The Serpent Queen

Not Going For Gold

Knocking on Demetri's door, Phoebe saw him putting his back into moving his desk all by himself.

At hearing the knock, he glanced up. "Oh, hey."

"Hey. How's the moving going?" She asked. It had been two weeks since her and Hawk had gotten back together and Demetri didn't know yet.

"Uh...it's going. I'm nearly finished. Thank God. My arms ache so much. I've been doing this all afternoon. How'd you get here?"

"Dad drove me." Phoebe looked around and the room and all his nerdy collectibles were all on display like they were in his room like before. "You know...living in Encino has its perks."

"Oh, yeah? Like what?"

"You're closer to the LaRusso's...meaning your Sensei. They're down the street. You could spend quality time with them. Almost like me and Johnny in a way."

"That's true. Speaking of the dojo, you going back to Cobra Kai?"

Phoebe shook her head. She had decided her stance on that. Not even Hawk or Miguel knew, but she knew she had to tell them soon. "No. Not with Kreese at the helm. It's Johnny or it's nothing.

"Seriously? Is Kreese that bad of a Sensei to you?"

"He's not bad. He's just dangerous. He was my Dad's Sensei. You know, my dad regrets learning the three rules and taking them to heart because it will make you an asshole, especially when it's Kreese teaching."

Demetri nodded. "I'm glad you're out."

"It will take a lot of getting used to."

"Why not go to another dojo? Hey, you could join Miyagi-Do."

"The enemy?" Phoebe caught and corrected herself. "See? Sorry, not the enemy. No, I'd be seen as the enemy by joining the rival dojo. They still think I'm coming back. That I'm just taking time off for my head to heal and I'll be right back to it."

"But if you can't do gymnastics or Cobra Kai, then Miyagi-Do might be more your speed."

"No. I don't want all the Cobras after me for defecting to another dojo, especially Daniel's. They can't if I quit. Besides, I'm stuck with the snake on my wrist."

"You regret getting it now?"

"Hell no. It reminds me of how great, powerful and badass I felt before the fight."

"What about Topanga? Xander's there, is he not?"

"He is. But it's too peace and love for my liking."

"Maybe that's just exactly what you need."

"No, it isn't. What I need is some serious amount of therapy to make me believe that Kayla isn't breaking out of jail to murder me in my sleep."

"She's not. Even if she did, she'd have to get through me, your dad and mom, my dad and mom, grandpa, Sensei Lawrence, maybe Kreese, definitely all the Cobras, and even Moon of all people."

She smiled a little, "Thanks, Dem."

"Anytime. Have you took Counsellor Blatt up on her offer?"

"I have. I'm taking her through all the shit. Rivalry with Kayla, the ins and outs of it. The relationship drama with Hawk, the breakups and the makeups."

Demetri scoffed, "Still can't believe you did that with him drunk."

"Well it matters...because it made us closer. We're together again."

"Together again? As in together together?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, my God. Why?"