix his hair?” She asked as she looked at me.

She didn’t sound mad. She sounded surprised.

“Yeah, well. I mean, I just watched him bleach it and then he asked if I wanted to help style it into a mohawk.”

Moon smiled.

“What?” I asked as I took notice of Moon’s smile.

Why was she smiling at me like that?

“Nothing. It’s just that he never let me fix his hair. Ever. And we dated.” She told me with a smile still on her face.

Oh…

So what does that even mean?

Just then the boys finished their game of beer pong and made their way to the kitchen.

“You may not think you’re on a date, Sam. But it’s totally a date. Especially if he brings you a drink. Bonus points if it’s your favorite.” Yasmine told me with another smile.

“It’s not a date…Eli doesn’t like me like that…”

“He also punched Kyler for you…” Yasmine added.

“Yeah, but-” I began but just then the boys then came up to us and Demetri handed Yasmine a drink.

“Thanks babe. You always know what my favorite is.” She said as she gave him a kiss.

“Did you want anything, Moon?” Demetri asked as he and Yamine parted from the kiss.

“Oh, no thanks, I still got a ways to go on this one.” She said as she held up her mixed drink.

Eli stood in front of me and handed me a drink in a red solo cup.

“Malibu and pineapple, right?”

I was about to say something but Yasmine beat me to it.

“Eli, how sweet of you. How’d you know that was Sam’s favorite?” Yasmine asked with a smile on her face as she looked between Eli and I.

“Oh, I remember that’s what she drank at our last party.” He said with a sheepish smile.

“He remembered your favorite drink, isn’t that sweet, Sam?” Yasmine asked me, smile still on her face.

Eli and I looked at each other and smiled.

“Yeah…thanks.” I said as I took the cup from his hand.

“Yeah, so do you-” Eli began but was interrupted by a voice across the room.

“Hey Hawk! Come be my partner!”

“I’m being summoned.” He told me with a light laugh. “I’ll be back in a few.” He told me with a smile that sent my heart to beat a little faster.

“Still don’t think he’s into you?” Yasmine asked as he walked towards the beer pong table.

“No.”

“And you’re not into him?”

“No.”

“So you won’t mind if we play a little game then?” Yasmine asked as a mischievous smile came over her face.

Game? What kind of game?

“Sure, I don’t mind.” I told her with a shrug of my shoulders.

I had no idea what she had planned. But it was Yasmine. It literally could be anything.

“Alright everyone, we’re going to play a little game! And Sam here is the main contestant. All single males that would like to kiss the lovely Samantha LaRusso, make their way to the living room!” Yasmine announced to the whole room.

“Wait, Yasmine, are you serious?”

“You said you were up for it and you said you weren’t interested in Eli and I know you don’t talk to any other guys, so what’s the big deal? Unless there’s something that you want to tell me?”

No. Because there was nothing to hide.

“No…let’s play.” I told her as I walked into the living room, with Yasmine and Moon following behind me.

“So Sam here is going to be standing up here blindfolded and she will take turns kissing each guy that decides to play. After the end of the game, she will pick her favorite kisser and she can do whatever she pleases with him.” Yasmine explained as she came up behind me and tied a blindfold around my eyes.

Do whatever I please with him? Was this going to end up in some kind of weird, kinky, sex game?

“You can’t see, right?” Yasmine asked as she tied the blindfold over my eyes.

“Nope…”

“Perfect. Alright, boys, line up.” I heard Yasmine tell everyone. “Have fun.” She whispered to me.

I rolled my eyes. Why did I ever agree to this? Half of the guys here were drunk which meant their kisses were going to be sloppy and all tongue. Gross. And the other half were guys from karate, which were practically like brothers to me. Again, gross. Maybe Eli would get in line. I’ve always wondered how his lips would feel on mine…I would pull on his shirt to bring him closer to me…no, stop it, Sam. There is no way that Eli is going to get in line because he doesn’t want to kiss you.

The first guy that kissed me was just a peck.

Okay, maybe this won’t be that bad.

Then the next guy shoved his tongue down my throat. Then the guy after that did that same. Ugh…what have I gotten myself into? Why did I ever agree to this?

xxxxxxxxxx

-Meanwhile-
-Eli’s Pov-

I originally thought this game would be entertaining to watch. And I knew I was right when Sam was making a grossed out face after each kiss she received. I could tell she wasn’t trying to show how she felt so she wouldn’t hurt their feelings but the way that she scrunched her nose up after some of them I could tell she wasn’t into it. I found myself chuckling at a few of them. I knew without a doubt she was going to ask to go home so she could brush her teeth and wash her mouth out.

“You do realize she’s gonna-” I began as I looked at Demetri but stopped when I saw who walked up to Sam next.

Wyatt Smith.

A senior that almost every girl in high school had their eyes on. Sam even mentioned at one point that she thought he was cute. I suddenly didn’t like this. This was no longer entertaining. He dipped his head down to kiss her and she actually seemed into it. Her hand went up to his cheek and his hand to her waist and pulled closer. When they parted from the kiss, there was a smile on her face.

Okay, now I really don't like this.

I shoved my cup into Demetri’s hand and walked towards Sam.

xxxxxxxxxx

-Sam’s Pov-

“Alright that looks like it’s all, oh, wait, we have one more…” I heard Yasmine say.

Shit. Whoever the last guy was actually gave a pretty damn good kiss. This one better not be another tongue bath one. I might just throw up if it is…

I could feel him standing right in front of me. Even though I couldn’t see them, my heart began to race just at their mere presence. He then placed his hands on my hips and his fingers danced along the bare skin exposed from my crop top, which sent electric shocks through my veins. I could then feel his lips close to mine and his nose grazed my cheek, almost as if he was teasing me. He then connected his lips to mine and it felt as if all of the air was sucked from my lungs. It was like those kisses you see in the movies-where it feels like there are fireworks going off-my hands went to his chest as I tugged on his shirt to bring him closer to me. I wanted-no needed him closer-with one hand on my hip, he pulled me closer to him and his other hand was in my hair. I felt his tongue sweep across my lips and I parted them so he could deepen the kiss. Damn. Whoever this guy was knew how to kiss, that’s for sure. My heart was beating wildly in my chest and suddenly this kiss wasn’t enough. I heard a quiet moan escape my lips, or maybe it was his, I wasn’t for sure. My mind was dizzy. I then heard someone wolf call and I suddenly remembered that we weren’t alone. That we were in a room full of people. He parted his lips from mine and I instantly missed them. I wanted them back on mine. I felt his nose graze my cheek again, which sent shivers down my spine. He placed his mouth by my ear, and I could feel his hot breath.

“How was that for a kiss, princess?”

Eli…

I pulled off the blindfold and there he was, standing in front of me, smirk on his face. And then suddenly I got scared. This was Eli. My best friend. The guy that I had feelings for. I didn’t know what to say or do, so I did the first thing that came to my mind-I walked past him and into the kitchen. I had to get out of here. I had to get outside. It was too hot in here. I couldn’t think.

I made my way outside, to the back patio, as the cool summer air hit me. I was grateful to be out here alone where I could think. Why was that kiss so good? No. Good doesn’t even start to explain it. Why was it hands down the best kiss that I’ve ever had? And I wanted to kiss him again and again and again. And why did he kiss me in the first place? I thought he only saw me as a friend? Friends don’t kiss friends, right? Unless he saw me as more than a friend…

“You forgot your drink.”

Eli.

“Eli…hey…” I said as I turned around.

This isn’t awkward at all.

He handed me my drink and I sipped on it. He kept looking at me. What do I even say? Do I act like nothing happened? Would that be weird? Or would it be more weird if I talked about it? Maybe if I took long enough to drink my drink he wouldn’t ask me questions and we could just avoid the whole thing…

“Are we going to avoid talking about why you just ran away from me?”

Shit…

“I didn’t run away from you. It was hot in there. I needed to get some air.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Of course. Why else would I come out here?” I asked as I looked at him before looking at my drink again.

“I don’t know. It just looked like you ran out because of the kiss.” He said with a small shrug of his shoulders.

“I didn’t run out because of the kiss, Eli. Don’t be ridiculous.”

He looked at me and a small smirk made its way across his lips. He then took my drink from my hand and placed it down on one of the patio tables.

“Wh-what are you doing?” I asked him.

“Kissing you again.”

I felt my heart face at his words.

“K-kiss me again?”

“Yeah, that’s what I said, princess. I enjoyed it and I’m pretty sure you did too, the way you kissed me back.”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“Oh yeah? So if I put one of my hands here.” He said as he placed one of his hands on my hip, bringing me ever so closer to him. “And the other one here,” he said as he gently cupped my cheek. “And brought my lips close to your lips like this.” He whispered as he placed his lips close to mine where they were almost touching. “You wouldn’t want to kiss me again?”

Shit. He was making this really difficult. I felt my heart rate increase even more at his words and his touch.

“I’m going to take your lack of words as a yes, princess.” He told me as he connected his lips to mine and I immediately melted into the kiss. His hand tangled into my hair and my hands went to his shirt to pull him closer. His tongue once again swept across my lips and I parted them instantly so he could deepen the kiss. He pulled me impossibly close and I had the sudden urge to rip his shirt off. One of my hands made their way to the hem of his shirt and its way under his shirt so I could touch his abs. For all that is good in this world…why did he have to be so damn hot? I felt him smirk against my lips as he deepened the kiss even more. I don’t know how long we stayed like that. Seconds. Minutes. I didn’t have a clue. But I did know that I never wanted this kiss to end.

“Hey Eli, you want to-”

We broke apart at the sound of Demetri’s voice.

“Finally!” He said as he looked between the two of us with a big smile.

Finally? What did he mean by ‘finally’?”

“Didn’t think you two would ever get together. Thank goodness Moon, Yas and I came up with that kissing game.”

“Wait…you planned for that to happen?”

“Uh, well considering neither one of you were going to make a move, we had to do it for you. Guys line up to kiss Sam. It was only a matter of time before Eli got jealous and got in line to kiss you. Why do you think Yas ended the game after you two kissed? Anyways, I was going to ask if you wanted to play another round of beer pong but I can see you’re a little preoccupied.” He told us with another smile.

Demetri went back inside and Eli turned to look at me and smiled.

“Now, where were we, princess?” He asked with a smirk before dipping his head to mine to give me another breathtaking kiss.