❝ pulpo. ❞

━━━━━━━☆

𝗠𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗥𝗔𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗘
Party at Moon's house today at 3!

𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗔
You have any plans today? Moon hosting a party today, the dojo already agreed to come.  It'll be fun ☻

    REINA STARED at her phone, blinking twice as she processed the two messages that had just pinged at the same time. Guess she had a party to go to. With that being said, Reina, Sam, Robby, and the rest of the Miyagi-Do crew pulled up to Moon's house. The lights from the porch bounced off the crowd gathering in the yard. Sam and Robby exchanged words with each other which Reina couldn't hear since they were talking lowly but she did hear Chris when he said, "There's already a lot of people out here."

    "Yeah," Sam agreed, scanning the crowded front yard. "Looks like Moon invited some other people from school."

    "Man," Demetri grumbled, "I only brought Trivial Pursuit. If I'd known there'd be this many people, I would've brought Balderdash."

    The group exchanged amused glances as they made their way through the crowd and into the house. But the moment they stepped inside, it was clear this was no ordinary party. The place was packed, the air thick with chatter and music. Just as they were starting to take it all in, Sam suddenly froze, causing the others to halt beside her.

    Reina's stomach sank as she scanned the room. The familiar faces from Cobra Kai were unmistakable. Hawk, Mitch, Aisha, and Caridad, sitting together like they owned the place. Caridad's eyes locked with Reina's, and without missing a beat, she made a slow slicing motion across her throat with her finger—a silent but clear threat.

    Reina felt a tense wave of irritation wash over her, but before she could say anything, Tory and Miguel walked in from outside, their laughter filling the room. Tory's eyes flicked toward Sam and the others, and her smile immediately turned into a scowl. "Let's go," Tory muttered to Miguel, who shot a glance at Reina before following Tory toward the back of the house.

    Moon, seemingly oblivious to the tension, bounded over with an enthusiastic smile. "Sam! Reina! I'm so glad you guys could make it!" she said, giving them a warm hug. "The kegs are out back, drinks are in the kitchen, and the vegan pigs in a blanket just came out of the oven-don't miss 'em!"

    Reina couldn't help but smile back at Moon's infectious energy, but the smile faltered when she saw Raegan approaching. "Hey, girl!" Raegan said, giving Reina a quick hug before stepping back. "Hey Rae Rae," Reina replied, still feeling the tension in the air.

    Moon glanced around, her eyes catching Sam's folded arms. "Moon, you never said anything about inviting Cobra Kai." Sam said, her voice tight. Raegan raised an eyebrow at Sam's tone. "Yeah, Raegan, what's up with that?" Reina added, her voice sharp.

    Moon's smile was genuine, even if it came with a hint of defensiveness. "Well, I figured with summer ending and school starting back up, we could stop all the fighting and be friends again."

    Raegan nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let's leave the karate stuff in the summer. When school starts, we'll all be cool."

    Sam cast a sideways glance at the Cobra Kai group, her voice dripping with skepticism. "It's wishful thinking," she muttered under her breath.

"Very wishful," Reina added, her eyes narrowing as she locked onto Caridad's challenging gaze. Raegan noticed the unspoken tension between Reina and Caridad and quickly pulled Reina aside, away from the others. "No fighting, please," she whispered. "I already told her my expectations, and I don't want this night to turn into a disaster."

  Reina met her best friend's eyes, reluctant but understanding. "I won't start anything, I promise," Reina said, though her tone suggested it would take all her restraint to keep it that way. But if I have to finish something, I will. Reina thought to herself.

    Raegan gave her a small nod, her face serious but hopeful. "Good. Now let's just try to have a good time, okay?" Reina nodded, but her eyes still lingered on Caridad across the room, who was now talking with Hawk and Mitch, clearly enjoying her position of power in the crowd. A part of Reina wanted to march right over there and call out her bluff, but Raegan's words kept her grounded.

    The noise in the house grew louder as more people arrived. Music blared from the speakers, and a group of kids started a heated debate over who had the best superhero movie. It was easy to see why Moon had thrown the party-she was trying to bridge the gap, bring people together. And, if Reina was being honest with herself, she could understand the appeal of leaving the bad blood behind, if only for a night.

    "Come on, let's get a drink before it all disappears," Raegan suggested, nudging Reina gently. They made their way to the kitchen, passing a group of laughing classmates, and Reina allowed herself a moment of normalcy. She reached for a plastic cup, filling it with a drink from a pitcher on the counter. "Cheers," Raegan said, raising her cup with a playful grin. Reina clinked her cup against Raegan's, trying to shake off the tension gnawing at her insides.

    "Let's just try to enjoy the night," Reina said, though she could still feel her eyes darting back to the Cobra Kai crew every now and then. The kitchen door swung open, and Hawk strolled in, his usual swagger in place. Reina rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed, and without a word, left Raegan alone with him.

   "Hey Raegan," Hawk greeted his ex.

    Raegan, on the other hand, didn't seem fazed by Hawk's presence. Her expression remained neutral, the air between them charged but controlled. "Hi, Eli. How's it going?" Raegan asked coolly, her tone betraying none of the discomfort that Hawk's presence triggered.

   Hawk leaned casually against the counter, his eyes scanning Raegan's face, his smile never fading. "You know, same old," he replied with a shrug. "Just thought I'd check in and see how your summer's been."

    Raegan, unfazed, took a sip of her drink, her eyes narrowing just slightly as if weighing her response. "Been good," she said flatly. "And yours?"

    "Not bad," Hawk answered, not taking his eyes off her. "You know, keeping busy... training, hanging out. Same old Cobra Kai stuff."

   Raegan raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I noticed," she said, her voice tinged with sarcasm, though she kept it light. "Looks like you guys are enjoying the party."

   "Can't deny it," Hawk said, his gaze flickering across the room toward the group of Cobra Kai members. "Moon knows how to throw a good one."

    Raegan chuckled softly, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Right. So, how's Cobra Kai these days? Still trying to run the world, or just your own little party?"

    Hawk smirked, clearly sensing Raegan's challenge but not quite willing to engage too much. "We're just having fun. You should join us sometime. It's not all about fighting, you know."

   Raegan didn't respond immediately. She let his words hang in the air for a beat before replying, "I think I'll pass. I've got enough fighting to deal with already."

Meanwhile, Reina still had her cup in hand as she made her way outside, where the party had moved into full swing. The sound of chanting hit her ears: "Drink! Drink!" She glanced around to see Tory and Sam, standing head-to-head at the center of a circle of people, exchanging playful banter while everyone egged them on.

    "How you doing over there, LaRusso?" Tory asked with a smirk, her tone light but her eyes sharp. She seemed almost too sober, like she was waiting for Sam to crack.

    "I could do this all night," Sam replied, her words slightly slurred, though she was still standing tall, clearly trying to hold her ground. The drinks were starting to hit her, but she wasn't backing down.

    Tory raised an eyebrow and shot her a sarcastic smile. "Yeah?" She called out to Big Red, who was standing by the cooler. "Hey, Big Red, two shots of vodka, please."

    Robby, standing just off to the side, looked up at Sam with a concerned expression. "Sam...?" he said softly, stepping closer.

    "Sam, maybe you should chill out with the drinks, girl," Reina added, her voice firm, but laced with concern. Sam shot her a quick glance but didn't respond. Instead, she held out her hand, impatience flashing in her eyes. "Just give it to me," she said, her voice more insistent now. Miguel, who had been watching from the sidelines, stepped closer, his brows furrowed in worry. He glanced from Sam to Tory, unsure of what was about to happen next.

    Tory downed her shot with a confident grin, eyes locked on Sam the entire time. Sam swayed for a moment, her foot nearly faltering, but she steadied herself. Without hesitation, she downed her shot, her face momentarily twisting in distaste as the alcohol hit her. Tory's expression shifted slightly-unease creeping in, though she kept up her bravado.

    "You got this, Tory!" Stingray called out, his voice loud and encouraging from the crowd.

    Tory turned toward him, giving him a quick nod, but as she did, she stumbled, her stool tipping beneath her. With a startled yelp, she fell backward, crashing onto the concrete patio. Miguel was at her side in an instant, helping her sit up. His concern was obvious as he reached for her arm. "Guess someone couldn't hold their liquor, huh?" Sam said, her voice dripping with sass as she tried to steady herself, shooting Tory a smug, superior smile.

    Tory blinked, a mix of frustration and embarrassment flashing in her eyes. Miguel glanced down at Tory, his expression a mix of worry and frustration. "Tory, are you okay?" he asked, kneeling beside her as he offered his hand. Tory shook her head, jerking her arm away from him. "I'm going to get cleaned up. Just leave me alone," she hissed, pushing herself up and stumbling away, clearly embarrassed by the scene she'd just caused.

    Miguel watched her for a moment, unsure if he should follow, but before he could decide, she was already heading inside. He sighed, closing his eyes for a brief moment. Reina shot a glance at Sam, noticing her red cheeks and unsteady stance. "Embarrassing," Reina muttered under her breath, shaking her head. She could already tell this night wasn't going to end well.

    _______________

    AS NIGHTFALL descended over Moon's party, the atmosphere buzzed with laughter and music. Miguel finally spotted Reina in the kitchen, pouring soda into a solo cup. "Hey," he called out, stepping closer.

"Hey," she replied, her smile warm and inviting. "I didn't get a chance to say this at the roller rink the I the day, but thanks for the pantry-sized Kit-Kats. That was really sweet of you."

    Miguel chuckled, a hint of mischief in his voice. "I also didn't mention it the other day, but Caridad's been telling everyone at the dojo that you beat her up."

    Reina's expression shifted, anger flashing in her eyes. "Oh my gosh, that girl won't stop lying! I didn't attack her unprovoked; she-" She was cut off by Miguel. "I'm proud of you," he said, his tone sincere.

  Reina blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

  "For learning karate. I can see why you chose Miyagi-Do. But just so you know, since you've been away, Sensei Lawrence actually got rid of the No Mercy rule," Miguel revealed. "No more dirty fighting for anyone. It's crazy, you used to want nothing to do with martial arts after what happened to your cousin. Now look at you," he said, smiling. "Look at me," she echoed, processing his words.

   "And I know you haven't forgiven me yet..."

    "I forgave you a long time ago, Miguel," Reina admitted, a hint of vulnerability in her voice. "I just let my pride get in the way of reaching out first."

    "Of course you did," Miguel chuckled. "So, am I your boy bestie again?"

    "Hmm, order me another pantry-sized Kit-Kat, and we'll see," Reina joked, eliciting a laugh from Miguel. She then opened her arms, inviting him in for a hug. Unbeknownst to them, Caridad leaned against the kitchen doorway, her eyes narrowed in mischief as she watched.

After their embrace, Reina stepped into the living room, soda in hand, navigating through the lively crowd. "Hey!" She heard someone call, she turned and saw Tory walking up to her, "where did my boyfriend go?"

   "What makes you think that I know?"

   Tory rolled her eyes. "Don't play dumb Reina. Caridad said she saw you two hug, so where'd Miguel go?"

   Reina had to refrain herself from rolling her eye this time because of course, Caridad did. "Backyard, I think." Reina sighed out.

    Without another word, Tory brushed past her, glancing back as Reina turned to leave. Anger propelled Tory forward as she spotted Miguel and Sam together right where Reina had said he would be. Miguel inhaled a sharp breath and walked outside, trudging towards Sam who was sitting alone, staring at the water of the pool. "Sam," Miguel called, but she merely glanced at him. "Is everything okay?"

    "I'm fine," Sam said curtly, looking away from him as she fidgeted in her seat.

    Miguel contemplated for a second. Then he shook his head and turned away. "Never mind."

    Sam suddenly called out his name, and he hesitantly stopped and turned to her, a frustrated furrow between his brows. She stood up and trudged towards him. Her eyes looked a little dazed, probably from the alcohol he didn't she had taken. "I'm sorry," Sam muttered.

    "For what?"

    "I didn't know you returned the medal. It was really important to my family And to me. So, thank you."

    "Yeah, well," Miguel nodded calmly. "Shouldn't have gotten stolen in the first place, so I'm just glad your family got it back."

    "Me too," Sam murmured, stepping forward, more closer than ever. All of a sudden, she almost slipped, but Miguel hastily grabbed ahold of her, keeping her from falling straight into the cold pool. That would've been unpleasant. Sam placed her hand on his shoulder, and the two stared at each other in silence. There was this lingering guilt inside Miguel, and all he wanted to do right now was get back to his girlfriend.

    As if time was in slow motion, Sam's eyes flickered between his lips and his eyes. Then she began to lean in, and Miguel was frozen on his feet again. Before their lips could meet into a kiss, he tilted his head to the side so she wouldn't touch his lips. Sam blinked. The girl stared at him with guilt-stricken eyes, but little they did know-Tory had caught them red-handed, and she felt more rage than ever.

    This was it. That was the last call. She was going to ruin them.

    Miguel gulped and averted his eyes away from her. Then he continuously shook his head, regret already filling up his gut, and he felt disgusted at himself for doing such a thing when he had someone. He might've not returned it, but he still felt like he'd done something incredibly wrong. He had messed up. Once again.

    "No." Miguel shook his head, feeling disappointed in himself. "We shouldn't. I'm with Tory. And you have..."

    "I-I'm sorry." Sam looked conflicted, and she started to step back. "I have to go."

    Fury boiled within Tory. She was livid that Sam tried to kiss her boyfriend, and the fact that Reina had unwittingly led her right to it only fueled her rage. But Reina had no idea Miguel and Sam were together; she simply saw him heading toward the pool. Tory refused to consider that possibility, her mind clouded by hurt and betrayal.

    _______________

    AS THE sound of police sirens pierced the night, chaos erupted at the party. People began to scatter, and Reina's heart raced as she sprinted through the throng. Spotting Miguel, she ran up to him, urgency in her voice. "Follow me! I know where we can go!" They darted toward the minimart-their old meeting spot. Once inside, Reina leaned against a shelf to catch her breath, while Miguel fumbled with his phone, his frustration evident as he paced back and forth. "What's wrong?" Reina asked, concern creeping into her voice.

    "Sam tried to kiss me," Miguel blurted out, his eyes wide. "What the fuck? Did you kiss her back?" she demanded. "No. I mean I almost... but She was drunk. I didn't want to take advantage of her. Plus, I'm with Tory," Miguel rambled, anxiety threading through his words. "Do you think Tory saw?"

    "She saw," Reina replied, crossing her arms.

    "How do you know?" Miguel asked, his voice laced with panic. "Because I told her where you were," Reina said, her expression turning serious. "Shit," he muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

    "Almost kissed her? You are so fucked up for that, Miguel," Reina scolded, shaking her head. "Why the hell didn't you push her away the second she leaned in you, idiot?"

    "I don't know! But I didn't mean for any of this to happen," he said, pacing again. "What do I do now?"

    Reina paused, searching for words. "You need to talk to Tory. Be honest with her. It's the only way to fix this."

    Miguel sighed heavily, the weight of his choices crashing down on him. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

    "I told you not to get into a fucking rebound relationship! And now here you are, almost kissing your ex!" Reina exclaimed, frustration bubbling to the surface. Miguel ran a hand through his hair, feeling cornered. "I know, I know! But it wasn't like that-she was drunk! I didn't want to take advantage of her." He repeated. "That doesn't change the fact that it almost happened! And that if she wasn't drunk, it could've happened." Reina shot back. "You need to face Tory. You can't just keep avoiding this."

    "I messed up, okay? I just, I just wasn't thinking," Miguel replied, his voice low. Reina softened slightly, seeing the turmoil in his eyes. "Look, I get it. Emotions are messy, but you need to be honest with her. If you care about Tory, you have to own up to what happened."

    He sighed, the weight of her words sinking in. "You're right. I'll talk to her. But it's going to be a huge mess."

    Reina nodded. "Sometimes you have to clear the mess to move forward."