chapter eight, i wish i knew you wanted me

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Izzy sat on the mat of Cobra Kai, stretching as her legs were out, her hands reaching for the tips of her feet. She had come to the dojo in hopes to clear her mind and to try and focus on the big picture: winning the tournament. She had to push whatever she was feeling for Miguel down and forget about it.

She seemed to be the only student in there, but when the door opened from the back, it startled Izzy. The girl looked up and she grew nervous when she saw Silver coming into the dojo. When he saw Izzy, though, he looked surprised.

"I didn't expect to see you here." Silver spoke, holding a piece of paper in his hand.

     Izzy sighed, looking back down at the mat as she stretched. "I was hoping I would be the only one here." She muttered, her words making Silver laugh.

     "Well, since you're here, I have some news." Silver announced and Izzy looked back at him, pulling her legs in. "Some good news for you, at least."

     "What?" was all Izzy responded with.

     Silver held up the paper, indicating the good news was on that and he walked over to where Izzy sat. He handed the paper to her and Izzy reluctantly took it, unfolding it to read the text that was typed onto the paper. As she read it, she pushed herself off of the ground and stood up, her eyebrows furrowing when she looked at Silver.

     "Skills competition? Gender divisions? Wait, does that mean —" Izzy didn't even get to ask what she was going to before Silver cut her off.

     "Don't worry. Sensei Kreese told me your plan to fight Miguel Diaz, your boyfriend from Eagle Fang." His words made a lump form in Izzy's throat, "And I had a little chat with the All Valley judges.. they're going to make an exception. It's going to be huge." Silver spoke like he was proud of Izzy.

     Izzy tried to hide her smile as Silver continued, "You'll just have to win." Then came the reminder that if Izzy didn't, she was no longer in Cobra Kai.

     A sigh left Izzy's mouth as she folded the paper back up and handed it back to Silver. "Well, I will and I'll win the girls division. I won't mess this up." Izzy reassured her sensei.

     Silver nodded at her words, "Good. I still want you to practice on your own. I need to see that you want this more than any other kid in karate." He explained to her, "The only issue is if you fail, Sensei Kreese might be right." Silver then told her.

     Izzy felt like she was going to be sick. She couldn't even be in this dojo for more than fifteen minutes without someone coming in and telling her she basically wasn't good enough.

     "But you don't have to worry," Silver reassured her, "Cobra Kai is going to win and you are going to lead us." He admitted to her.

     That last sentence was all Izzy needed to hear, all she needed was to have someone believe in her, because she struggled to do that on her own. If only she knew Silver's true intentions.

But later that day, Izzy found herself at the school with Nina who was on the track team and Izzy used it as a chance to practice. Despite Nina's questions about what's been going on with her karate life, Izzy didn't give her much to deal with. Before, Izzy used to go to Nina about everything karate related, well.. before this whole fake dating thing with Miguel happened.

But now the only person Izzy seemed comfortable talking with about anything karate related, was Miguel. The other night at Miyagi-Do was enough proof of that. Nina didn't mind though, as long as her best friend was still in her life.

And while both Nina and Izzy ran along the track that circled the soccer field while the rest of the girl's sports teams were out practicing, Izzy didn't confess about Miguel and hers moment the other night.

"So, the other night, I went to Miyagi-Do to watch the Lawrence versus LaRusso fight." Izzy spoke as the two girls jogged along the track.

"Oh shit! Everyone was talking about that in my history class the other day. Who even won?" Nina asked, her eyebrows furrowed as she kept her eyes in front of her.

Izzy huffed, making a face like she had no clue. "I don't know. I didn't even get to watch it because Miguel and I kind of.. walked off to talk and then we had this really weird fight." Izzy muttered, feeling like she sounded crazy as she said it out loud.

"Fight? Like.. an actual fight or —"

"No, some karate fight, but the thing is.. Miguel says stuff or does things.. and I like it. Last night, I didn't even want to leave until Demetri interrupted us." Izzy explained, but Nina stopped running and Izzy did as well when she noticed.

Izzy turned to look at her friend who had a smile on her lips. "Oh my god, you actually like Miguel." She gasped.

The Vera girl immediately shook her head. "What? No. No! I don't. I mean, he's not as horrible as I thought he was, and —"

"And he's insanely attractive? Yeah, I know, but the point is.. you're falling in love with your fake boyfriend." Nina cut her off, the smile not leaving her lips for a second.

Izzy shook her head, completely in denial that she was, because if she accepted it, she wouldn't know what to do. She needed to win, that was all she could focus on, not that she could possibly have feelings for Miguel Diaz.

     "I'm not falling in love and neither is he. Once the tournament is over in a few weeks, Miguel and I will go back to how we used to be – rivals that could care less about each other." Izzy explained, but she sounded like she was just trying to convince herself.

Nina nodded, but she made a face like she thought Izzy was making no sense. "Yeah, that sounds about right." Nina spoke like she was being sarcastic, "But you can't deny the fact that he is hot." Nina pointed to the girl, smiling a little bit.

A laugh left Izzy's lips at her statement, shaking her head. "Okay, yeah." Izzy shrugged, admitting it as Nina was the one to laugh this time.

"We should keep running before I get yelled at by my couch and start crying in the middle of this field." Nina told her friend who just nodded, and the two girls continued jogging as other girls on the track team passed them.

     After a few more minutes of Izzy's mind on winning the tournament, not just for herself but for Cobra Kai too, and Izzy slowed her pace. Nina had finished before she did, mostly because Nina was there for actual practice.

     When she stopped to catch her breath, a familiar voice called out to get her attention. She turned to see Johnny approaching her and Izzy furrowed her eyebrows when she saw the man.

     "Hey, Isobel, check this out." Johnny told her, handing the girl a flyer that was for Eagle Fang Karate. "Eagle Fang would thrive with a total badass like you." Johnny told her, the girl looking at the paper in her hands.

     "I mean, the best part would be fighting your boyfriend over there. Check him out, total stud, right?" Johnny told her, gesturing to the side and Izzy looked up from the flyer to where he pointed at.

     Izzy didn't hesitate to laugh at the sight of Miguel in a gray tank top, flexing his arms as if he was trying to show off from afar, and he raised his arms to flex once again. When he placed a kiss to his bicep, Izzy had to cover her mouth to hide the smile that wouldn't leave her lips.

He dropped his arms and rolled his eyes at Izzy laughing at him. "He made me do it!" Miguel defended as he made his way over to them.

Izzy dropped her hand and let out a sigh, looking at Miguel and then Johnny. "As much as I.. enjoyed seeing that, it wasn't convincing enough." Izzy told them both, placing her hands on her waist.

"What?" Johnny blurted out.

Miguel's eyebrows furrowed, "Why?"

Izzy shifted her eyes to Miguel, she looked like she wanted to say something, but closed her mouth before she could. She shrugged, "My heart's just with Cobra Kai." Izzy confessed to them.

"Whatever. If you change your mind, let me know." Johnny said, pointing the flyers in his hand towards Izzy as he walked off. "Come on, Diaz, we need to find another badass chick."

Miguel nodded as Johnny began walking away, but Miguel wasn't quick to follow after him. He let out a sigh as Izzy turned to face him, her eyes scanning the sight before her. A light laugh left her mouth again as her eyes trailed up to Miguel's face.

     "Stop laughing at me," Miguel spoke with a smile on his face as well, mostly because seeing Izzy laugh so much made his heart flutter.

     "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to." Izzy shook her head, smiling up at the boy.

     "Miguel!" Johnny's voice called out to the boy.

     They both looked over to see Johnny standing there, motioning for the boy to hurry up. Miguel looked back at Izzy with hopeful eyes, "He's trying to get a girl on the team with the new rules." Miguel explained.

     "Oh, okay. That makes more sense." Izzy nodded, looking back at Johnny, then back at Miguel who hadn't taken his eyes off of her.

"You wanna help us? I have a feeling we're gonna need a girl's help with this." Miguel said with a sigh, looking out at Johnny who was still failing at convincing any girls to join the dojo.

Izzy hesitated for a bit, but she ultimately nodded her head. Even despite her drive to win, she still couldn't seem to stray herself away from Miguel. The girl then followed Miguel over to Johnny just as Moon called out to them.

"Izzy! Miguel! Hey," Moon smiled as she walked up to them, Johnny heading over to them as well.

"Oh, hey." Izzy smiled, "What's up?"

Just as Moon started talking, Izzy's phone began ringing, "Apparently some perv was creeping on the track team so we're gonna practice inside. What are you guys doing here?" Moon's voice filled the air as Izzy saw her sister was calling.

Izzy stepped away from the group, answering the call, and held the phone to her ear. "Hey, you okay?" Izzy asked into the phone.

     "Yeah!" Kayla's cheerful voice came from the other line, "I was thinking you could finally bring Miguel over for dinner tonight. You know that arroz con pollo dish dad made all of the time for us? I found the recipe!" Kayla seemed excited and her words just made Izzy smile to herself.

     "Yeah, that sounds nice. Look, I'm kind of busy right now, I'll see you later when I get home." Izzy said into the phone.

     With that, Izzy hung up on the call and turned to see Miguel walking up to her. "Are you free tonight?" Izzy asked as she fully faced the boy standing in front of her.

     His eyebrows furrowed, but he nodded. "Yeah, why?"

     "My sister wants you to come over for dinner. She found this recipe my dad used to make for us all of the time and.." Izzy rambled on and let out a sigh, looking up at the boy.

     Miguel just smiled, nodding his head before she continued talking. "That's fine. She doesn't know this is.. fake, right?" Miguel hesitantly asked.

     Izzy shook her head, "Nope. I never told her, so let's hope we can trick her." She nervously laughed, but quickly changed the subject. "So, did you manage to get Moon to join?" Izzy asked.

     The boy shook his head, "Nah, but she told us her ex-girlfriend Piper might be interested so we're gonna go talk to her. You still in?" Miguel slightly tilted his head as he looked at Izzy.

     "I'm in." Izzy responded, following Miguel after Johnny was making his way to his car.

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Kayla didn't get far into making dinner before Miguel came over, which was a surprise to both Kayla and Izzy. The moment Izzy opened the door and Miguel was there, he smiled at her, and Izzy absentmindedly smiled back.

"Hi," Izzy muttered, leaning her head on the doorframe as she stared up at him.

Miguel stared back at her, "Hey." He said with the smile still glued to his lips.

"Is that him?" Kayla's voice could be heard from the kitchen and Izzy's eyes rolled as she let out a quiet laugh.

"Come in." Izzy said, opening the door wider and letting Miguel walk in.

Kayla came out of the kitchen to see Miguel and Izzy there, a smile instantly appearing on Kayla's lips. "You're Miguel." Kayla pointed at him.

The Diaz boy nodded. "I am."

"I'm Kayla, Izzy's older sister obviously. Um, the food actually isn't done yet, so if you guys want to hang out somewhere.." Kayla trailed off, shrugging her shoulders.

For the first time, Izzy didn't seem to be bothered by the fact she had to be left alone with Miguel. Even now when she was trying to hide these feelings and focus on the All Valley, she didn't seem upset.

"Um," Izzy awkwardly sighed, "We'll be in my room." Izzy told her sister, gesturing her head for Miguel to follow her.

"Door open," Kayla called out to her sister.

"It'll be cracked!" Izzy responded, opening her bedroom door and let Miguel go in first while she turned the light on, a warm and dim light filling the room.

Izzy left the door semi-open and turned to see Miguel looking at the fairly large room. "So, this is my room." Izzy awkwardly spoke, laughing a little bit as Miguel turned to look at her desk where a picture was sitting.

"Is this your dad?" Miguel asked cautiously, turning to look at Izzy as he held the picture up.

The girl walked over to him, looking at the picture. It was of her and her dad when she was little at a beach. Izzy remembered that day like it was just a week ago, but it hurt her to remember her dad wasn't here anymore.

"Yeah, that was actually in Argentina. That's where he was from, we used to go down there a lot to see family when I was growing up." Izzy smiled as she talked about her dad, looking up at Miguel who was looking at her with a soft expression.

"He met my mom in Mexico, they had Kayla, then moved here and had me." Izzy then told him, reaching to open the drawer to her desk where she took out another picture. She let out a sigh and then gave it to Miguel, it was a family picture of Izzy and Kayla, and their parents.

Miguel smiled and looked at Izzy. "Your dad seemed nice." He told her.

"He was." Izzy sighed, taking the two pictures and setting them on her desk.

Izzy walked over to the edge of her bed where she sat down, leaning back against the headboard as Miguel sat down next to her. "What about your mom? I remember you said she wasn't around." He spoke softly and with respect, he didn't want to upset her by bringing up a sensitive topic.

"Oh, um, she actually left after my dad died. Yeah, I don't know where, but she ran off somewhere to party and drink and forget she has two kids." Izzy admitted to him.

Miguel had a slight frown on his lips. He couldn't imagine how it must've felt for her. "You think you'll ever see her again?" He asked mostly out of curiosity.

Izzy huffed, sitting up from leaning against the headboard and shifted closer to Miguel. "I hope not," she told him, quickly changing the subject after. "Anyway, how's training going after the sensei breakup?" Izzy asked, a playful grin on her lips.

She saw Miguel smile a little bit before responding, "Our dojo is some, like, old warehouse." Miguel told her, laughing a little bit as Izzy made a confused face. "Yeah, but he's trying. He just wants to win like the rest of us." The boy spoke.

     "Mm," Izzy hummed, "You guys really think you're going to win?" She bantered, watching Miguel's eyebrows raise.

     "I know we're going to win." Miguel retaliated, he said it like it was obvious.

     Izzy smiled, though. "Well, I know I'm going to win. In the girls division and against you." She told him.

Miguel laughed and shook his head, "Shut up."

     "Or what?" Izzy asked, tilting her head as she looked up at Miguel. "You'll make me?"

     He shrugged, a smirk appearing on his lips. "Maybe."

     "Really?" Izzy asked, furrowing her eyebrows together. "How?" She looked at him like she was testing him.

    Miguel had a look of temptation on his face. "You want me to show you?"

There was no hesitation as Izzy spoke. "Do it," she tempted him and Miguel went exactly for what Izzy was trying to get at this whole time.

Miguel had closed the gap between their faces, smashing his lips against hers and Izzy didn't waste time to kiss back. Their lips moved together as Miguel's hand came up to rest against her cheek, holding her face in place as he kissed her.

As Izzy's hand went to run through his hair, she slightly tugged at it. His hand slowly fell from her cheek and moved down to hover his fingers over her neck, grazing a certain spot that made Izzy shiver. That was what snapped Izzy out of the kiss, pulling away only to keep her face close to Miguel's.

Both of their eyes fluttered opened, Miguel scanning her face to see if what he did was utterly stupid or smart. Izzy's eyes then shifted to look at a Cobra Kai poster hanging up on her wall and she felt her heart drop.

"I'm sorry, I –" Miguel went to go speak, but Izzy cut him off.

"Can we forget this ever happened? I.. I shouldn't have kissed you back. I'm sorry. I –" Izzy was panicking as she got up from the bed and Miguel just looked at her.

"Um, yeah, it's okay. Yeah, let's forget it." Miguel laughed, trying his best to calm the situation and Izzy. "It didn't really mean anything, right?" He asked, but his tone made it obvious the kiss meant everything to him.

And it did to Izzy as well, but she just couldn't accept that to herself right now. "Right." Izzy nodded, agreeing with him.

They were both so desperately trying to fight their feelings because not only was it a fake relationship they promised to not get attached to, but it could ruin their chances at the All Valley.

And neither of them could decide which was better for them: admitting your feelings to the person you want to be with or winning the trophy you've been after this whole time.

The rest of the night went by smoothly and Miguel tried his best to not make it awkward, as did Izzy. They promised to forget about the kiss, but it was all they could think about for the entirety of dinner.

And when Miguel left, Izzy told her sister she was going to be in her room for the rest of the night, only to manage to sneak out of her bedroom window and head over to the Cobra Kai dojo.

     The only way to let all of her emotions out without talking was by beating the hell out of a dummy body.

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authors note.
HAPPY COBRA KAI DAYY

don't worry another kiss scene is coming up (chapter 10 😍) and it's going to be very interesting <3

also i double updated so there is another new chapter out!! thank you guys for all of the support on this fic because this fic is my current hyperfixation LMAO