LXVIII.                                         Heartbreak Weather

There was a small break in between the boys fight and the girl's fight, but it was longer now that Oliver got hurt. The medics were with him making sure nothing was seriously injured and that he was breathing right, and his friends gathered around him while he sat on the steps. "How you feeling, Oliver?" Asked Grayson.

"Embarrassed more than anything." Oliver mumbled. "I mean, look at me. I'm a beast and I just got beat my a ten year old."

"Something's gotta be off. There's no way all those calls those were legit." Hailey accused with a scoff.

"Yeah, they're definitely cheating." Grayson agreed with her.

Odessa watched Tory from across the room. She was spaced out, almost disoriented from what was happening. She was distancing herself from her team as they continued to praise Kenny for winning the fight. Odessa thought it was weird, and she thought repeatedly about what her dad said before. Then, she watched Tory slip out of the room at a fast pace. "I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" Hailey asked when she stood up.

"I just have to go check something," she excused and left the room.

The voices of the others faded when Odessa walked to the front of the dojo. She looked side to side and found Tory sitting in a waiting area with her head down and her elbows on her thighs. From there, she could see her breathing heavy.

Odessa could remember the first time they became friends. Before Cobra Kai got in everybody's heads, before the school fight happened. Now so much time had passed, so many things happened. All the memories they once shared were faded away, and they were completely different people now.

But that didn't mean Odessa's heart had changed. She still cared about people. She wanted to make sure she was okay. "Are you okay?"

Tory's head shot up and she was shocked to see her there. "What are you doing here?"

"Saw you walk off. Figured you'd be celebrating with your team." She replied, slightly bitter.

"I'm fine, Beaumont. Just go." She snapped and put her head back down.

Odessa didn't believe her. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Your Senseis has a hankering for cheating, I guess."

Again, Tory looked up and she was shocked. "What?"

"You think I don't know the rules of this sport? Or that my dad hadn't been noticing the eyes Silver's been giving the ref?" She scoffed. "I'm not dumb, Tory."

She stood from the chair she was on and glared at her. "You don't know a thing, Odessa."

Odessa wasn't fazed. "Try me."

Tory stood taller than her, and her glare deepened into a frenzy. But she didn't act on her first instinct, which was to swing on her. Her shoulders deflated. "Believe me when I tell you, Odessa, that you don't know." Her voice deepened.

It was almost as if she was trying to tell her something. Odessa dropped her arms. "Why are you still here, Tory?"

Her brows furrowed. "What?"

"I've watched what Silver and this dojo has made you become. You're better than this. You don't need Silver." Odessa continued.

"You don't know what I need." Tory grew defensive.

"I don't?" She raised her brows. "We were friends at once point in time, Tory. I know who you are. You're loyal to the people you care about, but you're so scared of leaving this place that you're pushing all of them away. You're pushing Robby away. You don't want any of us to know how you're truly feeling inside, but I know what you're feeling because I've been there." Odessa paused to catch her breath. "I watched Cobra Kai almost destroy Eli, but he got out. I got out. We all did. I don't want Silver to destroy you."

It was shocking, Tory thought. That Odessa's heart was so big and golden that she could still care about someone like her, somebody who betrayed her a long time ago. Her eyes shined and for a moment, Tory felt like giving in. But she couldn't. She just couldn't. "Well, you're right about one thing," she spoke again. "We were friends at one point. But we're not anymore." She watched Odessa's face fall. "You can try to convince me all you want but this is where I belong. So my advice to you is watch your back."

Tory bumped her shoulder against hers and walked away. Odessa stood there, frozen, trying to comprehend. She closed her eyes and released a sigh. She tried. At least she could say that.

They were still waiting for the girl's fight to begin and Christian looked around for his daughter, but he didn't see her standing anywhere with her friends. He turned to Johnny. "Have you seen Odessa?" He whispered.

Looking around, Johnny shook his head and uttered a quiet, "Nope."

He sighed. Christian looked behind him and Oliver was still sitting with Grayson and Hailey. "Hey guys," he spoke when he walked up to them. He watched their faces fall at his presence. "Have any of you seen Odessa?"

"She stepped out." Hailey was the one to answer, and she gave her friends an awkward look.

"Is she okay?"

"I think she's just nervous." Replied Grayson because Oliver was too busy giving the man a nasty look.

They were loyal friends. Odessa was their best friend, and Christian would always know that the group of three wouldn't forgive him for what he did to his daughter and ex wife. But that didn't mean their reactions to him didn't hurt, because he knew them since they were just kids.

Nodding with the slightest of smiles, Christian turned around and went to look for his daughter. He walked to the front room of the dojo but he didn't see her. There was only so many places she could be. So he checked outside. Have and behold, Odessa was standing there with her back pressed to the wall and she was spaced out as if in deep thought. They had the same look on their faces when they were thinking, the same pinched together eyebrows, the tight jaw, and twitching nose. "Dess, are you okay?" The father carefully asked.

Odessa looked at her father, the in thought expression not uplifting. "Why are you here, dad?"

Christian opened his mouth.

"And I don't mean back in the Valley. I mean here, with us. Back in karate. Why are you back?" She elaborated.

He sealed his lips shut. It was a harder question to answer. It had been over 40 years since Christian stepped foot in a dojo, let alone actually practiced karate. It was one of those things that he didn't ever want to consider again, not after all that he had to endure. But Johnny needed his help, and Christian owed it to him. He also couldn't help but see his younger self in his daughter when he watched her fight. "I'm helping out an old friend, Dess. After everything I did to Johnny, I owe it to him to be here." He told her honestly, even if that wasn't all of it.

Odessa's face shifted slightly. "What about me?" Her voice went quiet, like she was waiting to hear it.

There was a spike in his heart rate. "Oh, Dess," Christian muttered and walked closer to her. "Of course I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you."

Her blue eyes glossed over. "Then tell me if I'm ready for this." She suddenly stated

Her furrowed his brows. "For what? Karate?"

"To forgive you."

Christian's expression fell a little, and his eyes went gentle. His lips parted to answer but he stopped himself. All he had been doing since he returned was begged her to forgive him. He begged Thalia to forgive him. He wanted his family back, he wanted his old life back. He'd give anything in the world to have her forgive him.

But Christian realized now that it wasn't up to him. He could do all the begging he wanted but at the end of the day, it was Odessa's decision. Her life was impacted the most by his absence. He couldn't force her to feel how he wanted her to feel. "I can't tell you that, baby girl. As much I want to, you're not a little kid anymore. You have a mind of your own." His own eyes watered and he wiped them. "But all I want you to know is that I love you so much. No matter what happens, that'll never changed. You'll always be my girl."

How do we forgive our fathers? How was Odessa supposed to forgive him for betraying her love, and making it impossible for her to decipher between real love and or not from everyone she encountered? How was she supposed to undo nearly four years of heartache? Her father was her first love, the first man she ever loved, and he hurt her. How do you come back from that?

Tory was nowhere to be found. Not by Silver, not by her team, and Odessa knew in her heart that she backed out. For whatever reason, she couldn't do it, and she desperately wanted to know why.

"That bitch got scared and ran." Hailey scoffed out of anger. She crossed her arms over her chest.

Odessa didn't reply. With her hands behind her back, she turned her head and met Sam's eyes. They nodded at each other, coming to an understanding. Sam walked onto the mat.

"Tory Nichols?" The Sekai Taikai board member called her name again.

Odessa could see the pissed off expression on Silver and Kim's faces from where they stood. For a minute, she thought there was a possibility they wouldn't have to fight, until Devon stepped up. The young girl looked nervous, and she eyed her old team mates with regret in her eyes.

Odessa stood by Sam and put her hand on her back. "You got this." She whispered.

"Thanks, Des." She whispered back.

Their Senseis gave her encouraging words before the fight started. "Face me. Bow." The ref instructed and the girls listened. "Face each other. Bow. Ready? Fight!"

Devon swung at Sam first but she was quick to back up.

Odessa clapped. "You got this, Sam." She encouraged with a nervous look on her face.

"Sam kicked her leg and Devon blocked it, but she managed to spin around and kick her, which should have earned her a point.

"No point. Shoulder. No point."

"Are you serious?" Oliver said with an angry scoff.

"Jesus, these refs suck." Eli muttered and crossed his arms, shifting side to side on his legs.

"Keep fighting!" The ref ordered.

Grunting, Sam kicked her leg again, harder that time, and Devon blocked every one. She earned a point by kicking Sam on the arm. "Point! 1-0, Lee."

"There was no contact!" Both Daniel and Christian barked and Mr. Larusso threw his hands up.

Sam looked frustrated. She called for a timeout and stood with the four Senseis. Hailey groaned and leaned against Odessa's side. "This is too much for me. I'm getting stress pimples."

Odessa glared at the ref when she saw him look at Silver, the Sensei smirking. "This is ridiculous."

Devon looked at them. Hailey shot her a glare while Odessa just stared at her. "Little traitor." She hissed.

"Hailey." She warned.

"What?" Hailey looked at her. "You know I'm right."

"Of course I do. But stop before you get us thrown out of here."

She rolled her eyes but only huffed.

The ref called for the girls to come back to the mat. When he called for them to fight, Devon lunged forward with a hit, and Sam blocked it quickly. When she went in for another one, Sam ducked down and spun on the floor, grunting loudly as she kicked Devon in the chest. "HAI!"

"Yes!" Odessa cheered as Grayson let out a loud, "Go Sam!"

Point! 1-1, Larusso."

"That's what I'm talking about." Hailey smirked and clapped for her.

They went again. Devon threw a high punch and Sam blocked it using the paint the fence method. Then she used the other hand. Devon leaned back on her foot and kicked at her, while Sam was able to hit her leg with her fist and she spun around, kicking Devon in the stomach.

"YES!" Her team cheered for her.

"Point! 2-1, Larusso."

"Let's go, Sam!" Oliver clapped for her.

Suddenly, Sam dropped to the mat and held her foot. "Ow!" She groaned in pain.

"Sam, what's wrong?" Her father immediately asked and they crowded around her.

"I-I-I don't know. My foot just started hurting." Sam stuttered and her face twisted into a painful expression.

"Can you move your toes?" Christian asked her.

She tried to wiggle her toes and managed to move them slowly, but she groaned again. "Oh my gosh, it really hurts."

"Oh god, not right now." Hailey moaned and covered her face.

"Can you continue fighting?" The ref questioned her.

"What do you think, Larusso?" Johnny asked her, kneeling down on one knee.

Odessa stared at her with worry while they all waited for an answer. Sam looked up in agony and met her eye. "N-No, I don't think I can. Dess, you have to fight."

Her eyes went wide. "What?"

"You're her back up." Hailey mentioned, looking at her as well.

"I know, but—"

Daniel and Chozen helped Sam up and she hobbled on one foot. Christian and Johnny circled Odessa. "Hey, it's alright." Her father spoke gently.

"You can do this, Dess. You were our first winner." Johnny encouraged her, sitting his hand on her shoulder. "You got this."

Odessa looked conflicted. Her eyes shifted between the two of them and she looked at her teammates for what to do. "You can do this, Dessi. We believe in you." Oliver spoke first and nodded confidently.

They all agreed with her. "Show them what a badass you are." Hailey said with a smirk.

"Go kick some ass." Eli added in with a smile.

Odessa managed to smile at that. Sighing, she gave in and they all clapped for her. With their hands shaking her shoulders, Odessa walked onto the mat and locked eyes with Devon, the younger girl now looking slightly terrified. She glared at Silver and Kreese and channeled all of her inner anger into her fist.

"Go, Dess!" Said Miguel and he crossed his arms, watching with anticipation.

When the ref called for them to fight, Devin swung first and Odessa immediately leaned back, dodging it. Grunting, she moved on her feet and threw two punches at Devon, the girl raising her fists to dodge them. Odessa took the opportunity when her hands were raised to kick her in the stomach, and Devin's rumbled out of bounds.

"No point! Out of bounds!" The ref announced.

They all looked at him in disbelief. "She got hit in bounds!" Christian hissed and threw his hands up.

"Are you serious?" Eli snapped at them while Oliver covered her eyes with his hands, incredibly frustrated.

Odessa huffed in annoyance and backed up to her spot again. Knowing that the ref was cheating only made her more angry, and she clenched her fists tighter until they became white. She needed to think like a fighter. Like a winner.

"Fight!"

Grunting loudly, Odessa stepped up and threw a punch. Devon followed her action and threw her fist out as well, their arms clashing and Odessa ducked under her arm, making them switch sides. Devon immediately went in for a kick and hit her in the ribs.

"Point! 2-2, Lee. The next point wins."

Odessa groaned and inhaled a sharp breath.

"Come on, Dess."

"You got this, Odessa!"

"You can do it."

"You can do it, Dessa."

She looked at her father, him already looking at her. His arms were crossed over his chest and his fists were squeezed with nerves. Christian could see that she was worried, and he smiled at her, nodding his head. You got this. He mouthed.

Little Odessa knew as long as she had her father's approval that nothing else mattered. All she cared about was him. Fourteen year old Odessa never thought she would see her father again, so why did she care about what he would think of her actions? He wasn't there to stop her. She hated him for abandoning her. But there was deep rooted feeling of want, to have him approve of her because she loved him so much and his opinion mattered the most to her. Seventeen year old Odessa understood now, and her father knew what he was doing. He was here. He was encouraging her to win. That's all she ever wanted.

Turning her attention back to Devon, Odessa wiped her nose for a brief second and got back in her stance. She squeezed her fists and narrowed her eyes. She turned everything out, Devon being the only thing she payed attention to. And when the ref called for them to fight, she took immediate action.

Devon lunged at her with a grunt but Odessa grunted louder. "HAI!" She yelled and kicked her in the stomach, making her stumble back. Moving on her feet, Odessa threw punch after punch and the higher girl was bale to dodge them but it was a struggle.

"Let's go, baby!" Eli nearly yelled and clapped.

"Come on, Dess!" Grayson and Oliver did yell.

Finally, when Devon came at her with her fists raised, she swung her arm and Odessa bent down. She swiped her legs out from under her and Devin fell to the mat. "Hai!" She grunted and punched her in the chest.

"Point, Beaumont! Winner!"

Immediately, her team mates erupted in cheers. "YEAH!" Odessa stood there in shock until she felt a pair of arms wrap around her. Eli lifted her up and spun her around, the action pulling her out of shock and she laughed.

When she was sat down, Miguel threw his arms around her shoulders, nearly crushing her. "That's what I'm talking about! That's what I'm talking about!" He changed and threw one of his arms up. "WHOO!"

Hailey pulled her into a hug. "I'm so proud of you!" She squealed.

Odessa's lips parted in slight shock, but she laughed happily. "Did I just do that?"

"You just did that." Robby nodded with laughter and Oliver threw his long arms around her shoulder.

"YEAH, BABY! WHOO!"

She giggled as they all continued jumping for joy. Odessa turned to Eli and he cupped her face while smiling largely. "Was I right?"

"Sure, I'll give it to you." She giggled again and kissed him, the smile on their lips making it hard.

They continued shaking her around and Odessa smiled at them all. Sam came and stood in front of her, walking on both feet, and her jaw dropped. "What? I thought—"

Sam smirked.

"You lied?"

"Not really lied, just tricked." She laughed and Hailey went and stood beside her.

Odessa looked between the two of them. "Huh?" She said cluelessly. When they smiled at each other, she blinked her eyes. "Both of you were in on it?"

"You don't believe in yourself, but, we do." Sam declared and pointed between her and Hailey.

Hailey nodded. "We knew you wouldn't fight on your own."

Odessa slowly broke out into a smile. She walked into them and they grouped hugged. She groaned when all of them suddenly surrounded her. "Oh, Jesus."

"You guys know what this means," the tallest of them announced and Oliver smirked. "Who's throwing the party?"

They all just laughed. Odessa saw her dad smiling at them all and he put his hand on his heart, almost like he was about to cry. Odessa smiled his way, her teeth showing, and she suddenly felt like the younger version of herself when she stared at her father with rose colored glasses.