The next day, the dojo was quiet, the only sounds filling the space were the rhythmic thuds of fists hitting the punching bag. Aurora and Robby took turns, their movements in sync as they worked through their practice, the repetition of strikes calming the tension in their bodies. Sam was off to the side, stretching, her eyes occasionally flicking up to watch them, but mostly focused on her own stretches.The air felt thick with concentration, but after a while, Robby stopped, his arm hanging at his side as he caught his breath. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and turned to the girls, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Maybe we should take a video of us sparring and post it on Instagram," he suggested, grinning at both of them.
Sam didn't even look up as she shot him down, her voice flat. "Everyone already saw us at Valley Fest. No one cared."
Aurora gave a quiet, half-hearted agreement, still focused on her turn with the bag. Her attention was more on her form than anything else. Robby's suggestion didn't excite her much either.
Robby wasn't deterred. He stood up straighter, as if forming an argument in his mind. "You know what the problem is? Miyagi-Do's all about defense."
Sam's response was automatic. "Defense wins championships."
Aurora paused mid-punch, nodding. "Yeah, but people show up for the offense. That's why Cobra Kai is more popular," she said, as if the answer had been obvious to her all along.
Robby's eyes lit up, clearly impressed that Aurora had picked up on the underlying point so quickly. "Exactly. What we need to do is show them we can fight too."
Sam rolled her eyes but didn't say anything at first. Her skepticism was evident in her crossed arms as she watched Robby and Aurora. "So what exactly are we supposed to do? Go to the mall and pick a fight? Record us defending ourselves?"
Aurora chuckled at the idea, enjoying the playful absurdity of it. "It's not the worst idea."
Robby, unable to resist, raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
Aurora shrugged with a smirk. "It might get us some attention."
Both Robby and Sam laughed, the tension of the conversation easing as the joke settled between them. Robby shook his head, clearly amused. "It's a terrible idea," he said, half-laughing, half-mocking the whole notion.
Sam, clearly done with the joking, glanced over her shoulder. "I'm going to go find my dad. He's taking forever to get here," she said, pushing herself up from the floor and heading toward the back of the dojo.
As Sam disappeared out of sight, Robby turned back to Aurora, a grin still playing on his lips. He leaned against the punching bag, arms crossed over his chest, and raised an eyebrow at her. "So, what's your deal with the whole 'offense' thing? You secretly a Cobra Kai fan?" he teased, his voice light and easy.
Aurora rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You wish," she shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She shook her head, glancing at the bag and then back at Robby. "I just think... I don't know, maybe we've been playing it too safe, you know?" Her voice softened slightly. "I'm tired of just defending. I want to show that we can actually fight. You know, like the real thing."
Robby's grin faded into a more thoughtful expression. He studied her for a moment, clearly weighing her words. "You know," he started, a bit more serious now, "I think you might be onto something. We've been hiding behind defense for too long. We've got the skills. Maybe it's time to show everyone we've got some offense too."
Aurora nodded, clearly satisfied with the direction their conversation had taken. She walked over to grab her water bottle and took a long drink. "Yeah, but we have to make sure we're not just copying Cobra Kai. We can't let them set the standard for what fighting's supposed to look like," she said, a note of determination in her voice.
YOU ARE READING
Tough Love - Miguel Diaz
Teen FictionAurora Worthington's life was a picture-perfect script, written by people who cared more about appearances than authenticity. In Encino Hills, she was the queen of the high school elite-the untouchable blonde with an icy smile and a wardrobe that co...