A Pause

Yes or No

" I know Amanda." Daniel said, looking exasperated. " We're going to come home. I promise. No one else will get hurt. But we need to stay for the tournament." He turned to Sam and mouthed, Please reason with her.

Sam held out her hand and took the phone. Earlier Amanda had called and demanded for them - all of them-  to come home. They were all crowded in Sam and Devon's room again, all trying their hardest to eavesdrop. 

" Mom , you know how hard we worked to get hear. We deserve to compete, even though things aren't what we thought."

" Someone died, Sam! And he wanted to take another life! That could have been you. Or any of you guys. It could have been Tory. If you guys continue this tournament someone else can get hurt." Amanda said, trying to come off as angry, her voice betraying her worry. 

" Mom, no one else will die. He," She paused for a second, not wanting to worry her mom more, "We couldn't leave anyway. The tickets have already been moved. And Tory's still here. You want us to make sure she's ok, right?" 

Her mom was silent. Daniel raised an eyebrow but Sam looked away. 

" You're right." Amanda replied quietly. " Tory needs to be taken care of."

" Exactly. So we need to stay."

" Two more weeks. The original tournament would have ended by now. I'm giving you two more weeks before you need to get back."

" Yes." Sam said, handing the phone back to Daniel. He put it to his ear, mouthed thank you to Sam, then left the room, still on the phone. 

" What did your mom say?" Johnny asked from where he stood.

" She's not happy about it, but she gives us to more weeks. Should be plenty of time, right?"

" Definitely. And should give us enough time to get back to Carmen before the baby comes," He said, directly to Miguel and Robby. " I should get going. We're having another event for the sensei's. I don't want any of you leaving the hotel. Understood?" 

" Yes." Miguel replied.

" Yeah, totally." Eli said. 

The rest of them nodded. 

Chozen followed after Johnny, giving them the death stare. He was still bitter about the whole incident. None of them knew what actually happened. After Daniel had left to talk to him, they hadn't heard anything else about that. No one brought it up. All they knew was Chozen was happy one day, and very angry with Eli and Kenny the next. 

" You mentioned Tory?" Robby asked, his eyes trained on the door, his focus elsewhere. 

" Yeah. My mom cares about Tory deeply, and if I used her I knew we could stay. She doesn't want her to get hurt. My mom cares about her mental health as much as any of us." 

" Robby cares most." Miguel said fast, sort of in a cough, attempting to hide the words.

" Hey!" Robby said, hearing it.

Not even bothering to lie, Miguel said, " It's true and you know it." He smirked. As much as Robby hated being teased, he couldn't deny it, and Miguel knew that. It was too true to hold any false. 

Robby knew that too. He went silent. 

" So have you two...." Eli started, grinning. 

" She's in no state to." Robby replied, looking away from him. As much as Robby wished... he would have to keep dreaming. " We haven't done...anything really. Not even kissed."

" But all that matters is that she gets the time she needs." He said. Nothing was more important to Robby than Tory being somewhat. She deserved that and more. If only it were in his power to give it to her. 

" On a more positive topic... the tournament will continue." Miguel said. He had been on his phone and gotten a text from Johhnny.

" You're serious?" Demetri asked, side eyeing Eli. He held out his hand.

" Pay up." He said, looking euphoric.

" Thanks, but no thanks." Devon said. 

" Oh, come on. You have to!" Miguel said. 

" The tournament... Kenny took my place anyway. He can just continue. I think I'll head home." She said.

" Devon..." Sam said, looking her in the eye. 

" You know what? I think I'll go with her. Back home." Robby said quietly, quiet enough that Miguel thought he misheard for a second. 

" No. Robby you can't. No. You..." He looked stunned. 

" Look, I love karate. It's been a good part of my life. It helped me find Tory, find you guys, find peace... but this tournament's been nothing but trouble. And with Kwon dead..." He trailed off.

" You're lying. Johnny won't let you." Miguel whispered.

" I'm an adult. 18. He can't tell me what to and to not do." Robby said. 

" Robby, you're not being reasonable. Why don't you want to fight anymore?" 

He was right. Why didn't Robby want to fight? Even Robby had to think about that. This was a major thing in his life. College wasn't on the list of things he would be doing once he left. So why was he all of a sudden giving up? 

One answer. Tory. 

He had promised her though... hadn't he? But something in how she was acting was affecting her. 

Miguel could see he wasn't going to get an answer, so he said, " You're our captain. We all had a little down time, but we're back at it. You can't just quit. And Devon, we would still need you, even if you're not fighting." 

Robby went silent.

" If it's her you need to talk. If she's causing you to quit, maybe you shou-"

" Talk to her." Devon intercepted Miguel. " I'll come." She got up and headed to the door.

" No I was going to say-"

" Great idea." Robby said, also getting to his feet.

" No, she won't help. She'll-"

They were both already out the door.