Tory stood in the dojo, her gi clinging to her as she unleashed a flurry of punches against the training dummy. The fight against Sam replayed in her mind, along with the articles about Theo that had flooded her social media. She pushed herself harder, the sound of her fists hitting the padded surface echoing in the quiet space.

Just as she began to find her rhythm, the sound of laughter broke her focus. Tory glanced over to see Kyler and the other guys.

"Yo, I'm telling you, man, when I get to ASU, honeys be lining up for this snack, know what I mean?" Kyler boasted, his chest puffed out.

His friends erupted in laughter, egging him on. Tory rolled her eyes, irritation bubbling inside her.

"Anyways, my dad wants me to go to Harvard, but ASU's like the Harvard of the West Coast," Kyler continued, a smirk plastered on his face.

Tory had heard enough. She stormed over, fists clenched, her heart racing. "You guys are pathetic. If you'd handled your business, we would have won," she shot back, her tone sharp.

"Okay, whatever. Hawk, he switched sides," Kyler retorted, waving her off dismissively.

"Yeah, Miguel just got out of a wheelchair and he still kicked your ass," Tory fired back, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Look, at least I'm still here. Half the squad quit, and your boyfriend is a junkie man-whore," Kyler sneered, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.

Tory's pulse quickened, rage boiling inside her. "Don't you—"

Before she could finish her thought, the bell above the door jingled, interrupting the heated exchange. Tory turned to see Theo walk in, and her breath caught in her throat. He looked worse for wear, his disheveled appearance sending a jolt of concern through her.

"Well, look who showed up," Tory muttered, her tone laced with sarcasm, but her heart sank at the sight of him.

Theo glared at her, a fire igniting in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by something deeper. He rubbed his nose absently, as if trying to shake off the remnants of a recent high.

Tory's irritation faltered, replaced by a wave of concern as she took in the knots in his hair, the dark circles under his eyes, and the bloodshot gaze that spoke volumes. He was a shadow of the person she once knew.

Without a word, Theo walked into the back room of the dojo, leaving an uncomfortable silence in his wake.

Kyler scoffed, breaking the tension. "That fool doesn't even practice anymore, but he gets to stay? I don't get it."

Tory felt the anger rising again, but this time it was directed at Kyler. "Shut the fuck up!" she snapped, her voice cutting through the air. Taking a glance at the back room, taking a deep breath. She stepped through the doorway, bracing herself for whatever was about to happen. The dim light illuminated the space, and she found Theo sitting on a worn-out bench, his head hung low. He looked even worse up close—disheveled, lost, and distant.

"T-Theo," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "We need to talk."

He didn't look up, his fingers nervously tapping against his knee. "I don't really feel like talking right now."

"Too bad," she shot back, crossing her arms. "You can't just ignore this. I saw the articles, T. The ones about you and those girls. The drugs—what the hell are you doing?"

Finally, he lifted his gaze, and the fire in his eyes was replaced by a flicker of annoyance. "Why do you care? You broke up with me. You don't have to give a shit anymore."

Tory's breath caught in her throat. "I broke up with you because I thought you were leaving me! And now... now you're just—"

"Just what?" he interrupted, his voice rising. "A junkie man-whore? Yeah, I heard that."

She flinched at the mention of the hurtful words that were echoing in her mind. "This isn't about him. It's about you! You're spiraling, and I can't just stand by and watch you destroy what you built. I care about you, okay?"

"Care?" Theo scoffed, finally standing up. He stumbled a little, Tory reached out to help him but he gently pushed her away, rubbing his nose. "You care? You walked away when things got tough. You think you can just waltz back into my life and play the savior?"

Tory clenched her fists, frustration boiling over. "I didn't walk away because I wanted to! I did it because people have walked away from me before and for once in my life I wanted to do it!"

"I loved- no, I still love you!" Tory's eyes welled up at Theo's words. "And it's driving me fucking insane that I still can after you rip my heart out and stamp on it! I love you, for fuck's sake!"

"What about her?" Tory spat the last word like venom, thinking of the other blonde in Theo's life.

"Who? Harriet?" Tory nodded sharply and Theo sighed. "I met her in a club in LA. She understands me."

"What? By feeding you cocaine and LSD?" Tory shot at him, and Theo's nose twitched. "She doesn't understand you, Theo, she's using you for fame and ruining you. Seeing you like this, it's breaking my heart."

Theo ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "You think I wanted this? You think I chose to be this way? It's not like I'm sitting here dreaming of being a mess."

"Then why are you letting it happen?" Tory demanded, stepping closer.

He glanced away, the weight of her words pressing down on him. "Maybe I just don't care anymore. Maybe all of this—" he gestured around the room, "—is just a distraction from everything else."

"Running away isn't the answer," Tory said softly, her voice breaking. "You have to face what's going on, not just ignore it. You need help."

"Help?" he echoed, anger flashing in his eyes again. "What do you know about my life? You've got your own issues to deal with. You're not my therapist." For a moment, the defiance in Theo's gaze wavered, replaced by something softer—a flicker of vulnerability. But just as quickly, he masked it with anger. "You made your choice when you broke up with me. You don't get to come back and act like you're the one who can fix this."

Tory felt her heart shatter at his words. "I'm not trying to fix you, Theo. I just want you to realise that you don't have to go through this alone."

Theo turned away, the distance between them getting further and further away. "You don't understand. You don't know what it's like to feel this lost."

"Then let me help you find your way back," she urged, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please."

But he shook his head, the weight of his choices hanging heavy in the air. "I can't."

As the silence stretched between them, Tory felt the walls of the dojo closing in, suffocating her. She had tried, but it seemed like the distance between them was too great, and Theo was too far gone to reach.

—————

Theo sat upright on his bed, the going down of the sun streaming through the gap in his curtains as his thoughts pondered over the empty page in his notebook. Here Without You was the title of the song and he had part of the chorus written.

"I'm here without you, baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you, baby
And I dream about you all the time."

Defeated, he placed the notebook on his nightstand and turned his gaze toward the open drawer beneath it. His fingers hesitated for a moment before he pulled out a small ziplock bag filled with white powder. The sight of it sent a shiver down his spine, a mix of temptation and dread coursing through him.

He glanced at the door, where he could hear the muffled voices of Cami and Freddie from the living room. They were there, trying to reach out, but he felt too far gone to engage.

As he held the bag in his trembling hands, memories of the past week flooded back—his friends' worried glances, Tory's desperate pleas for him to seek help, and the empty feeling that settled in his chest every time he thought of her. He felt like he was caught in a web, and each choice he made only tightened the strands around him.

For a moment, he considered tossing the bag aside, reclaiming his life and the music that once brought him joy.

"What are you doing, Theo?" he whispered to himself, the words hanging heavy in the air. The silence in his room was deafening, and the muffled voices from the living room seemed to fade away.

With a deep breath, he set the bag on the nightstand, staring at it as if it were a live wire.

Just then, a knock at the door startled him out of his thoughts.

"Hey? Can we come in?" Cami's voice called softly from the other side, a hint of concern lacing her words.

Theo's heart raced. He knew he should say yes, that he should let them in and confront the mess he had created. But the fear of what they might see—the truth—held him captive.

"Uh... yeah, just a sec," he called back, quickly shoving the bag back into the drawer and closing it. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to compose himself as he took a deep breath.

As the door creaked open, Cami and Freddie stepped inside.

"Hey, we were just checking on you," Cami said, her eyes scanning the room before settling on him. "You've been quiet lately. We miss you."

Theo forced a smile, but it felt brittle on his lips. "I'm fine. Just writing, you know?"

Freddie raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on his face. "Writing? It looks like you've been avoiding us. You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Theo insisted, but the words felt hollow, echoing in the silence that followed.

Cami stepped closer, her gaze piercing through his defenses. "Theo, we're worried about you. We can help. You don't have to go through this alone."

The sincerity in her voice made his chest tighten. For the first time in days, he felt a flicker of hope amid the darkness.

With a deep breath, he looked at them, his walls beginning to crumble. "I... I don't know if I can do this," he admitted, the vulnerability in his voice surprising even him.

Cami reached out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Then let us help you. We're here for you, no matter what."

Theo's phone buzzed, and it was a message from Harriet, telling him she was outside. He sighed as he sent his friends an apologetic smile before getting up and leaving the room.

—————

Night has fallen now and Harriet had left Theo sat on a weathered bench in the park, his head lolling back as he stared blankly at the stars twinkling above. The world around him felt distant, the sounds life fading into a hazy blur.

His fingers trembled as he fished the small bag from his pocket, the white powder inside glistening under the faint streetlight. With a slurred mumble, he poured a line on his phone case, his movements unsteady. "Just one more," he whispered to himself, the urge overpowering any rational thought. He drew in a shaky breath, leaning forward to take another hit, oblivious to the danger that loomed.

As he sat there, the world around him began to fade, and darkness crept at the edges of his vision. Just then, Tory walked by on her way home from work, her mind preoccupied with the day's events until she caught sight of him. Her heart sank, a rush of panic flooding through her as she recognised the familiar figure slumped on the bench.

"Shit!" she called out, rushing over. The sight of him in such a state twisted her stomach into knots. Despite their earlier argument, love surged within her, overriding any anger she had felt.

He looked up, his eyes glassy and unfocused. "Tory?" he slurred, a faint smile creeping onto his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You're pretty."

Tory knelt beside him, her heart aching at the sight of the boy she loved so deeply—broken and vulnerable. "What are you doing here? You can't stay out like this," she urged, her voice steady but filled with concern.

"I'm fine," he mumbled, trying to wave her off, but his body swayed dangerously, and he nearly toppled off the bench.

"No, you're not," she said firmly, determination flooding her veins. "You need help. I'm taking you home."

With some effort, Tory wrapped her arms around him and began to lift him up, struggling to balance his weight as she maneuvered him off the bench. "Come on, lean on me," she instructed, her voice gentle yet commanding.

Theo leaned against her, his body heavy and uncooperative. "I... I don't want to go," he protested weakly, but there was no fight left in him.

"You don't have a choice," she replied, her tone softening. "I'm not leaving you here like this."

As they walked, Tory felt fear in the pit of her stomach. She had to keep him awake, keep him talking, to avoid the impending overdose. "Tell me about your day, Theo. What did you do?" she prompted, her voice soothing.

"Just chilled... had some fun," he slurred, his words tumbling out in disjointed sentences. "You know... the usual."

"Yeah? What's the usual?" she pressed, her heart racing as she caught glimpses of his unfocused gaze, the way he stumbled against her.

"Parties... writing... girls... just living, you know?" he replied, but his words were thick and muffled, barely coherent.

"Living?" Tory repeated, anguish filling her heart. "This isn't living, Theo. You're hurting yourself."

As they approached her house, Tory felt a surge of urgency. She managed to get him inside, guiding him carefully through the door and into her bedroom. She sat him down on the edge of her bed, her hands trembling as she searched for something to help him.

Theo swayed slightly, his head hanging low. "I don't feel so good," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Tory quickly grabbed a glass of water that was already on her nightstand and handed it to him. "Drink this. You need to stay hydrated," she instructed, her voice steady as she placed a hand on his back, gently urging him to sip.

He took a few small gulps before leaning back against her, his body going limp. "Tory... I'm sorry," he whispered, the words barely escaping his lips.

"Shh, just relax," she soothed, brushing his hair back from his forehead. "You're going to be okay. I'm here."

As she helped him settle onto the bed, she tucked him in, pulling the blankets up to his chin. She watched him closely, her heart racing as she monitored his breathing.

"I love you, you know," he murmured, his words trailing off into a soft haze as he fought to stay awake.

"I love you too, Theo," Tory replied, her heart breaking at the sight of him so vulnerable. "But you need to fight for yourself. You can't keep doing this."

His eyes fluttered, and she could see the battle within him. "I don't know how," he admitted, the raw honesty breaking her heart further.

"You start by choosing to get better," she said softly, her hand resting on his cheek. "I'll help you."

As he drifted into a restless sleep, Tory stayed by his side. She couldn't change the past, but she could be there for him now.

The room was quiet, save for the soft sound of Theo's breathing as he laid in the blankets. Tory sat beside him, her heart still racing as she watched over him, relief mingling with concern. But just as she began to settle, the sudden buzz of Theo's phone broke the silence, jolting her from her thoughts.

She glanced over at the screen, her heart sinking as she saw the name flash across it—Harriet. The girl who had introduced Theo to drugs, the one who had pulled him into the shit he now found himself in. Tory hesitated for a moment, considering letting it go to voicemail. But a surge of anger coursed through her, and before she knew it, she had picked up the call.

"Hello?" she answered, her voice tight with tension.

On the other end, Harriet's blonde curls bounced as she appeared on the screen, a bright smile plastered across her face. "Hey, Theo! I was just thinking about you! Are you home?"

Tory clenched her jaw, anger bubbling to the surface. "He's not available right now," she snapped, her tone sharp.

Harriet's smile faltered slightly as she recognised the voice. Harriet had heard Theo play countless voicemails from this person. "Who is this?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that you need to leave him alone. He's not okay, and you're the last person he needs to hear from," Tory said, her heart pounding as she felt the weight of her words.

"What are you talking about?" Harriet replied, feigning innocence. "I'm just checking in on my friend. He's been so distant lately. I thought we had something special."

Tory could feel her blood boiling. "Special? Is that what you call it? You got him hooked on drugs, and now you want to swoop back in like nothing happened? You're toxic, and you need to back off."

Harriet rolled her eyes, a dismissive laugh escaping her lips. "Oh, come on. It's just a little fun. He's a big boy. He can make his own choices."

"He's struggling, and it's because of you. You need to take responsibility for what you've done," Tory shot back, her voice rising.

"Don't act like you're some saint," Harriet retorted, crossing her arms. "You're not even his girlfriend anymore."

Tory's heart skipped a beat at her words, but she didn't correct her. "You're right. I'm not. But I still love about him, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect him from sluts like you."

There was a pause on the other end, Harriet's expression shifting to one of annoyance. "You think you can just come in and play the hero? He's not your property, honey. You can't control him," Tory stayed silent. "Whatever," Harriet huffed, her composure slipping. "I'll just talk to him when he's awake. He'll see that I'm the one who truly understands him."

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Tory replied, her voice steely. "You're not welcome in his life anymore, and I'll make sure of that."

With that, she hung up the call, her heart racing with adrenaline. Gritting her teeth, she reached back for Theo's phone, her fingers trembling as she navigated to Harriet's contact. She didn't hesitate; she blocked the number and deleted it from his phone entirely, determination fueling her resolve.

As she set the phone down, she took a deep breath, her heart still pounding. She glanced back at Theo, who remained peacefully asleep, unaware of the argument she had just fought.

"Fucking slut," Tory shook her head, placing a delicate kiss to Theo's forehead before lying down on the couch.