chapter thirty-seven:
❛ balance ❜

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

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Clementine found Tyler in his room, his back to her as he hurriedly stuffed clothes into a duffel bag. The usually tidy space was now in disarray—clothes strewn about, drawers left open, and an urgency in Tyler's movements that immediately set her on edge. This wasn't like him.

"Tyler?" she called out, her voice uncertain as she stepped further into the room. "What are you doing?"

Tyler barely looked up, his hands still moving quickly as he packed. "I'm going to find Aunt Anastasia," he said, his tone clipped and focused. "Sierra and I—we're heading to London to track her down."

Clementine's heart skipped a beat, her confusion deepening with each word. "Wait, what? Sierra? You're talking to her again? You're going to London? Why? And why now?"

Tyler finally stopped packing and turned to face her. There was a mix of determination and something else—something that looked a lot like desperation—in his eyes. "Clem, Anastasia's been gone for too long. No one's heard from her, and I can't just sit around waiting for something to happen. Sierra has connections in London—people who might know where she is."

"But Tyler," Clementine began, trying to piece together the sudden turn of events, "you've never even mentioned Sierra before. You barely talk to her now, and now you're planning to run off to London together? It doesn't make sense. Why are you doing this with her?"

Tyler sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I know it seems sudden, but it's not like I had a lot of time to plan this. Sierra and I... we've been talking a lot more recently. I know I haven't told you, but we've been seeing each other more, and she understands what I'm going through with everything. When I told her about Anastasia, she offered to help."

Clementine felt a pang in her chest, a mix of confusion and hurt. "And you didn't think to tell me any of this? You're my brother, Tyler. We're supposed to stick together, and now you're just leaving?"

Tyler softened, his expression apologetic as he walked over to her. "Clem, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to keep you in the dark. I just... I didn't want to worry you. But I can't sit here and do nothing while our aunt is out there, who knows where, possibly in trouble. I need to do this. And Sierra—she's not as bad as you might think. I know she hurt me and I hurt her, but she wants to help."

Clementine's mind was spinning, trying to grasp the gravity of what he was saying. "But what if you get hurt? What if something happens and I can't get to you? Tyler, this is serious."

"I know it is," Tyler said, his voice firm. "But I'm not going to let anything happen to me. I promise. I'll be back as soon as I can. And... Clem, I need you to trust me on this."

Clementine looked into his eyes, searching for something—some sign that this wasn't as reckless as it felt. But all she found was his resolve, unwavering and strong. "You're really going to do this, aren't you?"

Tyler nodded, his gaze steady. "Yeah, I am. And I need you to be okay with it. I'll keep in touch. I'll call and text as much as I can. But I have to do this."

Clementine bit her lip, her mind racing with what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. But she could see that there was no changing his mind. "Okay," she finally whispered, her voice tight. "Just... be careful. Please."

Tyler smiled softly, pulling her into a hug. "I will, I promise. I'll be back before you know it."

She hugged him back, trying to memorize the feel of his embrace, the sound of his voice—anything to hold onto while he was gone. When he finally pulled away, he grabbed his duffel bag and headed for the door.

"Tyler," Clementine called after him, her voice catching in her throat. He turned to look at her, and she forced herself to say the words. "I'll be here when you get back. Just don't do anything stupid, okay?"

He gave her a reassuring smile. "I won't. See you soon, Clem."

And with that, he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him. Clementine stood there, frozen in place, her mind swirling with a thousand thoughts and emotions. She couldn't shake the feeling that everything was changing—Tyler was leaving, Sierra was involved, and their family was more fractured than ever.

As she stood there, trying to process what had just happened, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, her hands shaking slightly, and saw a message from Sam:

Hey Clem, can you come to Miyagi-Do? We need your help convincing my dad to start teaching karate again.

Clementine stared at the message, her emotions still raw from the conversation with Tyler. Part of her wanted to ignore it, to stay in the moment and try to make sense of everything. But another part of her knew she needed to keep moving—needed to focus on something else, even if just for a little while.

Taking a deep breath, she put her phone away and headed for the door. She had to push through the confusion and uncertainty, even if she didn't have all the answers. Right now, Sam needed her, and that was something she could focus on.

As Clementine and Robby entered the dimly lit hut at Miyagi-Do, the weight of the situation pressed heavily on them. They exchanged a brief, reassuring glance before their attention turned to Daniel, who stood with his back to them, staring at something unseen in the distance.

"I can't fail these kids again," Daniel murmured, his voice tinged with regret and exhaustion.

Robby stepped forward, his hands slipping into his pockets. "You didn't fail me," he said quietly, but with conviction. Clementine, standing beside him, nodded in agreement, her voice steady as she added, "You didn't fail me either."

Daniel spun around, surprised to see them there. His eyes were shadowed with doubt, but he listened as Robby began to speak. "Sam and my dad told Clementine and me what was going on. You know, when you first met me, I was a messed-up kid. But you gave me a job, a home... and a purpose."

Clementine smiled at Robby, feeling the depth of his words. She took a breath before speaking, her voice carrying a quiet strength. "And when you first met me, I was amazed by you. I'd seen videos of you online... and yeah, I really screwed up by joining Eagle Fang after the school fight. But I felt like it fit me better. Since I moved here, I've been trying to find myself, and Eagle Fang helped with that. But I never stopped appreciating what Miyagi-Do taught me. You can't just give up."

Daniel walked closer to them, his face softened by their words but still etched with guilt. "Robby, Clementine... the things I did—sending you to juvie," he said, looking directly at Robby, then turned to Clementine, "using you to get Robby to turn himself in—I was... I was trying to help you both. But I see now that I didn't go about it the right way."

Robby shook his head, a flicker of remorse crossing his features. "No, I'm... I'm sorry. I should've listened to you and Clem about Cobra Kai." He hesitated, licking his lips as he searched for the right words. "But I didn't understand until I started mentoring someone myself. Now Silver's got a hold on this kid. There are others in there I care about too, and, uh, we need to stop Cobra Kai," Robby finished, thinking of Kenny and Tory.

Clementine stepped forward, her eyes locking with Daniel's, her voice firm. "We can't do it without you, Sensei."

Daniel's expression softened, a mix of pride and humility in his eyes. He sniffled, a small chuckle escaping as he glanced at the three of them, realizing how much they had grown. "Dad, not everyone has someone like you to protect them and teach them. It's time that all of us join this fight," Sam said, her voice steady as she stepped up beside them.

Daniel furrowed his brows, looking at Sam. "All of us?" he echoed, uncertainty creeping into his tone.

Clementine cracked a grin, feeling the momentum shift. "Follow me," she said, leading the way to the sliding doors.

Robby, Amanda, Sam, and Daniel followed closely behind her. Clementine slid the doors open, revealing a sea of determined faces—students from Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang, all waiting in solidarity. At the front stood Chozen and Johnny, their postures strong and resolute.

Robby squeezed Clementine's hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in silent gratitude. They found their spots among the group, standing together as one.

Clementine beamed when she saw Alison beside her, a grin spreading across her face. After weeks of convincing, she and Hawk had finally persuaded Alison to join them. But Clementine couldn't help but remember Johnny's brash comment earlier—telling Hawk he needed to get Alison to stop being a "pussy." Clementine had almost punched Johnny right then and there, but Alison had just rolled her eyes and said she would only do Miyagi-Do style.

Daniel's eyes widened as he took in the sight before him—every student, every friend, every ally, all standing together. The weight of isolation he had been carrying suddenly felt lighter.

"You're not alone anymore," Clementine said, stepping aside to let him take in the full scope of their support. She could see the hope rekindling in his eyes. "So what do you say, Dad? Will you fight?" Sam asked, her voice filled with a daughter's faith in her father.

Daniel looked around the room, his heart swelling with emotion. He took a deep breath, his gaze meeting each of theirs—Robby, Clementine, Sam, Amanda, Johnny, and Chozen. He saw the trust, the belief, the love they had for him.

Finally, he smiled, the warmth returning to his expression. He stepped down from the platform, his decision made. Chozen and Johnny moved to stand beside him, united in purpose.

As Daniel took it all in, the students bowed to him, an act of respect and allegiance. Daniel hesitated for a moment, emotion welling up in his throat, before he, Johnny, and Chozen shared a glance and bowed back.

The room was filled with an unspoken promise—this was their fight, and they were in it together.

Clementine sat across from Dr. Francis in the familiar, cozy therapy room, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the armrest. The room was quiet, save for the gentle hum of the air conditioning. Clementine had been seeing Dr. Francis for a while now, and she trusted her. This was her space to unload everything she'd been holding inside.

Dr. Francis, with her kind eyes and warm demeanor, waited patiently. "Whenever you're ready, Clementine," she said softly, offering a reassuring smile.

Clementine sighed deeply, trying to figure out where to begin. "It's been... a lot," she started, her voice tinged with weariness. "So much has happened, I don't even know where to start."

Dr. Francis leaned forward slightly, her notepad ready but her focus entirely on Clementine. "Just start with whatever's weighing on you the most."

Clementine nodded, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. "My Aunt Anastasia... she just left. She ran off to London with her boyfriend, without any warning. Just like that, she was gone."

Dr. Francis raised an eyebrow slightly, her expression one of concern and empathy. "That must have been a shock for you and your family."

"It was," Clementine admitted, her voice faltering a bit. "Especially for my dad, but it's also hit Tyler hard. He decided to go after her. He thinks he can bring her back, I guess. And he's not going alone. Sierra's going with him."

"Sierra?" Dr. Francis asked, recognizing the name. "Alison's sister?"

"Yeah," Clementine confirmed, rubbing her forehead as if trying to ward off a headache. "They used to date—Tyler and Sierra. It was this on-again, off-again thing. They'd break up, then get back together, then break up again. It's like they're stuck in this cycle that neither of them can get out of."

Dr. Francis made a small note on her pad but kept her eyes on Clementine. "How do you feel about Tyler going after your aunt with Sierra? It sounds like it's stirring up a lot of old emotions."

"It is," Clementine sighed, feeling a tightness in her chest. "I'm worried, to be honest. Tyler's always been impulsive, but this... this feels different. He's so focused on chasing after Aunt Anastasia, and I don't know if he's really thought it through. And Sierra... I mean, they've been through so much already. What if this trip just makes things worse between them?"

"It sounds like you're concerned for both of them," Dr. Francis observed, her tone gentle.

"I am," Clementine confessed. "I don't want Tyler to get hurt. And I don't want Sierra to get hurt either. I care about her too, and it's hard watching them go through this again and again. But Tyler's made up his mind, and once he decides on something... there's no stopping him."

Dr. Francis nodded understandingly. "It can be difficult when someone you care about is determined to follow a path you're not sure is the best for them. Have you been able to talk to Tyler about how you're feeling?"

"I tried," Clementine said, her voice tinged with frustration. "But Tyler just brushed it off, like he always does. He said he'd be back as soon as he could and that everything would be fine. But I'm not so sure."

Dr. Francis paused, giving Clementine a moment to collect herself before speaking again. "It's clear that you're feeling a lot of uncertainty right now, not just about Tyler and Sierra, but about everything going on in your life. Is there anything else you'd like to share?"

Clementine nodded, knowing there was still so much more she needed to talk about. "Yeah... Alison finally joined Miyagi-Do. She's always hated violence, but she joined because Miyagi-Do is more about defense and kata. It's a big deal for her."

"That sounds like a positive development," Dr. Francis remarked, sensing the pride in Clementine's voice. "How do you feel about Alison's decision to join?"

"I'm really proud of her," Clementine admitted, a small smile creeping onto her face. "She's always been so against fighting, but she did this to support us, to support me. She found a way to be part of it without compromising who she is. That takes a lot of strength."

"It does," Dr. Francis agreed, her tone encouraging. "And it sounds like it means a lot to you that Alison made this decision."

"It does," Clementine nodded, feeling a warmth in her chest. "Alison's always been there for me, and now she's standing with us, even though it goes against everything she believes in. That's real friendship."

Dr. Francis made another small note before looking up at Clementine again. "You mentioned that Alison joined Miyagi-Do, but you've also had some experiences outside of that, haven't you? You mentioned going back to Tennessee recently."

Clementine's expression darkened slightly at the mention of Tennessee. "Yeah... I went back to my grandparents' farm. And while I was there, I ran into an old friend, Jackson."

Dr. Francis noticed the change in Clementine's demeanor. "How was it seeing Jackson again?"

Clementine hesitated, then sighed. "It was... complicated. We used to be close, but when I saw him again, it was awkward. He kissed me, Dr. Francis. Out of nowhere."

Dr. Francis's eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. "How did that make you feel?"

"Confused. Angry," Clementine said, her voice firm. "I told him to back off, that I have a boyfriend. But he just wouldn't listen. He kept pushing, even when I made it clear that I'm with Robby. It was like he couldn't take a hint."

"That must have been very uncomfortable for you," Dr. Francis said sympathetically. "How did you handle it?"

"I told him off," Clementine said, her voice tinged with frustration. "I made it clear that I'm with Robby and that nothing's going to change that. But it was hard. I didn't want to hurt Jackson, but he just wouldn't listen."

Dr. Francis nodded, understanding the complexity of the situation. "It sounds like you were put in a difficult position, but you stood your ground. That's not easy, especially when it involves someone you used to care about."

"It wasn't easy," Clementine admitted, her voice softening. "And when I got back, I told Robby everything. How Jackson kissed me and how I shut it down immediately."

"How did Robby react?" Dr. Francis asked gently.

Clementine let out a small, nervous laugh. "He was mad. Not at me, but at Jackson. He said if he ever sees Jackson, he's gonna kill him—not literally, but you know how guys are."

Dr. Francis smiled slightly, understanding the protective nature of young relationships. "It sounds like Robby cares a lot about you."

"He does," Clementine said, a warmth in her voice. "But I didn't want him to get all worked up. I handled it, you know? I told Jackson to back off, and he eventually apologized before I left. But it was still... messy."

"Relationships, especially at your age, can be very complex," Dr. Francis said kindly. "It sounds like you navigated a challenging situation with a lot of maturity. You communicated your boundaries clearly, and you were honest with Robby about what happened. That's important."

Clementine nodded, feeling a sense of relief at Dr. Francis's words. "Yeah, I guess I did."

Dr. Francis set her notepad down on her lap and leaned forward slightly, her expression more serious now. "Clementine, before we finish our session today, I want to check in with you. How are you doing mentally? I know there's been a lot going on, and I want to make sure you're taking care of yourself. Have you been harming yourself?"

Clementine's smile faded slightly, but she met Dr. Francis's gaze with a steady look. "No, I haven't been harming myself," she said firmly. "I'm... I'm in a good place right now. I mean, things are complicated, but I've been handling it. I've been talking to Robby, to Alison... even to Tyler, before he left. I'm okay."

Dr. Francis studied Clementine for a moment, then smiled warmly. "I'm glad to hear that, Clementine. It sounds like you're doing a lot of things right. Just remember, you don't have to carry everything on your own. You have people who care about you, and I'm here for you too."

Clementine felt a wave of relief wash over her, the tightness in her chest loosening. "Thanks, Dr. Francis. I really appreciate that."

As the session came to an end, Clementine stood up, feeling lighter than when she had walked in. She knew there were still challenges ahead—Tyler's impulsive decision, her complicated feelings about Jackson, and everything happening with Miyagi-Do. But she also knew she wasn't facing it alone. She had her friends, her family, and the support of her therapist.

And most importantly, she had herself.

ASH SPEAKS!

SORRY FOR NO UPDATE YESTERDAY! i had a sleepover

few things!

1) i start school on wednesday so im hoping to finish this book and be caught up to s6 pt 1 by next week!
2) s6 part 1 will be hard for clementine... because something happens in s5 ep 10...
3) please check out my new mike wheeler fanfic 'electric love'💖💖