╔.𖥸. .════════════════╗

𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬

chapter ten
and it all comes crashing
down

╚════════════════. .❀.╝

KARATE TRAINING WASN'T going the exact way that Alyssa thought it would.

Back in Cobra Kai, Sensei Lawrence had just pushed all of them to start punching without really explaining things. Sensei LaRusso, however, had Alyssa and Demetri doing chores around Miyagi-Do, like painting the fence and the house, waxing the old cars out front, and sanding the deck. He had told them it was to build up muscle memory.

Demetri, as always, was avidly complaining. He did not exactly like the chores, he kept talking about how he wasn't flexible and how he couldn't hold his balance because of his disproportionate limbs, and he wasn't exactly taking a liking to the kata that they had to do.

Alyssa didn't mind it at all. It was kind of peaceful, actually. And she found herself liking karate a lot more than she had when she was in Cobra Kai. Well . . . she was only in Cobra Kai for, like, three days, but judging by the words painted on the wall in that dojo, she caught the gist of it.

Her and Demetri walked into Miyagi-Do that specific day of training, only to see that Sam and Robby were practicing their kata on the balance board in the koi pond. Sam almost fell in, but Robby quickly caught her arm.

Alyssa slightly smiled to herself. In her time at Miyagi-Do, she had gradually grown closer with both Sam and Robby. It also turned out that her and Sam actually had a lot in common and were becoming really good friends. They would always talk with each other before, during, and after practice, and a lot of laughter was shared between the two. Sensei LaRusso even — jokingly — said that he would have to separate them during practice so that they could focus.

"Uh, hey, are — are we doing shirts versus skins?" Demetri called to them. "'Cause I prefer to be a shirt." He then gestured to Sam. "Not saying that you have to be a skin. U-Unless you want to. I support your right to choose."

"Oh my God, Demetri," Alyssa cut in. "Just stop talking, I'm begging you."

"Demetri, Alyssa," Sensei LaRusso began, and she turned to see him standing on one of the decks. "Over here."

"Hey, Mr. L, before we begin . . ." Demetri dug around in his pocket before offering a folded-up piece of paper to Sensei LaRusso.

Sensei LaRusso took it. "What's . . . ?"

"It's a note from my mom excusing me from any extensive arm and leg movements," Demetri revealed, and Alyssa slapped her hand to her forehead, shaking her head. "So, uh, if there's an alternative lesson I could do . . . maybe a workbook."

Alyssa blinked at him. "I cannot with you."

"Show me sand the floor," Sensei LaRusso instructed. "Demetri, you first."

Alyssa stepped off of the deck to give them space.

"You want me to sand it again?" Demetri complained. "It's pretty smooth."

"No, no, not actually," Sensei LaRusso said. "The movement. Show me the movement. Remember?" Both him and Demetri got in their fighting stances. "You ready? Haits!" Sensei LaRusso then lifted his leg up and kicked the side of Demetri's leg. "Hiyah!"

Demetri, however, didn't block it at all. There was absolutely no movement, except when he bent over in pain. Alyssa tilted her head at him, letting out a quiet sigh.

"Ah!" Demetri exclaimed, looking up at Sensei LaRusso incredulously. "You kicked me!"

"Why didn't you block, Demetri?" Sensei LaRusso questioned. "You know this. This is the muscle memory."

"In case you haven't noticed, I don't have muscles."

Sensei LaRusso sighed. "Do you want to be here, Demetri?"

"Not really," Demetri replied, making Alyssa frown.

"Then why are you here?"

Demetri paused for a moment. "My whole life, I've been, let's just say, less than popular. But at least I had a few friends. And then Cobra Kai comes to town, and next thing I know, my friends are taking karate and becoming alpha jerks. I'm literally being threatened by my best friend. I just wanted to show I could fight back."

Alyssa stared up at him sadly. She knew exactly what Demetri felt, because she was in the same exact situation. Eli hadn't threatened her, but whoever fucked with Demetri fucked with her, too. Alyssa just never thought she would have to stick by Demetri's side against Eli.

"Look," Sensei LaRusso began, placing a hand on Demetri's shoulder. "I understand what you're going through. I do. But Miyagi-Do isn't about showing off. It's about self—"

"Self-defense, I — I know," Demetri stated. "Problem is, my self is too weak."

"Dem," Alyssa protested as he stepped off the deck and started to walk away. "Demetri, hey—"

"I'll be by your car, Ally."

Alyssa watched him go, her heart sinking all the way into her stomach. She knew Demetri wasn't weak at all. He just needed more confidence in himself. That was kind of hard to do, however, when the one person he trusted the most — besides her — was suddenly turning their back on him.

"And why are you here, Alyssa?" Sensei LaRusso inquired, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Moral support for Demetri," Alyssa answered. "He likes to drag me into a lot of things. He wanted to join Cobra Kai after the presentation at the fair, but that didn't go too well, so I suggested we come here instead." She shrugged. "Also, I really liked karate for the, like, two days I joined Cobra Kai. I just didn't like the whole no mercy thing. I'd much rather paint the fence."

He gave her a knowing look. "Is that all?"

Alyssa could tell that Mr. LaRusso saw right through her, and she let out a small sigh, looking down and absentmindedly twisting a ring on her finger. "Um, mine and Demetri's best friend . . . Eli, or Hawk, or whatever, I've watched him become somebody that I don't even recognize anymore. I guess I'm partly to blame for that because I helped him dye his hair, but . . . Cobra Kai karate has changed him for the worst. I was hoping that Miyagi-Do karate could change me for the better."

Sensei LaRusso nodded in understanding. "I see." He gestured for her to join him on the deck. "Want to come show me sand the floor?"

She gave him a tight smile. "Sure."

Alyssa got up on the deck and put herself into her fighting position, eyes narrowing in concentration. Sensei LaRusso lifted up his leg and went to kick her, but she repeated the motion that she had done in her chores, successfully blocking his kick.

Sensei LaRusso nodded as they straightened back up. "Very good, Alyssa."

"Thanks," Alyssa responded. "But I'm going to go check on Demetri, if that's okay?"

"Go ahead."

She offered him a small grin before getting off of the deck and walking out of the backyard onto the street where her car was parked. Demetri was leaning against her car casually, his hands in his pockets and his gaze focused down on the asphalt. Alyssa sighed sadly and walked up to him, leaning next to him against her car. She then wrapped her arms around his middle and leaned her head against his shoulder, holding him tightly. Demetri bent his head down, resting his cheek against the top of her head.

"I know," Alyssa told him, and that's all she really needed to say.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

"DEMETRI, MAYBE WE should leave them alone — okay, you're not listening to me." Alyssa sighed and shook her head. "Why do I even try anymore?"

Alyssa hadn't convinced Demetri to go back to practice that day, but she had decided to take him to the mall so they could spend some time together in effort to make him feel better. However, when they had gotten some food at the food court, Demetri's eyes had immediately settled on Sam and Robby, who were eating meals of their own at one of the tables. Alyssa was trying her hardest to stop Demetri from going up to them, because it was quite evident that the two obviously had major crushes on each other. Demetri, however, was doing what he did best — not listening to Alyssa — and completely interrupted their conversation about Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing.

"I'm more partial to his performance in Donnie Darko," Demetri admitted, pulling up a chair and settling himself down at the table. He pointed at Robby. "Interesting movie. Time travel logic left a lot to be desired." He suddenly straightened up, his eyes widening. "Wait, is today Wednesday?"

"Yeah," Sam voiced.

Robby nodded. "Mmm-hmm."

Demetri instantly shot up from his chair. "The new issue of Dungeon Lord came out! Um, do you guys want anything from the comic book store?"

Alyssa shook her head. "I think we're good, Dem."

"Okay, uh, I'll be right back. Make sure no one throws away my chicken!"

He then shot off through the mall in the direction of the comic book store.

Alyssa watched Demetri run away before turning back to Sam and Robby. "Uh, sorry about him."

Sam laughed a little. "It's okay, Ally."

"Well, um, I don't want to interrupt whatever this is, so if you need me, I'll be following Demetri around to make sure he doesn't go too wild." She then paused in her tracks for a moment. "Oh, and please do make sure nobody throws away his chicken. He'll complain about it for the rest of the day."

"Will do," Robby promised.

Alyssa then walked away from the two and set off through the mall. She knew the comic book store very well — Eli and Demetri would drag her in every time they went, saying that because she dragged them everywhere else they at least had to have one store. It was a fair price to pay, honestly.

She expected to just see Demetri browsing the aisles when she got there. However, that was unfortunately not the case. The first thing she saw was somebody with a mohawk, flanked by two guys behind him. All of them were staring threateningly at Demetri. Alyssa's jaw clenched in anger, and without a second thought in her mind, she entered the store.

Alyssa knocked her shoulder right into Eli's as she passed him. It jerked him forward just the tiniest bit. Alyssa stood next to Demetri and turned around. She crossed her arms across her chest and stared at all of them — Eli in particular — daring them to do anything.

"Lys?" Eli asked, sounding a little bit confused.

"That's my name, don't wear it out," Alyssa confirmed. Her eyes then trailed up to his mohawk, which was now dyed red and separated into different tall spikes, unlike how it all stuck up as one before. She pointed up at it. "Is the red supposed to scare me, or something? If it is, it's not working."

Eli rolled his eyes. "Did you see his Yelp review about Cobra Kai?"

"Yelp review? What Yelp review?" Alyssa turned towards Demetri. "Dem, what did you do?"

"I left a bad Yelp review about Cobra Kai because their Sensei attacked me," Demetri revealed. "You were literally there!"

Alyssa sighed. "I leave you unsupervised for five minutes. Jesus Christ."

"Look, I'm sorry, but someone had to say something. And besides, taking it down could hurt my Yelp Elite status."

Eli then surged forwards, pressing his hands against Demetri's chest. Demetri stumbled backwards, knocking over a rack of comic books, which fell to the ground with a clang. Alyssa placed a hand on Demetri's shoulder to help stabilize him and slowly looked at Eli in disbelief.

"I said take it down," Eli stated.

"You think I'm afraid of you?" Demetri responded. "I know who you really are, Eli. So why don't you, Rocksteady, and Bebop just leave me alone, okay?"

"Come on," Alyssa encouraged quietly to Demetri. "Let's just go."

They turned to leave. However, two more Cobra Kai's stood in their way. Alyssa held onto Demetri's shoulder a little tighter and looked back at Eli.

"Great, so this is what it's come to," Demetri commented. "Gang assault."

"Take it down, or we take you down," Eli responded, making Alyssa's eyes slightly widen.

What. The. Fuck.

Demetri stared at him, hurt flashing across his features. "You'd actually hurt me?"

"Not if I have anything to do with it," Alyssa protested, stepping in front of Demetri. "You'll have to get through me first."

Eli scoffed and shook his head. "I'm not fighting you, Alyssa. And besides, you don't even know how to fight."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'll learn."

"Good thing we are," Demetri said from behind her. "You're not the only one who knows karate. Ally and I just joined Miyagi-Do."

Eli stared between Alyssa and Demetri in disbelief, and maybe a little bit hurt, before raising his fists. "All right, let's see what you got."

"Eli, stop," Alyssa stated.

Eli's eyes flickered to somebody next to Alyssa. Alyssa's eyebrows knit in confusion before she felt someone grab her arm roughly and pull her away from Demetri. Since she was no longer in front of him, Eli had time to attack. He lifted his leg up and kicked Demetri in the stomach. Demetri doubled over, and Eli crouched down, sweeping his leg against Demetri's, causing Demetri to fall on the ground.

"No!" Alyssa screamed, ripping her arm out of the guy's grasp.

"Hey!" someone in the store shouted. "What's going on back there?"

While practically all of them were distracted, Demetri scrambled up from the ground. He reached out and grabbed Alyssa's hand tightly before using his other one to push one of the guy's away that were blocking them. Instantly, Demetri booked it, dragging Alyssa along with him.

Alyssa's hair flew behind her as she sprinted down the mall. It was kind of hard to keep up with Demetri because his legs were so much longer than hers, and because she just really hated running. She glanced behind her for a moment to see all of them — unsurprisingly — chasing after them.

"Shit," Demetri commented.

Demetri pushed a girl out of the way and ran into a man, causing him to fall.

"Demetri, careful," Alyssa insisted, slightly out of breath.

He was absolutely not careful. Because right before her eyes, Demetri ran into a display of sunglasses, forcing his hand out of Alyssa's. Him along with the display fell to the ground, and glass shattered everywhere. Alyssa would've laughed if the situation they were in wasn't so horrifying.

"What the—" the employee began.

"Sorry," Demetri said, getting up and taking Alyssa's hand again.

The two ran all the way back to the food court. However, the table where Sam and Robby once were was empty. Alyssa slowed to a stop, her chest heaving up in down in panic and from running.

"Of course they left," Demetri voiced.

Around the pillar then came Eli, his face set in rage and determination. Alyssa glanced back to see all of the other members of Cobra Kai coming at them, completely trapping them in. They had nowhere to go.

"Fuck," Alyssa muttered.

Instantly, she stepped in front of Demetri, putting her hands behind her back and holding onto his forearms.

"It didn't have to be this way," Eli announced. "You could've joined Cobra Kai if you weren't such a pussy."

"Didn't I tell you to pull your mohawk out of your ass?" Alyssa countered. "It still doesn't have to be like this. Walk away."

One of the Cobra Kai's then grabbed Demetri, ripping his arms out of Alyssa's hands and pulling him back. Alyssa glanced back at Demetri for a moment, even more panic flaring up in her insides. She looked back at Eli, anger starting to run through her veins. Two other Cobra Kai's started to close in on her slowly, as if they were waiting for Eli to give them a command.

"You're dead meat," Eli threatened before looking at Alyssa. "Alyssa, if you don't move, I'll have them do it for you."

"I may not know karate like you do, but I do know that friends don't abandon friends," Alyssa replied. "I said you'd have to get through me if you wanted Demetri."

She had never been in a fight before, but there was one thing she knew that she would do. Alyssa reached up and took out her hoop earrings that were practically her signature look because she wore them everyday. She then put them in the back pocket of the jeans she had on.

Her fists clenched by her sides. "So if you want to hurt me, go ahead."

"I'm not going to hurt you," Eli voiced.

"Really bold of you to assume you haven't already." Alyssa noticed him momentarily freeze as the words hit him. "There are other ways to hurt people without using your fists."

Sam then suddenly came out of nowhere, using one of the Cobra Kai's to pull herself up into the air and kick the one holding Demetri away. Demetri stumbled to the side, and Alyssa grabbed onto his arm, pulling him towards her. She glared at Eli harshly.

"Get back," Sam ordered gently, pushing Alyssa and Demetri back. She then focused in on Eli, her fists raised. "You guys need to back off."

"I don't want to have to hit a girl," Eli replied.

Robby walked up to him. "You wouldn't stand a chance."

Eli scoffed. "Five against four?" He then looked at Alyssa and Eli. "More like three, because you two are just halves."

Alyssa's eyes narrowed at him and her jaw clenched. No fucking way.

A Cobra Kai then put his hands on Robby's shoulders, holding him in place. Eli advanced and kicked, but Robby blocked it, along with the punch thrown his way. Sam grabbed onto the one near her and elbowed him before kicking another. She ducked underneath a kick and went down to the floor, kicking his leg and sending him stumbling back.

Alyssa held onto Demetri's arm tightly as she watched the entire fight unfold. She wanted to help, but she didn't exactly know how. They had only been training for a couple of days. However, if any of them advanced on Demetri, or her, she knew she would have to act, even if it meant she lost.

Robby kicked Eli's stomach. The Cobra Kai's were in a circle all around them with Alyssa and Demetri right at the center, but Sam and Robby fought around them, continuously moving in a circle. Alyssa watched with wide eyes as they fought almost flawlessly and in sync.

"Ally, look out!" Sam called.

It was Eli. As if it was happening in slow motion, Alyssa saw Eli's fist head straight for Demetri's face. Her eyes widened.

She didn't know what came over her or how her reaction time was so quick, but she acted. Alyssa lifted up her hands, and using the wax-on-wax-off technique, she blocked Eli's punch. As his arm got pushed to the side, the two locked eyes. Her, shocked that she had just did that, and him, shocked that she had fought back.

And then the moment ended when Sam took her opportunity to kick Eli away in his momentary hesitation.

"Ally?" Demetri exclaimed in shock. "How—"

Alyssa blinked in shock. "I don't know how I did that."

Another Cobra Kai advanced on her, seemingly thinking that she could fight now. A punch was aimed right at her face, and she ducked, pulling Demetri down with her. The punch swung right over her head, and as she straightened back up, she saw her opportunity again. Alyssa wound her arm back, her arm in a tight fist, remembering the punch she had learned. She punched the guy right across the face.

Sam was holding her own, but Eli had grabbed Robby by the shirt, throwing him into the nearby table. Alyssa reached up and gripped back onto Demetri's arm, pulling them towards Sam. Sam reached up and put her arm around Alyssa, tugging her in close. The rest of the Cobra Kai's were on the ground, the only one remaining being Eli.

Alyssa watched with wide eyes as Eli ran straight at Robby. He jumped up into the air, ready to kick, but Robby was faster. Robby lifted up his own leg and kicked Eli right across the face. Alyssa slightly gasped in shock as she watched Eli fall to the ground in pain. The crowd that had formed around them all ooh'd from it.

Robby walked up to Alyssa, Demetri, and Sam, and the four Miyagi-Do's stood around all of the fallen Cobra Kai's. Alyssa's mind was practically spinning. She had fought back, and she had done well. But that wasn't why her mind was all over the place.

It was the fact that Eli had shown up at the mall to quite literally hunt Demetri down. He seemed shocked that she was there at the comic book store, which meant his target was Demetri. And like she said before, whoever fucked with Demetri fucked with her. Alyssa had to protect him from their best friend.

Not so much of a best friend anymore, though.

Sam handed Demetri his takeout box. "We saved your chicken."

Demetri took it. "Thanks."

Sam then looked at Alyssa, giving her a small smile. "That was a good block."

Robby nodded in agreement. "You really held your own."

Alyssa couldn't really find it in herself to respond, even though their comments were so kind. All of the hurt inside of her was building up, and she knew that she would break soon.

So all Alyssa did was spare one last glance at Eli's figure on the ground, and with each individual piece of her heart practically crumbling away, she turned around and left him there.

•─•°•❀•°•─•

next chapter = pain <3