Chapter Text
Mentally preparing herself, Sam paced back and forth in the back of the Miyagi-Do dojo, anxiously waiting for Miguel to arrive after she'd asked him there earlier that morning. She drew in a breath as she heard the front door of the dojo slide open and then close again, then faked a smile when he appeared in the doorway. From his silence it was clear to tell that he expected her to greet him first, and for a split second she began to wonder if she was making the right decision. But deep down, she knew that it was exactly what she had to do. Ever since their fight at prom, things hadn't felt the same between them, and her feelings had changed.
"Sam?... I've been meaning to talk to you for days… Thank you for calling me here, would now be a good time?... Because I figured-" He began to ramble.
"Miguel, stop. Yes, we need to talk and I think that you're not going to like what I have to say so it's now or never. Please, just let me speak." She pleaded.
"Uh… Yeah, sure. I mean, of course. That works too." He agreed.
"First, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what went down at prom. I was too focused on that stupid tournament and what everyone else was doing when I should have been focused on you. It was stupid of me, and I was wrong to take you for granted that night… It wasn't fair to you." She began.
"Sam, don't." He objected. "Let's not worry about what happened, that's not important. The only thing that matters right now is getting back on track with us."
With a sigh, Sam folded her arms across her chest, knowing that the longer she put this off, the harder it would become. "That's the thing, Miguel… I don't know if we can."
"Don't know if we can do what?"
"Get back on track. A lot has happened and everything is changing so fast around us, I'm just not sure that it's possible."
Miguel's smile faded, replaced with a perplexed expression. He had a hunch about where she was taking this, but he didn’t want to jump to conclusions. "Y- you're not saying what I think you're saying, are you?"
"I think-" She broke off, biting down on her lower lip to stop her voice from breaking. "I think it's best if we don't see each other anymore."
A long silence filled the air between them. A silence that was awkward and uncomfortable. Miguel's eyes glossed over, and Sam's lip began to tremble. There was so much more that she had wanted to say, but saying it would only hurt them both more. She couldn't deny that she still cared for Miguel, but it wasn't enough without having the same feelings that she'd had for him before he'd left for Mexico.
"Was it me?"
"What?"
"I did something, didn't I?"
"No! Not exactly… I just… Since the tournament, prom and you running off to Mexico I- my feelings have changed."
"What do you mean?" He said, his voice more high pitched than he'd have liked.
"I mean exactly what I said. My feelings have changed. I never planned on that happening, but it is what it is, and I don't want to string you along. So, here we are." She said, closing her eyes and blinking away the hot tears.
"Are you making excuses right now?"
"Seriously?" She questioned. "No, I'm not. I'm telling you the truth, even though it's painful. I'm telling you because I owe it to you."
"Well, we can't just go back to being friends, Sam. It doesn't work that way."
"I know that. I wasn't expecting- ugh, look I'm sorry. I don't want to fight with you, I just needed to get that off my chest."
Miguel gave a small laugh through his nose; it being all he could do to stop himself from getting too upset in front of her, he started walking away and stopped, turning back to face her. "I understand, Sam."
"You do?"
"Yeah. Guess I'll just go see if Tory is free. At least she doesn't change her mind as often as her clothes." He retorted, turning around and walking away.
Sam sat down on the sanded sparring deck and ran her fingers through her hair, confused and hurt by his last words. She hadn't expected them to become friends instantly, but she also hadn't expected him to use Tory as a way to rip into her. Being hurtful was unlike Miguel. Unwilling to sit around and cry, she jumped back on her feet and headed back inside the dojo. Entering the main training room, she stared at the punchbag that hung down from the ceiling and her eyes darkened as she swung her fist and landed a forceful punch on the surface. Not satisfied with the first, she gave it another hit. Then another, and another and before she realised what was happening, she was landing multiple punches in a matter of seconds. She swung her fist again, but missed as the sound of the main door opening threw off her concentration.
"Robby!"
"Sam! I'm- I'm sorry. I didn't think that anyone was in here. I didn't see your car parked outside." He rambled.
Turning away briefly to wipe the remaining tears from her eyes, she turned back towards him and faked a smile. "It's okay, I was just sparring."
"On a Sunday?"
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?"
"Nothing!" He exclaimed quickly. "Nothing at all. You just- you punch really well, is all. I just didn't expect that you would need the extra day of sparring."
"Well, it's not exactly about the training today."
"Ahhh, so you're rage punching?"
"Funny way of putting it, but yes." She confirmed, turning back to the bag and giving it another punch as if to prove her point.
Robby couldn't help but chuckle at the way she timed the punch as she confirmed his guess. It was something he'd always found amusing with Sam. She would use her actions to follow up a point she'd made. Brushing the thought aside, he cautiously stepped closer to her and reached out to stop the punch bag from moving.
"Hey! What gives?"
Throwing his hands up in mock surrender, he took a small step back again. "Nothing, I just- I'm curious as to the reason behind this rage punching."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I just am. Of course, you can tell me to go to hell and mind my own business if you like, but since I met your dad, I've learned that sometimes it helps to talk."
Sam's shoulders slumped as she no longer felt the urge to punch. Though she wasn't entirely sure that Robby was the right person to talk to considering what was bothering her. Where Miguel was concerned, it was best that Robby remained clueless. Shaking her head, she picked up her water bottle from the wooden seat and took a sip before returning it there.
"So… are you going to accept that offer?"
"I don't think that's a good idea, Robby."
"But if you talk to someone then you might find you feel a lot lighter. No pressure though, again you are not inclined to tell me."
"Look, I would love to take you up on your offer, I just don't think you'd like hearing it."
Robby frowned, trying to work out what she meant by that. Then it clicked. "It's about him, isn't it?"
"Depends who you mean by him."
"You know. Miguel."
"Well, I'm not looking to lie about anything… yeah, it's about Miguel." She admitted. "Still want me to talk?"
"Oh." He mouthed. Sam and Miguel were still a sore subject for him, especially with how he'd ended things with her after getting out of juvie. But it was all in the past now, and he and Sam were friends again. It wouldn't hurt him to put aside his sour feelings for the other boy for just one conversation.
"That's what I thought." She turned away from him.
"Yes."
Turning around, her eyes locked his for a brief second before she tore them away again, avoiding any further eye contact by looking down at the floor. "What did you say?"
"Yes, Sam. I still want to talk."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm not going to put you through that right now. I've already hurt you enough."
"Alright, well the offer stands anytime. So, don't be afraid."
"I appreciate that… but you know, you don't have to be nice to me just because we're on the same side fighting against Silver."
"I'm not." He said, his tone harsher than he initially intended. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that… but I'm not being nice to you just for the sake of it. I'm not oblivious to our history, but it doesn't mean that we have to let that define our friendship. I'm being nice to you because you're my friend, not because of Silver."
Sam let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding, and found herself able to relax for the first time around Robby since everything that had happened, even just a little. For once, she didn't want to talk though, because talking might lead her to say something that would ruin it. The corners of her mouth twitched upwards into a smile as she thought of other ways to spend the time.
"What is it?" He asked, clearly having noticed her change of expression.
"Oh, nothing. I just… I was thinking that maybe we could just hang out without the deep conversation. Perhaps some sparring? Yas and Moon are having a party later also, maybe you could tag along? I could always use some company there. If you want, I mean."
"That actually sounds like it could be fun. Hanging out together the way we used to before- well, the way we used to."
"Are you sure that it wouldn't be weird for you? I mean, I don't want to get you in any trouble with Tory."
"Nah, not weird at all. Tory will be fine, I'm sure she's hanging out with all the others still stuck in Cobra Kai."
The smile on Sam's face expanded just a little, glad to be able to have a stable friendship with Robby without all the drama and toxicity. He returned the smile, and then shed his jacket, much to her surprise.
"What are you doing?"
"Since we have some spare time, we may as well get some sparring in… if you still wish to, that is."
"With Silver on the warpath, we're going to need all the extra training we can get, count me in." She agreed, doing a few minor stretches to warm her body up. "So, what would you like to do first?"
"Hmm, maybe some simple kicks and blocks?"
"Sounds like a plan."
With a Cheshire cat grin, Robby shifted into a fighting stance and gave Sam a nod that told her to begin. She started with a forward punch, which he blocked using the wax off method and she followed it up with a front kick, which he blocked using sand the floor. Switching positions, he launched a back kick that she dodged by moving back and swinging her arm in a wax on move. They continued this pattern for a while, until Sam finally landed a kick that saw Robby fall back onto the mat. Unable to stop herself from laughing at her small success, she offered out her hand to help him up, which he took and brushed himself off. He couldn't help but laugh along with her at how his concentration had slipped for only a second. Sam rolled up her sleeve, checking her watch as Robby slipped his jacket back on.
"We should probably get going if we're going to make it to the party."
"Wow… we really lost track of time while sparring, I can't believe it's dark outside already." He chuckled.
"Need a ride there?"
"Sure, I would appreciate that."
As Sam led the way out of the dojo and out into the front yard, Robby followed, watching as she threw back a maroon coloured sheet to reveal her familiar white BMW. Once they were both buckled up in the driver and passenger side, she started the car up and pulled out of the parking space. Seeking permission with his eyes, Sam gave him a smile, and he continued to reach for the radio, turning it on; gasping as a familiar song came on. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, wondering if it brought back the same memory for her that it did for him, but not wanting to ask. Her eyes were wife and her lips had parted slightly, indicating that it did.