chapter forty-seven:
❛ sleeper ❜

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Johnny walked over to Alison and Clementine, snapping his fingers to get their attention. "Cinnamon Girl, Perky, Tory and Sam are going over to Devon's tonight for a sleepover. Don't be late!" he instructed, his tone firm but with an edge of excitement.

Alison and Clementine exchanged puzzled glances. "Devon's?" Clementine asked, her brow furrowed. "What are you up to?"

Johnny shrugged nonchalantly. "Sam and Tory are dull over there, I need their fire back."

Clementine looked back at Johnny, trying to piece together the situation. "That sounds insane...but what time should we be there?" she asked, still slightly bewildered by the sudden plans.

Johnny checked his invisible watch and then glanced back at them. "Tonight! 8:00pm sharp! Make sure you bring something to sleep in and maybe a snack or two. I hear Devon's is making her famous brownies."

Alison nodded, still processing the information. "Okay..."

Johnny gave them an approving nod and turned to head back to his own business. Alison and Clementine stood there for a moment, exchanging glances filled with curiosity and a hint of excitement.

Alison and Clementine approached Devon's house, their eyes widening as they took in the massive structure before them. The house loomed large, a pristine mansion with sprawling windows, perfectly manicured lawns, and ivy climbing elegantly up the walls.

"Okay, she must be rich," Clementine muttered in disbelief, running her hand through her hair as she gazed at the house. "I mean, we live in houses that are basically cabins, but this...this is a freaking mansion."

Alison nodded enthusiastically, her eyes practically sparkling. "Right? Oh my gosh, I wonder what her decor is like!" she said excitedly, her voice rising as she imagined the luxurious interior.

Clementine rolled her eyes playfully but couldn't help the grin spreading across her lips. "You're such a nerd about this stuff, Alison."

Alison elbowed her gently. "Hey, you know I love design! If this place is as fancy on the inside as it looks out here, I might never leave."

Before Clementine could respond, the front door swung open, revealing Devon, dressed casually in an oversized hoodie and leggings, her hair in a messy bun. She smiled warmly at the two girls.

"Hey! You guys made it," Devon greeted them, stepping aside to let them in. "Come on in!"

Alison and Clementine exchanged a quick, excited look before stepping inside the grand entrance. The interior was just as extravagant as they imagined, with high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and sleek modern furniture.

"Wow..." Alison breathed out, her gaze taking in every detail. "This place is gorgeous."

Devon shrugged, a little bashful. "Thanks. My parents went overboard with the place, honestly." She led them through the house, past rooms that looked straight out of a magazine, and down a set of stairs toward the basement. "Come on, I want to show you something!"

As they descended into the basement, Devon flicked on the lights, revealing a cozy, fully furnished space with bean bags, fairy lights, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. In the center of the room, a large nail kit was spread out across a low table.

"I just got this new nail kit," Devon said, excitement in her voice as she motioned toward the array of polishes, brushes, and designs. "I figured we could try it out tonight."

Clementine's eyebrows shot up. "This is impressive. Like...professional-level impressive."

Devon grinned. "Yeah, I've been practicing a lot. I've never had a slumber party before, so I wanted it to be perfect."

Alison's heart softened, and she stepped closer to Devon with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Devon. Tonight is going to be amazing. We're going to have so much fun."

Clementine nodded in agreement, her grin turning more genuine. "Yeah, no doubt. It's gonna be awesome."

Devon's smile widened, her nerves easing as she realized how genuine their excitement was. "Thanks, guys. I'm really glad you're here."

As Sam and Tory walked downstairs, they glanced around the room, confusion evident on their faces. Johnny, standing proudly at the center of the basement, greeted them with a grin. "Welcome to Miyagi-Do After Dark," he announced with a flourish.

Sam and Tory exchanged uncertain looks. "I don't think you should call it that," Sam said, her voice tinged with doubt.

Johnny raised an eyebrow, considering alternatives. "Miyagi-Do Nights?"

"No," Sam shook her head firmly.

"Dark Nights?" Johnny persisted, still trying to find a fitting name.

Tory, looking around with a skeptical expression, finally asked, "Wait. Is this a slumber party?"

Devon, looked up and chimed in, "I've never had one before." she said, holding out her nail kit. "I didn't know what color nail polish you guys like, so I got them all."

Johnny, with an air of satisfaction, explained, "Since you two are friends now, we can have a girls' night. And I brought Clementine and Alison so it's not too awkward."

Tory raised an eyebrow, eyeing Johnny with skepticism. "With you?"

Johnny nodded enthusiastically. "Hell yeah. I'm a girl dad now. I brought cookies and tampons and everything. Come on inside. Grab a sleeping bag. The Mr. T one's mine."

Johnny, feeling particularly proud of his party planning, had set up a mixtape he humorously titled "Slumber Party Badass Mix." The first track, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," blared through the speakers, filling the room with an upbeat, nostalgic vibe.

Clementine, Alison and the other girls were sprawled comfortably on the couch, each with a face mask and slices of cucumber resting on their eyes. The room was dimly lit with fairy lights, adding to the cozy atmosphere.

As the music played, Alison felt a light tap on her head. She lifted the cucumbers from her eyes and turned to see Tory, who was giving her a teasing smirk. "What was that for?" Alison whispered, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Clementine shot her a playful glare and whispered back, "Why do you flick me?"

Alison raised an eyebrow and shot a glance at Johnny, who was standing behind the couch with a mischievous grin. He gave her a sarcastic thumbs-up, clearly enjoying the prank. Alison rolled her eyes in response, but couldn't help but smile at Johnny's antics.

Resuming her relaxed position, Clementine adjusted the cucumbers back onto her eyes, letting out a soft laugh as the night's fun continued.

In Devon's basement, the night had taken on a carefree energy. Laughter echoed around the room as Clementine and Alison exchanged playful grins, both clutching pillows tightly in their hands. Sam, Tory, and Devon sat cross-legged on the couch, watching with wide eyes as Johnny stood between them like an official referee.

"All right, Cinnamon Girl, Perky, keep it clean. No dirty hits. Just because I'm ref doesn't mean you can whack me if you get frustrated," Johnny said with his usual dry humor, smirking as he pointed a finger at Clementine, then Alison. "You got that?"

"Whatever you say, ref!" Clementine called out, bouncing on her feet with excitement.

"Yeah, yeah, we get it. No hitting the ref...unless it's necessary," Alison teased, sticking out her tongue at Johnny, earning her a chuckle from the group.

Devon leaned forward on the couch, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Oh man, this is gonna be good."

"I've got my money on Alison," Tory said with a smirk, crossing her arms. "She looks like she's ready to throw down."

Sam shook her head, grinning. "You're underestimating Clementine. She's sneaky."

Johnny raised a hand, cutting through the banter. "Okay, on the count of three... One... Two..." He paused dramatically, glancing between Clementine and Alison. "Three! Go!"

Clementine swung first, her pillow slamming into Alison's side, sending a flurry of feathers into the air. Alison stumbled back but quickly recovered, countering with a swift upward strike that knocked Clementine's pillow from her grip.

"Hey! Foul play!" Clementine cried, scrambling to grab her pillow off the floor. But before she could, Alison went in for another playful strike, knocking her onto the couch.

The room erupted in cheers. "Get her, Alison!" Sam shouted, unable to keep the grin off her face. Devon clapped her hands, completely engrossed in the spectacle.

"C'mon, Clem, fight back!" Tory cheered, laughing as she watched Clementine struggle to fend off Alison's rapid attacks.

Clementine, eyes narrowing with determination, sprang up from the couch, armed with both pillows now. "Oh, it's on!" she declared dramatically, charging at Alison with all the flair of a dramatic showdown.

Alison barely had time to brace herself as Clementine whacked her twice-once on the side and once on the back-sending Alison into a fit of giggles as she tried to defend herself.

Johnny stepped in, throwing his arms up like a true referee. "Hold it! Hold it! Is that legal? Two pillows? You're breaking the rules!" he said, half-serious, half-amused.

Clementine grinned wildly, swinging again despite Johnny's protest. "I don't remember agreeing to any rules!"

Alison managed to block the next hit, laughing breathlessly. "You're such a cheater, Clem!"

The fight continued, an energetic back-and-forth of lighthearted pillow hits, with feathers now drifting through the air like confetti. The cheering from the couch only made things more chaotic.

"Clem! Hit her harder!" Tory yelled, laughing so hard she was clutching her stomach.

"Nah, Alison's got this!" Sam added, unable to stop smiling as she watched the scene unfold.

Just as Clementine landed a final dramatic blow, Johnny blew an imaginary whistle and stepped between them, holding out both hands. "All right, all right, that's enough! Call it a draw before you two take out the furniture!"

Alison collapsed onto the couch, panting and laughing at the same time. "Fine! You win... this time."

Clementine fell next to her, equally breathless but grinning. "That was a workout."

Johnny shook his head, folding his arms across his chest. "You two are crazy. But hey, that was a solid match."

Devon clapped excitedly. "Best pillow fight ever!"

As everyone settled down, the room still buzzing with laughter and leftover energy, Clementine and Alison shared a victorious look. "We should definitely do that again sometime," Alison said with a grin.

"Agreed," Clementine replied, wiping a stray feather from her hair.

The group sat in Devon's basement, the atmosphere a mix of curiosity and amusement as they stared at the Ouija board resting in the center of the table. The basement was dimly lit by a couple of lamps, casting eerie shadows on the walls that made the situation feel even more fitting. Devon's collection of strange trinkets and decorations lined the shelves, enhancing the mysterious vibe of the evening.

Everyone had their fingers lightly on the planchette, their faces serious-except for Clementine, who could barely hold back her laughter.

Devon grinned wickedly, looking around the table before landing on her question. "Okay, I've got one," she said, her voice full of playful suspense. "Will Mitch ever win the All Valley?"

Clementine immediately let out a loud, incredulous snort, her eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Mitch?" She emphasized his name with a sarcastic tone. "He's a weakling."

Alison's eyes flashed in disapproval. Without missing a beat, she kicked Clementine under the table, causing Clem to jump. "Ow!" Clementine hissed, rubbing her shin and glaring at Alison.

"Not nice, Clem," Alison scolded, her tone soft but firm.

Clementine rolled her eyes, still chuckling under her breath. "I mean, come on. We all know he's not exactly the toughest guy around."

Tory, who had been watching silently with an amused smirk, piped up. "He's trying," she said, though even she didn't seem convinced.

Johnny, sitting across from the group with his arms crossed, frowned. "Wait. Who the hell is Mitch?" His face twisted in genuine confusion as he glanced from one teen to the next, trying to figure out who they were even talking about.

Tory looked over at him, her tone deadpan as she replied, "Penis Breath."

The look of realization that crossed Johnny's face was instant. "Oh, him," he muttered, shaking his head. Without missing a beat, he reached over and shoved the planchette decisively toward the "no" on the board, causing everyone's fingers to slide with it.

"Nope," Johnny declared loudly, crossing his arms with a sense of finality, his tone suggesting that there was no further discussion needed.

The room erupted in laughter.

Devon burst out laughing so hard she almost slid out of her chair, clutching her stomach. "Johnny! You can't just do that!" she said between gasps of breath, her face red from laughing so hard.

Clementine, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, leaned back in her chair and grinned. "Told you. Weakling."

Tory, leaning casually in her chair, shrugged with a sly smile. "Johnny's got a point."

Johnny looked around the table, pleased with himself. "Sorry, but facts are facts," he said, shrugging like he had just shared the wisdom of the universe.

Alison shook her head, though even she was smiling now. "I'm pretty sure that's not how Ouija boards are supposed to work, Johnny."

He gave a nonchalant shrug. "Hey, I'm just speeding things up. No point in pretending the answer's anything other than that."

Devon, still catching her breath, sat up straighter in her chair and wiped her eyes. "Okay, okay, let's move on before we end up summoning Mitch's ghost while he's still alive."

Everyone's laughter slowly died down as they leaned back in, their fingers hovering over the planchette once more, but the mood was still light, thanks to Johnny's antics.

Devon, grinning again, glanced around at her friends. "Who's got the next question?"

Johnny, taking his role as the evening's mischievous ringmaster, leaned in with a grin. "Does Tory want Sam to fall down a flight of stairs, breaking every single bone in her little body?" Johnny asked, his tone dripping with faux seriousness. Alison shot him a disapproving look and gave his ankle a quick, sharp kick under the table.

"What?" Johnny asked, genuinely surprised and Alison gave him a crazy look. "Well, let's see what it says," Johnny replied, his fingers forcing the planchette across the board. It moved slowly but steadily, eventually spelling out "Yes."

Clementine sighed, shaking her head in disbelief. "There it is. That's ugly," she remarked, her voice laced with annoyance.

Tory's eyes widened, her face a mix of shock and frustration. "What the hell, Johnny? Why would you even ask that?" Alison asked with a hint of disbelief.

"If Sam could describe Tory in one word, what would that word be?" Johnny asked next, determined to keep the game going. He moved the planchette with exaggerated motions, much to the dismay of the others.

Clementine, unimpressed, raised an eyebrow. "Why are we letting him ask the questions? Isn't this supposed to be a fun girls' night?"

Johnny gave her a defiant look. "Because I'm your Sensei and I'm a girl dad now," he said proudly. Alison rolled her eyes and shot a glance at Clementine, who couldn't help but chuckle at Johnny's antics.

Johnny continued to manipulate the planchette, spelling out "B... I... T..." loudly, his tone hinting at playful provocation.

The result didn't sit well with Sam and Tory. Both of them removed their hands from the board, stood up, and walked away from the table, their faces a mix of hurt and frustration.

"What? It could've said 'bitching,'" Johnny said, trying to downplay the situation with a shrug.

Clementine let out a long sigh, running her hands down her face in exasperation. The atmosphere had shifted, and the fun of the evening was overshadowed by Johnny's provocative questions.

Alison, with a flick of her finger, lightly tapped Johnny on the head. "Seriously, Johnny? You had to push it that far?" she said, her tone a mix of irritation and disbelief.

Devon, Johnny, Alison, and Clementine stood off to the side, watching as Tory and Sam sat on the couch, scrolling through TikTok in an awkward silence. Devon groaned and folded her arms. "This night really took a turn for the worse," she whined, breaking the silence.

Alison gave her a look, her eyebrows raised. "What? Do you want drama or something?" she asked, shaking her head. "I think it's good that Sam and Tory are friends now," she added with a shrug, trying to find the silver lining.

"I mean, yeah, it's great that they're not at each other's throats anymore," Clementine chimed in, crossing her arms. "But they're scared to even spar each other during training. It's like they lost their edge."

Johnny snapped his fingers at her, his eyes lighting up like he just had a brilliant idea. "Exactly, Cinnamon Girl! That's what I've been saying." He gestured at the girls with his beer bottle. "Have faith, ladies. I know how girls think. It just takes one little spark to light the fire."

"Oh, you do now?" Alison asked, her voice dripping with disbelief as she crossed her arms and eyed Johnny skeptically.

Johnny ignored her tone and turned to Clementine. "Cinnamon Girl, tell your friend Jackson to call Sam and get Tory jealous since she's... hooking up with him or whatever."

Clementine smirked at Johnny's wording. "They're talking, not hooking up," she corrected, though the glint in her eye suggested she was more amused than anything.

Johnny shrugged, taking a swig of his beer. "Same difference."

Alison, looking more exasperated by the second, rubbed her temples. "This is insane," she muttered under her breath, but no one seemed to hear her.

Clementine pulled out her phone and quickly typed up a text to Jackson. "Can you call Sam for me? No questions asked."

Within moments, Jackson's name popped up on Sam's phone, ringing loudly. Tory turned her head, shooting Sam a questioning glance. "Why is Jackson calling you?" she asked, her voice edged with suspicion.

Sam shrugged, genuinely confused. "I don't know..." she trailed off, glancing at the screen as if it might give her the answer.

"It's probably just a butt dial. I don't even know how I got his number," Sam reassured her, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

Meanwhile, Clementine and Alison exchanged a knowing glance. Johnny, clearly on a roll, grabbed Miguel's phone and started typing something.

"Oh my god," Alison muttered, rubbing her forehead in sheer frustration, but Clementine watched the scene unfold with amusement.

A ping sounded from Tory's phone, and Sam looked over her shoulder. "What is it?" Sam asked, curious.

"It's a text from Miguel," Tory said, her brow furrowed as she read the message out loud. "Hola, mamacita. How about you drop the zero and get with the hero?"

Clementine and Devon burst into laughter, nearly doubling over. Alison stared at Johnny in disbelief, her mouth hanging open. "Just... why?"

Johnny shrugged, completely unapologetic. "Robby's a zero. Miguel's a hero. I'm not saying that as me-I'm saying that as Miguel."

Alison rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."

Sam and Tory stood up from the couch, both with their arms crossed, glaring at Johnny. He quickly shoved Miguel's phone behind his back, trying and failing to look innocent. "Hey, hey, what's going on?"

Sam raised an eyebrow at him. "What's behind your back?"

Johnny's eyes darted around. "Uh, my hands. Nothing. Just my hands," he lied, not very convincingly.

Tory, clearly not buying it, pulled out her phone and started typing. Moments later, Miguel's phone buzzed in Johnny's hand.

"Cinnamon Girl, your phone's ringing," Johnny lied again, this time even less convincingly as he clutched Miguel's phone tighter.

Sam narrowed her eyes and pulled her own phone out, but then Clementine's phone actually started ringing. "Wow, multiple lines," Johnny said, trying to play it off. "Cinnamon Girl, I didn't know you were such a social butterfly. Always thought of you more like a grumpy cat."

Sam and Tory weren't fooled anymore. Tory crossed her arms, exasperation in her voice as she said, "You're catfishing us."

Johnny blinked, looking utterly confused. "I don't know what that is, but catfish is gross."

Sam threw her hands up in frustration. "You've been messing with us all night. Now you're trying to get us to start fighting again."

"We just wanted to help you get your edge back so things can go back to the way they used to be," Devon blurted out, trying to explain the plan.

Clementine and Alison shared a look, both of them feeling the tension in the room rise.

Tory shot Devon a disbelieving look, her frustration evident. "You think things were better when we hated each other's guts?" she questioned, clearly not impressed.

"Well, no," Johnny jumped in, trying to salvage the situation. "Maybe just south of that, like a really strong dislike. You know, the kind that keeps things interesting."

Sam, crossing her arms tighter, frowned at him. "I thought you were Miyagi-Do now?"

Johnny pointed to the cozy basement around them. "I am Miyagi-Do. Look, we're inside with pillows, chocolates, and air conditioning. I just want you to hate each other-in a friendly way. You know, like frenemies."

Sam groaned, pulling out her phone. "I'm calling an Uber."

"Same," Tory said, already grabbing her bag.

The two girls walked off to grab their things, leaving Johnny looking bewildered. "I can't believe that didn't work," he muttered, scratching the back of his head.

Clementine gave him a look, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Oh, really?"

Johnny, Devon, Alison, and Clementine walked outside, each carrying trash bags, their steps slowing as they heard raised voices nearby. They looked up to find Tory and Sam standing in the middle of the yard, locked in what seemed to be an escalating argument.

"You attacked me at school!" Sam yelled, her voice filled with pent-up frustration.

"You attacked me at prom!" Tory shot back, eyes blazing.

Johnny's eyes lit up, and he leaned toward the girls. "It's happening," he whispered excitedly.

"You broke into my house!" Sam retorted, taking a step closer to Tory.

"You put me in the hospital!" Tory shouted, both girls clearly feeding off the energy.

Alison's eyes widened with concern. "I feel like I should intervene. I don't want them to fight each other."

Clementine gently placed a hand on Alison's arm, pushing her back slightly. "I think they need this. They've never really let it out with words."

The four of them stood back, watching in anticipation as Sam and Tory continued hurling accusations at each other. But then, as if a switch had flipped, the yelling stopped. Instead of throwing more verbal jabs, the two girls stared at each other in a moment of realization. The tension in the air shifted from aggression to something else entirely-understanding.

Johnny blinked, visibly deflating. "Oh, come on," he muttered in disappointment, clearly expecting more fireworks.

Alison and Clementine shot him matching glares. "What?" he protested, throwing his hands up in surrender.

Before they could respond, Sam and Tory took a step toward each other, and to everyone's surprise, they embraced. It was a genuine hug, one that spoke of buried emotions finally surfacing. Alison and Clementine exchanged soft smiles, feeling the warmth of the moment wash over them.

"No," Johnny groaned, rubbing his face. "Could this night get any worse?"

Alison turned to him, her tone light and cheerful. "Cheer up, Sensei. Maybe tonight didn't go as planned for you and Devon, but that could be for the best. I think Tory and Sam finally understand each other."

Johnny let out a long, exaggerated groan, clearly disappointed that his plan to reignite their rivalry had failed. But Clementine gave him a light nudge. "See? They didn't need another fight. They needed closure."

"Closure's overrated," Johnny muttered, still sulking.

Alison rolled her eyes playfully. "Maybe for you."

The next day at training, the air buzzed with excitement and nervous energy. Everyone had gathered in the dojo, eagerly awaiting the announcement of where they'd be heading for the Sekai Taikai. Alison and Clementine stood together near the back, their anxiousness evident as they exchanged glances.

"I'm so nervous," Alison whispered, bouncing lightly on her heels. "What if it's somewhere super intense? Like... Japan?"

Clementine, though equally jittery, tried to play it cool. "If it's Japan, I'll die of excitement. Imagine the food. The culture. The-" she paused, her grin widening-"shopping!"

Alison laughed nervously. "I just hope we're ready. I mean, this is the Sekai Taikai! We're going up against the best in the world."

Clementine nodded, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "Yeah, I know... but we've trained so hard for this. We've earned our spot."

Robby smiled, chiming in, "Definitely."

"The announcement just came out," Eli said, his excitement palpable.

Clementine, Robby and Alison paused their conversation and gathered around Eli to watch the video. Eli pressed play, and the screen displayed a formal announcement.

"Congratulations on your admission to the Sekai Taikai," the host, Gunther, began. "We're excited to finally announce the host city for this year's competition. Martial arts has always had a rich history in the East, and the Sekai Taikai has held many tournaments throughout Asia. But in recent years, European teams have shaken up the competitive landscape, bringing a whole new style to the event. Within that region, there's one nation that has continued to stand tall amongst the pack for its growth and dominance in both junior and senior competitions. It gives me great pleasure to announce this year's Sekai Taikai will be held in Barcelona, Spain."

The announcement left everyone in awe. Gasps filled the room as they absorbed the news. Clementine, Alison and Robby exchanged a high-five, their excitement evident in their chuckles. The video continued.

"As you prepare for your journey, we'll also present the rules of registration. We intend to test your dojo's quality, not quantity, and each dojo must select seven fighters to compete," Gunther explained.

Clementine smile faded as she looked at Robby and Alison, who furrowed her brows in concern. "Wait, seven?" Clementine asked.

"Yes, seven fighters," Gunther confirmed. "These seven fighters will participate in team events, with one boy and one girl serving as captains to enter into individual competitions, which will be televised around the world. We wish a hearty bona sort to all competitors, and we look forward to seeing you in Barcelona."

The video ended, and the room was filled with a mixture of excitement and concern. Clementine and Robby shared a concerned glance.

"Robby..." Marisol began, her voice trailing off.

Robby sighed and wrapped an arm around Clementine, providing comfort. "What does this mean?" Alison asked, stepping forward with a worried expression.

"It means we don't all get to go," Miguel said, breaking the news gently.

Clementine and Robby exchanged another worried look, understanding the gravity of the situation. The realization that not everyone from their dojo would be able to participate weighed heavily on them.

ASH SPEAKS!

clementines going to the sekai taikai!! but alisons not. she's still learning!

if it says marisol and mila anywhere its bc i copied and pasted some of the scenes from matching scars cause i didnt feel like rewriting them HAHAH

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER! COMMENT AND VOTE:) IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED!