CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
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Jordyn sighed when she realized she didn't make much money. She quickly shoved the cash in her pocket before making her way to a random table, where a lady sat all by herself, reading the menu it looked like.
"Hi, I'm Jordyn." She introduced herself, putting on her best smile. "Are you waiting for someone or is it just you?"
The woman lowered the menu, and Jordyn's fell face when she saw it was Amanda LaRusso.
The mother of the girl she's been tormenting.
"What do you want?" She asked, trying her best to not look bothered.
"There's one thing I want." Amanda began, staring at the teenage girl with cold eyes. "I want you to stay the hell away from Sam."
Jordyn glanced around uncomfortably, wanting someone to swoop in and save her from having a conversation with Amanda.
"I tried calling your mom. No call back, no big surprise. I called your brother, but he didn't call back either. I could've kicked your door down. Is that more your style?" Amanda said, realizing Jordyn wasn't going to say anything. Her eyes grew colder as she continued, "Everyday in my house, there are little reminders of the mess you made. I see my daughter covering up her bruises and scars. The only reason you aren't behind bars right now is because my daughter asked me not to drag this ordeal out."
Jordyn couldn't help but let out a laugh, surprised Sam didn't want anything worse for her. She figured Sam would want her thrown behind bars after everything she has done. But Sam was too stupid to do anything like that.
Amanda licked her bottom lip, letting out a sigh. "So you can have your little tournament, but if you touch one hair on her head before then, you'll be scrubbing toilets in prison for the rest of your life. If you're lucky."
"Excuse me, miss?" A man, who sat alone at a table, spoke. "I'm pretty sure my soup is ready. I see it on the counter."
"Wait one second." Jordyn told him politely, keeping her eyes on Amanda. "I think you should leave."
"I will. I'm not here to cause a scene. Just here to deliver a message. But I need to know that you got that message."
"And what if I didn't?"
Amanda stood up from her chair, now standing in front of her with her arms crossed. "Well, that would be a mistake."
Jordyn's boss approached them. "Is everything okay here, ma'am?"
"I don't know. Is it?"
"Miss? I don't want my soup to get cold." The same guy from a minute ago said.
"Can you just shut the hell up already?!" Jordyn snapped at him, slamming her hand down on the table, some eyes falling on her.
"Jordyn!" Her boss scolded her. "That's it. Put away your uniform. I've had enough of your attitude. You're fired."
Jordyn's face fell. "What? No, I—"
"You're fired!"
She ripped the apron off, tossing it at him and glaring at Amanda, who surprisingly looked guilty now. "You probably can't imagine it, but some of us need these jobs to stay alive."
She glared at her one last time before stomping to the entrance of the restaurant and pushed the doors open aggressively, needing something to kick.
—
Jordyn was still pissed about losing her job at the restaurant. Of course she was still pissed. She already lost her job at the roller rink, and now she lost her job at the restaurant because of Amanda freaking LaRusso.
God, she hated the LaRusso's.
She tried holding back every emotion as she did some Miyagi-Do tricks Robby had taught her, and the rest of the Cobra Kai students.
But Robby couldn't help but notice she's been quiet since class started. He knew something was bothering her. He could see it in her eyes, and he was curious to know.
"You're quiet today. Something happened?" Robby asked her.
She looked at him for a second before scoffing. "What are you? My therapist?"
Robby got the feeling she didn't want to talk about it, so he wasn't going to push her into telling him. "Show me wax on, wax off." He demanded.
Jordyn did what she was told, blocking his punches with her arms. The Keene boy smiled, realizing she learned fast.
"The more you learn Miyagi-Do, the tougher you are to defeat."
"Except for one tiny flaw." Kreese's voice bounced off the walls. Everyone stopped what they were doing, turning to the older man. "Their entire style is reactive, which means all their moves are counter moves. That means that we are in control. And we can use that to set traps."
Robby looked back at Jordyn. "Show me paint the fence."
She nodded. She got into position, as well as Robby. Everyone watched as he blocked her punches. Then suddenly, he dropped to the ground, sweeping her feet from under her. Jordyn landed on the ground with a grunt.
Robby grinned. "Sorry. Just part of the lesson."
Jordyn narrowed her eyes at him before flipping him over, the boy landing on his back. She quickly climbed onto him, raising her fist.
"Enough!" Kreese yelled, stopping the girl from breaking Robby's teeth. "Fox, in my office." He looked at the boy underneath her. "Continue the lesson."
Jordyn gave the boy underneath her an apologetic look before getting off her, ignoring the comments that came from Kyler. She could hear someone smack him, and she knew it was Tory. She's the only one who knows Jordyn had lost her job.
Jordyn walked inside Kreese's office, the man already sitting in his chair. He gestured her to sit down in the chair across from him. She plopped herself down, keeping her gaze on the ground. She could feel Kreese's stare.
"What's wrong?" Kreese asked her softly.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it." Jordyn told him quietly. Seeing the look Kreese gave her, she sighed. "I lost my job. It's not easy looking for another one when you're on probation."
"Do you feel sorry for yourself?" He suddenly asked.
Jordyn stared at him, not knowing what to say.
"When something bad happens, you have two choices. You let it tear you down or let it build you up. Sometimes a step backwards opens a new path forward." He told her, the girl falling quiet. "So, what happened?"
Jordyn hesitated at first, but ended telling him everything that happened.
—
It was clear Jordyn Fox was John Kreese's favorite student in Cobra Kai.
When Jordyn told him about everything that happened, he went on a mission to find the woman who got her fired from her job. He ended up finding her at the local grocery store, her cart filled with bunch of foods.
Kreese crouched down to pick up the cheese that fell from Amanda's hand. He looked up at the woman, who didn't look happy to see him at all.
"Butterfingers, huh?" He asked with a slight smirk, placing the cheese down.
"What are you doing here?" Amanda asked in annoyance.
"Well, it's honeycrisp season. This store has the best produce in the Valley."
"Don't you need to be a legally-mandated distance from me?"
"Other way around. Technically, you're the one in violation."
Amanda glared at the man as she stepped closer to him. "I know about the deal you struck with my husband and Johnny, and I just want you to know that whatever happens at that tournament, I will make sure you lose."
Kreese tilted his head. "Is that why you're sabotaging my student?"
"I wasn't trying to get Jordyn fired." Amanda told him truthfully. "But that girl's asking for trouble. She broke into my house. Attacked my daughter. Sam's gonna have scars for the rest of her life."
"I respect you defending your daughter. I think that's what all mothers should do." Kreese replied, Amanda rolling her eyes a bit. "Unfortunately, Jordyn doesn't have a mother. Well, she does but her mother is never home. Doesn't even care about her daughter. Jordyn's brother hadn't been himself lately and he leaves sometimes too, so Jordyn's alone almost everyday and night. That girl has to pay the bills. Put food on the table. All by herself."
Amanda didn't know what to say. She swallowed thickly, feeling guilty.
"I didn't know that."
"Well, now you know. So you might want to leave the girl alone. Or deal with the consequences. Remember, not all kids are as lucky as yours."
With that, John Kreese turned and left the store, leaving Amanda alone in her thoughts.
—
Jordyn had enough of Amanda LaRusso's shit.
The woman left a bag filled with food outside of her apartment. So Jordyn zoomed all the way to the LaRusso dealership to return back the pity gift Amanda gave her.
Jordyn reached the dealership, and she slammed her car door so loud, it gained people's attention. With the bag of food in her hands, she walked around the dealership, searching for Amanda. She eventually ended up finding her talking to some guy.
Amanda's face dropped when she saw the teenage girl storm up to her.
As soon Jordyn reached her, she dropped the bag on the ground, the food going everywhere.
"Shit." The guy muttered.
"You think this makes up for it? Leaving this at my doorstep?" Jordyn asked her. "I don't need your pity."
Amanda sighed. "I just wanted to make sure you had enough food. Why don't we go talk in my office?"
Jordyn shook her head. "No, we're talking here."
"Okay, maybe we just lower our volume? Okay? Gandhi once said that nobody can hurt me without my permission."
Jordyn glared at the man. "Take one more step towards me and I'll break your arm."
"Why do I step into these karate situations?" He muttered before walking away.
"Look, Jordyn, I just want all of this to be over." Amanda said to the girl.
"Don't worry. It'll all be over soon. When I humiliate your daughter at the All Valley in front of everyone. Thanks for lighting a fire under me." She said, her voice sharp. She kicked the bag of food, startling Amanda. She then turned around, walking away.
—
Jordyn grunted as she lunged at Robby, the boy immediately blocking her punches.
At the moment, her and the Keene boy was standing in the center of her room. Robby wanted her to practice Miyagi-Do karate with only him, and that is what she's doing. He figured it'll be easier for her.
Five minutes has passed, and Robby ended it. Though, Jordyn quickly grabbed his arm and bent down, flipping him over her back. He landed on his back on her bed, the boy staring up at the girl with confused wide eyes.
"What was that for?" He asked, sitting himself up.
Jordyn shrugged. "I just wanted to do that."
He rolled his eyes at her comment. She placed herself right beside him, their arms and legs slightly touching each other. The two sat in silence, neither of them not knowing what to say.
"I overheard your conversation with Sensei today." Robby suddenly blurted out.
Jordyn's eyes widen and she snapped her head at him. "You didn't hear shit, okay?" She snapped.
He raised his hands up. "Okay, I didn't hear anything. But I had the same problem as you before." She gave him a look, signaling him to continue. "My mom used to meet random guys at a bar and run off with them, leaving me all alone. I know how you feel. I've been in your shoes before."
"Except I'm not alone. I have my brother." Jordyn said, her voice going quiet as she added, "But he hasn't been himself lately."
Robby tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
She exhaled deeply, hesitating at first. "He's been doing hard drugs a lot lately. I think he's trying to hard it from me, but I've caught him four times already."
Jordyn didn't know why she was telling the Keene boy all of this. She known him for a couple days, but for some reason, she felt like she could trust him.
Robby fell quiet. "I don't even know what to say."
Jordyn found herself laughing lightly at his words.
"God, my life is so shitty." She suddenly said, burying her face in her hands. "That explains why I'm a shitty person."
"Hey, you're not a shitty person. Look at me." Robby spoke softly. When she didn't look up at him, he removed her hands from her face and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Jordyn, you're not a shitty person, trust me. Now can I tell you something?"
She slowly nodded, her eyes staying locked on his.
Robby leaned closer to her, and placed his lips on top of hers. She froze at first, not expecting it at all, but eventually found herself kissing him back slowly. Robby kissed her carefully and gently, as if he was afraid he was going to mess up or something.
Robby pulled away slowly, his thumb rubbing against her cheek as he looked her in the eyes.
"I thought you were gonna tell me something." Jordyn whispered, her lips burning from the kiss he surprised her with.
His lips curled up. "I just did."
Jordyn was confused at first, but when she realized what he meant, her eyes slightly widen.
She allowed her lips to curl up, before she found herself leaning forward and captured his lips with her own.
—