A Pause

Looking Out For Each Other

" We're going to get in sooo much trouble." Sam said, slightly drunk. They had found a bottle and weren't being careful. Now the five of them were wandering around the hotel, a little tipsy.

" I thought you didn't drink Keene." Eli stated.

" I didn't." He said, taking another shot. 

" What happened? Are you sure you can handle that?" Miguel asked.

" Better than Sam." He replied. She looked at him with a dark look.

" Sorry, but it's true." He stated. Miguel rolled his eyes.

" Everyone quiet." Demetri said. " Do you hear that?" It was coming from Chozen's room. He got his own room after Daniel and Johnny couldn't stand him snoring.

" Should we be concerned?" Sam asked. They slowly put their ears to the door. 

" Uh, it doesn't sound good in there." Demetri whispered. 

" He's not alone." Miguel added.

" Count of three we enter." Eli said. " One-"

" Wait. What if it's nothing? We'll be in trouble. It's nearly 4. It shouldn't be anything." Robby said. They all turned to look at him and were quiet for a minute.

" Two." Eli said. 

" Three!" They intruded and couldn't hide their shock.

" What the fuck!" Sam shouted. Chozen was making out with the Cobra Kai sensei who looked like she was crying before. They jumped apart. 

" Not cool man." Miguel said, shaking his head. Sensei Kim stood behind Chozen, as if waiting for him to explain.

" So we have to stay away from Cobra Kai but you go in and you literally are kissing the person who caused a lot of damage?" Robby asked, obviously pissed. 

" Girlfriend in Cobra Kai." Chozen pointed out. 

" Yeah, well-"

" Robby." Miguel said, pulling him back before he did something he would regret. 

" Does my dad know this?" Sam asked. 

" Or Kreese?" Miguel added. Chozen and Sensei Kim looked at each other.

" Uh... What are you guys doing up?" Chozen said. 

" It's nearly seven back home. Jet lag." Demetri said. 

" I can't do this. I'm going." Robby said, turning to leave.

" Robby!" Sam and Miguel said simultaneously. He left.

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Tory was up, when she heard noise outside. It was almost 4. She never really got more than a few hours of sleep anyway. She was concerned and got up. There was something at her door. She peeked through the eye hole, grabbing the closest thing near her, then sighing. It was just Robby. 

She opened it. He looked at her. 

" Are you... drunk?" She asked, getting a glimpse of him. 

" What? Something wrong with that? You drink all the time!" He said loudly. She grabbed him, and pulled him inside before someone came out. 

" Robby... I'm not sure how to say this... but you don't drink. It's not something you do." She said, concerned. The Robby she knew would rather get on the mat than drink. 

" Yeah, well when you left me I didn't know how to deal with the pain. So I decided to try it." He said, playing with her hair. She pushed him off to speak to his face. 

" I didn't leave. I would have been there when we went back." She said, looking down. " And we didn't break up. It was... a pause. Like I said." 

" How long is this pause?" He asked, looking her in the eye. She was quiet for a second,  before answering,

" Until the tournament ends." 

" It's over already." He said. " No way they keep it on." He was sobering up. She just needed to keep him busy until he was sober so he didn't do anything stupid. 

" Do you really believe that?" She asked. 

" Well would I lie to you?" He asked. He was drunk. Drunk words are sober thoughts. She didn't want to manipulate him by taking advantage of him. But a part of her was desperate to hear the truth. Just once.

" Robby." She started, unsure how to word it. " Did you mean what you said the other night?" She asked. " That you love me?" 

" Of course I love you." He said. She just nodded. " But you're just being so difficult." He added. She looked at him and tilted her head. " Why can't you just open up to me?" He asked.

Oh. She thought. That. 

" I trust you Tory. I do. But why can't you just trust me!? I do everything. I give you time. I make sure you're alright. I check up on you. But it's not enough. Why can't you just talk to me Tory?" 

Let him rant. He's drunk. If Tory was being honest, it hurt. And she couldn't help but get mad.

" Then why are you still here? Why do you keep coming back?" She asked, trying to keep calm. 

" Because I  can't stand knowing you aren't doing ok."

" I'm fine!" She said louder than intended. 

" Are you? Are you really Tory Nichols?" She looked him straight in the eye. She knew she was about to break down. So she started to shut down the conversation.

" You seem sober enough. Just... go straight to your hotel room. Here's a glass of water, " She said, moving to reach for it. " Drink this, and drink plenty of water in the morning. You'll need it."

" Tomorrow I'm coming back and we're talking. Whether you fucking want to or not." He said bitterly, before walking out. 

" You're drunk! You won't remember!" She shouted.

He slammed the door behind him. Once he was out she crumbled to her feet, knees giving out, and succumbed to tears.