───── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─────
──EPISODE EIGHT

"DID YOU KISS HIM BACK?"

Élodie wasn't prepared for the question.

It hit her like a smack to the face as Eli appeared in front of her as she left her house.

She sent him a frown, seeing the hurt expression on his face and feeling her heart ache at the sheer sight of that, knowing it was her fault.

"Eli," she began, voice shaky, "I pulled back straight away. We might've broken up, but I wouldn't be looking to make out with your best friend right away."

Eli stepped closer to her, seething with anger and hurt all jumbled up at once, "But that doesn't mean you didn't want to, does it?"

Élodie shook her head, placing a palm atop his shoulder as she eyed him sadly.

"I'm really trying here, Élodie. And all this time you've lied to me, you've kept your feelings from me while I've tried so hard for you."

There it was, the proof she'd really hurt him. He never called her Élodie, always Ellie. Or babe. Or princess. Or something of that ilk. Usually that only changed when he was trying to make things up because she was mad with him.

But now that was different.

"I didn't want him to kiss me, Eli, I promise," she shook her head, "I love you, and I know you're trying to change for me. I didn't mean for all this to happen."

He shrugged her hand off him, his face twisting in irritation for a moment before his expression softened again and he looked hurt once more, "You don't want to be with him. But you don't want to be with me either."

"Right now I need to not be with anyone, Eli, please understand that. For everyone's sake. I don't want to hurt any of you," she immediately regretted her choice of words as realisation washed over his face.

"So it's Robby? Jesus Christ, talk about whiplash," she could see that he was upset, but masking it with his still somewhat newfound Hawk anger, "Just tell me you don't want me, for fucks sake Élodie. I was furious with Miguel for trying to kiss you, but maybe it is you I should be mad at because you're stringing the three of us on all at once."

Élodie was stunned into silence.

He was right, really — because though unintentionally, she'd been dancing around in her own feelings so much that she'd failed to deeply consider those of anyone else.

Maybe she shouldn't have agreed to go to the roller disco with Robby. Was that a selfish mistake, too?

"I love you, Eli. I do, and I think I always will. No matter how confused I've been it's always been you I've been in love with," she gulped, returning her eye contact to him as fury encapsulated his features, "I just can't be with you right now... You're right, I've not been fair to any of you. I just need you all in my life and the only way to do that is to be just friends."

Eli shook his head furiously, "I don't want to be just your friend, Élodie. This," he lifted his shirt from his frame, pulling it to his shoulders and revealing a small tattoo of an E on his chest, "Was supposed to mean forever. I love you, but you've never loved me, have you? You just knew me best out of the three of us so settled."

Élodie's eyes fixated on the tattoo, shock coursing through her veins. He'd gotten a whole fucking tattoo for her?

"Eli that's not true, I—,"

"Save it, princess. I can see now that you don't want me," he was practically snarling now, though Élodie could see the hurt behind his eyes and it broke her heart, "What a fucking waste of my time. Sensei was right."

That brought Élodie back to earth, "Sensei? Let me guess: Kreese?"

"You know nothing about him, so don't pretend that you do because of stupid Miyagi-do's bullshit," Hawk snapped, and Élodie took a step back, frightened. Hawk visibly shrunk back a little at the sight, but his disdainful expression resumed moments later, "I'm not going to be a pussy anymore, not for a girl who doesn't even really love me when I'd do anything for her."

His voice broke as he uttered the last sentence, and Élodie's heart broke along with it as she watched him storm away.

———

"I'll be there in just a few," Robby hummed down the phone later that day, as Élodie stared at herself in the mirror, "Sorry that we have to get the bus..."

Élodie smiled, forgetting he couldn't see the smile through the phone as she tried to reassure him, "Don't be silly, it's fine. I usually do anyway now that... Nevermind. I can't wait though. See you soon."

They ended the call, and Élodie poked and prodded at the pink dress adorning her small frame, adjusting her outfit with an anxious expression on her face.

She'd chosen to be Baby from Dirty Dancing — opting for her second favourite Patrick Swayze classic, considering that Ghost was released in 1990 so she couldn't pull that off for an 80s night.

She suddenly felt insecure, though previously her costume had been exciting to her. Did she look stupid?

Did her face still look puffy? She'd spent enough of the morning crying on her grandmother's shoulder that she feared she may have run out of tears at this point. She'd concealed the redness but was terrified it was still clear.

Moreover — was tonight a bad idea?

She was broken from her thoughts by a knock at the door, and she opened it nervously to find Robby on the other side — dressed as Johnny... from Dirty Dancing.

Part of her wasn't surprised, but still she felt her cheeks sting with a crimson blush as it sunk in that they were going in couples' costumes.

"Oh, dig the costume," she laughed, trying to ignore the awkwardness of their 'friends' evening being in matching attire, "Shall we head out?"

Robby smiled at her — the warm, genuine smile so often painted on his face solely for her.

"You look gorgeous, Baby," he referenced her costume, but coughed awkwardly upon realising he'd used a nickname he hadn't in so long, "Uh— the costume. Really cool. Pretty."

Élodie laughed, shaking her head even as goosebumps prickled her skin at his words.

"Let's go."

The ride to the roller rink was fairly quiet, comprised mostly of small talk and awkward stares. But Élodie was determined to make the best of the evening and pretend there was no awkward 'what if?' hanging in the air.

What if this was a date?
What if they weren't really just friends?

No — they were just going to have a good night as friends.

The roller rink was busy as expected, packed full of people in costumes. Élodie and Robby excitedly pointed out costumes they recognised, finally feeling comfortable now that they weren't alone with just each other and their thoughts.

That was all well and good as they slipped on their skates, hobbling over to the rink. That was all well and good as they sang and giggled and chatted. That was all well and good as they danced and Élodie teased him for not knowing a plethora of songs.

But when they got hungry and took their seats to get food, the presence of people they didn't really want to see became clear.

"Oh hey, Élodie," Tory's face seemed painted with a smug smile as she glanced across at Robby, "A date?"

Élodie glanced across at Robby with a panicked frown, before looking back up at Tory, "It's not a date. We're just hanging out."

"I guess you do need a distraction, with everything going on. Hawk was pretty torn up, Miguel too. Although... You may want to hide," she leaned down, her eyes becoming more stern, "Miguel's here waiting for me. You might not want to let him see what's going on here."

And suddenly their evening was ruined.

———

Meanwhile, Hawk was perched on the edge of his bed, scrolling through photos of himself and Élodie on his phone.

His heart ached at the sight of Élodie's smile, and for a moment he wondered if he was making a mistake in being so furious with her.

He just wanted her in his life — even if it had to be as friends. He'd made that clear when she'd forgiven him for all of his mistakes.

But now that her wandering attention was a prevalent issue, and it was clear that he wasn't the only one she held in her heart, that wasn't so much the case when she could be swept away from him at any moment while he waited.

The rage in his body still felt foreign to him, even if he'd been letting such rage envelope him for weeks now. Even more so because he'd been fighting it back for Élodie's sake of late.

He locked his phone, tossing it aside as he threw himself back on his bed.

Laying in contemplation for a while, he tried to steady his breathing.

He loved Élodie, he really did. But he was sure now that Sensei Kreese was right — she wasn't worth the weakness she was instilling in him if she wasn't committed to him.

His commitment had to be with Cobra Kai, then.

———

"Are you going to let her just ruin the evening, El?" Robby's voice was shy, barely above a whisper as they stood at the counter to return their skates, "I'm happy leaving but I've had a really good time."

His curiosity was predominantly due to the fact Élodie had been almost silent since Tory had skated away from them, smiling.

"Is this... Was this bad? Does this count as a date even if we're pretending it doesn't?" she gulped, looking across at him anxiously.

Robby was unsure too, so shrugged as he sought to reassure her regardless, "I think we've had a good time together and there's no need to think about that. We're friends. We don't need to push it right now, we just enjoy each others' company."

Élodie just nodded, grateful for the lack of pressure.

They'd not eaten, Élodie feeling suddenly too uncomfortable, and so Robby had suggested that they leave. At this, Élodie had just meekly nodded and avoided looking around in case she caught a glimpse of Miguel.

"We can go grab food somewhere but I just... The evening is ruined, really, isn't it?" Élodie pouted, her voice incredibly quiet now too as she put her Dr Martens back on, slamming her skates onto the counter top.

Robby sighed deeply, shrugging again, "I suppose."

He leaned forward to place his skates on the counter too, just as Élodie rose to her feet, and suddenly they were in closer proximity than they'd been since they'd broken up.

His arm was still stretched across, almost trapping her against the counter.

His breathing was heavy on her face, his eyes boring intently into hers as she mentally cursed the blush that had returned to her olive cheeks.

They were silent for a few moments, focusing on their own ragged breaths and pounding hearts.

"Élodie..." Robby whispered, the words fanning her warming face as neither of them moved back, "I won't because I'm trying to respect boundaries, but I really want to kiss you right now."

Élodie knew that she shouldn't encourage it.

She knew that anyone could see them.

She knew that it was too soon to let him kiss her when she was still confused.

But the fluttering in her chest and the leap her stomach took seemed to cloud her mind as she drew back ever so slightly, before leaning forward to kiss his cheek, "Thank you— for, for being so good to me. For being so respectful."

She couldn't tell him that the butterflies in her stomach made her want him to kiss her too.

"Anything for you," he smiled sadly, stepping back properly now. He widened his smile, watching Élodie bite her lip, "C'mon, let's go."

Miguel had seen the entire exchange. Of course he had. But from where he stood it absolutely did not look like she'd just pecked his cheek.

His jaw was clenched as he leaned on his table, clearing his throat as the shock set in that maybe Élodie really was just happier being with Robby again and neither him nor Eli had any chance.

He pulled out his phone, opening Hawk's contact with a deep breath.

To: Hawk
hey man, i know you're not talking to me
right now but i can't not tell you

To: Hawk
i came to see tory at the roller rink for a
kind of date on her break and i just saw
élodie... she's here with robby.

To: Hawk
and i just saw them kiss.

───── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─────
AUTHOR'S NOTE !
i initially let robby kiss élodie but changed
my mind because although i love him i
love my dumb gal élodie and didn't want
her doing something TOO daft (plus in keeping with how things go in the show, miscommunication is key lmao)

i want everyone to be happy but also i love pain nd chaos so ... i am sorry? but i'm here giving robodie stans their moment since i've kept u waiting hehe

thanks for reading, please please leave comments & votes to let me know what you thought and if you're enjoying! <3