Chapter Eighty One
Primadonna

TORY'S VIBE WAS off. Sydney had been paying attention to her stiff and uncomfortable body language the entire time. The nervous glances she was giving Silver as he and the ref were looking each other's way. Like she knew something. Sydney noticed that, too. The smugness on his face. His overly confident body language. She caught Tory's eye every five minutes and Tory always looked away first, the guilt on her face visible.

Charlie was okay. He was more embarrassed than anything, seeing that he just got beat by a child. He sat down with Sam while everyone else stood around until the fight between Sydney and Tory began. Sydney saw that the girl was nowhere to be found. She was fighting herself to go and find her. Her hands was were behind her back tightened together, like they were telling her no. She stood with her friends but she paid no attention to whatever conversation they were having.

But Chris noticed. He nudged her arm with his elbow. "You alright, Syd?"

Sydney's eyes shifted to him and she faked a smile. "Of course. I'll be right back actually." She responded and and walked away from the group.

When she was far enough, Mitch, who was standing by his friend's side, wiggled his eyebrows. "So, you and Syd?" He teased and nudged him.

Chris shook his head. "Nah, bro. It's not like that." He denied.

"Oh, come on. You've obviously been flirting with her."

Eli briefly looked to his side where Miguel was standing. He stood with his hands behind his back. He saw his jaw shift side to side.

Again, Chris shook his head. "Nah. She's just fun to be around. I gotta admit, though. She's so hot." He looked at Miguel. "But, y'know, bro code forever."

Miguel slipped out a high pitched laugh. "What? No, don't worry about that. I'm good." He obviously wasn't good. "Sydney and I agreed to be friends. And it's going really well. She can date whoever she wants."

Mitch hit Chris on the arm again. "See? Shoot your shot, bro. She's British and French."

Miguel looked away as they talked and Eli and Robby shared the same knowing expression.

When Sydney walked outside, Tory stood with her back pressed against the way. She jumped when the door swung open. The two girls stood there staring at one another. "What are you doing? You should be with your team." Said Tory, her words quick.

"I can say the same about you," Sydney replied. She saw her shaking hands. "I've never seen you so scatter brained."

She scoffed. "What do you know?"

"I know more than you think."

Tory frowned slightly. "You don't know anything, Sydney Benoit."

Sydney moved closer to her. "I know that we used to be friends. I know that you've had to grow up really fast and that's caused you be mean. I understand that better than anyone,"

"Stop—"

"I know that you hate Sam because you're jealous of her. And I know that you fell for Charlie and you were angry that he chose her over you. And that's what made you go crazy and start the school fight."

Tory's jaw tightened. "What are you doing?"

"I also know that after everything that happened, you feel like the only thing you have in your life is Cobra Kai. That's why you pushed Robby away. Why you pushed everyone else away. Because you're scared of Silver and what he's made you turn into." Sydney stared at her with a tight expression. "Because he's turned you all into a bunch of cheaters."

Tory had a feeling she knew. She knew in her gut. But she didn't want to believe it until now. "How'd you know?" She uttered almost shamefully.

"Please. Silver's smugness smells worse than that God awful cologne he always wears," she replied with a scoff.

Tory almost laughed.

"You think I don't know that the move Kenny pulled on Charlie was illegal? He should've been disqualified." Sydney continued.

"So, what are you going to do? Are you going to tell anyone? The judges?"

"I should. I should burn this dojo to the ground for all the shit you've put us through," she sneered. "I thought I was a failure. I thought I wasn't good enough. I thought I had let everyone down. My team down."

Tory frowned again.

"But I know now that I'm strong. I'm not a failure. . ." There was a short pause. "And neither are you, Tory."

She scoffed. "Right." She uttered like she didn't believe her.

Sydney took another close step. "I'm serious. I know you better than you think, Tory Nichols. You're strong. You're fierce. You don't need them in there to be powerful. You don't need Silver barking in your ear to do better. You don't have to be mean." She emphasized. "That's not what karate's about. It's about protecting yourself."

"What do you think I'm doing, Sydney?" Tory bursted out. "Do you think it's easy for me? I'm not like you. I can't just pick and choose what I can do. I can't just leave and go somewhere else. I don't have a choice!"

"Of course you have a choice! You're just picking the one wrong one!" Sydney raised her voice. Their voices echoed in the quiet air. "I'll help you, Tory."

"You can't help me, Sydney. I don't need your help. I'm not useless." Tory almost spat. "Just. . ." Her tone and her facial expression changed. "Don't tell anybody. Please."

At one point on her life, Sydney would have loved to tell the world that Cobra Kai was a bunch of cheaters. It would've put her and her team on top. But there something in her that chose not to. She wasn't sure if it was because of Tory or what. But Sydney told herself that she could win on her own. She was a strong person. She wasn't weak. She just needed to believe in herself. "I hope you make the right choice." Was the last thing she said to Tory before walking back into the building.

Miguel saw Sydney come back into the dojo, looking angry and distressed. He watched her come over and stand by his side. "Everything okay?" He asked her, his eyes scanning her face.

Sydney looked up at him and faked a tight lipped smile. "Yeah. Everything's okay."

He knew that smile. He always knew when she was faking. "You're lying." He blurted out.

She blinked. She opened her mouth to retaliate, but she quickly closed it back before sighing. "I don't know. . ."

"Are you nervous?"

She scoffed. "No." Yes. "When am I ever nervous?"

He cracked a smile. "Okay, Miss Confidence." He responded, making her laugh. "It's always what I've liked most about you."

Sydney looked up at him and smiled. It was a soft smile. And he looked back at her with his kind brown eyes. For a minute, or split second, they forgot about the break up. Then, Miguel felt the painful pinch in his heart again.

"We begin our girl's fight. Sydney Benoist and Tory Nichols please take the mat," the man from Sekai Taikai announced.

Sydney looked for the other girl but saw that she was nowhere to be found. Instantly, she knew that she had taken off after their conversation. A part of her was angry that she couldn't step up but the other part of her was happy. She didn't want to be controlled by Cobra Kai anymore. She didn't want to be a cheater again.

Cobra Kai looked around for her but nobody had spotted her. "Where is she?" Sensei Kim asked her students, but none of them willingly spoke up.

"Do you know where she is, Sydney?" Asked Daniel.

Keeping her lips shut, Sydney only shook her head. "No. I haven't seen her." She lied.

Johnny and Chozen came and stood with them. "Listen, kid. They're fighting dirty. You don't have to compete if you don't want to. You or Sam." Johnny told her.

"Don't worry, Sensei Lawrence. I'm not afraid." She said firmly, shaking her head. "I can take these assholes anytime."

The Senseis grinned. "Remember. You powerful in your own way." Said Chozen and he bowed to her.

Sydney smiled and bowed as well.

"Good luck, Syd."

"Good luck, Sydney."

"You got this, Syd."

Her team showered her with good lucks and she walked onto the mat. "Tory Nichols?" The man announced again but Tory still didn't appear.

Sydney could see that Silver and Kim were pissed and she fought the urge to smirk. But then Devon walked onto the mat and she frowned. "Devon?" She spoke.

The young girl almost looked hesitant. She scanned the red gi with remorse. Devon and Sydney were friends. They were once on the same team. Sydney didn't want to fight her. But she didn't have a choice right now.

At the beginning of her fight, it was evident that Sydney was hesitant. Devon was quick with her moves. The younger girl grunted and kicked at her. Sydney quickly moved out of the way and they switched positions. She raised her forearms up and down to block the punches coming at her.

Grunting loudly, Sydney went in for a kick and Devon bent down. When she came back up, Sydney went in for a punch but the young girl was able to block her fist and use her free hand to hit her in the ribs.

"Point! 1-0, Lee!" The ref announced.

"Bon sang." Sydney muttered to herself. She rubbed her now sore ribs.

The Cobra Kai team praised Devon. "Just focus, Sydney. It's fine." Said Johnny.

"You can do it, Sydney." Chozen added in.

The British girl looked their way and sighed. She scanned her teammates until she saw Miguel giving her an encouraging smile. Blinking her eyes, she smiled back and nodded slightly. She looked back at Devon and tightened her jaw. "You're good. Eagle Fang taught you well." She said to her.

"Not as well as Cobra Kai." Devon said back defensively.

The ref told them to get back in their stands. Sydney sucked in a deep breath and she circled one hand around her head. Using the other one, she slowly ran it down in front of her face before bringing them both out in front of her. When the ref announced for them to fight, Devon came forward and Sydney kicked her in the stomach. Grunting out loud, she dropped down and spun on one of her feet as Devon kicked at her. When she came back up, she immediately raised her forearms, using the wax on wax off technically to block Devon's hits. She backed the young girl up to almost the edge of the mat and bent down again when a fist came her way. Standing back up straight, Sydney leaned back on one foot and hit Devon on the side of her ribs.

"Point! 1-1, Benoist!" Said the ref, butchering her last name.

She would've glared if she wasn't so ecstatic. "Yes!"

"Yeah, Sydney!" Her team cheered for her and she smiled widely in their direction.

The two girls got back in their fighting stances. Sydney sucked in a deep breath, her confidence levels rising, and she knew she could do this. Grunting, Devon went in for another kick. Sydney bent her upper body backwards and avoided it. When she came back up, she held up her fist and swung. The two of them went back and forth until Devon kicked her leg again. Sydney did wax off and her foot ended up hitting her wrist.

"Point. 2-1, Lee!"

"What? There was no contact!" Daniel blurted out.

"She hit my wrist!" Sydney added and held up her wrist. When the ref didn't give up, she called for a time out. She rubbed her sweaty face and went to her Senseis. "They're cheating. She didn't hit him. I got her before that." She quickly said.

"I know, Syd. Not every point is going to go your way. You know that." Daniel told her.

"I can't lose this, Mr. Larusso. Not again."

"Hey, Syd," Miguel spoke and the combined teams stood by her side. "You're the better fighter. You're better than them all. Everyone here knows it. Who cares what the ref says. We know what you're capable of," he motioned to the team and their Senseis. His kind brown eyes stared deeply into hers, speaking words that didn't have to be said out loud. She just knew. "You have us all in your corner.

A soft smile curled on the corner of her lip.

"Referee is moron. Must not leave room for error." Chozen said to her.

Sydney laughed slightly and Daniel quickly agreed. "He's right. You make every point undeniable."

"Do your best." Sensei Toguchi told her in Japanese.

"How do you say go kick some ass in French?" Johnny asked her.

She smiled again. "Allez botter des fesses." She answered.

He repeated her words, it almost sounding like gibberish, but it made them laugh. Clapping for her, the combined dojos encouraged her as Sydney walked back on the mat, meeting Devon in the middle. She held her breath until the ref told them to fight. Grunting at the same time, Devon kicked her leg and Sydney raised her arm, using her forearm to block her foot. When she went in for another kick, Sydney bent down and leg sweeped her, ignoring the sting in her own foot, and Devon came tumbling down. She used the paint the fence method to drop on one knee and she hit her in the chest.

Instantly, the Eagle Fangs and Miyagi Dos started cheering. "Yes, Frenchy!" Shouted Johnny and he threw his fist up victoriously.

The ref hesitated, glancing at Silver, but he ultimately gave it to her. "Point. 2-2, Benoit. Next point wins."

Again, he butchered her name, but Sydney was too happy to notice. "Yes!" She rejoiced and stood up from the mat. She looked her at her team and smiled widely.

"You got this, Sydney!" Sam encouraged her friend and held Charlie's hand tightly while she watched.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Sydney popped her knuckles and got back in her stance. She sent the slightest of smirks in Silver and Kim's directions, making them appear more angry. Like she knew their secret. When the ref called for them to fight again, Devon lunged forward again with a punch and a kick. Sydney grunted and switched to the other side with ease. She leaned back on one leg and attempted to kick her but Devon grabbed her foot and dragged her down on the mat.

Instantly, Sydney yelped loudly in pain when a burning tingle spread throughout her foot. She fell to the mat and brought her bright red foot up, clutching it carefully.

"Syd!" Her Senseis immediately went to her side. Johnny examined her foot. "Jesus, Syd."

"How bad does it hurt?" Asked Daniel.

"Like a million out of ten." She exaggerated and leaned her head back on the mat.

"Doesn't look good." Chozen announced to them. He looked at the girl. "Must not continue."

"No," she immediately responded and sat up. She groaned at the pain again. "I'm fine."

"He's right, Sydney. It doesn't look good."

The skin around her toenails had began to bleed. The bruising had gotten worse. It was painful but she couldn't give up. In the moment, she felt embarrassed from the unwanted attention, and it caused her to start feeling angry. "I'm fine. I swear. I've danced all my life. I can handle it." She looked at Johnny and put her hand on his sleeve. "Don't tell me I can't keep going."

She was determined to win. She wanted it more than anything. Johnny understood that. He understood her. And he was proud of her. He touched her hand. "You know I won't tell you that, Frenchy."

She smiled slightly then nodded at her other Senseis. After wrapping her feet again, Sydney got back up from the mat and her team clapped for her. She gave them a firm nod, saying she got this, and she turned back to Devon, who had the slightest bit of guilt on her young face. Sydney felt angry again. Angry at Cobra Kai. She needed to win. She was going to win. There was one point left.

When the last fight was called, Devon lunged at her. Sydney blocked her punches and the young girl swung her arm at her. Sydney blocked it and managed to lock her wrist around hers. She spun around, almost like if Devon had twirled her, and she lifted her back leg and kicked Devon in the stomach. When she stumbled back, Sydney did the flying tornado kick that Johnny had to taught her and she kicked Devon across the face, making her fall to the mat.

"Point. Winner, Benoit!" The referee announced.

He held up her hand and Sydney's smile stretched across her face. The combined dojos rumbled with cheers and she instantly ran to Johnny. She hugged him as tightly as she could and for once, he didn't feel awkward to be hugging someone. I'm fact, he hugged her back just as tight. "You did!"

"I did it!"

"Sydney-san," said Chozen. "You did it!"

She beamed one again and bowed in his direction. She tackled Daniel into a hug and he lifted her off the ground. "I'm so proud of you, Syd! So proud."

She yelped again when she was surrounded by her team. Immediately, like it was meant to, Sydney felt Miguel touch her arm and she threw her arms around his neck. He stumbled back, feeling shocked, but he quickly recovered and hugged her tightly.

They opposing teams stood across from one other. It was silent as the panel discussed the fights. Sydney and Sam held onto each other tightly, the female winner almost shaking. The panel of Sekai Taikai members stood from their seat. "We have reached an agreement." The man announced. "As expected, we were impressed with the skills, precision, and discipline we of the new Sekai Taikai qualifier. . ."

Eli stood behind Sydney with his hands rested on her shoulders.  She bit the end of her thumb anxiously.

"Cobra Kai."

The familiar filling of dread filled inside of her and Sydney dropped her thumb from her mouth. She frowned deeply. As the Cobra Kai team reveled in their win, Sydney looked at her team apologetically. Her heart dropped to her stomach.

"As for our other dojo," Gunther continued and looked at the other team. We admired your unusual mix of styles and underdog spirit. . ."

Charlie furrowed her brows, not knowing if it was a compliment or not.

"And we think you could be a unique addition to the competition. Therefor, we'be decided that your dojo has also qualified."

Sydney's eyes widened out of her head. She felt Eli shout in her ear and his arms wrapped around her, almost dragging her back. "Oh, my god." She uttered and felt another smile stretch on her lips.

Sam squealed and the two best friends embraced. They felt a dog pile of hugs on top of theirs. Sydney broke out and hugged every teammate than came into her view. Miguel lunged towards her and they both wrapped their arms around one another. She closed her eyes as her face buried itself in her neck, feeling extremely happy.

"We did it, baby! WHOO!" Charlie shouted at the top of his lungs and the laughter grew louder.

"I'm so proud of you!" Eli shouted in the girl's face and he embraced her again.

"Sydney! Sydney! Sydney!" The combined, now one, dojo chanted her name.

With a red face, Sydney smiled brightly again and she grabbed Sam, who was the closest to her, and she hugged her tightly.

"PARTY AT MIGUEL'S HOUSE!" Charlie announced to everyone after ease dropping on the conversation.