"THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE OUT HERE FIFTEEN MINUTES AGO!"

Hayden's voice was sharp, her hands planted firmly on her hips as she paced back and forth, frustration evident in every step.

She was trying really, really hard to be happy for Robby, who'd become one of her closest friends. She was learning to coexist with Robby and Sam's relationship but it's proving to be hard when it had been distracting them from practices. Like now, they were supposed to be helping her lead warmups. And they were nowhere to be seen.

Demetri and Chris stood nearby, watching Hayden with a mixture of amusement and sympathy.

Finally, she threw her hands up. "You know what? I can do this without them. I'm not letting them hold us back." She climbed onto the platform, getting ready to lead their kata routine when something caught her eye, a small flash of light reflecting off something in the rocks.

Her curiosity piqued, hopping off the platform and walking over. She picked it up, a gasp catching in her throat as she examined Miyagi's Medal of Honor in her hand.

Hayden stood there, her fingers still tracing the edges of Miyagi's Medal of Honor, her mind racing. She had looked everywhere for it. Everywhere. And now here it was, resting in the palm of her hand like it had always been meant to be there.

"Guys! Come look!" Demetri's voice cut through the silence, and the rest of the group gathered around her. Robby and Sam appeared last, as if they'd just materialized out of thin air. Hayden could barely focus on them, her attention still locked on the medal.

"Where did you find it?" Sam asked, stepping closer, her eyes flicking to the medal before locking with Hayden's.

"It was just... here. In the rocks." Hayden muttered, her voice tight. Her fingers were still brushing against it, but her thoughts felt miles away. "I swear I looked a hundred times, though."

Robby's gaze lingered on her face for a moment longer than it should've, his eyes searching hers. He chuckled, a nervous edge to it. He shrugged as if trying to downplay the significance of the moment. "Must've been here the whole time."

Still, she didn't say anything. She simply handed it to Robby with a quiet nod, her gaze lingering on him for just a moment too long before she turned away.

—

When Miguel texted Hayden to be ready at seven and dress up as her favorite 80's character, she was skeptical already.

But, Miguel was putting in an effort so, she figured she'd give it a chance.

"Who are you supposed to be?" She raised a brow, looking Miguel up and down.

"Cobra Kai from the 80's, duh." He gestured to himself up and down, turning slightly so the Cobra Kai logo on his red leather jacket was visible to her.

Her eyes scanned him up slowly, tilting her head before giving a curt nod. "Original."

"Okay, smart one. What're you supposed to be?"

She thought the dark grey tank top she wore and black cargos she wore with her hair in a ponytail and sunglasses sitting on the bridge of her nose was telling enough. "Sarah Connor in Terminator."

"Fitting," Miguel chuckled, holding his hand out for her to take which she hesitantly did. "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

—

"Ta-da," Miguel held his hands up, watching her face for a singular reaction. By now, he knew her well enough to pick up on the subtlest flicker in her gaze—a quiet tell that spoke volumes.

"A skating rink?" She looked at him, and then around at the colorful lights that wandering the room and multiple people dressed as their favorite 80's character.

He nodded, "Thought it could be fun, for you at least."

"Do you even know how to skate?"

"Not at all."

Her mouth twitched at the corner, and Miguel could see it— the faintest flicker of amusement. "It'll be Christmas for me," she said, her tone dripping with dry humor. Her grin, small but wicked, told him exactly what she was imagining: him landing flat on his back.

Before Miguel could respond, a voice called out behind them. "Long time, no see, stranger."

Hayden turned, immediately clocking Tory, who was gliding toward them with ease, her skates practically an extension of her feet. Hayden's amusement heightened, glancing the girl up and down, "I gave you a number, you have yet to use it."

Tory hesitated, her confidence faltering for just a second. Truth was, she had thought about using the number— more times than she wanted to admit. She'd written it on a sticky note and kept it in her wallet, only to pull it out and stare at it every so often. Every time she typed out a text, she'd delete it just as fast. Sending it felt... bigger than she was ready for.

"Yeah, that's my bad," Tory said, shrugging casually. "Been busy."

Hayden gave a small nod, her expression unreadable. "No worries. Cool spot." Her gaze swept the rink before briefly landing on Miguel. "Decent first-date material, I guess."

Miguel's grin widened, as if her understated approval was a trophy. She didn't throw compliments out often, and he'd take what he could get.

Tory's smirk faltered as she looked between them. "Oh, you two are...?"

"Seeing where it goes," Hayden said evenly, shrugging as if it were nothing. Then, without missing a beat, she added, "Now, can I get cheese fries and chicken wings?"

Tory blinked, momentarily thrown off by the abrupt shift. "Uh, yeah, sure."

Miguel leaned forward, starting to order. "Could I get—"

"No, you cannot." Tory's response was immediate, her deadpan delivery cutting him off cleanly.

Hayden snorted, a rare sound that made Miguel glance at her in surprise. He huffed, mock-offended. "What the hell? Why not?"

"Kidding." Tory smirked, giving him a look over her shoulder as she skated toward the counter. "I'll be back with your food."

Miguel watched her go, then turned back to Hayden. "That's the most I've heard her speak. How'd you get to be so talkative?"

Hayden shrugged, popping her sunglasses on with a casual ease. "I have that effect on people."

—

Hayden was gliding effortlessly next to Miguel, sunglasses perched on her head and an air of calm confidence radiating off her.

"You're really good at this." Miguel watched her, occasionally having to grip onto Hayden's arm to prevent himself from falling.

Hayden gave a small shrug. "I used to come here with my sister all the time when we were younger."

"You have a sister?" Miguel raised a brow, tilting his head at her.

Hayden glanced at him briefly, her heart aching at the thought of Logan. "Yeah, an older one. Logan," She finally answered quietly.

"You've never talked about her."

"You don't know everything about me, Diaz," she quipped, though her tone wasn't biting.

"Yet," he countered, a playful edge to his voice.

That earned him the smallest of smirks, which was practically a victory in his book. "We'll see," she said simply, her voice carrying just enough ambiguity to keep him guessing.

She continued to skate, sipping on her basically empty soda when she spotted Tory. "Hey, Tory. You think I could—" Hayden began, but her sentence trailed off as Tory turned toward her, revealing who she'd been chatting with. Robby and Sam.

Miguel caught Robby's expression before he even said a word— the way his jaw tightened, how his eyes flicked between him and Hayden like he was having a hard time truly believing Miguel got a date with her before he did.

Miguel couldn't help it; his grin grew a little wider.

Robby's hand was still intertwined with Sam's, though he shifted uncomfortably under Hayden's steady gaze. "Hey, Hayden," he said quickly, his voice casual but his tone tight. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Clearly," Hayden muttered, her voice flat as her eyes flicked to their joined hands.

"Nice, uh, costumes." Miguel commented, a hint of humor in his voice that made Hayden shoot him a sidelong glance, one corner of her mouth twitching upward in a barely-there smirk. Tory, sensing the shift, stepped closer to Hayden.

"So, you guys on a date?" Hayden asked, raising a brow. Her voice was calm, detached, but the question lingered in the air like a challenge.

"Yeah," Robby said quickly, nodding. "It's, uh, our first night out in a while, so..."

"Cool," Hayden said, her tone giving away nothing.

"So, how do you two know each other?" Sam suddenly asked, her tone just a little too casual as her gaze shifted between Tory and Miguel.

"Tory's in Cobra Kai," Miguel replied matter-of-factly, his hands sliding into his pockets.

Sam's expression tightened ever so slightly. "Figures," she muttered under her breath.

Hayden's brows lifted, her voice calm but with an edge sharp enough to cut through the tension. "Speak up."

Sam's head snapped toward her, but whatever she was about to say died on her lips. Instead, she glanced down at her skates, mumbling, "It's nothing."

"Alright, I gotta get back to work." Tory looked down at Hayden, "I'll see you later."

Hayden gave her a small nod but didn't say anything, her attention shifting to Robby. He hadn't said a word, but the way his jaw clenched and his glare lingered on Miguel was impossible to miss.

Miguel noticed too, of course, and his lips twitched into a smug smile.

Hayden finally pivoted to turn to Miguel, her arm wrapping around his abdomen. "Let's go," She finally murmured. Miguel wrapped his arm around her shoulder, his eyes still locked on Robby. "Yeah, let's go."

Robby watched them get further and further away with a glare. "Come on, let's go get some skates." Robby finally said, placing his hand on the small of Sam's back and leading her away.

—

Hayden's laugh cut through the hum of the skating rink like a rare melody, low and unrestrained. Miguel couldn't help but smile, even as he sat sprawled on the floor after yet another failed attempt to stay upright.

"If you keep laughing this hard, you're going to pull something," he teased, rubbing his elbow as he pushed himself up.

Hayden smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned against the rink's railing. "If you keep falling this hard, you're going to break something." She tilted her head toward a group of kids gliding confidently with the help of skating walkers. "Just saying. There's no shame in joining the ten-year-olds."

Miguel followed her gaze, watching as the kids zipped around with their neon-colored walkers. "Yeah, no thanks. I'll figure it out," he said with determination, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt.

Hayden arched a brow, the smallest hint of amusement flickering across her face. "You've been saying that for twenty minutes. You're stubborn."

"Determined," he corrected, brushing off his knees. "And persistent. I don't quit."

Her lips twitched, a faint smile. "Trust me. I know"

Miguel skated— if you could call it that— toward her, unsteady but determined. When he reached her, he leaned against the railing, catching his breath. "I just, I want you to have fun. So yeah... if I seem nervous, that's why."

Hayden blinked, surprised by his honesty. "I make you nervous?"

"You make everyone nervous," he replied, his voice quiet but steady. "But in a good way. Like, you're kind of a mystery. You don't really let people in," Hayden looked down at her feet, "and I guess I'm just trying not to make a complete fool of myself in front of you."

Her smirk softened, her gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before flicking back to him. "You're doing a terrible job." She deadpanned

"Good to know," he said, his grin returning. "But at least you're laughing."

She studied him for a long moment, her face hesitant again. Then, as if deciding something, she pushed off the railing and skated toward him. She moved effortlessly, like she belonged on the rink, and stopped just inches away from him.

"You don't have to try so hard," she said quietly, her voice almost lost under the hum of the music and laughter around them.

Miguel looked at her, surprised by the sudden shift in her tone. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're fine as you are. No need to impress me," she said, a flicker of vulnerability showing through her usual stoic demeanor. "I'm already here, aren't I?"

For a moment, Miguel didn't know what to say. He could only nod, the grin on his face fading into something softer, more genuine. "Yeah," he murmured, his voice low. "You are."

Hayden held his gaze for a second longer, then stepped back, her walls sliding back into place. "Come on. Let's see if you can stay on your feet for more than thirty seconds."

Miguel chuckled, shaking his head as he followed her. "There should be a reward system for that."

—

Hayden waited for Miguel, who went to turn in their skates, on the bench near the rink, sliding one of her boots back on effortlessly. When someone sat next to her, she didn't look up right away. "How badly does your ass hurt—"

She began, but the words faltered when she glanced over and saw Robby instead of Miguel. She thinned her lips into a straight line, "Had enough of Sam already?"

"You needed time, that's what you said. So I waited." Robby spoke with narrowed eyes.

"What?" She tilted her head at him.

"That day you came over and we ate pizza. You said you needed time before you started dating again. So I've been patient, waiting. And now here you are. On a date with him."

Hayden threw him a look. "What do you care? You're here with Sam, anyway. That's who you wanna be with, right?"

Robby ran a hand down his face, giving a scoff of disbelief. "That's not fair. You think I—"

"What do you want from me?" She snapped, "You want me to ditch him and leave with you, Robby? Like, I don't know what you want me to do."

Robby shook his head, letting out a bitter laugh as he looked away. "You think this is easy for me? Watching you with him, acting like I don't know you better than anyone else?"

Hayden licked the inside of her cheek, "You don't, Robby. You don't know me. You think you do, but you don't—"

"Because you make it hard for anyone to get close. You push people away when you get scared. But trust me, Hayden, I know you. I know that when things get messy, you shut people out. You keep everyone at arm's length so no one can hurt you. And yeah, maybe I don't know every detail about your life, but I know enough to see through the walls you keep building."

Hayden gripped the edge of the bench, sucking in a sharp breath, processing his words that made her head spin.

Why him?" he asked, the words barely above a whisper.

She hesitated, her jaw tightening. "Because he asked."

It wasn't the only reason she'd said yes, but it was the one that stung the most. Miguel had managed to do something Hayden thought no one could—he'd made her trust again. Slowly, quietly, he'd found the cracks in her armor and coaxed his way in. But she knew that if Robby was sitting here, bothered by the idea of her on a date with Miguel, it meant he'd wanted to ask her too.

But he hadn't. That was on him.

So she said it to hit him where it hurt. Rubbing it in, twisting the knife, because if he'd asked, maybe this would be different.

"Miguel's a great guy," she added, her voice quieter now, but firm. A faint, almost involuntary smile tugged at her lips as her eyes drifted to Miguel, still in line, laughing at something the cashier said. His dorky grin was infectious, and for a moment, the walls around her seemed just a little less impenetrable.

"And Sam's..." she trailed off, struggling to find something remotely positive to say about the girl who made it her life's mission to irritate her. "A pretty girl," she settled on, her tone flat and devoid of any real enthusiasm.

"I think that maybe whatever this was," She gestured between the two, "I just don't think—"

"Don't finish that sentence." Robby stood abruptly, causing Hayden's gaze to snap up to him. "Just.. don't."

Robby's words hung heavy in the air, the tension between them palpable as Hayden tried to steady her breath. Before she could respond, a familiar voice interrupted them.

"Everything alright here?" Miguel's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, as if he sensed something wasn't quite right. His eyes flickered between the two, a subtle but unmistakable narrowing of his gaze as he took in the silent exchange.

Hayden straightened, her pulse quickening. "Yeah, everything's fine," she replied quickly, though the words felt forced, even to her own ears.

Miguel didn't buy it. His gaze hardened as it landed on Robby. "You sure about that?" he asked, his tone cool, controlled, but with an undercurrent of protectiveness that didn't go unnoticed.

Robby met his eyes, his jaw clenching slightly. There was no mistaking the rivalry simmering between them now. "Just talking," Robby muttered, his tone flat but with a hint of something else beneath it— frustration, maybe? Or jealousy?

Hayden could feel the weight of the moment, the unspoken tension crackling in the air. She glanced from Miguel to Robby, catching the way Miguel's eyes were locked onto Robby now, as if daring him to make another move. The subtle challenge in the air wasn't lost on her.

"You ready?" Miguel asked after a beat, his voice softer, but firm. His hand found Hayden's, fingers curling around hers with an unspoken demand to leave.

Hayden, feeling the heaviness of the moment lingering, nodded and stood up. She didn't look at Robby again, though she could feel his eyes still on her.

Miguel's grip tightened just slightly as they started walking away. She could feel his presence beside her, a silent reassurance that he was there, not just physically but emotionally as well. The noise of the rink, the laughter and the music, seemed to fade away as they left the building, the chill of the night air hitting them as they stepped outside.

Once they were a few steps away from the rink, Miguel turned to her, his voice quiet but with a serious edge. "You okay?"

Hayden met his gaze, the weight of the encounter with Robby still lingering in her chest, but she didn't want to show that vulnerability— not to him, not now. "I'm fine," she said, her tone firm, but there was an almost imperceptible softness in her voice.

Miguel didn't push it. He just nodded, his eyes flickering to her face one more time before he let out a quiet sigh. "Alright. But you know you don't have to deal with him alone, right?"

She looked up at him, her heart giving a small twist. He didn't say anything else, but the meaning was clear: I've got your back. And for the first time in a long while, that was enough. She gave him a slight nod, her lips twitching into a faint, barely-there smile.

"I know," she said softly, her voice holding more than just gratitude— it was trust. And for someone like Hayden, trust was a quiet thing. But she was starting to realize that maybe, just maybe, with him, it didn't feel so hard to give.

Miguel smiled back, a warm, easy grin that softened the tension in the air, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

And as they walked together into the night, Hayden felt the weight of the evening lift off her shoulders, leaving behind only the steady, quiet presence of someone who was starting to break down the walls she'd spent so long building.

—

"What's going on in that head of yours?"

They ended up on the same hill Hayden took Miguel to the night of Valley Fest, sprawled out at the perfect moment for the stars to come alive.

Hayden didn't spare him a glance, swallowing thickly as she spotted Orion's Belt again. "Did you know that Orion's Belt is a representation of alignment, balance, strength, and good luck?"

Miguel trailed his gaze back over to the sky, finding Orion's Belt faster than he did before. "No, I didn't. Is that your favorite constellation?"

Hayden stayed quiet for a long moment, her gaze fixed on the stars as if they held the answer to a question she couldn't quite bring herself to ask. Finally, she nodded, though her voice was soft and distant. "Yeah. I like the idea of something always being... aligned. Like no matter how messy everything else gets, it's still up there, exactly where it's supposed to be."

Miguel turned his head to look at her, studying her profile—the way her lips pressed into a faint line, the tension in her jaw. He could tell she wasn't just talking about stars. "You're the one who's always putting things in balance, Hayden. Even if you don't see it."

She snorted softly, the sound more self-deprecating than amused. "Yeah, right."

"I'm serious," Miguel pressed, shifting to sit up slightly. "You're the one who made me see things differently. You push people to be better, even if you don't let them see how much you're carrying yourself. You're kind of like..." He hesitated, searching for the words. "You're kind of like Orion. Always holding it together, even when everything else feels out of place."

Hayden finally turned her head, meeting his gaze. There was something in his eyes—warm, steady, and completely genuine—that made her throat tighten. "That's a lot to live up to," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You already do," he said softly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The world felt smaller up on that hill, with the stars above them and the quiet between them. Hayden looked away first, her chest tight with something she wasn't ready to name.

"I don't know why you keep saying things like that," she said finally, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Like I'm some kind of... star or whatever."

"Because you are," Miguel said simply. "You just don't let yourself see it."

Hayden exhaled a shaky breath, leaning back against the cool grass. "You're annoying, you know that?"

He chuckled softly, lying back beside her again. "I'll take that as a compliment."

They stayed like that for a while, side by side under the stars, their shoulders barely touching but enough for her to feel his warmth. And for the first time in a long time, Hayden felt a little bit of that balance she always searched for in the sky, right here on Earth.

Miguel let the quiet stretch for a while, sensing Hayden wasn't the kind of person who liked to be rushed into filling silence. He could tell she was thinking, her fingers idly toying with the blades of grass beneath her.

"Do you know Cassiopeia?" she asked suddenly, her voice calm, like the stars had managed to lull her into a rare moment of ease.

He glanced at her, then back at the sky, brows furrowing as he scanned the constellations. "I think so. That's the one that looks like a W, right?"

"Or an M, depending on the way it's positioned," she corrected. Her tone was casual, but there was something beneath it—something lighter. "Cassiopeia was a queen. Vain, though. Thought she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs, and Poseidon didn't take too kindly to that."

"So what happened to her?"

"She got thrown into the stars as punishment. But her vanity followed her. That's why the constellation flips upside down—so she's always hanging in an awkward position, embarrassed."

Miguel chuckled softly, glancing at her. "Harsh."

Hayden shrugged, her lips twitching in the faintest hint of a smirk. "The universe has a way of humbling people."

"Noted," he said, mockingly raising his hands in surrender. "Avoid offending sea nymphs. Got it. What's your favorite, though? Besides Orion?"

Hayden paused, tilting her head as she scanned the sky. "Cygnus," she said finally, her voice softer now. "It's the swan. Looks like a cross if you connect the stars. It's supposed to represent grace and sacrifice. There's a legend that says Zeus disguised himself as a swan to win someone's love."

Miguel glanced at her again, noticing how she traced the pattern in the air with her finger. "You like stories with meaning."

She hesitated, her hand dropping back to her side. "It's... comforting, I guess. To think the stars hold all these stories, like they're up there waiting for someone to notice. Even if everything falls apart down here, the constellations stay the same."

He let her words sink in, his gaze following hers to the scattered lights above. "That's kind of beautiful, actually."

Hayden didn't respond right away, and he didn't push her to. She rarely said this much, and he knew better than to ruin the moment by making her self-conscious.

"I used to come out here with my sister when I was little," she admitted after a while, her voice quieter now, more vulnerable. "She'd tell me all the myths. Back when things were... simpler."

Miguel didn't say anything, just nodded, letting her know he was listening.

She took a deep breath, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "Do you want to hear about Perseus?"

He smiled. "Always."

And so, under the vast canopy of stars, Hayden told him story after story. For once, her voice wasn't laced with sarcasm or sharp edges—it was soft, steady, and maybe even a little hopeful. And Miguel couldn't help but think that for someone who didn't let people in easily, Hayden was slowly, carefully, letting him see her world one star at a time.

"Can I ask something?" Miguel hesitated, the thought that had been heavy on his mind feeling like a make or break one.

Hayden nodded, humming him to continue.

Miguel hesitated, his voice soft when he finally spoke. "What happened?"

Her gaze dropped from the stars, looking at him. "What do you mean?" She asked, even though she knew the intent behind the question.

Miguel stayed quiet for a beat, "Your sister, you don't talk about her. Your mom, you don't talk about her. You hardly let anyone in. So, I guess what I'm asking is, what happened to make you so guarded?"

The question hung in the air for a moment, and for a second he thought she might not answer. But then she sat up, Miguel following suit.

Hayden's heart felt like it'd beat out her ribcage as she spoke. The walls she'd worked over the years building crumbled completely with Miguel. That thought terrified her, but she knew if she were gonna open herself up to anyone, she wanted it to be with Miguel. The safest person.

"My mom works nights," she said quietly. "Always has. She's... she's not a bad mom. She's just never around. She's too busy keeping everything from falling apart to be home much. It's not her fault."

"And my dad?" She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "He took off before I was even born. Couldn't hack the responsibility, I guess. Never met him, never wanted to. My mom doesn't even talk about him, like it'll make it less real if we pretend he never existed."

"My sister—she was supposed to take care of me. She was all I had. She promised she'd be there. That was her job. She's... She was everything. My world, you know? I thought if I held her together, everything else would hold too. But she's an addict. She loved getting high more than she ever loved me." She hadn't realized she'd begun digging her nails into her palms until Miguel took her hands into his, prying her nails away from her palms as gently mannered as possible.

"I spent my childhood watching her fall apart while pretending I didn't see it. Every time I let myself trust her, she'd rip the rug out from under me. She loved me, but it wasn't enough to keep her clean. She'd get clean, promise me it was different this time, and then she'd fall right back into it. It was exhausting. It's like watching someone drown while you're chained to the shore. You can't save them, not really. And now—" She sucked in a sharp breath, clamping her mouth shut as if she'd said too much. But Miguel squeezing her hand reassuringly encouraged her to keep going.

"I used to think it was my fault. That maybe if I'd done something differently, she wouldn't have turned out like that." She looked away, her hands tightening around the railing. "But I know better now. It doesn't make it hurt less, though."

Miguel stayed quiet, his heart heavy with her words.

"And then there was him," Hayden continued, her voice hardening. "The first idiot I thought I loved. Turns out he was screwing my best friend behind my back. For months." She laughed bitterly, a sound devoid of humor. "I found out at a party. Walked in on them."

Miguel's brow furrowed, anger flashing across his face. "Hayden..."

Her lips twitched in a humorless smile. "I didn't handle it well, either. I saw red. Dragged her out by her hair and beat the hell out of her. Didn't even think, just... rage." She glanced at him, daring him to judge her. "Then I took his car keys and wrecked his car. Crowbar through the windshield, slashed the tires. The whole nine yards."

Miguel blinked, caught between shock and admiration. "You... you wrecked his car?"

Hayden shrugged, her voice flat. "I did. Left it sitting there, busted to hell, just like he deserved." She finally looked at him, her gaze steady and unapologetic. "I don't regret it, either."

Miguel ran a hand through his hair, unsure of what to say. "That's... a lot."

Hayden's mouth twitched again, this time almost resembling a real smile. "Yeah, well, it didn't fix anything. Just made me angrier." She exhaled, her shoulders dropping slightly. "That's why I don't do this, Miguel. It's why I don't do this. Why I don't let people get close. Trust gets you burned. Every time. It's better to just... keep people at arm's length."

She let out a bitter huff, shaking her head as her fingers curled into the grass. "So yeah. That's me. The girl whose dad walked out and never looked back. Whose mom's never around because she's too busy working or pretending everything's fine. The girl who's spent more nights trying to clean up her sister's messes than actually sleeping. The girl who got stabbed in the back by the only two people she thought she could count on—her boyfriend and her best friend."

Her voice cracked, just a little, but she powered through, eyes locked on the ground. "The girl who doesn't trust anyone. Not because she doesn't want to, but because every time she does, they prove her right. They lie, or they leave, or they rip her apart. And now..." She finally looked at him, her gaze heavy with the weight of everything she'd kept buried for so long. "Now you know all of it. Every ugly, broken piece. And you—" Her voice dropped, quieter but no less cutting. "You have more power than anyone's ever had to destroy me, Diaz. To walk away and leave me shattered, like everyone else."

The silence that followed was suffocating, her words lingering like smoke in the air. She wasn't crying, but the tightness in her jaw and the slight tremor in her hands said enough. For Hayden, laying herself bare like this wasn't bravery—it was a gamble. One she wasn't sure she'd survive if it didn't pay off.

Miguel leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he glanced over at her. "But not everyone's like them, Hayden. Not everyone's going to hurt you."

Her eyes flicked to his, guarded as ever. "You say that now. But people always leave, Miguel. They always leave."

"Not me," he said firmly, his voice steady despite the weight of her words. "I'm not going anywhere. Not even if you try to scare me off."

She studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she let out a quiet breath, her shoulders relaxing just slightly. "Why?" she finally asked, her voice almost breaking.

"Because you're worth it," he said simply, no hesitation. "I mean it. I'm not going anywhere, Hayden. No matter how many car windows you smash."

For the first time, the faintest hint of a genuine smile tugged at her lips. "We'll see," she said softly, but the weight in her voice had lifted just a little.

Something in her softened, just enough for her walls to falter. Hayden tilted her head, studying him like she was searching for a lie. When she found none, the smallest, almost imperceptible shift crossed her expression—a flicker of hope breaking through the clouds.

Miguel saw it and took a risk. Slowly, cautiously, he reached up, brushing his fingertips against her cheek. She didn't pull away. If anything, she leaned in—just barely.

"Okay," she whispered, so softly he almost didn't catch it.

Miguel didn't need to be told twice. He leaned in, closing the space between them, his lips meeting hers gently, like he was asking permission. Hayden froze for half a second before melting into him, her hand slipping up to rest against his chest as the kiss deepened.

It wasn't rushed or desperate—it was steady, warm, and electric, the kind of kiss that made everything else fade away. For a moment, there were no broken pieces, no scars, no baggage. Just them, lost in something new and unspoken.

When they finally pulled back, their foreheads rested against each other, both catching their breath. Miguel smiled, soft and a little dazed. "Sparks," he murmured, and Hayden, despite herself, let out a small laugh.

"Yeah," she said quietly, her voice carrying the tiniest hint of wonder. "Sparks."

authors note.
Now yall know why Hayden is so fucked up guys there yall go. I am feeding you Team Miguel shippers so much because I'm ready for the angst after season two. Yall arent even ready for what the fuck I have up my sleeve 😈 enjoy fluff Miguel and Hayden while you CAN
this is unedited sorry I can't even rn