THIRTY SEVEN.
( god, save the prom queen. ) 

Emmy was buzzing with excitement as she stared at the prom venue, the colorful lights and booming music was everything she'd ever dreamed of.

Robby glanced at her from the passenger seat, catching the look in her eyes. "You happy?"

"Understatement of the year," as she couldn't take her eyes off of the place.

"You look like a kid in a candy store," Tory snorted from the backseat.

"I might as well be. Come on!" Emmy threw open her car side door, the dreamy smile on her face not leaving.

She had found her dream prom dress during homecoming dress shopping freshman year. It was a dark red color that swept the ground and had a giant bow in the back. It reminded her of the dresses she would dress her childhood Barbie dolls in.

Robby followed after her, his suit blazer a matching red color, and a white flower tucked into his blazer pocket. He held out his arm for her. "Ready?"

She looped their arms together, before looping hers through Tory's. "Let's do this."

The three of them walked up to the building, walking through the sheer, white curtains, observing the packed place. They then turned towards the punch bowl, where Sam and Miguel stood in shock.

"Oh my god," Sam gasped.

They just smirked, Emmy smugly turning to Robby who looked back at her. Tory then unlooped their arms, staring ahead of her. "I'll leave you guys be."

Emmy's eyes followed her, watching as Tory walked up to a familiar guy and struck a conversation with him. "Wow."

"Is that lunch guy?" Robby asked.

"Tall, brunette, green eyes. Yep, that's him," Emmy cracked a smile and turned to him. "Wanna go raid the dessert table?"

Robby grinned. "Now you're speaking my language."

She giggled, grabbing his hand and dragged him over to the food.

✸

"Wait, so you accidentally broke her window with a lamp? How does that even happen?"

Emmy took a quick sip of her punch. "I was 10 and clearly had a lot of issues."

Robby gave a loud laugh. "I can just imagine Sam's face when she found out."

"It's probably way funnier than whatever you're thinking of," Emmy reached forward and adjusted the flower in his suit. "I was grounded for, like, a month."

He shook his head at her with a smile. "Maybe it's a good idea we didn't meet earlier then. We would have caused some real trouble."

"How does me accidentally breaking my sister's window compare with you being an actual thief?"

"Oh, come on!" he exclaimed, watching as she chuckled. "You're seriously telling me you've never done anything illegal?"

"Uh, look at who you're talking to. I used to be best friends with a kid named "Hawk." Of course I've done illegal things," Emmy scoffed, glancing at her right.

She did a double take, seeing that Miguel was staring right at her. She quickly looked away, looking down at her punch glass. Robby furrowed his eyebrows at her, turning to the direction she was looking in. His jaw clenched at the sight of Miguel laughing with Sam and turned back to Emmy. "Don't let him ruin this night for you."

"He's always right in my face," Emmy sighed. "He's like an infection that just won't go away. And it doesn't help that he's practically shoving his relationship with her every chance he gets. Like, I get it. You chose her. Fuck you, whatever."

"Rambling."

"Noted."

Robby huffed. "You just have to show him that you don't care anymore."

"How the hell am I supposed to do that?"

Robby placed his punch cup onto the table before taking hers and doing the same. "You're gonna dance."

Emmy's eyes widened, feeling him start to drag her over to the dance floor. "Dance? Now? I don't dance well when I'm sober."

He rolled his eyes at her, hearing the music change into a much slower one. "You can slow dance sober? Right?"

"I ⎯ " she looked around her hesitantly. "I've never slow danced before."

"Really?" Robby looked shocked.

"Oh, don't look so surprised," she smacked his shoulder. "I was a rich kid who went to rich kid parties. There was no slow dancing."

"Ok, ok," he chuckled in surrender. "Just follow my lead."

"Okay," she muttered, eyes widening again when he grabbed her hands and placed them around the back of his neck. She felt him place his hands on her waist, encouraging her to sway side to side.

"There you go. Not so hard. Right?" Robby felt as Emmy started to move on her own, the both of them slowly swaying to the soft music.

"Yeah," she breathed out, interlocking her hands behind his neck, looking at him. "It's fine."

He smiled softly at her, taking a subtle glance past her shoulder. "He's looking."

"Really," Emmy went to turn her head, but let out a sudden gasp as she was suddenly spun back around. "Robby! That scared me."

"Don't look at him," he firmly said, his grip tightening on her waist every so slightly. "Don't let him know you're trying to make him jealous."

Emmy tilted her head at him. "I'm not trying to make anyone jealous."

He slowly nodded. "Good. Just focus on me. Forget about him."

She took a deep breath, her head hanging low. "Okay. Forget about him. As long as you forget about her too. Don't think I didn't notice you taking glances at her."

He lowly chuckled. "Got it. It's just us tonight. Deal?"

She grinned at him, gently resting her head on his shoulder. "Deal."

✸

"So this guy used to be a part of Cobra Kai?" Robby asked as he, Emmy, and the rest of their friends walked through the large house for the prom after-party.

"Yeah, made us call him Stingray. But his name is Raymond," she looked around the large space. "I had no idea that he lived in a place like this. He said he was living in his mom's basement."

Robby snorted. "It's probably better than the backroom of the dojo."

"Definitely is," she laughed and the group walked into the kitchen. She grabbed Robby's cup and took a sip, before freezing when she turned her head, almost choking on her drink.

Miguel and Robby's faces fell at the sight of each other, and Robby subtly put Emmy behind him. Suddenly, the music faded, taking their attention away from each other.

"Whoa! The day the music died. What's going on? Guys, turn it back on," Raymond came bursting in with a bottle of beer.

"There are families on this street trying to get some sleep," a random man was now in the center of the house, everyone turning to him. Everyone looked confused. "If y'all don't go home right now, you are gonna get arrested for underage drinking."

"Okay, relax. Hey, guys! Hey, hey! You don't have to leave! It's fine. He's my neighbor. Hey. What are you doing here? You weren't invited," Raymond stepped in. "You should leave right now."

"Okay, no one listen to this speed bump of a human," the man looked around at all of teenagers. "This is a loser, everyone. That's why he's partying with you, because he has no friends his own age."

"Okay," Raymond stepped closer to him. "I warned you, but you just had to push it and make it personal."

"What is happening right now?" Robby asked.

"No clue but I love watching old men fight," Emmy mumbled, taking another sip out of his cup.

"I did, Stink-Ray. And you know what I'm doing right now? I'm gonna start pushing these buttons and I am gonna call the cops," Raymond grabbed his hand and began to twist it at an uncomfortable angle. "Ow!"

"It's not Stink-Ray," he calmly corrected, plucking the phone out of his hand. "Also, this is really gonna sting."

Emmy and Robby let out simultaneous gasps as Raymond kneed the man in the stomach. "Oh shit!"

"So is this," Raymond then kicked the man across the face, causing him to fall to the ground. He then pressed play on the music again. "Party on."

Everyone let out a loud cheer, chanting "Sting-Ray" much to Raymond's enjoyment.

Emmy giggled, suddenly feeling the mood go back up. "I'm gonna go outside and get a drink. Want one?"

"I'm good," she gave a brief nod before pushing pas the crowds of tipsy teens to get to the outside.

She sighed at the feeling of the breeze hitting her skin, her heels becoming louder as she walked on the pavement. She spotted the keg and quietly made her way over, grabbing a random person's cup and dumping it's contents onto the ground.

Emmy paid no attention to the person who was in front of her, and as they turned around, she went to go fill her cup, but then she paused.

"Seems like you're always behind me in line," Sam commented. "First Miguel, now Robby. I have a half-eaten cupcake in there if you want some."

Emmy scoffed, taking a step closer to her. "Am I really behind you in line if Miguel wanted me first and Robby was interested in getting to know me first? Seems to me you were just a placeholder of what they couldn't have."

She shoved Sam to side, filling her cup about halfway before stepping back. Sam glared up at her, before turning her back. Emmy hummed, turning around to leave and brought her cup up to her mouth, when she was suddenly kicked forward, some of her drink spilling onto her face.

Almost everyone ooed, and Emmy felt her anger flare up. She poked the inside of her cheek with her tongue, using her hand to wipe around her mouth and turned around to face Sam. The older girl stood with a smug smirk, that faltered a bit when Emmy came closer to her.

Emmy then tugged the front of Sam's dress forward, creating an opening, and dumped the remainder of her drink into her dress. Sam gasped at the cold sensation, the drink seeping through her dress. Emmy then tossed her cup onto the ground, taking a step back, raising an eyebrow.

Sam clenched her jaw. She was challenging her. And then she charged at her, bringing her leg up to kick her but Emmy ducked, the two now switching spots. Sam went to kick her again, but Emmy caught her leg and pushed it away, the two now returning to their original spots.

Sam didn't stop her attacks, landing a kick to Emmy's gut, causing the latter to groan, before blocking a punch and gave a sharp elbow to Sam's face. Sam briefly held her cheek, letting out a cry and tackled Emmy to the floor, her shoulder digging into her ribs.

Emmy grunted at the impact on the back of her head, Sam sitting over her with her fist raised. Emmy just smirked up at her. Sam went to swing, but she was suddenly pulled off of her sister by Miguel.

"Sam, stop!" Miguel yanked her off, tightly holding onto her arm and dragged her away. "What are you doing?"

"Doing what Johnny said! I'm not taking her shit anymore!" she exclaimed.

Them arguing gave Emmy enough time to get up the ground, grabbed a portion of Sam's hair and yanked her down. Sam screamed at the painful sensation, looking up with wide eyes. Emmy looked down at her with a dark gaze, and made a move towards her before Miguel wrapped his arm around her waist, now dragging her away.

"What? Miguel! Let go of me!" Emmy struggled at Miguel's tight grip, looking over her shoulder and their eyes connected. He stopped, eyes staring into hers, Emmy doing the same.

"Get off of her!" they both turned away, seeing Robby stood angry in the crowd. Miguel lost focus, Emmy using this time and stomped her heel into his foot, causing him to let go of her.

She let out a deep breath as she stumbled back from him, seeing Robby grab Miguel's arm, throwing him in front of her and reeled his arm back. But just as it was about to make contact, Sam intervened, grabbing his hand and twisting it. "You think I broke your heart? You broke mine too!"

There was a brief moment where they all looked at each other. And Emmy's anger flared up even more. She ran towards Sam, Robby ducking out of the way and spun a kick to her sister's face. Sam fell to the ground, Emmy brushing her hair out of her face as Robby came up to her side.

"You okay?" he asked her.

"Yeah," she breathed out, watching Miguel help Sam up. The pairs then faced each other, pausing for a moment before Sam made the first move again, stomping a kick Emmy's way. Robby quickly pulled her out of the way, spinning her into his chest.

Emmy then snapped her head away, looking over his shoulder and saw Miguel lunging for him. With their hands still connected, Emmy ducked under his arm and kicked Miguel in the chest, making him grunt and take a step back. She spun herself back into Robby's chest, doing the same to Sam who charged at her.

Robby then ducked from a kick from Miguel, spinning Emmy away from him, causing Miguel to run under their arms. They all stood face to face again, getting into fighting positions.

Emmy went for Sam first, causing Miguel to go for Robby. Her arms wrapped around Sam's neck, bringing her upper body down and repeatedly kneed her in the stomach.

Sam groaned and grunted at each hit, sweeping Emmy's legs from under her, causing the both of them to fall onto the pavement. Emmy blocked a punch Sam swung, legs wrapping around her midsection and tossed her behind her, causing Sam to land on her back.

Emmy rolled back, landing on top of Sam and raised her fist in the air, when suddenly, she felt herself start to fall, and be submerged under water.

She quickly came up to the surface, brushing her now wet hair out of her face, seeing Robby stood above her. "Really? You had to push him our way?"

He gave a laugh, reaching his hand out for her. "Here."

She clasped onto his hand, before yanking him forward, causing him to dive into the pool. He came back up with a gasp, shaking the water from his face and hair. "Really?"

Emmy giggled, splashing his face with water.

"Emmy? Robby?"

They both turned, seeing Tory stood in the crowd with Lunch Guy. Her face was twisted in confusion. "Why are you guys in the pool with your clothes on?"

Emmy and Robby looked at each other, before turning back to her with a shrug. "Wanna join?"

Tory turned to the guy, who just shrugged and grabbed her hand. "I'll do it if you do it."

She turned back to her friends inside the pool, who looked at her expectantly. Tory shook her head with a smile, before stepping back and ran forward, jumping into the pool, the guy following shortly after.

Emmy and Robby cheered, and slowly, other people started to jump in as well. They turned to each other with huge grins.

"Fun night?" Robby asked.

"The best night," she answered.

✸

Robby let out a heavy sigh. "Emmy. Come on. Don't make this harder than it already is."

The girl just grumbled, her face laid on his back. "Shut up."

He rolled his eyes, stepping into his room. He had moved back in with his mom about a week ago, and took Emmy with him, his mom saying that she could stay as long as she needed.

He sat down on his bed, unlatching Emmy's arms from him and laid her down onto the bed. She immediately curled up, her hair sprawling out all over the pillow. He rolled the blanket back up, covering her from the neck down. She tugged the blanket closer around her. "Thank you for tonight."

Robby smiled softly down at her, brushing her hair out of her face. "Anytime."

AUTHOR'S NOTE !

the way i really need to watch all of this episodes before writing the chapters because i fucking forgot that robby moves back in with his mom