Chapter Fifteen: Homecoming

…

"So let me get this straight. You're into Yasmine because she's. Smart. Funny. A cheerleader. Blonde. Very friendly and is one of the most popular people at school. And is someone your entire family will approve of."

I shrugged. "Just about."

Hawk sighed. "Okay man. I don't know how else to tell you this. But you basically want to date your mom."

"That is just not the case man," I said.

Hawk looked at me.

"It's not!"

Hawk smiled. "I talked to Johnny Lawrence before he left the dojo. Everything he told me about your mom you just said are reasons why you like Yasmine."

"It's not just because she's blonde."

"It's a running trend. Charlotte. Tory. And now her."

I shook my head. "Would you not want to date her?"

"I mean no. I would definitely want to date a girl that hot without a doubt," said Hawk. "But I'm just saying you're into her because she's basically exactly like your mom."

"Not the case. But Moon's great too."

Hawk shrugged. "Let's pro con both sides of this. If you date Yas-"

"You guys will make fun of me for it."

"We will but still. Let's say you date Yas. Your families already know each other. You have family dinners, and nights at the country club together. Whatever. You'll all rub elbows, for starters, you won't have to worry about your families approving. Because they will."

Hawk went on. "Yasmine. Who's apparently weirdly good at hiding how smart she is, will be able to match your intellect. And not to mention she's cultured and cool. Yasmine is both sexy and smart."

"In the event our beef with Miyagi-Do and the Eagles escalate," said Hawk. "Which it probably will. Yasmine is significantly more likely to not say anything or hold you back like Moon might. Yas seems nice, but Moon is too nice to let anything slide by. Yas will not blink an eye if we're all beating each other up to hell."

She might, but Hawk was right. Just not as much as Moon for sure.

So far I was talking to Eli mostly. Hawk wouldn't have sounded so smart when putting this argument together.

I nodded. "Okay?"

"The cons of Yas are just. Pretty meaningless at least to me if you want a solid girlfriend. Moon will definitely outpace her in terms of sexing you."

I sighed. "Shouldn't have told you about it that much."

"I mean look. You and Moon were fuckin' for the whole summer. Yas wanted a redo of doing you for the first time, and then just dropped it."

"That sounds pretty minor. I don't care about sex that much man."

Hawk nodded. "That's why I said it was pretty meaningless. Moon's pros and cons are a whole lot different of course."

"Her first con is that she is. I don't want to say Moon is dumb at all. She's not, like, at all."

I mean. She dated you in another turn of events.

"But she's not nearly as smart as you dude. And that's not a bad thing. Except she's into. Weed. And holistic medicine. And alternative nutrition. And you're into steak, karate, and your family are actual doctors."

I smiled. "So. We wouldn't work because we're opposites?"

"You don't have much to share. You don't have much to offer each other."

"She's kind and sweet. And, she makes me really happy. I think I make her happy too."

"But for how long man. How long would that relationship last?" asked Hawk. "Not much longer than high school that's for sure."

"Do you honestly see Yas and I lasting longer than high school either?"

"No," Hawk said. "But at least you two would have a lot in common. And between the two of them, Yasmine is far more long term."

"Just a second ago you were arguing that she was wrong for me because she was too much like my mom. Which one of them do you think I should go out with?"

Hawk shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I'm just laying it all out for you my man."

"I just don't know which one of them to choose. You're supposed to help me with that decision."

"Are you sure a girlfriend right now is what you need?" asked Hawk. "What any of us need?"

"Why's that?"

"Because. I don't know. There's a war coming. There's something coming."

I listened.

Hawk spoke slowly. "I don't think Miyagi-Do can co-exist with us at all. It almost feels like we're not meant to practice karate in peace with each other at all. One week it's one thing, the next it's another. I feel like Aisha and Tory trying to bash each other's faces in is just the beginning."

"It very well could be," I said, not mentioning the fact that I knew this to be very likely true from events like Demetri having his arm broken by you man. In another turn of events that you wouldn't believe if I told you.

"Luke, having a girlfriend when you're possibly going to be the equivalent of an army captain in an ongoing war with Miyagi-Do. Just sounds like a bad idea. Dating Yas or Moon, or anyone right now. Honestly might not be the best idea."

"Hold on. It's not an actual war. It's a rivalry between karate dojos, all of those involved go to our high school."

"Sure it's not a war. That's why six people got together in a junkyard and tried to hospitalize each other."

I blinked, realizing how right he was.

"Luke Yas and Moon might be great people. But until our lives make enough damn sense to actually have a stable relationship. Maybe don't try to separate two lifelong best friends."

"Hold on. Life long?"

Hawk nodded. "Dude. Moon and Yas have known each other longer than anyone we know. You choose one of them, you break them apart possibly for good. You're an All Valley champion. Twice. You win this next All Valley, you're basically the all time best known karateka. The king of kings, the legend of legends. At this point, you're a celebrity. Imagine what this does to a friendship if you date one of them."

"But if I go out with neither. Then they'll both get hurt."

"Maybe. Not as hurt if you choose one of them. Not to mention they'll still be friends maybe."

I nodded.

"I still think I might choose one of them. I think. I don't know."

"Dude, you come across as one of the least indecisive people I know." Hawk said. "If you can't make up your mind over this. It's pretty unlike you."

"I know man."

"Honestly. I think you'll make the right decision. Yasmine. Moon. Someone else. Neither." Hawk smiled. "You'll be one of the squad though. Always."

I smiled. "Thanks man."

Hawk checked his phone. "Do you maybe want to hang out? Play some X-box? Work out? Get your mind off these girls man, you seem down."

"Yeah let's do that. That sounds great."

…

The next Monday at school, things were very awkward.

Aisha, Tory, Mia, Charlotte, Sarah, and Sam made every class we had together very uncomfortable.

I wanted to say something, get them to try to make peace. Apologize on my behalf, the dojo's, Sensei Kreese's, anything. Anything to defuse tension.

I wanted them to all just leave this feud behind in a way before things got out of hand.

I could only imagine the effect on their families this could have, hurting each other like this.

They got glances in the hallways, walking around with their faces all bruised and stitched up.

We could barely say anything to each other.

Between dojos only, Cobra Kai and I seemed to grow more united after the fight the girls had at the junkyard. Miyagi-Do and Steel Eagle as well seemed to walk together only with each other between classes more, things were getting tenser by the day.

We could do no more than glare at each other on occasion between the halls.

Moon wanted to play peacekeeper as always, but because no one was technically hitting, threatening, or insulting each other. She could do very little.

In all, I spent the weeks to myself mostly. Thinking, planning, wondering about what to do next.

I was going back to my roots, when I first became Lucas Schwarber. Weighing everything, observing, taking notes, predicting, analyzing.

Not just about what to do about the feelings, Yasmine and Moon shared with me. But about everything.

Sensei Kreese did not tolerate Tory, Aisha, and Mia looking so bruised in class. He made them do extra knuckle pushups, told them 'defeat does not exist' multiple times, and made them train harder than ever.

I could only imagine how Johnny and Daniel would feel about their top students walking away from a fight technically no one won either.

The homecoming dance was open to all students from all four years, but mostly freshmen tended to go.

It was a smaller dance, not as big as the Junior prom we'd have next semester, but it was still significant.

Choosing between Yasmine and Moon was nothing like choosing between Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do.

Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai were opposite philosophies. Not just on karate on life.

Both Yasmine and Moon were wonderful amazing people. I thought on the time I'd spent with both.

The person I was starting to become, the things we'd shared. The things we'd all done together.

On August the 25th, 2018, I made the largest decision I had since siding with Sensei Kreese and Cobra Kai.

I decided I would ignore all the talk that it would start.

I didn't care about how popular I was, how famous for what I'd accomplished at the All Valley.

More than anything, I wanted to choose a life that mattered here at West Valley. One I could be proud of. One that I'd be happy living.

And it started by declaring a girlfriend at a dance I knew all my friends and everyone I knew would be at.

I used the best suit money could buy and dressed well, as well as I possibly could. I drove my car, and I went towards West Valley.

I'd declare which person would officially become my girlfriend.

…

Sam Smith's Time after Time played in the auditorium of West Valley High School.

Mostly freshmen, a few sophomores, and the only Juniors there being from almost every person in Steel Eagle Karate, Cobra Kai Karate, and Miyagi-Do Karate, and barely any Seniors at all went.

Moon and Yasmine were dancing in a group with Sam and Miguel.

"Hey. You okay?" asked Yasmine.

Moon smiled quickly. "Uh. Yeah! Just. Need some air or something."

"You sure? You've been acting like there's something you want to tell me."

"Um." Moon shook her head. "No. No there's nothing. One second."

Moon quickly left the auditorium, Yasmine looking after her in confusion.

After the door closed behind her, Moon stood in the hallway next to the auditorium in silence.

Moon cried, tears slipped quietly out of her eyes and she began to sob silently. She leaned against a nearby windowsill and cried in silence.

After a few minutes, Lucas Schwarber rounded the corner of the hallway and walked towards Moon.

He wore the finest black three piece suit possible, black dress shoes, and a kind smile.

Moon wiped her tears away quickly. "Y-You look great!"

"So do you." Lucas inched forward and Moon looked aside as he wiped the tears on her cheeks. "What's wrong?"

"We lied to Yas for a whole summer." Moon looked back at Lucas. "It's just wrong."

"We didn't." Lucas insisted. "Moon her and I were never together. We were talking sure, and interested in each other. But we were never official. Not even dating long distance from France."

"But I don't want to hurt her. I don't want things to even be a little awkward between us. I never wanted to put our friends between us."

Lucas smiled. "But why would our friends be between us?"

"Because I like you!" Moon wiped the last tear off her face and exasperated. "I really really like you. I like how we talk to each other. I like how much you tell me you need me to be there for you. I like everything about you."

"Even though. I'm. The Cobra Kai. More Cobra Kai than anyone?" Lucas then muttered quietly. "Except maybe Sensei Kreese."

"Luke karate means nothing to me. This rivalry. These fights. Are pointless. You. Are all that matters to me in all this. I like you. More than I've liked anything I think, for a while."

Lucas smiled. "Same."

"Excuse me?"

"Moon when we're together. Talking. Watching something together. Cooking. Doing anything. Everything makes sense. The world sits still, and I feel. Balanced. Whole. That everything makes more sense than it ever did."

Moon was shocked silently her eyes widened.

"You told me I can't hide from my heart. You're in my heart Moon. I." Lucas smiled. "I like you too. More than anything, like you said."

Moon smiled. "So?"

"So if you'd like. I'll take you by the hand. Walk into that dance. And it would be our first official date as boyfriend and girlfriend. Or. Whatever you want to call us. Because from now until as long as you're willing. I want us to be officially together. An item."

Lucas sighed. "Everyone will probably stare at us. But I want you to know. That I will never care. Like you said. You are all that matters to me in all this."

Moon chuckled. "I think I'd love that."

Lucas looked at Moon from the floor to the top of her hair.

She wore heels, a light blue dress he found familiar but gorgeous, and her hair braided slightly but perfectly.

Moon gripped Lucas by the hair on the back of his head and kissed him.

After they kept kissing for a moment, Lucas let go of Moon and held her hand.

Then they walked into the Homecoming dance together.

"What the hell…" muttered Aisha in silent shock, drinking punch at a raised table next to Bert and Robby.

Lucas Gregory Mills-Schwarber. Almost an international martial arts superstar and celebrity and undoubtedly king of West Valley High School was leading Moon by the hand across the dance floor.

Yasmine was jaw dropped slightly and Tory looked like she wanted to throw something at someone.

Charlotte merely chuckled, shook her head and kept drinking punch with a shrug.

Mitch and Shawn were muttering to each other as Moon and Lucas then stood at the very center of the dance and began to dance slowly with one another.

Then in front of almost everyone they knew personally at their high school, they shared a long and tight kiss and then kept dancing slowly together.

Lucas rested his chin near the top of Moon's head, she closed her eyes and danced in his arms, laying her head on his chest.

They smiled together and the shock placed on Miguel, Sam, Robby, Dirk, Virgin, Chris, Mitch, Aisha, Demetri, and Yasmine and Tory and everyone they knew wore off slowly.

It was official now, that Lucas and Moon were the new King and Queen of West Valley High.

…

Say Something by Kylie Minogue played the moment the slow dancing ended.

Lucas and Moon kept dancing a little slowly together and they spoke.

"Luke it almost doesn't feel real. That, that you want us to be together," said Moon. "I thought I was just. Another dumb hookup for you?" she lowered her voice slightly.

"Another? First, you were the first real person I've technically actually been with. Moon, you've made me feel real. Like. Alive. When the only thing I've connected to at all before was just Cobra Kai. I felt I could be just as passionate about you too. Before, I think the only thing I wanted was three championships. Now. I want to be with you."

Lucas smiled. "You. Are my passion."

"You're mine too," said Moon.

They danced and danced. Smiled, held each other tightly and spun around, they laughed for a moment, kissed barely, and kept dancing.

Yasmine walked past a completely distracted Counselor Blatt and walked over to the secluded corner where the Cobra Kais passed around a flask knowing they wouldn't be seen.

"Hey!" complained Doug Rickenberger.

Yasmine had nudged Rickenberger out of the way strongly with her elbow to steal his flask. She took a very long drink from it and slammed it down on the table.

"Better luck next time goldilocks." chuckled Hawk.

"Go fuck yourself." Yasmine snarled and walked off.

"The queen bitch is back." Hawk crossed his arms.

Hawk smiled, looking at Shawn for a moment and was then walking off after Yasmine.

Hawk spoke to Yasmine and she stormed away from the Homecoming dance and towards the parking lot. "You know something. You really deserve this. After how shitty you made people feel."

"Like you're an angel."

"I never called someone Lip. Remember? Making fun of me?" asked Hawk. "And now you're acting salty as hell. Being terrible about it. Guess you haven't changed deep down."

"Right. When you were still Eli." Yasmine shrugged. "You haven't changed either. No mohawk and karate can change you really are."

"A freak?"

"No. You're just not tough deep down," said Yasmine. "You act all macho and stuff because you're just really insecure underneath it all."

Hawk chuckled. "I guess that's why Luke probably cared about Moon this whole time then. Because you don't have a kind part of you at all."

"What are you talking about? They literally just started going out."

"You really think Luke would make someone like Moon his girlfriend out of the blue when he can go out with literally anyone in school?"

"His only real options were me or Tory I think."

"Better options admittedly." scoffed Hawk. "This probably took months. Months of your best friend probably fucking Luke."

"Aren't you two best friends too or something? Why sell him out, spill his secret?"

"I think after tonight nothing about them should be secret. Also. The look on your face right now. After how awful you made Aisha and I feel. Priceless."

"Months of them in secret?" Yasmine shook her head. "Bullshit."

"Whatever you say." Hawk then started to walk back towards the Homecoming dance.

Yasmine turned around and thought deeply.

Yasmine was breathless in bed with Lucas and he was completely fine.

"You um. You got amazing at that." Yasmine said in a very dead, quiet voice. "You just, you just did. No other way of saying it."

"Did you get much practice in France?"

Yasmine looked back at me. "None. I can see you have. What the hell have you been up to this summer?"

Yasmine muttered to herself. "No way."

Hawk was walking back towards the Homecoming dance and he saw Tory and Sarah exit, using a flask of their own almost stumbling away.

"Whoa. Nichols slow down."

Sarah muttered in Tory's ear and Tory shoved her away before Sarah went back in the auditorium and Hawk spoke to Tory.

"Think you're taking this harsher than you should."

"What. You know about. Luke and I?"

"We tell each other everything. I technically only spilled a secret of his just to get payback on Yasmine and shatter her worse. No mercy. Plus. It should be obvious anyway, how else would they end up together?"

Tory smiled. "Do you. Want to get revenge of your own?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"You hate Robby. And Miguel. And Miyagi-Do. And Steel Eagle."

"And what were you thinking?"

"How about. You and I team up. We get everyone we can." Tory smiled. "And just beat them all up, do something like it. Really tear them up, make them pay. Get all the revenge we need on them. No mercy."

Hawk nodded slowly. "Sounds good."

"I need to hear you say it."

"We're gonna properly mess them up."

"Now we're talking," Tory muttered. "No mercy."

"No mercy," Hawk repeated while walking past Tory and beginning to enter the auditorium and the Homecoming dance.

"Mercy. Is for the weak." Tory leaned her head back against the wall next to the auditorium of West Valley High and sighed.

"War it is then." Hawk shrugged.

Tory repeated quietly. "War it is."

...

...

...

Author's Note:

Okay. That concludes book III of the Schwarberverse.

I can't thank you all more for supporting this story. NorthSky321, Jack, Golden Black Dragon, Joshingo, Malphas, Alvarez Diego and everyone else who read and supported.

Thank you all so much. Book IV will of course cover the events of Season 3 canonically, and I have a decent idea of what to do.

More scenes of the adults, less romance, more character development for Kreese, Daniel, Johnny, and Miguel and Sam too I think.

Feel free to tell me your thoughts on the conclusion of the book, your hopes for the future, everything. It's all appreciated, heard, and registered. I'll see you all soon!