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As Jamie entered her apartment, she immediately became tense. She hadn't expected to see her mother in the kitchen since the woman had made it her mission to avoid the apartment at all costs.

She diverts her eyes as she shuts and locks the door behind her. She attempted to make a beeline for her room, but was stopped by Amber.

"I need the keys to the car."

Jamie frowned, "What?"

"The keys." Amber says, "I need the car from now on."

"I need the car to get to the tournament. You told me it was practically mine." Jamie stammers

"Yeah, well, I need it back. It's your dad's anyway."

Jamie stared back at Amber before scoffing and putting the keys on the counter, "Right. Just another thing you guys want to do to punish me."

"Another thing?" Amber says, "We haven't done anything to punish you."

"We haven't talked in a month. I've been practically on my own since Barcelona."

"Well, I'm sorry if I'm a little upset at what you pulled."

"What? Telling the truth. Not being stuck in the middle of whatever game you and Dad want to play?"

"It's not a game, Jamie." Amber snaps, "What happened wasn't your business to tell."

"If that were the case, you and Dad wouldn't have pressured me to keep it a secret. Do you even understand what that did to me?"

"Not everything is about you, Jamie."

"Nothing ever is." Jamie yells, "Why couldn't Barcelona be about me? About you guys being my parents and being supportive?"

"It wasn't on purpose. It was just something that happened."

"And kept happening. You guys knew what that would do if it ever got out and you still decided to do it. To take my moment away from me." Jamie says, "God, you guys are so selfish."

"So are you." Amber yells, "You decided to ruin his family to protect your own conscience. Not once thinking about what it would do to others."

"And did you guys ever think about me?" Jamie cries, "I'm your daughter, Mom. No matter what, I should always come first to you. I'm competing in a world tournament that could completely change my life and while everyone has their family in their corner, I have no one. Not my dad, not my mom, no one."

"You did that to yourself." Amber says, "Whether you win or lose, you'll always have to live with what you did. With what you ruined."

Jamie lets out a shaky breath as tears continue to roll down her cheeks. She turns away toward the front door without another word. Slamming it shut behind her.

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Jamie didn't know how she did it, but she was stood outside of Tory's apartment. A part of her told her to turn away and to not bother the girl. But another part needed someone to talk to.

So, before she could second guess, she knocked on the door. It was then silent and Jamie had begun to lose hope before she hears the locks and the door swings open.

"Jamie?" Tory says, "Are you okay?"

"No." Jamie says as her eyes begin to burn with tears again, "I remember you told me you wished you would've come to me when you needed someone. And I just got into a huge fight with my mom."

Tory nods, "Come in."

Jamie nods as she steps inside. Tory closes the door before pointing toward the couch. Jamie sets her bag on the ground beside her as the two sit.

"What did you guys fight about?"

"In Barcelona, I found out my mom was cheating with my dad. They asked me to keep it a secret, but when my dad's wife asked, I couldn't lie to her." Jamie shrugs, "And now, they blame me for ruining everything. My mom said no matter if I win or lose, I'm not a winner. Not because of what I did."

Tory's face scrunches up, "Jamie, that's not your fault. They're adults and knew what they were doing."

"I know it's not my fault." Jamie says, "It's my mom not believing in me and treating me like she hasn't known me my whole life. Like I'm not her daughter."

"Is that why you dropped out of being captain?" Tory asks. Jamie looks up and Tory nods, "Sam told me."

Jamie looks away, "Part of it, yeah."

"So, wouldn't you want to prove to her that no matter what she's trying to do, you're gonna come out on top?"

"It's more than just karate, Tory."

"Karate is the one thing that we both have in common." Tory says, "And I know that in times when I felt my weakest, it's made me feel more powerful than I could've ever imagined. If you weren't meant to do this, to show people like your mom and dad that you're worth it, Johnny wouldn't have let you get this far. You wouldn't be captain, you wouldn't be competing in this tournament. You need this to prove to your parents and most importantly yourself that no matter what, you'll come out on top. You deserve this, Jamie."

"It's too late anyway." Jamie says, "But thank you for that."

"Does Miguel know you're here?"

"No. Why would he?"

"You need to tell him what's going on with you." Tory says, "If there's anyone who would know about proving themselves, it's him. And he loves you. He could do a whole hell of a lot better at this comforting shit than me."

Jamie chuckles as Tory smiles. Jamie nods, "Thanks, Tory."

"Don't mention it."

Jamie smiles before leaning over and pulling Tory into a hug. Tory lets out a sigh as she pulls Jamie closer.

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Miguel pulls up on the curb before parking and rushing out. Jamie looks up from her place on the bench as he walks over, "What's wrong? Are you okay? Why are you all the way out here?"

"I'm okay, but I need to talk to you."

"Okay." Miguel nods as he slowly sits beside her

"Um, I don't exactly know how to say this, but things with me are a lot worse than I've been telling you."

Miguel frowns, "What do you mean?"

"My nightmares are a lot worse. Each time is different and somehow more graphic than the other. My mom hasn't talked to me since Barcelona and everyday I feel less and less like her daughter." She explains, "I feel like every single odd is stacked against me and I don't know how to fight my way out this time."

Miguel's face softens as tears begin to cascade down Jamie's cheeks. She wipes at her cheek as she looks down, "You guys have always told me that no matter what happens, I always come back stronger, but I don't think that's the case this time. This time I think I give up."

"No, no, no." Miguel says shaking his head and grabbing her hand, "You're not giving up, Jamie. You've worked way too hard for this. Even though it might not feel like it, you have people who believe in you. Sensei's in your corner, the team is in your corner, I'm in your corner. I always will be."

"My mom said that no matter what, I'll never be a winner." Jamie says

"Your mom is stupid." Miguel says. Jamie lets out a laugh before she could stop herself making Miguel smile, "You can do this, Jamie."

"Even if I wanted to, I'm not gonna snatch it back from Sam." Jamie says, "She deserves it just as much as I do."

Miguel sighs, "Well, even then, you are a winner. A champion. Soon, all of this will work itself out. You'll be at Stanford making something of yourself. You'll always be a champion."

Jamie looks over to him with a smile. Miguel wipes her cheek before cupping it. Jamie's eyes soften, "I love you."

"I love you, too." He says softly. He then pulls her closer before kissing her softly. Jamie melts into the kiss instantly. Miguel pulls away and places his forehead on hers before pulling back and looking her in her eyes, "Come on, let's get you home."

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