"You better be ready for high school next year because you're gonna be in for a world of pain."

Kenny Payne's words of spite rang in Robby's head. He had tried to train Kenny, to help him become better than he was because he knew what it felt like to feel alone in the world but all he'd done was just send him down an even worse path than before, his own path.

"Why did you try and help him when you hadn't even figured yourself out yet?" Robby wondered to himself as he looked up at the ceiling. He was lying on a patched up couch in his dad's, Johnny's, living room. The whole place smelt of stale food. He pulled the blankets off of himself, revealing a plain gray t-shirt and sweatpants covering his bruised body. Bruising was normal for a fighter right after a tournament, though, the pain ebbing from his rib cage was a constant reminder of his loss against Hawk or Eli (he wasn't sure what he was calling himself these days).

But it was the right thing for me to have lost, right?

He noticed his black backpack leaning up against the front door and for only a second (but the feeling was still there), he had the sudden urge to run. To run away from his dad, Sensei Kreese, the tournament, everything but, a little voice in his head whispered, "Kenny."

He decided to push these thoughts away at least until he had a clear mind, like Daniel had taught him.

Living with the LaRussos feels like an eternity ago at this point.

He suddenly heard the jingling of keys unlocking the front door.

Who would be coming here at four in the morning?

He was taking a fighting stance, the veins in his muscular arms visible when Carmen Diaz opened the door. Her appearance of a flowing dress and sandals gave Robby a laid back feeling but her face did not match it.

"Why are you here?" snapped Carmen, her voice shaking with resent.

"My, my dad said I could stay with him for a little while," explained Robby quietly, relaxing his body.

Just as Carmen was about to respond, Johnny walked tiredly out of his bedroom, rubbing his eyes.

"Carmen, what are you doing here?" Johnny asked, his face contorting in confusion.

"I just came over to ask if you'd heard any news about Miguel yet," she answered, side-eyeing Robby when she said the word Miguel.

He understood why she was upset.

I mean, how couldn't she be mad?

Less than a year ago, he had shoved her son, Miguel, off a two-story railing.

"I haven't yet, sorry," sighed Johnny as he sleepily poured two bowls of mini wheats.

There was silence for the next few moments, the air filled with tension and remorse.

"Maybe it would be better if I just go," suggested Robby reaching for his backpack.

"No, please stay, just give us a minute," Johnny urged, gesturing for Carmen to meet him outside.

"Okay," answered Robby before sitting down to eat.

He sat awkwardly on the bar stool positioned at the end of his dad's kitchen counter staring at the floor, occasionally spooning a bite of the chewy cereal into his mouth.

You told yourself you wouldn't run!

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a picture of himself kneeling while holding a soccer ball hanging on Johnny's fridge. He had this baggy green jersey on and was wearing a ridiculous smile that made seventeen year-old Robby cringe.

Is that the only photo he has of me?

After a few minutes, Johnny returned and sat down next to Robby, pulling the second bowl of cereal towards him.

"Is everything okay?" asked Robby blankly.

He was more of just saying words to avoid another second of excruciating silence.

"Yeah, she's just worried about Miguel," answered Johnny, trying to hide the worry in his own voice.

Robby nodded, biting his lower lip. He had always felt jealousy towards Johnny's and Miguel's relationship so even though he wasn't really mad at Miguel anymore, that surge of jealousy sometimes aroused within him.

Ring, ring, ring! Rang Robby's phone, vibrating the pocket of his sweatpants.

"Can I?" Robby confirmed with Johnny, gesturing towards his phone.

"Yeah," shrugged Johnny through a mouth full of food.

Robby got up from the wobbly stool and walked into Johnny's room (because it was the only other room in the apartment) although he doubted it had good sound insulation.

The phone ID read: Terry Silver.

What are you going to say to him?

His index finger wavered above the phone screen for a few seconds, his mind deep in thought, before pressing accept.

"My boy, where have you been?" asked Terry, his voice ringing with excitement.

"Had to visit my mom for a few days," lied Robby.

Hopefully he doesn't look as closely into our personal lives as Sensei Kreese does.

"Oh, I completely understand that but I have some big news to share with all of you after class, today," explained Terry, putting extra emphasis on the word "today."

Bigger news than opening new dojos all over the valley?

"Yeah, I'll make sure to come," stated Robby.

"Great!" exclaimed Terry, clapping his hands together.

Robby hung up the phone a few seconds later, sliding it back into his pocket.

What did I get myself into?