THE WAY WE BREAK || cobra kai

The next morning, over breakfast, Amanda and Daniel insisted that Tessa take a break from karate for the day, encouraging her to do something fun instead.

"Karate is fun," Tessa argued, frowning as she pushed her scrambled eggs around her plate.

"When we say fun, we mean something other than training," Amanda clarified, giving her a pointed look. "Like hanging out with friends."

Robby, sitting across the table, leaned in with a suggestion. "Why don't you see what Harp's up to?"

"Harp?" Daniel asked, pausing mid-sip of his coffee, his brow furrowed.

"Harper," Tessa corrected, her tone slightly amused as she rolled her eyes. "She's my friend."

Daniel nodded, finally catching on. "Right, Harper. Okay, I'll drop you off there before I head to the dojo."

Tessa didn't argue, and a short while later, they arrived at the Maltio house. Daniel parked the car in front of the home and Tessa reached for the door handle, eager to get inside, but when she tugged it, she realized it was still locked.

She glanced over at Daniel, her eyebrows raised in confusion. "Uh... you planning on letting me out, or am I being held hostage?" she asked, her voice carrying the perfect mix of sarcasm and disbelief.

Daniel looked over at her, unfazed by her tone. He gave a small, knowing smile. "I should meet her parents before I just drop you off."

Tessa blinked, momentarily taken aback by the suggestion. "Why?"

With a sigh, Daniel turned more fully toward her, his gaze steady. "Because that's what responsible adults do, Tessa."

Tessa's lips formed a line, her arms folding across her chest as she leaned back in her seat. "I'm pretty sure Robby's never met anyone's parents before he dropped me off anywhere," she deadpanned, completely unconvinced by his logic.

"Well, I'm not Robby," Daniel responded firmly, his tone indicating the conversation was closing. "And this is just how things are done."

Tessa rolled her eyes, trying to suppress a laugh. "I've hung out with Harper a million times. Her parents have no problem with me coming over."

Daniel gave her a side glance, still not unlocking the door. "I'm sure they're fine with it, but I'm not just some casual drop-off guy. I care about who you're spending time with, and it's my job to make sure you're in good hands." His voice was calm but serious, as though reinforcing a lesson she clearly didn't want to hear.

Tessa let out a long, dramatic sigh, her face contorting with exaggerated frustration. "This is so embarrassing. You're like a walking PSA on how not to be cool."

Daniel finally unlocked the door, his expression unchanging. "It'll be quick. I'm just gonna introduce myself, say thanks, and make sure everything's okay. No harm in that." He opened the door for her.

Tessa hesitated for a moment, rolling her eyes dramatically before she stepped out of the car. "Fine, fine. But you're really killing my street cred, you know?"

As they arrived at the front door, Daniel pressed the doorbell and shot a glance at Tessa, who gave him a look that clearly conveyed how unnecessary she thought the whole thing was. The door swung open, and Megan Maltio appeared with a warm smile.

"Hello!" Megan greeted, extending her hand. "You must be Mr. LaRusso. It's great to finally meet you. I'm Megan, Harper's Mom.

"Nice to meet you, Megan." Daniel replied, shaking her hand firmly but warmly. He turned to Tessa, who was doing her best to avoid looking embarrassed. "Just wanted to introduce myself before I leave Tessa here for the day."