chapter eleven:
❛ 80s night ❜

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Arizona stretched her legs out beside Tory and Miguel in the middle of the Cobra Kai dojo. The dojo was buzzing with the usual sounds of grunts, thuds, and the occasional kiai. They were in the middle of a break, trying to figure out their schedules.

"What about Friday?" Miguel asked, looking hopeful.

Arizona clicked her tongue thoughtfully, glancing at Tory, who gave her a knowing look. "Can't. I'm supposed to be helping Tory out at the roller rink. Her co-worker bailed, so they need someone to cover, and if I do well, I'll get the job," Arizona explained, stretching her leg out further and feeling the satisfying pull of her muscles.

Miguel shrugged, undeterred. "Cool! Let's turn it into a date night."

Arizona raised an eyebrow and laughed, the sound light and musical. "Candlelit dinner at the snack bar on my break?"

Miguel gazed into her eyes, his smile widening into a mischievous grin. "There's nothing more romantic than free hot dogs and chicken nugs."

"Free? Not for you. Gotta pay up, Mig," Arizona teased, a playful smirk dancing on her lips.

"Hey, if you're coming, you gotta wear a costume. It's 80s night," Tory chimed in, her tone matter-of-fact.

"She's right. I'm going as Joan Jett," Arizona said, her eyes sparkling with excitement at the thought of dressing up.

Miguel's face lit up with genuine enthusiasm. "Are you two kidding? I love the 80s."

"Good," Arizona replied, leaning in and kissing his lips roughly. She moved her lips against his, savoring the moment. Tory rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Get a room," Tory joked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she nudged Arizona.

Laughter erupted from the trio, the sound echoing through the dojo. The moment was interrupted when Miguel's attention shifted, his eyes catching sight of Hawk walking into the dojo. Arizona noticed his gaze and gave him a gentle nudge. "Talk to him," she whispered, her voice filled with encouragement.

Miguel nodded, standing up and walking over to Hawk, determination etched on his face. Arizona watched them for a moment before turning back to Tory.

Tory leaned closer to Arizona, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "You guys are sooo in love," she teased, her voice a mixture of teasing and sincerity.

Arizona blushed, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. "Shut up, Tory," she replied with a shy smile, unable to hide the warmth in her eyes.

"Seriously though, it's nice to see you happy," Tory said, her tone more sincere now, a rare glimpse of her softer side.

Arizona smiled, her heart feeling light and full. "Thanks, Tory. It means a lot."

They both watched as Miguel and Hawk started talking, their expressions serious and focused. Arizona felt a surge of pride for Miguel, always trying to mend relationships and bring people together, even when it was difficult.

"So, you ready for 80s night?" Tory asked, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

Arizona nodded enthusiastically. "Totally. It's going to be epic."

Tory grinned, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Can't wait to see Miguel in those tight 80s clothes."

Arizona laughed, the sound infectious and joyful. "Me too. It's going to be hilarious."

As they continued stretching, the dojo felt warmer, more welcoming. The bond between them was strong, and no matter what challenges they faced, they knew they had each other's backs. The camaraderie and support they shared were palpable, creating an unbreakable sense of family within the walls of Cobra Kai.

"Hey, what about your costume, Tory?" Arizona asked, curious about what her friend was planning.

Tory smirked, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "I'm going as Madonna. Fishnet gloves, lace, the whole Material Girl vibe."

Arizona's eyes widened in admiration. "That's perfect! You're going to look badass."

Tory shrugged, trying to play it cool but clearly pleased with the compliment. "Yeah, I think it'll be fun. And intimidating," she added with a wicked grin.

Sensei Lawrence walked out of his office with a commanding presence. "Everybody, fall in," he announced, his voice echoing through the dojo. Arizona quickly stood up, joining the line between Tory and Aisha. The room filled with the shuffling of feet as everyone fell into position, eyes forward and attentive.

Sensei Lawrence paced in front of the group, his gaze sharp as he looked at each student. "Today, we'll be learning one of the most important lessons a Cobra Kai could ever know," he began, his voice steady and authoritative. Arizona noticed that Sensei Kreese was nowhere to be found, a fact that seemed to be on everyone's mind.

Hawk, always quick to voice his thoughts, asked, "Where's Sensei Kreese?"

"Yeah. Shouldn't we wait for the sensei emeritus before we get going?" Stingray added, his voice tinged with hesitation.

Sensei Lawrence stared at him, making Stingray visibly uncomfortable. "Or not," Stingray muttered, exhaling sharply.

"Mr. Kreese will no longer be joining us," Sensei Lawrence announced, his tone leaving no room for argument. Arizona couldn't help but crack a grin. She had always found Kreese's presence unsettling, especially after seeing the influence he had on Miguel and the others at Coyote Creek.

"I made a promise when I became your sensei: to always look out for your best interests. Despite how hard this may be for all of us, he didn't have our best interests at heart," Sensei Lawrence continued, pacing with purpose. "John Kreese may have founded Cobra Kai, but he no longer represents what this dojo stands for."

He stopped in front of the wall bearing the words Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy. "His Cobra Kai was old and outdated. He refused to move forward. What happens when we do that, Bubblegum?" Sensei asked, looking directly at Arizona.

She smiled, appreciating the nickname. "You get stuck like cement," she replied confidently.

"Exactly. To be a great fighter, you gotta learn to adapt," Sensei Lawrence said, resuming his pacing. "This creed on the wall... Follow it to the letter, it'll make you strong. It'll make you formidable. It will also make you an asshole." His words hung heavy in the air, causing Arizona to furrow her eyebrows in thought.

"Cause that's just black paint on a white wall. But life's not black and white. More often than not, it's gray. And it's in those gray areas where Johnny Lawrence's Cobra Kai... sometimes shows mercy. Doesn't mean you can't be badass. It's still a requirement. But you have to learn to think, not just with your gut... or your fists... to really use... this," he continued, tapping on his head for emphasis.

Arizona smirked, feeling a sense of relief and approval. She wasn't big on violence for the sake of violence, and this approach resonated with her.

"Which leads me to today's lesson..." Sensei Lawrence turned abruptly, grabbing a board and breaking it with his head. Arizona's jaw dropped, and she shared a look of shock and laughter with Miguel. "Headbutting," Sensei revealed, his grin wide. "Grab a partner."

Arizona looked around, the dojo buzzing with energy as everyone paired up. She turned to Tory with a playful smirk. "Ready to smash some boards?"

Tory grinned back. "Always."

That Friday came, and the roller rink was alive with the sounds of the 80s. Arizona glided smoothly across the floor, her Joan Jett costume complete with a leather jacket and ripped jeans. She felt powerful and a bit rebellious, skating alongside Tory, who looked striking as Madonna with her lace gloves and layered necklaces. They were busy weaving through the crowd, delivering orders and ensuring everyone was having a great time.

As they skated past a couple holding trays, they heard a familiar voice call out, "Oh, excuse me. Can we get some menus?" Arizona and Tory halted in their tracks and turned to face Sam and Robby. Arizona's jaw clenched tightly as she recognized Sam, and Sam's eyes widened in realization.

"Well, look who it is," Tory said with a taunting smile, clearly enjoying the tension in the air. Arizona bit her lip, trying to keep her anxiety at bay.

"I, um..." Sam stammered, looking from Robby to Tory, clearly uncomfortable. "I didn't know you guys worked here," she managed to say.

"Yeah, well, not all of us get to use daddy's credit card," Tory snapped back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Arizona let out a light chuckle, though the tension in her body was palpable.

"Look, we just wanted to order some food. I'm sorry," Sam apologized, trying to defuse the situation.

Miguel skated over, oblivious to the brewing confrontation. "What time do you go on break? I wanted to time it out so the fries are extra crispy," he asked with a grin. Tory and Arizona subtly nodded towards Sam and Robby, and Miguel turned, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

"Oh, um..." he stammered, taking off his 80s-style sunglasses. "Hey, I didn't recognize you. I... dig the costumes," he said awkwardly. Arizona clenched her jaw, feeling a wave of annoyance wash over her.

"Tory, this is Sam and Robby," Miguel introduced, trying to keep things light.

"Yeah, we met already. Sam and I had a little run-in at the beach club," Tory explained, her tone still icy. Arizona started to bite her nails anxiously, a habit that Miguel quickly noticed.

"Bad habit, Ari," he scolded gently, pulling her hand away from her mouth. Arizona blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"So, how do you two know Tory?" Sam asked, her voice sounding a bit forced.

"Tory's in Cobra Kai," Miguel explained simply.

"Figures," Sam muttered under her breath, but both Tory and Arizona caught it.

"What was that?" Tory challenged, eyebrows raised, ready for a confrontation. Sam faltered slightly.

"Nothing," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Arizona felt a surge of pettiness rise within her. Turning to Miguel, she smirked. "Tor and I gotta get back to work. Talk later, babe." She pressed her lips onto Miguel's, kissing him passionately, making a point. She nodded upwards to Tory, and the two rollerbladed off together.

As they skated away, Arizona's mind raced. She couldn't shake the feeling of anger and betrayal. "If I see Sam talking to Miguel anytime while they're here, you and I are joining forces and gonna mess with her. She will not be stealing my fucking boyfriend again," Arizona said bitterly, her jaw clenched with determination.

Tory gave her a knowing look. "Again?" she emphasized, sensing there was more to the story.

"Sam and I used to be friends. She knew how much I liked Miguel, and then she went after him. That's how our friendship fell apart, plus she broke Miguel's heart," Arizona explained, her voice tinged with sadness and anger.

Tory's eyes softened with understanding. "Oh, okay. Well, I got your back," she assured her, her voice firm with solidarity.

Arizona was absorbed in cleaning up a spill near the snack bar when she noticed Sam and Miguel chatting at the shoe station. Her irritation flared, and she dropped the gloves and rag into the bucket with an audible splash. She quickly scanned the room for Tory and locked eyes with her. Arizona saw that Tory was engaged in a conversation with Robby, who stood nearby.

Determined to confront the situation, Arizona stood up carefully on her rollerblades. However, her balance faltered, and she wobbled dangerously. Before she could hit the floor, Robby's strong hands caught her, steadying her with ease. Arizona looked up into his eyes, surprised by his proximity. Her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "Um... thanks," she said curtly, pulling away from him and quickly rollerblading off.

Robby watched her retreat, a soft smile playing on his lips. He found her reaction endearing and was struck by how pretty she looked in that moment. Sam observed this exchange with a growing scowl, her jealousy evident as she clenched her jaw tightly.

Arizona made her way over to Tory, who was still by the snack bar, her expression a mix of amusement and curiosity. Arizona carried the bucket of water and soap with a purposeful stride. "Bro is so dickwhipped. You got Miguel and Robby falling for you," Tory said with a teasing grin, clearly entertained by the drama.

Arizona shot Tory a skeptical look. "Robby caught me. I didn't catch him," she retorted, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

Tory sighed, placing a reassuring hand on Arizona's shoulder. "Oh, gorgeous, you are so sweet and innocent," Tory said with a smirk before skating off, leaving Arizona bewildered and slightly hurt by the comment.

As Arizona prepared to return to her cleaning duties, she felt a heavy hand land on her shoulder. Startled, she turned sharply to find Sam standing there, her expression a mix of irritation and resentment. "First, Miguel, now Robby? Can't get enough, Arizona?" Sam's voice was tinged with accusation and jealousy.

Arizona's frustration reached its peak. "Sam, you were the one who stole Miguel from me first. I just took him back when you broke his heart. And as for Robby, that was nothing. He just happened to be there and caught me before I hurt myself," she snapped, her voice sharp with anger.

Sam's eyes widened in disbelief, but before she could retaliate, Arizona turned on her rollerblades and skated away, her movements quick and purposeful. The noise of the roller rink seemed to amplify the tension between them. Arizona headed towards the back area of the rink, her mind racing with a swirl of emotions. She was determined not to let Sam's provocations get the best of her and resolved to stay focused on her work and her relationships with those who truly mattered to her.

Arizona and Miguel were enjoying their break at a table, munching on fries and chatting. The lively atmosphere of the roller rink was suddenly pierced by a loud, panicked scream. Both Arizona and Miguel looked up, their eyes searching for the source of the commotion. They saw Tory sprawled on the ground, holding her head, while Robby and Sam loomed nearby.

Miguel's face darkened with concern and anger. "What the hell, Sam?" he shouted as he rushed over with Arizona by his side.

Arizona, her heart racing, immediately knelt beside Tory. "Hey, babe, you okay?" she asked gently, helping Tory sit up slowly. Tory grimaced, holding her head and giving a pained nod. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.

Arizona quickly assessed the situation. "Hey, Tory, look at me," she said, holding up two fingers in front of Tory's face. "How many fingers do you see?"

Tory squinted and then answered, "Two." Arizona gave a relieved nod, then looked up at the security guard who had appeared on the scene.

"You're done," the guard said firmly to Sam and Robby. Arizona sent Sam a smirk, feeling a small sense of satisfaction as Sam's face flushed with frustration. Tory, though still wincing, managed a smug smirk of her own at Sam, enjoying the turn of events.

Robby tried to defend his friend. "Tory's the one who started it!" he protested, his voice tinged with desperation.

The security guard wasn't having any of it. "You're out!" he barked back, cutting off any further argument.

Sam shot a final, seething glance back at the group before storming off with Robby following reluctantly behind. As they exited, Tory's smirk widened, and she exchanged a look of triumph with Arizona, who couldn't help but feel a surge of vindication.

Arizona stayed by Tory's side, offering her support as she recovered from the altercation. "You okay?" she asked again, her voice softening.

"Yeah, just a bit dazed," Tory replied, rubbing her head. "Thanks for being there."

"Always," Arizona said, giving Tory a reassuring smile. "Let's get you checked out, okay? We'll make sure you're really okay."

As they walked away from the scene, Miguel joined them, still visibly fuming. "I can't believe Sam tried to start something like that," he said, shaking his head.

"Not surprised," Arizona said. "She's always been like that."

Together, they helped Tory to a quieter area where she could sit and recover, the roller rink's lively atmosphere now feeling distant and muted compared to the drama that had just unfolded.

ASH SPEAKS!

i have ideas for this fic for s3&4 🤭🤭🤭