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After such an intense, stressful, and brutal night, it looks like Cobra Kai is finally over and done with. For now at least. We exposed Terry Silver, succeeded in pulling everyone out of the dojo, and my dad finally got to get his payback with him.
Payback…..
For the past year, this has been one of the only things on my mind. Getting payback on Cobra Kai for turning my friends against ne, payback on the Cobras for bullying and pushing us around, and….getting payback on Tory.
Tory Fucking Nichols. The same girl who I fought alongside tonight against that wicked witch of a sensei. The same girl who's had it a lot tougher than I thought.
I'm one of the last ones to step out of the dojo. But not before noticing something.
Anthony and Eli turn around and see me staring at something. "Hey. Sam? What's up?"
I turn back to them. "Oh uh, nothing." I look down. "Hey Hawk? Could, you and Demetri keep an eye on Anthony for a bit. I just need a moment."
Eli gazes at me and gently shakes his head. "Yeah, sure. C'mon kid…" he said leading Anthony outside.
When they're out, I slowly step over to where Silver is lying on the floor. And indeed, my suspicion was correct, when I see what's on the ground next to his arm.
I slowly walk out of the dojo and see everyone discussing what's happened with the police. For a quick moment I just look around, processing for a moment that, all of those little misunderstandings and our drama between one another has all led to THIS.
Speaking of which…..
I look over and see Tory and Devon on a firetruck close to the steps where I'm at. I slowly make my way down and walk over.
"Tory?"
She widens her eyes, looking almost surprised that I'm even bothering to come over. She looks over to the cops. "Excuse me." She steps away and approaches me. "What do you want?"
I nervously look down and move my hands away from my back. "Umm..? I…..I, think this is yours."
In my hands, I'm holding onto Tory's trophy. Silver grabbed onto it before my dad kicked him and, it broke when it hit the wall.
Tory looks down at the trophy, then closes her eyes and shakes her head. "I don't care. I don't really need it."
"But you won. And you were the one who said that the tourna-"
"I know. But I didn't win." She looks up to me. "You did. So…..you can keep it, throw it away, give it to Kyler or something, I really don't care."
She starts to step away. "I'm sorry for being a bitch…."
Tory stops and quickly looks back at me
.
"Before the tournament, all I wanted to do was stand up for myself and prove that I wasn't scared of you. But, if I had known then what I do now……"
Tory sighs. "I get it. I've done a lot of dumb shit too. And…….being open about everything hasn't been easy for me…."
"I know the feeling."
Tory then looks down for a moment. "Sam….?"
"Our fight was supposed to be over when we got tied. I cant speak for the way I kicked you down but…….I really didn't means to elbow you in the eye. You know that, right?"
"We were too close to each other so I'm not surprised. Besides, I kinda deserved it.'
"No, you didn't. I……I really didn't want to hurt you anymore, I just wanted to win and let things be over with. And you should know…..Silver wanted me to do it again. But I didnt want to."
I hear this and it definitely takes me by surprise. Tory groans. "I can't believe I stayed with him for so long. That I let him…." She looks down to her hand and is trying to fight back tears.
I speak out. "I….I know you probably won't wanna hear this, but…..if you ever need anything, I'm sure my family would be willing to help."
"Ywah, I've heard that before."
"No, really. And…….one time my dad told me, that…..Silver used to force him to make his knuckles bleed back when he dealt with him before." Tory looks back to me. "So, I'm sure he can relate."
Tory stares at me, then looks behind her to glance at my dad for a moment.
I see Robby stepping away from Miguel in the corner to approach Kenny, and I just take a deep breath. "Thank you."
Tory looks back at me.
"For everything tonight. It…..it really means a lot to us."
She just stared and nods her head. "Sure.."
I squint. "You're not gonna thank me back, for saving you back there?"
"Well I'm not gonna do that. I didnt ask you to step in, I can fight my own battles."
I just smirk. "I know you can. Ive got scars to prove it " Tory chuckles, almost embarrassed. Then j smile. "But that's the thing with my dojo, we're always in it together…"
Tory begins to smile back. "Well you've got guys, LaRusso. That woman is a menace." He looks at the dojo behind me. "And somehow, I dont think we're done with her…."
I shake my head. "Well if she does anything else…….we'll have your back. If you ever need us." Before she can say anything else I just walk away. Not even giving her a chance to reject that.
Tory sits back down with Devon. "Anything else?" She asked the officer.
"Only a fee more thinfs, we'll be quick."
"Thanks."
Devon turns to me. "I cant believe I didn't figure out that that tournament was rigged sooner. And screwing over one girl was all it took."
Tory turns to Devon and winces. "She wasnt the only one….."
Tory never got confirmation that her fight with Devon was affected by Terry's bribes. But she believes that it was, since that same ref was scoring their points.
A moment later, after Tory answers a few more questions with Devon, she finds herself very affected by those last words.
Then, she sees Robby approaching her.
"I knew youd come around. Eventually…."
Robby smirks. "Gusss I'm not the only one who's finally come around." He nudges his head and they both look to me as I'm approaching Miguel. Tory nods and looks back to him. "Listen Tory, I-I owe you an apology-"
"I know, and I probably owe you one too. But you know I'm really NOT in the mood for anymore of that heartfelt shit, so for now..……maybe just kiss me?"
Robby smirks and kisses Tory.
Before sitting next to Miguel, I see then kissing, and…..had this happened before
Miguel then speaks out. "Hey, is that the trophy from this year?
I look down and see it in my hands. "Yeah. It, uh……." Sigh. "You know what, just forget about it." I kneel down and set it on the ground.
"I saw you and her talking. So, does this mean you're on good terms?"
I shrug. "I think it's a start bur…..it's hard to tell with girls like her." Miguel chuckles softly. I then wince. "And to think……so many things have happened this past year, all because of the three of us "
Miguel looks to me and closes his eyes. "Yeah, I….. I try not to think about that too much."
"I don't blame you."
Miguel then turns over. "Do you wanna….?"
"Sure." We sit down against one of the cars.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, more or less. What about you? Any major damage?"
"Uh... Think I've had worse."
I smile. "Good…." Then…..I reach into my pocket. "Um….Is this yours?" I show the necklace. I found it at Miyagi-Do.
Miguel looks a little surprised. "Oh. That was, uh... It was supposed to be yours, but, uh-?"
"But I broke up with you before you could give it to me. Right?"
He gazes at me and shrugs. "Something like that."
"So you weren't really fine with breaking up?"
"Well, it's not what I wanted, especially not a second time. But…..you said you weren't okay, and that you needed some time, and... That just seemed like it was more important…"
I smile gently. "Thank you. It meant a lot to me."
"Of course. It's what you do when you love someone."
Wait. Did he just….?
"You…..? You've never said that before."
Miguel's face is slightly frozen, but he slowly smiles. "Well, uh... Well, I do. And, whether we're friends or, something else…..that wont change."
I stare ar Miguel and can feel myself almost blushing.
"I love you too."
We look at each other, and I stand back up and kiss him gently.
"Gross!!" We look behind us. "Get a room, you two!" Anthony yelled out as he steps away from Eli and Demetri.
"Anthony…!" I groaned out.
Miguel shakes his head with a chuckle.
Tory and Robby look over and notice them before they stop. And, the guys and the girls just share quixk glances at one another and…. They look like they're finally at peace with one another.
What started out as a rivalry against all four of them, while it might not be completely over yet, it's definitely a new era as of tonight….