chapter thirty-two:
❛ into the fire ❜

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Alessia sat in the circle, the wooden chairs creaking under the weight of so many restless people. The room was warm, and the soft hum of murmurs around her felt distant, like a fog she couldn't shake. It had been a month since the Sekai Taikai, a month since everything had come crashing down. A month since she walked away from Cobra Kai and everything she had known, unsure of who she was anymore.

The chairs in the circle were filled with familiar faces from AA, some with weary eyes, some with hopeful expressions. It was quiet now, the kind of silence that felt heavy-like everyone was waiting for someone to speak, waiting for the next confession to break through the tension. Alessia was holding her cup tightly, the ceramic warm in her hands, the comfort of it grounding her as she finally decided to speak.

She took a deep breath, pushing the nerves down, but the words seemed to stick in her throat. She could feel their eyes on her, waiting for her to speak up. Finally, she swallowed hard and began, her voice shaky but steady.

"It's been... a month since the Sekai Taikai," Alessia started, her gaze darting to the floor, not quite meeting anyone's eyes. "And I haven't talked to Robby, or... anyone, really." Her voice wavered as she continued, her thoughts jumbled in her head. "I'm scared to. I feel like I ruined everything. I mean, I switched sides, and I was on Cobra Kai. But I didn't even fight. I didn't do what I was supposed to do, and then... I regret it. I regret letting Kreese get inside my head."

Her words were coming faster now, the rush of guilt and shame flooding her. She tried to hold it together, but it was impossible. She shook her head as she spoke, as though trying to shake the weight of it all.

"I thought... I thought joining Cobra Kai would help me-help me feel stronger, you know?" Alessia continued, the words slipping out in a breathless rush. "But all I did was make it worse. I let Kreese get into my head, telling me that I had to fight for power, that everything was about strength, but it wasn't. I didn't even know who I was anymore. I thought... I thought I had to do it to prove something to myself, but all I did was hurt people. Robby... Robby tried to help me, but I wasn't listening. I was so caught up in trying to be something I wasn't."

Her eyes filled with tears that she quickly blinked away, not wanting to show them any more vulnerability. But it was too late-her voice cracked as she spoke, the raw emotion pouring out.

"And now... now I feel like I've lost everything. I've lost Robby. I've lost my chance at redemption. I don't even know if they'll ever forgive me. And the worst part is, I don't even know if I can forgive myself. I messed up so badly."

Alessia's breath hitched, and she looked down at the floor again, suddenly feeling small, like she didn't deserve to be there. The shame weighed on her, and the fear of facing everyone she'd hurt, especially Robby, felt almost impossible to overcome.

The group sat in silence for a moment, and Alessia could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears. Then, a voice broke through the quiet.

"Alessia," one of the women in the group, Linda, said gently. She was older, her face lined with years of struggle but filled with wisdom. "What you're feeling right now, that regret, that fear of not being able to fix things-it's normal. But you can't keep running from it. You can't keep hiding from your mistakes. The first step is admitting them, and that's exactly what you're doing right now. You're not alone in this."

Alessia nodded slightly, but her hands still trembled. "I just... I don't know how to face Robby. He was there for me, and I let him down. I hurt him, and I'm scared that I won't be able to fix it."

Linda's eyes softened as she leaned forward. "You can't undo the past, but you can make things right moving forward. You can't control how Robby feels, but you can control how you treat him from now on. If you truly want to make amends, you'll show him that you've changed, not just in words, but in actions."

Alessia wiped at her eyes quickly, her chest tight with emotion. "I don't even know where to start. I don't know if he'll want to talk to me after everything I did."

Another person in the circle, a younger man named Danny who had been sober for three years, spoke up. "It's never easy, facing the people we've hurt, but they're not the ones you need to be worried about. It's you, Alessia. You've got to face yourself first. The rest will come."

The words felt like a punch to the gut, but in the best way. Alessia nodded slowly, taking them in. "Yeah... I know. I just... I'm scared. I don't want to lose him for good."

"You won't lose him if you do the work, if you show him you're ready to be the person you really want to be," Linda said with a soft smile. "But you've got to start with forgiveness. Forgiving yourself."

Alessia sat in silence for a moment, processing everything that had been said. She still felt the weight of it all-the guilt, the shame, the regret-but for the first time, she felt like there might be a way forward. She wasn't sure how long it would take to make things right, but she knew she had to try.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't know if I'm ready, but I'll try. I'll try to face it. I'll try to make it right."

The group nodded in understanding, and the air in the room felt a little lighter. Alessia didn't have all the answers, and she didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, she felt a small spark of hope.

Maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe she could fix things after all.

Alessia stepped out of the small, dimly lit AA meeting room, the weight of the hour still pressing on her chest. The cool evening air hit her like a rush of cold water, and for a moment, she welcomed the chill. She hadn't talked much in the meeting, but the words she'd shared had left her raw and exposed. She was still reeling from the weight of everything she'd confessed-the guilt, the fear, the regret that had been festering inside her for so long.

She was still processing, still unsure of what to do next. But the last thing she expected when she stepped out onto the sidewalk was to see Robby standing there, leaning against the brick wall just outside the door.

His eyes were focused on her the moment she appeared, and for a split second, Alessia froze, her heart skipping in her chest. She hadn't seen him in weeks, not since everything had fallen apart between them. The silence between them had been deafening, both of them too scared and too proud to bridge the gap.

Robby straightened when he saw her, his expression softening as he took a step forward. "Alessia," he called out, his voice hesitant but filled with longing. "Can we talk?"

Alessia's stomach churned, and for a brief moment, she felt the urge to turn and run, to avoid the conversation she wasn't ready for. She hadn't come here tonight expecting him to be waiting, and the thought of facing him-of having to explain everything, of hearing him tell her how much she'd hurt him-made her chest tighten.

She didn't want to do this. Not like this. Not yet.

But Robby wasn't letting her go that easily. He took another step toward her, his voice growing more desperate. "Please, just... talk to me. I know things are messed up right now, but we need to figure this out. I need to understand what happened with you-why you chose to side with Cobra Kai. Why you didn't fight. I need to hear it from you, Alessia."

Alessia's eyes darted around the street, anywhere but at him, as her mind raced. She couldn't do this now. She was still figuring it out herself, still learning how to forgive herself, let alone explain herself to him.

"I... I can't, Robby," she finally managed, her voice shaking. She could feel the tears threatening to spill, but she swallowed hard, determined not to break down in front of him. "I can't talk about this right now."

Robby's expression faltered, his brows furrowing with concern. "Why? What's going on with you? I thought-"

"No," she cut him off, shaking her head as she stepped back. "You don't get it. You don't get how messed up I am right now. I've made so many mistakes, and I don't even know where to begin with fixing them. I can't drag you into this, Robby. I can't do it."

She tried to push past him, her feet moving quickly on autopilot as she headed toward the street. She couldn't stay here, not like this. Not with the guilt clawing at her, and not with the fear of hearing what he might say. The silence between them was more than just uncomfortable-it was suffocating.

Robby reached out, his hand gently grasping her wrist, stopping her from leaving. "Alessia, please." His voice was softer now, more fragile, like he wasn't sure if he had the strength to keep going. "I just want to understand. I want to help you. I miss you."

The words hit her like a punch to the stomach, and for a split second, she almost broke. She wanted so badly to tell him everything, to pour out all the feelings she'd been carrying for so long. She missed him too, more than she wanted to admit. But she couldn't let herself crumble in front of him, not when everything was still so uncertain.

Alessia pulled her wrist out of his grip, her expression hardening. "No, Robby. You don't understand." She took a step back, her voice shaking but fierce. "I hurt you. I hurt you more than I can fix right now. And I can't keep pretending that everything's okay. Not yet. Not until I figure it out."

Robby's eyes widened, pain flashing across his face. He opened his mouth to say something, but Alessia turned away before he could. She had to leave. She had to get away from him before she said something she couldn't take back.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she walked away from him. "I can't do this."

She didn't look back. She didn't need to. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her back, but she couldn't stay, couldn't give him the answers he needed when she didn't even have them for herself.

Her heart ached with every step she took, but she kept walking, determined to put more distance between them. Maybe one day they'd talk. Maybe one day she'd be ready to face the consequences of her actions. But not today.

Not yet.

The morning sun was still low in the sky, casting a soft golden hue over the quiet track. Alessia had been restless all night, the weight of everything still pressing on her chest. After weeks of avoiding it, she knew she needed to clear her head, get the thoughts swirling in her mind to slow down. Running had always been a way for her to process things-an escape, a release.

She laced up her sneakers and stepped out the door, the cool morning air brushing against her face as she made her way to the track. She didn't expect anyone to be there, but as she approached, she saw a familiar figure already stretching near the starting line. Tory.

Alessia hesitated for a moment, her hand resting on the chain link fence. The last time they'd really spoken, things had been tense. Between their shared history with Cobra Kai and the complicated mess of emotions tied to their experiences, it hadn't been easy for either of them. But now, standing here, it felt like the right time.

Tory noticed her approach and straightened, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "You running today, too?" she asked, her voice light but with an edge of something more-something unspoken that Alessia couldn't quite place.

"Yeah, I just... need to get my head straight," Alessia said, shrugging. She moved toward the track, keeping her distance but not turning away. "You?"

Tory nodded. "Same. Could use a clear head." There was a pause before she added, "You've been quiet lately. Everything alright?"

Alessia wanted to lie, to brush it off. But she knew Tory wouldn't let her. They might not be close, but they understood each other in ways no one else did. Their time in Cobra Kai, their shared trauma-it all built an unspoken bond.

"Honestly?" Alessia sighed, looking down at the track. "No. Everything's... been messy. I've been trying to figure it out, but it's hard to know where to start." She glanced up at Tory, the vulnerability in her voice soft but real. "I don't even know where to go from here, after everything that happened."

Tory studied her for a moment, her expression unreadable before she spoke again. "I get that," she said, her voice surprisingly gentle. "Things have been weird, for all of us. I know I've been shutting people out, too. But we don't have to figure it all out in one go. You just... take it one step at a time."

Alessia nodded, appreciating the sincerity in Tory's words. It wasn't often that Tory let her guard down like this, but it felt different today. Maybe it was the calm of the early morning or the fact that both of them were carrying similar burdens, but Alessia felt like she could talk to her more than she had before.

"Yeah," she murmured. "One step at a time."

Without another word, they both lined up at the starting line. Alessia shifted on her feet, feeling a small sense of relief in the quiet that hung between them. No need for explanations right now. Just a run. A chance to clear the fog in their minds.

"Race you to the end?" Tory challenged with a sly grin, her competitive edge already resurfacing.

Alessia smirked, pushing away the lingering thoughts and doubts that still clung to her. "You're on."

And just like that, the race was on. They pushed themselves harder than they expected, each lap offering a fresh wave of energy as they ran side by side, the rhythmic pounding of their feet against the track becoming a steady beat in their chests.

With every stride, Alessia felt the pressure start to loosen. The weight on her shoulders wasn't gone, but it was a little lighter. A little easier to carry. She could hear Tory's breathing beside her, the sound familiar, comforting, and she realized that despite everything that had happened, they were still here. Still moving forward.

When they finished the final lap, both out of breath and laughing, Alessia felt something she hadn't felt in a while-free. Even if just for a moment, she had managed to let go.

Tory leaned against the fence, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. "You're not bad, Chavez," she said, grinning at Alessia.

Alessia laughed, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Same to you, Nichols."

They stood there for a moment, catching their breath and letting the silence fall over them again. It wasn't uncomfortable like it used to be. This time, it was just... peaceful.

"So," Tory said after a beat, glancing over at Alessia. "You thinking about heading back to Miyagi-Do anytime soon?"

Alessia felt a pang in her chest at the mention of Miyagi-Do. She hadn't been back since everything had fallen apart, since she'd switched sides. "I don't know," she admitted. "I've been thinking about it. But I'm not sure if I'm ready. Everything's just... different now."

"I get it," Tory replied, her tone quiet but understanding. "But whenever you're ready, it'll still be there. People will still be there."

"Yeah," Alessia said softly, feeling a small flicker of hope ignite inside her. "Maybe. We'll see."

Tory gave her a half-smile, pushing off from the fence. "We all have our own pace. Just don't leave it too long. Sometimes, the longer we wait, the harder it gets."

Alessia watched her for a moment, considering her words. She was right, in a way. She had been running from her past for so long. Maybe it was time to stop and face it head-on.

"Thanks, Tory," Alessia said, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Tory shrugged, giving her a look that was part teasing, part sincere. "No problem. Just don't expect me to go easy on you next time."

Alessia laughed, her shoulders relaxing as she walked off the track beside her. "Don't worry, I won't."

For the first time in a while, it felt like things might just be starting to fall into place. One step at a time.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

i apologize for this short chapter! there was no where to fit alessia into episode 11!! so this is a filler chapter :)

also hiii!! welcome back to the final chapters. i can't believe this is happening :( we only have a few chapters left and then this over.

i'm so excited for what is stored left!! so please don't be a ghost reader and keep voting, commenting and reading.

updates will be every 2-5 days only because i have to update a lot more fanfics now! i am not abandoning any fic, i just have more fics to update now so updates MIGHT be slow.

also today is the first day of cobra kai s6 part 3, so no spoilers please for those who might not be finished with cobra kai :)

but again, no ghost readers please!!! this almost the end!! please vote and comment :)

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

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!
im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up bt votes not its hard for my motivation!