𝟬𝟬𝟯, aftermath

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⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

It had been two weeks since the fight that had changed everything. Two weeks since the chaos that had broken out at school, the bloodshed, the screaming. Two weeks since Miguel had been put into a coma, and everything had spiraled out of control.

Imogen hadn't quite figured out how to process it. The guilt gnawed at her. She had been there, right in the middle of it, even if she hadn't thrown a single punch. She had tried to break things up, to stop the madness, but the tension had been too thick, the anger too explosive. The fight had been inevitable. And now Miguel was in a coma, recovering in the hospital, and Imogen felt like it was somehow her fault.

She sat in her room, her gaze fixed on her phone screen, the notifications from her friends in a never-ending stream. They were all talking about the aftermath, about the hospital visits, about what had happened in the weeks since. But Imogen couldn't bring herself to be a part of it. Not yet. She had been suspended for her involvement in the fight, but her punishment didn't end there. Her grandma, Grandma Lee, had been furious. Imogen had always been the wild child of the family, but this time, Grandma Lee had drawn the line. She banned her from karate. She said she needed to focus on other things-things that didn't involve violence and fighting. Things that didn't involve Cobra Kai or Miyagi-Do.

And it felt like a punishment she didn't deserve, yet at the same time, part of her understood. She'd been reckless, and she hadn't thought about the consequences. She had been so focused on her own anger, her own frustrations, that she hadn't seen the bigger picture. Miguel was lying in a hospital bed, and she was here, at home, in her room, waiting for her grounding to end.

It was only now, after two long weeks of sitting in her own frustration, that she was allowed back at school. She had missed her friends, the normal routine, but most of all, she missed karate.

The sound of Grandma Lee's car pulling into the driveway broke Imogen's thoughts. She looked out the window, watching as the old but reliable car came to a halt in front of the house. Grandma Lee's car had seen better days, but it was always there when Imogen needed it. The door opened with a creak as Grandma Lee stepped out, her stoic expression making her presence known even from a distance. Imogen sighed, knowing that today was going to be one of those "tough love" moments.

Grandma Lee was old-school, and her rules were clear. She wasn't one to sugarcoat things or let her granddaughter slip by with excuses. When Imogen saw Grandma Lee's face, she knew she'd have to hear the full lecture before she was allowed to go back to school.

Imogen grabbed her backpack from the chair, hesitating for a moment before making her way to the front door. She opened it slowly, stepping outside, and walking toward her grandmother's waiting figure.

"Imogen," Grandma Lee's voice was firm, a warning in her tone as she closed the car door behind her. "We need to have a talk before you go back to school."

Imogen swallowed hard. "I know, Grandma," she said softly. "I'm sorry for what happened. I didn't mean for any of this to go down like it did. I didn't mean for Miguel to get hurt."

Grandma Lee's gaze softened for just a moment before hardening again. "It doesn't matter what you meant, Imogen. What matters is what happened. And the consequences." Her voice was calm but laced with authority. "You've been suspended, and now I'm telling you the rules for when you return to school."

Imogen nodded, biting her lip. She could feel the weight of her grandmother's words pressing down on her.

Grandma Lee folded her arms across her chest and leveled her gaze at her granddaughter. "First of all, you're not to get involved in any more fights. I don't care what's going on around you. I don't care who's involved. You will not take part in any physical altercations, whether it's with Cobra Kai, Miyagi-Do, or anyone else. You're done with that. Do you understand?"

Imogen nodded, though she could feel a flicker of frustration bubbling beneath the surface. It wasn't like she was actively seeking fights, but she didn't have control over the situations that happened around her. Sometimes, it felt like everything was out of her hands. Still, she knew better than to argue. Grandma Lee wouldn't tolerate it.

"Secondly," Grandma Lee continued, "no karate. Not yet. You've lost that privilege for now. You need to prove to me that you've learned from this. That you're not going to be swept up in the madness again. You need to focus on school and your responsibilities here at home. I want you to prove to me that you can think before acting, that you can make better choices. No more distractions."

Imogen's heart sank. "Grandma, I-"

Grandma Lee raised a hand, cutting her off. "I know how much karate means to you. But it's not going anywhere. You'll get back to it, but only when you've shown me that you've earned it. This isn't a punishment, Imogen. It's about you growing up and learning responsibility."

Imogen bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. She understood her grandmother's reasoning, but it didn't make it any easier. Karate was her outlet. It was her escape. Without it, she wasn't sure who she was anymore. She wasn't sure what she had left.

"Lastly," Grandma Lee said, her voice gentler now, though still firm, "I want you to take care of yourself. Your emotions... They've been out of control. You're not the only one who's been hurt by what happened, but you can't let that anger dictate who you are. You need to learn to balance it, or it's going to destroy you."

Imogen nodded slowly, trying to absorb everything her grandmother had said. She wasn't sure if she agreed with all of it, but she knew Grandma Lee wasn't wrong. She had to do better. She had to change.

"You're going to school now," Grandma Lee said, stepping aside as she motioned to the front door. "But remember, these are the ground rules. Follow them, or there will be consequences. Understand?"

Imogen stood a little straighter, wiping her eyes as she nodded again. "Yes, Grandma. I understand."

Grandma Lee smiled faintly and ruffled her granddaughter's hair. "Good. Now, go. I'll be here when you get home. We'll talk more if you need to."

Imogen gave her a small smile, her heart feeling a little lighter. As much as she resented the rules, she knew deep down that her grandmother had her best interests at heart. She didn't want to disappoint her again.

With a deep breath, she walked toward the car and climbed into the passenger seat, her backpack resting by her feet. It was time to face the music, to return to school, and to try to find a way back to normal. But it wouldn't be easy. She had a long road ahead of her.

⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

Imogen walked down the hallway of West Valley High, feeling the weight of the last few weeks still lingering on her shoulders. The events of the school fight, the aftermath, and everything that had happened to Miguel had left a mark. And then, there was the suspension. Her grandma had grounded her from karate entirely, which meant she hadn't been able to train or even attend any classes at Miyagi-Do. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. Karate had been her escape, her way of dealing with the frustration and confusion. But her grandma's rules were non-negotiable. She'd been keeping to herself mostly, reading books and trying to figure out what to do next.

Walking alongside her, Demetri was in one of his usual rants about some new tech discovery he'd made. Chris and Nate followed behind, the latter staying mostly quiet but nodding every now and then. It felt like things were finally settling down for Imogen. It was almost too good to be true. She wasn't quite ready to believe it yet, but she was trying to stay hopeful.

"Hey, Demetri and Imogen!" A voice from behind them caught their attention. Imogen turned to see a freshman girl walking by, smiling at them. She had no idea who the girl was, but it didn't matter. Imogen returned a friendly smile nonetheless.

Demetri, however, froze in his tracks, eyes wide in surprise. He turned back toward the girl, his face lighting up with an expression that could only be described as the purest form of shock. "Someone knows who I am. A human female!" he practically shouted, as if he had just discovered gold.

Chris, ever the cynic, gave him a light-hearted smack on the chest. "You famous now, 'Met?" he teased, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Imogen couldn't help but chuckle at Demetri's antics. It was one of those things that felt so refreshingly innocent, like nothing in the world could bother him. Sometimes, she envied that confidence, that ability to exist fully without constantly questioning herself. She used to have that too-before everything went downhill. But for now, she let herself enjoy the moment, smiling at Demetri's over-the-top reaction.

But as the group walked down the hall, the mood shifted. It didn't take long before they rounded the corner, and there they were-Hawk, Mitch, and Bert, standing near a locker with their usual cocky stances. It was like a magnet for tension, pulling Imogen's attention instantly. Hawk's eyes locked with hers almost immediately, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. The last time she'd seen Hawk, she'd thrown him into a trophy case. It wasn't exactly her proudest moment, but it had felt necessary at the time. And Hawk deserved it-no question. But now, seeing him in front of her, the anger still radiating from him, she couldn't help but feel the weight of all their past conflicts.

"Oh, great," Imogen muttered under her breath, her gaze hardening as she tried to push down the surge of irritation bubbling up inside her. Hawk's glare burned into her, unflinching, and she could feel the old resentment creeping in.

Demetri, as usual, tried to defuse the situation by acting casual, even cheerful. "Hey, Mitch! Bert!" he called out, giving a half wave. But the effort was wasted. Mitch just scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer.

"Yeah, whatever. Got something to say, Demetri?" Mitch taunted, clearly taking pleasure in the moment.

Chris, not one to back down from a challenge, crossed his arms and smirked. "Yeah. Check out my new Lit book. It's a lot of hard-hitting shit in here, you know what I mean?" he said, holding up the book with a mocking flair, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Demetri grinned, clearly proud of Chris for making the jab, but his amusement didn't last long. Hawk turned his attention to him, the shift in energy palpable. His narrowed eyes made it clear that this wasn't going to be a friendly exchange. "All this security isn't enough to protect your scrawny ass," Hawk sneered, his tone as biting as ever.

Demetri straightened up, trying to play it cool, though Imogen could tell he was tense. "I don't need security," he retorted, puffing out his chest, though his voice cracked slightly, betraying his attempt at bravado.

But Hawk wasn't done with them. His eyes darted back to Imogen, and a twisted smirk spread across his face. "What about you, Imogen? Gonna throw me into another trophy case?" he taunted, clearly relishing the opportunity to get under her skin. "Everyone knows why you switched schools and moved here. You broke your teacher's car... maybe you need to get some anger management."

Imogen's fists clenched at her sides. Her heart rate sped up, and she felt a rush of heat fill her chest. The nerve of him. He had no idea what she had been through. She was about to snap, her anger bubbling up uncontrollably, when a voice cut through the tension.

"Everything all right here?" Counselor Blatt's voice interrupted, and Imogen let out a quiet sigh of relief. She turned to face him, quickly unclenching her fists, and forced herself to relax.

"Oh! We're all buddies now," Demetri said sarcastically, stepping forward with an exaggerated smile. He threw his arms around Mitch and Hawk in a mock-friendly way. "Isn't that right, fellas?"

Hawk looked uncomfortable at the contact, but he grumbled, trying to shake Demetri off. "Yeah, whatever, man," he muttered, slapping Demetri's chest dismissively.

Counselor Blatt raised an eyebrow and took a step forward, clearly not amused by the whole situation. "Don't you all have somewhere to be?" he asked firmly, his gaze narrowed at the group.

Imogen didn't wait for anyone to respond. She rolled her eyes and turned away, done with the whole interaction. She wasn't in the mood to fight anymore. She had enough on her plate.

"See you later, Demetri," she said, her voice flat as she walked off down the hall, leaving the tension behind her.

"Later, Imogen!" Demetri called after her, still caught up in his own playful world. He shot a sarcastic shrug at Hawk and Mitch, following behind her, his presence a little lighter now that he'd gotten the last word.

Imogen didn't look back, her thoughts swirling as she walked down the hallway, trying to shake the negativity of the encounter off. She didn't have time for petty drama, especially with everything that had been going on. She wasn't sure what to think about Hawk anymore, but she didn't care to find out. It was just one more thing she had to deal with, and right now, she wasn't sure she had the energy.

Imogen's heart skipped a beat when she saw Moon standing in the hallway. After weeks of being grounded, disconnected from the world, and battling her grandmother's harsh restrictions, it felt like a breath of fresh air to finally see her again.

"Moon!" Imogen practically called out with relief in her voice, her eyes lighting up as she quickened her steps towards her girlfriend. She couldn't help but feel the weight lift off her shoulders as she saw the familiar, comforting face in the crowded hallway. She'd missed her so much.

Moon beamed at Imogen, her smile bright as ever. "Imo!" she exclaimed, her voice full of joy. The two of them collided in a warm, tight hug, the kind that only those who've been apart for too long could understand. Imogen let out a soft sigh of relief, feeling Moon's comforting embrace as if all her worries melted away in an instant.

Moon pulled back slightly to meet Imogen's gaze, her face full of adoration. Without missing a beat, she leaned forward and pressed a quick, soft kiss to Imogen's lips, a peck that spoke volumes about the emotions they both had been holding back.

Imogen grinned, her heart fluttering. "I missed you so much," she whispered, taking a step back to look at Moon.

"Same here, babe," Moon replied, her eyes warm as she looked at Imogen, as if the whole world around them had disappeared.

But it wasn't long before Imogen's attention shifted to the blonde standing next to Moon. She had noticed her presence earlier but hadn't fully registered it until now. She was tall, with striking features and a confident posture that screamed someone who knew exactly who they were. Imogen took a moment, wondering if this was Yasmine-Moon had mentioned her before, but she'd never met her in person.

The blonde didn't seem particularly fazed by the attention, simply looking at Imogen with a neutral but knowing expression. It was clear that this was no shy, awkward newcomer.

"Hi, I'm Imogen," Imogen said, offering her hand with a friendly smile, eager to make a good impression, even though she wasn't sure what to expect from Yasmine. "You must be Yasmine. Moon's told me about you."

Yasmine met her handshake firmly, her grip confident and sure. "Yeah, I'm Yasmine," she said, her tone flat but not unfriendly. "And I've heard a lot about you, too." Her gaze flicked briefly to Moon, almost as if she were assessing Imogen's place in her life. Imogen could tell right away that Yasmine wasn't one to hold back, and there was no need for small talk. She was direct, not at all like the reserved, shy type she had expected.

"Yeah?" Imogen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. She could tell there was a bit of an edge to Yasmine's demeanor, and she couldn't help but feel a little bit like she was being sized up.

Moon noticed the slight tension between them and quickly interjected, her voice full of enthusiasm. "Yasmine's not really the type to keep things in, you know? She's just upfront about stuff. But she's cool, promise," Moon assured Imogen with a playful smile.

Yasmine smirked at Moon's words, her lips curling just slightly. "I don't have time for pretending," she said with a shrug, her tone a bit sarcastic, but still somehow light. "If I don't like someone, you'll know. But I guess you're not on that list yet."

Imogen laughed at Yasmine's bluntness, feeling more comfortable now. "Well, that's good to know," she replied, her grin widening. "I think we'll get along just fine then."

Yasmine gave a small nod in approval, clearly not one for excessive pleasantries. "We'll see," she said, her eyes meeting Imogen's with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "Moon talks about you like you're some kind of hero or something."

Imogen raised an eyebrow, glancing at Moon, who was now playfully rolling her eyes. "Oh, please," Moon said with mock exasperation, "don't listen to her. I may exaggerate a little."

"Just a little?" Yasmine deadpanned, her eyes flicking back to Imogen as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Imogen chuckled, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth banter between Moon and Yasmine. "I don't know if I'm a hero, but I like to think I try my best," she said, throwing Moon a wink.

Yasmine's gaze softened just slightly, and she nodded. "I can respect that," she said with a small smirk.

Moon grinned at the easy interaction between them. "See? I told you guys would get along."

Imogen looked between the two of them, feeling a strange sense of comfort settle in her chest. Despite the rocky start and the fact that Yasmine was clearly more guarded, she could sense that she wasn't someone to mess with-and that was something Imogen could appreciate. She wasn't looking to be anyone's best friend right off the bat, but there was a potential for understanding, and that felt good.

"So," Imogen began, glancing between Moon and Yasmine, "what are you two up to? Anything fun planned?"

Yasmine shrugged nonchalantly. "Just hanging out for now. We could all grab something to eat if you're down," she suggested. Her tone was casual, but Imogen could tell she wasn't about to just follow the crowd. Yasmine had her own pace, and that was something Imogen respected.

Moon nodded excitedly, always the social one. "Yeah! We could do lunch or something. I've been dying to try that new café downtown," she added, her eyes lighting up.

Imogen smiled, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. "Sounds perfect," she said, ready to let go of the tension that had been lingering in her mind. For the first time in what felt like forever, things seemed to be falling into place.

As the three of them started walking down the hallway toward the exit, Imogen felt the weight of the past few weeks lifting. There were still things she had to work through, and the fight at school had left a mark on her, but with Moon and even Yasmine by her side, she felt like maybe things were going to be okay after all.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

we'll get more depth on imogens past within s3...

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) PLEASE JUST STOP BEING A GHOST READER!! ITS ANNOYING!! PLEASE COMMENT AND VOTE. ITS NOT THAT HARD!!! PLEASE! please stop being a ghost reader!!!! us writers work hard on these chapters

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!