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The steel doors of the juvenile detention center groaned as they opened, flooding Mila's senses with the crisp scent of fresh air. The sunlight hit her face for the first time in months, warming her skin and bringing a lump to her throat. She took a tentative step forward, her heart pounding with a mix of relief and uncertainty. The weight of the ankle monitor on her leg served as a reminder of the conditions of her probation, but for now, all she could think about was freedom.

Standing just beyond the gate was her father, George, his face a mixture of worry and overwhelming joy. His arms were open wide, and the moment Mila locked eyes with him, her resolve crumbled. Tears filled her eyes as she broke into a run, her sneakers slapping against the pavement.

"Papa!" she cried, her voice breaking as she threw herself into his arms.

George caught her with a grunt, holding her tightly as though letting go might somehow take her away again. His hand cradled the back of her head as he pressed his cheek against her hair.

"I've got you, Mila. I've got you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You're home, baby girl. You're home."

Mila clung to him, her fingers gripping the fabric of his jacket as sobs wracked her body. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt safe. After a long moment, she pulled back slightly, wiping at her face with a trembling hand.

Standing just behind her father was Natasha, her stepmother, her eyes shimmering with tears she hadn't yet let fall. Natasha offered a tentative smile, her arms folded tightly across her chest as though bracing herself. Mila hesitated for a beat, then stepped forward, throwing her arms around Natasha.

"Thank you," Mila whispered, her voice muffled against Natasha's shoulder. "For being here. For not giving up on me."

Natasha exhaled a shaky breath, wrapping her arms around Mila in return. "Of course I'm here," she said softly. "You're family, Mila. We've got your back, no matter what."

Mila nodded, pulling back and offering a small, watery smile. She wiped at her eyes again, just as the sound of someone clearing their throat broke the moment. Mila froze, her brow furrowing as she turned toward the source of the sound.

Standing a few steps behind George and Natasha was Anthony. His hands were stuffed into his jeans pockets, and he was rocking slightly on his heels, a mixture of nerves and determination on his face. Mila's breath caught.

"Anthony?" she whispered, disbelief lacing her tone.

His lips quirked into a small, lopsided smile. "Hey, Mila."

Before he could say anything else, Mila crossed the distance between them in a flash, throwing her arms around his neck. He stumbled back a step, laughing softly as he caught her. His arms wrapped around her tightly, one hand resting at the small of her back while the other cradled her head.

"You're here," Mila said, her voice muffled as she buried her face against his chest.

"Of course I'm here," Anthony replied, his voice steady and comforting. "I wasn't gonna let you walk out of here alone."

Mila pulled back just enough to look at him, her hands gripping his shoulders. "Thank you," she said earnestly, her voice trembling. "For everything. You and your family... I don't even know how to say it. You didn't have to-"

Anthony shook his head, cutting her off. "You don't have to say anything, Mila. We just wanted to help. You didn't deserve to be in there."

Her lip quivered, but she smiled, a genuine smile that reached her eyes. Without thinking, she hugged him again, tighter this time, her face pressed against the crook of his neck.

George and Natasha exchanged a glance, their own emotions heavy but warmed by the sight of Mila finding strength in the people who cared about her. George stepped forward, placing a hand on Mila's shoulder after a moment.

"Let's go home," he said gently. "We've got a lot to talk about."

Mila pulled back from Anthony reluctantly but kept her hand in his as they walked toward the waiting car. For the first time in months, she felt like she could breathe, and while the road ahead wouldn't be easy, she knew she wasn't facing it alone.

Mila stepped through the door of her house, still adjusting to the quiet hum of her home after weeks in juvie. Her parents, George and Natasha, sat together on the couch, their expressions serious, which immediately made her stomach tighten. She dropped her bag and took a hesitant step forward.

"Mila," George said gently, "sit down. We need to talk." His voice had that calm, steady tone he used when he was about to deliver news that wasn't easy to hear.

Mila took a seat, her fingers drumming nervously against her thighs. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice betraying a flicker of worry.

Natasha exchanged a look with George, her eyes soft yet focused. "Johnny and Miguel are on their way back from Barcelona. Miguel's mom is in the hospital," she explained quietly, her words carrying an undertone of concern that made Mila's heart sink.

"Oh my god," Mila whispered, the weight of the news settling over her like a heavy fog. She instinctively felt the need to ask more about Miguel's mom, but the words died in her throat.

"Johnny called," George continued, rubbing his temple. "He told us they need someone to fill Miguel's spot while he's gone. And..." He hesitated. "They're considering you."

Mila blinked at them, the surprise hitting her like a bolt of lightning. Me? The idea of filling in for Miguel felt both surreal and almost impossible. "Wait, what?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. "Me? Are you serious?"

"Yes," George affirmed. "It's between you and Kenny."

Her mind went blank. Kenny? Her former friend, who had been through so much and who had also ended up in Cobra Kai? She hadn't even talked to him in forever, especially after everything that had happened with her and Anthony.

"Holy shit," Mila muttered, her hands curling into fists on her knees. "Um... I need to talk to Kenny about this, don't I?"

Natasha gave her a sympathetic look. "I know you two stopped being friends. But Mila, this is big. You can't just let this opportunity slip through your fingers."

Mila bit her lip, fighting back the surge of frustration that was already building inside of her. She had barely stepped foot back into this world, and already she was being pushed into a situation she hadn't prepared for. Not like this. "I-" She paused, trying to find the words. "I don't know if I can do that, not after everything."

George exchanged a glance with Natasha, and then his gaze softened. "I get it. I know you've got your reasons. But... you can't avoid Kenny forever. You should talk to him. You and Anthony both."

At the mention of Anthony, Mila's chest tightened. She hadn't really thought about it, but the truth was undeniable: it was her fault that she and Kenny had drifted apart. It wasn't just because of the tension between her and Anthony, it was also because she had shut Kenny out when she realized her feelings for Anthony. She had chosen to bury that friendship for the sake of her relationship, which felt like a betrayal now.

But even more pressing was the fact that her older sister, Marisol, was in Barcelona too, and she was on the opposite side of things-on Cobra Kai. How could she even begin to reconcile all of this when everything felt so tangled?

"No," Mila said firmly, shaking her head. "I'm not going. I can't. I can't just go up to Kenny after everything that's happened. I'll talk to Anthony, but that's it. I'm not dealing with him." Her voice was stiff, but the determination behind her words was clear. She wasn't going to walk back into that mess.

George and Natasha's expressions grew serious. "Mila, this could be your chance to prove something to yourself," Natasha said gently. "You're not just doing this for Johnny or anyone else. It's about you."

"I get that, but..." Mila trailed off, glancing away. The thought of seeing Kenny again, confronting him after everything that had gone down, felt like too much to handle. And yet, somewhere deep inside her, she knew Natasha was right. This was bigger than just her. "I... I can't do it right now," she said quietly.

George's voice softened, but his words were resolute. "Mila, you can't keep running from this. If you're going to be part of this, part of the dojo, you have to face the people you've hurt. That's how this works."

Mila rubbed her forehead, feeling the weight of their words press against her like a constant reminder. She knew deep down that they were right. She couldn't ignore this forever. And as much as she hated to admit it, she wasn't ready to make things right with Kenny. Not yet.

Her parents stood up, exchanging a look of quiet understanding. "Think about it," George said, his voice softer now, less commanding. "This isn't just about the tournament. It's about moving forward. Don't close the door before it's even opened."

Mila watched as they both left the room, leaving her alone with her swirling thoughts. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. The tension in her chest didn't seem to go away, no matter how much she tried to push it aside. She couldn't handle this right now.

But the doorbell rang, cutting through her spiral of thoughts. Mila groaned, rubbing her face, before heading toward the front door. When she opened it, there stood Anthony, his face unreadable but his posture tense. His hands were shoved into his pockets, and he looked like he was about to say something important.

"Hey," Mila said, not bothering with any pleasantries. "What's going on?"

Anthony shifted uncomfortably. "My mom wants me to apologize to Kenny for what I posted about him... you know, the whole 'shit his pants' thing." He winced at the memory. "She's on me about it, and I told her I wouldn't do it alone."

Mila raised an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe. "Oh really?" she said with a sly smile. "Well, you're in luck."

Anthony looked at her with confusion. "What do you mean?"

Mila stepped aside, motioning for him to come inside. "My parents just told me about the spot they need to fill for Miguel. And it's between Kenny and me."

Anthony's eyes widened. "Wait... what? Kenny?" he asked, clearly stunned. "What do you mean it's between you two?"

"Yep," Mila said with a smirk. "I'm supposed to go talk to Kenny about it. So... looks like we're both getting dragged into this."

Anthony groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "Great. So, what now?"

"Well," Mila said, her voice low, "we're going to go talk to him together. You've got an apology to make, and I... I've got a few things to say to him too."

Anthony sighed. "This is going to be a disaster, isn't it?"

Mila grinned wryly. "Probably. But if I'm stuck doing this, so are you."

With a reluctant nod, Anthony followed her as she grabbed her jacket, and together they walked out the door. Even though Mila wasn't sure what to expect from Kenny, she knew she couldn't avoid this confrontation forever. And maybe, just maybe, this was the first step to putting things right.

Mila sat in the passenger seat of Amanda's car, the engine idling quietly as she stared out the window. The weight of the conversation she'd had earlier still hung heavily in her chest. She wasn't sure what she expected to happen when they showed up at Kenny's house, but this wasn't it. The air was tense, thick with expectation, and her mind raced as she tried to prepare herself for whatever confrontation lay ahead.

"Everything's gonna be fine," Amanda reassured, trying to sound calm but her words were tinged with worry.

Mila didn't respond immediately. She just stared out the window, feeling the pulse of frustration building up inside her. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to block out the chaos of the situation, but when she opened them again, she could see it-the silhouette of Kenny and Anthony, already arguing on Kenny's porch. Mila's stomach dropped.

"Shit!" she cursed under her breath, eyes widening as she turned to Amanda.

Amanda gasped, her eyes locked on the scene unfolding in front of them. Without another word, both women scrambled out of the car, rushing toward the house.

"Fucking God! Enough!" Mila yelled as she sprinted across the yard, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her voice cracked with urgency as she charged at Anthony, shoving him off of Kenny, her hands pressed against his chest.

The two boys were still yelling, their faces twisted in anger, their fists clenched.

"He hit me first!" Anthony defended himself, pointing angrily at Kenny.

"And I'll do it again!" Kenny shot back, his fists raised, ready to throw another punch.

Mila ran a hand through her hair, exasperated, her patience quickly evaporating. "Oh my God!" she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes in disbelief.

"Stop it! Stop it!" Amanda's voice cut through the noise, her hands raised in a futile attempt to separate the two. "You can't keep hurting each other!"

Anthony, breathing heavily, glared at Kenny. "I tried to move on!" he snapped. "I took a big leap coming to Miyagi-Do just to get humiliated because of him!"

Kenny was quick to retort, his voice biting. "It wasn't me! It was you!"

Mila's eyes flicked back and forth between the two of them. Her frustration bubbled up until she could no longer contain it. "It was you!" Kenny's words still stung in her chest, but she stepped forward and placed herself between them. "Enough!" she yelled, voice full of authority.

"Enough, you two!" Amanda shouted, her voice raw with frustration. She stepped forward, trying to bridge the divide between the boys. "Do you realize how stupid this is?"

Mila nodded emphatically, her voice trembling slightly. "Exactly! This whole thing is so messed up!" She ran a hand through her hair, feeling the frustration boil inside her. "You two are literally fighting over nothing compared to what's really happening right now. Miguel's mom is in the hospital, and he's on a plane right now not even knowing if she's gonna make it!"

The words hung in the air, their weight sinking into both boys. Anthony and Kenny stood frozen, their anger faltering. Mila's words hit home, cutting through their petty bickering.

"Yeah, some people have real shit they're dealing with," Mila muttered, her voice laced with bitterness. She couldn't even look at them for a moment, her eyes darting to the ground.

Kenny's face faltered, but he didn't take a step back. Instead, he looked at Mila, his expression shifting into one of uncertainty. The anger in his eyes had started to fade, replaced by something else-something Mila couldn't quite place.

But Amanda wasn't finished. "If you two can't get past this, then your friends in Spain are gonna have to forfeit," she said, her voice growing firmer. "This is never gonna end until one of you ends it. Someone has to lose that battle so you can finally end this war. Okay? So who's it gonna be?"

Her eyes flicked between Anthony and Kenny, waiting for one of them to step up, to make the choice to put an end to this.

For a long moment, the only sound was the rustling of the wind in the trees.

Finally, Anthony turned on his heel, his jaw clenched tightly, and without saying a word, he began walking away from them. Mila's breath hitched in her throat as she stared after him in disbelief. He can't be serious.

"Anthony!" she called out after him, her voice cracking with frustration and confusion.

But Anthony didn't stop. He didn't even look back.

"Anthony!" Amanda shouted as well, her voice pleading, but it was too late. He was already too far away, his figure disappearing down the street.

Mila stood there, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched him go, the weight of everything hitting her all at once.

"This... this didn't go well," Mila muttered, turning to face Amanda, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

Amanda sighed, her hands on her hips as she shook her head. "No, it didn't. But you were right about one thing," she said, her tone softening. "Some things are bigger than their petty arguments. And right now, we all need to focus on what really matters. Miguel... and his mom."

Mila nodded slowly, taking in her mother's words. The bitterness and frustration that had built up over the last few weeks didn't feel like it was going to go away any time soon, but for now, all she could do was watch as Anthony disappeared from her life again.

And Kenny? Well, he had his own battle to face, just like she did.

"Thanks for trying," Mila said softly to Amanda, her voice steadying as she looked up at her.

Amanda gave her a sympathetic look, her hand on Mila's shoulder. "We'll figure this out. One step at a time."

But as they turned to walk back to the car, Mila couldn't shake the feeling that things were far from over.

The sun was beginning to dip beneath the horizon as Mila walked through the park, her footsteps heavy on the pavement. She had to find Anthony-she knew that now. After everything that had happened earlier with Kenny, her frustration had reached a boiling point. She couldn't keep pretending everything was fine, not when it was clear that this rivalry, this stupid back-and-forth, had gone on long enough.

As she rounded a corner, she saw him-Anthony-sitting on a bench near the edge of the park. His shoulders were slumped, his gaze fixed on the ground, distant and lost in thought. The sight made her heart ache a little, but she couldn't let that stop her now. This needed to end. She had to make him understand.

Mila marched over to him, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

"Anthony!" she called out, her voice sharp with frustration. "You're sitting here, sulking like this, and for what? This rivalry needs to end, and it needs to end now!"

Anthony didn't look up at first. He just stayed seated, his hands on his knees, his silence deafening.

"I don't know what you expect to happen here, but this whole thing is stupid! It's been stupid from the start," Mila continued, her anger bubbling up, her voice shaking. "I'm not innocent in this either. I'm just as much to blame for this whole mess. You want to know why? Because it all started because I decided to talk to Kenny that day in gym class."

She paused for a moment, breathing heavily, her chest tight with emotion.

"I made him think that there was something more. I led him on when I shouldn't have," she admitted, her voice softer now, tinged with regret. "And now you're fighting, and I don't know how to fix this, Anthony."

Anthony's head shot up then, his expression tight with a mix of surprise and something else-guilt, maybe. He stood slowly, his hands shoved in his pockets, and took a step toward her.

"Mila, don't blame yourself for this," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. "I was the one who started all of this. It's my fault, not yours."

Mila frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Anthony looked at her, his eyes dark with regret. "I was jealous, Mila. I watched you and Kenny that day, talking and laughing, and I thought-I thought I was losing you. I didn't know how to handle it, so I acted like an idiot."

He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched. "This whole thing, the rivalry, the fighting-it was all my fault. I let my jealousy get the best of me, and I didn't know how to fix it. But I do now. I need to make it right."

Mila stood frozen for a moment, taking in his words. She hadn't expected him to say that-especially not so openly.

"You're right," she said finally, her voice soft. "You do need to make it right. And I need to too."

Anthony raised an eyebrow, looking at her curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I think... I think I owe Kenny an apology too," Mila said, biting her lip as she met his gaze. "I shouldn't have led him on. I didn't mean to, but I did. I made him think we could be something when we couldn't. And I never gave him a chance to understand that."

Anthony nodded slowly, processing her words. "I get it. I've been a dick to him, and I owe him that apology too."

Mila exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of everything lift a little. "So, what do we do now?"

"I think I have an idea," Anthony said with a thoughtful look, his voice dropping into something more serious. He paused for a moment, then looked up at her. "I think we need to show him-both of us need to show him that we're sorry. That this petty rivalry, this jealousy-it's not worth it anymore. We should do something big to prove we mean it."

Mila tilted her head, intrigued but also a little wary. "What do you have in mind?"

Mila stood at a distance, hidden behind a tree across the street from Kenny's house, her eyes focused on Anthony and Kenny as they talked. The conversation between them wasn't easy to overhear, but the body language alone told her that there was tension, yet also something more-perhaps a chance for them to get past their rivalry. She could tell that Anthony was trying his best to make amends, but it still felt like something was about to go wrong.

Anthony had come up with a plan-something so ridiculous, Mila almost couldn't believe it at first. But after hearing his reasoning, she'd reluctantly agreed to watch from the sidelines. After all, if anyone could make Kenny realize he had been wrong about Anthony, it would be this ridiculous stunt. Anthony was going to prove his sincerity in the most bizarre way possible.

Anthony, with his usual cocky demeanor, was talking to Kenny with an air of bravado, but there was a nervous edge to his voice. Mila wasn't sure whether he was nervous about the plan or just nervous about talking to Kenny at all. He had that anxious look in his eyes-a stark contrast to the confidence he usually carried.

As the conversation dragged on, Kenny's phone suddenly rang, and without hesitation, he stepped to the side of the porch, pulling the device to his ear. Mila didn't miss the way Anthony's eyes flicked toward the side table where he had placed the drink. The drink Kenny had believed Anthony had poisoned with laxatives.

Mila took a deep breath, her heart pounding. She knew what was about to happen. She watched as Anthony, looking both ways to make sure Kenny was distracted, quickly grabbed the small packet of laxatives from his pocket. With a quick flick of his wrist, he poured the contents into the drink, mixing it in quickly before setting the glass back down.

The moment was almost surreal. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she saw Anthony's face tighten in discomfort, knowing exactly what would happen next. Kenny, still oblivious to what Anthony had done, turned back just in time to see his friend squirming.

Anthony, now holding his stomach in exaggerated pain, turned and gave Mila a thumbs-up, a goofy grin crossing his face despite the impending disaster. His expression was a mix of determination and discomfort, as if he was bracing for the inevitable. Without saying a word, Anthony bolted toward the car parked down the street, his footsteps quick and heavy. He didn't want to be anywhere near Kenny when the laxatives hit.

Mila laughed quietly to herself, shaking her head in disbelief at how far Anthony was willing to go to fix things. She couldn't believe he had actually gone through with it. Anthony always managed to surprise her, in the strangest ways.

After a few moments, she walked across the street, her feet carrying her toward Kenny's house. She needed to talk to him. The fight between them had lasted too long, and she had been a part of it. The guilt weighed on her more than she had realized.

When she stepped onto the porch, Kenny looked up from his phone call, his face a mix of confusion and frustration.

"Kenny," Mila began, her voice softer than usual, her words laden with apology. "I know I messed up. I hurt you by leading you on, and I never should have done that. I've been so wrapped up in my own crap that I didn't even realize how much I hurt you."

Kenny stood still for a moment, his expression unreadable. He was silent, just looking at her. Mila felt herself beginning to shake with emotion, realizing how much the whole situation had affected her.

"I'm so sorry," Mila continued, tears welling up in her eyes. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just... I don't want things to be like this anymore. I want to be friends again. I really do."

For a few long moments, Kenny didn't speak, and the tension in the air felt almost suffocating. Then, slowly, he walked up to her. His arms wrapped around her in a tight, comforting hug.

"I know you didn't mean it," Kenny murmured. "I know you didn't do it on purpose." He pulled back slightly, looking her in the eyes. "You're forgiven."

Mila felt a surge of relief, tears spilling down her cheeks. She had never realized how much she needed this-how much she needed closure on all of it. With the weight lifted off her shoulders, she realized something.

"Wait..." Mila blinked, pulling back from the hug. "Which one of us is going to Barcelona to replace Miguel?"

Kenny grinned, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "What about both of us?" he said, his grin widening. "I just got off the phone with Devon. She's dropping out. So now there are two spots open."

Mila's eyes widened in shock, her mouth falling open. "Wait... are you serious?"

Kenny nodded, his grin turning into a proud smile. "Yep. Both of us. We're in."

Mila let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She smiled, a mixture of excitement and disbelief filling her chest. "This is amazing," she whispered, her heart racing with excitement at the possibility. "This is really happening."

For the first time in a long while, things were starting to fall into place. The past couldn't be undone, but maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new.

ASH SPEAKS!!

mila is out of juvie!!!! yayy!!!:)

kenny and mila are friends again!! i cant wait to write them in barcelona working together... but i cant wait to see when marisol sees mila. there will sister interaction!! maybe even a sophie mention..

therese and marisol 1v1 fight coming soon...

when mila gets to barcelona she realizes miguel is still fighting so kenny and mila alternate fights!

also please please check out my other cobra kai fics!! especially cinnamon girl and paper rings!!:)

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