CHAPTER 42:
Miyagi.
Quinn

"I see that Eli is still not here?"

"I told him not to come. He has the All Valley coming up and I don't want to distract him," I told Mrs. Johnson, who was my lifelong therapist, even during the whole karate war.

"Did he say that or did you tell him?"

"I told him. This is so important to him, and I wouldn't want to hold him back. I-I don't believe in holding grudges since I saw how angry I always was, but Robby almost killed Miguel. If he can't fight him now, he'll channel his anger towards the All Valley," I expressed to her as she wrote down in her little journal.

What does she even write in there?

"Quinn, I thought you were enjoying karate. You said this Miyagi-Do was helping you."

"It was, but I don't think it's for me. I mean, I'm pretty sure I'll just hold them back," I twiddled with my fingers, nervous about what she was going to say.

"According to that video I saw, you seem to be just as good as the rest of them," She smiled.

Oh, right.

When I basically kicked my boyfriends ass.

"It's a good channel for your anger. Whatever happens in your life, whatever changes their are, this Miyagi-Do was really helping you. But there's always other methods and right now, you seem pretty content with life."

That's what bothered me.

I was fine. I knew where I wanted to go in life.

But Eli didn't.

Mom always said to be with someone who knew what they wanted, but all Eli seems to want is karate. We're juniors now, and we have to start thinking about our futures seriously.

"Quinn? Anything else on your mind?" She asked.

"Uhm, maybe another time. I have to finish some homework," I grabbed my bag, and she gave me a knowing smile.

"Okay, I'll see you next week. Oh, and Quinn?"

I glanced at her, not really paying attention as I quickly texted back Eli.

"Yeah?"

"Can you let your mother know I need your real birth certificate? I just found some inconsistencies with this one."

I perked up, "Real? I thought that was my real one."

"Your mom printed it, so keeping the original is fine, but there seems to be two different birth certificates and I just wanted the original. She can print it."

I have two different birth certificates?

That. . .can't be right.

"Oh, yeah. I'll-I'll tell her," I shut the door behind me and it got me thinking. Mom never let me see my birth certificate, even on that trip to Mexico she had it on her the entire time. I always thought it was weird but-

"Hey babe."

"Holy shit! You scared me," Eli was around the corner as I was headed for the exit.

"What are you doing here?" I noticed his skateboard.

He came all the way here?

"Just wanted to check on my favorite girl. And your mom wanted you to pick up some stuff from the store," He said as we walked out, his arm around my shoulders.

"She didn't text me?"

"Oh. Well, she called me."

Huh.

Okay.

As we both got into my car, that's when I remembered. She must have not called me because she's been so busy preparing to go to The Netherlands.

Meaning I'll have the house to myself for two months.

During Prom.

"Eli, my moms gonna be out for two months while she goes to the Netherlands for work," My hands got sweaty as I gripped the steering wheel.

"S-so, if you want, we have the house to ourselves. . ." I drifted off, trying to hint at him and as we stopped at a red light, I looked at him.

"Are-are you serious? Babe, I haven't bought condoms yet."

"Oh my god! No! I mean, yes, but is that the first thing your mind went to?"

"What else am I supposed to think when my girlfriend tells me her moms not gonna be home?" Eli retorted.

"Yeah, okay, fair. But, I was thinking. . .I know it sounds cheesy, but I always wanted my first time," I swallowed a big lump in my throat, my face heating up.

"To be on Prom Night."

Silence.

Not even the radio could help me.

"I'm sorry if I'm keeping you waiting-"

"What? No, babe, that's not it. I'm just. . .nervous. I. . .We both get to be eachothers first and I want to make it special," He said in a soft tone, his hand holding mine.

"It'll be special because it's with you."

Our awkward and sweet words to eachother completely made me forget the fact that it's illegal for a person to have two birth certificates. Maybe there was a mistake on the first so they needed one that was altered, which would make the most sense.

I thought that this year would be the year that we could put all this karate behind us, and that I could concentrate on getting into Princeton or Harvard. That I was getting better.

That I would be able to never worry about my mute past again.

But sometimes, you don't want to keep talking if all you're getting is lies.

///
DUN DUN DUN!!
You thought the twists and turns were over?
Obviously we'll be venturing into some 16+ territory, maybe even 18+ so you've been warned.
But yeah, do you think Quinn and Eli will make it?
Do you think her mom is hiding something?