Chapter 21"Night at the Bonfire

Jack quickly fit in at Cobra Kai. The intense training and camaraderie among the students made him feel like he was part of something bigger than he had ever felt before. He grew closer to Miguel and Eli, sharing stories and learning from their experiences. However, Miguel's revelation of his feelings for Samantha left him uneasy.

Miguel and Eli invited Jack to a bonfire party that would be held that afternoon. Jack agreed to go, having nothing better to do.

That night, Jack arrived at the party with a lump in his throat. Soft music played in the background, mixed with the sound of the lake's waves and the laughter of the students. He poured himself a drink and stood on the shore, looking out at the lake, trying to gather his thoughts.

Demetri was the first to approach, chatting about games and nerdy movies. Jack listened to everything, laughing at his friend's lame jokes, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't stop thinking about Samantha, how she was now, and the jealousy that was starting to consume him. "Is this why people kill each other over girlfriends and boyfriends?" he thought, feeling strange and uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Moon was sitting with her friends, laughing and talking. She couldn't help but glance at Jack, and her friends soon noticed.

— "Come on, Moon! He's looking at you too," one of them said, pushing her lightly.

— "He's looking at the lake, not at me," Moon replied, with a shy smile.

— "Oh, stop being silly! Go ahead!" insisted another friend.

Moon took a deep breath, stood up, and walked toward Jack. She was wearing a loose T-shirt and shorts, with a shiny necklace that caught the light of the fire. Her eyes shone with determination.

— "Hey, Jack," she called, with a warm smile. "Why are you all alone? Come over to the fire!"

Jack turned to her, surprised. "Oh, yeah… just hanging out at the lake," he replied with a half smile. "It's a good place to think."

Moon looked out at the lake, then back at Jack. "Thinking too much is bad for you, you know?" she joked, sitting down next to him on the grass. "Sometimes it's better to just enjoy the moment."

Jack laughed, feeling a little more at ease. "You say it like it's easy," he said, looking at her. "Not everyone can turn their minds off like that."

Moon shrugged, with a carefree smile. — "It's just practice. And, like, you're here at a party, with a beautiful bonfire, cool friends... why not enjoy it?"

Jack looked over at the campfire, where Miguel and Eli were laughing with some other students. He knew Moon was right, but he still couldn't let go completely.

— "You're different, Moon," he said, with a tone of admiration. "You always seem to know what to say."

Moon smiled, looking at him with a twinkle in her eyes. "It's because I care," she replied, her tone soft. "And, like, you're a nice guy, Jack. You deserve to have more fun."

Jack felt his face heat up, but before he could respond, Moon stood up and held out her hand to him. "Come here, let's take a walk around the lake. It's really quiet here."

Jack hesitated for a moment, but eventually accepted her hand. "Okay, but if I fall in the water, it's your fault," he joked, with a smirk.

Moon laughed, pulling him gently. "I promise to save you if that happens."

As they walked along the lake, Moon continued to talk, trying to get Jack out of her head. "So, how's Cobra Kai going? I heard you're doing well in training."

Jack shrugged. "It's intense, but I like it. I think I need it, you know? Something to challenge me."

Moon nodded, looking at him with interest. "Hmm, that's cool. I'm more of a non-violent type, you know? I'm more of a contact person..." She said with a smile as she bit her lip, looking at Jack.

Jack laughed, feeling a little exposed. "I see, hahaha." Jack said and laughed, a little uncomfortable with it all.

— "You don't like contact too? Remember that contact we had at the costume party? We had a lot of "contact"...", Moon said as she bit her lower lip, looking into Jack's eyes with an intense gaze.

— "It... was...", Jack stammered, looking away.

Moon moved even closer, touching Jack's arm lightly. "That kiss... it was special, wasn't it?" she whispered, her voice husky. "I felt something different, Jack. And I think you felt it too."

Jack swallowed hard, feeling his heart race. He didn't know what to say, or how to escape this situation.

— "Moon, I..." he began, but she interrupted him with a kiss.

The kiss was quick but intense. Jack pulled away, stunned.

— "Sorry, I didn't...", he tried to explain, but Moon interrupted him again.

— "You don't have to say anything, Jack," she said, with a mysterious smile. "I know you feel something for me too. You just have to let yourself."

Jack remained silent, not knowing how to react. He didn't want to hurt Moon, but he also didn't want to give her false hope.

— "I have to go," he said, his voice breaking.

He walked away from Moon and towards the campfire, where Sam and Robby were sitting on a log, talking and laughing. Jack felt a pang of jealousy, but he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.

— "Hey, Sam," Jack called, his tone trying to sound relaxed.

Sam looked up, surprised to see him. "Jack! Hi! Do you know Robby?" she asked, with a warm smile.

Robby turned to Jack, extending his hand. "Hey, man. I'm Robby."

Jack shook his hand, feeling a competitive energy in the grip. "Jack. Nice to meet you."

— "Jack is new, he's also part of that dojo, you know," Sam explained, looking at Robby. "He's… different."

Robby raised an eyebrow, studying Jack with a curious gaze. "Different how?" he asked, with a half smile.

— "Oh, you know… he's not just another guy showing off," Sam replied, in a playful tone. "He has… depth."

Jack felt his face heat up, but he tried to keep his composure. "I don't know if that's a compliment or a criticism," he joked, with a smirk.

Robby laughed, seeming to be amused by the situation. "I like this guy," he said, looking at Sam. "He's got a smooth tongue."

Sam laughed, and Jack felt a pang of relief. He didn't know exactly what Robby represented in Sam's life, but something about her smile reassured him; she seemed to be enjoying herself. 

— "So, Jack, are you enjoying the party?" Robby asked, leaning back on the trunk.

—"More or less," Jack replied with a shrug. "I'm not much of a party person, but it's been... interesting."

— "Interesting is one word," Robby replied with a wry smile. "But seriously, if you want to have real fun, you have to relax more. Life is too short to just stare at the lake."

Jack laughed, feeling a little more at ease. "You say that like it's easy."

— "It's just practice," Robby replied, a twinkle in his eye. "And, like, you're here. Enjoy it."

Sam looked at Jack, with a gentle smile. "He's right, you know? You need to have more fun."

Jack felt a warmth in his chest, but before he could respond, Miguel appeared beside them, holding a drink in his hand.

— "Hey, Jack! Are you hiding again?" Miguel joked, patting him on the back.

— "Just getting to know the guys," Jack replied, with a half smile.

Miguel looked at Robby, and for a moment, the atmosphere became tense. The two exchanged glances, but Robby was the first to break the silence.

— "Hey man, I'm roby. Okay," Robby asked, his tone neutral.

— "Hey man, I'm Miguel," Miguel replied, with a forced smile.

— "Hm," Robby said, raising his drink in a gesture of greeting.

Sam looked at the two of them, clearly uncomfortable with the tension. "Hey, come on, guys. It's a party, remember?" she said, trying to lighten the mood.

Jack noticed the dynamic between the two and decided to intervene. — "So, Robby, you work with Samantha's father, right?

Robby smiled, clearly happy to change the subject. "It's okay, it was a little difficult, but I'm getting used to it." 

The conversation flowed, and Jack began to feel more at ease. He still didn't know what to make of Robby, but something about the guy made him want to get closer. Maybe it was the easygoing way he handled things, or maybe it was just the fact that Robby seemed to understand Sam in a way that Jack didn't yet.

At the end of the party, Jack said goodbye to Sam, Robby, and Miguel, promising to see them soon. He walked home alone, his head full of thoughts. The night at the bonfire had been more than he expected—he had met Robby, seen Sam happy, and even managed to have some fun.

As he drove, he thought about Tory, missing their heart-to-heart talks. He knew he had some decisions to make—about Samantha, about Moon, and most of all, about himself. The night at the bonfire had been just another chapter in his journey, but he knew things were about to change.