Head to Head Read Online Free

what I mean?”
    Mark knew exactly what she meant. How could he not? He’d been feeling the same thing about Jonas for weeks now.
    Savannah stood up and stepped onto her board. “Well, what do you say? Ready to roll?”
    Mark kicked off. “Nice and easy!”
    He was still thinking about what Savannah had said about being jealous when he entered the kwoon that afternoon for another
     practice session. Jonas was already there. As Mark watched him fool around with some of the other students, someone laid a
     hand on his shoulder.
    “How did Jonas do yesterday?” Sifu Hale asked.
    “He did great,” Mark admitted.
    “Good,” Sifu Hale said, nodding. “He certainly seems to have learned the moves quickly. Now if he can just learn the other
     part of kung fu, he’ll be well on his way.”
    Mark turned to look at his teacher. “What do you mean, ’other part’?”
    Sifu Hale didn’t answer. Instead, he motioned Mark into his office. When they were both sitting down, he leaned across the
     desk. “Your friend Jonas is very coordinated, and he’s a fast learner. But so far kung fu, for him, is all about kicking and
     punching. He hasn’t begun to learn the other stuff, focus and
     

     
    discipline. He’s barely able to control himself long enough to sit still during the five-minute meditation each class. Until
     he does, he won’t go far in martial arts.”
    Mark flashed back to the person whose squirming had bothered him. Now he realized that it could have been Jonas.
    Sifu Hale smiled at him. “Do you know why I chose you for the demonstration?”
    Mark shook his head.
    “It’s not because your moves are perfect. They’re not. But with practice, they’ll get better.” The teacher steepled his fingers.
     “When you do kung fu, Mark, your focus shows in your face. I can tell just by looking at you that you are concentrating fully.
     It takes a lot to distract you. I think the audience will be able to see that. That’s why I chose you — to show people how
     important focus is to kung fu. And perhaps,” he added, standing up and coming around the desk, “there are others who could
     learn by watching you, too.”

CHAPTER TEN
    Mark left the office feeling better than he had in days. Only one thing was still bothering him, and he knew just how to get
     rid of it.
    He marched into the studio and up to Jonas. “I need to talk to you.” He pulled Jonas to a bench. “I’m sorry about tripping
     you yesterday,” he said. “You weren’t ready for it. It was unfair.”
    Jonas gave a sheepish grin. “Well, I may not have been ready for it, but you know what? I deserved it! I was acting like a
     jerk at my house. At the skatepark, too, actually. That’s why I showed up here yesterday — to apologize for making you spar
     me.”
    Mark grinned back. “While we’re busy apologizing,I better say I’m sorry for giving you the cold shoulder at the skatepark. I — I guess I’ve been a little jealous of how quickly
     you’ve picked up kung fu. You do the moves way better than I do. I wish there was a way I could do them as well.”
    They sat in silence for a moment. Then Mark stood up. “So, you wanna get practicing?”
    Jonas caught his sleeve. “Wait. There’s something else.”
    Mark sat back down. “What?”
    “You say you’re jealous of my moves, right? Well, I’m a little jealous of you, too. I wish I had as much self-control as you
     do. But man, it’s the hardest thing in the world for me to sit still after class.” He looked at Mark. “Do you think maybe
     we could help each other out somehow?”
    Mark remembered Sifu Hale’s words:
Perhaps there are others who could learn by watching you
. Mark wondered if Sifu Hale had meant Jonas. Then he realized it didn’t matter. Jonas was asking for his help, and Mark hoped
     he’d be able to give it.
    And who knows?
he thought.
Maybe I can learn from watching Jonas, too
.
    The following week, Mark and Jonas worked every afternoon to prepare for