The next day at school, the bustling hallways were filled with students. Theo walked alongside Cami and Freddie.

"Hey, man, you good?" Freddie asked, glancing sideways at him. Theo had been unusually quiet, his eyes scanning the crowd, searching for a familiar face that seemed to be eluding him.

"Yeah, just... wondering where Tory is," Theo replied, trying to keep his tone casual, but the worry crept into his voice.

"She probably just overslept," Cami suggested, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You know how she gets after a late night. She'll show up."

Theo nodded, though doubt lingered in the back of his mind. He had sent her a message that morning, but there had been no response. He felt a tight knot in his stomach, an instinctual worry that something wasn't right.

As they approached their lockers, Theo's eyes darted through the sea of students, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tory. The laughter and excitement around him faded into a dull murmur as he focused on the faces passing by, each one a reminder of the girl he was searching for.

Freddie leaned against his locker, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Look, maybe she's in homeroom already?"

Theo nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. "Y-yeah, alright." He pushed his chair back and stood up, the urgency in his chest propelling him forward.

The Vice Principal's voice droned on, monotonously welcoming everyone back to another year at West Valley High, but Theo's mind was elsewhere. He settled into his chair, his anxiety mounting as he tapped his foot rapidly against the floor. He stole glances around the room, still hoping to catch a glimpse of Tory, but the seat beside him remained empty.

"...you can also purchase tickets for the fall musical, which will be a production of the global hit Grease," the Vice Principal continued, but Theo barely registered the words. The anxious pit in his stomach deepened as he mentally scrolled through all the places she could be.

"...and finally, as we embark upon another academic year, it's important to remember to be tolerant and accepting of all of our peers, regardless of—"

Suddenly, there was a burst of feedback from the speaker system, causing everyone to flinch. Theo's attention snapped to the speaker, curiosity piqued.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be in here," the Vice Principal said, his voice rising in confusion.

Theo's heart raced as he recognized the familiar voice that followed. "I don't care, move!"

"Give that back! Ow! You're not allowed to—" the Vice Principal protested, but Tory wasn't listening.

"Move!" came Tory's voice, unmistakably strong and defiant, echoing through the room as she commandeered the announcement system. "Dakota Smith!" she shouted, her voice resonating with determination and fire.

Theo's heart sank as he processed her words. "Oh fuck," he muttered, dread settling in. He could only imagine what kind of chaos was about to unfold.

"I know what you did, and now you're gonna pay for it. I'm coming for you, bitch!" Tory declared, her voice amplified and unwavering, sending shockwaves through the room.

Theo sprinted from his homeroom, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he followed the sounds of chaos echoing through the hall. His peers trailed behind him, curiosity and excitement driving them forward. He sprinted up the stairs, hopping over railings to make his journey quicker, determination propelling him onward.

He skidded to a halt in front of a crowd gathered around Tory and Sam, who stood protectively in front of Dakota. The tension in the air was palpable, and Theo's heart raced as he took in the scene.

"Tory!" he shouted, but the noise of the crowd drowned out his voice.

"I saw what you did at the party. You kissed Theo!" Tory's voice rang out, steady and accusing, her eyes blazing with fury.

"I... I..." Dakota stammered, trying to muster a response, her expression shifting between shock and defensiveness.

Theo could see the way Dakota was trying to play the victim, and it ignited a fire in Tory. With a swift movement, she dropped Sam with one punch, catching everyone off guard. The crowd gasped, and Theo felt a mix of admiration and concern for Tory's boldness.

"Get back in there!" shouted one of the Cobra's, shoving Dakota back toward Tory. Theo's heart raced as he watched the scene unfold, knowing that this could escalate quickly.

Dakota tried to run, but the Cobras were relentless, pushing her back into the fray. Just as the tension reached a boiling point, Robby stepped in, trying to separate the two girls. "Stop it! This isn't how we handle things!" he shouted, but his interference only seemed to fuel the fire.

In the chaos, Robby shoved Tory, and Theo's anger flared up instantly. "Hey! Don't touch her!" he yelled, rushing forward as adrenaline surged through him. Without thinking, he tackled Robby to the ground, the two of them crashing onto the floor in a tangle of limbs.

"Get off me, man!" Robby protested, trying to push Theo away.

"No! You don't get to push her around like that!" Theo yelled back, his anger boiling over as he felt the weight of the crowd's eyes on him.

The atmosphere erupted into chaos as the tension snapped, igniting a full-blown brawl between the Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai students. Shouts filled the hallway, echoing off the walls as fists flew and bodies collided.

Theo felt the adrenaline surge through him as he squared off with Robby, the two of them trading blows amidst the swirling mass of students. The crowd had turned into a whirlwind of shoving, shouting, and chaos, lockers rattling as bodies were thrown against them.

"Get off me!" Robby shouted, throwing a punch that Theo narrowly dodged. He retaliated with a swift jab that caught Robby off guard, sending him stumbling back into a group of students watching the fight unfold.

Theo braced himself, blocking Robby's initial punch and countering with a quick jab to Robby's side. The hit landed solidly, causing Robby to grunt in surprise. He quickly regained his stance, throwing a flurry of punches, but Theo was quick on his feet, dodging and weaving as he fought defensively.

With a surge of confidence, Theo pressed his advantage and charged forward, using his momentum to knock Robby down to the ground. Robby hit the floor with a thud, momentarily stunned.

"Stay down!" Theo yelled, turning to rush after Tory, desperate to help her against the chaos still unfolding.

But just as he took a few steps, Robby recovered quickly, kicking out his leg and catching Theo off guard. The unexpected blow sent Theo sprawling to the ground, and in an instant, Robby was back on his feet.

"Not so fast!" Robby shouted, his voice filled with determination as he charged after Theo, who was already scrambling to stand again.

The two of them clashed in a flurry of punches and kicks as they fought their way up the nearby staircase. Theo was fueled by his desire to protect Tory, dodging Robby's blows and retaliating with his own strikes.

They ascended the stairs, trading blows as they moved. Theo landed a solid punch to Robby's jaw, but Robby quickly countered with a knee to Theo's stomach, forcing the air from his lungs. Theo grunted but managed to push through the pain, spinning around to deliver a swift kick that connected with Robby's side, sending him crashing against the stair railing.

"Why can't you just fuck off, man?" Theo shouted, his frustration palpable as he steadied himself, glaring at Robby.

Robby lunged forward, grabbing Theo's arm and attempting to throw him off balance, but Theo twisted free, using his momentum to push past Robby and reach the top of the stairs. As he turned, he caught Robby off guard, throwing a quick punch that landed squarely on Robby's cheek, sending him stumbling back.

With a surge of determination, Theo ducked under Robby's swing, then countered with an uppercut that connected sharply. Robby staggered back, clearly shaken but not out of the fight yet.

"Just stop!" Robby yelled, frustration boiling over. "You're not helping anyone by getting involved!"

"Neither are you!" Theo shot back, his voice filled with resolve. He launched another attack, driving Robby back further as they continued to exchange blows.

But as the fight wore on, Theo's focus remained on Tory, and he could feel the urgency to protect her growing stronger. He knew he had to end this confrontation quickly.

With a final burst of energy, he threw a powerful punch that caught Robby off guard, sending him tumbling down a few steps. Robby hit the ground hard, and for a moment, he lay there, dazed.

Theo didn't waste any time. He turned and rushed up the last few steps, desperate to find Tory and help her in the chaos that had erupted around them. The fight with Robby had been intense, but his priority was clear: he needed to make sure Tory was safe.

Theo finally reached Tory at the top of the staircase, relief flooding through him momentarily. But before he could catch his breath, Robby appeared again, blocking his path.

"Not so fast!" Robby growled, his stance aggressive as he prepared to engage once more.

Without hesitation, the two of them clashed again, trading blows with fierce intensity. Robby was relentless, pushing Theo back toward the railing. Theo focused on blocking and parrying his attacks, sweat dripping down his brow as he fought to keep his footing.

But in a moment of vulnerability, Robby landed a solid kick that caught Theo off guard, sending him crashing against the railing. The force of the impact jarred him, and before he could regain his balance, Robby followed up with another strike, sending Theo over the edge.

"Tory!" Theo shouted instinctively, but his voice was cut off as he fell, crashing onto the railing below the balcony with a sickening thud. The sound of his spine cracking on the wood echoed through the air, sending shivers down Tory's spine.

Time seemed to freeze as the fight around them came to an abrupt halt. Tory's heart raced, a rush of emotions flooding through her as she rushed to the edge of the balcony, her eyes wide with horror.

"Theo!" she cried out, her voice filled with panic as she looked down at him, motionless on the ground below. The sight of him lying there, vulnerable and still, sent a wave of dread crashing over her.

The chaos of the brawl faded into the background, the shouts and cries of their peers replaced by the deafening silence of fear. Tory felt the weight of the moment pressing down on her, the reality of what had just happened settling in like a heavy stone in her stomach.

Robby stood frozen, shock etched across his face as he processed the consequences of their fight. The adrenaline that had fueled him began to fade, replaced by a creeping fear of what he had just done.

"Someone call for help!" Tory shouted, her voice breaking as she glanced around at the other students, who were equally stunned by the sudden turn of events.

—————

Elise stood in her kitchen, the soft morning light filtering through the windows. She moved about methodically, preparing her usual cup of coffee to kickstart her day.

As she waited for the coffee to finish brewing, she glanced around the kitchen, taking in the family photos lining the walls. There was one of Theo at his sixth birthday, grinning widely as he blew out the candles on his cake. A wave of maternal pride washed over her.

The sound of the coffee maker gurgling drew her back to the present. She poured the steaming liquid into her favorite mug, the one with "World's Best Mom" printed on it, and added a splash of cream. Just as she took a moment to enjoy it, her phone buzzed on the countertop, breaking the peaceful morning silence.

Elise glanced at the screen, noticing it was an unknown number, but something compelled her to answer. "Hello?" she said, raising the mug to her lips for a sip, savoring the warmth.

"Miss Kreese?" A serious voice came through the line, instantly sending a chill down her spine.

"Yes, this is she," she replied, her heart beginning to race as a sense of foreboding settled in.

"I'm calling from West Valley High School. I'm afraid there's been an incident involving your son, Theo."

Elise felt her stomach drop, the mug slipping slightly from her fingers. "What happened?" Her voice trembled as she gripped the counter for support.

"There was an accident during a physical altercation, and Theo fell from a balcony. He's been injured and is currently being taken to the hospital."

Time seemed to freeze. The world around her blurred as the words sank in, heavy and suffocating. "Injured? How badly? Is he okay?" she stammered, her heart pounding in her chest, a primal fear creeping in.

"We're not sure of the extent of his injuries yet, but I urge you to come to the hospital as soon as possible. I'm so sorry, Miss Kreese."

The line went silent, but the chaos continued to swirl in her mind. "No, no, no," she whispered, her breath catching in her throat. She felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under her, the reality of the situation crashing down like a wave.

Elise dropped the mug, the sound of it shattering on the floor echoing through the kitchen, but she barely registered it. Her mind raced as she grabbed her keys, her heart pounding in her ears. Every instinct in her screamed to get to Theo, to see him, to make sure he was okay.

"Please be okay, please be okay," she murmured under her breath, rushing out of the house, her heart heavy with fear and uncertainty. The