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──EPISODE SEVEN

"HEY MR LARUSSO, uh, I'm all done," Robby sauntered over to where his boss was talking to Amanda and Élodie, who was just finishing another shift of helping out. Daniel looked over at him, surprised, "Really? Both lots?"

Robby followed his gaze to the other car lot he'd not yet done, "This is bullshit. Okay, I thought you were gonna teach me karate. I'm just doing all your shitty chores," Robby snapped, his expression angry as Elodie giggled, "I think you're enjoying this a little too much." Amanda raised her eyebrows.

"God, I love this part."

"I hated this part," Elodie laughed, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched Robby storm off in the other direction.

She followed him, tapping his shoulder and placing her hands on both shoulders as he turned to face her. She'd always been capable of calming him down.

"Just wait and see, Rob," she soothed, smiling, "I promise it's worth it."

———

"First aid's under the counter. We got a bleeder?" Johnny huffed as Miguel entered the room, since he'd left Miguel in charge of the dojo for a short while to deal with things in the back.

"No," he replied, "Well, I mean, yeah, we do. There's a lot of blood... But this is about something else."

"What is it?"

"Well, there's a girl at school." he said, and Johnny smirked, "Is she hot?"

"And she's super smart."

"Hot?"

"Funny and cool."

"Hot?"

"Yes, she's hot, super hot."

"Nice," Johnny's smirk faltered for a moment, "Wait, you're not with Marshall?"

"Why does everyone think that? She's with Eli— uh, Hawk," he sighed, "Anyway, I think you'd really like her. She likes karate, and... I mean, I want to ask her out, but I just don't know." Miguel pouted.

"Don't know? What's there to think about?" Johnny laughed, "She's hot... and all those other things."

"Uh, yeah, but what if she says no?" Miguel reasoned, and Johnny simply shook his head as he rose to his feet, "Never accept defeat, Diaz. There is no 'no'."

Miguel pulled a face, "Pretty sure no means no."

"Yeah, if things are getting physical, no means no. But if you're just asking her out... You're a Cobra Kai. All the babes want to date a Cobra Kai."

Miguel just looked deep in thought for a moment.

———

"I can't believe you've got a mohawk," Élodie laughed as she sipped at her milkshake, hand reaching out to touch Eli's hair with the pad of her thumb, "Surprisingly, It suits you though."

Eli smirked, sending Élodie's heart racing as he took her hand from his head and interlaced their fingers, "It's made me feel so much better," he told her honestly, and Élodie beamed over at him.

"You deserve it," she grinned, "You better not change too much, though," she joked, "I can't have you becoming too cool to help with my homework, I need a clever boyfriend or I'm fucked this year— oh, no, not boyfriend, I—,"

Élodie blushed a deep crimson, her eyes refusing to meet Eli's now as she realised what she'd said.

He lifted her chin with his free hand, "No, don't be embarrassed," he reassured her, "I want to ask you properly. I'm gonna ask you, alright? I promise."

She nodded, "I can wait. Just happy being around you," his grip on her hand only tightened.

Suddenly her phone began to ring, and she saw Eli's jaw visibly clench as Miguel's name flashed up on the screen, "Shit—,"

Eli swallowed thickly, "Oh no, it's fine, answer."

"We're on a date, I'm not answering," she shook her head, locking her phone as she rubbed the back of his hand that was intertwined with hers, "I'm all yours," this made him smile.

A text came through moments later, 'Sorry, forgot you and Eli had a date. But good news: I asked Sam out. I need your advice for the date ASAP!!!'

"He asked Sam out," Élodie beamed triumphantly, softening Eli's features significantly, "I knew she'd say yes."

"We can double date, eh," Eli suggested, sipping his drink now as he watched Élodie dip a fry into hers and shook his head, "I can't believe you think that's nice."

She poked her tongue out at him, leaving a small trace of milkshake on the corner of her lip.

His eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, "You've got—," he paused to kiss the edge of her mouth, licking his lips as he pulled back, "A little milkshake."

Élodie blushed again, even more profusely now, and  tried to steady her breathing, "Thanks, Eli."

"Any excuse to kiss you," he shrugged, grinning, "But call me Hawk," he winked.

"Not a chance am I calling you Hawk," she scoffed, and he looked disappointed for a moment, "Not when it's just us two anyway."

"Fine, fine," Eli pouted, "Only because it's you."

———

"Where the hell is he at?" Élodie heard as she rounded the back of the car lot to wait for Eli who was picking her up, the familiarity of the voice on the tip of her tongue, "I don't know..." another recognisable voice replied.

"I'm right here," Robby said, face stern as he appeared in Élodie's line of sight. It was then that she realised who the other two were — the same assholes she knew he always used to hang out with.

"Hey, don't be sneaking up on me like that, man." the one guy laughed, "It's good, man. What's up bro? You got the code?"

"Yeah, I got it," Robby replied, his expression making Élodie confused. Was he really planning on robbing the LaRussos after all they'd done for him?

"I told you my boy would come through," Élodie heard as she ducked her head a little more behind the building to avoid being seen, but to no avail.

Robby's panicked eyes met hers, his jaw clenching as he silently gestured for her to leave.

"What are you waiting on, man? Let's do it, where's the code?" one of the idiots pushed, his voice grating on Élodie, who was desperate to just intervene.

"I can't."

"Can't what? Remember the code?"

"Sorry, I mean I won't. I always get those two confused," Robby smirked, licking his lips and smiling briefly at the girl hidden just in his sight.

"Robby, Robby, come on man. Don't do this. Just open the goddamn door."

"It's not gonna happen," he shrugged, smugly.

"He's really gonna make me have to do this," a punch was thrown, but Robby blocked it with ease. Clearly Daniel's training had been working.

"Ooh, what, ninja boy teach you some karate or something?"

Suddenly a full force fight broke out, and Élodie sprinted into the midst of it, swinging for one of the guys as Robby swung for the other.

"Who's this chick? Oh wait, it's Robby's hot girlfriend... ex?"

"Whatever, dude. More important issues?"

The fight didn't last long, before Élodie and Robby had been backed into a corner despite dominating the fight.

"Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide." Élodie scoffed at this, glancing up at the security camera glaring down at them, "Sure, assholes."

"You better watch your ass." they eyed Robby, before turning on their heels and leaving, frowning angrily.

"Thanks for that, El," Robby sighed, a grateful smile adorning his face as Élodie turned to face him, smiling back towards him.

"No sweat, hey... Mr LaRusso has taught you well," she laughed, pulling him into a hug, "You've learned damn quick."

Despite the innocence of their entirely friendly interaction, they were unaware of the figure watching every moment from the second they'd hugged.

"What's going on here?" Eli's voice startled Élodie, who's breathing still hadn't steadied from the fight as she pulled back from the hug.

Élodie sighed, "Oh Eli—,"

"Hawk." he replied, anger evident on his face.

"Eli," she repeated forcefully, sauntering to his side, "This is Robby, I—, well... it's a long story but we've just kicked some assholes' asses. You should've seen—,"

Hawk let out a scoff, "Why were you hugging? Hey I recognise you..." his eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out why, "Isn't this your ex-boyfriend?"

Élodie drew in a sharp breath, "How do you kn... Uh, yeah, but he works here it's not... I'm not... there's nothing going on," her heart was racing as she fought to explain.

"It doesn't look like that," Hawk huffed, arms crossed over his chest, "And I followed you on instagram even while you were gone, El. I saw all your posts of him before you deleted them."

"Hey man, she said there's nothing going on, so there's nothing going on," Robby stepped forward into Eli's face, "She just helped me out. Dude... I thought you said your boyfriend was a sweet guy, not a jealous ass."

Hawk looked furious, but scooped his arm around Élodie's waist territorially, "Don't speak to me like that."

"I'll speak to you how I want, thanks," Robby snapped.

"Stop it!" Élodie cried out.

She pulled back from Eli's grasp, "Seriously? This isn't some pissing contest. I'm going home."

She began to storm off in the dark, Eli reaching out to grab her wrist as Robby walked sullenly away in the other direction, "I'm sorry, Ellie... wait."

"I don't know what the fucks gotten into you, Eli," Élodie whimpered as she pulled her arm from his, "I don't like this. I like that you're less insecure now, but at what cost? Where has my Eli gone?"

"That Eli was a pussy, Ellie. He was weak, and embarrassing and nerdy. I thought you'd like this."

"I liked you as you were. I liked weak, not embarrassing, nerdy Eli. And as much as I like all this," she reached up, the backs of her hands caressing along his hairline and then down his ripped arms, "I don't want to lose the boy I've liked for all this time."

He frowned, his eyes glossy, "What does this mean?"

Élodie bit her lip, "I just want to know that this new look hasn't completely changed you, Hawk," she practically scoffed, hating the way the name sounded on her tongue, "Mr LaRusso always says Cobra Kai will never be good and I've chosen to not believe that. But I'm scared I'm going to learn that he's right."

Hawk shook his head, "Let me take you home, we can talk about this properly."

Élodie shook her head, a lone tear escaping her eye as she stepped out of reach, "I think I should just take the bus."

"It's late, Ellie," he shook his head, entwining their hands and pulling them up to kiss the back of her hand, "I'm sorry, it's just... I'm trying to be cooler, so I'm not embarrassing for you, you deserve better and... I'm letting it get the best of me."

Élodie tiptoed to kiss the corner of his mouth, "You can take me home, we'll talk about this tomorrow, okay? Please don't— please just... I don't know. I don't want to talk right now."

"I'm sorry," he pouted, and Élodie could tell he was genuinely being honest, "C'mon princess, let's get you home."

———

"I'm so glad the date went well, Miggy," Élodie smiled, "You deserve it so much."

Even through facetime Miguel could see that Élodie's usually infectious smile was only small today.

"Is everything alright, El?" he asked, a soft frown on his features now as he looked at his best friend.

She drew in a sharp breath, unsure whether to be honest when he was so elated about both his date and the reinstatement of Cobra Kai in the All-Valley Tournament.

"I'm not putting a downer on such a good day for you, Miguel," she shook her head, forcing a more intense smile as he gave her a knowing look, "Talk to me, seriously. I'm here for you..."

"It's just... Eli," she sighed, "I'm scared he's changing too much already."

Miguel looked concerned, knowing that he felt the same worry about his friend. He couldn't deny that Eli's new look seemed to have brought a new cockiness to his personality.

"I thought you might be," Miguel replied, a sad look on his face, "But it probably won't last and... well he likes you a lot, El. Like, a lot. I don't think he'd jeopardise that..."

Élodie hoped desperately that he was right, but a niggling doubt crept through her skull all the same.

"You should've seen him yesterday... My uh, my ex works at the dealership and when he saw me with him he got so... angry and defensive," she explained, upset recalling the events, "He was sweet after but I'm scared. Cobra Kai hasn't changed you this much... what's happened with him?"

"And there's absolutely nothing going on with this ex?" Miguel asked, brows raised although he knew she wouldn't ever do something like that, "Well I'll keep an eye on him, okay?"

Élodie nodded, "Thanks Miguel. I'm so lucky to have you," she thanked him, her heart swelling.

Miguel looked down for a moment, a brief unreadable expression flashing across his face before he smiled again. He looked up, gritting his teeth for a second.

"I'm lucky to have you too, Els," he said, staring through the screen at the smile on the girl's face, "Everything will be fine."

She could only hope he was right.

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────
AUTHOR'S NOTE !
thanks again for reading, i hope this chapter
wasn't too boring! your votes & comments have
made me so so happy, i'm so grateful! i hope
you're all enjoying this, it's been so fun to write.

as the drama keeps unfolding i hope it doesn't let
you all down — i worry that following the script can
sometimes make me struggle to fit bits in but i
hope that you're all enjoying anyway <3