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“You guys, stop!” Robby commanded. He stood firmly between Tory and Sam. One hand lay firmly on Tory’s shoulder, pinning her securely, yet carefully, against the lockers. “I’m sure we can work this out.”
“Hey!” From down the hall, Miguel howled in fury and broke into a run, full speed towards the altercation.
Sam gasped and took a few steps towards him, moving warily past Tory and Robby. She held up her hands, palms outward, pleadingly. “Miguel! Miguel, stop!” She stared at him as he came onwards and remembered his drunken anger on the beach, just before the All Valley tournament. Her heart was pounding as she wondered if she’d actually have to defend herself against her ex.
For a moment it looked like Miguel might actually barrel into Sam in his frantic rush at Robby. He suddenly shifted his weight, however, and skidded on his sneakers to a stop, inches from a collision. His eyes locked with Sam’s for an instant, then flicked past her shoulder towards Robby. “What the hell’s going on?” he snarled.
“I’m just breaking up a fight, Diaz,” Robby shot back, without looking at him. Keeping one eye - as well as his hand - on Tory, he glanced at Miguel over his shoulder. “Don’t make this any worse.”
“You guys! Stop, please!” Moon’s voice suddenly rang out in a desperate wail. She slipped through the crowd of onlookers and stood among the group. “Don’t fight, please! We’re friends!” Her voice cracked, and her eyes were brimming with tears.
All went silent for a moment. Then Sam sighed and shook her head. “I don’t think we are.” She looked sadly at Moon and added, “Except you and me, of course.” With a deep breath, hands by her sides, she turned and looked Tory in the eye. Tory glared back at her, motionless, her back still against the lockers. “Tory, I’m sorry,” Sam said firmly. “I was drunk last night, and you know it.” Her eyes fell on Robby. She swallowed hard and looked closely at both of them. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. I really didn’t.”
Miguel looked at her for a moment, and a sudden realization took hold. “Yeah, that kiss was my fault,” he admitted. He moved closer to Tory and Robby, standing between them and Sam. “I took advantage of Sam,” he added in a softer voice. “So, Tory, if you wanna kick my ass, go for it. Maybe I deserve it. Just leave Sam alone, alright?”
Tory's face was flushed, her green eyes ablaze. She stared at Sam for a long moment, then turned her venomous gaze on Miguel. “Alright.” She let out her breath. “Alright, whatever… just… just get lost, Miguel. I don’t know why I got mixed up with you, when you had your head up LaRusso’s tight ass this whole time.”
Murmurs of whoa and ooh suddenly rippled through the onlookers. Miguel’s eyes went wide. He grit his teeth and swallowed, but said nothing.
Robby looked at Tory in surprise as well. Then he turned to Miguel and his expression softened. “Sorry Diaz, but I think she’s right. You’ve done enough. We can settle this without your help.”
Miguel took a step back and looked over at Sam. Sam stood a bit further away, close beside Moon. Her arms were folded protectively across her chest.
“I’m sorry, Miguel,” she said softly. “It was a mistake. We have to move on.”
Miguel stared at her, then threw up his hands in resignation. His eyes wandered from Sam to Tory, then to Robby, and then past all the onlookers. “Alright, I can take a hint.” He shouldered his way through the crowd and disappeared down the hallway. Some of his fellow Cobra Kais glanced at him in surprise and disdain.
Sam watched him go and took a long, deep breath. Then she went to Robby’s side. His grip on Tory’s shoulder had slackened slightly, but he still kept a wary eye on her. “Let her go,” Sam whispered. She looked closely at Tory and continued. “Tory, I am so sorry… for everything. For last night… for that day at the beach club… all of it. Let me make it up to you sometime… buy you a coffee or something… alright?”
“Yeah, come on, Tory.” Aisha spoke for the first time, stepping from the crowd and walking up to them. She put her hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Sam and I go way back. We’ve had our issues lately, but then who hasn’t?” She looked at the Cobra Kais leering at them, their bloodlust readily apparent, then glanced at the Miyagi-Do students watching the confrontation with concern and anger. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, squeezed Sam’s shoulder, and gave Tory a small, disarming smile. “She’s still my friend. Just give her a chance, Tory. Alright?”
Tory said nothing. Her expression had gone blank as she stared at Aisha and Sam. They were just beyond her striking distance, watching her. All the while Robby remained closest. His hand still held her against the lockers. She thought she felt his pulse racing, then suddenly realized it was her own. She looked down at her sneakers. We have to fight for every inch of what’s ours, she reminded herself. But life’s not black and white… more often than not, it’s gray. The words of Sensei Lawrence suddenly resounded in her mind. And it’s in those gray areas where Johnny Lawrence’s Cobra Kai sometimes shows mercy.
Tory looked up. She stared at Aisha and Sam for another moment. Then she reached up and put her hand on Robby’s arm. Her fingers graced his biceps and triceps as she looked him in the eye. “You’re strong,” she purred.
Robby’s plain expression didn’t change. “Just… don’t try anything.” He let go of her shoulder.
She shook her head. “We’re cool.” Then she looked Sam in the eye. “Alright, LaRusso. I’ll give you a second chance.” She nodded her head slightly at Robby. “I can’t promise I won’t kiss him once, just to even the score, but other than that… maybe you’re not so bad.” She looked Sam up and down and suddenly smirked. “Not so bad at all.”