chapter twelve:
❛ fainting ❜

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the reason i always say "please don't be a ghost reader" this isnt just because i want votes, i mean i do, but ive been writing on this app for 3 almost 4 years and 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 know my writing isnt the best but 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

tw: mentions of not eating/fainting

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Maritza sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone, her finger hovering over the block button on Miguel's contact. She could feel the weight of it all pressing down on her - the tension, the hurt, the betrayal. Her thumb trembled slightly, part of her wanting to block him and be done with the constant cycle of emotional pain. Yet, she hesitated. Memories of the good times with Miguel flashed through her mind, blurring her decision.

With a sigh, she scrolled through her social media feed, trying to distract herself, but a video on Aisha's story caught her attention. It was a clip of everyone at the victory party, celebrating Cobra Kai's win. Laughter, smiles, and cheers filled the screen as the camera panned over the faces of the people Maritza had once been close to - including Miguel. Her chest tightened as she saw him, surrounded by friends, looking happy and carefree, as if nothing had changed. It stung more than she wanted to admit.

Without thinking, Maritza threw her phone onto the bed, anger and sadness washing over her. She didn't want to see it. She didn't want to be reminded that everyone else had moved on, while she was still stuck in the wreckage of her feelings.

Just as the phone bounced on her mattress, the door to her room creaked open. Her little sister, Sofía, peeked in, holding a stuffed bunny in her hands.

"Maritza?" Sofía's voice was soft, hesitant.

Maritza quickly wiped her face, realizing she'd been crying without even noticing. "Yeah, Sofía?" she asked, her voice shaky but trying to sound normal.

Sofía stepped into the room, her big brown eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?" she asked, clutching the bunny tightly as if it gave her courage. "You look sad."

Maritza forced a small smile, trying to hide the ache in her chest. "I'm fine, Sofi. Just... just thinking too much, I guess."

Sofía walked over and sat down next to her on the bed, glancing at the phone that Maritza had thrown aside. "Is it about Miguel?" she asked innocently, her voice full of childlike curiosity.

Maritza's smile faltered at her sister's question. Even Sofía, in her young innocence, could see through her attempts to cover up the truth. "Kind of," she admitted quietly, not wanting to lie.

Sofía tilted her head, watching her sister carefully. "Why don't you just block him, then?" she asked, her words simple but direct.

Maritza sighed, glancing at her phone again. "It's not that easy, Sofi. Sometimes, even when someone hurts you... it's hard to let them go." Her voice cracked slightly at the end, betraying the pain she was holding back.

Sofía was quiet for a moment, processing her sister's words. Then, without warning, she wrapped her tiny arms around Maritza in a tight hug. "I love you, Maritza," she whispered. "You don't need anyone who makes you sad."

Maritza hugged her sister back, tears stinging her eyes again - but this time, they were tears of gratitude. Sofía's simple words, her unconditional love, made Maritza's heart ache less, if only for a moment.

"Thank you, Sofi," Maritza whispered, holding her sister a little tighter. "I love you too."

Sofía pulled back, smiling up at her. "Want to play a game or something? We can forget about Miguel and just have fun."

Maritza chuckled softly, nodding. "Yeah, that sounds nice." She glanced at her phone one last time, the block button still there, still tempting her. Maybe later. For now, she had her sister - and that was enough.

Sunny squeezed between Hawk and her sister Moon in the booth, feeling the warmth of her boyfriend on one side and the comfort of her sister on the other. Across the table, Demetri was nibbling on nachos while Aisha recorded everything for her Instagram story, the sound of her cheerful voice echoing over the hum of conversations and clinking glasses.

"So, you might be wondering what a team does after they win the championship. The answer?" Aisha paused, her phone focusing on a massive platter of nachos in front of them. "Victory nachos!" she exclaimed, panning her phone to capture the group as they raised their drinks in celebration.

Sunny giggled, lifting her glass of water and clinking it with everyone else's drinks. She could feel the energy of the moment-excitement, joy, and the sense of triumph after such a hard-fought victory. As if reading her thoughts, Hawk leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Sunny felt her cheeks flush pink, her heart fluttering at the small, intimate gesture.

"You guys are so adorable!" Moon squealed beside her, shaking her shoulders playfully. Sunny's blush deepened, but she couldn't stop smiling, feeling surrounded by love and support.

Aisha, still recording, pointed the camera back at Hawk with a teasing grin. "It was supposed to be a round of drinks to celebrate, but... the waitress wasn't exactly feeling Hawk's fake ID," she said with a chuckle.

Hawk's eyes widened in alarm, and he leaned forward quickly, whispering, "Hey, don't talk about that. My parents follow you."

Aisha's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and she quickly turned her phone back to her. "Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Moskowitz!" she said in mock seriousness, quickly ending the recording and placing her phone on the table.

Demetri, who had been munching quietly, finally spoke up. "I gotta say, it's nice to be at a victory party," he said, nodding as if to emphasize his point. He held up a nacho proudly as if to toast the occasion, but before he could take a bite, Hawk snatched it right out of his hand.

"Yeah, except you had nothing to do with the victory," Hawk pointed out with a smirk, waving the nacho in front of Demetri's face.

Demetri shrugged in response. "Then I consider this a belated party for the coding competition we won at computer camp."

Sunny laughed softly at the memory of that summer. It had been such a nerdy but wholesome experience-watching Demetri and Eli win as the "Binary Brothers" had been one of the highlights of the camp.

Demetri grinned and started doing robot movements. "Remember? Demetri and Eli - Binary Brothers!" he sang dramatically, making Moon, Sunny, and Aisha burst into giggles.

Hawk, his cheeks flushing red with embarrassment, leaned toward Demetri. "Hey, cool it with the nerd stuff, huh?" he muttered under his breath.

Sunny blinked at Hawk in disbelief, lightly smacking his arm. "Eli, be nice," she scolded, giving him a disapproving look.

Moon, still giggling, looked around the restaurant and noticed something-or rather, someone-was missing. "Hey, where's Miguel? Those wings are getting cold," she pointed out, scanning the crowded room.

Sunny followed her sister's gaze, sighing softly when she spotted Miguel sitting alone at a table across the restaurant. His head was down, staring at his phone, clearly not part of the celebration. "We'll talk to him," Sunny said, giving Hawk's hand a reassuring squeeze before standing up.

Moon slid out of the booth to let them through, and Aisha quickly followed behind. As they approached Miguel, it was clear something was bothering him. His shoulders were slumped, and he barely glanced up when they sat down at his table.

"El Serpentine, there you are!" Hawk exclaimed, trying to lift the mood as he pulled out two chairs-one for himself and one for Sunny. Aisha sat down on an already vacant chair across from them, her brow furrowing with concern.

"This is how you celebrate a first-place trophy?" Aisha asked in disbelief, crossing her arms. Sunny nodded in agreement, her expression gentle but worried.

Miguel shook his head, his face clouded with sadness. "Maritza blocked me," he said quietly, his voice thick with disappointment. "I tried texting her, but it didn't deliver."

Sunny's heart sank a little at the sight of her friend so downhearted. She exchanged a look with Aisha and Hawk, who both seemed at a loss for words. Finally, Hawk spoke up, his tone cocky but well-meaning.

"So, what happens when you get blocked? You counterpunch," Hawk said, flashing Miguel a confident smirk.

Sunny raised an eyebrow at Hawk's advice, tilting her head slightly. "Mig, Maritza will come around... but it might take some time. She holds grudges pretty well, but you just need to figure out how to get her to forgive you," she said softly, trying to offer some hope.

Hawk nodded enthusiastically, backing Sunny up. "Exactly. Don't give up on her. You can win this," he added, his competitive spirit shining through.

But Miguel's expression remained gloomy, his shoulders drooping further. "It's no use. I blew any shot I had with her. She's probably done with me," he mumbled, running a hand through his hair.

Aisha leaned forward, her tone firm but supportive. "Just give her some time, Miguel. You know how she is-she'll come around eventually," she said with confidence.

Hawk, not quite ready to drop his more brazen approach, chimed in again. "Or she won't. But so what? You're the champ now! You could get any girl in the Valley. You're like Drake, man!" he exclaimed, puffing out his chest with pride for his friend.

Aisha and Sunny both stared at him in disbelief, their expressions a mix of exasperation and amusement. "You don't need to be Drake," Sunny said softly, standing up and pulling Hawk with her.

As they walked back toward the booth, Sunny glanced over at Hawk with a small, amused smile. "You really think being like Drake is the answer?"

Hawk shrugged with a grin. "Hey, it works for Drake."

Sunny parked her car outside All Star Karate, the bright red and white sign above the entrance practically glowing against the late afternoon sun. The smell of the mats, sweat, and the familiar dojo atmosphere hit her the moment she opened the door. Stepping inside, she was immediately greeted by the friendly, enthusiastic face of Marisol, Maritza's mom and the sensei of the dojo.

"Sunny!" Marisol exclaimed, walking over with open arms. "It's been too long! How's your mom? You girls need to come by the dojo more often."

Sunny smiled, though her heart was racing with a different purpose. "Hey, Marisol. Mom's doing great-working hard as usual. Is Maritza here?"

Marisol beamed. "Oh, yes! She's in the back letting off some steam. I'm sure she'd love to see you." Her voice was full of warmth, completely unaware of the tension Sunny was feeling.

"Thanks," Sunny said, forcing another smile before heading toward the back of the dojo. As she walked past the mirrors and rows of neatly hung belts, the rhythmic thud, thud, thud of fists and feet meeting a punching bag grew louder.

Sunny hesitated for a moment outside the door, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.

There was Maritza, her form perfect and fierce as she punched and kicked the bag with focused precision. Her face was glistening with sweat, her hair pulled back tightly as she threw another sharp kick, then another punch.

Sunny's heart sank. Maritza looked like she was fighting off more than just physical frustration-there was an emotional storm in every strike.

"Hey," Sunny called softly from the doorway.

Maritza stopped mid-kick, her eyes narrowing as she turned to see who was interrupting. Her expression shifted from surprise to something more guarded, her gaze hardening when she saw who it was.

"What are you doing here?" Maritza asked, breathing heavily, stepping away from the bag.

Sunny crossed her arms, trying to keep her tone calm. "I wanted to talk to you."

Maritza huffed, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. "Oh, now you want to talk? After being at that dinner with Miguel? What's there to talk about?"

Sunny blinked, taken aback by the sudden hostility. "Wait-what?"

"You heard me," Maritza said, her voice sharp. "Why were you there with him? You know how I feel about Miguel."

Sunny frowned, confused. "Maritza... Eli's my boyfriend. He asked me to be there, and that's why I went. Not because of Miguel."

Maritza crossed her arms tightly over her chest, clearly still bristling. "Well, Miguel was there. And he's my ex-boyfriend. You knew that."

Sunny took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "Yeah, Miguel was there. So was Demetri. And my sister. The only people there who weren't part of Cobra Kai were me, Demetri, and Moon. And you know what Miguel was doing the entire time? Sitting by himself, sulking over you."

Maritza's face faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, shaking her head stubbornly. "It's not just that, Sunny. You being there... It felt like you were picking sides."

Sunny's brow furrowed, her frustration growing. "I wasn't picking sides! I just went because Eli asked me. And if you saw how Miguel was, you'd know he's not over you."

Maritza's expression hardened again. "You don't understand how it feels."

"Maybe I don't," Sunny shot back, her frustration bubbling up. "But don't act like I'm betraying you for being there. I'm in the middle of all of this too."

The room fell silent for a moment, both girls standing their ground, tension hanging thick between them.

Then, almost at the same time, their anger softened. Sunny's shoulders sagged as she let out a long breath. "Look, I didn't come here to fight with you, Maritza."

Maritza rubbed her temples, sighing. "Yeah... I didn't mean to snap. I've just been all over the place lately."

They stood in the silence that followed, both of them trying to find a way back to common ground. Eventually, Sunny spoke up again, her voice softer. "Eli's been acting weird lately."

Maritza looked up at her curiously. "Weird how?"

"Ever since my mom dyed his hair for him and he started going by 'Hawk,' he's been acting... confident. Too confident, sometimes," Sunny admitted, biting her lip. "Like, girls think he's hot now. And girls are jealous that I'm dating him, but he's acting cocky. Like he's not the same Eli who used to get nervous ordering food at restaurants."

Maritza raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? Like, he's changed that much?"

Sunny nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I get it-confidence is good, right? But it's more than that. Yesterday, Demetri was singing their Binary Brothers song, and Eli completely snapped at him. Like, *snapped*. He acted like he was embarrassed about it. I don't get it."

Maritza frowned. "That doesn't sound like him."

"I know," Sunny said quietly. "It's like he's trying to be someone else. And I miss the Eli I knew before all of this."

Maritza was quiet for a moment, thinking it over. "Sounds like he's going through some stuff. Maybe being 'Hawk' makes him feel stronger, but it's not who he is."

Sunny nodded. "Exactly. But he's acting like he doesn't remember that part of himself. I just... I don't know what to do."

Maritza softened, her earlier frustration gone. "Maybe you just need to remind him who he really is. The real Eli, not this Hawk persona."

Sunny smiled a little, grateful for Maritza's understanding. "Yeah... maybe you're right."

Maritza offered a small, reluctant smile. "And... I'm sorry for snapping earlier. I guess I've just been on edge."

"It's okay," Sunny said, stepping closer to her friend. "I know this whole Miguel thing is a mess. But for what it's worth, he really does care about you."

Maritza sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah... maybe I just need some time to figure things out."

Sunny nodded, the tension between them fully dissolved now. "Take all the time you need. I'm here for you."

The two friends shared a quiet moment of understanding before Sunny pulled Maritza into a hug, glad that they had worked things out, even if the rest of their lives were still complicated.

Sunny stood outside Eli's house, her arms full with takeout bags from his favorite restaurant. The smell of fries and burgers wafted into the cool evening air, and for a moment, she smiled to herself. Eli had been acting strange lately, but she figured this little surprise might cheer him up. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

After a few seconds, Eli opened it, leaning against the doorframe with a grin that seemed a little too self-assured. His hair was freshly styled into his signature mohawk, and he wore a cocky smirk that didn't quite feel like the Eli she knew.

"Well, well," he said, crossing his arms. "Look who decided to stop by. You bring me dinner, too? You're spoiling me, babe."

Sunny blinked, taken aback by his tone. It wasn't playful or sweet like before-it was just... off. "I thought you might be hungry," she said, holding up the bags with a small smile, trying to brush aside the weird vibe. "Your favorite. I know you had a long day."

Eli glanced at the bags, shrugging like it was no big deal. "Nice. I could use something good to eat."

Sunny gave him a tight smile and stepped inside, trying not to let his behavior bother her. She placed the food down on the kitchen counter, but the weight of the strangeness in the air was pressing down on her. Eli was still hovering by the door, leaning against it with his arms crossed, his cocky attitude not fading.

"So, you want to eat here or in the living room?" Sunny asked, trying to keep things normal, her voice light but strained.

Before Eli could answer, there was a sudden clattering sound from down the hall, and then a familiar voice calling out, "Sunny? Is that you?"

Eli's mom, Carol, came rushing into the kitchen with wide, excited eyes. Her face lit up the second she saw Sunny. "Oh my gosh, sweetheart!" She rushed over and pulled Sunny into a warm hug. "I didn't know you were coming over! It's so good to see you!"

Sunny chuckled, hugging Carol back. "It's good to see you too, Carol."

Carol stepped back, beaming at her. "You always bring such good energy when you're here. And you brought food! You're a lifesaver. I've been so busy today, I didn't have time to make anything."

Eli, leaning against the door, let out a small sigh, clearly not as enthusiastic as his mom. "Yeah, yeah, she's great, Mom. We know."

Carol shot Eli a look, her hands on her hips. "Don't be rude, Eli. Sunny's always been so sweet to you."

Sunny noticed Carol's tone, and it made her feel even more uncomfortable about Eli's attitude. "It's okay, really," she said softly, trying to defuse the tension. "I just wanted to bring Eli his favorite."

Carol smiled warmly, giving Sunny's arm a gentle squeeze before heading back toward the living room. "Well, you two enjoy. And Eli, be nice!" she called over her shoulder.

When Carol was out of earshot, Sunny sighed and turned to Eli, who was still wearing that cocky expression.

"Eli," Sunny said, her voice more serious now. "What's going on with you? You've been acting... different."

Eli raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Different how? Confident? Can't help it if I've got a little more swagger now."

Sunny rolled her eyes, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "No, not confident-cocky. There's a difference."

Eli shrugged, his smirk still lingering. "Come on, Sunny. You know I've changed. People see me differently now, so I'm just... leaning into it."

Sunny stared at him, feeling like she didn't recognize the person standing in front of her. She took a deep breath, trying to push down the growing knot in her chest. "I liked you before. You don't need to act like this."

Eli's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly masked it with another shrug. "People change."

Sunny let out a soft sigh, grabbing the takeout bags and moving them onto the kitchen table. "Yeah, they do. But you don't have to pretend you're someone else. I miss the real you."

Eli stood in silence for a moment, looking at her with a flash of something like guilt in his eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly. "I'm still me," he muttered, though the confidence in his voice was gone.

Sunny gave him a small, sad smile, not entirely convinced. "I hope so."

She started unpacking the food, silently hoping that under all the bravado and the new persona, the Eli she fell for was still in there somewhere.

Sunny hopped out of the passenger seat, adjusting her dance bag over her shoulder, and leaned down to the open window of Moon's car. "Thanks for the ride, Moony. And oh, look! There's Jade," she said, pointing across the parking lot where Jade was hanging out by the entrance to the studio, scrolling on her phone. "You should go say hi."

Moon's eyes widened, and she immediately rolled up her window halfway. "No! What if she doesn't want to talk to me?" she squeaked, her voice rising in panic.

Sunny blinked and sighed, leaning on the car window. "Moon, she's literally standing right there, looking like she's waiting for someone to talk to her. You like her, she likes you. You're both just being... weird about it."

Moon's face turned red, and she shook her head quickly, refusing to look in Jade's direction. "What if she thinks I'm annoying? Or worse, what if I mess it up?" She glanced toward Jade, then slammed her foot on the gas. "I can't! I gotta go!" she yelled, rolling up the window the rest of the way and speeding off before Sunny could get another word in.

Sunny watched the car disappear down the street, letting out a long sigh. "She's really hopeless sometimes," she muttered, shaking her head. Turning toward the studio, she spotted Jade still standing by the door, looking nonchalant as ever, but Sunny could tell there was a hint of expectation in the way Jade kept glancing up from her phone.

Walking over, Sunny plastered on a bright smile. "Hey, Jade."

Jade looked up, her face calm and cool. "Oh, hey, Sunny. What's up?" she replied, slipping her phone into her pocket.

Sunny didn't beat around the bush. "My sister likes you."

Jade's eyes widened, and she blinked in surprise before quickly composing herself. "Pfft, what?" she scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder and crossing her arms. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Sunny raised an eyebrow, unimpressed with the act. "Come on, Jade. It's pretty obvious. She freaked out and sped off just now because she didn't know how to talk to you."

Jade let out a laugh, though it was a bit too forced. "That's... cute, but I'm sure you're mistaken. We're just... you know, friends. Maybe. I dunno."

Sunny crossed her arms, giving Jade a pointed look. "You both are terrible at hiding it. Moon literally panics every time she sees you, and you're acting all oblivious right now, but I know you like her too."

Jade's lips twitched like she was trying not to smile, but she rolled her eyes and shrugged instead. "I don't know what you're talking about. I mean, Moon's cool, I guess. But... I mean, whatever."

Sunny groaned, exasperated by how similar Moon and Jade were in their stubbornness. "Just stop playing it off, okay? She's into you, you're into her. Maybe just... I don't know, talk to her instead of standing around acting like you don't care?"

Jade's cool façade cracked for a second, her cheeks flushing slightly before she quickly turned back to her phone. "Yeah, maybe. We'll see," she mumbled, though the small smile on her face said more than her words did.

Sunny shook her head, letting out a small laugh. "You two are so ridiculous," she muttered before heading inside the studio, leaving Jade to her thoughts.

The dance studio buzzed with chatter as the class started, girls stretching and warming up on the floor while Ms. Mara, their dance teacher, stood at the front, clipboard in hand. Sunny pulled her hair back into a tight ponytail, glancing over at Jade, who was doing the same. Both of them shared a small smile, the excitement from their last performance still lingering in the air.

"All right, everyone, settle down!" Ms. Mara called out, clapping her hands to get the class's attention. The room quieted, and everyone turned their eyes to her.

"I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge two dancers who really stood out during the last recital. Their performance was nothing short of incredible," Ms. Mara said, her eyes scanning the room before they landed on Sunny and Jade. "Sunny and Jade, you two truly wowed the audience, and I couldn't be more proud of how much you've grown as dancers."

Sunny's face lit up with a bright smile, feeling a rush of pride. Jade grinned, looking just as pleased. The rest of the class clapped, though some slower than others.

Ms. Mara wasn't done, though. "And, as a reward for your hard work and dedication, I'm excited to announce that both Sunny and Jade will be getting their own solos at the next competition in December."

Sunny gasped, her heart leaping. A solo? She had always dreamed of performing her own routine! She glanced at Jade, who looked equally thrilled, her eyes wide with excitement. The two exchanged excited looks, knowing this was a big deal.

But not everyone in the class shared their joy. From the corner of the room, Tiffany, one of the more competitive dancers, crossed her arms and scowled. She had always been used to being the center of attention, and the announcement clearly didn't sit well with her.

Tiffany narrowed her eyes at Sunny and Jade, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wow, solos for both of you? Guess Ms. Mara's playing favorites now."

Sunny stiffened, her smile fading as she glanced over at Tiffany, while Jade's face hardened, her excitement quickly replaced by annoyance.

Ms. Mara raised an eyebrow, not missing Tiffany's tone. "Excuse me, Tiffany?"

Tiffany shrugged, her expression bitter. "I mean, we all worked hard, didn't we? But I guess some people get special treatment," she sneered, glaring at Sunny and Jade.

Sunny bit her lip, trying to keep her cool, but the insult stung. She had worked hard for this, just like everyone else, and it wasn't fair for Tiffany to tear them down out of jealousy. Before Sunny could say anything, Jade stepped forward, her voice calm but firm.

"Maybe instead of being bitter, you could focus on improving your own dancing," Jade said, crossing her arms. "Just a thought."

Tiffany's face flushed with anger, and for a moment, it looked like she might say something else, but Ms. Mara cut in before things could escalate further.

"Enough, Tiffany. Everyone on this team has potential, but Sunny and Jade have earned this opportunity. If you have an issue, I suggest you work harder in class instead of criticizing your teammates."

The room went silent, and Tiffany, her face still red with anger, pressed her lips together, clearly not happy but unable to argue with Ms. Mara.

Sunny let out a small breath of relief, grateful for Jade stepping in and Ms. Mara's support. She caught Jade's eye and smiled at her, mouthing a quick "thanks." Jade gave a small nod, her expression softening.

"Now," Ms. Mara continued, her tone serious but encouraging, "let's get back to practice. We've got a lot of work to do before December, and I expect everyone to bring their best, solos or not."

The class shifted back into motion, but the excitement of the announcement still buzzed through Sunny's veins. She was going to have a solo, and no amount of jealousy could take away how proud she felt.

The dimly lit studio was quiet, with only the soft echo of the music filling the space. Sunny was in the center of the room, her movements fluid, precise, and full of emotion as she worked on her new solo routine. The song's rhythm pulsed through her, each beat guiding her body like an invisible force.

Ms. Mara stood at the front, watching intently, nodding in approval as Sunny executed a flawless turn. "Good, Sunny. Stay with the music, let it move you," she encouraged.

Sunny barely heard her. She was in her own world now, the music taking over as she lost herself in the flow of the dance. Her feet skimmed the floor, her arms stretched, and for a moment, she wasn't in the studio anymore-she was on the moon, dancing under a sky of stars, weightless and free. It felt like magic.

But something was off.

As she twirled into another leap, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her. The room spun, the once familiar studio warping and twisting around her. She blinked, trying to shake it off, but the lightheadedness grew stronger, more disorienting. Her legs felt weak, and her vision blurred.

Sunny faltered mid-move, her body swaying. She tried to keep going, but her muscles didn't respond. She reached out, as if trying to grab onto something, anything-but there was nothing there.

Then everything went dark.

Ms. Mara's heart lurched when she saw Sunny collapse, her body crumpling to the floor in an unnatural heap. "Sunny!" she shouted, rushing forward, her voice laced with panic.

Jade, who had been watching from the doorway, her curiosity drawing her in after practice, saw it happen too. Her eyes widened in horror, and before she knew it, she was sprinting into the studio, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Sunny!" Jade cried, dropping to her knees beside her friend. Sunny's face was pale, her breathing shallow and unsteady. Ms. Mara was already kneeling beside Sunny, shaking her lightly, trying to rouse her.

"Sunny, can you hear me? Wake up!" Ms. Mara called out, her voice shaking with concern.

But Sunny didn't move. Her eyes remained closed, her body limp.

Jade's hands trembled as she pulled out her phone. "I'm calling 9-1-1," she said, her voice tight with fear. Her fingers fumbled as she dialed, her breath coming in shallow bursts. She could feel her own panic rising, but she forced herself to stay calm for Sunny's sake.

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?" came the calm voice on the other end.

"There's-there's a girl, she collapsed, she's not waking up. Please, we need help!" Jade blurted out, her eyes locked on Sunny's still form. She could barely keep her voice steady as she gave the address to the studio, feeling a cold wave of fear wash over her.

Ms. Mara, meanwhile, kept trying to wake Sunny, gently tapping her cheeks, checking her pulse. "Come on, Sunny, stay with me," she muttered, her own heart racing.

Jade, phone still pressed to her ear, knelt closer to Sunny, panic gnawing at her insides. "Sunny, please, wake up," she whispered, her voice breaking.

After what felt like an eternity, the sound of sirens grew louder in the distance. The paramedics were on their way, but for Jade and Ms. Mara, every second felt like a lifetime.

Sunny's face was pale, her breathing shallow, and neither of them could figure out why. Jade glanced at Ms. Mara with desperation. "What's happening? Why isn't she waking up?"

"I don't know," Ms. Mara said, her voice shaking. "I just don't know."

Jade's heart sank as she looked at her friend, lying so still on the dance floor where she had been so full of life just moments ago. She clutched Sunny's hand, silently begging for her to open her eyes.

The sirens grew louder, but all Jade could think about was Sunny, hoping she'd be okay, praying she'd wake up.

ASH SPEAKS!

cliffhanger! sunny is struggling with something that does happen to people and i want to show awareness, so no way am i romantizing this!!

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