Fairytale • Robby Keene

twenty seven

Dark clouds hovered above as light drizzle trickled down, making everything look a little blurry, but Odette barely noticed. She sat in the passenger seat of the car, her fingers fidgeting in nervous anticipation as Oliver drove. Her thoughts were consumed with the fact that Robby was finally being released from juvie. A smile, wide and genuine, had been plastered on her face for the entire ride there and it didn't falter. She couldn't wait to see him again.

When they arrived at the Detention Centre, Odette was out of the car before Oliver even had time to park properly. She rushed around the vehicle, eager to get inside, but as she stepped out onto the damp pavement, she saw two familiar silhouettes. She furrowed her eyebrows, instantly recognizing the two figures arguing from a distance.

Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence were in the middle of yet another heated exchange. Odette knew that they had their differences, but today wasn't the day for it. Today was about Robby—her Robby—coming home.

She walked up to them, her hands shoved into the pockets of her jeans as she tried to contain her irritation. She was tired of their back-and-forth. She needed them to stop.

"You guys are seriously arguing right now? Can't you guys just stop before Robby gets here?" She asked with an edge of frustration.

Neither of the two men seemed to hear her. They kept talking past each other, their voices rising as they continued to bicker over things that seemed less and less important by the second.

"Robby doesn't need you." Johnny shot at Daniel, his finger pointing accusingly. "You've done enough. Thank you. Goodbye."

"You got it all under control?" Daniel questioned, his voice dripping with suspicion.

Johnny, stubborn as ever, nodded. "Yeah, I do."

"Just like you had Kreese under control, right?" Daniel continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "What did you think would happen summoning that devil back to Earth?"

"Kreese is my problem." Johnny shot back, his finger pointing at himself.

"Not anymore." Daniel retorted, a frustrated sigh escaping him. "He's made it crystal clear that he is everyone's problem. As usual, I'm gonna have to be the one that's gonna clean up your mess."

Johnny stepped forward, his posture defensive. "I clean you my own messes. And I'm dealing with it."

"How exactly are you dealing with it? Gonna barge in there and beat him up? Worked out really great at the chop shop." Daniel said, his sarcasm biting at Johnny's ego.

"Those guys deserved it." Johnny muttered, his fists tightening at his sides.

Daniel scoffed, shaking his head in pure disbelief. "That's your problem, Johnny. Your whole life you've been striking first. You never once considered maybe you should think first."