XIII.                                          Heartbreak Weather

      Odessa paced back and forth in the hallway to calm her nerves. Her team was going a great job at encouraging her, being her cheerleaders, but she needed a minute to herself. Her mind was racing. The medics on sight took Robby to check out his injury. She was still angry at Eli. He wasn't acting like himself. That's when she remembered that he wasn't himself. He was Hawk. That's who he wanted to be. He wanted to forget about Eli Moskowitz. But she loved Eli Moskowitz. She didn't want to let that part of him go.

Johnny pushed open the door and saw the pacing blonde. "Feeling better?" He announced.

Odessa paused dropped her thumb from her mouth (She chewed on her nails when was nervous if you couldn't already tell). "Yeah, I'm good." She nodded.

"You sure? I don't want to see you vomit again."

She laughed slightly. "I'm fine. Just nervous is all."

He nodded firmly. "Good. You shouldn't be nervous. You're going great out there. You're the only female in the semifinals.  You should be proud of yourself.  I know I am." He praised her.

"Thank you, Sensei."

Johnny smiled awkwardly,  not knowing what else to say.  Before he walked away, he looked down at her again. "Hey,  can I ask something of you?"

Odessa gave him a curious look. It was the same look as her mom. The head tilt was on point. "What's up?"

"Could you maybe,  possibly—if you want to,  go see if Robby's okay? He just got hurt by your boyfriend. I don't want him to take it out on you."

She gave him a look he couldn't identify.  "Are you sure?  I mean he's my opponent. . ." She trailed.

"Yeah,  yeah, i'll allow it," Johnny confirmed.  "Just don't give him any of our secrets." He tried to make a joke.

She smiled. "I won't. I'll be back."

He went back into the arena and Odessa walked down the hall to the medical room. The closer she for, the more nervous she felt again. Robby didn't know her and she didn't know him. For all she knew, he could be plotting to hurt her like Eli did to him.

Robby sat sitting down and holding an ice pack to his throbbing shoulder. Odessa slowly entered the room and made herself present. "Robby?" She spoke carefully.

Robby lifted his head and glared at her. "What do you want?  Get out."

She frowned. "I just wanted to see if you're okay."

"Clearly you can see i'm not. So just leave!"

"I just want to talk—"

He glared again. "Or what? You'll send your boyfriend on me again? Break my other shoulder?" He snapped.

Odessa sighed. "I didn't know he was going to do that." She said truthfully.

He grumbled. "Yeah, i'm so sure."

"Can you not be an asshole and let me talk? God, what is with you boys and your egos? I'm trying to apologize!" She shouted in frustration, finally reaching her breaking point.

Robby blinked a couple times. He didn't say anything and only stared at her. Eventually he sighed and motioned for her to sit down.

Odessa sat beside him on the bench and put her hands in her lap. "I'm sorry about Eli. I don't know what got in to him, or what was said, but it was wrong. He said you were being a smart ass, which by what I just encountered i'm sure you were, but you didn't deserve that. I'm sorry."

Robby glanced at her over his hurt shoulder and he shook his head. "It's not your fault. You're right, I was being a smart ass. I get like that sometimes." He explained after calming himself.

The girl shrugged slightly. "It's okay. I just didn't want you to be mad at me and try to take it out on me."

He furrowed his brows. "I wouldn't hurt you on purpose. That's disrespectful."

It made her smile and she felt relieved. "Good to know." She pointed to his shoulder. "Are you okay to fight?"

Robby glanced at his shoulder and shrugged again. "I don't know yet. It still hurts pretty bad. I'm sure you'll go easy on me if needed so i'm not worried." He said, tearing her a little bit.

Odessa narrowed her eyes and scoffed. "What, you don't think i'll beat your ass?" She looked him up and down.

He had to laugh. She want intimidating at all. "Not really, but, i'll just have to wait and see I guess." He said with a small grin.

The blonde rolled her eyes blue eyes. "Yeah, we'll see." She stood from the bench. "I should go, but, i'll see you on the mat."

Robby watched her start to leave. "Hey." He spoke and she paused. He put down the ice pack and held out his hand. "I'm Robby Keene."

He smiled at her. Odessa looked between him and his outstretched hand. The vibe became different, not as tense, and she lightened up a bit. She smiled back and went to shake his hand. "Hi, I'm Odessa Beaumont."

Eli looked at his girlfriend suspiciously as she smiled at Robby from across the mat. What it made it worse was he waved at her. "Where'd you earlier?" He asked when he came and stood beside her.

Her smile dropped. "Johnny asked me to check on Robby."

"What – Why? Why would you do that?" He quickly asked and his voice rose.

"To make sure he doesn't try to hurt me after you almost broke his shoulder." She snapped.

"I would kill him if he hurt you on purpose."

Odessa looked at him again. Her hands were on her hips. She saw in his eyes that he wasn't angry at her. He was more angry at himself. Sighing, she dropped her hands from her hips and put them on his face. "Listen, I love how protective you are. I love that you want to protect yourself and you want to win. But hurting someone isn't what karate's about. It's about gaining confidence and I think you've found that in yourself. So just please calm down. I need you to be there for me right now."

Eli's anger visibly calmed down under her touch. There was a power to her blue eyes. She always knew exactly what to say to keep him in place. She was right. This was her chance and he was being an asshole. "You're right. I'm sorry. Of course I'm here for you." He spoke softly and a little embarrassed.

Odessa smiled.

"We are back! This time, it's Beaumont vs Keene!" Daryl announced to everyone.

Everyone in Cobra Kai surrounded the girl and erupted into cheers. Oliver stood behind her and shook her by the shoulders, making her laugh. Johnny patted her on the back.

"This is it folks. The moment we've all been waiting for! There can only be one winner tonight!" Daryl continued. He motioned his hand to the girl standing with the Cobra Kais. "Will it be Odessa Beaumont from Cobra Kai!"

Thalia was practically screaming from the stands and her teammates shouted her name over and over again. 

"Or Robby Keene, unaff—" Daryl was cut off by a woman walking up to him and she whispered something in his ear. Odessa looked up at Johnny, confused, but he just shrugged at her. "—Daniel Larusso's going to coach? Daniel Larusso is going to coach!"

Odessa's blue eyes went wide with panic and Daniel came walking on the mat while rolling up his sleeves. He stood by Robby's side.

"I'm sorry folks but there's been a change. Robby Keene will be fighting for Miyagi-Do karate with former champion Daniel Larusso as his sensei!"

Odessa started breathing heavily and she looked at Johnny and then at Oliver in worry. "I'm going to throw up. I'm going to throw up!"

Oliver pointed a stern finger. "No throwing up!"

"He's right, no throwing up! You can do this, okay? I believe in you!" Jonnny encouraged her.

She stared at him and looked back at her team. Then, she looked to Eli and he was already looking at her. He smiled and made a heart motion with his hands. She was freaking out.

Johnny met Daniel half way on the mat. "What do you think you're doing?" He snapped.

"Coaching my student," Daniel responded casually. "Someone had to be there for him. What are you doing coaching Thalia's daughter? Trying to relive old memories?"

Johnny glared at him. "Don't bring him up. This isn't over."

"Like this will ever be over."

He watched him walk away and he glared at the back of his head before returning to his team. "Remember what I taught you, okay? You trained all year for this." He said to Odessa.

She nodded confidently. "I've got this."

"You got this, Odessa!" Hailey uplifted and the Cobra Kai's clapped for her. 

Odessa walked to the mat with shaky legs. She stood in front of Robby and he was there with a smile. "Good luck." He whispered to her.

They bowed to one another. Odessa smiled back. "You too."

They both got in fighting positions. When the whistle was blown, Robby immediately ran forward and threw his fists. Odessa dodged them with ease.

"You got this, Dessa!" Hailey shouted at her and was practically bouncing up and down

Odessa grabbed his fist that came for her face and she attempted to leg sweet him. She was surprised how fast he was and Robby kicked her leg harshly, making her fall to the ground. He kicked her stomach and earned the first point.

"Point, Keene!" Shouted the ref.

Oliver threw his hands up. "Dammit!" 

Johnny held back his frustration and clapped. "It's okay, Odessa. Focus!"

"Come on, baby. You can do this!" Thalia clapped her for daughter along with Demetri.

The ref blew the whistle again and Odessa wasted no time throwing the first punch.  Robby swatted her hand away firmly and reciprocated the punches. Catching a window, Odessa ducked and avoided his fist and she punched him in the stomach. Robby staggered back.

"Point, Beaumont!"

"Yes!" Shouted Aisha.

"That's what i'm talking about!"  Miguel yelled out and threw his fists up.

Johnny grew a proud smirk.

"Good job, babe!" Eli uplifted and clapped for her.

Odessa stood in front of Robby and held her hand out. The boy, who was till on his knees, looked up at her. "Just trust me." She told him and smiled.

Hesitating, Robby took her hand and she helped him up. She smiled kindly. Everyone clapped at her good sportsmanship, including the refs. Robby smiled back and he knew that he could trust her.

Odessa stepped forward and threw a punch and kick in Robby's direction. She was careful not to hit his shoulder. Robby was quick to grab her wrist and turn around,  flipping her over his shoulder.  She smacked the mat and groaned.  "Damn. . ."

"This is bullshit."  Eli sneered.

Hailey pointed at him.  "You just chill. She knows what she's doing." She warned.

Robby returned the favor and helped her up from the mat.  He smirked.  "Sorry,  Dessa," he mocked the nickname he heard from her teammate.

Odessa briefly rolled her eyes and got back in bed figuring stance. When the whistle blew, she threw another punch and he bent his upper half back, dodging it.

She rolled her eyes at him and got in her fighting stance. She rushed forward,  throwing a punch in which he dodged.  She noticed that Robby was focusing on her upper half and less on her legs. She took that as an advantage. Finding an open window and praying in her head, Odessa ducked under his arm and swiped his legs from under him. Robby fell to the mat again and she kicked his chest.

"Point, Beaumont! The next point is the winner!"

"Yes!" She cheered to herself, smiling brightly. The uproars of cheers became her new motivation. She walked off the mat and her and Johnny huddled together. "He's focusing on my upper half.  Throwing punches is his first instinct."

"Then make your first instinct kick his legs from under him but be careful to play it cool. You don't want him to know what you're trying to do."  He told her.

She nodded quickly and the refs ordered them to come back to the mat. Odessa and Robby met face to face again. She tried to smile but she was nervous. She wanted to win. Immediately after hearing the whistle, Robby came towards her and tried to jab her face. She ducked and tried swiping his legs like she did before but he was quick to try and kick her back.  Luckily,  she dodge the kick and swung around on the other side of him.

"Focus, Dess. You're doing good!" Eli shouted to her.

Odessa threw another kick but Robby grabbed her ankle and spun her around attempting to make her fall.  Gaining her balance back, she swung around snd quickly ducked under his arm. She punched him in the side. Stumbling, Robby caught his balance and she cursed to herself. She was sweating furiously and her heart felt like it could explode. Using all her strength, Odessa threw another punch and Robby leaned back which left an open shot for her.  Odessa swiftly bend down and leg sweeper him. Robby's legs came out from under him and he fell to the mat. She quickly kicked him in the chest. It was over. She won.

The ref instantly grabbed her hand and held it up. "WE HAVE A WINNER!"  He announced.

Her blue eyes bugged out of her head. Her jaw dropped to the door. The whole crowd of people stood from the stands and went crazy with cheers. Thalia jumped up and down and shook Demetri and Asher by their shoulders. She squealed when her team came running on the mat and Oliver lifted her in his arms.

Hailey kissed her cheek and Grayson held onto her tightly. Cobra Kai shouted her name, feeling victorious, and Eli grabbed her and spun her around. "I knew you could do it!"

"I DID IT!" She shouted at the top of her lungs.

"She did it!" Shouted Thalia.

"We did it!" Miguel screamed at the top of his lungs.

Odessa spun around and hugged Johnny, making him stumble. "I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you." She talked him merrily.

Johnny froze with his hands up,  not knowing what to do, but eventually grew a smile and he patted her back. "I'm proud of you, kid. Your dad would be too."

She felt someone tap her shoulder and she turned around, seeing Robby stand in front of her. He held his hand out. "Congrats. Thanks for not playing dirty."

Odesa shook his hand. "Hopefully next time we can fight when you're not hurt?" She said in the form of a question.

He smiled slightly.  "Hopefully."

He walked back to Daniel and Thalia came running toward her.  "My girl! You son!" She screamed and held onto her tightly.

"Who saw that coming?" Daryl announced when he came back to the mat. "I know I didn't!"

The girl furrowed her brows at the backhanded compliment.

"Without further ado, let me present this trophy to this year's new champion Odessa Beaumont and the Cobra Kai dojo!"

Odessa took the trophy and lifted it in the air. Miguel stood behind her and shook her shoulders. "Anything you want to say to the people, sweetheart?" Daryl asked and held out the microphone.

She took the mic from him. "If it wasn't for my sensei and my amazing teammates, I probably would not even be here—" She then looked over at Robby to see that he was holding his shoulder in pain.  "And an amazing competitor."

A smile slowly grew on his face.

She turned back to the crowd and screamed. "This is for my dojo!"

They shouted in victory and surrounded her in a group hug, chanting Cobra kai overt and over again. Odessa laughed loudly when Oliver picked her up and sat her on his shoulders. "THIS IS MY BEST FUCKING FRIEND!"

"AND MINE!" Hailey and Grayson shouted.

"AND MINE!" The rest of her team joined.

She held the trophy up and cheered.

After the competition was over and she thanked everyone who congratulated her, Odessa walked out of the dressing room back in her normal clothes. Eli kicked himself off the wall when he saw her come out. "Dess?" He spoke.

She looked back and smiled. "Hey."

"You did amazing. You deserve it. I never had a doubt in my mind."

She stared at him lovingly and nodded her head.

"I'm sorry for what I did. He made a comment about my hair and I thought about everything that happened to me. I just got really angry. I shouldn't have done it, i'm sorry," he explained himself with shame. "But you're so much more important to me than my ego."

The girl walked up to him and cupped his face. "You are the most amazing person i've ever met in my life. You're nothing anybody who's ever bullied you says you are. I joined karate with you so that you could see yourself in a different light, that you're so much better than you think. Just please don't let this winning thing go to your head and make you do stupid things because I promise you, you'll regret them in the long run."

Eli looked down at her with an adoring look he wrapped his arms around her neck. "What would I do without you, Odessa Beaumont?"

She hummed. "Probably friendless and alone."

He chuckled. "Yeah, you're probably right. You're the best."

"I know." She boasted and leaned up on her toes, kissing him softly. "Now come on. I'm starving."

that's a wrap on season 1!