chapter thirty-five:
❛ waterpark circus ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!! COMMENT AND VOTE PLEASE

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Clementine and Alison floated lazily in the river at the waterpark, the sun warming their skin as they drifted along. Clementine had her head back, eyes closed, enjoying the calm. But Alison had other plans. With a mischievous grin, she guided Clementine under a waterfall, the sudden rush of water causing Clementine to jolt upright in surprise. The force of the water pushed her off balance, and she fell back into the water with a splash.

Alison's laughter echoed through the lazy river as Clementine resurfaced, shaking her wet hair out of her face. She pulled herself up onto the floatie and glared at her best friend, who was already floating away, still giggling. "What was that for?" Clementine shouted after her, feigning annoyance.

Alison pointed over Clementine's shoulder. Confused, Clementine turned around and gasped in surprise as she saw Robby standing behind her. Without a second thought, she leapt out of the water and into his arms, wrapping him in a tight hug.

"Oh my god, what are you doing here? I thought you were going to Bainbridge Island to stay at your grandparents' cabin for the summer?" Clementine asked, her voice filled with disbelief and excitement.

Robby chuckled, holding her close. "My dad decided to take me in for the summer," he explained.

Clementine's eyes lit up, and she squealed with joy. "That's amazing, Robby! I'm so happy you and your dad are patching your relationship," she exclaimed before leaning in to kiss him passionately. When she pulled away, she smiled up at him, her hands still holding his. "I've missed you. So much craziness has been happening. From me going to Mexico to me having to go to Tennessee for a few days for my birthday and not spending it with you."

"I've missed you too," Robby replied, his gaze softening as he looked at her.

Clementine glanced over at Miguel, who sat awkwardly beside Sam. Alison had walked over to see Hawk, leaving the tension between Miguel and Sam palpable. "How are you and Miguel? Have you guys talked yet?" Clementine asked, concern evident in her voice.

Robby sighed and shook his head. "That issue is too big to solve, Clem."

Clementine frowned. "I really think you guys need to work it out. Johnny and Carmen are getting serious. Miguel might end up being your step-brother."

Robby sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "I tried to talk to Tory. I told her I wanted her to leave Cobra Kai, and she just wouldn't budge. Could you try to talk to her? I know you guys are sorta friends now."

Clementine smiled softly at him. "Of course. I'll try."

With that, she left Robby and walked over to where Tory was sitting on a bench, her expression guarded as she watched the other kids at the waterpark. Clementine sat down beside her, the tension between them still lingering from their past, but it had softened into a tentative friendship.

"Hey, Tory," Clementine began, her tone gentle but serious. "I know Kreese is in jail now, but Terry is crazy. You need to leave Cobra Kai."

Tory turned to her, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm a big girl, Clem. You and Robby don't make decisions for me. I know we're friends now, and your boyfriend is my friend, but just don't try and get me to leave Cobra Kai."

Clementine sighed, realizing that Tory wasn't going to change her mind easily. "Okay, okay. I get it," she said, holding up her hands in surrender. Then she smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Wanna check out the Typhoon? I heard it's the best ride here."

Tory smirked, the tension easing slightly. "Sure. Let's go."

Alison stretched out on the lounge chair beside Hawk, enjoying the warmth of the sun as they relaxed by the pool. The sound of laughter and splashing water pulled her out of her peaceful daze. Opening her eyes, she noticed Anthony, Sam's younger brother, flailing in the pool after being roughly pushed in by Kenny. Alison's relaxed expression quickly turned into a frown of concern.

Hawk, who had been lying beside her, tensed up, his jaw tightening as he watched the scene unfold. Without saying a word, he abruptly got to his feet, determination in his eyes, and began marching toward the group. Alison, knowing Hawk's protective instincts all too well, quickly followed him, her heart beating faster with anticipation.

"What the hell was that?" Hawk demanded, his voice sharp as he stepped up to Kenny, his fists clenching and unclenching by his sides.

Kenny, trying to appear unfazed, crossed his arms over his chest and shot back, "None of your business."

But Hawk wasn't having it. "None of our business? You kicked Anthony into the water with floaties?" Hawk's voice dripped with anger, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Kenny.

Alison, who was standing just behind Hawk, felt her own anger start to rise. Anthony was just a kid, and Kenny had crossed a line. Her usual gentle demeanor was gone, replaced by a protective fire. "You could've seriously hurt him!" she added, her voice raised more than usual as she stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Kenny's.

Kyler, who had been standing by, chuckled darkly. He was always eager to stir up trouble, especially when it involved Hawk. He turned his gaze to Alison, sneering as he mocked, "And you? Following Hawk around like a little puppy?"

For a brief moment, Alison hesitated. The insult struck a nerve, and she could feel a sting of hurt at the taunt. But before she could respond, Kenny moved closer to Hawk, his eyes glinting with smug confidence as he tried to change the subject. "Woah, Kyler, Kyler," Kenny said, holding up a hand to stop Kyler before looking back at Hawk. "Maybe Hawk needs another haircut to remember who he's talking to."

The mention of the past incident sent a chill down Alison's spine. She clenched her jaw, remembering how much that had hurt Hawk, how much it had taken from him. Hawk's face hardened, his eyes cold as he stared Kenny down. "You wanna take on the champ?" Hawk's voice was a low, dangerous growl, a clear challenge.

Kenny smirked, unimpressed. "Dude, you're only the champ because Diaz got hurt. Robby won as many fights as you."

Hawk's expression didn't waver, a smirk of his own curling at the edges of his mouth. "But one was against you. And that wasn't much of a fight," Hawk shot back, his words hitting their mark as Kenny's smirk faltered.

The tension was electric as Kenny stepped even closer, their faces nearly touching. The air around them seemed to crackle with the threat of violence. Kyler, always eager to escalate things, leaned in, his voice dripping with venom. "Aw, come on now. You really gonna take that from him? From Lip?"

Alison, her patience worn thin, snapped at Kyler, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Shut your piehole, Kyler."

Kyler's chuckle was cold and condescending, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he retorted, "The chirpy puppy speaks!"

Alison felt a wave of frustration and a flicker of insecurity at the nickname, but she refused to back down. She held her ground, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Kyler. Nearby, Clementine and Tory had been lounging in their chairs, watching the scene unfold. Clementine's face twisted in concern as she exchanged a glance with Tory. Both of them knew this could escalate quickly.

Clementine cursed under her breath and quickly got up, motioning for Tory to follow her. The two girls hurried over, hoping to defuse the situation before it got out of hand. As they approached, Robby noticed the tension, his sunglasses slipping down his nose as he frowned at the scene unfolding.

"Hey, hey, hey! Back off," Tory intervened, her voice firm as she stepped between Kenny and Hawk. She placed her hands on Kenny's chest, gently but forcefully pushing him back to create some distance.

Alison exhaled a sigh of relief, grateful that Tory had stepped in before things could get worse. But the tension wasn't gone, not yet. Just as things seemed to be cooling down, Clementine walked up to Kyler, her eyes blazing with anger. Without hesitation, she shoved him hard, sending him stumbling backward into the pool with a loud splash.

"Don't fucking talk about my best friend like that, Kyler!" Clementine shouted, her voice filled with fury and protectiveness as she glared down at him, her fists still clenched.

Kyler spluttered as he resurfaced, his shocked expression quickly turning to one of rage as he wiped water from his face. But Clementine wasn't done yet. She turned to Alison, her expression softening as she looked her over.

"You okay?" Clementine asked, her voice gentle but tinged with concern.

Alison nodded, her heart still racing from the confrontation but feeling a surge of gratitude for Clementine's fierce loyalty. Before she could respond, Hawk turned his attention to Tory, his expression darkening with disbelief and frustration.

"Stay out of this," Hawk snapped at Tory, his eyes hard as he glared at her, clearly still angry at the situation.

Tory met his glare head-on, unflinching, but before she could respond, Clementine intervened, her voice laced with warning. "Hawk," she said firmly, trying to keep the situation from reigniting.

Hawk rolled his eyes, his frustration bubbling over. "You're friends with her now?" he asked, his tone full of disbelief as he looked between Clementine and Tory.

Clementine's face twisted in frustration, her patience snapping as she threw her hands up in the air. "I'm tired of everyone hating each other! This shit is fucking annoying!" she yelled, her voice echoing across the pool area, full of raw frustration.

Without waiting for a response, Clementine turned on her heel and stormed off, her emotions clearly overwhelming her. Alison quickly followed, wanting to make sure her friend was okay. As they walked away, Alison glanced back at the group, her heart heavy with the weight of the day's tensions, wishing things could go back to the way they were before all this fighting and hatred took hold.

Twenty minutes later, Clementine had finally managed to calm herself down. She was now lying back on a lounge chair next to Robby, her fingers interlaced with his as they enjoyed a rare moment of peace. The warmth of the sun on her skin and the gentle sound of water splashing around the pool was starting to ease the tension that had been coiling inside her since the earlier confrontation.

But the calm didn't last long.

Suddenly, the familiar sound of raised voices shattered the tranquility. Clementine groaned inwardly, her relaxation slipping away as she sat up to see what was happening this time. A group of Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang students had gathered near the edge of the pool, their faces contorted in anger as they argued and shoved at a group of Cobra Kai students, who were more than happy to push back just as hard.

Clementine rolled her eyes, frustration bubbling up again as she watched the scene unfold. It was the same story, over and over—this never-ending karate war that seemed to consume everyone around her. She let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head as she saw Robby stand up beside her, his expression set in determination as he moved to intervene.

Tory, noticing the commotion as well, quickly followed Robby, stepping in with him to try to deescalate the situation before it turned into a full-blown brawl. Clementine knew Robby and Tory were only trying to help, but she was exhausted by the constant fighting.

As Robby and Tory tried to calm their respective groups down, Clementine pushed herself up from the lounge chair. She didn't want to watch another pointless argument that would only lead to more trouble. Instead, she walked over to where Alison was sitting on the edge of the kiddie pool, her feet dangling in the water. Alison's usual bright expression was replaced with a deep frown, her eyes fixed on the chaos happening around them.

Clementine plopped down beside her friend, her own frustration mirrored in Alison's face. "I'm so tired of this karate war shit, Ali," Clementine muttered, the exasperation clear in her voice.

Alison looked over at her, her frown softening as she saw the weariness in Clementine's eyes. She didn't need to say anything—Clementine knew Alison felt the same way. They were both caught in the middle of something they didn't want to be a part of, dragged into fights and drama that seemed to follow them wherever they went.

Clementine sighed and leaned back, a sudden idea sparking in her mind. "Wanna just ditch our boyfriends and go see a movie?" she suggested, a hint of desperation in her voice. She needed a break, a real break, from all of this.

Alison's eyes lit up at the suggestion, the frown disappearing as a small, thankful smile spread across her face. "Yes, please," she replied, her voice filled with relief.

Clementine returned her smile, feeling a little of the tension lift off her shoulders. Maybe a movie wouldn't solve everything, but it would be a temporary escape from the madness surrounding them. And right now, that was enough.

Clementine lounged on the couch, a bowl of popcorn between her and Alison, as they watched a horror movie. The screen flashed with eerie images and sudden, jarring sounds. When a particularly loud boom erupted from the TV, Alison jumped, her shriek scattering popcorn across the couch and the floor. Clementine let out a soft laugh, but her amusement was short-lived when the doorbell rang, piercing the movie's tense atmosphere.

With a sigh of resignation, Clementine pushed herself up from the couch. She made her way to the front door, opening it to find Hawk standing there, holding a bouquet of colorful flowers. His face was a mix of hope and apprehension, and he seemed to be searching for the right words.

"Guessing Ali's mad at you?" Clementine asked, her tone tinged with a mix of curiosity and impatience.

Hawk nodded, his eyes dropping to the floor. "Yeah. I messed up. I thought maybe these would help."

Clementine stepped aside to let him in. "She's upstairs. Good luck," she said with a hint of detachment, watching as Hawk climbed the stairs with a heavy step.

Once the door was closed, Clementine grabbed her pack of cigarettes from the coffee table and stepped outside onto the porch. The cool night air felt refreshing against her skin. She lit a cigarette, taking a long drag and leaning against the railing. The smoke curled up into the darkness, mingling with the distant hum of street noise.

As she lost herself in thought, she noticed Robby approaching. Her irritation flared, and she dropped the cigarette on the ground, crushing it with her foot.

"I'm mad at you," Clementine said flatly as Robby came into view.

Robby's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Why? Why did you leave the waterpark?"

Clementine's frustration bubbled up. "Robby, all I wanted today was to avoid drama. Lately, it feels like everything is just one big mess. Today was supposed to be a break from all of that, a chance to relax at the waterpark. But instead, everyone ended up arguing."

Robby's expression softened as he listened. "I get that. I'm sorry if I made things worse. I didn't mean to add to the chaos."

Clementine exhaled sharply, her frustration mingling with exhaustion. "It's not just about you. It's everything. I needed a break from the constant conflict. I felt like no matter where I went, there was more arguing, more drama."

Robby nodded, his eyes showing understanding. "I get it. It's been tough on all of us. I didn't realize how much it was affecting you. I'm sorry for adding to it."

Clementine looked away, her eyes focusing on the darkened street as she tried to calm her racing thoughts. "I just wanted some peace. I needed to step away and catch my breath."

Robby remained silent for a moment, his gaze steady. "I understand. I'm sorry for not realizing sooner. I just wanted to make sure you knew I was here for you, even if I don't always show it the right way."

Clementine glanced back at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. Her anger started to fade, replaced by a weary acceptance. "Thanks for understanding."

They stood together in the cool night air, the tension between them beginning to ease. The streetlights cast a soft glow around them, providing a brief respite from the tumultuous emotions of the day.

ASH SPEAKS!

so sorry for a short chapter i just couldn't fit ali and clementine into every scene cause it didn't really make sense

i definitely dont like this chapter im so sorry