 ( chapter twenty five )
LASER TAG.

Syd stood in Cobra Kai after class excited as she spoke with Eli. "So, where are we going?" She wondered. Eli smirked, placing a hand by her head on the wall she leant against. "The arcade at Golf N' Stuff. We can play shitty games, there's music, even an old laser tag place next door." Syds smile fell as she looked at him. "Really? Are we always just gonna go somewhere with a bunch of screaming kids? First the roller rink, then the amusement park, public pool, water park, even an actual playground. I'm starting to sense a pattern."

"Hey, I promise our next date spot will be the most romantic place you've ever seen, okay? But this place is awesome and you're gonna love it. I mean, who doesn't have fun in an arcade?" Eli responded, obviously trying to build hype around the location. Syd rolled her eyes, smiling lightly. "Fine, but next time I'm choosing the location." Eli nodded. "Fine by me."

"What's this I hear of an arcade?" Mitch questioned, catching the attention of other Cobra Kai members. "Oh, no." Syd sighed, just ready to watch this all play out. "Uh, actually... it's just gonna be Syd and—" Eli begun, instantly being cut off. "I think the arcade is just the place to go to let off some steam. What do you guys think?" Mitch spoke, turning to the other boys who all nodded in agreement.

Eli looked to Syd, hoping she'd clear it up. The girl just smiled at him, letting him know without words that he had to fix it himself. "You know, Assface... it's actually a date night, so..." Eli spoke, not knowing what he could say to still make sure he sounded cool in front of his friends. "A date at an arcade? Sounds lame. But a day with all your friends? That's where it's at." Mitch laughed, walking away from Eli and Syd to go and talk to the other guys about where they'd now all be going.

Syd just pat Eli on the shoulder, moving past him. "Good job." She walked over to Tory, who'd been watching from afar with amusement written all over her face. "Wow, I've never seen a date crashing so extreme before. Who'd have guessed a location picked by a guy would sound fun to a bunch of other guys?" Syd rolled her eyes, laughing lightly. "Tell me about it. This just gives me reason to have free rein for a while when it comes to locations. I'll be able to pull this card and it will be magical."

Tory laughed, shaking her head. "Well, I hope you have fun with the guys." Syd frowned, groaning. "Oh, please come. I think I'll die if you're not there with me. I can't explain how boring it is to watch all of them dude out together. It's honestly kinda scary to deal with alone." Tory rolled her eyes, smile not leaving her face. "I think you'll survive. Besides, even if I wanted to I can't. I have work."

Syd sighed. "Okay, well... how about after? Could be fun. We could sneak off and leave them all there." Tory laughed again. "I'll think about it. Except, turning it into a hang out for us does sound appealing. I'm always at work and you're always with Hawk, it sucks." Syd rolled her eyes, grimacing. "Tell me about it. He's been to my house so much my brother now asks why he's not there if he doesn't come over. Don't get me wrong, I think it's adorable, but I need some girl time."

Tory sighed. "Okay, well... if it gets to be too much with them there just text me and I'll see what I can do. But if something actually fun is happening text me about that too." Syd nodded, smiling. "Perfect."

"Babe! Come on, we're heading out." Eli spoke, ushering the girl his way. Syd turned to Tory, sighing, "Do you think if I start to cry I can get out of this?" Tory chuckled, shaking her head. "Not at all." Syd sighed. "Yeah, that's what I thought too."

She waved goodbye to her friend, moving to go by Eli again. "You ready?" He wondered, sending the girl an amused look when she glared at him. "You're funny, you know? You've just got this timing that lets the jokes keep coming and—" Syd quickly got cut off, Eli pulling her out of the dojo. "Let's go."

"Asshole." Syd frowned, moving into the drivers seat of her car as Eli hopped into the passenger seat. "Hey, Syd?" Sydney sent him a look, nervous as to what he was gonna say. "What?" Her question was immediately answered, Mitch, Red, and another boy named Steven all hopping into the back of her car. "Let's go!" Mitch smiled, smacking the back of Eli's seat.

Syd looked to the boy up front, smiling lightly. "I'm gonna kill you." He sighed, nodding slightly. "Fair." Syd scoffed, facing forward and beginning to drive. "Can't believe I've turned into the Uber driver for my own date."

———————

Syd stood off to the side as Eli, Mitch, Rickenberger, and a few other boys ran around the arcade messing with random kids and stealing peoples tickets. She rolled her eyes, going on her phone and seeing a next from Tory. How's the arcade?

Syd sighed, replying fast. The boys are just running around traumatizing children. S.O.S. Her phone immediately dinged, another text. Sorry, work. I'll try and save you later though.

It wasn't hard to notice Tory had been a bit MIA. Syd understood why, but it was obvious no one else did. Outside of the dojo it almost felt like Syd was still the only girl, always stuck hanging out with the boys nonstop. She liked most of them, but it didn't change the fact that she wanted more female energy around.

So, she figured it wouldn't hurt and went to text Moon. But, she never got to as all the boys ran her way. Eli smiled, breathing heavily as he showed her all the tickets he'd gotten. "Check it out! Come on, I'll get you something nice." Syd rolled her eyes, smiling lightly as Eli handed the tickets off and grabbed the girls hand, pulling her with the rest of the group.

He felt bad that the day had been taken over by the team, but he also wanted to make sure the boys knew he was still their leader and still the same badass rule breaker he'd always been. He didn't want to be the guy who went soft once he got a girlfriend.

The group made it to the prize stand, immediately recognizing Chris behind the counter. "Hey, buddy!" Eli spoke, slamming the tickets down. "Hey, prize wench." Mitch added, smirking at his old friend. "What do you guys want?" Chris just sighed.

"Well, to spend our hard-earned tickets, of course. Why don't you be a good girl and grab us one of those bobbleheads?" Eli smirked, watching Chris walk toward the bobbleheads before jumping the counter, throwing as much as he could at the other guys as Chris tried to stop them. "Thanks, Chris. Tell your mom I miss her." Mitch yelled, running off.

"Yeah, tell her to stop calling me." Eli added, running off as well. Syd rolled her eyes, making eye contact with Chris as he frowned. "Nice friends." The girl just rolled her eyes. "Still better than yours." She quickly left, walking back into the arcade and immediately standing before Eli as he smiled at her. "What took you so long?"

"Why aren't you running around with the guys?" Syd replied, watching the boy. "Oh, come on. I could never just leave you behind." He responded, handing the girl the dolphin he'd grabbed. "Got this one especially for you." Syd just laughed lightly, walking past the boy. "You're an idiot."

He shrugged, catching up with her to walk alongside her. "Maybe. Come on, we're gonna sneak into the laser tag and fuck around." Eli wrapped his arm around the girl, leading her to where the rest of the guys were before they all snuck next door and went into the old laser tag building.

A lot of the boys decided to hang out in other places, leaving only Syd, Eli, Mitch, Rickenberger, and another boy at the laser tag place as they fucked around. Eli set up one of the bears he'd stolen, spinning around and kicking it as the boys all laughed. Syd leaned against the wall, watching with boredom as she just stood there. Eli had put the dolphin into Mitch's bag, keeping it safe as all the other animals were used as target practice.

"Brew time, man." Mitch smiled, going into his bag and grabbing a beer. "Sweet." Eli smiled, sending Syd a glance as she just stared at her phone. "Who's for a warm one?" Mitch continued. "Who the hell wants a warm beer? You didn't bring an ice pack?" Eli replied, focusing on Mitch again. The other boy just sighed, placing the beverage back in his bag as all three boys shoved him. "What were you thinking?" Eli continued.

Suddenly the lights cut out, only leaving a blue light on all around the place. Syd looked up, figuring something interesting would finally be happening. "What the hell?" Mitch wondered. Suddenly it was clear what was happening as Sam, Demetri, Chris, and two other boys from Miyagi-Do walked in. Syd moved to Torys contact, smirking lightly. Sam's here.

Five minutes. Tory replied and Syd put her phone away, going to stand with the boys. Eli scoffed, looking at Sam. "What do you what?" She just glared back at him, angry. "Payback."

Suddenly Sam attacked, pushing a boy back before kicking Mitch in the face. She went for Eli and Rickenberger next, dodging their attacks and throwing her own.

Syd smiled, finally knowing how she'd have fun. Her gaze met Demetri's as he kicked one of the Cobra Kai boys down, his own eyes widening as he got ready to fight the girl. Syd kicked forward, forcing him further into a corner as she kicked the boy beside him in the stomach hard, the boy slowly sinking to the floor.

Syd grabbed Demetri's arm, pulling him past her into the open and flipping him onto his back, kicking his side. Demetri held his hand up, looking at the girl. "We don't need to fight! My problem isn't with you." She looking down at him. "Oh yeah? Well, mine is." Syd kicked him again, the boy curling into himself after.

She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, spinning around to be face to face with Sam. Syd just smirked, immediately throwing a punch as Sam dodged it. Sam kicked at her, something Syd threw down before grabbing the other girl by the hair and throwing her head down. Sam let out a scream, falling to the ground before sweeping Syds legs and causing the other girl to fall as well. Sam stood up, winding up to punch the girl again. "You used to stand up to bullies, now you've just become one." Sam spoke.

"Sam LaRusso. Where are you, bitch?" Tory's voice rang out, both Red and Edwin behind her as they joined the fight. Syd watched as Sam suddenly froze, smirking lightly. "Oh, now you're really gonna get it. If you think I'm pissed at you... yikes." Sam's fearful eyes connected with Syds, Syd pulling her legs to her chest and kicking forward, hard. Sam stumbled back, basically running off to hide.

Syd stood up, running to meet up with Tory. "I see you made it." Tory smirked, turning for a moment and punching a boy who came at her before looking back at Sydney. "What can I say? You made a pretty good case."

She then turned out, smirking. "Show yourself, LaRusso!" Syd just laughed, knowing Sam wouldn't be coming out anytime soon. "Looks like you scared her, Tory." The other girl laughed, shaking her head. "What a fake ass bitch. Come on."

Both girls ran back into the fight, Syd watching as Eli took Demetri down with ease, holding the boys arm up behind his back.

Everyone else from Cobra Kai joined and stopped behind the girl, obviously the rest of Miyagi-Do had been taken care of. "No! Please, stop! Eli, stop! Stop! It— it's me! Don't do it! No!" Demetri pleaded, Eli just continuing to pull back on the boys arm. "Help me!" Demetri yelled out.

"Do it! Finish him!" Tory spoke, the other boys joining in to hype Eli up. "He deserves it." Rickenberger spoke. "Pussy!" Another boy shouted. "Do it, Hawk!" Someone else spoke. "No. It's fine. I'll go!" Demetri tried. "I'll go."

Eli looked at Syd for a moment, almost asking her what to do. She just stood there for a moment, arms crossed over her chest as her eye met Demetri's, looking back at Eli with a nod. "Do it."

"Hawk, finish him!" Tory agreed, Eli turning back to Demetri. He breathed heavily before suddenly attacking, breaking the boy underneath hims arm. Demetri screamed out in pain, shaking. "Damn it!"

Eli walked backwards to join the group, standing between Tory and Syd as he did so. "Pussy." Tory spoke, shaking her head at the boy continuing to groan in pain on the ground.

Syd watched as everyone started hyping Eli up, walking off. Syd stayed back, watching as Eli's face dropped at the sight of Demetri for a moment while the boy sobbed before finally deciding to leave. "This isn't over, LaRusso!" Tory spoke out, knowing Sam could hear her.

Syd walked next to him, noticing the way his mind was obviously racing. "Hey. You did what you had to do." Eli looked her way, nodding a bit. "Yeah, I know." He watched as Syd walked past him, smiling as she began to walk beside Tory. Eli just kept watching the girl, fully noticing how different she was then when he'd met her.

He remembered a time where him even calling Demetri a name wasn't okay with her, and now here she was making the final call for Demetri's arm to get broken. And he'd followed, doing it right when she spoke. He wondered what would have happened if she'd have said no, if he'd have shown mercy. The boy really didn't know, but he was concerned for the girl walking in front of him.

Tory wrapped an arm around Syds shoulders, smiling as she pulled her friend into her side. Syd laughed, wrapping her own arm around Torys waist. "You know, I've got a bottle of vodka that could use some action. We may as well celebrate." Tory looked around to the rest of the boys, all of them smiling and nodding at her idea. "It also happens to be in my bag." Tory added, smiling wider as she showed it off.

"We can go to my place." Syd added, remembering Oliver was spending the night at a friends. She'd planned the sleepover for the boy under the assumption her and Eli would have a date then hang out at her house, but after the way the night ended it seemed only fitting they all went over. "Sounds good to me." Tory agreed, everyone else voicing their excitement.

They all made it to the parking lot, splitting up in cars. "Shotgun!" Tory smirked, moving to stand beside the passenger seat of Syds car. Eli didn't say a word, just getting in the back with Mitch and Rickenberger while the rest of the group went in a separate car.

Upon making it to Syds house, they all grew excited as the girl pulled out glasses, Tory pouring everyone something from her bottle. "Hey, Syd, catch!" Mitch suddenly spoke, taking the dolphin out of his bag and throwing it to the girl. She caught it, sending him a look before throwing it on the couch.

"Bottoms up." Tory smiled, lifting her glass. She turned to Syd. "We both got the most, and I figured we could decide what to do with the rest later." Syd laughed. "Have I ever told you I love you?" Tory just smiled. "Maybe once or twice."

Everyone else lifted their own glasses, each downing their drinks as Syd put music on. She noticed Eli had moved to sit on the couch, holding the dolphin in his lap. She smiled, hopping over the side to sit by him. "Hey, what's up?" He sent her a quick glance, shaking his head. "It's nothing. I kinda wish we could be alone now, though." Syd frowned. "So it's fine for everyone to be there when you have fun but the second you're not into it I'm supposed to just kick them all out? That's not exactly a fair trade off."

"I just want to hang out with you." Eli spoke, looking at the girl. "Yeah, and I wanted that all day. Come talk to me when you've lightened up." Syd got up at that, walking back to the kitchen and joining Tory for another shot.

Soon enough the only people left were Syd, Tory, and Eli as he continued to just sit on the couch. Everyone else had gone home (Tory basically having to kick Mitch out) as the two girls sat in the kitchen. "What's his deal? He's just been over there brooding all night." Tory wondered, ushering toward the boy.

Syd rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she took another drink from the bottle. "I can't deal with it right now. He spends all day running around with the guys while I just sit off to the side but the second I'm finally having some fun he wants everyone to leave. I can't win." Tory nodded. "Well, hopefully he figures whatever's up out. There's a real negative energy over there."

"Why do you think I'm over here?" Syd replied, both girls laughing a bit. Tory checked the clock, sighing. "Hey, can I stay here tonight? I don't have the cash for an Uber and it's getting late." Syd nodded. "Of course, guest bedroom is down the hall just head in whenever you're ready."

Tory nodded, taking one more drink before handing Syd the bottle. "I'm thinking now. Have fun with him." Tory spoke, rolling her eyes. "Night." Syd laughed, taking another drink herself before capping the bottle and sticking it in the fridge.

She decided she'd spent enough time being a bad girlfriend and moved back over to sit beside Eli, resting her head on his shoulder. "Still upset?" He sighed, pulling her closer to himself. "I've just got a weird feeling I can't shake. Sorry."

Syd shrugged, not really in the state of mind to care too much at that point, the vodka starting to hit. "Well, what's up?" She wrapped her arms around his arm, placing a quick kiss on the backside of his hand as she connected her fingers with his and lifted his hand toward her lips.

"I've got this weird feeling about what happened with Demetri. Like, I don't know... I think it just hit me how much everything's changed. I mean— he used to be my best friend and now I just broke his arm, it's kinda intense." Eli explained quietly, really wanting to make sure only Syd heard. She nodded slightly, taking his words in the best she could. "Well, I mean do you still care about him?"

Eli shook his head. "No, no. I don't." It seemed like he was saying it more to himself than her. "Okay, then the issue is just nostalgia?" She wondered, not really seeing how it could be effecting him so much if he really didn't care about the other boy. "You know it's okay to still care about him, right? Even if you dislike him or whatever. The care you feel for someone who was your best friend for that long isn't easily destroyed."

"Yeah... no, I don't care about him. After everything that's happened and everything he's told people the pussy deserved it. I guess I just don't like how it all played out." Eli spoke. "Got it." Syd replied, lightly tracing shapes on his back of his hand. "I'm sorry about today, by the way. I wanted to hang out with you more but I guess I just want to make sure the guys know I'm still me. I don't want them to think I've gone soft. But, I shouldn't have ditched you all day and then gotten annoyed once we got here." He spoke again.

Syd lifted her head up, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "You're forgiven. Besides, I think it's cute when you say you want us to be alone. Even if your timing sucks." He chuckled lightly, placing his hand on her leg and moving his thumb side to side. Syd turned his face toward her own, connecting their lips. He quickly pulled away. "Hey, I know you're my girlfriend and we do this all the time but I don't want to do anything while I'm sober and you're not, okay?"

Syd frowned, nodding. "I hate when you're sweet." He just chuckled, moving a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Tell anyone and I'll deny it." Syd rolled her eyes, laughing slightly. "Yeah, yeah. I know."

She then got an idea, smiling slightly as she pulled the boy up, grabbing both of his hands as she pulled him toward the kitchen. "Now, you can say no of course, but I just thought... if you don't want to kiss or anything while you're sober, there is some left in Torys bottle. Remove any guilt." Eli chuckled. "You're cute when you plot."

"I know." Syd replied, laughing at her own joke. "So?" She wondered, smile widening as he nodded. "Yeah, hit me with it. You were right, tonight's worth celebrating." Syd smiled. "I'm sorry I was what now? Can you repeat it? I didn't catch it the first time."

She handed the boy the bottle, watching as he finished the rest that was inside with a few gulps. She placed the glass bottle in the recycling, still waiting to hear him repeat himself. Eli placed his hands on her hips, already feeling warmer from the drink. He connected his lips to hers, smiling as he felt Syd smile and wrap her arms around his neck.

He pulled away, grabbing the girls hand and moving to the couch to hand her the dolphin. "Sleep?" He wondered. "I'm still waiting to hear what you said." Syd replied, hugging the stuffed animal as she smiled at the boy. "Not gonna happen you heard me the first time. It's already damaging enough I had to say it to begin with." Eli spoke.

"You're no fun." Syd complained, frown taking over her features. "And you're beautiful." Eli replied, eyes just staring into Syds. She smiled, feeling her cheeks heat up. He pulled her behind him up the stairs, turning to her room instinctually.

Syd went into her closet for a moment, changing into pajama shorts and one of the shirts she'd stolen from the boy. She pulled out a different shirt she'd taken from him, throwing it at him after she changed. "You're funny." The boy spoke, pulling his shirt off completely and leaving it that way. "But, I will take this back."

Syd quickly grabbed the shirt, throwing it back into her closet. "Oh, no. It disappeared." Eli laughed, shutting the girls bedroom door before pulling her onto the bed next to him, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Syd spun around, facing the boy as they laid there. He smiled just at the sight of her, pressing his lips softly onto hers. Syd smiled, placing one of her hands on his cheek as she pulled him closer. Her hand then travelled down his side, wrapping around to his back where she began drawing little shapes. She felt the boy sink into her further, pressing his body as close to hers as possible.

When he pulled away Syd just smiled, spinning back around to face away from him as she grew exhausted. Eli laughed, sitting up slightly and placing a kiss on her head. "I'll be right back."

He moved into her bathroom, Syd hearing the shower run for a bit before he walked back in, still just in his shorts but with his hair flopping down into his face. He jumped over her, wrapping his arms around the girl again as he moved under her covers. "You know Tory is downstairs, right?" Syd wondered.

"Yeah, but I can't sleep with my hair spiked and besides, I'll just leave the room after I redo it." Eli replied. Syd reached for her lamp, clicking it off before getting comfortable again in Eli's arms. "Goodnight, Syd." Eli spoke softly, planting a kiss into the girls hair. "Night." Syd replied, closing her eyes.

Eli felt her breathing even out almost immediately as he laid there, holding onto the girl. He felt her turn into him, moving closer as he just kept a protective arm around her. He closed his eyes as well, letting the peace of the night and knowing she was right there with him help him drift off to sleep.

AUTHORS NOTE!
cute ending if I do say so myself