chapter twenty-six:
❛ cheer squad ❜

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The gym echoed with the upbeat rhythm of a pop song as Moon and Jade moved fluidly across the glossy floor, their cheer routine blending sharp precision with playful energy. Sunny sat perched on the edge of the bleachers, her arms draped casually over her knees, but her sharp eyes were locked on her twin sister and her girlfriend.

Sunny had seen her sister's routines a hundred times before, but today, there was something magnetic about the way Moon and Jade moved together. Their spins were sharp, their jumps perfectly synchronized, and their energy was contagious. Sunny found herself unconsciously nodding her head to the beat.

Moon launched into a toe-touch jump, landing with a confident grin. "That's what I'm talking about!" she said, catching Jade's hand for a spin.

Jade spun dramatically, striking a playful pose at the end. "Nailed it! We're so ready for the competition."

"Almost," Moon teased. "Your timing on that last turn was off."

"Excuse me?" Jade shot back, feigning offense. "My timing was impeccable. Right, Sunny?"

Sunny smirked from her seat. "I don't know... Moon's got a point. You hesitated on the spin. Like, half a beat."

Jade gasped, placing a hand over her chest as if wounded. "Betrayed! The cool twin sides with her sister. How could you?"

Moon burst into laughter, jogging over to grab her water bottle. "Sunny's just brutally honest. It's why we love her."

"Love's a strong word," Sunny joked, leaning back with a shrug. "I'm just saying what everyone's thinking."

Jade exchanged a glance with Moon, mischief sparking between them. Jade suddenly clapped her hands. "Alright, critic. Since you're so good at spotting flaws, why don't you show us how it's done?"

Sunny's eyebrows shot up. "Me? Cheer? Absolutely not."

"Oh, come on!" Moon said, bouncing up to her twin. "You're a dancer, Sunny. You've got way more rhythm than half our squad combined."

Jade nodded, her grin widening. "Exactly! You're probably better than most of us already, and you've never even tried."

Sunny hesitated, glancing at the empty gym floor. Dancing was her thing, sure-she'd spent years honing her skills in hip-hop, contemporary, and even a bit of ballroom. But cheerleading? That felt... different.

"Look, I'm just here to watch you two embarrass yourselves," Sunny said, her smirk teasing.

"Or," Moon countered, grabbing Sunny's arm, "you could embarrass us by being better on your first try."

Before Sunny could protest, Jade grabbed her other arm, and together, they hauled her off the bleachers. "Let's go, superstar," Jade said, practically dragging her to the center of the gym.

Sunny sighed dramatically, but the playful spark in her eyes betrayed her. "Fine. But if I faceplant, I'm blaming both of you."

Moon jogged to the speaker, replaying the song from the top. She dashed back to Sunny, standing beside her. "Just follow my lead. I'll start slow."

As the music began, Moon demonstrated a simple sequence of claps and steps. Sunny mimicked her movements effortlessly, her natural dancer's grace making even basic cheer moves look polished. Jade added a spin, and Sunny copied it with flair, throwing in her own sharp arm movement for good measure.

"Okay, okay!" Jade said, clapping her hands. "You're already killing it."

Moon picked up the pace, transitioning into a more complex routine with jumps and kicks. Sunny didn't just keep up-she elevated the routine. Her jumps had height, her transitions were seamless, and when she spun, it was with the precision of a trained performer. By the time she landed the final move, she was grinning, her adrenaline pumping.

The music faded, and Jade and Moon stared at her, wide-eyed and speechless.

"Alright," Sunny said, brushing her hands together. "Not bad for my first cheer dance, huh?"

"Not bad?" Moon sputtered, throwing her arms around Sunny in excitement. "Are you kidding? You're amazing!"

Jade shook her head in disbelief, her hands on her hips. "Sunny, that was insane. How are you not on the squad already?"

Sunny shrugged, trying to downplay her talent, but her smile gave her away. "I'm a dancer. It's what I do."

"Exactly!" Moon said, practically bouncing. "You're a dancer and a cheer prodigy. You should totally join the team."

Sunny laughed, holding up her hands. "Whoa, slow down. I just tried it for the first time five minutes ago."

"Doesn't matter," Jade said, grinning. "You're better than half our squad already. We need you."

Moon clasped her hands together, giving Sunny her best puppy-dog eyes. "Please, Sunny? It'll be so fun. We'd get to cheer together!"

Sunny looked between her twin's eager face and Jade's confident grin, her initial hesitation melting under their enthusiasm. She considered the idea for a moment before finally shrugging. "Alright, fine. Why not? I'll give it a shot."

Moon let out a delighted squeal, hugging Sunny again. "Yes! This is going to be so awesome!"

Jade smirked, her arms crossed. "I give it a week before you're leading the team."

Sunny rolled her eyes, but she couldn't suppress the grin spreading across her face. "We'll see about that."

Sunny's phone buzzed loudly on the bleachers, cutting through the laughter and excitement of the moment. She grabbed it, still catching her breath from the routine, and saw Sam's name flashing on the screen.

"Hang on, guys," she said, waving Moon and Jade off as she answered. "Hey, Sam. What's up?"

The response on the other end stopped her in her tracks. Sam's voice was trembling, thick with tears. "Sunny-Hawk... Hawk broke Demetri's arm."

Sunny froze, her grip on the phone tightening. "What?" she said, her voice sharp and disbelieving.

"We were at the arcade," Sam choked out, her words tumbling over each other. "He-he pushed Demetri down and-and stomped on his arm. It's-it's bad, Sunny. He's in so much pain. We're at the hospital now."

Sunny's jaw clenched, her free hand balling into a fist. Her heart pounded as Sam's words sank in, and fury surged through her like wildfire. "I'll be there soon," she said, cutting the call short before Sam could respond.

Turning sharply toward Moon and Jade, she slipped her phone into her pocket, her expression dark. "Moon, can I take your car?"

Moon blinked, immediately sensing the shift in Sunny's tone. "Yeah, of course," she said, tossing her keys without hesitation. "What's going on?"

Sunny caught the keys midair, her eyes blazing. "Hawk just broke Demetri's arm."

Moon gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my God, are you serious?"

Jade's expression mirrored Moon's shock, her jaw dropping. "No way! Hawk did that? To Demetri?"

"Yeah," Sunny snapped, already moving toward the exit. "At the arcade. I have to go."

Moon and Jade exchanged worried glances, and Jade stepped forward. "Do you want us to come with you?"

Sunny paused, her hand on the door, and turned back to them. Her voice was firm, though her anger simmered just below the surface. "Not this time. But I'll call if I need backup."

Moon hesitated, but she nodded, her face etched with concern. "Be careful, Sunny."

"Always," Sunny said, throwing them a quick, tight smile before storming out, the keys jingling in her hand.

As the gym doors slammed shut behind her, Jade turned to Moon, her voice filled with disbelief. "I can't believe Hawk would do that. What the hell is going on with him?"

Moon shook her head, her brows furrowed. "I don't know. But Sunny's pissed. And when Sunny's pissed..."

Jade nodded grimly. "Yeah. Someone's in trouble."

Sunny parked in front of Hawk's house, the engine still running as she sat gripping the steering wheel. Her chest felt like it was going to explode. The memory of Sam's choked sobs over the phone, the anguish in her voice as she described what had happened, was burned into Sunny's mind. He stomped on Demetri's arm. The words were like gasoline on the inferno raging inside her. She couldn't sit still anymore.

Throwing the car into park, Sunny flung the door open and stormed toward the house. Her fists clenched and her jaw tight, she could feel her anger bubbling closer to the surface with every step. She didn't bother knocking politely. She pounded on the door with the side of her fist, the sound echoing through the quiet street.

"Hawk! Open the damn door!" she shouted, her voice shaking with rage.

It took a moment, but finally, the door creaked open. Hawk stood there in his sweats and a t-shirt, looking like he hadn't slept. His hair was messy, his face pale, and for once, he didn't have that arrogant smirk plastered across his face.

"Sunny," he started cautiously, his voice low.

She didn't let him finish. "Don't you 'Sunny' me!" she snapped, shoving the door open further and stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "What the hell is wrong with you, Hawk?"

Hawk stepped back, caught off guard by the fury radiating off her. "Look, I know you're mad-"

"Mad?" Sunny interrupted, her voice rising. "I'm furious! Do you even realize what you've done? You broke Demetri's arm, Hawk! His arm! Your best friend's arm! What the hell were you thinking?"

Hawk winced, guilt flashing across his face. "I wasn't thinking, okay? I-"

"No, you weren't thinking," Sunny shot back, her voice shaking. She stepped closer, jabbing a finger at his chest. "Because if you were, you wouldn't have done something so cruel, so-" She searched for the right word, her voice trembling with emotion. "Unforgivable."

Hawk's face twisted, a mix of shame and frustration. "You don't think I know that? I regret it, Sunny. I regret it every second. I messed up, okay? I know that!"

Sunny let out a bitter laugh, throwing her hands up in disbelief. "'Messed up'? That's your excuse? This isn't like spilling your drink or forgetting someone's birthday, Hawk! You destroyed him! You didn't just hurt his body-you crushed his trust, his faith in you! Do you even understand that?"

Hawk ran a hand through his hair, his voice rising in frustration. "Of course I understand! Do you think I don't know how bad I screwed up? I hate myself for it!"

"Then why did you do it?" Sunny demanded, stepping even closer. Her voice cracked with the weight of her anger and disbelief. "Why? What, because Cobra Kai tells you to 'show no mercy'? Because you wanted to prove how tough you are? Was it worth it, Hawk?"

"No!" Hawk shouted back, his voice breaking. His eyes glistened as he stared at her. "No, it wasn't worth it. I wasn't trying to prove anything-I just... I don't know, okay? I don't know why I did it! It all happened so fast, and I couldn't stop myself!"

Sunny took a shaky breath, her hands trembling as she crossed her arms. Her voice dropped, cold and cutting. "You couldn't stop yourself? That's the excuse you're going with? You're not a puppet, Hawk. You made a choice. A terrible, selfish choice."

Hawk's face crumpled, his shoulders slumping as he leaned against the wall. He looked defeated, a shadow of the cocky fighter he always pretended to be. "I know," he whispered. "I know I did. And I can't take it back. I can't fix what I did."

For a moment, Sunny hesitated. She saw the pain etched into his face, the regret in his eyes. But it wasn't enough. Not yet.

"You're right," she said quietly, her voice like ice. "You can't take it back. But you sure as hell better try to fix it. Because if you don't, Hawk, you're going to lose more than just Demetri. You're going to lose everyone who ever cared about you."

Hawk looked up at her, his voice trembling. "I don't know how to fix it," he admitted.

"Then figure it out," Sunny said sharply, stepping back toward the door. Her anger hadn't faded, but there was something else now-disappointment. And that, she knew, would cut deeper than her words.

As she opened the door, she turned to look at him one last time. "Actions speak louder than words, Hawk. And right now, your actions are screaming that you don't give a damn about anyone but yourself."

She didn't wait for a response. The door slammed shut behind her as she walked back to the car, her heart pounding in her chest. Hawk was left standing in the empty house, her words echoing in his mind, louder than the guilt already eating away at him.

Sunny stepped out of Moon's car and hurried toward the hospital entrance, her chest tight. The rage she had felt earlier when confronting Hawk was now overshadowed by worry. She hadn't been able to get the image of Demetri-kind, awkward, loyal Demetri-out of her head since Sam's tearful phone call.

The sterile smell of the hospital hit her as she entered, and it didn't take long to spot Sam sitting in one of the waiting room chairs, her face buried in her hands. Her shoulders shook as muffled sobs escaped her. Sunny's heart sank at the sight. She strode over and crouched in front of her.

"Sam," Sunny said softly, placing a hand on her knee.

Sam's head shot up, her tear-streaked face a mix of relief and anguish. "Sunny!" She wiped at her eyes but didn't bother trying to hide how upset she was.

"Hey," Sunny said gently. "It's okay. I'm here now. What happened?"

Sam sniffled, her voice trembling as she tried to explain. "It was at the arcade. Demetri and Chris were there-Chris works there, you know? But then the Cobra Kais showed up, and they started picking on Chris while he was trying to do his job. They wouldn't leave him alone, so Demetri called me, and Miyagi-Do went there to help him."

Sunny nodded, urging her to go on.

Sam took a shaky breath. "We tried to stand up to them, but it got out of control. Tory was there, and so were Kyler and... and Hawk. They started fighting us. We were holding our own, but then Tory and the others cornered Demetri. Hawk..." Her voice cracked, and tears streamed down her face.

"Hawk what?" Sunny asked, even though she already knew the answer. Her jaw clenched as she braced herself for Sam's next words.

"Hawk held Demetri down," Sam whispered, her voice barely audible. "And Tory and the Cobra Kais were yelling at him to do it. To hurt him. And... and he broke his arm, Sunny. Hawk broke his arm."

Sunny's stomach churned as she listened. The thought of Hawk, someone who used to be Demetri's best friend, doing something so cruel made her blood boil all over again.

Sam continued, her voice shaking. "Demetri was screaming, and we couldn't stop it. They just left us there after that. They just walked away like it was nothing."

Sunny reached out and wrapped Sam in a tight hug, her voice firm but soothing. "Hey, hey. It's not your fault, okay? You did everything you could."

Sam clung to her, her sobs quieting slightly as she found some comfort in the embrace. "He didn't deserve this," she whispered.

"No, he didn't," Sunny agreed, pulling back to look her in the eyes. "But he's strong, Sam. He'll get through this. And so will you."

Sam nodded, though her expression was still filled with guilt and worry.

"I'm going to go check on him, okay?" Sunny said.

Sam hesitated, then nodded. "He's in room 312."

Sunny gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before standing and heading toward the elevators. Her anger simmered under the surface, but she pushed it aside as she approached Demetri's room.

When she entered, she found Demetri sitting up in bed, his arm in a cast and a sling. He looked pale but managed a small, awkward smile when he saw her.

"Hey," Sunny said softly, closing the door behind her.

"Hey," Demetri replied, his voice tinged with his usual humor despite the situation. "Welcome to my humble abode. It's not much, but it does come with unlimited Jello."

Sunny let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. "Only you could joke about this." She walked over to his bedside, her gaze falling to the cast on his arm.

Demetri followed her gaze. "Ah, yes. My new accessory. The doctor said it's a spiral fracture of the humerus. Pretty much the least humorous thing ever."

Sunny winced at his pun but smiled through it. "That sounds awful. How are you feeling?"

"Like someone dropped a vending machine on my arm," he said with a weak grin. "But, you know, other than that, I'm just peachy."

Sunny sat down in the chair beside him, her expression softening. "Demetri, I'm so sorry this happened to you."

Demetri shrugged with his good shoulder, his smile faltering. "It's not your fault. It's just... Hawk. I don't even know who he is anymore."

Sunny's jaw tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. "He's not the Hawk you knew, Demetri. Not right now. But you've got all of us. We're here for you."

Demetri's eyes softened, and he nodded. "Thanks, Sunny. That means a lot."

They sat in silence for a moment before Demetri spoke again, his voice quieter. "You know, the worst part isn't even the arm. It's that I trusted him. Even after everything, I still thought... I don't know. I thought he wouldn't go this far."

Sunny reached out and gently squeezed his uninjured hand. "You didn't deserve this, Demetri. None of it. But you're going to heal. And when you do, you'll be stronger than ever. I know it."

Demetri's lips quirked into a small smile. "Stronger, huh? Maybe I'll finally be able to beat Miguel at arm wrestling."

Sunny laughed, the sound lightening the heavy atmosphere. "That's the spirit."

As she stayed by his side, Sunny promised herself one thing: Hawk was going to make this right-or he'd have her to answer to again.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

there is so much angst and im here for it.

so sunny joining the cheer squad??? yesss!!!

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