THAILA PULLED the final curler from Tory's hair, fluffing it one last time as the eldest reapplied her red lipstick for the umpteenth time.

"Are you nervous?" Thalia asked, a small smile on her face.

Tory scoffed, glancing at her reflection with a smirk, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes that Thalia caught. "Nervous? Please. It's just prom," she said, her tone casual, but her hands were fidgeting with the edge of her dress.

Thalia raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Right, because spending hours getting ready and reapplying lipstick every five minutes is something you do every day."

Tory rolled her eyes, dabbing at the corner of her lips with a tissue. "It's just... different, okay? Not exactly my usual scene."

Thalia softened, reaching out to adjust a curl that had fallen out of place. "You're going to have an amazing time. Just... enjoy it. Forget about everything else for tonight."

As easy as it sounded, it was hard and wasn't the plan. Thalia and Tory hadn't really clicked back into their old routine but this was a fresh start.

A fresh start that would end sour because Thalia still hadn't told Tory about joining Eagle Fang nor being on the same team as Miguel.

That didn't sound as bad. God, Thalia could only imagine if she was on the same team as Sam, Tory would probably kill her.

Literally.

Tory sighed. "Yeah. That's the plan."

Thalia stepped back, letting her sister take in the full look. She couldn't hide the pride in her eyes as she admired her. "You look beautiful," she said quietly, the sincerity in her voice cutting through the playful tone from earlier.

Tory's face softened, a rare vulnerability showing. "Thanks, Thalia. I mean... for everything."

Thalia smiled, feeling a warmth settle in her chest. "Anytime."

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She smiled, anticipating Robby standing on the other side, ready to be wowed by Tory.

She held her finger up, a sign for Tory to wait as she rushed out of the room and towards the front door.

Thalia hurried down the hallway, her heart fluttering with excitement. She knew Robby would be surprised to see Tory all dressed up, and a small part of her was excited to witness that moment. She reached the door, her own smile widening as she pulled it open.

Standing there, looking unexpectedly dapper in his suit, was Robby—holding a small corsage box in his hand.

"Hey, Thalia," Robby greeted her, a lopsided smile spreading across his face as he held the box out toward her.

She blinked, her hand hovering in midair as she processed the gesture. "Is... is that for Tory?" she asked, glancing down at the delicate box.

Robby chuckled, shaking his head. "Nope, it's for you," he said, his tone genuine. "I figured you'd put so much into tonight. I thought you deserved a little piece of it, too."

Thalia's cheeks flushed, and she looked down at the box in her hand. She opened it slowly, revealing a beautiful corsage with soft lavender and cream flowers, tied with a small, satin ribbon.

"Robby... I... thank you," she stammered, looking up at him with a heartfelt smile. "This is... really thoughtful. I wasn't expecting anything like this."

He shrugged, his gaze warm. "You deserve it, Thalia. You helped make this night happen. Besides..." He chuckled, a playful spark in his eyes. "Everyone deserves a little prom magic, right?"

She laughed, slipping the corsage onto her wrist, her smile growing as she admired it. "I guess so." Thalia sighed, looking over at Robby once more. "Wait here. I'll go get her."

Thalia turned, allowing Robby instead. She took in a deep breath as she made her way into her room. She didn't think she would feel this way about missing prom but God it would've been nice to dress up and have a date... but she lacked the latter half and not having a date and standing obviously in the corner was her ideal night.

Thalia sighed, pushing her bedroom door open and cracking a small smile. "Robby's here."

Tory straightened, her expression shifting from impatience to curiosity. "Good," she muttered, but Thalia could see the hint of a smile tugging at her lips as she walked past.

Thalia followed behind as Tory made her way to the front door, where Robby stood, waiting. He looked her up and down, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Wow, Tory... you look incredible."

Tory rolled her eyes but gave a half-smile, a little softer than usual. "Yeah, yeah. Let's get this over with."

As they headed for the door, Tory turned back to Thalia with a quick nod and a smile. "Thanks again, Thalia," she said, her gaze sincere. "For everything."

Thalia smiled. "Have fun."

As the door closed behind them, Thalia looked down at the corsage on her wrist. She gently wiped her eyes and continued on with her night.

She fed her mother and Brandon, got the two of them comfortable in bed before she grabbed a book from her room and turned the TV to play I Love Lucy reruns.

She didn't know when, but she had fallen asleep and awoken to knocks on the door. She jerked out of her sleep, her book falling to the floor as she grabbed her phone from the coffee table to check the time.

Thalia sighed, standing up as fast as she could to answer the door. Maybe Tory forgot her keys? Something ridiculous, you know?

She didn't expect to see Miguel standing at her front door in a damp suit.

"W- What are you doing here?"

Thalia blinked, still groggy from sleep as she processed the sight in front of her. Miguel stood there, slumped and soaking wet, his suit clinging to him, his face pale and tired. He looked like he'd been through hell and back again.

He hesitated, shifting his weight as if debating whether he should even be there. "I... I didn't know where else to go," he murmured, his voice rough, barely above a whisper. His gaze dropped to the floor, and she could see the strain in his eyes.

She softened, her initial surprise melting into concern as she took a step back, motioning for him to come inside. "Come in."

Miguel nodded, stepping inside with a quiet, defeated sigh. He stood there in the dim light of her living room, droplets of water gathering in a small pool around his feet. Thalia didn't push him to talk, sensing that he was carrying something heavy. Instead, she moved toward the closet, grabbing a blanket and handing it to him.

Miguel moved slowly as he followed Thalia in her bedroom.

The room itself was bare. The walls an off white color, but her desk decorations and picture frames scattered around made it homey.

Thalia placed a blanket on her bed, gesturing for Miguel to sit down while she rushed into Brandon's room to try and find something big enough for him to wear.

Once she had, she returned to her room, placing the clothes in his hands and pointing towards the bathroom.

Miguel took the clothes, his fingers brushing against hers for a moment before he whispered, "Thanks." He disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Thalia standing in the center of her room, her thoughts swirling.

Miguel stepped back into the room, his hair damp but slightly tousled from the towel, wearing Brandon's oversized hoodie and sweats. He looked more comfortable but still carried a heaviness in his expression. His eyes wandered, and he noticed the dress hanging neatly by her closet.

"You had a dress?" he asked, his voice quiet but curious.

Thalia glanced at the dress and shrugged, brushing off the question. "Yeah... for a while, I thought I might go. But plans changed, and, well..." She gestured vaguely. "It didn't feel right anymore."

Miguel studied her for a moment, as if he could sense the unspoken feelings behind her words. He nodded slowly, letting his gaze linger on the dress before turning back to her. "Do you want to get out of here?"

Thalia blinked. "What?"

"Not far," he added quickly, his tone almost pleading. "Just... somewhere."

That somewhere was the park.

Miguel leaned back on his hands, his eyes fixed on the sky. Thalia sat beside him, knees tucked to her chest, stealing glances at him between looking at the stars.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, but it was heavy. Thalia let out a breath, the kind that felt like letting go of everything she'd been holding in.

"It's peaceful," she said softly, almost to herself. "The stars always look the same, no matter how much of a mess everything else feels like."

Miguel turned his head to look at her, his gaze warm despite the weariness in his eyes. "Yeah... they don't change," he murmured. "Feels like they're the only thing that doesn't."

Thalia smiled faintly, resting her chin on her knees. "It's comforting, in a way."

Miguel nodded, and the quiet settled between them again. But after a few moments, he pushed himself up, brushing his hands on his borrowed sweatpants as he turned to her with a small, almost shy smile.

"What are you doing?" Thalia asked, tilting her head in confusion.

Miguel extended his hand to her, the corners of his mouth quirking up in that familiar, boyish grin. "I owe you a dance," he said simply. "Remember? I asked you to save me one."

Thalia blinked, caught off guard by his words. "Now?"

"Why not?" Miguel shrugged, his hand still outstretched. "The stars are better than any prom decorations. And no one's here to judge my terrible dancing."

"I could judge you."

"But I know you aren't."

With a small sigh, she slipped her hand into his, letting him pull her to her feet. Miguel's hand slid gently to her waist, his other hand still holding hers.

"There's no music," she pointed out, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.

Miguel tilted his head, pretending to think. "Then we'll make our own."

He began swaying gently, leading her in small, easy steps. Thalia followed his movements, letting herself relax into the moment, resting her head against his chest. The stars above seemed brighter, and for the first time all night, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

As they danced, Miguel's gaze lingered on her, his expression softening. His movements slowed, and the hand on her waist tightened slightly, pulling her just a little closer.

"Thalia..." he murmured, his voice low and full of something unspoken.

Her heart skipped, and she froze as she saw the way he was looking at her. His eyes searched hers, silently asking, before he leaned in slightly, his face drawing closer to hers. For a moment, she felt herself caught in the gravity of the moment, the world narrowing to just the two of them under the stars.

But just as his lips were about to meet hers, Thalia turned her face away, stepping back slightly and breaking the contact. Her heart pounded, and she looked down, her voice shaky but firm. "Miguel... we can't."

Miguel's expression fell, realization dawning in his eyes. He nodded slowly, taking a step back to give her space. "I'm sorry," he said quickly, his voice full of regret. "I didn't mean to—"

"It's okay," Thalia interrupted, offering him a small, reassuring smile. "You've had a long night. We both have. I get it."

Miguel looked at her, his shoulders slumping slightly as he let out a long breath. "I don't want to mess things up," he admitted. "Everything just feels... out of control right now."

"You're not messing anything up, Miguel."

But he couldn't believe her. Not fully. He shook his head, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "I just don't want to lose the people who matter," he said, his voice quieter now, more vulnerable.

The truth of it stung more than he wanted to admit. Sam, Johnny... Thalia.

Thalia's chest tightened at his words, but she kept her tone light. "You won't lose Sam," she said softly. "I promise. She knows you. She knows how great you are. You're not going to loose anyone."

Miguel nodded, the words sinking in, but they didn't feel like enough. He wanted to believe her, but the doubt wouldn't let go. The way Sam had looked at Robby tonight, the way everything had spiraled out of control—it felt like the ground was shifting beneath him, and he didn't know how to hold on.

And yet, it wasn't Sam he was thinking about now. Not really.

He glanced at Thalia again, her arms crossed protectively over her chest, her expression soft but guarded. She was always steady, always there when he needed someone to talk to. But now, as he stood there, the weight of everything between them felt heavier than ever.

Was it possible to lose something you never really had?

The corners of his mouth tugged upward in a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. He ran a hand through his damp hair, his voice quieter now. "Thanks, Thalia. For... being here tonight."

"That's what friends are for," she replied, her voice soft but warm.

Thalia sighed, giving Miguel a small glance over. "I should probably head home."

Miguel straightened, the thought of her leaving seeming to pull him from his thoughts. "I can walk you back," he offered quickly, the words almost tumbling out. "It's late."

Thalia smiled, shaking her head gently. "I'll be fine. It's not far."

He hesitated, his hands fidgeting in his hoodie pockets. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." She started to step back but stopped, meeting his eyes again. "But Miguel... if you ever need anything—no matter what time it is—you can call me. Okay?"

His expression softened, and a flicker of warmth returned to his face. "I'll remember that," he said, his voice steadier now.

Thalia nodded, giving him one last smile before turning to leave. She walked a few steps down the path but stopped again, glancing back over her shoulder. Miguel was still standing there, his hands in his pockets, watching her with an expression that was equal parts grateful and wistful.

"Goodnight, Miguel," she called softly.

"Goodnight, Thalia," he replied, his voice carrying through the quiet night.

Thalia turned with a heavy sigh and made her way back home. It felt like her head was pounding and her heart was thumping out of her chest... and that's because it was.

She would push those feelings aside as she opened the front door of the apartment door and saw that Tory had quickly come out of the room, a smile painted on her red stained lips.

"Where have you've been?" She asked through a smile.

"I- I went to get air." Thalia answered. "What's wrong?"

Tory leaned against the wall, her smile turning almost giddy—a rare expression for her. "I kissed Robby," she blurted, her voice brimming with excitement.

Thalia blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what?" she asked, her lips curling into a surprised smile. "You did?"

Tory nodded quickly, brushing her hair back as she laughed lightly. "Yeah. After prom. We were talking, and then... it just happened. It felt..." She hesitated, her expression softening as she searched for the right word. "It felt... good. Like, really good."

Thalia couldn't help but smile, genuinely happy to see her sister like this. It was rare to see Tory so open, so... vulnerable in a way that wasn't tied to anger or defense. "Tory, that's... that's amazing. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," Tory said, looking back up at her, her smile softening. "It's been a long time since I felt this good about something, you know?"

Thalia's own smile faltered slightly, and she swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She didn't want to ruin this moment for Tory, but the weight of what she had to say pressed down on her. She shifted on her feet, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag.

"Tory," she said carefully, her voice soft but steady. "There's something I need to tell you."

Tory straightened, her brows knitting slightly. "What?"

Thalia took a breath, bracing herself. "I joined Eagle Fang."

The room seemed to freeze for a moment, the words hanging heavy in the air. Tory blinked, her smile fading as she processed what Thalia had just said. "You what?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"I didn't mean to keep it from you, I just... I didn't know how to tell you."

Tory took a step forward, her arms crossing defensively. "So, what, you've been training with Miguel? With Johnny?" She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Unbelievable. And you're telling me this now?"

"I'm telling you now because I didn't want you to find out tomorrow," Thalia said firmly, her voice trembling slightly.

"Tory's eyes widened, and for a moment, she said nothing. Then, slowly, her expression hardened. "You're fighting against me?" she repeated, her tone dripping with disbelief. "You're stepping onto that mat with them?"

"This isn't about Cobra Kai or Eagle Fang, or Miyagi whatever." Thalia sighed. "This is about me and what I wanted to do. I didn't do it to go against you. I'm not your enemy, Tory." Thalia explained. "I'm your sister. The last thing I want to do is hurt you."

"You know what?" Tory said, her tone low and icy. "Fine. Do what you want. But tomorrow, when we're on that mat, I'm not your sister. I'm your opponent."

Thalia's chest tightened, but she met Tory's gaze head-on. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

Tory scoffed, shaking her head as she turned away. "Good. Because I'm not holding back."

She walked off toward her room, her movements stiff with tension. Thalia stayed rooted in place, her heart pounding in her chest.

As the door to Tory's room closed with a sharp thud, Thalia let out a shaky breath. She shut her eyes for a moment before turning off the lights in the living room.

Tomorrow would be a new day... a day where Thalia prayed she didn't have to show Tory that she was just as good as she was.

— lucy has something to say !!!!

jesus christ

can't wait to get to season six of this fic that will be fun (i guess)

didn't know how to end this sorry chat

bye :))))