chapter fifty-two:
❛ benvinguts a barcelona (3) ❜

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Clementine sat cross-legged on the corner of the bed, her arms wrapped around one of the spare pillows as she watched the chaos brewing in the shared hotel room. The atmosphere was suffocating, a mix of frustration, blame, and unspoken resentment simmering among the group. Everyone was pissed off at Robby. Everyone, except for Clementine.

She understood him better than anyone here. Sure, gambling away his room to Cobra Kai was reckless-stupid, even-but mistakes happened. She knew he wasn't thinking clearly, especially after everything that had gone down with Tory switching sides. She didn't condone his decision, but she wasn't about to pile onto him like the others seemed so eager to do.

Now, thanks to that ill-conceived gamble, Demetri and Robby were crammed into a room with Eli and Miguel. Four boys, two beds, zero personal space. Needless to say, no one was happy about it.

The door swung open, and Demetri trudged inside with his bags, looking like he'd just received the worst news of his life. "Well, this sucks," he muttered, throwing his luggage onto the bed with a dramatic huff.

"Not a very smart gamble, boys," Sam said as she walked in behind him, her tone sharp with judgment. She shot Robby a look, arms crossed, as though waiting for him to defend himself.

Clementine, sitting on the bed closest to the wall, stifled a snicker at Sam's comment. Robby, however, stayed silent, his arms crossed as he leaned against the dresser.

"Yeah, somebody said it wasn't gonna be a gamble," Demetri retorted, turning his sharp gaze toward Robby as if to add fuel to the fire.

Clementine's eyes narrowed. "Come on, Demetri," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension. "I didn't want to get involved," Robby snapped, his jaw tightening as he pushed himself off the dresser.

Clementine sighed, brushing her hair back with a casual shrug. "He did say to stay away from Cobra Kai. It's simple," she said, looking directly at Demetri and Sam.

"If it's so simple, shouldn't Robby be following your advice? After all, he's your boyfriend," Eli chimed in from the corner, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Clementine froze for a moment, her lips parting in disbelief as she turned to glare at Eli. She could feel her temper bubbling to the surface, and Alison, standing near the door, shifted uncomfortably. Clementine's best friend could see the warning signs.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Clementine snapped, her voice low and threatening.

"We all saw Robby talking to Tory," Eli said, his arms crossed and his tone casual, though there was a smugness behind it that made Clementine want to throw the nearest pillow at him.

She rolled her eyes, letting out a sharp scoff. "Come on. I mean, they're best friends. Everyone knows that," she said, her voice clipped as she tried to keep her anger in check.

"He has a right to be upset," Clementine added, standing her ground in Robby's defense.

Eli's scoff cut through the room like a knife. "You sure Robby isn't cheating on you?" he said, his voice dripping with insinuation.

For a moment, the room was silent as everyone processed what he'd just said. Clementine's jaw tightened, her fists clenching at her sides as she stared at Eli like he'd just grown a second head. After everything, after she'd finally started to tolerate him, this was how he acted?

"Just shut up, please, before I make you," she bit out through clenched teeth, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.

Miguel stepped in quickly, trying to defuse the situation. "Yeah, but he's dealing with her decision. Same as the rest of us," he said, glancing at Robby, though his tone was more neutral.

"I wouldn't say that exactly. You knew Kreese came to Tory," Sam revealed, her voice steady but firm, and the air in the room shifted immediately.

Clementine's head snapped toward Sam, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "What?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper, though it was laced with disbelief.

Robby looked cornered, his back against an invisible wall as he ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I-I mean, I knew that Kreese went to Tory, yeah, but it was before her mom died," he said quickly, his words tumbling over each other. "He was trashing Miyagi-Do, saying she wasn't gonna have a fair shot. She told him to get lost. Come on. I didn't know she was gonna do this."

"Clem, he's totally cheating," Eli said, doubling down on his earlier accusation.

Clementine's head whipped back toward Eli, her disbelief now replaced with outright fury. "Oh my God. What is your problem?" she snapped, her voice rising as she finally let her anger boil over.

Even Alison, who'd been trying to stay neutral, gave Eli a sharp look. "Yeah, why do you keep bringing up cheating?" she asked, her eyebrows raised in suspicion.

Eli shrugged, though his confidence wavered. "I mean...Robby hasn't told you any of this, Clementine. He's lying to you," he said, his voice quieter but no less pointed.

"I'm not cheating!" Robby yelled, his voice echoing in the small room.

"Kreese played you. And her. This is what Kreese does," Sam snapped, her voice cutting through the noise.

"Come on, guys. That's not fair. I didn't lie," Robby protested, his voice softer now, though his frustration was clear.

The room fell into an uneasy silence as everyone exchanged glances. Finally, Robby turned to Clementine, his voice almost pleading. "Clem?"

She stood abruptly, her movements sharp and deliberate as she turned to face him. Her expression was a mix of hurt and anger, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You did lie to me. You never told me any of this," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

Before anyone could say anything, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

"Clem!" Robby called out, taking a step toward the door, but she was already gone.

Alison crossed her arms, stepping in front of him before he could follow. Her gaze was cold and unforgiving. "Don't even. She's right. You lied," she said, her voice firm as she defended her best friend.

Robby's shoulders slumped as he sank into the nearest chair, running his hands through his hair in frustration. The room was heavy with silence, the weight of the argument settling over everyone like a storm cloud.

Clementine lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, her thoughts racing in endless circles. The room was dark, save for the faint glow of moonlight creeping through the curtains. Alison's steady snoring filled the silence, a rhythmic sound that only added to Clementine's frustration. She turned onto her side, gripping the pillow tightly against her chest, but no matter how she shifted, sleep refused to come.

Her mind was cluttered, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. Tory switching sides. Eli's ridiculous accusations about Robby cheating on her. The sheer vulnerability of thinking she might be pregnant, only for it to turn out to be a false positive. And worst of all, Robby lying to her-something she couldn't shake, no matter how much she wanted to believe he had his reasons.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, startling her. Frowning, she reached over and picked it up, the screen lighting up with a text from Robby.

"Look out your door."

She hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen before letting out a sharp breath. Shoving the covers off, she climbed out of bed as quietly as she could to avoid waking Alison. Padding over to the door, she opened it slowly and stepped into the dimly lit hotel hallway. There he was, leaning against the opposite wall, his hands in his hoodie pockets.

"What do you want?" Clementine said, her voice low and clipped as she crossed her arms. She wasn't in the mood for small talk. "Talk."

Robby pushed off the wall and stepped closer to her, his expression conflicted. "Look, I know you're upset-"

"Upset?" Clementine snapped, cutting him off. "Upset doesn't even begin to cover it, Robby. You lied to me. You kept things from me, important things, and then just expected me to be okay with it?"

"I didn't lie to you," Robby said, his voice firm but exasperated.

"Oh, come on," Clementine shot back, her arms dropping to her sides as she glared at him. "You knew Kreese went to Tory, and you didn't think to tell me? You didn't think that might be something I'd want to know?"

"I didn't lie," Robby repeated, his jaw tightening. "I just didn't bring it up because it didn't seem important at the time. Tory told him to back off, and that was the end of it-how was I supposed to know she'd do this?"

"Not important?" Clementine echoed, her voice rising slightly. "Robby, everything about this is important. You know how much we've all been through because of Cobra Kai. You knew it mattered, and you still kept it to yourself."

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "I didn't think it was a big deal, Clem! I wasn't trying to keep it from you-I just didn't want to add to all the drama!"

Clementine let out a bitter laugh, her emotions boiling over. "You didn't want to add to the drama? Well, congratulations, because now it's ten times worse. And you know what? Eli's words are stuck in my head now."

"What are you talking about?" Robby asked, his brows furrowing.

Clementine hesitated, her voice faltering. "Eli. What he said about you and Tory..." She swallowed hard, suddenly feeling vulnerable. "I know you and Tory are best friends. I know you went through hell together in Cobra Kai. But..." She looked down, her arms wrapping around herself. "But what if he's right? What if you did cheat on me?"

Robby's eyes widened, his face a mix of shock and hurt. "Are you serious right now?"

"I don't know," Clementine admitted, her voice breaking. "I don't know what to believe anymore. You're keeping things from me, Robby. How am I supposed to trust you when you're hiding stuff like this?"

"I didn't cheat on you," Robby said firmly, his voice rising slightly. "I would never do that to you, Clem. You mean too much to me."

Her eyes filled with tears, but she quickly blinked them away, refusing to let herself break. "How am I supposed to believe that?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Robby stepped closer, his expression softening. "Because it's the truth. I swear to you, Clementine, nothing happened between me and Tory. She's my friend-nothing more."

Clementine looked away, biting her lip. She wanted to believe him. She really did. But the weight of everything-his secrecy, her own doubts, the constant chaos surrounding them-was too much.

"There's something else," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What?" Robby asked, his tone cautious.

Clementine opened her mouth to tell him about the false pregnancy, about the whirlwind of emotions she'd gone through thinking she might be carrying his child. But the words wouldn't come. Instead, she shook her head, swallowing the confession.

"Forget it," she said, her voice tight.

"Clem, talk to me," Robby pleaded, reaching for her arm.

She pulled away, stepping back. "I can't do this anymore," she said, her voice cracking.

Robby froze, staring at her like she'd just punched him in the gut. "What are you saying?"

Clementine took a shaky breath, her arms wrapping around herself again as she fought to keep her composure. "I'm saying we're over, Robby. I can't... I can't keep doing this. It's too much."

His face fell, confusion and pain etched into his features. "What? Clem, come on, don't do this. We can fix this-"

"No," she said firmly, cutting him off. "I need space. I need time to figure things out without all this... chaos."

Robby stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like he wanted to argue but didn't know what to say. Finally, he nodded slowly, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"If that's what you want," he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion.

Clementine didn't trust herself to say anything else. She turned and walked back into her room, closing the door softly behind her. Once inside, she leaned against the door, pressing a hand to her mouth as silent tears slid down her cheeks.

On the other side of the door, Robby stood in the hallway, staring at the closed door with a mix of heartbreak and disbelief. He couldn't understand how things had unraveled so quickly-or why Clementine was slipping away from him.

Clementine stood stiffly among her team in the center of the Sekai Taikai arena. The atmosphere was electric, with the roar of the crowd and the glare of bright overhead lights making it impossible to ignore the weight of the moment. She crossed her arms, doing her best to look composed, though the tension gnawing at her stomach made it hard to focus. Standing beside her, much to her frustration, was Robby. She hated this-hated that they were forced to share the role of team captain, hated that his presence was unavoidable, and most of all, hated the fact that she could feel his gaze on her but couldn't bring herself to look back at him. Not after last night.

Gunther Braun, the charismatic Sekai Taikai announcer, stepped onto the mat, his voice booming as he addressed the competitors. "The time has come! Welcome to our first event. I hope you're all well-rested and ready for a new and unique competition."

Clementine's jaw tightened as she shifted uncomfortably, doing everything she could to ignore the palpable awkwardness between her and Robby.

"We call it the Captain's War," Gunther continued. "We told you how important your captains would be-now, let's see how well you protect them. Four dojos will take the mat, but only one will be left standing. If you hit the mat, you're out. And if one of your captains hits the mat, your entire team is eliminated from this round."

The tension in the arena was thick as the crowd erupted into murmurs. Clementine felt a cold sweat on the back of her neck.

Gunther gestured to the screens behind him. "Check the boards to see your groups, decided by random draw. Group A, you're up."

Clementine raised her eyes to the board, her heart sinking as soon as she saw the matchup. Her group was paired with Cobra Kai. Of course.

She scoffed under her breath, shaking her head as Sensei LaRusso muttered from behind her, "Cobra Kai. Naturally."

The team huddled close, their energy tense but focused. Clementine avoided standing directly next to Robby, though she could feel his presence lingering too close for comfort.

"Let them come to us," Miguel said, his voice calm but firm. "Protect the egg."

"Make sure Clem and Robby are safe," Sam added, her eyes darting between the team.

Robby shifted slightly, his expression hardening. "I can be on the front line."

Miguel shot him a look, shaking his head. "No. You stay back and stay focused."

Robby's brows furrowed, his frustration evident. "Why wouldn't I be focused?"

Clementine flinched inwardly at the tension brewing between the two boys. She hadn't told the whole team about the breakup, but Miguel and Alison knew, and it was clear Miguel's comment wasn't random.

"You... left the hotel room last night," Miguel said pointedly, his voice slow, careful.

Robby's expression faltered, his face falling as he glanced toward Clementine for confirmation. She froze under his gaze, her stomach twisting.

"Wait, what? Clem?" Eli asked, picking up on the shift in the air.

Clementine let out a small sigh, trying to steady herself. "Not now, okay?"

That was all Eli needed. His eyes darted between her and Robby, and understanding dawned on his face. They had broken up.

Sensei LaRusso, sensing the tension but refusing to let it derail the moment, stepped into the circle, his voice steady. "I know it hasn't always been pretty lately, but no one could ever count us out. You hear me? Do it for each other."

The team nodded, a wave of determination settling over them despite the cracks in their dynamic.

"And wipe the smirks off their ugly faces," Sensei Lawrence added, his gruff voice laced with his usual brand of motivation.

Clementine couldn't help but laugh softly, some of her tension easing as the team rallied together.

Gunther's voice boomed again. "Ready? Begin!"

The match erupted into chaos the moment the words left his mouth. Tory darted forward like a predator on the hunt, her focus razor-sharp as she zeroed in on their team.

"Protect the egg!" Demetri yelled, his voice breaking slightly as he moved to block her.

But Tory was too fast. She swept his legs out from under him in one swift move, sending him crashing to the mat.

"Demetri's out!" Miguel called, barely glancing as he engaged another Cobra Kai fighter.

Clementine's focus sharpened as a boy from Cobra Kai came charging toward her. Her instincts kicked in, her muscles tensing as she readied herself for the attack. The boy moved with speed and aggression, his strikes powerful but predictable. Clementine blocked his first few hits, her mind racing.

"Stay on him, Clem!" Sam shouted from behind her, but Clementine barely heard her.

She ducked under a high kick, her footwork quick and deliberate as she sidestepped his next move. With a swift counter, she aimed a kick at his chest, knocking him off balance. But before she could press her advantage, another Cobra Kai fighter moved in, forcing her to split her attention.

Behind her, Robby shouted, "Clem, watch your left!"

She didn't have time to process the pang of frustration his voice caused as she blocked the incoming strike, her movements fluid despite the chaos. All around her, the match was a flurry of kicks, punches, and bodies hitting the mat.

Her heart pounded as she fought to stay focused, knowing that one wrong move could cost them everything. Despite her resentment toward Robby, she knew she had to keep him-and herself-safe. For the team. For Miyagi-Do.

"Guys, protect Clementine! We can't have her go down!" Sensei LaRusso yelled from the sidelines, his voice sharp with urgency. Clementine barely registered his words as she ducked under a punch and struck back, landing a solid kick to the boy's chest. He stumbled but recovered quickly, swinging at her again.

"Sensei, I've got my hands full!" Eli shouted, fending off two Cobra Kai fighters with quick strikes and evasive maneuvers.

"Ai!" Clementine yelled as she jumped, her foot connecting with the boy's face in a swift, calculated strike. He staggered backward, giving her just enough time to glance around.

"I've got Tory!" Devon's voice called out, drawing Clementine's attention. Tory was locked in a fierce battle with Devon, her movements precise and relentless.

"Need some help!" Devon yelled, struggling to keep up as Tory's strikes grew faster and more aggressive.

Clementine moved to assist her, but before she could reach Tory, another Cobra Kai boy spun in the air, aiming a kick at her. His strike missed completely, and Clementine couldn't help but laugh.

"You've got to do better than that," she quipped, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The boy growled in frustration, lunging forward with a punch. Clementine swiftly blocked it with her arm, twisting to grab his wrist and flipping him onto the mat. She followed up with a sharp kick to his chest, sending him sprawling.

"Yeah, go Clem!" Alison's voice rang out from the stands, her cheers cutting through the chaos. Clementine didn't look up, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

"Lee's out!" Gunther announced, and Sensei Lawrence's voice boomed from the sidelines. "Hawk, protect the captains!"

Clementine turned just in time to see Eli get flipped onto the ground, the thud echoing in her ears.

Her chest tightened as she stepped back into a defensive stance, her eyes scanning the chaos around her. Tory had broken free from Devon and was now coming straight for her.

Tory's strikes were fierce and deliberate, but Clementine blocked each one with precision. Their eyes locked, and Clementine could see something shift in Tory's expression-a mixture of determination and concern.

"You're angry," Tory said between strikes, her voice low but steady. "What's going on, Clem?"

Clementine didn't respond, her movements sharp and aggressive as she deflected Tory's attacks.

"Seriously, Clem. Talk to me," Tory pressed, her tone softening as she dodged a high kick.

Clementine gritted her teeth, grabbing Tory's arm in a firm grip as she prepared to strike. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions-anger, frustration, and confusion all fighting for dominance.

But before she could land her hit, Kwon appeared out of nowhere, wrapping his arm around her neck in a chokehold. Clementine froze, her breath hitching as she struggled to break free.

The hesitation cost her. Tory didn't miss a beat, striking Clementine square in the chest. The impact sent her stumbling backward, her feet slipping out from under her. She hit the mat hard, the sound of the whistle signaling her team's defeat.

"Clementine's out! Miyagi-Do is eliminated for this round!" Gunther announced, his voice carrying over the noise of the crowd.

Clementine lay on the mat for a moment, the weight of the loss sinking in. Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet, her face burning with embarrassment and regret.

Her teammates were silent as she walked off the mat, her head bowed. She could feel their disappointment, but it was nothing compared to the guilt gnawing at her chest.

"I'm sorry," Clementine said quietly, her voice barely audible as she joined her team on the sidelines.

Sensei LaRusso placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression calm but firm. "It's not the end, Clem. Shake it off. We'll come back stronger in the next round."

She nodded, but the sting of failure lingered as she sat down, her thoughts racing. Tory's words echoed in her mind, and for the first time, she wondered if her anger was doing more harm than good.

ASH SPEAKS!

sorry for the wait on this update :) but we're onto ep 7!

robby and clem are broken up... for now.

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE. IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)