I tentatively get out of my car at the back of the Cobra Kai dojo. I waited at the front for about five minutes, then circled back around here. Huh... he's not here either... which means he's probably inside... is he really gonna make me knock on the door? Really? Damn it Robby... with shaking hands, arms, legs, and I don't know why I'm bothering to go down the list, because I'm just shaking from head to toe, I take a deep breath, and knock on the back door. I feel like I'm gonna throw up. This day just keeps getting wilder and wilder. I confronted Nate and Bert about Kenny, I asked Mr LaRusso about Silver, I worked my ass off at training which gained compliments from Mr Lawrence and Mr LaRusso, Sam, Tory, and her mom saw me dressed as a mermaid while singing a song, Sam pushed my buttons a little, I help get glitter thrown on her, a really nice lady gave me fifty dollars and offered me a job, I put my creepy boss in a wrist lock, Miguel and Mr LaRusso saw me in a blue mermaid tail, purple seashell bra, and a blue wig with a flower crown, I quit, Tory and I had a conversation that was actually really civil and kind of nice, I told Abuelita about the job and she was over the moon, I got ready to come here, and now here I am, freaking out about knocking on the back door of the Cobra Kai dojo. I have my kubotan- the one from Robby, obviously- in my pocket, ready to use it should things go really south.
Suddenly, the door opens, revealing a man I've never seen before. Tall, with silver hair pulled back in a ponytail. My heart drops. Mierda.
"Can I help you?" he asks, and though he doesn't sound upset or anything, my head starts to spin with fear.
"I- I was just- I was coming to get Robby to go somewhere- I'm sorry, I- um- mierda- sorry-"
"Don't worry about it. He's on the mat doing some training. Come on in, I'll get him for you. What's your name?" he asks as he lets me through the door. I do a quick survey of the back room, checking to see if anybody else is here. This is so weird. I feel trapped. Is this a trap?
"Parker Reyes," I respond a little hesitantly. Does he know who I am? How would he know who I am? Unless Robby or Kenny told him?
"Terry Silver. Nice to meet you, Parker," he says back. My heart drops again. Shit. This is the guy Mr LaRusso was asking me to get information on. This is 'Sensei Silver'... ¡ay caramba!
"Nice to meet you too," I say to be polite, even though I feel like I'm on the corkscrew section of a roller coaster.
"Mr Keene!" Silver calls, "there's somebody here for you!"
A few moments later, Robby comes jogging into the back room, Kreese behind him. As soon as his eyes meet mine, his demeanor and expression soften into a smile, until he seems to realize where we currently stand.
"Hello Miss Reyes. Long time no see," Kreese says. My posture stiffens and my expression hardens.
"Indeed," I say back, voice right. Robby crosses over to me, standing by my side.
"Kreese, you know Parker, and Sensei Silver, this is my girlfriend, Parker Reyes. Best fighter in the valley," he says, grinning over at me. Okay, so apparently they get to know now, that's cool, that's cool, as long as they don't snitch to Mr LaRusso. It's weird that some of the first people to know aren't my good friends and people I actually like, but Cobra Kais. First Kenny, then Tory, and now Kreese and Silver? Silver raises his eyebrows.
"Best fighter in the valley, eh? I'm sure Robby needs to change out of his gi, why don't you show us what you can do?" he asks. Interesting...
"I appreciate the offer, but I don't really have a strong desire to give away all of my tricks," I say, letting a little hit of amusement slip into my tone to mask how afraid I am.
"Miss Reyes is big on strategy... she likes to believe that she always has her opponents in check," Kreese says. Right, we had that conversation where we pulled in chess references. My memory is bad, but that's one thing I do remember.
"In checkmate," I correct, looking over at him. I'm garbage at holding eye contact though, so I look away fairly quickly.
"Well, no war was ever won without a strategy, so good on you, kid," Silver says, breaking the tension a little, "I'm still curious to see what you can do. You can keep your tricks, but how about a friendly spar?"
I look over at Robby, who shrugs his shoulders, though looks supportive. I'm surprised that Kreese hasn't said anything about me being Miyagi-Do yet... I don't know, I feel like maybe it could influence the spar, you never know.
"It's competition season in show choir. When you say 'friendly' you mean no one involved will get injured?" I ask. I can't break or sprain or twist or strain anything right now. I'm the lead, who knows if it'll ever happen again? I can't throw away my shot.
"You have my word," he says, "choose your opponent."
Oh, I get to choose? Interesting... Mr LaRusso told me to get more information about Silver so... I nod towards the man who extended the spar towards me. Robby looks over at me sharply.
"He kicked my ass earlier, are you sure about this?" he asks in a whisper. If I spar him with him, I don't have to ask Robby about him, and I won't feel like I'm using him. I get my ass kicked by my instructors all the time- well, mainly just by Mr Abelardo. He's the senior instructor at the school and though he believes in me more than anyone else there, he likes to keep me humble, and remind me that I'm not all that. I deeply appreciate it. I learn something new every time.
"Just get changed, okay? I'll be alright," I whisper back. He seems unsure, but nods, then walks over to where his bag is to change into clothes to wear to the drive-in. This is not what I expected when I got here, but that's how my life usually is, especially today. I slip off my shoes and socks and pull off the cropped hoodie I threw on over a tank top when I left, taking my place on the floor across from Silver.
We both bow, take our ready positions, and the spar begins. I wasn't taught to strike first, so I don't.
"C'mon, don't be shy, it's alright. Scared to hit an old man?" Silver jests. Your Miyagi-Do is showing... Robby's words echo in my brain. Kreese and Robby both know I'm Miyagi-Do, and so does everyone else at Cobra Kai. It'll get to Silver soon enough, but still...
I dart around him, using a bail round kick as I go. I do those a lot. He turns around fairly quickly. Okay, so even though he's old, he can still move. He's significantly taller than I am... I'll need to get in close. I'm usually in the opposite position, so this is strange, but I know that I get points scored on me when my opponent gets in close. Kreese said it himself- get in close. Don't let her use her legs. Before I can make any sort of move, he starts coming at me with a barrage of hand techniques and kicks, luckily not at full power. I duck under a few, use wax on-wax off, paint the house, and stain the fence to block others, take a few to the arms, and jump out of the way of the rest. He's really good... aggressive, but not necessarily in the way that the other Cobras are aggressive. Hmm... I set up in an open stance and he quickly switches his feet so he's in a closed stance to me once more. Alright, so he likes the traditional way... closed stance is easier, and it gives less target space to your opponent, however... I open the stance again, quickly use a back fist to block his arms, then use a round kick to get him in the back of the head. It's a legal point in tae kwon do. I'm not sure about karate though... it's whatever right now, especially since I'm about to get punched in the face.
"Alright, kid, you've got moves," Silver says. I mean, I guess. I try to copy his move of using a barrage of techniques, but he blocks them all better then I did, popping me in the left side of the head with a back fist. Damn it... at least it wasn't the right... but I don't take right side hits to the head anymore... I blink rapidly to reorient myself. Alright... he's good... like almost effortlessly good... it doesn't even seem like he's trying... Mr LaRusso was right.. if this man is crazy like Kreese, then he's a very, very formidable threat... but even formidable opponents have weaknesses... even formidable threats can be taken down by a not-so-formidable opponent. I just need an opening... what's my strongest asset? My legs, obviously...
When an eagle's hungry.. it doesn't hesitate... it'll dive down at one-hundred miles an hour to snatch its prey. Doesn't wait around for a fish to jump in its feet...
That's it, keep circling...
Both of them would want me to do one or the other.. but why can't I do both? Strike fast, and move in a circular motion, always moving in a direction to counter his movements..? That's it! That's my ticket here! Santo cielo! I don't hesitate any longer, darting around him, using hand strikes and close range kicks every time before jumping around him once more. Just like I talked about with Kenny, I use my speed to my advantage. As soon as I think he's disoriented enough, I get in super close, slip my ankle behind his, then use all of my strength to trip him and push him down, and just like that, he's on the ground. I know that was hella lucky... had I been a second slower, he probably would've kneed me, or sent me flying across the room, or taken me down with him. I also know that neither of us were going 100% percent. But still! I did it! And Robby's changed, so now we can go. This has been strange, but not as horrible as I thought it would be, surprisingly.
I extend my hand out to Silver, helping him up, bow in respect, then I cross over to Robby, who looks shocked.
"Ready?" I ask after pulling my hoodie back on, smiling. He looks cute. He always looks cute. He blinks, seeming to snap out of a daze.
"Yeah! We've gotta find the best parking spot," he says, grinning back at me. With that, I slip on my shoes, grab my phone and keys, and the two of us start for the door.
"Arrivederci Signor Kreese e Signor Silver," I say on my way out, then Robby and I leave the building, the door shuts behind us, leaving the two Cobra Kai senseis for good- or, for the time being.
——
"I'm sorry, I'm still not over the way you were able to get Silver on the ground. He knocked me flat on my ass earlier, how'd you do it?" Robby asks, still sounding shocked and impressed. I shrug my shoulders. I kind of just... did it..? Combining Mr LaRusso's technique and Mr Lawrence's ideology is what ultimately allowed me to get my chance this one time. I doubt it would happen again under the same circumstances... but maybe that's the evidence that they need to realize that we really do need to work together! But to do that, I would have to reveal that I was at the Cobra Kai dojo... and why I was there...
"You've been super quiet this whole time, is everything okay?" he asks, shifting to face me better. I shake my head a little, doing the same.
"It's nothing, this movie just kinda reminds me of my pá... he and my brothers would watch it to laugh about it, and after they died he would put it on while he was drinking and end up yelling about it," I say, looking down at my hands, one of which makes the classic Italian hand motion.
"Yeah... this movie was my only reminder of my dad's existence when I was younger. I get it," he says, taking one of my hands in his, drawing absent shapes on the back of it, "is there something else? You were pretty quiet on the way here too, considering you took down a Cobra Kai sensei."
I sigh, leaning forward to rest my forehead against his chest. I'm gonna tell him...
"Shitty day at work..." I say, tears pricking at my eyes, "I quit... I'm sorry I never told you what I did... I found something where I could sing and use my voice... but I had to dress up in a blue mermaid skirt, a purple seashell bra, and a blue wig with a flower crown... I had to sing these stupid songs and tells these cheesy stories... I had to be around little kids for hours, and you know how I feel about little kids... and the worst part is I had to cover up every single scar with various drawings, even the one on my side from Tory... Sam saw me... Tory saw me... Mrs LaRusso saw me... Miguel saw me... and Mr LaRusso saw me... my bosses, my best friends, and one of my opponents saw me dressed up as a mermaid princess... I should've told you, I just- I just- I would look in that mirror and feel sick to my stomach... and I was afraid that if you knew about it, you'd feel the same way too..."
"Park..." Robby trails off, moving a reassuring hand to the back off my head, "there's nothing you could do to make me think that about you. I've done some really bad things... I'll never judge you for what you have to do to keep yourself and the people you care about alive and okay... you'll do whatever it takes... you never give up, you always keep fighting... just like you did for me... and I love that about you."
My face flushes with heat as I back up, Robby pressing a kiss to the top of my head as I go. His eyes meet mine, and I find myself unable to look away. His Look gleams in them, making them ten times more beautiful, which I did not think was possible. He said 'love' again... I want to say the same thing. I want to say it again and again until he's almost sick of it, and then I'll switch to a different language and start all over again... but something holds me back. I don't know what it is. I don't know why I can't just say three little words. All I know is that I can't...
"Would it be weird to kiss you right now? Because everything you just said makes me want to either cry, or kiss you, and I don't want to do the first in front of the Cobras, but I also don't know if it's a good idea for them to see us doing that," I ask. A grin begins to form on his face.
"I think that it sounds perfect, and that you shouldn't worry about them. If they don't know by now, they're the least observant people on the planet," he says back.
"Mhm, that's what I was thinking,"
"So you're okay with them potentially seeing?"
"Kreese and Silver know, and so does Tory. The others probably have their suspicions at this point. Whether they watch or not, it'll be va bene," I shrug. His grin widens. His lips meet mine as I lean forward, both of us smiling. We keep it short and sweet, moving back to where we were after a few moments, though I can tell both of us would like to continue.
Before either of us can say anything, I look out the passenger window, seeing Kyler talking to Kenny, barely catching whatever he's saying. Dios mío, why does he want so much? Poor Kenny... when Kyler finally finishes, Robby gets out of the car, probably to comfort him. I pretend like I'm not watching or listening, knowing full well I'm doing both. Huh... I wonder what dangerous thing Robby had to do for when they hazed him... he's never really brought it up. I have to physically restrain myself from laughing my lungs out as he sends Kenny off. I get out of the car, joining him outside.
"'And, uh, get me a butterfinger,'" I tease lovingly, imitating the way he was standing, "hi, I'm Robby Keene, and I hold my arms like this now-"
"Shut up," he says, cutting off my joking, rolling his eyes, though he grins.
"Ay, mi corazón, I'm messing with you," I say, laughing a little. I smile up at him, and he grins back. I take the opportunity to press a short, sweet kiss to his lips, then lean back against my car.
"You wanna know how I beat Silver?" I ask, keeping my voice low because Kyler and other Cobras are in the car right next to us.
"You know I do,"
"I mixed things that Mr LaRusso, your dad, and my instructors and peers from tae kwon do taught me," I say, taking his hands in mine as he steps closer. It's the truth.
"Are you kidding?" he asks, seeming almost confused, and definitely in disbelief. I shake my head no.
"Everybody in this stupid feud is strung up on the idea that there's only one right way to do things, and that that way is what's right for everyone. All of us on every side are good. But now that things are heating up, every advantage you can get is worth trying, especially for my side... and we're barely scraping by... don't tell anyone I said that. Things are rough, and I'm getting nervous... your dad and Mr LaRusso mix like oil and water," I say, voice growing more and more hushed as I go. Robby's expression softens as he looks me in the eye.
"I'm only learning Cobra Kai because I think it's what I need to win. That's all I care about right now- well, besides you. I'll teach you everything I learn from Kreese and Silver because I've taught things that Mr LaRusso taught us to the Cobras, but more importantly because I want you to win too. I don't want to have to go against you, ever... but if it comes down to it, I want you to have every possible trick in your arsenal to beat me," he says. I feel my heart twinge at the thought of having to fight Robby at the All Valley. New year, same dilema as last All Valley... I just hope it never comes to that...
"You'd want me to beat you?"
"Theres nobody I'd rather have my ass kicked by," he says, grinning, "and I want to teach you something for a change. You've taught me all of your little secrets and tricks. I want to teach you mine."
I laugh. He's seen practically all of my secrets to success, but not quite all of them... it's just the dangerous ones. It's not that I don't trust him, I just don't trust myself to teach them in a safe manner.
"I'd love to learn from you, 'Sensei Keene'," I respond, smiling at him. That has a nice ring to it. I also just like the way his last name sounds. Keene... Keene... Robby Keene. It's a nice name. Very nice. I like it. I like him.
"I like the way that sounds," he says, moving closer to me. I hum in amusement.
"Eyo Keene, just because you two are fucking doesn't make her any less our rival!" Kyler says from out the window. My face goes red hot. Robby whips around.
"I don't care what she is to you, you touch her, you're dead," I overhear Robby say, though his voice is low. I freeze. So now he's actually said something to them about leaving me alone... just like I told my peers to leave Kenny alone... I'm not sure I was supposed to hear that. He usually doesn't talk like that...
"Okay man, jeez..." Kyler says, then he pokes his head around Robby, waving a little, and I can tell his heart is beating fast, "hi Parker."
"Ciao," I respond with a small wave of my own. This is awkward. He almost broke my ribs in the house fight before I kicked his ass, and before that, he bullied me and Eli all the time. Upon looking past the car, I spot- no way... Nate and Bert... are the rest of the Miyagi-Dos here too..? I grab Robby's arm gently, suddenly very distraught and even more nervous than before.
"Is everything okay?" he asks, keeping his voice down.
"There are Miyagi-Dos over there... it'll look weird if they see me and I don't acknowledge them... I'm gonna go say hi. If anyone asks, I'm here with my friend Cameron from tae kwon do," I say, "I feel bad about lying, but I know they'll tell Mr LaRusso and he'll freak out, then I'll freak out, and-"
"Park, don't worry about it okay? I've got your back," he says, voice reassuring. I nod, fidgeting with my hands, then start to go. He takes a hold of my hand, stopping me. ¿Qué?
"Breathe. You look nervous. They'll know something's up. It's okay."
I do as he says, then nod. He returns it, smiles, then lets me go. Okay... I can do this. I slip through cars, trying to make it seem like I'm coming from a completely different side of the drive in, where the Cobras definitely aren't. Nate spots me first as I walk up.
"Parker? I didn't know you were here," he says.
"Yeah, I thought you said you were busy tonight," Bert chimes in. My heart skips a beat. I did say that... although...
"I thought I'd have to work later than I did, and I think Miguel and Sam said they were coming tonight, but I didn't realize it was a whole team thing. I'm here with my friend from tae kwon do," I say. I don't like lying to people, but everything is so complicated right now, and I can't afford to have everything go to shit. Not again...
"Oh, yeah, we thought we'd all come too since we weren't doing anything. Hawk and Demetri are around here somewhere, and the rest of the team too," Bert follows up. Good to know. Somehow, I feel like rivaling teams all being here isn't gonna end well...
"Oh nice," I say, though I can feel my hand starting to shake. This situation is not nice. This is not a nice situation. I-
"Hey, you're a girl," Nate says, "what do you think about this?"
"Thrilling observation, and think about wha-"
"This girl wants Nate to send pictures, but I totally think he's being catfished. I mean, look at her," Bert elaborates as Nate thrusts his phone into my view. I mean, she is pretty, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's being catfished.
"I'm not good at these things, I hate social stuff," I say, "but if you feel like it's a genuine connection, I'd say pursue it. And if it's not... then you can come cry about it over a game of chess at my apartment."
"Sick," Bert says.
"Yeah, thanks Parker, you're the best," Nate says, holding his hand up quickly for what I realize is a high five after I've flinched with a step backwards. At the same time, I hear something crash behind me, but in my shock, it's too late, I'm going down. At the last second, someone grabs my hand, pulling me up just in time to stop me from falling into what I now see is a spilled pile of various foods and drinks. Ay de mí, I'm glad somebody caught me, but what in the Disney Channel was that catch? Who- mierda. It's Eli. That's awkward. He doesn't move or let go of my hand, even as we make direct eye contact. I quickly regain myself, stepping out of his grip. His face goes bright red.
"Sorry I-"
"Parker?" somebody else says, cutting him off. Kenny? Por el amor de Dios, this can't be happening right now. No, no no no...
"You know this kid?" Eli asks. More lies... more excuses, more hiding... I want to curl up in a ball and cry. I want to slip into a kata and pretend that all of this doesn't exist.
"He's a family friend," I say simply and flatly. That probably didn't make much sense to him, because he knew my family pretty well and we all invited friends over all the time. Kenny definitely was never there, and we stopped talking when my brothers were killed. I suppose I could be talking about my dad, but I haven't even seen him in months, not that I want to. If I really wanted to keep in touch with him I would. Still... those letters I haven't opened...
"Your little friend here is a Cobra Kai," Eli says, "and he needs to watch where he's going."
"Yeah, same goes for you," another voice says, making my heart pound even more. Robby... this is just gonna keep getting worse, isn't it? I bet Miguel is gonna materialize out of the ground here pretty soon. Or maybe he'll descend from the heavens. Appear in a ball of fire. Swing in like Spider-Man. Walk up like a normal human being, even. Kenny quickly walks behind Robby, while Eli, Nate, and Bert walk to be opposite of them. All I can do is back up. I stand closer to the Miyagi-Do-Eagle-Fangs, but not quite with them, but also not with Robby and Kenny.
"Look who it is," Eli says, glaring at Robby. I feel frozen. Things always get worse for me.
"You betrayed Miyagi-Do," Nate says, "traitor."
Although I didn't think it was possible, my heart pangs again. Robby is gonna teach me Cobra Kai style... and I've spent over half my life learning tae kwon do. Miyagi-Do isn't the only way... it's my preferred way, but it's not the only way, and we're doomed to fail if we keep acting like it.
"Oh, there's a traitor here for sure," yet another person says. Tory... is she talking about me? Am I a traitor? Is that what people will think of me if they find out about my relationship with Robby, or the way I've been helping Kenny..? Is everything about my personality and everything we've been through together as a team gonna be reduced to 'traitor' just because of helping somebody to not get bullied, or because of a friendship that I've had since before all of this started beating up..? Oh wait, she's talking about Eli.
"He's gonna get what he deserves."
"I don't think so," Sam says as she walks up, joining the fray, "not if I have anything to say about it, princess."
Sam glances over at me as she says it, making my stomach drop. ¿Por qué? Why did she have to do that? Both sides just stand, glaring at each other, while the condition of my heart rate, breathing, and stomach steadiness get worse and worse.
"Hey guys. Can you believe that they have Mr Pibb and Dr Pepper?" Demetri asks, walking up to where we all stand. Everybody looks over at him and he seems to get the memo.
"Oh shit.." he says, "not another rumble."
"Careful, LaRusso. Your mommy isn't here to play peacemaker," Tory says. ¿Qué? What has Mrs LaRusso been doing?
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sam retorts. So we're wondering the same thing.
"Stop. We can't do this," Miguel says, "we'll beat 'em on the mat."
He's right. All of us need to focus on our training. We can't keep getting into these fights.
"Oh really? You remember what happened the last time we fought, right?" Robby asks. I feel as if someone has punched me straight in the solar plexus.
"Robby," I interject, appalled. How could he just say something like that? Why would he say something like that? As soon as we make eye contact, his hardened expression falters for a few moments, something like guilt and regret crossing his face before he seems to remember that he's supposed to be tough around these people.
"At least I didn't ignore the best person in my life for someone else and make them feel like shit," Miguel retaliates. Who is he talking about..? Who did Robby ignore and make feel like shit? Who's the best person in his life? The back of my brain shouts a piercing answer: Me. No. I'm not that special... still...
"Mig..." I plead quietly, managing to look him in the eye. He expression does the exact same thing that Robby's did. He takes a deep breath, putting back on his tough face.
"Meet us at the baseball diamond in thirty minutes," Miguel says, "and no weapons."
"Yeah, we won't need 'em," Tory spits back.
"Yeah," Miguel agrees quietly. With that, both sides turn their backs to each other, going back to their respective cars. Just like before, I feel frozen where I stand. I don't follow after my peers... but I don't follow after my boyfriend and my little brother figure either. I just remain... stuck. Out of place. Over the summer, I struggled with feeling like I don't belong with my martial arts peers. After the tae kwon do tournament, it finally seemed to click in my brain that I belonged both at my tae kwon do school and at Miyagi-Do. Now... now I'm getting input not only from tae kwon do and Miyagi-Do, but from Eagle Fang, Cobra Kai, and what they're teaching me in krav maga. Miyagi-Do is my home... but I feel like I don't belong... but I don't feel like I even remotely belong in Cobra Kai or Eagle Fang... I'm starting to feel like I don't belong at tae kwon do either... I feel irrational... out of place... unbalanced... and I don't know what I'm going to do to fix it...
—
After I saw Miguel, Sam, and the others get a good enough distance away, I slipped through cars until I made it back to mine, where I found Robby sulking.
"I know you don't want to fight. But I'm not going to back down from one," Robby says as we sit for a few moments in silence. My heart just races faster than before. I nod a little. I know that he's just gonna insist on going. There's no amount of Miyagi-Do pacifism I can use to sway him right now. So I don't say a word. I just put the car in reverse, and back out of the parking spot, my next destination: the baseball diamond.
—
I stay hidden in my car, peeking through the window from where I strategically parked. All of the Cobras- including Robby- stand together on the field, looking around for the Miyagi-Dos and Eagle Fangs. Where are they? What is Miguel doing? What's his game plan here? Call a fight and not show up? I'm not sure if I like the sound of it... if you're not going to fight, don't say that you are. But at the same time, it threw the Cobras off of us, and the thirty minutes has given us time to think of something, though Miguel hasn't reached out to me about any sort of plan...
Out of nowhere, the sprinkler system for the baseball field kicks on, dousing the Cobra Kais with water. Oh. Now I see what he was doing... smart. Get back at them, but don't get hurt. I like it. He's starting to think with strategy. Although... a true strategist is always at least one step ahead... I don't think of myself as a true strategist or anywhere close to one, but I do know that the Cobras are not going to like this... they're going to retaliate, whether it be in the form of a fight, or something else. They're not just going to let this slide... I think it was a good way to get out of the situation we were in in that moment... but when taking the future into consideration, I'm not so sure...
I watch as a car that I'm assuming holds at least some of my karate peers flashes it's headlights, then pulls out and drives off. Eventually, Robby comes storming back to the car. I roll down the window as he walks up, but I don't make eye contact.
"There's a towel in the trunk.. please dry off a little..." I say, voice tapering off as I progress through my words. He does as I say, retrieving the towel and drying what he can to the best of his abilities before sitting on it in the passenger seat. I keep my head bowed, looking at the bottom of the steering wheel.
"Where do you wanna go?" I ask gently after a few moments of heavy silence.
"I wanna beat the shit out of those flakes," Robby says, keeping his eyes focused forward, "or a punching bag."
"Okay..." I say, but my voice barely comes out as a whisper. I start driving, trying to keep my hands from shaking. He's seething... he's like a bomb about to explode... he's gonna hurt himself or someone else if he keeps up like this...
"I saw Hawk catch you. The way he grabbed your hand and didn't let go even when you were on your feet. He still has feelings for you. You're a genius when it comes to reading people, you have to be seeing it," Robby says after a while as we pull up to a red light. My face goes the same color as the light. No. It's been months since Demetri exposed the fact that Eli liked me, and even still, I figure that went away after all the fights we had. Although, there were all those times that he would make remarks that implied- in varying degrees of directness- that he wanted to make out with me... and when I came to intervene when they were stealing money from Nate and one of his friends jeered that I was his girlfriend...
"Eli and I are just friends, I promise. I don't know how he actually feels about me. And I'm not a genius, especially when it comes to romantic feelings..." I respond. I see him shake his head slowly in my peripheral vision.
"I don't doubt the way that you feel about him, I trust you. Maybe you don't think you can read romantic expressions, and I'm nowhere near as good as you, but I can tell with him. He didn't let you go. And he has a history of having feelings for you," he says, then he goes quiet. My face just gets hotter and hotter. His voice was so tight... it's making me nervous... he's so angry... and I don't think it's at me, but even still... what if it is..? No, I didn't do anything that would make him mad at me. Right..? He said he wants to beat the shit out of my teammates... or a bag. It's a good way to let anger out. I make my anger make me better... ay bendito, mi corazón... he's so angry... so... afraid... I don't know what it is, but there's something... and right now.. right now I'm not sure if harsh aggression is what he needs. Maybe I'm the one who doesn't need the aggression, but the way he is right now will never lead to good things. I just want to help...
Making a decision that I might come to regret, I don't pull into the parking lot in front of the Cobra Kai dojo. I just keep driving, gripping the steering wheel tighter than before. I can feel Robby's eyes burning into the side of head, but I keep my focus forward.
"What are you doing? That was the turn," he points out.
"I know," I say, voice breaking ever so slightly with the rasp of tears and nerves.
"Park, you better not be taking us to Miyagi-Do. I don't want to go there. You can't change my mind about this dojo situation," he says, tone a little sharp. I just grip the wheel tighter, trying not to let my breathing get away from me.
"I know. I'm not," I say back.
"Then where the hell are we going?"
"Just trust me, please..." I say. He sits back in his seat, not looking happy, but not saying another word. And so it stays that way.
—
I pull into my usual parking space at the apartment complex, stopping the car and quickly turning off my headlights, shrouding us in darkness. I can feel Robby tense up as the air in the car shifts to be heavier, thicker, and colder. The kind of air that as soon as you take a breath of it, you can't help but be on edge.
"Why would you bring me here? Do you want me to beat the shit out of Diaz?" Robby asks as I gather my things. It both breaks my heart and terrifies me to see him angry like this. I just don't want his anger to be directed at me... I think some of it might be at this moment in time... I press a finger to his lips, signaling for him to be quiet. Does he want to get caught? He gives me a look that tells me I'm walking on thin ice. It's a good thing I have a light step.
I get out of the car, and he does the same, seeming to realize that I'm serious about all of this. I lock the car behind me, then slip around to the empty space in the back where Miguel trained to learn how to walk again, and I first learned how to skateboard, Robby on my heels.
"What are we doing here-" I cut off his whispering by pressing a finger to his lips yet again, which seems to annoy him more than it did last time.
"Just do what I do," I say gently. It's dark, but we can both still see each other. He seems confused, but obeys, giving a short nod. I step away from him, taking a deep breath before starting the kata that Mr LaRusso first taught us. I can feel his annoyance grow. Not only have I not done what he asked, but now I'm reminding him of Mr LaRusso. I'm a horrible girlfriend... no, don't think about that right now. He gives me a look.
"Just do it," I insist. He looks like he wants to roll his eyes, but luckily he doesn't. He starts doing the kata with me, his movements technically correct but erratic, thrashing, angry. I get it. I was in his exact position not too long ago when Abuelita lost her job. Forms didn't work for me then... I wanted nothing more for them to work... this is the opposite situation. I've been in his place. I've been in that position where I get so angry that all I can do is hit the bag over and over again... and I got hurt. I hit the bag to the point where my knuckles were bloody, and I knew that, but I didn't stop. It's powerful. It's dangerous. I just don't want him to end up hurting himself like I did...
I hold out my hands, stopping him. He looks even more annoyed than before. My hands shake quite badly, but I try to ignore it, taking his in my own.
"You talk about channeling anger. That's what I'm doing, channeling anger. You're the only person I trust, but I don't know what the hell we're doing here, and I don't know what the hell you want from me," he snaps, though he does take care to keep his voice low. I look off to the side, blinking back some tears that have sprung to my eyes. He's right. But there's more than one way to channel anger..
"We can both do the kata perfectly... but that doesn't matter if we're not in sync..." I say, recalling his words from just before he, Sam, and I got the balance board down for the first time. I had to rack my brain hard for that one.
"I don't remember what we did... we just started paying attention. The rest of the world didn't matter... " Robby responds, his voice quiet, and less angry, "it was just us."
Those are my words... he remembers... he relaxes into my hands, letting me guide him through the kata we both know so well, making each move controlled and deliberate. Eventually, I back away, doing the kata for myself, both of us moving in a circle, just like on the deck. Just like how I beat Silver... when the kata ends, I expect him to just stop, but he keeps going, beginning the pattern all over again. I can't help but be captivated by the way he moves. Each move has intent behind it. No longer are they violet and thrashing, but intentional, with a tension behind them that causes them to slice slowly through the air around us. He doesn't wobble around or shake. He doesn't lose his balance. He only breaks eye contact with me to close his eyes, sinking deeper into the form. He remembers these movements... he may renounce them and Miyagi-Do... but they're still there. And they'll always be there to welcome him back.
I close my eyes, trusting and feeling safe in the fact that my partner is just across from me. It's like a dance, in a way. It's familiar. It's safe. It's balance. It's exactly what I needed after everything I've been through lately. Just like when we did it on the balance board in the pond, it feels as if, even if but for the fleeting time that we exist in our little dance, that the rest of the world doesn't matter... just me... and him...
I come to a stop, keeping my eyes closed. A few moments later, I feel Robby's forehead against mine. He's breathing heavy but trying to hide it. I don't think he's crying... but his breathing sounds like he is. I won't ask. He can tell me if he wants to. I'll leave him as is for now. Not long after, I feel his lips against mine, which I welcome. The initial kiss lasts for a few seconds before he starts moving gently. I move with him, shifting ever so slightly closer. The kiss stays slow, but deep, filled with passion, similar to kata we were just doing. I let myself melt into it. This is a lot better than a few minutes ago when he was seething in his seat. Robby breaks the kiss after a little while, resting his forehead against mine once more.
"Thank you.." he breathes. I lift myself onto my tip toes a little to press a light kiss to his forehead.
"De nada, mi corazón,"
• • •
A/N- I know, I know, this chapter could've been at least two, but you should know by now that that is usually not how I roll. I like to keep you guys on your toes.
Anyway, stay safe and take care of yourselves <3