To say the least, the beach was awkward. Demetri wasn't even suppose to come, but Hawk had decided last minute to make him come to fix whatever weird energy was going on with him and Lex. Only he decided to play volleyball, which was alarming alone, and she sat alone in the sand next to the cooler.

"Mulligan, send it back." Demetri spoke when the ball hit the net.

"There's no mulligans in volleyball." Hawk huffed, looking toward Alexa. "You're suppose to be on my team, dude."

"Not feeling it." she shot back. "Stop talking to me!"

"Got it." he tossed his hands up in surrender.

"Water break." Demetri announced, walking toward the cooler Alexa was leaned next to. He cleared his throat. "What are you drinking?"

Alexa looked up at him through her sunglasses. "Alcohol."

"Oh?" he rose his eyebrows. "That's...healthy."

"Mm, yeah, you should try some." she mumbled bitterly, going back to sipping her hydro flask.

"Might just stick to Mr.Pibb." he shook his head in confirmation. "Seems more my style."

"Sure." she said back, keeping her eyes anywhere but on him.

"Lex, Hawk!" Miguel's voice saved her, getting to her feet and brushing sand off the back of her thighs.

"Hey, there's the man." Hawk grinned, walking over first as Alexa was close after. "Maybe you can save me from all this dramatic mess."

"You and Demetri still aren't talking?" Miguel exhaled with a questionable look.

"Not exactly." she mumbled in return. "Why are you so down?"

"It's a beautiful day out. The beach is packed with babes. No more sulking about Sam." Hawk spoke as he patted Miguel on the shoulder. "Both of you, Jesus. I feel like i'm suffocating while the two of you just sit in dark corners and cry."

"I don't cry, you bitch." Alexa slapped him in the chest.

"I'm not sulking about Sam. It's about sensei." Miguel corrected him immediately.

"Is this about his rap sheet? My parents read it online. I think it makes him more badass." Hawk went on, not letting Miguel finish much of any sentences.

"He taught me a new move last night but was pretty drunk." Alexa was just as bad as Hawk was. "I told Ty, his stupid ass probably went and made a complain on the website like a pussy."

"Would both of you stop?" Miguel huffed in annoyance. "It's about him and Robby Keene."

"Robby Keene?" Alexa frowned her eyebrows. "Is he joining Cobra Kai now?"

"No." Miguel said back with an exhale. "It's worse."

"God, he's definitely his son." Hawk spoke in disbelief as he was typing away on Alexas computer. "Show no mercy, unless it's your kid."

"I just can't believe he'd hide something like that." Migeul said honestly, sitting on Ty's bed. "Alexa, what the hell are we doing?"

"Looking for something." Alexa dug through Tys drawers with gloves on. "God, watch the door!"

"I'm watching it!" he defended himself. "I thought we were trying to bust your mom? Not Ty."

"Well, she's sleeping in here and he's on the couch." she said back, folding the clothes back perfectly. "I literally can't find anything. This is such bullshit!"

"Hey!" Hawk yelled when she hit the dresser. "You're gonna mess up your wrist."

"I don't even know what I was thinking." she rose to her feet with an eye roll. "My mom isn't capable of murder."

"She still isn't telling you much." Miguel pointed out.

"No shit." she shot back. "Demetri would freak out he we was here."

"When are you two gonna make up?" Miguel sighed.

"I don't know." she said back with a shrug. "I mean, it's pretty much his turn, right? What am I suppose to do? Apologize for saying how I feel and then being stood up on our date? No, screw that. If he wants me back, he can make it a point to try and talk to me. I'm done having to make the first move."

"Well, what about striking first?" Hawk cracked a grin, making Alexa glare at him. "No mercy."

"I'm gonna no mercy you." she slapped him, tackling him suddenly.

"Guys!" Miguel called when the bed made a loud shake. "I don't think this is the right bed frame to be fighting on!"

"Gonna ripe that hair off." Alexa threatened, wrapping her arm around Hawks neck. "Tap out. Tap out, you little bitch!"

"Oh my god." Miguel squeezed the bridge of his nose in disbelief.

Hawk threw his body back, Alexa hitting the bed as her grip loosened. Before either of them could say or do anything, a crash caught their attention. "What the hell was that?"

"It sounded like it fell from the headboard." Miguel said, walking over. Alexa got off the bed, crawling onto the floor and peering under. She was still and quiet. Miguel tapped the back of her thigh. "You see anything?"

Alexa reached her hand under, pulling a gun out from under her moms bed.

"Sensei, can we talk to you about something?" Miguel walked into the back room at practice, Alexa and Hawk close behind.

"Look, if it's about the infomercial, I know." he stopped them.

"It's not about the commercial." Hawk casted his eyes down.

"It's about Robby Keene." Alexa finished the sentence, guilty eyes locking with his. "Miguel told us."

"What about him?" the blonde sensei shot back.

"I saw his picture on your refrigerator." Miguel admitted, his hands locked behind his back. "I wasn't snooping, but... we know he's your son."

"That's why you got mad at us after the tournament, right?" Hawk asked with a nod.

"I can recruit him, if you want." Alexa nodded her head. "Convince him to join Cobra Kai."

"Is that what you think?" Sensei Lawrence narrowed his eyes at the trio. "Yeah, Robbys my son. And, no, he's not gonna join Cobra Kai because we aren't a normal father son relationship. But that has nothing to do with how I run my dojo. It's also none of your damn business. You do understand?"

Miguel gave a guilty nod. "Yes, Sensei."

"But- But Sensei-" Hawk started.

"Bu-Bu-But nothing." he mocked him in return. "Get out. You three clean mats for the rest of the week."

Hawk sighed, bowing as he walked out. Miguel and Alexa stayed back a moments. "Something else?"

Miguel hesitated but shook his head. "No."

With a bow, he left too. Alexa frowned, staring up at him. "Sorry to pry, Sensei."

"You go too." he nodded to the door. "Unless you what to stick your nose where it doesn't belong, again?"

"No, it's not that." she cleared her throat. "Um, my brother and I are spreading my dads ashes later tonight. Over near the overpass on Bentley, in the ocean, at 9. He thinks we should bring moral support....will you be there?"

He stared at her. "Did you invite anyone else?"

"Just my boyfriend." Alexa admitted in return, biting her mouth. "Can you maybe not mention it to Miguel or anyone else? I don't want everyone showing up."

Sensei Lawrence nodded. "Okay, go clean the mats, Alexa."

She gave a tiny bowl, turning and walking out. Kreese stood there, making Alexa clear her throat. "Excuse me."

"Is Demetri coming?" Ty asked as he held the vase, Josh by his side while Alexa was on the other.

"I told him about a week ago, he said he put it on his calendar and would be here." Alexa looked around for any sight of anyone. "I didn't mention it again."

"We can give him a few more minutes." Josh gave a sad smile, holding her elbow. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Don't be." Alexa scoffed. "The world is a better place without monsters like him."

Ty swallowed. "Told you."

Even though neither of the Castillo siblings would admit it, it was hard. Regardless of his shitty, how horrible, how abusive, how damaging their dad was, he was still their dad. He still had his moments. He was still family. He turned his son into an angry boy who has a hard time loving and trusting people, and his daughter into an emotional wreck who doesn't say or show how she's feeling. He was a monster, the world was likely better without him, but that didn't change the fact that he was their dad.

"Alexa, it's been an hour." Ty spoke. "Everyone was suppose to be here at nine."

Alexa frowned, looking around the sand. No Demetri, and no Sensei Lawrence. Just her, her brother, her dads ashes, and her brother ex boyfriend. Deena wasn't even coming, saying it was too hard to deal with and ended up at a bar instead. Alexa and Ty were tempted not to go either, but they ended up falling through with their plans. "Whatever. Let's just do it without them."

Josh rubbed her shoulder as Ty pulled the vase lid off.

"Castillo."

Alexa turned around in confusion. "Sensei Kreese?"

"Sorry for your loss." he shrugged, walking down the sand. "I thought you said you had company for the evening?"

"How did you know? Were you stalking?" she scoffed in disbelief.

"Who the hell is this?" Ty spoke up.

"Not stalking, over hearing." Kreese corrected her with a small sigh, a forced frown. "I figured you could use the support."

She could.

Alexa looked at her brother. "Ty, this is Sensei Kreese. He's at the dojo with me."

Ty eyed him oddly, but didn't say anything.

Josh smiled. "Joshua Adlon, nice to meet you."

Kreese forced a smile, walking closer to stand with the trio as Ty held the vase in Alexa's direction.

•

kylie speaks

this moment, as well as the
mr bryant issues, is easily the
most important moment in
this entire book and is the
solid reasoning as to why
lex is the way she in
operation graduation.