chapter twenty-one:
❛ martiza, miguel! ❜

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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

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Sunny sat in homeroom on the first day of school, her mind wandering as she glanced around the room. She hadn't spoken to Maritza since their big fight, and the silence was weighing on her. It was like a dull ache in her chest, and every minute that passed without hearing from Maritza felt like a reminder of how badly things had gone wrong. She was still grounded, too, which made the whole situation even more unbearable. But at least she knew that Maritza had homeroom with her—so she kept looking toward the door, hoping her friend would walk in soon.

As she waited, the loudspeaker crackled, and a cheerful but slightly too-bright voice came on. "Good morning, students and faculty, welcome to a brand-new year at West Valley High!" The voice filled the room. "I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are ready to dive back into the school year!"

"Hey, can I sit here?" a boy asked, breaking her concentration. Sunny turned to see Aidan Schultz standing beside her, holding his backpack.

"Sorry, no," Sunny replied politely, but firmly. She wanted Maritza to sit next to her—if Maritza even showed up.

Just as she turned back, she overheard some hushed voices from the seats nearby. Hawk's voice, loud enough to catch her attention despite the whispering, made her ears prick up. "Dude, you kissed Maritza?" he asked, smirking.

Sunny's eyebrows shot up. She turned around, her gaze darting to Miguel, who was trying to keep his voice down as he nodded. Sunny's face twisted into a scowl as she heard Hawk murmur, "Nice."

She whipped around, glaring at him. "What's nice about that, Hawk?" she snapped, leaning over and giving him a quick slap on the back of the head.

"Ow!" Hawk exclaimed, rubbing the spot where she'd hit him.

Sunny's glare turned to Miguel. "You're dating Tory!" she hissed. "Did you kiss her back?" Miguel looked down, a hint of guilt on his face, but he nodded all the same. Sunny rolled her eyes, letting out a long, exasperated sigh.

"You're in deep shit, Miguel," she said, shaking her head. Hawk and Miguel both looked at her, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Wait—did you just say shit?" Hawk asked, sounding amused. "Sunny, you never curse!"

Sunny just rolled her eyes, brushing off the comment, though her cheeks tinged slightly pink. She tried to focus on something else, letting her mind drift, imagining herself floating among the stars, with planets and constellations all around her. But her daydream was abruptly cut short when she noticed someone sneaking into the classroom. Her heart leapt as she saw Maritza slipping into the seat beside her.

"Maritza," she whispered, barely able to contain her relief.

Maritza turned, giving her a small, tentative smile. "I'm sorry," they both said in unison, their voices overlapping. A small laugh escaped them, and the tension immediately began to dissolve.

"I shouldn't have kept it from you," Sunny admitted softly, her voice tinged with regret.

"And I shouldn't have yelled at you," Maritza replied, her eyes brimming with sincerity.

Before they could say anything more, the loudspeaker crackled back on, cutting through their moment. "And finally, as we embark upon another academic year, it's important to remember to be tolerant and accepting of all of our peers, regardless of—" Suddenly, there was a loud clatter, as if the announcement room door had been thrown open.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be in here!" the woman on the speaker said, her voice muffled but clearly panicked.

"I don't care, move!" Tory's voice echoed over the speaker, loud and filled with fury. Sunny's blood ran cold as Tory's voice filled the room, cutting through the air like a knife. "Maritza Sanchez. I know what you did, and now you're gonna pay for it. I'm coming for you, bitch!"

The classroom erupted in gasps and whispers, and Sunny's jaw dropped, her heart pounding as she turned to Maritza. "Maritza..."

But Maritza's eyes were wide with fear, and before Sunny could even finish, the bell rang, and Maritza bolted from the room, Miguel hot on her heels. Everyone else scrambled out of their seats, racing to follow them, as if drawn by the thrill of the impending showdown.

Sunny darted into the hallway, with Hawk and some other students rushing alongside her. When they reached the main corridor, a large crowd had already gathered, forming a tight circle around Maritza and Tory. The two girls were facing each other, circling like fighters in a ring, their gazes locked and unflinching.

"I saw what you did at the party," Tory sneered, her voice low and dripping with contempt. "You kissed Miguel."

A shocked murmur rippled through the crowd, and Sunny's stomach dropped. Maritza opened her mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. She just stammered, "I... I..."

But Tory didn't wait for her to finish. With a fierce look in her eyes, she swung her fist at Maritza. Maritza managed to dodge the punch, but Tory was relentless. She grabbed Maritza's backpack, yanking her back, before tossing it to the ground and landing a swift, hard kick to Maritza's stomach.

Maritza stumbled back, crashing into Hawk, Sunny, and some of their friends. Sunny instinctively grabbed Maritza, trying to pull her out of harm's way.

"Get back in there!" Hawk yelled, clearly entertained by the chaos. Sunny shot him a sharp, disapproving glare. The whole scene was already spiraling out of control, and she could feel her anxiety bubbling up.

Sam LaRusso suddenly stepped forward, inserting herself between Tory and Maritza, trying to fend off Tory's assault. But Tory didn't hesitate; she pounced on Sam, her fists flying as she punched and kicked, her movements fueled by pure anger. Sam did her best to block and dodge, but she was no match for Tory's aggression. Finally, Tory shoved Sam into the lockers with a loud, bone-jarring thud.

Maritza's face was pale, her body frozen in panic as she watched the scene unfold. "Yeah, get her!" Hawk cheered, completely oblivious to the intensity of the fight. Sunny shot him another scathing look, feeling her stomach twist with disgust.

Just then, Robby appeared, running to Sam and Maritza's aid. He stepped between them and Tory, grabbing Tory by the shoulders and pulling her back. "You okay?" he asked, glancing at Sam and Maritza.

Sam and Maritza barely had a moment to answer before Tory tried to push past him. Robby held his ground, pinning her back against the lockers, just as Miguel arrived at the scene.

Sunny sighed in relief, hoping Miguel might be able to calm things down. "Stop! Let her go!" she shouted, her voice trembling.

"Hey!" Miguel shouted, his voice rising above the crowd. "Settle down! We can work this out—"

But before he could finish, Miguel's expression hardened, misinterpreting Robby's words as a challenge. He shoved Robby back, and in an instant, Miguel retaliated, tackling Robby to the ground. Sunny's heart raced as the two boys started throwing punches, their anger erupting into a full-on brawl.

She hurried over to Demetri, who was watching the chaos unfold, wide-eyed. "Demetri, we've gotta do something," she said urgently.

"Good idea," he replied, nodding. "I'll get a teacher!" With that, he took off running in the opposite direction.

Sunny groaned in frustration. That wasn't what she'd meant, but now she was stuck watching things get even worse. Tory was still swinging at Sam, and Miguel and Robby were locked in a fierce struggle, exchanging punch after punch.

"Oh, it is on!" Hawk's voice echoed through the hallway as he grabbed Bert and Nate by the heads and shoved them into opposite lockers with a loud, metallic clang. Sunny winced at the sound, feeling a swell of irritation. She hated this. The violence, the chaos—it was the exact opposite of what she wanted. She had hoped that maybe this year would be different, that she could go to school without everything exploding into a fight.

"Stop!" she shouted, her voice drowned out in the noise around her. No one seemed to hear or care, too wrapped up in their own clashes and rivalries. Then, as she scanned the crowd, a Cobra Kai boy with a sneer on his face stepped into her line of sight.

"Come on, Sunny," he taunted, his eyes narrowed. "I thought you were cool. Don't be that girl."

Sunny blinked, taken aback. "What girl?" she snapped, confused and annoyed. She took a cautious step back, giving him a wary look. The boy stepped closer, looking smug.

"The one that against violence, acts like she's above everyone else—like some kind of queen," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

The accusation made her stomach twist. She didn't think of herself that way, and his words stung in a way she hadn't expected. She shot him a glare, a spark of defiance flaring up within her.

"Yeah." He smiled smugly, clearly pleased with himself. Before she even had time to process her next move, Sunny found herself raising her leg and sending a quick side-kick into his stomach. He stumbled back, the smirk still on his face, clearly thrilled that she'd taken the bait.

"This is gonna be fun," he growled, throwing a rapid series of punches aimed at her face. Sunny dodged as best as she could, weaving side to side, her thoughts racing. Who was this guy? She recognized him vaguely—he'd been the one who'd asked to sit with her in homeroom earlier, but she had no idea why he was suddenly so intent on fighting her.

"Do I even know you?" she demanded, her voice strained as she ducked another punch.

That question seemed to hit a nerve. His eyes flashed with anger, and he sneered, "Why do you act like you're so much better than me?" He launched another punch, this one landing squarely on her jaw. Pain exploded across her face, and she stumbled backward, clutching her jaw.

"What?" she managed to gasp, barely understanding his words. In a burst of frustration, she swung her leg around, attempting a roundhouse kick to his face. But he was quicker than she anticipated. His hand shot out, catching her foot mid-air, and before she could react, he slammed her backward into the lockers. The impact knocked the wind out of her, and a sharp pain radiated through her ribs.

He leaned in, his gaze cold and calculating, his fist drawn back and aimed at her side. Sunny braced herself, her heart pounding, knowing she was outmatched. But before he could strike, a blur of motion appeared at her side—Moon and Jade, charging in like twin hurricanes.

"Leave my sister alone, you...you dick!" Moon's voice was fierce, her usual calm demeanor gone as she tackled Aidan, forcing him backward. Jade followed with a sharp kick to his chest, pushing him further back as he stumbled to keep his balance.

Jade turned to Sunny, her face filled with worry. "You okay?" she asked, her hand coming up to steady Sunny.

Sunny nodded, though her ribs still ached from the impact. She quickly scanned the hallway, hoping to spot Maritza. Instead, she saw Hawk down the hall, his expression wild with excitement, laughing as he watched Demetri's eyes widen in fear before he sprinted in the opposite direction.

"Demetri!" Hawk called out, cackling as he took off after him, clearly enjoying the chaos he was causing.

Sunny shook her head in frustration. She didn't understand why they all thrived on this senseless violence. She turned back, seeing Moon and Jade still standing protectively in front of her. But before she could thank them, Aidan was back on his feet, brushing off his shirt with a smug grin.

"Oh, so now you've got your lesbian sister and her girlfriend fighting your battles for you?" he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt.

Sunny didn't have time for this. She shot him a final glare before taking off down the hall, determined to find Maritza. She wove through the chaos, her eyes scanning the crowd, her heart pounding. Finally, she rounded a corner just in time to see Maritza and Tory facing off in the middle of the hallway.

Sunny's heart leapt as she watched Maritza slam her fist into Tory's face with surprising force. A surge of adrenaline shot through her veins, and she couldn't help but cheer her friend on.

"Go, Maritza!" she called out, her voice filled with encouragement. Maritza shot her a quick smile, her face flushed with excitement.

But the moment was short-lived. Tory's expression turned deadly as she recovered, her eyes blazing with fury. She lunged forward, grabbing Sam by the hair and yanking her backward with a violent twist. Before Sunny could react, Maritza sprang into action, delivering a swift kick to Tory's face, forcing her to release Sam.

Around them, students were shouting and cheering, creating a deafening roar that filled the hallway. Sunny could feel the tension, the excitement, and the fear swirling around her like a storm. She watched, feeling a strange mix of pride and anxiety as her friend held her ground.

But something told her this wasn't over yet.

Sunny's heart thundered as she sprinted through the dimly lit tech hallway, every step pounding with urgency. Her eyes darted between doors, searching frantically. The sound of yelling and crashing lockers echoed behind her, and a shiver ran up her spine. She spotted Hawk up ahead, his back to her, striding through each room, his shoulders set with menace.

"Demetri! Come out, you damn nerd!" Hawk's voice was loud and mocking, filling the silent hallways. He hadn't seen her yet; his focus was locked on finding his former best friend.

Sunny slowed, watching him from a distance, her mind racing. Just then, through a narrow window in the computer lab door, she caught a glimpse of Demetri's face, pale with terror as he peered out, hoping Hawk wouldn't notice him. But Hawk had already seen him, and his mouth curled into a dark, menacing smirk as he slipped through the door, moving in silently, like a predator stalking its prey.

"Boo," Hawk said in a low, dangerous voice. Demetri flinched, gasping, but before Hawk could make his move, Sunny reacted on pure instinct.

"No!" she yelled, launching herself into the room. She barely registered Hawk's surprised look before she leaped onto his back, locking her arms around his shoulders in a desperate attempt to stop him. Hawk stumbled forward under her weight, snarling in anger.

"Run, Demetri!" Sunny cried, tightening her grip as Hawk thrashed beneath her. Demetri hesitated for only a second before bolting for the door, his footsteps echoing down the hallway as he escaped.

"Sunny, get off me!" Hawk growled, twisting and jerking to shake her loose, but she clung on tighter, her voice frantic.

"No! You need to stop! Eli, I know you're still in there!" She shouted, her tone pleading. She was desperate to reach the friend she'd known, the friend who was somewhere inside this ruthless, hardened exterior.

For a brief, fleeting moment, Hawk's movements slowed, his shoulders relaxing just slightly as he hesitated. But then he tensed, his face hardening as he pulled her arms free and shoved her off with brutal force. Sunny stumbled backward, her body colliding with the hard floor, pain flaring through her side as she landed.

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked up at him, her gaze pleading, desperate. "Please, Eli... don't do this." Her voice cracked, her heart breaking as she reached out a hand toward him.

But Hawk's expression was cold, distant, and he barely looked at her as he muttered, "I don't want you to see what I'm about to do to Demetri." His voice was low, almost regretful, but his face remained steely. He turned and strode out, and before she could react, she heard the lock click. He'd trapped her inside.

Sunny scrambled to her feet, ignoring the sharp ache in her ribs. She ran to the door, yanking on the handle, but it wouldn't budge. Panic surged through her, and with a strangled scream, she slammed her shoulder against the door. Pain shot through her side, but she kept at it, ramming into the door again and again, until finally, it burst open, sending her stumbling into the hallway.

Without a second thought, she took off running, her breaths ragged, her mind a blur. She turned a corner, her footsteps skidding as she stopped dead at the scene unfolding before her.

Maritza stood with her arms outstretched in front of Miguel, her stance defiant, her gaze locked on Robby, who faced her with an intense glare. Everything seemed to slow, her surroundings sharpening as she watched Robby's face twist in frustration. In one swift motion, he swung his leg out in a powerful kick, sending both Maritza and Miguel stumbling backward.

"No!" Sunny screamed, her voice raw with terror as she watched them topple back toward the railing, their arms flailing as they lost their balance. She could only stand frozen, powerless to stop what was happening.

Time seemed to slow as Maritza and Miguel began to fall, their bodies suspended in the air for what felt like an eternity. In a desperate reflex, Miguel wrapped his arms around Maritza, pulling her close as they plummeted. Their screams filled the air, mingling with Sunny's own horrified cry as she watched them descend.

The moment they hit the ground, the world went silent. Miguel's back struck the stairs with a sickening crack, the sound echoing through the hallway. Maritza's head slammed against the ground with brutal force, her body lying motionless beside him.

"Maritza! Miguel!" Sunny's voice was a strangled scream, the sound tearing from her throat as she collapsed to her knees, her legs unable to support her. A wave of nausea rolled over her as she watched their still forms below, her heart pounding erratically in her chest.

She barely registered Hawk's presence as he ran over, his face now drained of color, concern flashing in his eyes as he knelt beside her. He tried to help her up, his hands gentle, but she pushed him away, her face twisted in anguish.

She stumbled forward, crawling toward the edge of the balcony, her gaze locked on Maritza and Miguel. Before she could reach them, a paramedic appeared, stepping in her path, his face kind but firm.

"Ma'am, please step back," he said gently, his voice a quiet command. She stared up at him, her vision blurred with tears, unable to process the words. She looked down again, watching helplessly as the paramedics began to work on her friends.

Her gaze snapped up as she saw Robby standing at the far end of the hall, his face pale, his eyes wide as he stared at the scene below. Rage flooded through her, searing through the fear and heartbreak, and she pushed herself up, her voice shaking with fury.

"Robby, what did you do?" she screamed, her words echoing through the hall as she took a step toward him, her fists clenched.

Robby's expression crumpled, guilt and regret flashing across his face, but he didn't say a word. He simply turned, his footsteps fading as he ran down the hallway, leaving her alone, her anguished sobs filling the silent school.

Sunny sat on the hospital bed, her shoulders trembling as the nurse gently wrapped a band around her arm to take her blood pressure. The stark, white walls felt too bright, too sterile, a cruel contrast to the chaos still echoing in her mind. Her ribs ached with each shallow breath, but the pain was secondary to the turmoil twisting in her heart. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her face flushed and blotchy from crying, her hands clutching tightly to the edge of the bed as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded.

Elaine, her mom, paced furiously by the doorway, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "This is unacceptable," she spat, her eyes narrowing. "Who is this... this Aidan kid? He should be expelled! I swear, if I see him, I'll—" Her voice broke, fury mingling with worry as she looked at her daughter's bruised, tear-streaked face.

Jameson, her dad, stood beside her, his jaw set in grim determination. He ran a hand over his face, clearly fighting to control his own anger. "This isn't just some school fight gone wrong. Sunny has fractured ribs! And for what? Because some bully decided he had the right to hurt her?" His fists clenched at his sides, a fierce protectiveness flashing in his eyes.

Sunny shook her head, her voice coming out weak, barely more than a whisper. "I don't... I don't even care about him right now," she choked out, her gaze falling to her lap. Her hands tightened their grip, her knuckles white. "I'm worried about Miguel and Maritza."

Her parents exchanged a glance, the weight of her words sinking in. Whatever anger they felt toward Aidan, it paled in comparison to Sunny's fear for her friends. Just then, the door swung open, and Moon and Jade entered, both looking pale and shaken, their eyes red as if they'd been crying.

Moon approached cautiously, glancing between Sunny and her parents. "Sunny..." she began softly, her voice trembling. "Miguel and Maritza... they're both in the ICU." She swallowed hard, taking a steadying breath before continuing. "Miguel... he has a broken back."

Sunny's face crumpled as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, her hands lifting to cover her mouth in horror. "No... no..." she murmured, her heart breaking at the thought of Miguel lying helpless in the ICU.

Jade placed a hand on Moon's shoulder, her own voice barely holding steady. "And Maritza... she has a severe head injury." She hesitated, her eyes filling with tears. "The doctors said she might wake up with... with a stutter or amnesia. They don't know yet."

A strangled sob escaped Sunny as she hugged her arms around herself, trying to hold back the flood of emotions crashing over her. The thought of Maritza, her brave, loyal friend, possibly waking up not remembering who she was—or worse, with lasting damage—felt like a wound too deep to bear. Her whole body shook as she cried, the ache in her ribs worsening, but she hardly noticed.

At that moment, the door opened again, and Maritza's mom, Marisol, and her little sister, Sofia, walked in. Marisol's face was etched with worry, her eyes red and swollen, while Sofia clung to her hand, looking lost and frightened.

Marisol took one look at Sunny's tear-streaked face and rushed over, wrapping her arms around her. They held each other tightly, their shared grief and fear unspoken but deeply understood. Sunny buried her face against Marisol's shoulder, her sobs muffled as she clung to the woman who had been like a second mother to her.

Sofia came to stand beside the bed, her small hands clutching the sheets as she looked up at Sunny, her eyes wide with worry. Sunny reached out, taking Sofia's hand in hers, and gave it a gentle squeeze, hoping to offer some comfort, even if her own heart felt shattered.

They all sat together in silence, their pain heavy and tangible, each of them fearing the worst but holding onto the faintest hope that somehow, Miguel and Maritza would make it through this.

ASH SPEAKS!

dunnnn dunnnnn... we're onto season 3...

i have no words.

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