I somehow manage to flitter between watching my brothers and the Cobra Kai without a hitch, although the calculating stares I was getting from the one nosy official and Kreese were enough to get me moving between them quicker.
It could be the kiss that Johnny had pulled me into when he won one of his rounds or the gleeful twirl Dutch had picked me up into, but whatever it was, it had caused their Sensei to keep his eye on me.
His stare was worryingly neutral; he didn't look at me with disgust as he did my brother and Mr. Miyagi, but he also didn't look too pleased with my friendship with his students.
The older man had been stood with his arms crossed since the start of the tournament. Other than barking out orders of 'helpful' words of encouragement, he had just been standing there staring at the other competitors with sharp eyes.
He was the definition of a Cobra waiting to strike.
His harsh stance had only worsened after watching Tommy, Jimmy, and other Cobra Kai members being beaten by my brother. Tommy was furious when his loss was called out, and it only got worse when my twin gave him a smug laugh.
I'm not sure if the reason was due to his loss at the hands of my brother or because it was in front of Ali, whom he still had heart eyes for. I can't imagine seeing his crush with someone he hates, and then having her cheering for the enemy to beat him would feel good.
I wish I could say that it would only get better from here, but I could see the crazed look in Dutch's eyes from where he stood bouncing around next to the guys "Any words for me," Daniel whispered in my ear as Dutch's eye twitched at our interaction.
"Try not to die," I chuckled nervously; Dutch was the only one (except maybe Tommy) who I was the most nervous about. He didn't play by the rules and had no qualms about hurting Daniel, even if it wasn't legal in the tournament or outside of it.
I love the guy, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up in jail by the time he gets to thirty.
Tapping my brother on the shoulder, I push him onto the mat as the guys let out laughs, and I'm sure I heard Tommy say something like 'that's our girl' I shrugged when I notice both my Ma and Ali giving me disappointed stares from the bleachers.
Turning back, I see Dutch cracking his neck from side to side, still bouncing as both he and Daniel step onto the mat. They both bow to the referee, I sigh to myself when Daniel bows to Dutch, but the blond just stays bouncing.
After the referee starts the match, Dutch instantly kicks my brother in the face; I wince seeing Daniel hit the mat as the guys all cheered and laughed around him. Dutch continues to bounce on his feet as his eyes are widened and almost feral looking.
Daniel gets back up, rubbing at his eye but continues on as he stands back on his line, ready for another round. This time, when the match was started, Dutch runs forward, but my twin was ready and picked his leg up, kicking the blond in the stomach.
Dutch falls to the floor but quickly gets back up and tackles Daniel to the ground screaming at him crazed; his knuckles are white from where he's gripping my brother's Gi. It takes two officials and the referee to get Dutch away from Daniel as they practically threw him across the mat.
"Get on the line!" The referee called out to Dutch, who fought against the officials to get back to my brother, "If I say get on the line, you get on the line!" Dutch finally did as he was told but not happily "stand here!" The blond was seething but once again did as the referee said.
Everyone watched in shock except the Cobra's; they all had grins on their faces at the display; even Kreese had a small smile on his usually stoic face. It was like they all knew what a rabid dog Dutch could be like and let him do it anyway; in fact, they almost seemed to enable his behavior.
"Unsportsmanlike conduct, you're disqualified" My eyes widened along with Daniels as Dutch seemed just as surprised as we did when he huffed, glancing at the referee arguing back "face me" Dutch let out a string of swears that had mothers in the audience covering their kids' ears "face me!".
The two boys stood on their lines and faced the older man "bow," he ordered as they did so, "shake hands" Daniel put his hand out shakily for Dutch, but the blond just glared at it in disgust before slapping it away from him and storming off.
I glanced towards Johnny, who just subtly shook his head at me; we both knew better than to go after Dutch right now. I know he wouldn't hurt me, but he needed time to get out all his anger, and none of us wanted to be in the path of a raging bull.
My ears pricked up when the sound of the overhead speaker came to life; it was time for a 10-minute break for the remaining competitors. Gazing over at Daniel, I knew he could do with sometimes, especially with the way he was holding onto his ribs.
"I'm gonna go get him some water," I say to Miyagi as the crowd begins to move upon themselves; the old man nods once while waiting for Daniel to make his way over to us. Mom and Ali both jump up and start walking towards the rings.
Walking towards the water bottle station, I was once again scared when my hips were grabbed from behind; I just laughed, knowing who it was, "Trying to kill me again?" I flirted as I picked up the water bottle and turned to see Johnny's grinning face.
"Nah, where would the fun be in that?" The blond smirked as I leaned against the wall passing him the bottle that was supposed to be for my brother, however, seeing the sweat slowly dripping down Johnny's partially visible chest, I decided he might need it more. That didn't stop me from staring, though.
You know for science.
Johnny's eyes crinkled as he smiled, drinking from the bottle, my staring must have been obvious to him, but hey, at least I was keeping the drooling to myself. How I managed to get myself someone like Johnny was still a mystery to me.
"So-" my eyebrows raised at Johnny's tone "-we're in the semi-finals now. I thought I might get a good luck kiss" I sniggered at his innocent face that was actually anything but innocent. My mouth twitched as a laugh managed to make its way out despite me trying to give him a reprimanding expression.
Shaking my head, I stood on my tiptoes as I pressed a kiss to his lips, feeling his hand lay on my hip as he held me closer but not too close people would get weirded out by two teenagers kissing in the middle of a hallway.
"Katherine?" I internally grimaced, hearing my Ma's voice from behind me. I broke away from my boyfriend and turned to see her standing there, watching the two of us with a small smile. The last time Ma saw Johnny, it wasn't a good meeting, so I was determined to make it better this time.
Wrapping my arm around his waist, I smiled. "Mom, this is Johnny," I say as her eyes widened for a moment before they softened in realization, "Johnny, this is my Mom" Johnny puts his hand out, saying a quick 'ma'am' like the polite boy he actually is.
Ma was fast to ask Johnny a bunch of questions before offering for him to come round for dinner one night, which I was quick to shut down before my idiot boyfriend put his hand over my mouth and agreed to.
"Now all we need is for you to meet my mom properly and not a quick hello and run off because she saw your design book" I frowned at his words, and a shot of fear ran through me, wondering how he knew what it was, other than Laura no-one had ever seen inside that book.
"How did you know about that?" I squeak, picking up another water bottle before chasing after the blond as he laughed at my tone of voice.
"She told me when I asked why you looked spooked. That and she's been talking non-stop about you, and how she wants to meet you," Johnny explains as we stop by the entrance to the rings as he brushes a finger over my lips "she already likes you, don't worry," he gave me a soft kiss before walking off throwing a wink over his shoulder.
Letting out a shaky breath, I turn and freeze, seeing the official from earlier watching me, "doesn't he have anything better to do?" I huff to myself as I shake the water bottle at him mockingly; he just narrows his eyes at me before walking away backward.
"Anyone else thinks that was creepy? No? Just me? And I'm talking to myself. Great."