"You're showing him respect." Terry put his hands on his hips in disbelief. "This fight should he over by now."

Robby looked in disbelief. "Do you want to fight him?"

Alexa had to hide her snort with a violent cough. Terry turned back to him in disbelief, Kreese putting a hand on his chest to back him up.

"You're angry. Good." Kreese nodded his head to him. "Use it."

Alexa nodded to Robby when they were called back go the mat. "You can do this."

He bounced off, going back toward the mat. His hands messed at his gi, looking for the string to tie it, becoming annoyed and yanking it off. Alexa wolf howled for him, tossing her hands up in the air, getting an arrogant grin over his shoulder as he tossed the gi her way. The ref shrugged toward Hawk, making him strip his off and throw toward the side as well.

"Next point wins. Good luck, gentlemen. Ready?" the ref got between the two. "Fight!"

Robby kicked first, bouncing off his legs to kick high, hoping to end this, only for Hawk to duck and dodge it. He did it again, his feet pressing into his thigh as he kicked backwards, flipping in the air as Hawk fell against the mat. He was pushing off his palms and onto his feet before Robby was fully up, running toward to wrap his legs around his shoulders and swinging him against, only for it to backfire as his back was against the mat, Robbys fist rose before his eyes fell onto Kenny, who was yelling and cheering him on.

It gave Hawn the perfect opportunity to kick him in the shoulder, and Alexa was back at the All Valley from a year ago just for a second.

"Give it to him, Hawk!" Alexa was yelling, her friend storming across the mat and kicking Robby right in the shoulder when his back was turned.

Alexa came back, they were on opposite sides of the mat. Her eyes were darting around, and Johnny was watching her. She focused in on Robby again, watching him dodge and back up at the multiple kicks Hawk was throwing and twisting around to send his way. Robby ducked under his arm and was on the opposite side, both breathy heavy and tired like. Robby swung around to try and kick him in the face, blocking a punch with a harsh kick to the side, not scoring the point. Hawk stumbled in minor pain.

They backed off a second, Hawk turned around on his left leg, wrapping the right around Robbys waist, taking him down on the mat with him, a kick straight to the chest. Alexa gasp, her face falling in sadness. "Point! Winner!"

Alexa watched Eli celebrate, yelling into the air. All of his friends surrounded him, bouncing in joy and congratulating him. She thought about how she was once in that position, only Hawk was Miguel, just last year. Robby storming over brought her back, now focused on him. "Robby. Robby!"

He pushed through the group while Eli was announced winner, Alexa following quickly after to meet him in the hallway. "Robby."

He turned to her, holding his gi in hand as she gave a concerning look. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Robby took a breath with a nod, twisting his belt around his hand. "I just, um, need to clear my head."

"Do you want me to come with you?" she looked in worry, latching onto his wrist to stop him from leaving so soon.

"No, no. You stay. Cheer on Tory." he nodded, his hand gave hers a squeeze. "I'll see you soon."

He leaned over, kissing her on the lips quickly as Alexa frowned, watching him go.

Alexa was suddenly filled with rage, she didn't know why. The fight was fair, Eli won, he deserved it. But she was angry, angry at the look in Robbys eye, angry that she couldn't do anything to help it. She circled the All Valley, going to the opposite side. Hawk had been in the hallway, his back turned, on the phone with someone and gushing about how he'd won.

Alexa planned on striking him from behind, when he wouldn't see it coming, her fist balled up by her side, teeth clenched, jaw tight. But, the second her foot stepped forward, ready to cause her attack, she stopped.

Remember who you are.

It echoed in her head, Johnny saying it, Miguel. Alexa was frozen in place, he didn't see or hear her behind him, and she wasn't moving. Remember who you are. Every memory flew through her head. The first time she walked into Cobra Kai, the first time Johnny had trained her, when he taught her a move he didn't anyone else, how happy she was to learn that, how she didn't feel so stuck in a shell anymore, how she protected Demetri, how her and Aisha would laugh at practice when either of them would beat the other, sitting in the tattoo shop with Hawk for the first time and talking about the significance of a tattoo, pep talking Miguel for his first date.

That's who Alexa was. And it squeezed her heart so hard in those very seconds, because she knew that the person she was right now was the complete opposite.

A breathy sigh left her lips, backing up. She turned on her heels, coming face to face with Johnny as he stared as her, had been watching her the entire time. Alexa gave a small nod to him, a sad smile as her eyes were welled up a second. He placed his hand on her shoulder, lowering his head with a nod in return. Alexa let in linger for a second, walking into the All Valley again to support Tory.

She'd been running as Daryl spoke, running to her side. Nathan let out a panicked scream as she was running his way, ducking down as Alexa hopped over his body and was taking off toward Cobra Kai. "Tory! Tory."

The Nichols girl turned around, looking concerned at the way she yelled for her. "What's wrong?"

Alexa got on the mat with her, concern in her eyes. "Remember who you are."

Tory looked at her in confusion. "What?"

"Remember who you are when you get out there. Before all this, before Sam, before Miguel, who you were when we first met." Alexa grasped her hands tightly.

"Castillo." Terry warned her in anger.

"Do the right thing." Alexa nodded as she held her hands a second longer, her eyes staring into her own. "All of this...it's just gone to our heads."

Terry latched onto Alexa's arm, yanking her harshly. "Get out of here. How dare you try to ruin this for her?"

"I'm not ruining anything." Alexa glared, shoving his hand off of her. "I'm reminding my best friend about what actually matters."

"Winning." Terry glared.

"Staying true to yourself." Alexa corrected him, looking at Tory again as she stared at her. "Do this for you. Fight for yourself, win for yourself, nothing else."

Terry gave her a shove again. "Shut your mouth. If I hear you say one more thing for the rest of the night, you're off the team!"

"Hey." Robby spoke up, walking over when he saw how hard he'd shoved her. "Is there a problem here?"

Terry rose his eyebrows at Alexa, she looked at Robby. "We're okay."

He pulled her toward the end of the line, farthest away from the two senseis that's were now pep talking Tory. "Why's be pushing on you like that?"

"Because someone needed to slap some dignity into him." Alexa looked to Robby with a sigh. "You're okay?"

He gave a nod, his hand laced in hers. "I'm okay."

He didn't tell her about how he found her mom out back, on the phone with her father, telling him how the three of them were in Reseda, right before Robby knocked her phone out of her hand and laid into her about how he couldn't believe she'd bring Alexa's dad back. Robby didn't know exactly what he'd done to Alexa, but he knew it was enough to damage her enough.

But, he couldn't tell her. He couldn't see the look on her face, not when he didn't even know if he'd caught it on the other line to know where to come. Robby especially couldn't break it to her when she beamed at the sight of her mom, waving. "I thought she left."

"Bathroom lines are long." Robby quoted Tory from earlier.

"Competitors, take your position." the red encouraged Sam and Tory to take their mark on the mat.

"Ladies, good luck. Face this way. Bow. Face each other. Bow." the ref continued on as Tory and Sam did so. "Ready? And fight!"

Tory struck first with an angry kick, Sam blocking it with her own leg. She went at her again, swinging her foot as Tory tried to kick her legs out from under her, the LaRusso girl twisting around and kicking her across the face. Alexa winced slightly, she stepped forward on instinct, as if to help Tory, but stopped when she realized what she was doing.

Robby wrapped his arms around Alexa's shoulders, his hands locking infront of her while her back was against his chest, his head leaning against hers while Alexas palms latched onto his hands that were under her chin.

The two watched Tory walk toward Terry and Kreese, talking to them quickly about the unexpected kick Sam laid on her.

They took their marks again, Tory bounced on the mat infront of Sam, kicking forward and swinging a punch backwards when circling her. Sam dodged it, blocking her kick, sending her own, forearms coming up and blocking the string of punches Tory threw at her. Sam kicked to the side, Tory punching her in the stomach and scoring the point. "Score, one-one. Fight!"

Sam kicked toward Tory, having it blocked before Tory twisted around, kicking in return to get her right again. "Point! Two-one, Nichols."

Alexa let Robbys hands go to clap for Tory, because even though she was aggressive, she still was fighting fair and hadn't cheated her. "Let's go, Tory!"

Sam stood infront go Tory, using balancing hand motions as Robbys arms tightened around Alexa when he watched her. Tory looked oddly before Sam ended it with one fist above her head, the other before her. The ref nodded. "Ready? And fight!"

Tory struck first, kicking as Sma blocked them, Tory side kicking her in the ribs as Sam threw her fist her way, Tory blocking it. The Miyagi-Do tossed her leg over Torys head, taking her original position again as they backed up away from each other for a second. Tory swung around twice, trying to kick her, having each blocked. She blocked Sams hits in return, linking their arms together and yanking her harshly.

Sam broke free, ducking as Tory swung her first above her head. Sam hit her in the chest, Tory stumbling back over the line. "No point. Out of bounce."

Johnny called out in announce. "Come on, Ref! She went out after she got hit!"

"Yes." Robby cheered under his breath for Tory.

The two took their stance again, one of Sams legs rose in her final position. With a full kick forward, she swung her fist as Tory blocked them, kicking at her, Sam blocking it. Alexa's fingers dug into Robbys skin as she watched the two block each other an extreme number of times. They weren't as fast as Miguel and Hawk were, but it was close.

Sam hit Tory in the chest, scoring herself a point. "Scores two to two. Next point wins. Ready? Fight!"

Tory threw her legs in Sams direction, her blocked and hit, but it was blocked. They both rose their hands, each having them blocked above their heads before Sam kicked Tory, being shoved away. Sam kicked her again, Tory grasping under Sams leg and throwing her down on the mat, Sam flipping over her and getting to her feet, grabbing Torys middle and forward rolling as Torys elbow collided with her eye.

Alexa winced, knowing it had to hurt. "Damn it."

"Warning. Elbow to the face. Go to your senseis." the ref called.

"Warning? Should be a point deduction!" Johnny yelled his way.

"I didn't mean to. No, it was an accident." Tory got on her feet and looked down at Sam, who held her eye in pain, squinting and running toward her senseis.

Tory made eye contact with Alexa for half a second, she then realized why Terry told her to go, because it was clear he was telling Tory to cheat. Alexa leaned forward some to look, watching. Tory argued, she looked back at Alexa, who gave her knowing nod. Terry interfered once again, only this time, Kreese cut him off and spoke to Tory.

The Nichols girl met Alexa's eye once again, giving her a nod of her head. Alexa sighed in relief, squeezing Robbys forearms as he shook her slightly, the two watching Sam and Tory get before each other again. "Fight!"

Sam kicked her way, having it blocked. They circled each other slightly, Tory throwing a kick toward Sams head, having it blocked immediately as was her punch toward the chest and the elbow. Sam kicked Tory, her arms blocking it. The Nichols girls was so close to hitting Sams chest, but she was too quick, and too good at blocking.

Sam came close to kicking Tory, having it blocked quickly as Tory landed a kick to her back. Twisting around, she kicked Sam harshly, despite her blocking it, Sams shorter body stumbling back. Tory fell to the floor, giving Sam another kick, scoring herself the point. "Winner!"

Alexa was screamed, over joyed for her best friends sake. And despite it all, Tory fought fair, she kicked ass, but she didn't cheat. Alexa wanted her to, she'd probably had encouraged it at the beginning of the day, but not now. Not after the hallway, not after remembering what she did all of this for.

"Toryyy." Alexa wrapped her arms around her waist, lifting her and jumping. A funny sight, with the height difference Tory had on her, but all around affectionate. It was clear Tory had been trying to check on Sam before Alexa ran over, and she felt guilty suddenly. Kyler pulled Tory into the group, cheering.

"Hey!" Alexa called to Sam, who was holding her stomach on the mat. The venom in her tone, and the way she stormed over toward the girl had nearly all of Eagle Fangs, Miyagi-Do, and even the ref looking in a panic, taking a step forward. Sam looked up in fear, and Alexa couldn't blame her after all she'd done. The Castillo girl sighed, holding her hand down. "It's okay, Sam. You did good."

Sam looked hesitant, but her hand latched onto Alexas, they were warm and kinda clammy. Alexa pulled her to her feet before letting her hand go, nodding her head at her eye. "Ice that shit, okay?"

Sam nodded, blinking at her, but it was clear she was beat up over loosing. Alexa looked toward Johnny, then Hawk, then Demetri. She looked like she was gonna say something, anything, and god did they want her to. She gave a little nod, bowing in the slightest, going back to Cobra Kai.

•

kylie speaks

lexi babyyyyyyyy
i love youuuuuuuuu.

YALL WANNA SEE THE
COVER FOR HER PROLOGUE
BOOK?!? I KINDA WANNA
PUBLISH IT BUT IM WORRIED
IT MIGHT NOT BE GOOD LMAO