Chapter Eighteen
Primadonna

SYDNEY WALKED INTO the Larusso's backyard to see Sam and Robby sparring. The other day, Sam had called her to tell her that she and Daniel invited Robby to stay with them after discovering that his mother had been gone and he had no running water. Sydney felt bad for the boy and grateful that the Larusso's were kind enough to help him. "Looking good out there, loves." She whistled at them, making herself present.

The two stopped fighting and grinned at her. "What are you doing here, Syd?" Sam asked.

"Well, Miguel's at the dojo and my dance class ended earlier so I figured I'd hang here since I don't have any other friends." The Brit explained.

Robby chuckled. "You don't have any friends?"

"A lot of people don't like me, Robby." Sydney replied and flipped her hair off her shoulder.

"It's true. She's kind of a bitch." Sam agreed.

Sydney blew a kiss in her direction.

Robby looked back at Sam and gave her a soft smile. "Listen, I want to thank you."

"For what?"

"Last week I had no hot water. This week I have a jacuzzi in my backyard." Robby explained.

"Well, I wouldn't get too excited. We did find a dead possum in there." Sam said in amusement.

"And a dead snake. Almost put me into cardiac arrest." Sydney added with a shudder.

"Seriously, thank you." Robby smiled at Sam again. "It's been a little rough lately and it's nice to have people look out for you."

"It's what friends do." Sam replied.

Robby shook his head slightly. "Not all friends."

Sydney smiled to herself at their interaction and felt her heart warm up.

"Alright guys, enough chit chat. Let's see where you're at." Daniel announced when he came outside. He looked down at the British girl sitting on the steps. "Hey Syd."

"Hey dad #2." She smiled happily.

Daniel rolled his eyes and chuckled.

Two boys appeared in the backyard and looked around the area. "Good afternoon." Daniel greeted them.

"Hey, uh, we're looking for Miyagi-Do." One of them stated.

"You're in the right place." Daniel smiled.

"Commercial said lessons are free?" The other guy asked.

"They sure are."

The two of them smiled in excitement. One of them in a red hoodie turned around a smirked at Sydney. "Hey, you a student here?"

She smiled viciously. "I don't need karate. I'm wearing six inch heels."

His eyes widened and he immediately turned back around. She smirked proudly.

"You guys ready to get started?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah." They agreed with a smile.

"Great. I have a couple cans of paint out front. The fence back here could use a fresh coat." Daniel explained and Robby and Sam came and stood behind him. "Robby will show you."

Sydney got up from her spot on the steps and stood on the other side of Sam.

The smiles on their faces fell and they looked at each other. "You want us to paint your fence?" The one who flirted with Sydney asked in disbelief.

"Keep an open mind, guys. It'll all make sense later." Robby assured them.

"In order to full understand Miyagi-Do karate you have to unlearn your misconceptions about what constitutes training." Daniel explained.

"I knew this was bullshit. This was all just some scam to get kids to do your yard work, huh?" The one in the grey hoodie scoffed.

Sydney glared.

"No no, this is part of the process." Daniel denied.

"Yeah, the process. My mom was right. With car salesmen, you always gotta read the fine print." The one in red stated.

"With that attitude, I'm surprised you know how to read at all." Sydney fired making Robby laugh.

Sam and her dad gave the girl a look. "Look, I'm not trying to sell you anything. I'm trying to teach you karate." Daniel continued.

"Come on. Let's go check out that place with the snake." The one on grey said and they left.

"I'll be sure to call and tell them two pussies are on their way. They don't like those." Sydney called out as they left.

"Sydney." Sam scoffed and nudged her.

"What, am I wrong? No, I'm not."

Robby chuckled. "Your accent makes it funnier."

"Why, thank you." She grinned.

Sam rolled her eyes. "Don't encourage her."

"Aww, stop pretending you don't like when I'm mean to people." Sydney pouted and wrapped her arms around the girl.

Sydney always felt the happiest when she was Miguel. Whether it was spending the day with him or simply watching him do little things, Sydney wanted to be around him always. She was currently sitting on his bed with his head laying across her lap. His eyes were closed and she played with his hair. "Wait, so you and Hawk confronted Johnny about Robby?"

"Yeah." Miguel sighed. "He said it was none of our business and then made us clean mats."

"I'm not going to say I was right, but. . ."

Miguel rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, you were right."

She smirked and twisted his hair around her fingers. "I know, I just love hearing you say it."

He groaned and rolled over so his face was hidden in her stomach. She giggled. "Are you okay?"

"Not really." His voice muffled. "I just wish he would have told me sooner."

"Why does it bother you so much?" She asked gently.

He grabbed one of her hands that was in his hair and started playing with it. "I don't know. I guess. . . I guess I'm a little jealous."

"Honey, you have nothing to be jealous of." She said softly. "Johnny loves you. You're his best student. Don't think that just cause Robby's his son that he's going to abandon you because he won't."

Miguel grinned and kissed her hand. "Thanks babe."

The sound of the doorbell ringing made her groan. "Don't answer it."

Miguel chucked. "I have to."

He got up from the bed and she pouted. She followed him down the hall and into the kitchen. He unlocked the door and peeked his head out to see Johnny. "Hey sensei, what's going on?"

"Let's go for a ride." Johnny offered.

Miguel furrowed his brows and glanced back at his girlfriend before looking back at him. "Uh, Sydney's here with me."

"That's fine. She can come to to."

Miguel looked at her again. "Want to go for a drive."

"Sure, why not."

Johnny had taken them to a burger place downtown. Sydney leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. She silently sipped on her coke.

"Good burger, huh?" Johnny asked and held up his half eaten burger.

"Yeah." Miguel nodded.

"I haven't had a burger in forever."  Sydney admitted and ate one of her fries.

"You on a diet or something?"  Johnny questioned.

"No,  my mum was a dancer so she never ate fast food.  Then she put me in classes when I was young so it was never in my diet."  She explained.  She picked up her cheeseburger with a grin.  "Doesn't mean I can't cheat every once in a while."

Miguel smiled at her with a mouth full of food.

"The secrets the chopped onions."  Johnny informed.  "Sal keeps it simple.  None of that veggie crap."

"Hey,  don't knock veggie burgers."  Sydney pointed a finger at him and took another sip of coke.

"She's not wrong.  I tried one the other day. They're good."  Miguel nodded.

The three of them went silent for a moment and Johnny glanced at Miguel before pointing at the hospital across the street.  "You see that building over there?"

"The hospital?"  Miguel asked.

"That's where Robby was born.  February 4,  2002.  It was a Monday.  His mom was in labor for seventeen hours."  Johnny began explaining to them.

A ghost of a smile hinted on her lips.  "He's only a months older than me."

"That must've been crazy."  Miguel added.

"Yeah,  I'm sure it was.  I wasn't there."  The blonde man admitted and his eyes glossed over.

Sydney's smile disappeared and she felt her heart break a little. 

"My mom had just died.  I was a real mess.  I never knew my father so she was all I had.  Next thing I know,  I'm gonna be a dad.  Scared the shit out of me."

Sydney gave a sad grin. 

"So,  instead of being up there,  welcoming him into the world. . . I was down here,  soaking up the doors from a three day bender,  trying to get the courage to walk across the street.  And I never got there."  Johnny continued.  His voice was laced with pain and regret.

The British girl felt her heart break again and she wanted to cry.  Miguel said nothing and just looked at him with a soft expression. 

"I failed my kid on his very first day in this world and I have been failing him every day sense. . ."

A tear slipped down her cheek and she wiped it with the back of her hand and let out a shaky breath.  Miguel grabbed her hand from under the table.

He shook his head. "Sensei,  this is personal stuff. You don't have to tell me."

"No,  I—I should've told you a long time ago.  It's one of the most painful things in my life."  Johnny carried on and breathed shakily.  He looked Miguel in the eye.  "But one of the best things has been teaching you."

Miguel's lips curled up slightly and Sydney smiled at him,  squeezing his hand.

"And I want you to know,  no matter what happens,  I promise I'll always be on your side and I'll always have your best interest at heart."  Johnny spoke softly to Miguel like he was his father.

"Thank you."  Miguel said quietly with a small nod.

Johnny grinned and his eyes flickered to sydney.  He pointed at her.  "And you have her too.  Don't forget that."

Sydney grinned at the boy playfully.  "Yeah,  don't forget about me."

Miguel smiled at her.  "I could never."

Johnny watched the two of them look at each other with love and he couldn't help but think back to his time with Ali.  When they were still young and in love.

Miguel's phone chimed.  "Aisha heard that Miyagi-Do is doing some sort of demo at Valley Fest."

Johnny's face darkened.  "Oh they are,  huh?"

Sydney was in an awkward place.  She knew of the rivalry between Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do but she had friends on both sides.  She grew up with the Larusso family and grew up with stories about Mr.  Miyagi.  But her boyfriend was in Cobra Kai and she gained new friends along with it.  It was an awkward place to be when you could've make a decision on who to stand with.