chapter forty-two:
❛ the truth will come out ❜

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

the reason i always say "please don't be a ghost reader" it helps me stay motivated because that means people are reading my stuff. and unlike other people, they have so many views on their books and i love to write and it just helps me stay motivated. and i know i unpublish and republish my chapters and i get thats really annoying but its annoying when i see views go up but low on votes. STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!

✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

Arizona stood near the edge of the Cobra Kai dojo, her stomach twisting in knots as her friends from Miyagi-Do began filing in. They moved like a wave of resolve, their faces a mix of determination and quiet defiance. For a moment, Arizona felt herself holding her breath, watching as Sam stepped through the doors and stopped in her tracks. Sam's confident nod in Arizona's direction made her heart pound. The nod was a silent reminder: We're counting on you. Don't blow this.

Arizona bit her lip, the weight of her position pressing down hard. She wasn't just here to fight; she was their spy, their hidden ally in the midst of Cobra Kai. Her eyes drifted over to Miguel, who lingered near the back of the group. He met her gaze, and the soft, reassuring smile he gave her felt like a lifeline. She wanted to smile back, but her nerves made it impossible.

"Alvarez!"

The sharp, commanding voice of Sensei Kim cut through the air, and Arizona flinched slightly before turning to face her. Sensei Kim's expression was as cold and unyielding as ever, her piercing gaze locking onto Arizona as if daring her to falter. Arizona squared her shoulders and walked over, trying to steady her breathing.

"You beat the LaRusso girl before," Sensei Kim said, her words clipped and brimming with expectation. Arizona nodded, swallowing hard.

"Yes, Sensei," she replied.

"Make this fight quick," Sensei Kim added, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Arizona clenched her fists and nodded again, forcing herself to look confident. "Yes, Sensei," she said, though her voice came out quieter than she intended.

Her gaze flicked back to Miguel for a brief moment. He was still watching her, his expression unreadable but intense. She couldn't let herself dwell on it, though. She had to focus.

"Are you sure you want to fight her?"

The voice beside her startled Arizona slightly, and she turned to find Tory standing there, her arms crossed and her eyes fixed on Sam across the room. Tory's question was casual on the surface, but there was a deeper concern laced beneath it.

"Yeah. They chose me," Arizona said firmly, though the words felt heavier coming out than they had in her head.

Tory's gaze shifted back to Arizona, her brows furrowed slightly. "You haven't told them about Silver paying off the ref... have you?" she asked in a low voice, her tone cautious.

Arizona shook her head, her voice equally quiet. "I only told them about the Silver Bullet," she admitted.

Tory nodded slowly, as if weighing Arizona's response. "Okay, good," she said after a pause. "I want to tell Sam on my own. I don't want her to hear it from you."

Arizona raised an eyebrow at her, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Sounds like you want to change, Tory," she said, her tone teasing but also sincere.

Tory hesitated, glancing at the floor for a brief moment before looking back at Arizona. "I've been beginning to see things differently lately," she admitted, her voice softer now. "Since Sam's mom helped me get back into school..."

Arizona smiled, her expression warm and genuine. "I'm happy for you, Tor," she said simply.

Tory allowed herself a small smile, the kind that didn't come easily to her. "Thanks," she said quietly.

"Ari!"

The sound of her best friend's voice cut through the moment, and Arizona turned to see Dylan grinning at her from across the room. He gave her a big thumbs-up, his energy bright and unapologetic. Beside him, Miguel was smiling too, though his was softer, more private, the kind of smile that made Arizona's chest tighten.

She couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking her head. But the moment didn't last long.

Tory leaned closer, her voice a hushed warning. "You need to be careful," she said seriously. "They need to be careful too. Your cover might be blown if they keep doing that."

Arizona's eyes widened, her pulse quickening at the thought. Tory was right-her friends' overt gestures of support could draw suspicion. She pressed her lips into a thin line, nodding in agreement.

"You're right," Arizona said quietly, her gaze briefly flicking back to Dylan and Miguel before refocusing on Tory. "I'll be more careful."

But as she turned back to face the rest of the dojo, the weight of her dual allegiance pressed on her shoulders like a storm cloud. The stakes were higher than ever, and with every passing moment, it felt like the walls were closing in.

The rep, Thomas, stepped forward and announced, "Time to begin. Eli Moskowitz and Kenny Payne, please take the mat." As Hawk and Kenny made their way to the center of the mat, Alison kissed Hawk's cheek for good luck, her eyes filled with a mix of pride and concern.

Arizona noticed the dark look in Kenny's eyes and turned to Tory. "This doesn't seem right,"

Tory shook her head. "Me too,"

As Hawk and Kenny bowed to each other and got into their fighting stances, the tension in the air was palpable. "Fight!" the referee declared.

Kenny was quick to launch an attack, kicking his foot toward Hawk. Hawk dodged, moving to the side. Kenny swung his fist, but Hawk managed to evade it. Hawk swiftly blocked Kenny's next punch, and the fight was on. Kenny managed to kick Hawk into the side, causing him to stumble. "Point! 1-0 Payne," the referee announced.

As the match continued, Kenny and Hawk squared off again. The referee called, "Ready? Fight!"

Kenny kicked his foot, but Hawk managed to push it down and counter with a kick of his own. Kenny blocked it, then swung his fist high, which Hawk also blocked. Hawk lunged forward with a punch, but Kenny managed to land a strike to Hawk's back. Hawk staggered, but quickly regained his footing, spinning and kicking Kenny in the face. However, Miyagi-Do's cheers turned to disbelief as the referee announced, "Out of bounds! No point."

"What? Are you serious?" Hawk protested, stunned. "Come on, Ref! That's horseshit!" Johnny agreed vehemently.

"No point. Back on the line," the referee repeated, ignoring their protests. Arizona's gaze shifted to Silver, who was watching intently. It dawned on her that Silver was likely bribing the referee, a tactic similar to what had happened at the All Valley. Arizona quickly glanced at Tory, who seemed to recognize the injustice as well.

The fight resumed, with Kenny kicking Hawk and Hawk managing to block most of the blows. But Kenny's tactics grew more aggressive. Hawk covered his face to block Kenny's spinning kick, but Kenny continued to throw punches. Eventually, Kenny grabbed Hawk's leg and elbowed him in the back of the leg. Hawk fell to the mat, groaning in pain.

"Illegal strike! That's a warning," the referee announced, but Silver merely smirked. "Warning? He should be disqualified!" Daniel exclaimed angrily.

Hawk limped over, and Johnny and Daniel looked at him with worry. "It's fine. He just caught me off guard," Hawk reassured them. "No more Eli. It's time to uncage the Hawk." He smoothed his mohawk. Arizona cringed at the transformation, feeling uneasy about the turn of events.

Back on the mat, Hawk faced off with Kenny once more. Kenny, now with an aggressive demeanor, launched a harsh punch to Hawk's abdomen. Alison's eyes widened as Hawk gasped for breath and fell back, panting heavily. "Point! 2-0 Payne!" the referee declared.

Arizona's frustration boiled over. "What!? That should be illegal!" she shouted, marching up to the referee. She pushed him, and he shoved her back. "Back to your side or be disqualified!" he ordered.

"Alvarez!" Sensei Silver scolded and Arizona narrowed her eyes and glared at him. She clenched her jaw, retreating to her side of the mat.

Johnny and Daniel rushed over to Hawk. "Hawk. What's wrong?" Johnny asked urgently.

"I can't... can't breathe," Hawk muttered, struggling to sit up.

"Can you continue?" the referee asked.

Hawk tried to push himself up but fell back with a groan. "Where's the medic!?" Johnny yelled. A medic rushed over, but the referee declared, "That's a forfeit. Winner, Payne."

Arizona turned to Tory. "I'm leaving. I can't do this." She said quickly, trying to hold back her tears. "This isn't right," Arizona told her and turned to walk away, but Tory grabbed her arm. "I'm coming too," Tory said immediately and Arizona smiled.

The two girls quickly slipped out of the flagship dojo. They needed to tell Sam the truth-Arizona should have won. Why was it important for Sam to know? It just seemed right. After what Arizona and Tory did to her.

The bass from the speakers reverberated through Miguel's apartment, making the glasses on the counter tremble slightly. His living room was packed wall to wall with people-some familiar, most not. The courtyard below wasn't faring any better; clusters of teens gathered outside, laughing, drinking, and spilling into the dimly lit parking lot. It was chaos in the best and worst way, a mix of celebration and reckless abandon that Miguel hadn't quite expected when he decided to throw the party.

Standing by the counter, Dylan glanced at his phone again, the faint glow casting a shadow on his face. He stared at the same screen he'd been staring at for the last hour-a message to Arizona. It was still marked as delivered, but the little "read" notification hadn't popped up. Each passing second felt like a punch to the gut. He sighed deeply, locking the screen and setting the phone down with more force than necessary.

"You okay?" Robby asked, leaning against the counter beside him.

Dylan ran a hand through his hair and forced a shrug. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, though the tightness in his voice gave him away.

Robby raised an eyebrow but didn't push. He had his own history of dealing with complicated emotions, and he knew better than to force Dylan to talk before he was ready.

The sound of Hawk's voice drew their attention. He was striding into the room, his freshly dyed brown hair catching the light. Robby smirked slightly and called out, "What happened to the green?"

Hawk stopped mid-stride, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Didn't really work for me," he admitted with a nervous laugh. "Still figuring it out."

Before Robby could respond, Miguel approached the group, his expression a mix of excitement and mild panic. "Dude, this is insane. How did everyone find out about this?" he asked, gesturing to the crowd spilling into every corner of his apartment.

Hawk grinned and shrugged. "Moon invited a ton of people from East Valley. Guess the word got out," he said with a laugh, clearly unbothered by the chaos.

Miguel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, clearly," he muttered, watching as a new group of people walked in.

Among the newcomers, a trio of girls made their way to the keg, their laughter carrying over the music. One of them, a blonde with a sharp smirk, caught Dylan's eye. He leaned forward slightly, his posture casual but calculated. "Hey. Came to party with us cause we got into the Sekai Taikai?" he asked, his voice smooth but with a playful edge.

The girl raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "I have no idea what you just said. We came to drink," she replied, her eyes flicking up and down as she sized him up.

Dylan chuckled, reaching over to hand her a red cup. "Fair enough," he said, smirking.

Hawk, never one to miss an opportunity, wrapped an arm around Dylan's shoulders and grinned at the girl. "Anyways, let me introduce you to the baddest badass at the party: Dylan Smith," he said with mock seriousness, his tone dripping with playful pride.

The girl's smirk widened as she raised her cup in acknowledgment. "Nice to meet you, badass," she said, her tone teasing.

Dylan smiled back, but the interaction felt hollow. On the surface, he was playing his part-the smooth-talking, easy-going guy everyone expected him to be-but inside, a gnawing unease was growing. His mind wandered, despite his best efforts to stay present.

Sam.

Her laugh. The way her smile seemed to light up the room. The way she made him feel like he could be more than the broken pieces he tried to hide.

Hawk nudged him lightly, pulling him back to the moment. "What's wrong, dude? You're supposed to be having fun," Hawk said, his voice low enough for only Dylan to hear.

"I'm good," Dylan replied automatically, though the words felt heavy and insincere.

Hawk gave him a skeptical look but didn't push further. Dylan turned back to the girl, who was still watching him with an expectant expression. He could flirt, he could smile, he could play the part-but it all felt wrong.

His chest tightened as he thought about Sam again. It didn't matter how many people he talked to or how much he tried to distract himself-he couldn't shake the truth.

He wasn't over her.

Not even close.

Dylan sat on the couch, his lips locked with the girl who leaned into him, her hand resting firmly on his waist. The loud bass of the music thumped in his ears, matching the chaotic swirl of his thoughts. He wasn't sure why he was doing this. Maybe he thought it would distract him, maybe it would make him feel something other than the ache that had settled deep in his chest since he and Sam had ended things. But it wasn't working.

He tilted his head slightly, deepening the kiss as if that would help drown out the regret building in him. The girl's lips moved insistently against his, her other hand curling into his hoodie. But before he could lose himself any further, a voice pierced through the haze.

"Dylan?"

The familiar voice shattered his focus. His body tensed instantly, his eyes snapping open as he pulled back. His stomach dropped when he saw Sam standing just a few feet away, her face pale and her wide eyes glistening with unshed tears. She looked between him and the girl, the hurt on her face unmistakable.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, without a word, Sam turned and bolted out of the room.

"Shit, Sam!" Dylan exclaimed, jumping to his feet. The girl tried to grab his arm, confusion flashing across her face, but Dylan shook her off without a second glance. His focus was solely on Sam.

He shoved through the crowd of people, his heart pounding as he tried to catch up with her. The laughter, music, and noise of the party faded into the background. All he could think about was the tears in her eyes and the way her voice had cracked when she said his name.

When he finally made it outside, Sam was nowhere to be seen. His chest heaved as he scanned the courtyard, frustration bubbling up as he ran a hand through his hair.

Sam, meanwhile, had slipped out of the apartment complex and onto the quiet street beyond. She leaned against a lamppost, her hands trembling as she pulled out her phone. Her fingers hovered over the screen before she quickly typed out a text to her mom.

Mom, can you come get me? I need to leave.

She hit send, her throat tightening as she stared at the screen. The night air was cool, but her cheeks burned as tears streamed freely down her face. She wiped them away angrily, though the flood of emotions refused to let up.

"Sam?"

The voice startled her, and she turned sharply to see Tory standing a few feet away, Arizona at her side. Tory's expression wasn't mocking or antagonistic; it was cautious, almost concerned.

Sam's tear-filled gaze narrowed, anger flaring to life in the wake of her heartbreak. "LaRusso," Tory said evenly, though her tone held none of its usual edge.

"What are you doing here?" Sam snapped, her voice sharp as she glared at Tory. Her gaze then shifted to Arizona, her expression hardening further. "And you," she said, the betrayal clear in her voice. "Are you seriously friends with her again?"

Arizona stepped forward, her hands raised in a calming gesture. "Sam, she's not here to fight," she said gently. "She came to talk."

"Talk?" Sam scoffed, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "About what?"

Tory hesitated for a moment, glancing at Arizona before she finally spoke. "Arizona didn't lose the All Valley," she said, her tone measured.

Sam froze, her eyes narrowing in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"The ref was paid off by Silver," Arizona explained softly, her voice laced with regret.

For a moment, Sam didn't respond. Her mind raced, trying to process what she'd just heard. Then, suddenly, a raw, guttural yell escaped her lips. The sound echoed through the quiet street, filled with all the anger, pain, and betrayal she'd been holding back.

ASH SPEAKS!!

cliffhanger... will she fight both tory and arizona or just tory? we'll see next chapter ;)

only 2 chapters left until s6!! so many ideas for s6:)

sorry for this chapter being kinda short :(

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

the reason i always say "please don't be a ghost reader" it helps me stay motivated because that means people are reading my stuff. and unlike other people, they have so many views on their books and i love to write and it just helps me stay motivated. and i know i unpublish and republish my chapters and i get thats really annoying but its annoying when i see views go up but low on votes. STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!