
Bᴇsᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Bᴇsᴛ (3)
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Jamie sets her bag down before walking over toward the teens. Today was the day that they were fighting for team captain. Jamie didn't know what to expect. She had barely slept the night before because of how nervous she was. She shook her arms out as she approached Miguel. His eyes focused on Robby.
She smiles as she stands beside him, "Hey."
Miguel turns to her, "Hey."
"Everything okay?"
Miguel nods more to himself, "Yeah."
"Okay." Jamie nods, "Listen, just do what you do best, okay? I know there's a lot on the line for you, but don't let it psych you out. I'm right here for you."
Miguel smiles softly as he nods. Jamie reaches up and places a soft kiss on his cheek. Daniel and Johnny step up to the sparring deck. Daniel walking up and facing the kids, "Miguel, Robby, you're up first."
The two teens step onto the deck and bow to Daniel, "First to three points wins. Face each other. Bow." The teens do as told, "Fighting positions."
"Ais!"
"Ais!"
"Ready? Fight." Daniel says before stepping back
The two take a second to size each other up before Robby swings at Miguel which gets blocked. Miguel swings at Robby before trying to kick him which Robby dodges. Miguel then gets down and sweeps Robby's leg before hitting his chest.
Jamie cheers as they stand up, "Point, Diaz." Daniel says, "One point, Diaz. Zero points, Keene. Ready? Fight."
Robby sends a kick toward Miguel which he dodges. He tries kicking again, but Miguel blocks. Miguel turns as Robby kicks at him again and blocks him. Miguel feigns a kick at him, but Robby sends a kick of his own. Miguel blocks it before Robby swings at him. Miguel blocks him and sends his own punch to Robby that gets dodged.
Miguel kicks at Robby which he successfully blocks before Miguel sends a kick to his face sending the teen to the ground.
"Yes." Jamie mumbles as the other teens clap.
"Point, Diaz. Two points." Daniel says as they stand up, "One more, and he wins. That's two points to zero. Ready?"
"Ais!" Miguel yells out
"Fight."
The two circle each other for a few seconds. Miguel tries to kick at Robby, but Robby successfully blocks. Miguel kicks and punches, but Robby is able to block them. Miguel swings and tries to sweep Robby's leg, but the teen flips over him. As they stand, Miguel swings at Robby, but is blocked again.
Robby blocks a few more punches before landing a punch to Miguel's chest. Jamie sighs sadly as the teens clap behind her.
"Point, Keene." Daniel says as Miguel stands, "Two to one. Ready? Fight."
Miguel immediately jumps up and tries sending a kick to Robby, but the boy ducks under. Miguel turns and swings a few times, but Robby blocks each one. Robby sends a kick of his own that Miguel dodges. Miguel sends a few punches that Robby blocks before the two circle each other again.
Robby tries swinging at Miguel, but the boy blocks. Robby kicks at Miguel, but he just barely blocks it while stumbling back. Robby then jumps up and kicks Miguel in his face sending the boy to the ground in front of Jamie.
"Point, Keene." Daniel says
"Miguel, you're too in your head." Jamie tries, "Don't worry. No matter what happens, everything's gonna be okay."
Miguel breathes heavily, "No, I need this."
"Miguel." Jamie tries, but the boy stands up and gets in his stance
"All right. Two to two. Next point wins." Daniel says, "Ready? Fight."
Miguel sends the first punch which Robby is able to block. Each of them try punching at one another, but the other is able to block them. Robby swings at Miguel which the boy blocks before getting down and blocking a kick that Robby sends. He ducks down as Robby tries kicking him again before getting up and feigning a kick sending the boy back. He blocks a jab as Robby swings at him before stepping back and kicking at Robby.
Robby blocks it before swinging at Miguel which gets blocked. As Robby kicks at Miguel, Miguel grabs his legs sending the two to the ground. Robby then picks his leg and tries to kick Miguel's chest, but Miguel blocks it before trying to send one of his own. Robby blocks it and the two roll over to stand up.
Miguel jumps up and punches at Robby, but Robby side steps him and sends a few jabs of his own. Miguel blocks each one before punching at Robby. Jamie takes a deep breath as Robby continues to block Miguel's punches.
Miguel blocks a punch from Robby before ducking down and narrowly missing another swing. Robby tries punching at Miguel's chest, but the boy blocks it and tries to knee him. Robby steps back as he pushes Miguel's leg away.
As Miguel kicks at Robby, Robby grabs his leg and flips him over before quickly punching his chest earning the last point.
"Point. Winner."
The teens cheer as Jamie deflates. Daniel helps Miguel up before the two teens turn to each other.
"No hard feelings?" Robby says
"No, man." Miguel says shaking his head. The two fist bump before turning to Daniel.
"Congratulations, Robby."
"Thanks, Mr. LaRusso."
The teens turn to the others as Daniel holds Robby's hand up, "Your male captain. Robby Keene."
"Good job, Robby. Sorry, Miguel." Johnny claps before the teens step down, "Hey, you were a badass out there. Today just wasn't your day."
"Thanks, Sensei." Miguel says as Johnny walks up to the deck
Miguel walks over to Jamie, "You did great."
"Thank you." He nods, "You're gonna do better. You got this."
Jamie nods lightly before Miguel places a soft kiss on her cheek. Jamie smiles as he turns to face Johnny.
"Jackson, Nichols." Johnny says. Jamie steps up onto the deck. Tory follows slowly behind her, "Bow to me. Bow to each other."
The girls do as they're told before Jamie holds her fist out to Tory, "May the best woman win."
Tory looks down at her hand seeming hesitant before slowly giving her a fist bump. Jamie smiles at her before backing away.
"Fighting positions." Johnny says. The girls get into their stances, "Ready? Fight."
Tory grunts before immediately kicking at Jamie. Jamie side steps her before ducking as Tory swings at her. Tory sends two kicks to Jamie's side that the girl blocks. Jamie sends a kick that gets blocked before immediately stepping back as Tory kicks at her. Jamie gets down and sweeps her leg before jumping up and landing a punch to her stomach.
"Point, Jackson." Johnny says as Tory hits the ground. She jumps up and storms over to Jamie's side before the two switch, "Fighting positions. Ready?"
Before Johnny could say fight, Tory swings at Jamie startling the girl. She stumbles back before blocking another punch from Tory. She blocks a few more punches before blocking a knee and a kick from the blonde. Jamie grunts as she swings, but misses. She blocked a backhand from Tory before Tory lands a kick to her face.
"Point, Nichols." Johnny yells. Tory grunts as she sends another kick to Jamie's stomach almost sending the girl off of the deck.
"Hey, Ref. That's a little overkill. That should be no point." Daniel says
"Yeah, yeah, I'm handling it." Johnny says waving him off
"I'm... I'm fine. I'm fine." Jamie stammers before the two walk back over to their sides
"Listen, that's a warning. Next one's a deduction." Johnny says, "It's one to one. Fighting positions. Ready? Fight."
Jamie blocks a punch from Tory before her own punch gets blocked. She grabs Tory's arms and spins the girl around before blocking a knee. She then pushes Tory's arms away before landing a kick to her stomach.
"Point, Jackson. Two to one." Johnny says
Jamie breathes heavily as she looks to Miguel. The boy nods to her with a smile. Jamie turns back to Tory. It was then that she noticed the red around her eyes and the intense look covering her features. Her brows furrow as Tory bounces back and forth.
"Fighting positions." Johnny says, "Ready? Fight."
Tory spins and kicks at Jamie which Jamie blocks with a kick of her own. Tory blocks a punch that Jamie throws before ducking from another. Jamie gets down as Tory jumps up and kicks at her. Jamie blocks the punches coming at her before swinging.
Tory does a flip before trying to sweep Jamie's leg. Jamie picks her leg up as Tory jumps up. She blocks a few punches before Tory grabs her arm. Tory holds her fist up as she starts pushing Jamie back. Jamie stumbles back as she looks up at Tory. The blonde looking at her with an expression she had never seen before.
Just as Tory goes to hit her, Daniel jumps in and stops her. Tory lets go of Jamie as she looks over at Daniel with a wild look in her eyes.
"The fight's over." Daniel says
"That's not fair. That could have been a point." Tory says snatching her hand away
"What the hell are you doing, man? I'm the ref." Johnny says, "I'll decide when the fight's over."
"I'll explain. I promise." Daniel says pulling Johnny away
"Don't stop the fight. Please." Tory begs. Jamie looks over at her noticing the glossy look in her eyes.
"We can't do it in front of everybody."
"I'm fine, Mr. LaRusso. Really." Jamie says as she steps over to her side. Tory passes behind her to walk over to her side.
"No, Jamie. It's not that. It's not that. Come on. Please, girls. Off the deck. Let's go."
"Don't tell them what to do. I'm their sensei too." Johnny says
"Well, then, end the fight."
"Why?"
"Because my mother died." Tory yells. Jamie's face falls as she looks over at Tory. The blonde looking away as tears begin to fill her eyes.
"Tory. I'm... I'm so sorry for your loss." Daniel says, "But we can't continue this fight. This is not the time."
"Yes, it is. Yes, it is. I have to fight now."
"No. Tory." Jamie says, "I wanna fight, too, but this is not right. You're not in the right headspace."
"Sensei Lawrence, some help here, please." Daniel says
"It's not up to us. If Nichols wants to fight, she should." Johnny explains
"Johnny. We'll find another way to appoint the captain."
"Find a way? No. No!" Tory yells, "You do not understand. None of you understand! My mom, she would have wanted this. If I don't fight... I have to do this. I have to do this for her. I have to fight."
Robby steps up, "Tory, let's just take a second and..."
"Robby, no." She said softly
"Just breathe."
"Tory, I know what you're feeling, okay?" Amanda says softly, "I also know that you're not in the right headspace to decide."
"You just don't want me to beat her."
"No."
"Yes! When push comes to shove, you're all gonna choose her over me."
"No, it's not that, Tory." Daniel says
"Hey, we're not taking sides." Amanda says
"You sure about that?" Johnny says
"Johnny." Daniel mumbles
"You want this fight to be over?" Tory yells, "Fine. It's over."
She storms off narrowly avoiding the other students.
"Tory, where are you going?" Robby asks
"I'm done!" She yells grabbing her bag
Jamie brows furrow as everyone goes silent. She steps around Robby and heads in the direction of Tory.
"Jamie!" Miguel calls out
The girl ignores him as she rushes off. She breathes heavily as she steps out of the dojo. Her eyes darting around before she sees Tory.
"Tory!" She calls out. The blonde's head whips around as Jamie walks over to her, "I'm so sorry."
"I don't need your pity."
"It's not pity, Tory. I know you're going through a lot right now-"
"You don't know." She yells stepping closer, "You have your parents."
Jamie stammers, "Yes, I know, but-"
"Okay, then you don't know. You have your whole life planned out and a shit ton of people that care about you. So, stop pretending like you know how it feels."
"I don't know, but I care about you, Tory. I'm here for you."
"I don't need you." She spits, "None of you were ever there for me and I don't need you now. Stay the hell away from me."
Jamie deflates as Tory storms off. Her eyes never leaving the girl until she's completely out of sight. Jamie blinks harshly as she swallows back tears. Her head hangs low as she turns back to the dojo.
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