Can't Have Both

Yes or No?

During the time frame they were in the car together, they had apologized. 

" I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled." Robby said, staring out the window of the car. Devon was driving. 

" And I shouldn't have gotten on your nerve." Devon responded. " I know you're going through a hard time. I just don't understand why you don't want me to tell the others." She said, calmly. 

" Its just..." Robby sighed.  " I just know she'll just act like that never happened, like she always does. She may have talked to me, kissed me, acted like I exist.  But the minute she's up their with that boy, Kreese, her other sensei, she'll act like that never happened. I just don't want to admit she came only for her to never act like she had." He said. He was trying his best to not cry, to not care, but it was too hard. The light turned red and Devon looked at him. 

" Hey. It's going to be fine. To be honest, I don't even know where I'm going. I just needed to get out of there. I feel like I'm third wheeling Miguel and Sam."

" I know how you feel." Robby said, thinking of their friends. He knew how much Devon missed Tory. They were practically best friends besides Sam.

" Hey, if we're being honest right now I need to tell you something." Devon said, not looking at Robby.

" Ok, what?" He asked.

She hesitantly said,  " She wants me to quit the competition." Robby took his face off the window and looked at her.

" What?" He whispered. 

" Should I ? " Devon whispered back. If Tory wanted her to quit it meant it was bad. Tory loved competition. She welcomed it. It helped her prove she was best. But if she wanted Devon to quit, someone she cared for dearly, something was wrong. She knew Robby could take care of himself. She was aware. She knew he would survive in the tournament. But she seemed happy Devon made it. Hadn't she? That was before she trained with the other side. With competition. The people who had been training hard, and who had 2 skilled sensies who believed in no mercy.

" I don't know." He said so quietly that she barely made it out. The rest of the drive was silent. They didn't end up finding Tory. They went someplace to eat. The name wasn't in English but it looked good. They invited Sam and Miguel who said they would join soon. 

Devon was thinking. She wasn't a quitter, and she didn't quit when Tory didn't want her in Cobra Kai. But she went back. Devon had found out how bad it was. She knew the competition. Did Tory really care?

A waitress came and they said they were waiting for friends. Miguel and Sam arrived a few minutes later and they ordered.

" So are we not going to talk about how you two were screaming at each other, and now are civil?" Miguel asked. Devon and Robby were zoning out and only barely heard the question.

" Just needed air I guess." Robby said. 

" Ever going to say what you were fighting over?" Sam asked, picking up a french fry. 

Devon shrugged and Robby sighed. " It's complicated." he said. Devon's phone started ringing. 

" Brb." She said. Robby looked at her she gave him a warning look and he knew who it was. She tried to communicate with her eyes, but only Tory really could. The only thing he made out was it was Tory and she looked terrified. 

Miguel and Sam weren't really paying attention. 

" Hey you seem off." Sam said.

Robby shook his head. " Just ready to kick ass tomorrow." He said. She nodded. 

" Ok Mr. Confident." She said. " Anything new? About the situation? " She asked. Miguel gave her a look but she shrugged.

" What do you mean?" He asked.

" Has Tory talked to you at all since the tournament?" She asked. He had told what happened at the tournament, but faintly. He didn't want to get into details. He just said they talked. 

" No." He said, feeling guilty. 

" Oh ok." Sam said. It was getting late so she said, " We should probably get going back. We have training soon." 

" Yeah, ok." 

Devon had gotten back. She looked pale. " I'll ride with Robby." She said. At Sam's confused look she said, " You know, so you two can have... alone time!" She put together quickly. Sam just nodded and her and Miguel headed to their car.

They waved bye. Devon didn't look ok.

" What happened?" Robby asked as soon as they got in the car.

----------------------------------------------------------

Devon was outside the cafe. " Hello?" She asked.

" You need to quit." Tory said. She was whispering. She might be hiding, be tired, Devon didn't know. But the fact that she called her when she was with Cobra Kai meant something.

Devon started to worry. " Uh..."

" Trust me Devon." She said. Her voice cracked. Devon really started to worry.

" What happened?" She asked. 

" Please quit." Tory begged. It sounded like she was about to cry. " It's not girls and boys. You just... you'll get really hurt. Please trust me." She said. She had to be crying, but Devon couldn't really tell. 

" Uh..." Devon still didn't know how to respond. She was in shock.

" I have to go." Tory said all of a sudden. " Please." She said. " Please, please, listen to me." She hung up.

--------------------------------------------------------------

" Devon." Robby said. " If she's begging you to quit, I think you should."

" I've decided I'll go and see the competition. I'll decide there." 

--------------------------------------------------------------

Cobra Kai was going to play dirty. Legal, but dirty. The moves they were being taught, it could hurt someone. Really bad. Tory learned them. She had to. It would be useful for a life or death situation, but for a karate tournament? She warned Devon. She called her. She just hoped she was smart enough to consider.

" Kick harder!" Sensei Kreese ordered. 

Fuck.

" Faster!"

Poor Devon.

" Now!" He screamed. 

Tory kicked. Faster. Now. The things she was being taught weren't safe. Not only was she learning, the whole team was. She looked at Kwon. He was going to defeat Miyagi Do. Unless they pulled something out their asses, there was no way. 

The training was tough. More tough than the fucking kata the Miyagi-Do's were doing. She couldn't face them. She might break down if she went against one of them. 

She owed them. She really did. After what would happen at the tournament. She warned them though, didn't she?