Chapter Thirteen: Robby Keene
…
Robby Swayze Keene lived a very simple life in Reseda, California.
His father was a recovering alcoholic, very out of touch with the times Sensei, and full time handyman who had work from Burbank all the way to West Hollywood.
Robby couldn't ride his skateboard to school, simply because it was too far.
He woke up on an old mattress directly on the floor next to some old cardboard boxes filled with dusty old yearbooks and karate trophies.
Robby was fed a breakfast almost every morning consisting solely of beef, beans, and some dry bread.
Johnny Lawrence dropped off Robby at West Valley High School every morning at around 7:45 AM as his classes always started at 8 AM.
His friends were Demetri Alexopolous, someone who loved complaining and references to old films.
Robby noticed how he was always whining about something, quietly and calmly, and mostly to Eli Moskowitz, the shyest kid at West Valley High, typically over his lip.
Lucas Schwarber had a typical look about him, almost always wearing some sort of sweatshirt or shirt about karate. All three of these boys were at their lockers at around 7:50 AM sharp because that's typically how long it took Lucas, Eli, and Demetri to finish discussing their nightly chats and dungeon raids on their online games. To then go to classes.
Robby didn't even know how to comment on this because he barely owned a computer with a functioning graphics card, he was pretty sure his father barely got it because it could only run a very old version of Windows to better find handyman work and places to train in karate.
Classes were very boring for Robby, and they were all rather same-y.
Robby ignored a few kids, all of them boys, talking about Cobra Kai starting up in Reseda. He had his own karate, and had no interest whatever his father told him was 'some old sick bastard's way of torture.'
Robby didn't exactly live life the way his father had envisioned West Valley to be like.
He couldn't strike someone's notebook out of his hand without getting a detention, he couldn't flirt with cheerleaders the way Johnny used to, but the main why Robby Keene could kick and sweep legs like Johnny used to in his old tournaments.
Was during training.
Because Robby spent a decent bit of his time at lunch hearing everyone in the cafeteria muttering about how Lucas had beaten up a bunch of Cobra Kais on his own while on a date with Yasmine.
Even months after, and the week before winter break started, it still continued here and there.
But Robby was quiet about his karate prowess, he didn't talk about his third place finish at the All Valley the year prior.
No, Robby was heavily observant, calm and patient.
He had his days where he'd gab loudly and proudly about karate with Lucas to Eli and Demetri who were very hesitant about the topic.
But during training, he'd kiai.
…
OST: Xavier Wulf - First Light
…
If there was one word to describe the way Johnny Lawrence trained his only son for almost a year and a half it was:
Masculine.
Robby's karate style had grown from mostly being used to street fights he got into with other kids with beef Trey and Cruz had started with him, to being combined with Johnny's sleek and powerful kicks, sweeps, jabs, and reverse punches.
Johnny and Robby trained in an old abandoned factory that looked like it had been infected with asbestos. But Robby didn't care.
He didn't care how hard his father pushed him, he didn't care how tiring it was.
Shirtless wearing gym shorts, soaked in sweat across his toned muscles, Robby pulled left and right, his hands attached to chains raising metal pallets that Johnny had repurposed from dragging old factory machinery.
He grunted quietly, Johnny audibly counting his reps like they were in a Rocky movie training montage.
That was just his warm up.
Robby wore Hayashi karate gloves and kicked a bag Johnny held, hard, repeatedly with roundhouse kicks.
Back kicks, side kicks, even hook kicks to the face Johnny could raise.
If there was one thing Robby could do, it was kick hard. Robby could kick so hard and so fast he foot would collide so loudly with the mitts and pads Johnny held would echo across the entire factory.
Again, and again, Robby knew this was the closest he'd ever felt to his father, that this was the main way they could truly connect.
So he gave their training his all.
But the truth was, this was the only place Robby best expressed himself.
He came across as a very well put together person, but truthfully deep down, Robby wanted to earn his father's respect, they'd only lived together for a year and Robby had recently turned sixteen.
Robby pushed himself beyond his limits almost every day they trained.
He trained his muscles, his cardio, and above all, his strikes.
Johnny would hang watermelons from chains clung to the rooftop of the abandoned building and had Robby smash them open.
Robby had a decent bit of anger stored inside him, and Johnny had found the perfect outlet for him.
Robby almost had boundless energy, smashing everything apart that Johnny could find in front of him with either kicks or punches.
Watermelons, old wooden pallets, ruined garbage that could remotely resemble a punching bag.
Robby ripped it apart.
Then, Robby sparred his father.
Johnny took it pretty easy on his son, but it was clear with only a year of training that even Johnny had to stay on his toes.
Robby was naturally agile in the ring, smart, calm, relaxed, and poised when he needed to be.
But at the drop of a hat Robby would strike, and very accurately too.
Johnny and Robby placed down puzzle mats onto the floor of the metal works factory and sparred with karate gloves, as well foot and shin protectors.
They bowed to one another and began.
Robby had gotten so used to sparring his father, that Johnny could only really time counters. Robby was so quick, and so precise, that unless Johnny was catching Robby already exposed after slipping an attack with his front leg, he wasn't landing a point.
Robby barely caught his father, Johnny would score something almost four times for every time Robby did but it didn't matter.
Johnny merely wanted Robby to keep up, to keep fighting.
And keep up and fight he did.
Robby would struggle to score anything at all on his father for a few minutes straight.
But it was clear that the precision and strength behind his attacks made Johnny both keep his distance and his hands up.
Johnny didn't really critique or attempt to improve his son's sparring, it was just clear to him after every round Robby improved.
It was an experience both Robby and Johnny needed for one another, one they both enjoyed.
They threw round kicks, double kicks, starting with the rear leg and then front leg to first the body and then the head level after they were done sparring just to practice together.
Every new day, Robby remembered what Amy Song had told him about karate, and it served as good motivation to trust his father's admittedly dangerous teachings.
…
His best friend, living in Encino instead of Reseda, was not as truly calm on the surface as he appeared either.
Upon being told he couldn't pursue karate, Lucas didn't really knew who he was anymore.
He would stare at his historic 49th All Valley Under 18 Karate Championships 1st Place trophy wondering who he would be without it.
Lucas really did wonder about himself and his parents and his current path in life.
Was he really just using karate as an excuse to not end up like them? To work regularly above fifty five hours a week on a light workload in a hospital until you could barely ever see your wife or husband or two children?
Lucas highly doubted that was how most doctors could balance work and family, but it was how he felt his life had went.
Lucas looked across the hall from his bedroom.
Both Frank and Olivia, his two grandparents, were widely respected in Encino. Olivia mostly had been a stay at home mother for the majority of Ali's upbringing, and Frank of course an extremely prestigious doctor.
But now it seemed that wherever Lucas went in Encino, if the employees or staff of a facility were older than forty, they recognized his grandparents.
Those who ran his country club, any sort of book or social club, they instantly asked.
"Mills? As in Frank Mills?"
That was followed by a shake of the hand and how many years they'd probably known his grandparents.
These memories only served to stress Lucas.
Unlike Sam and Robby, the accomplishments of their parents in karate decades ago was only limited to the respect of the karate community alone.
For Lucas, the accomplishments of his parents and their parents stretched everywhere.
As if a few senior citizens as part of the Encino Oaks Country Club were keeping tabs on him when Lucas returned from being a huge part of his interning class at the same med school Ali and Frank went to, to be added to the cliques.
The amount of pressure Lucas felt in his head made him sigh and rub his temples, put down his trophy he stared endlessly at in thought and despair, and stress to no end about being forced to quit his favorite hobby in the world.
How would he tell Daniel LaRusso? Despite having a wife and children, as well as a very successful business selling cars, Daniel had come so far with Lucas.
There were times Lucas had even forgotten about everything he'd gone through with John Kreese.
Lucas leaned back onto his bed with a sigh, closing his eyes.
He received a text on his phone, one he instantly jumped to read.
Mackenzie: Party tomorrow night?
Lucas only had one final mid term for his fall semester during his first semester of sophomore year already studied for remaining, so he texted Mackenzie back very quickly.
Bet.
Mackenzie Chu responded with two thumbs up emojis.
Lucas' decision was not taken lightly, his teachers had been kind enough to mostly schedule their finals for the semester to not pack it all during finals week. In fact he only technically had two that week.
His Art history exam mostly taken as a elective to look extra shiny on his college applications, and a test he was already more than ready for.
…
Lucas had three two hours class periods back to back for the remainder of his second to last day of the semester before winter break.
His first class at 8 AM was his exam for AP World History, one that he was sure he walked out of feeling he aced.
At 10 AM it was PE, and the teacher literally had the class just watch a movie in the basketball gym as a final.
At midday before everyone broke for lunch, Lucas and Robby were allowed to leave their finals week two hour PE period early and walk together towards Robby's locker.
"So I haven't seen you outside of school much lately." said Robby. "Any reason why?"
Lucas hid how stressed this question made him by glancing at a few people walking past in the hall.
Robby opened his locker as Lucas sighed. "Uumm. I have no idea, just life and stuff."
"Okay." Robby shrugged with a smile. "Dude you can tell me if there's something going on. You have not missed a chance once to come to my place and play Atari."
"Every day I have to get that reminder don't I?"
"What dude?" asked Robby.
"Our parents used to go out at this school back in the eighties." Lucas said painfully.
Robby nodded, not really knowing how to register that before he saw Miguel exiting a class.
Lucas casually walked away before Robby spoke to him after closing his locker.
"Hey man."
Miguel boredly looked at him. "Hey." he shrugged.
"You got a minute?"
…
Miguel quietly chewed on a granola bar while he talked with Robby. "Yeah man, I, still hang out with Mackenzie. What's the big deal?"
"I don't think she's a great influence on you. I think the only thing that can happen from that relationship is from very rough sex." Robby lowered his voice with a shrug.
"Why should I care what you think? We're not friends." chuckled Miguel.
"But we're neighbors."
Miguel tossed his granola bar away with a chuckle. "Then send our incredible landlords a noise complaint. I don't give a shit Keene."
Robby's face appeared a bit insulted but wasn't allowed to react properly.
And then like that, Mackenzie appeared wearing a blue sweater.
"Hi."
Mackenzie was speaking directly to Robby, as if Miguel wasn't even there.
"Hi?" Robby responded in confusion.
"Robby right?"
"Yeah?"
Mackenzie smiled. "So, I don't know if you heard, but cheer team won state championships this past weekend."
"Oh my god no way." Robby smiled and said kindly. "Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Miguel couldn't know how to feel that Mackenzie was completely ignoring him.
Mackenzie spoke quietly. "To celebrate, the girls and I are throwing a rager at my place. You're invited."
Robby was confused for many reasons, but his first question was.
"The night before the last day of finals?"
"It's not finals for most of the people I'm inviting. Aren't you best friends with Luke? He should've told you that most teachers here were kinda nicer, or, probably lazier." Mackenzie said. "Real finals day was today."
"He did not actually tell me that." Robby chuckled, nodding to Mackenzie. "I'll let him know I'm going."
"Thanks."
Mackenzie left with a smile.
By the time Robby turned around, he was disappointed.
He sighed, knowing the very rude and passive agressive way Miguel had spoken to him wasn't him. It was his father's old karate Sensei.
…
After school, Lucas was walking towards the small semi circle students and parents were picked up and dropped off at near West Valley High School's parking lot.
"Dude."
Robby caught up to Lucas, barely brushing past a few people.
"Hey man." Lucas smiled. "Sup?"
Robby spoke to Lucas. "So Mackenzie Chu, spoke to me for the first time in my life just now."
"And?"
"She invited me to her party."
"Nice, we can carpool." Lucas responded casually, making a quick peer around to check for teachers.
Robby looked at Lucas weirdly. "You don't think that's." Robby paused. "Weird?"
"No? She probably just wants you to hang out with her friends. They're good company man, trust me."
"Luke. Miguel was standing literally right next to me." Robby gripped his backpack thrown over one shoulder. "She invited me and pretended he wasn't even there."
Lucas threw his hands off his forehead in confusion. "Dude, I am, so lost right now."
"Look," Robby sighed quietly. "I gotta tell you something. You have somewhere to be before the party tonight?"
"Not really since we should go together anyway."
…
In the same backyard where two of their parents swam together as teenagers dating during highschool, Robby and Lucas talked in Frank Mills' backyard.
"So let me get this straight." Lucas muttered, playing fetch with Donnie Junior. "Mackenzie pretty much just swooped Miguel's virginity just to feel a little better about herself in the cheer locker room?"
"Yeah."
Lucas chuckled quietly. "Lucky ass. I think that was pretty much how I lost my virginity."
"What?"
"Moon and I got high together after studying together one time at her house. We watched some stuff made out for a bit, and one thing led to another. It's not that big a deal, like at all."
Robby looked confused, sighing. "You don't think it should be a big deal?"
"Why should it be? We're guys. Virginity is like something, you're supposed to lose in highschool. And if you're a girl, you're not supposed to."
Robby was still confused. "Dude, I haven't lost mine yet."
"Then tonight's gonna fix that." Lucas smiled, patting Robby's shoulder with a chuckle while Donnie returned to his dog house.
Robby turned and watched Lucas begin to walk into his Mills Manor from its backyard. "You're missing the point. Mackenzie Chu is like, just messed up. Miguel doesn't seem like that messed up of a person either."
"Really? He is a dick dude."
"I mean maybe? Since Mackenzie started hooking up with him at his house, ironically Miguel's gotten more aggressive. It shouldn't be that way, should be the opposite."
"Whatever." Lucas sighed. "I don't care about Mackenzie or Miguel tonight, I really don't."
"You don't?" Robby asked. "Mackenzie's literally hosting this party!"
"So. You don't go to these things for the host."
"Then why go?"
Lucas laughed, turning around. "To get laid man, why else?"
…
Both boys got dressed and began to drive over to Mackenzie's party near the Sunset Strip.
Lucas drove and the two talked on the drive over.
"So you're here tonight, just to get laid."
"And also to get a little bit turnt." Lucas admitted with a smile.
Robby sighed. "Luke there's nothing wrong with wanting to get laid." he said. "But you do realize the entire cheer team will be there."
"That's, why I'm here." Lucas chuckled.
"No but. The same group of girls you've been flirting with and dating separately all semester will be there right?"
He shrugged. "Man, what's the worst that can happen?"
"Lots, but not that I care it's highschool, I'll never see anyone after we graduate." Lucas said. "I brought you a swimsuit."
"Why would I need a swimsuit? It's December."
…
An answer was quickly given.
Mackenzie Chu made Lucas wonder why his house was even called Mills 'Manor'
Because Mills Manor was still a nice, large, luxurious, but old house in Encino, while the Chus were living in a modern mansion. That was exactly what Mackenzie's house was like.
It was so large there were cars parked in the entire driveway on either side leading up to her house, which was merely part of the property.
Lucas and Robby parked and then walked in.
Robby noted that everyone there knew who Lucas was, a few people even recognized Robby.
They were all mostly rich and social teens from across the Valley, from East Valley, West Valley, and every highschool Robby knew in LA.
Lucas muttered to Robby as he nodded to a few girls smiling and waving to him.
"East Valley chicks man, make sure to wear a condom with 'em." Lucas whispered. "They get down quite quite easily, might have HPV at best."
"Really?" asked Robby.
"Yeah." Lucas said, as if he knew what he was talking about.
"Yo yo yo Schwarber."
Kyler Park gripped hands with Lucas and bumped chests, Brucks clapped Lucas' hand twice and bumped shoulders.
AJ and Rory, the two other jocks who bullied Miguel until he beat them up on his own on Halloween also acknowledged Lucas quietly.
"Surprised to see you tonight." Kyler sipped his Whiteclaw. "Thought you'd be studying or some shit."
"Not that kinda semester am I right?"
Kyler and Lucas nodded slowly to each other.
"Word." Kyler smiled. "Hey I'll see you at the pool."
"Sure thing my dude."
Robby followed Lucas, still in Mackenzie's living room filled with people everywhere.
"You two hate each other right?"
"Not tonight." Lucas muttered.
"Well why not? Kyler sucks."
Lucas sighed. "Because it ruins the vibe dude, don't question it. Don't question anything alright?"
Robby squinted at Lucas, almost not recognizing his best friend for a moment.
"Okay dude." Robby managed to smile and say.
…
Robby found out why he and Lucas brought swim trunks.
Mackenzie's family was so wealthy that they had an indoor heated pool and sauna installed in a large facility complete with a gym.
It was there where Lucas greeted Mackenzie.
Lucas and Robby found a bathroom, and first Lucas changed and then Robby went.
Robby never would've imagined that in his whole life he'd be at a pool party right at the beginning of December.
Shortly after the sun went down, Mackenzie's house, as large as it was, had people everywhere, all of them doing the same thing.
Drinking, talking, and when Mackenzie began to blast some music, dancing.
Robby would've felt very out of place but Lucas was in his element.
He played water volleyball in Mackenzie's pool with two random boys the party had against Rory, Brucks, Kyler, and AJ.
They got increasingly drunker until finally Lucas lost.
"Whooo!"
Kyler high fived and chest bumped Brucks and then Lucas calmly accepted defeat and left the pool.
"I got you a beer."
Robby was drying himself off as Sam appeared with a towel and a drink in hand for Lucas.
"You didn't have to do that, I could get it myself."
"I know it's just." Sam cleared her throat, glancing around. "My friends are all looking at you. Hard to start a conversation without a reason to if that makes sense."
"I'd say that's very awkward but quite honestly I'd do the same."
Sam and Lucas chuckled.
"I'm glad the semester went well for you Samantha." Lucas muttered. "The summer got off to a rough start."
"God, and don't even remind me about Halloween."
They began laughing together until they actually remembered. Which killed the air instantly.
"Hi, sorry, had something to show her." Moon appeared in an equally revealing bikini as Sam, and the two ran off giggling together.
Moon managed to sneak a wink at Lucas before they ran off.
"You weren't joking dude." Robby muttered.
"Fuuuuuuuuck." Kyler leaned his head back sitting in a chair by a table in the large pool house, two of his friends checking their phones behind him while he had a towel slung over his shoulders and sighed. "You gotta tell me your secret man."
"Secret for what?"
"Pussy duuuuude." Brucks laughed, leaning out and playfully punching Lucas' hip harmlessly.
Lucas shrugged, being genuinely clueless. "I really don't know what to say."
"Cause I heard that bitch Rhea tried to run in on your action with both Sam and Moon."
Robby was curious to see how Lucas would react to this.
"I think you mean Miguel, but yeah, so?"
"Why not just kick his ass?" asked Brucks in his big dumb voice. "Show him you own the school?"
"Because then I'd get suspended."
Brucks and Kyler laughed together.
"Fuck the rules. If I owned the school?" Kyler pointed at himself. "I'd fuck with Rhea like daily."
"You know what? Yeah. Fuck the rules."
"Fuck the rules?" Kyler asked.
"Yeah fuck 'em." Lucas laughed. "Pass me that shit bro."
"That's wassup."
Kyler smiled, tossing Lucas an ice cold beer out of a nearby cooler.
Lucas cracked it open and took a deep sip, resulting in a very loud belch.
Both Kyler and Brucks proceeded to die of laughter. Brucks was laughing so hard he leaned his head on Kyler's shoulder.
Lucas smiled, continuing to drink.
…
"So you think you need to drink beer to look cool?"
"Not drinking for Park man, he's an asshole. I'm drinking to just chill out and match the vibe of the entire room."
"It's not the case? Because it sure seems that way to me."
Lucas sighed, tossing away what seemed like his sixth can or bottle of beer.
"Fucking hell man, partying isn't something you can't question. You just gotta go with the flow."
Lucas drunkenly stumbled into the pool but no one found it funny.
Instead, everyone just joined in.
"No no no no!"
Kyler's friends dragged him into the pool and literally tossed him near the deep end.
Yasmine spat out a lime and finished her martini. "Dunk me bitches."
Her friends carried her with ease and she screeched when she got tossed.
Everyone else then more or less splashing in, leaving Robby mostly…
Alone.
For the rest of the night, Robby wasn't remotely rude to anyone or even questioned anything like he was with Lucas.
He mostly just looked or felt completely out of place.
Robby didn't know anyone.
He knew Sam and Kyler a little bit from attending the same highschool as them since day one when he was fourteen a year a and a half ago, but not well enough to speak to either of them.
He knew Lucas, he was his best friend, but he was completely occupied with flirting with Moon, Sam, Lindsay, or Yasmine for the remainder of the entire party.
But Robby knew no one else.
And the fact that he didn't smoke or drink a single thing, but only sipped soda out of a plastic red cup to avoid anymore eyes, said a lot about the previous fact.
Robby Keene wanted to leave already.
He was sick of trying to keep his best friend from likely having sex with any of the cheerleaders, likely leading to some damaged friendships, which was explicitly what he was there to do besides get drunk with other kids like him.
For the first time in the two years Robby and Lucas had been friends, he couldn't recognize him. He wondered why he was doing this to himself.
Which made Robby really wonder what Lucas said.
Was highschool really meaningless?
Robby concluded that it mostly was, but the ongoing rivalries between his father, John Kreese, and Daniel LaRusso were living proof that highschool had potentially lifelong consequences.
Robby then witnessed something interesting.
Lucas would whisper something in Moon's ear, make her giggle and laugh shrilly, mostly to get a reaction out of three other girls.
Sam would shyly freeze up and stop talking as much to the group of girls she was with, Lindsay Martin also would freeze up, still wearing her glasses for the night, and Yasmine actually took it like a challenge.
She stood up, smiled, and got herself another drink.
Robby for a moment couldn't see Lucas in the same light ever again.
Sam was the daughter of Lucas' mentor and in a way, adoptive father. Daniel LaRusso had spent more time with Lucas, and Robby knew this to be a fact, more than Lucas had with his actual grandfather here in the Valley.
Training him in karate, being there for him, mentoring him.
And Robby was amazed that Lucas was treating his family this way. Even as part of hormonal fun just to, in what Lucas claimed, was getting the most fun out of highschool.
Moon was the person who Lucas had sex with for the first time, and from what Robby could tell, was Moon's first time too. And it barely seemed like a special moment for either of them. Maybe they were both a little too tipsy to care at that moment, but Robby was just sickened.
Not that marijuana was involved, but that Lucas and Moon should've acknowledged the fact a little more. Not exactly only to each other, but to those they cared about around them.
Maybe they were embarrassed about it to tell their best friends so soon, like how Robby knew Lucas told him, but this was an important moment in Lucas' life, and instead of remotely unwinding their semester as best friends, in a sober and sensible manner.
Lucas was blocking literally all out of it out.
He wanted to inebriate himself down to the last cell in his body. With mostly alcohol and sex, and the noise of the party.
Robby was disgusted, he wanted to ask Lucas just why exactly he was doing this.
However, Lucas left the edge of the pool where he was sitting next to Moon and he was nowhere to be found.
Conveniently, so was Yasmine.
Robby sighed, checking his phone, knowing how long that was going to take. Admittedly, not that long, but long enough if steps weren't taken that he wouldn't be taken back home to Reseda until dawn.
Which Robby did not want to do at all.
…
Yasmine and Lucas somehow ended up making out in one of Mackenzie's many bathrooms.
It was admittedly the best both had ever felt kissing, until suddenly, Lucas stopped.
"What?"
"I kinda, left, my best friend alone out there." Lucas sighed.
"This will only take a second."
Lucas swelled with pride and a deep breath as Yasmine sat directly in front of him on the marble bathroom counter.
"To be honest I'm hoping we'll be here for more than a second."
Yasmine laughed leading to Lucas laughing, the two still very much caught in the buzz of the party and an entire semester's worth of flirtations.
However, she was sober enough to speak from the heart.
"Luke I'm not bothered at all that you're flirting with all my friends." she said calmly and honestly.
Lucas blanked. "I'm sorry, what?"
Yasmine shrugged. "You think us four are blind to this? Sam and Lindsay are too shy and new at this to do anything. Moon too chill. I honestly just like you too much to care."
"I'm taking that as a compliment."
"Please do." Yasmine whispered before kissing him.
The few gold bangles on Yasmine's wrist jingled a little bit before she reached up to cup Lucas' face.
"How do you like it?"
"A lot?"
"Me too." Yasmine bit Lucas' lip a little bit. "Wanna like it a bit more?"
"I didn't bring protection."
"Do you wanna stop then?"
Lucas shook his head.
Yasmine gasped and panted quietly as Lucas kissed and nipped lightly at her neck.
"I don't wanna stop either." Yasmine tightened her bare legs around Lucas' waist. "Girls get horny when they're tired too by the way. I've barely gotten a wink of sleep with finals and state championships."
"Mm." Lucas hugged Yasmine's body tighter to him. "I'm always tired."
Yasmine began to slip her tight black bikini off of her, and Robby began walking down to hall, he knocked on the door.
"Dude! Luke!"
Lucas could audibly hear his best friend on the other side.
Yasmine whispered in his ear, the two halfway through hooking up.
"I will kill you if we stop."
"Trust me I don't want to either."
Robby repeated himself. "Dude! Luke, you in there!? I gotta get home in a sec. My dad's gonna kill me!"
Lucas winced as Yasmine practically yelled through his ear.
"I'm taking a shit in here Keene!" Yasmine yelled back. "You mind!?"
Robby hid his face in embarrassment on the other side.
"Sorry Yas."
…
Robby walked upstairs and found Mackenzie chatting with a few friends of hers before Mackenzie turned to him.
"Hey, you seem bummed."
Robby sighed to Mackenzie. "Yeah honestly I'm gonna need a ride home."
"The party only started three hours ago."
"I have a uh, math final to get up early for so." Robby was clearly lying but didn't care. "Gotta get to it, I'm just looking for Lucas."
"Well sure. Before you go though?"
"Yeah."
Robby heard the next few words as if they were from some sort of dream or nightmare.
"Do you have molly?"
Robby paused.
He turned around slowly for a second.
"What?" he said clearly.
"I said, do you have any ex?" Mackenzie asked casually, the other people chatting and drinking quietly in her room not blinking an eye at the question.
The entire party made a whole lot more sense now to Robby.
He suddenly felt so mad that if Mackenzie wasn't a girl, he'd have hit her.
Robby took a deep breath. "No, I don't have any. Sorry."
He tried to leave again but Mackenzie appeared in front of him. "I just, heard you did so-"
"I don't have any." Robby repeated, much firmer this time.
"Look, I'll even pay you in the way guys like to be paid." a casual tug at her own bikini strings was made beneath her shawl. "You're cute, I'd be down."
Robby drew a bit closer to Mackenzie and spoke. "I'd never sleep with you. It doesn't matter who you are Mack, I know what you've done to Miguel. If a guy was in your place, they'd never get away with it."
"How is that any of your business?"
"It became my business when you only invited me here to buy some ex," Robby shook his head. "Which by the way. I don't even do anymore."
"Um. Okay, whatever."
"You're disgusting Mack." Robby muttered. "Don't talk to me ever again."
"Whoa, disgusting?"
Robby nodded. "You heard me, you can fill this house with as many people as you want. Won't change the fact you're fake as hell." he laughed to himself before leaving the room.
Robby sighed under his breath, whispering to himself. "Absolute bitch." he said in the hallway outside.
Robby eventually came to the conclusion Lucas was either hiding from him somewhere, or had left the party without him. Both unkind enough for Robby to pull his phone out, and Uber home, quickly texting the bill to Lucas.
…
Lucas and Yasmine were finished in the bathroom together.
Lucas got a text from Robby and sighed.
"Fuck."
Yasmine read his phone, putting her bikini straps back on. "Huh? Oh, oh my god I didn't mean to-"
"Well I'll have to deal with that tomorrow."
Lucas leaned over the sink towards a mostly still naked Yasmine, the two still smiling. "I guess I'll see you for the last day of the semester tomorrow?"
They kissed.
"Mm. Hell yeah."
They chuckled together.
Lucas drew up his swim trunks and began to leave the bathroom first, before there was already someone standing in the doorway.
He half expected it to be Robby, but instead it was a very irate Mackenzie Chu.
"Your friend's a dick by the way."
Lucas sighed. "Well I dragged him here and he didn't have any fun so."
Mackenzie quickly realized something. "How come I haven't seen Yas since we got some shots together a few hours ago?"
"Um, I have no idea-" Lucas cleared his throat. "I just-"
"Right."
"Hey!"
Lucas was more than strong enough to keep Mackenzie out of the room until she burst past without warning.
Seeing Yasmine mostly nude or still dressing herself wasn't anything new for Mackenzie, they'd shared a locker room for over a year. But it was the embarrassment that plummeted Yasmine.
"Look I-" Lucas said.
"Out."
Mackenzie guided Yasmine out of the room and then closed the door behind her, speaking to Lucas quietly.
"You can do whatever you want to my best friends."
"Really?" Lucas was amazed.
"Yeah. Cause now that you've fucked two of mine."
Lucas sighed, realizing he knew about Moon too.
"I'm gonna fuck Robby."
"You, wanna have sex with Robby as revenge against me? Ok, good luck-"
Mackenzie hissed. "No, you idiot. Tell me about him."
"Tell you what?"
"Tell me everything you possibly know about him. Tell me, or I tell everyone about your game."
Lucas chuckled. "My game?"
"Your game of russian roulette with the hearts of my entire cheer team yeah."
Lucas looked around the empty bathroom.
"I'd never be able to forgive myself if I stabbed Robby in the back. Especially if all it meant was being cancelled or whatever at school."
"What about Sam? How'd she feel if she knew you wanted to go out with her and all this happened? I'm sure she knows about you flirting but not going this far."
Lucas winced, thinking for a moment.
"You're fucking insane Chu."
He left Mackenzie there after she muttered something quickly.
"Offer still stands, by tomorrow Robby will regret pissing me off."
…
Robby didn't see Lucas the next day, as a matter of fact, he didn't see anyone.
He only had three friends at West Valley, but everyone seemed to avoid him like he carrying the flu.
It took about a single two hour class period for him to realize people were spreading rumors about him over social media, everywhere.
They knew.
West Valley High School's student faculty had no idea about Trey and Cruz, but they did know that Robby had sold pills when he was younger.
That his parents were alcoholics and had even abused tougher drugs possibly. And especially about Shannon Keene's past as a dancer and the situation with Robby's father Johnny Lawrence.
He had no defence against this.
The guys said nothing, it was pretty obvious Robby could handle himself in a fight and didn't want to get challenged to anything. Even the jocks on the swim team or football team would only keep their mutters and laughter to themselves when he drew nearby.
But the girls were pretty vocal.
"Man he's hot for a bad boy." someone said while walking past him down the hall.
Robby was in the same situation he was the night before with Mackenzie.
But now, everyone would go home to winter break knowing:
Robby Keene was a mistake in the eyes of Mackenzie Chu, and her clique of girls possibly. He had a troubled past, and his parents probably didn't care about him.
Robby knew this wasn't the case, his friends knew it. But there was no way to prove it, because rumors spread that fast online, and Mackenzie's control and influence on social media was that strong.
Robby waited until lunch, walking past Lucas, Demetri, and Eli who started to change seats when he walked in their direction to not be caught in Mackenzie's crossfire.
He walked immediately up to the cheer table.
Sam, Mackenzie, Lindsay, Yasmine, and Moon were all sitting their talking.
"What did you?" asked Robby. "Do!? What did you do?"
"Nothing today honestly." Mackenzie said cluelessly.
"Really? Gonna act aloof when people are calling me some sorta bad boy. I just had a teacher need to see my bag for some reason."
Sam instantly looked mortified. "What is he talking about?" she asked Moon who shrugged.
A few people nearby stopped eating and talking, paying attention.
"You don't know anything about that?"
"I really don't." Mackenzie crossed her arms, shrugging.
"Fuck, I knew you and Kyler were the same person. And that's not racist by the way cause you're Asian, you're both just the same type of cunt."
"Ooooh." Nate and Chris nearby laughed.
Chris' chuckle was a deep guffaw.
Mackenzie shrugged. "I guess I'll tell Blatt you called me a cunt."
Robby smiled, nodding slowly. "So you're gonna play that game? Okay, okay."
Robby was so infuriated he started acting and talking very much unlike the Robby Keene everyone knew.
He walked out towards the middle of the cafeteria and spoke. "Hey guys! Yeah, everyone!"
"Robby. Stop." Sam said. "Calm down, we can figure this out."
Robby got everyone's attention within seconds, everyone had more or less been talking about him.
"So Mack Chu ruined my reputation here at this school overnight. But she deserves the same." Robby turned towards Mackenzie. "Because she's a worse person than me."
"Before you ruin it further dude, I suggest you sit down." Yasmine chimed in.
Robby sighed. "You know, everything that was said about me today. Was, probably true let's be honest."
Everyone muttered quietly, there were even a few murmurs and chuckles of surprise.
Demetri and Eli frowned, Lucas didn't know how to respond.
Miguel and Cobra Kai was deeply attentive, pensive, Miguel almost seemed to look at Robby with newfound respect and pity for what he said.
Robby smirked at Mackenzie, nodding. "But you know what?"
He laughed. "Mack Chu fucks Miguel Diaz."
"Oh shit." Brucks laughed.
Kyler snorted out a lot of his soda.
The entire cafeteria had a very shocked reaction.
Mackenzie was thoroughly embarrassed and Robby explained further.
"That guy." Robby pointed to Miguel. "She drives over to his house, weekly. And from what I can tell, she likes it rough."
At this point Lucas began to intervene. "Dude."
"Miguel's tough now ain't he?"
Miguel actually nodded silently.
"Someone bringing back the true bad boyishness of karate. Well guess what? From what I can tell, I can start filing noise complaints."
The entire cafeteria began to laugh at the one and only Mackenzie Chu, all but named Valedictorian for the class of 2019.
"Yeah!" Robby smiled. "They're into some pretty sick shit over there across the hall-"
"Hey!"
Lucas appeared in front of Robby who was intentionally turning away to ignore him.
"That's enough."
Robby paused, the entire cafeteria watched in total silence.
"Man." Robby shook his head. "What's worse, is that even though Mackenzie's a complete bitch and everyone knows it but the cheer team. At least she never stabbed her own best friends in the back."
"You know that's not true dude, you and Mackenzie can shake hands over this. You both fucked up and everyone laughed at both of you. It's over, end this, now."
Robby shook his head calmly. "Quite frankly man this wasn't even about her to me. This was about you and I."
Sam squinted at Robby quietly.
"You want to know the truth about this guy?" Robby glanced at Aisha who silently nodded from the Cobra Kai table.
"I used to like Sam, Demetri likes Yas, and Eli likes Moon. You know this dude, you've known this for ages. And you know, you like to flirt with all three of them."
Robby chuckled, looking around the lunch room. "As a matter of fact, those four do a little more than flirt possibly."
Now Lucas shoved Robby back, earning a surprised response from the crowd.
"Dude, get to your point. Why the fuck would you do something so unlike yourself? So publicly? So suddenly on the last day of the semester?"
"Because I wanted to tell you something face to face in front of everyone."
Robby walked closer to Lucas.
His footsteps could be heard in a room of almost over a hundred West Valley High students.
Robby muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear as he muttered inches from Lucas' face.
"You're the only person in the world who knows this much about me and could tell anyone to lead to what happened today. Eli and Demetri wouldn't do it, they haven't known me as long as you have."
"I didn't tell a soul." Lucas raised his voice, backing away slightly. "Mack asked me last night for dirt on you. I said nothing! Ever!"
"You know what Luke, I know that's a lie."
Robby pointed to Sam slowly, everyone looked at her for a moment. "She! Is the only other person who might know me or my family as well as you do. Just because of her parents." Robby smiled bitterly, shaking his head. "And I know she didn't do this, I know it was you Luke."
"It wasn't."
"Say it!" roared Robby.
Lucas sighed, speaking slowly. "It wasn't me."
"Say it man!"
Lucas squinted at Robby angrily, moving closer to him. "I said, it wasn't me. Or do you need to have your ears cleaned you pathetic-"
Lucas walked directly into a reverse punch to the face.
The crowd ooh'd and then Eli spoke to Demetri. "Get a teacher."
"Don't have to tell me twice." Demetri all but sprinted off.
Lucas was reeling and Robby didn't even rub his knuckles, he was just that tough, the bruise there might as well have been nothing.
Lucas rubbed a bit of blood off the side of his mouth. "I'm not gonna fight you man."
"Then get ready for the beatdown of your life."
Lucas tried to break through the circle of students watching everything unfold, but then Cobra Kai stepped in.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mitch smiled.
He threw him back towards Robby and right into a round kick to the face.
…
OST: The First Fight - Nick Keller
…
Lucas dodged so narrowly he saw Robby's foot fly right past his nose.
Then he took an elbow to the jaw before trying to grab Robby and attempting to wrestle him to the ground.
Lucas shrugged it off faster than the first hit. Lucas muttered as Robby got into his fighting stance.
"Okay then."
Lucas and Robby moved like karatekas, hands up, bouncing on their heels, throwing kicks, jabs, but there was something else to the fight:
Desperation, to end the fight before the other one could.
A strike, or a takedown resulting in a technique that could finish their opponents, it's what Johnny, Kreese, and Daniel had trained both of them to do.
Robby slipped a straight punch and a jab, and as he started to roll back up and counter, he took a round kick straight to the stomach so loudly he almost keeled over for a second.
Lucas was able to stagger Robby after that and tied him up at close range, trying to sweep him to the floor.
Sam didn't do anything, shaking her head in disappointment at both of them.
About ten seconds after being hit with a palm heel strike to the jaw, Lucas had so much adrenaline pumping through him it was barely enough to set him off balance.
Lucas began to fight very dirty, as in, he was trying to kick Robby's legs, karate chop him in the neck, bite him, use his nails.
Robby had the grit to fight back but Lucas began fighting so clever and so cruel that Miguel began to smile in respect.
He used Cobra Kai karate.
Lucas would headbutt Robby in the jaw, throw him around everywhere using his slight height advantage.
His low kicks were devastating, interrupting every punch combination Robby tried.
And the fact was that Lucas was winning.
He could fight dirty sure, but the clean techniques Robby most certainly had he slipped, countered, or outright blocked like they were nothing combining Miyagi-Do into his own style like they were nothing.
Robby fought a losing match before just outright giving up and merely giving up grappling Lucas.
The two struggled and struggled and struggled before eventually Robby won out strength wise and managed to pull out of the clinch with a very powerful punch on the temple that almost dropped Lucas.
However, Robby carelessly slipped on someone's backpack left underneath one of the cafeteria tables when moving forward to hit Lucas again. He didn't trip, but it did let Lucas reel back and start to regain his focus after being rocked in the jaw.
"Stop!" a woman with glasses appeared in front of Robby's face, hands raised.
…
It was then and there that Counselor Blatt and Mr. Palmer were able to pry Lucas and Robby apart.
They were merely waiting for an opportunity where both of them were far away enough from each other for teachers to intervene.
Both of them were strong and fast enough that if they'd tried at the wrong time, they might've gotten hurt.
…
Lucas and Robby sat down angrily in Counselor Blatt's office.
"You're both suspended."
Lucas was about to protest, moving the icepack on his face, as Robby chuckled. "Ridiculous." he said, very bruised from the fight as well.
"However. I know the two of you are the best of friends." Blatt sighed. "It is in the school's best interest to remove this from your records as soon as you promise other incidents like this won't spread throughout the school."
"Why would it be?" Lucas was confused.
"It's image Mr. Schwarber." Blatt said calmly. "We want to create a safe space, you two make nice, no more karate fights in the cafeteria or anywhere. And everyone's parents are happier as their kids are safer."
"Almost like you're afraid of us." Robby said calmly in return.
"Dude. Not the right thing to say to a teacher."
Robby angrily slapped his knee and Lucas slapped his back. The two were about to start slap fighting but Blatt broke it up by raising her voice.
"I am not afraid of either of you!" Blatt said. "I can call your parents in two seconds and you will be suspended for a week permanently. You both however need to set a better example for your peers. I am going to make special arrangements for you two to finish your finals tomorrow instead of today. When you return to regular classes in the spring, you will start a few days later."
Lucas listened, Robby barely paid any attention to what Blatt was saying.
"You two can make me proud, the school proud if you put today behind you."
"Thank you counselor Blatt."
"Yeah, thanks." Robby muttered, bitterly and sarcastically.
"I am going to give you two a couple minutes alone while you talk this out. Your parents," Blatt knew Lucas lived with his grandparents. "Or guardians, will be here in a moment to take you home."
"I can't just walk to my car?" asked Lucas respectfully. "After I sign something?"
"You don't own a car Mr. Schwarber, I don't even think you're old enough to own a permit yet."
"I am but." Lucas cleared his throat. "Just haven't gotten the paperwork yet exactly."
Robby snorted at this.
Blatt excused herself to the hallway to make calls and was a bit shocked at what she saw after calling Johnny and Frank.
Robby and Lucas, best friends for nearly two years, could not say a single word to one another for almost twenty minutes straight.
They simply had no way to prove to the other person the fault wasn't their fault. They couldn't apologize, they couldn't do anything.
The fight had affected each other that drastically. It had barely lasted a minute, the worst injuries they had were some bruises on their faces, knuckles, and shins, and nothing.
Not one word.
…
Frank sighed, fixing his glasses when seeing Johnny.
"I'm so sorry for the behavior of my grandson Johnny."
The two knew each other from years past, sorry to have to meet each other under such circumstances.
Johnny shook Frank's hand calmly. "They'll get over this Mr. Mills, I promise."
"Mr. Mills." Frank said smiling. "You're not taking my Ali to the dance floor to get punched by her anymore now are you?"
Johnny and Frank laughed casually about this, while Lucas and Robby stared death into each other's eyes.
"Why don't you two boys sit out here, we'll talk to your teacher now." Frank said.
….
Robby and Lucas sat in complete silence for a moment.
"Wanna settle this at the All Valley in a few months?" was all Lucas could say after thirty minutes of nonstop awkward completely muted conversation.
Robby nodded quietly. "Yup." he said, smiling.
Lucas was smiled too they found a remotely feasible solution.
"Is it cool if we're like. Not friends until then, and afterward?"
"Cool with me dude." Robby shrugged, hands in his pockets.
…
Frank was speaking to Blatt as if he was trying to win a court case.
"Karate is a plague here Sharon." Frank muttered, sitting up slightly and nodding to the man to his right. "He's been starting fights at this school since my daughter and him would date. Thirty years ago."
Blatt was interrupted by Johnny. "Robby wanted to kick Luke's ass." Johnny said. "They fought it out, now let them pay the consequences for it."
"Mr. Mills." Blatt cleared her throat. "There is no permanent mark on either of these boys' records. Because we actually want their friendship to show that different karate dojos, can in fact be friends here."
"No I actually hate LaRusso." Johnny shrugged.
"I'm sorry?" asked Blatt.
"Yeah, Luke's great. As smart and funny as his mom was, but LaRusso benefits so much by having a kid as talented as him do Miyagi-Do."
"You see what I mean?" asked Frank, leaning forward. "Lucas, and not a single kid here should be allowed to do karate. At least not with John Lawrence, Daniel LaRusso, or John Kreese."
He leaned back and patted his hands on his arm rests. "Their dojo's have barely been open for a year and my grandson's been in three different fights."
"All of which, he won okay?" said Johnny. "Because karate teaches you honor, discipline, respect."
Frank turned to slowly to Johnny. "What respect was there when your son, and then Kreese and his hooligans decided to jump the future of my family like this was West Side Story? The only thing missing here is the knives they decided to shove into his body."
Johnny scoffed. "Pssh!" he squinted at Frank. "What are you on? Robby doesn't train with Kreese! He trains with me!"
"Makes all the more sense."
"Okay okay okay, gentlemen!"
Blatt raised her voice slightly. "The boys sitting outside, fractions of your ages. Have shown more maturity than either of you today."
"How so?" Frank was curious.
"Because they can't even talk to each other anymore."
Even Frank lifted his vision up from the ground instantly, rubbing his eyes from beneath his glasses.
Karate was one thing, even he knew his grandson's friendship with Robby meant something to both of them.
Frank nodded slowly. "I'll talk to Lucas. This will be over in only a month Sharon, I promise."
"It better be." Sharon pointed between Frank and Johnny. "From what I hear, this third dojo isn't nearly as violent."
"No they just prefer to gang up on you during the fight instead." Frank said to Johnny, raising an eyebrow before fixing his tie and leaving.
…
Robby and Lucas stood up, looking up from their phones as Blatt spoke to Frank, Johnny, Lucas, and Robby.
"Let's help make West Valley a safer space okay?" Blatt smiled. "Everyone graduates on time, no one gets suspended or hurt from a fight, and we're all friends again okay?"
"Absolutely."
Everyone more or less muttered in agreement.
In the hallway outside Sharon Blatt's office, Frank waited for the door to close before addressing Johnny, Lucas, and Robby seriously.
"I cannot believe all three of you."
"Frank-"
"It's Mr. Mills by the way Johnny. If you're gonna act like you're still a kid Johnny, who does karate and feuds with Dan LaRusso, then address me like one."
It was hard for Johnny to argue with that.
"Here's what's going to happen. You two will compete against each other at this tournament in May."
Lucas shrugged. "We just agreed to it."
"Good. Settle this nonsense there, same way it was done before. After that, no more karate."
"Hold on Mr. Mills you can't-"
"For you Luke." Frank then pointed to Robby. "Or you, or you." he pointed to Johnny as well.
"You can't tell me to stop doing karate. I might act stupid but I'm a grown man."
"Oh you are a grown man Johnny, and so am I." said Frank. "But these two? Aren't."
Robby and Lucas shifted awkwardly as Frank spoke from the bottom of his heart to Johnny. "I can't be the only person in this town with enough sense to realize you three shouldn't teach karate to anyone. It's pointless, not to mention dangerous."
"I'm sorry? Three?"
"You, Kreese, and LaRusso create problems wherever you go. It's almost magnetic, you attract and generate chaos. You three have done this nonsense for way too long, it ruined senior year of highschool for my only daughter. And now, it probably stands to ruin highschool for my grandson too. Look of what just one year of karate did to these boys."
Both Robby and Lucas saw the point he was making.
Frank shook his head. "If this isn't settled by next May. Everyone figured out who won, who lost, and who was the best karate fighter here." Frank raised his hands as if the whole thing was absurd. "Then I will do everything in my power to make sure you, your old karate teacher and Dan LaRusso can no longer teach karate. Anywhere, not even from a cardboard box."
"Wait, you're gonna Footloose karate?" Johnny laughed.
"I can Footloose whatever I want Johnny," Frank said chuckling too. "When other parents see how many fights have been started meaninglessly. Over absolutely nothing, but a sport, I can move the Encino Oaks country club into a legal weapon."
Robby grew wide eyed.
"Within weeks I can present a very genuine case that the safety of children everywhere are threatened because you, Kreese, and LaRusso are letting kids get into karate brawls in the streets, and now in schools."
"Why not just ban Kreese?" asked Lucas.
"You're not getting it." said Frank. "Karate, like any sport, that's what it should be, a sport. Doesn't need to have rivalries that turn out like this. Look at your face, look at what it's doing to this town."
Lucas touched his bruised temple and jaw slowly.
"Either everyone resolves this by next May. Or I'm going to resolve it for everyone. Muhammad Ali would start fights on talk shows with his rivals, sure. But he wasn't a teenager, he wasn't in school. And also, Ali more or less found a way to resolve his issues for good. In the ring where he competed."
"Karate's different than boxing," Johnny stated.
"You pay a fee to fight someone in a ring with rules. Why should it be different?" asked Frank. "Why let rivalries escalate to this degree?"
Johnny sighed. "We shouldn't ban karate for anyone, these things can take years to resolve. To talk them out, to fight, to learn, to-"
"Years?" Frank scoffed again. "Don't you see that, that's the issue here? To solve problems in years that could easily be solved with a conversation and within a day?"
Again, Johnny, Lucas, and Robby couldn't argue with Frank's logic.
"I feel like a broken record here." said Frank fixing his glasses. "Luke, let's go home."
"Yes sir."
Lucas couldn't bring himself to say anything to either Johnny or Robby before he left.
They didn't even wave to each other. If they wanted to at all, they couldn't.
…