𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 ~ T. Nichols

Counterbalance

When Theo woke up the next morning, he looked around in confusion. It wasn't until he heard soft snores from beside him he remembered what happened. Theo and Tory watched 10 Things I Hate About You and in turn Theo introduced her to The Shawshank Redemption which in Theo's opinion was the best film ever released.

Once the film was finished, Tory and Theo sunk a few more beers while talking more about their lives. Tory told him of her aunt who was waiting for Tory's mother to die to try and get some money, and in turn Theo told her of his uncle who was a Naval Aviator who had been more like a father to him than Daniel, and of his grandpa.

Tory laughed heartedly when Theo told her how his Uncle Maverick took him to the beach with his Uncle Razzle (Maverick's radar intercept officer) and Razzle's son when he was eight and they played Dogfight Football, which ended with Theo breaking his arm in two places.

Theo checked his phone, eyes widening when he saw the time.

"Tory, Tory," he whispered, shaking her lightly. When her eyes fluttered open, green meeting blue, Theo smiled, unconsciously reaching up and tucking a loose strand of hair behind Tory's ear. "Hey, I got to go," he whispered, placing a quick kiss to her cheek. "I'll text you later."

Tory nodded, a light blush on her cheeks as she watched Theo go.

—————

"Ready?" Johnny asked, Miguel and Theo in protective gear in front of two baseball launchers.

"Yes, sensei," they both said in unison. Johnny clicked the remote for Theo's three times, causing three balls to launch simultaneously from the machine. Theo blocked the first two with his left and right arm before roundhouse kicking the third away, ending up cracking a mirror.

"Shit, sorry, sensei," Theo apologised. Johnny shook his head, pressing the remote for Miguel's machine. He weakly blocked the first one, but looked back at them excitedly, until Johnny pressed the remote again and the Diaz boy groaned as he was hit in the head.

"What does a Cobra do?" Johnny asked, watching as Theo held Miguel in a headlock. "What does a Cobra do?" Johnny asked again as Theo applied more pressure to his neck.

Theo laughed as Miguel began tapping his arm. "There's no tapping in karate."

"Watch your arms," Johnny told the Diaz boy when he blocked Theo's first strike but not his kick, sending Miguel to the ground. "Get your arms up."

"My arms were up," Miguel said defeatedly.

"You want a fair fight? Dream on," Johnny told him when Miguel managed to down get Theo on the floor. He pressed the button for the baseball machine which struck Miguel in the ear. "You can't always think your enemies are gonna play by the rules."

"Yeah, but my ear!" Miguel whimpered, taking the hand Theo offered to help him up.

"What if that baseball was your Kyler or one of his friends coming at you from behind?" Theo asked, getting a nod from Johnny.

"You have to be prepared for everything," Johnny agreed. "Let me look," he sighed. Theo and Johnny both winced at the bruising that was already forming.

The bell above the door chimed and Theo furrowed his eyebrows as he watched a group of women walk into the Dojo. He looked towards Johnny, who groaned in annoyance.

"Hello," the woman at the front of the pack said, nodding respectfully to the three guys.

"Ah, shit," Johnny groaned.

"What the fuck is happening?" Theo asked Johnny, a little too loudly as the woman heard him.

"It's 5:00. Twilight is upon us," the woman explained to him.