CLEARWATER ACADEMY.

Located in North Carolina where crime rates are high, healthcare is expensive, there's traffic everyday, summers are insanely humid, and winters often come with rainstorms and sometimes hurricanes.

Clearwater Academy is infamously known for taking in rebellious teens who are in need of guidance, moral support, and straightening.

They offer three meals a day, a small time out of the day allotted to socializing and seeing the sun outside. They provide extracurricular activities for everyone to participate in and more oftentimes than not, they send you to see a psychiatrist, therapist, or guidance counselor depending on the description provided.

Sometimes twice a day, too.

There are classes they offer so you keep up with your schoolwork, and even tutors if you're struggling.

The mattresses are uncomfortable, you're forced to wear a uniform, and you have no contact with the outside world as they take all devices and sources of communication.

You write letters if you want to reach someone.

The tuition is expensive, but it guarantees results. Well-behaved, mannered, educated results.

They brainwash you to be compliant, timid, and proper. To be the exact picture perfect woman society wants you to be. And the exact opposite of what Hayden was.

All of this sounded like Hayden's hell. Her own personalized hell.

And yet, Clearwater Academy isn't what she was thinking about as she stared up at West Valley High with her nails digging into her palms so tightly, she punctured skin.

It wasn't even in the back of her mind. Not the fact that she'd inevitably end up in that insane asylum, or the fact that she'd be a far distance away from all the friends she'd made, not even the fact that this may not even be worth it when she's laying in her lumpy, uncomfortable mattress with a thin blanket.

The only thing— the only thing— that Hayden Sanders could think about was that she wanted Sam LaRusso to wish she never crossed her.

She wanted Miguel Diaz to regret even getting involved with her.

She just wanted revenge.

There wasn't a student scene for a miles, because Hayden purposely waited for the bell to ring, meaning everyone was in class. Meaning, morning announcements would soon come on the intercom.

She stormed down the hallways with a mission in mind, taking different halls, left and right.

She couldn't exactly tell you what she was thinking and how this would play out in the end. Not really, anyway.

All she knew was that she could hear her pulse thundering in her ears, drowning out every sound around her. As if something primal clawed its way up from the depths of her chest, hot and unrelenting, demanding release. Her breathing came in sharp, shallow bursts— ragged gasps that did nothing to quell the fire burning in her ribcage.

It was reckless, Hayden was well aware how reckless what she was about to do was.

But even as she interrupted the morning announcements, shooting the woman a cold, deathly glare when she tried to stop her and making her sit back in her seat uncomfortably, she didn't care.

Even as she pressed the button, the little dot glowing red to let her know the mic was on, and she gave a hint of a manic smile, she didn't care.

"LaRusso," her voice tore from her throat, jagged and raw, unfamiliar even to her own ears. It didn't sound like her. It didn't feel like her. It was lower, harsher— a voice twisted by something darker, something she hadn't known she carried inside. Each word lashed out like a whip, unrefined and venomous, driven more by instinct than thought. Clearly.

In class, Miguel's head snapped up at the familiar voice on the intercom, tension gripping his chest like a vice. He hadn't heard from Hayden since the party. No texts. No calls. Just radio silence, and it gnawed at him. He'd been sitting there, refreshing his messages, waiting for those three little dots to appear—anything to tell him she was okay.

But now? Her voice, distant and echoing through the speakers, twisted his stomach into a knot. His heart plummeted. Something was wrong. Really wrong.

"You crossed a fucking line. You've tried it one too many times with me, LaRusso. You wanted a fight, and now? Congratulations— you got one."

She slammed the mic down, the sharp, eerie screech of feedback slicing through the air and hanging in the silence that followed. Fitting, as she stormed down the hall just as the bell blared overhead, echoing like a war drum.

There was no need to push through the crowd gathering around. They parted on instinct, stepping back without a word— nobody wanted to be the one standing in the way of a girl clearly teetering on the edge of chaos.

She tilted her nose down, eyes piercing straight ahead at the sight of Samantha LaRusso, who stood directly in front of her with wide eyes filled with fear.

It almost made her laugh. Almost.

She took a few steps forward until she was only a foot away from her, tilting her head ever so slightly. "You've been a real pain in my fucking neck, LaRusso."

Sam looked taken aback. Because this Hayden? There was a sharp edge to her now, something darker that made the air feel heavier. Nothing like the Hayden she spent the past two months in Miyagi Do with.

"I... I..." Sam stammered, words faltering under the weight of Hayden's gaze. Her mouth opened and closed uselessly, and Hayden's lips twitched in faint amusement.

"Spit it out," Hayden said, voice cold, her words slicing through the tension like a blade. She didn't even notice Robby appearing behind her, breathing hard from sprinting to the scene.

"Admit it. You and Miguel kissed." She narrowed her eyes, taking a small step forward.

"I— I didn't—"

Hayden's eyes were locked on Sam, rage coursing through her veins, her breath sharp and uneven. "Don't fucking deny it. I'm not stupid—I saw it with my own eyes, LaRusso."

She didn't wait for a response this time. Her fist swung before her brain caught up, knuckles connecting hard with Sam's jaw, sending her stumbling back. Hayden moved in to land another hit, but Sam ducked just in time, scrambling to create some distance. She turned to flee through the crowd, but Hayden's hand shot out, grabbing hold of her backpack and yanking her back violently.

Thinking fast, Sam slipped out of the straps, freeing herself before Hayden could land another blow. But Hayden wasn't done. Pivoting sharply, she lashed out with her leg, landing a solid kick to Sam's stomach, knocking her into Hawk and a few Cobra Kai members.

Hawk blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by Hayden's sudden ferocity. He caught Sam as she collided with him, only to push her back toward the fray with a smirk. "Get back in there."

Hayden barely registered Hawk's words or the murmurs of the crowd. Her vision was tunneled, her mind a swirling storm of betrayal and fury. As Sam stumbled toward her again, Hayden lunged, throwing punch after punch in quick succession. Sam blocked as best she could, but Hayden was relentless, driven by something primal, something she couldn't contain.

The crowd around them thickened, students cheering, phones raised to record the chaos. But Hayden didn't care. She wasn't thinking about consequences, wasn't thinking at all—just reacting. Grabbing Sam by the shoulders, she slammed her hard against the lockers, the loud clang echoing down the hall. The image of Sam kissing Miguel played on a loop in her mind, fueling her rage as she drove her knee into Sam's ribs once, twice, three times, forcing the air from her lungs.

Hayden reared back, ready to drive her elbow down into Sam's back, but suddenly strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her away and pinning her against the lockers. "Hayden, stop!"

She looked down at the hands that pinned her wrists to the locker, her chest heaving up and down as she followed the hand all the way up to its owner, eyes softening at the sight of Robby. "Don't do this, she's not worth it." He spoke lowly, as if they were the only two in the room.

"She cheated on you." She spoke back, her voice cracking. It was the way she said it that made Robby falter. Like, it wasn't just about her. It was about Robby too. The betrayal wasn't hers alone.

Like the fact that Robby was also crossed angered Hayden too.

"I know," his shoulders deflated a bit, sucking in a sharp breath, "but Hayden, there's other ways to go about this. We can figure this out, together—"

His tone was gentle, cautious, like he was approaching a cornered animal. He could tell it was working; her breathing slowed, the rigid tension in her shoulders eased slightly, and for a fleeting moment, her eyes softened, that cold, hard edge melting away just a bit.

Robby took a small risk, intertwining their fingers. The touch was grounding, an anchor pulling her back from the brink of chaos. She didn't pull away, didn't resist—and for a second, it felt like he was winning.

But that moment didn't last.

"Hey!" Miguel's voice rang out, sharp and tense, cutting through the stillness like a blade.

Hayden barely had time to blink before Miguel stormed through the crowd, shoving Robby back with enough force to make him stumble.

Like flipping a switch, the calm Robby had worked so hard to build unraveled in an instant. Hayden's entire body stiffened again, fingers curling into fists, eyes flicking past Miguel to land on Sam.

Her expression darkened, and something shifted in her gaze—cold and unrelenting, a storm brewing beneath the surface. Déjà vu hit her hard. The kiss. The betrayal. The humiliation. It was all she could see, playing over and over in her mind like a broken record.

And just like before, she saw red.

Her fist swung out, a blur of movement fueled by raw, unfiltered emotion.

And just like that, the chaos began again.

Sam barely had time to brace herself before Hayden's fist came flying toward her ribs again. She blocked one hit, then another, but Hayden was relentless. Deflecting blows was all Sam could do, Miyagi-Do training kicking in instinctively. Hayden expected it—that's what Miyagi-Do was known for after all—defense, patience.

But Hayden wasn't interested in patience. She wanted to end this.

Grabbing Sam by the front of her shirt, Hayden shoved her hard into the lockers, the metallic clang echoing down the hallway. Before Sam could recover, Hayden closed the distance, her fists connecting with Sam's ribs, each punch more vicious than the last.

One second, she had Sam pinned. The next, Sam twisted out of her grip and used her momentum to shove Hayden back. Suddenly, it was Hayden who was slammed into the cold steel, the impact rattling her to her core.

But Hayden wasn't going down without a fight.

She pressed her back against the lockers for leverage, lifting her leg in a powerful kick that hit Sam square in the stomach, sending her stumbling backward. Sam's head hit the lockers behind her with a dull thud, and she grabbed the back of her head, groaning as dizziness set in.

Hayden didn't care.

She didn't give Sam a second to catch her breath. She advanced again, aiming another kick, but Sam twisted at the last second, just barely dodging it. Hayden's foot hit the lockers instead with a resounding crack that left a dent in the metal.

Sam kicked Hayden's ribs, and she stumbled a bit but ultimately didn't dwell on the sharp pain that shot up her side, recovering quickly.

Hayden crouched down, sweeping Sam's legs out from under her causing her to land on her back with a loud thud. She scrambled up quickly, going to charge Hayden but someone had stopped her, shoving her before she could get to Hayden.

Hayden didn't know when Tory had got there, or if she'd been there the entire time and she was too blinded to notice, but she was quick to involve herself in the fight, watching as Tory kicked Sam's ribcage.

Sam wasn't fazed at her new opponent, charging at Tory and sending them tumbling down the staircase where the rest of the crowd followed with their phones out and up, recording the entire fight.

She utilized the moment to hold her side, letting out a soft groan of pain. She inhaled slowly, and exhaled sharply. The sound of Sam's yelps from downstairs was like fuel, the adrenaline in her veins making her follow the sound.

She rushed down, just in time to see Sam holding her side in pain while Tory was on the ground, taking a moment to get up.

Sam spotted her, walking over to her. Hayden arched a brow, giving a small scoff as she held her fists up, blocking the sharp blow that Sam had thrown at her.

Her leg hiked up to blow Sam's knee back, sending her stumbling back a bit. Sam used the staircase behind her an escape, running up them quickly.

Hayden scoffed in disbelief, following her. "Don't run, you look pathetic." She reached for Sam's shirt, dragging her back.

Sam caught her off guard, delivering a sharp jab to her lip that sent her face jerking back. She took the opportunity to break free from Hayden's grip, running up the stairs.

Hayden let out a loud groan, her eyes inevitably tearing up as she touched her lip, feeling the metallic tang of blood fill her mouth.

Elsewhere, Robby had Miguel pinned against the wall, landing a kick to his stomach. "Can't cheat your way out of this one!" He snarled out.

Miguel threw his head forward, head butting Robby in the nose. "Like that move? Learned it from your dad!" He threw Robby off of him and onto the floor, going to take advantage of his gained upper hand A sharp cry cut through the air, freezing him mid-step. He snapped his head toward the second floor just in time to see Sam slamming her fists into Hayden's sides, one blow after another.

Miguel's heart stopped for a second before adrenaline kicked in, and he sprinted toward the staircase. He didn't think. He just ran, driven by the single, urgent thought of getting to Hayden.

But Robby wasn't done. He refused to let Miguel get to her before he did.

With a burst of speed fueled by raw determination, Robby vaulted to his feet and raced after Miguel, catching up just as they reached the stairs. He leapt forward, kicking Miguel square in the jaw. The force of the blow knocked Miguel sideways, sending him crashing into the railing.

Miguel groaned, gripping his jaw, fury igniting in his chest. He flicked his eyes toward the second floor, where Hayden was still locked in battle. She was holding her ground, but every second he was stuck here was one second too long.

He glared back at Robby, and in that moment, nothing else mattered. Robby wasn't just standing in his way—he was the way. And Miguel would do whatever it took to remove him. To get to Hayden.

Meanwhile, Hayden pushed Sam away from her and she stumbled back tiredly. It was clear both girls were growing worn out and tired but Hayden wasn't done yet. She was far from done.

This is what she trained for. This is what she showed up an hour early everyday for. All the hours of sanding, waxing, painting. Sweating, bleeding, bruising.

She followed after Sam, who had barely turned around when Hayden was on her ass again. She was meticulous with her fighting, throwing a punch she knew Sam would deflect. But, Hayden had spent enough time with Sam to study her fighting over the months.

She knew Sam would use the wax on, wax off method to block a reverse punch, which is why she threw it. So that, she could grab ahold of her arm and flip her onto her back roughly.

She went to kick the girl but an arm grabbed onto her, "Hayden! Stop!"

Miguel.

Another flashback of the kiss flashed in her mind, like a power up. Sending another course of adrenaline through her. She turned sharply, yanking her arm out of his grip.

She swiftly stroked him, but he caught her wrist. Just like she knew he would. She yanked her wrist forward, turning Miguel around and kicking him back into a wall.

Scrambling to sit up, Miguel eyed Hayden in utter shock and horror. He took in the storm brewing in Hayden's expression.

This wasn't just anger. It was something deeper, something that made Miguel's heart sink— Hayden was on the edge, and he could feel it.

She breathed hardly as she stared at him, the betrayal sinking deep into her bones that it clouded every good thought and memory she'd ever had about Miguel. And he could see that in her expressive eyes.

It hurt him more than any punch ever could.

"You did this." She pointed at herself, her voice slightly breaking. "You made me like this."

He swallowed, opening his mouth to respond but Robby's voice cut through the air. "Hayden!"

He climbed the stairs in a rush, desperate to reach Hayden. So desperate that he didn't see the leg that Miguel stuck out and tripped, sliding across the floor with a grunt.

Sam pulled Hayden down to the ground with her, holding her in a chokehold that Hayden struggled against for a beat before she realized she was thinking too hard.

She gathered herself quickly, sending her elbow down to Sam's ribs and making her cry out, loosening her grip on her neck.

They managed to get to their feet, Sam throwing a hook punch but Hayden caught her elbow, twisting it to bring Sam to her knees. Hayden gave a low chuckle as she grabbed a fist full of Sam's hair, turning and dragging her down the staircase painfully slow. Sam cried out loud, realizing the more she struggled against Hayden's hold the more it would only hurt her scalp.

Once she managed to make Hayden finally let go of her agonizing grip on her hair, she scrambled up to her feet, pushing Hayden forward.

Hayden stumbled back a bit before turning around to throw a forward punch.

Sam grabbed ahold of Hayden's shoulders, kicking her knee up into Hayden's stomach three times before sending her back into the railing. She gripped the railing tightly, with blood spilling from her lip. She reached up, lightly touching her brow where Sam managed to land a good punch to and wincing when she felt the gash, cut open. Her body on fire, aching everywhere but she pushed through it, standing upright.

Because if she felt bad, she knew Sam felt worse. She looked ten times worse, too. With her eyes swelling up and dark purple, her lip busted open. Her hair was just about everything and she was hunched over, holding her side in pain.

"Just give up, Hayden!" She shouted in irritation, but there was a hint of pleading in her tone too.

Hayden scoffed, pushing herself off the railing and licking the inside of her check, tasting the metallic taste of blood fill her mouth with a smirk. "That'd be convenient for you, wouldn't it? You kiss my boyfriend and think there's no consequences for anything you do. Daddy's princess never worked a day in her life but she likes making the lives of everyone around her miserable. Shits fun for you, isn't it?"

She held her fists up, cracking her neck. "Well, this? This is gonna be fun for me."

Up on the second floor, Miguel charged at Robby with a yell, jumping up into the air to throw a flying punch but Robby pushed it away. Miguel spun a kick that Robby also pushed away, his defense kicking in.

Robby lashed out with a high kick, but Miguel sidestepped it just in time. Undeterred, Robby launched into a quick one-two combo, fists flying with precision. Miguel ducked beneath both punches, the wind from each blow brushing past his face.

Miguel didn't hesitate—he snapped a kick toward Robby's midsection, but Robby caught it with ease. Before Miguel could react, Robby drove an elbow hard into his knee, forcing his leg down, then followed up with a sharp strike to Miguel's nose. The impact sent Miguel stumbling back, crashing onto the floor.

"That's for cheating on Hayden!" Robby growled, his voice cutting through the chaos around them.

Miguel groaned, wiping a smear of blood from his nose as he backed up, forcing himself upright. "I didn't cheat on her!" His voice was raw, edged with frustration.

Robby's eyes burned with fury. "Then why the hell did it happen, huh?" His fists clenched tightly at his sides, every muscle in his body taut with rage.

Miguel didn't have an answer—not one that mattered in this moment. Fueled by emotion, he let out a yell and charged at Robby, swinging wildly. Robby sidestepped with practiced ease, shoving Miguel forward and causing him to stumble. Before Miguel could regain his balance, he pivoted and threw another punch, eyes locked on Robby with a mix of anger and desperation.

Hayden punched, and punched, and punched—each swing powered by something raw and unrelenting. Sam ducked and deflected with every ounce of energy she had left, her breathing labored, her form faltering.

Sam found an opening and landed a punch square on Hayden's cheek. But Hayden barely flinched. Instead, she seized Sam's arm, twisting it hard and driving her fist into Sam's elbow with a sickening crack. Sam let out a sharp cry, stumbling back, but Hayden didn't give her any room to breathe.

With both hands gripping Sam's shirt, Hayden dragged her forward and unleashed punch after punch into her face, each one echoing the rage she couldn't contain. Sam's vision blurred, but she managed to push Hayden off just enough for both of them to collapse to the ground, breathing heavily. For a fleeting moment, they lay there, staring at the ceiling, chests heaving, blood trickling from split lips.

Meanwhile, Miguel drove a hard kick into Robby's ribs, forcing him to roll to the railing. Miguel advanced, lifting his foot to stomp on him, but Robby twisted at the last second, forcing himself upright, eyes blazing.

"She doesn't love you!" Miguel spat, his voice echoing through the chaos. "She's always loved me!"

Robby's expression twisted in fury. He roared, sweeping at Miguel's legs, but Miguel sidestepped it smoothly. Robby didn't hesitate—he rose with a fluid motion, spinning into a high kick that struck Miguel's chest, sending him stumbling back.

Miguel clutched his chest, breath knocked out of him, but he didn't stop. Robby tried another kick, but this time Miguel caught it, holding on tight. Robby didn't flinch. He knew Miguel was fighting for more than just pride—he was fighting for Hayden. And that only made Robby hit harder.

Undeterred, Robby jumped up, planting both feet on Miguel's chest and shoving him backward with the force of the impact. Miguel crashed into the wall, coughing as he tried to steady himself.

Downstairs, Hayden groaned, forcing herself to her feet despite the burning pain in her ribs. She took a step toward the staircase, but before she could make it, a hand grabbed her hair and yanked her back.

Hayden let out a yelp, stumbling, only to whirl around and throw a wild punch that landed squarely on Sam's jaw. Sam staggered back but stayed on her feet, glaring at Hayden through gritted teeth. Hayden's eyes hardened, narrowing dangerously. Without a second thought, she spun, delivering a brutal roundhouse kick to Sam's head. The impact sent Sam tumbling down the stairs in a blur of limbs.

Hayden stood at the top of the stairs, chest heaving, one hand clutching her ribs. She didn't even glance at Sam lying crumpled at the bottom. All that mattered now was the fight above. She could hear the grunts, the stomps, the shouts.

Miguel. Robby.

Ignoring the searing pain, Hayden pressed forward, her steps uneven but determined, climbing the stairs one at a time.

Hayden rushed up the stairs, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might crack her ribs. She got there just in time to see Robby on the floor, Miguel crouched over him, holding his arm in a twisted lock. Both boys were breathing heavily, faces flushed with exhaustion and anger.

Her breath caught in her throat. One wrong move, and Robby's arm would snap.

"Let him go," she thought desperately, but no words came out. Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms until they threatened to break skin. She didn't scream or plead—just shook her head, hoping Miguel would see her, feel her silent plea.

And somehow, he did.

Miguel released Robby's arm with a muttered, "I'm sorry." Relief washed over Hayden like a sudden gust of air, her shoulders easing slightly—but it didn't last.

Robby's yell broke through the silence like a crack of thunder. Before she could react, he shot up and sent a vicious kick into Miguel's stomach. Hayden's stomach dropped as she saw Miguel stumble back toward the railing, the pit in her gut growing deeper with every second.

"Robby, wait!" she called out, voice sharp and strained. But it was too late.

Robby's final kick landed square in Miguel's torso, and everything slowed to a crawl.

Miguel was gone—over the edge.

Hayden's breath hitched in her throat, freezing her lungs. She bolted to the railing, eyes wide as she watched him fall. Time blurred. Noise faded. All she saw was Miguel's hand reaching toward her, and without thinking, she lunged forward, nearly going over the railing herself.

Their hands missed by inches.

She caught his gaze for one final moment before he hit the railing below, a sickening series of cracks echoing through the hallway. The sound made her flinch so hard it felt like she'd been hit herself.

Beside her, Robby stared down in stunned silence. Security appeared, walkie-talkies blaring, but all of it felt distant to Hayden. Sam's voice rang out—something about Robby, something about what he'd done—but it was all muffled, drowned out by the pounding in her ears.

"Robby, what did you do?!"

Hayden didn't look at him. She didn't look at Sam. Everything was slow, like she was moving underwater. Just an hour ago, everything had been fine. Now, it was shattered. And it was all her fault.

Without a word, she turned and made her way down the stairs, her steps heavy, mechanical. When she reached Miguel's side, she knelt down, wincing as pain flared in her ribs. Her hands trembled as she brushed a strand of hair from his face, fingers lingering there for a second too long.

"Miguel," she croaked, her voice low, strained, almost a whisper. "Miguel, wake up." Her throat burned as she swallowed hard, forcing down the rising lump. Her eyes stung, tears blurring her vision, but she didn't let out a single sob.

She didn't cry—not out loud.

A security guard approached, speaking in a calm yet firm tone, "Ma'am, we're gonna need you to step back."

When he grabbed her arm, she didn't fight him. She didn't resist. She had no more fight left in her.

She stepped aside, watching silently as they lifted Miguel onto a stretcher. Her breathing was steady, too steady—like her body was forcing itself to stay calm even though her mind was screaming. She didn't move, didn't speak, didn't blink as they wheeled him away.

When she finally glanced up, Robby was gone.

For a long moment, Hayden just stood there, eyes locked on the empty staircase. Her hands hung loosely at her sides, stained with Miguel's blood and her own. Everything was still, eerily quiet. She didn't look angry. She didn't cry. She didn't scream.

But inside, something snapped.

And this time, she wasn't sure if it could ever be put back together again.

authors note.
....SURPRISE SHAWTYYY first update of 2025 ayee get itttt. This chapter literally took the last remaining of my brain cells omfg but it's out and if you're wondering, yes, the fact that Hayden could've saved Miguel from falling off the railing will definitely scar her and probs give her ptsd tbh... sorry
anywhoooo, HAPPY NEW YEAR? Better late than never shush, hi guys what're your new year's resolutions? Lmk, mine is cutting off my toxic situationship (kinda already done? been a year in the making so) anddd being more social (also kinda already doing? so proud of me) buttt yea ily guys happy readinggg
also lmk what team your own rn?