chapter thirty-one:
❛ new stories ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) STOP BEING A GHOST READER! ITS NOT HARD TO VOTE AND COMMENT

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. STOP BEING A GHOST READER!

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Jade and Sunny walked down the familiar sidewalk toward their dance studio, their footsteps echoing faintly in the cool morning air. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, casting a soft glow over the row of shops they passed. Both were dressed in their usual dance gear-oversized sweaters and leggings-with their bags slung over their shoulders.

"So, for the group routine," Sunny said excitedly, practically bouncing with energy, "what if we added a jump split right after the second turn sequence? It would totally hype up the crowd!"

Jade raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Yeah, and totally hype up a trip to the ER. Pretty sure Maddie can't even touch her toes."

Sunny laughed, nudging her playfully. "Maddie's been working on her flexibility! She's almost there!"

"Almost isn't enough when you're trying not to break something," Jade quipped. "Besides, you're not gonna convince me to-" She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her gaze snapping forward.

Sunny followed her line of sight and froze. Right on the glass door of their dance studio, a bright red sign was taped up, the bold black letters impossible to miss:

MAGIC MOVES IS NOW CLOSED INDEFINITELY.

"What?" Sunny said, her voice laced with disbelief. She blinked a few times as if the sign might disappear if she stared long enough. "What happened?"

Jade sighed, shifting her bag higher on her shoulder. "Ms. Mara skipped town again."

Sunny turned to her, bewildered. "Huh? Again? What do you mean again?"

Jade reached into the pocket of her hoodie and pulled out her phone, already scrolling through a chaotic thread of messages. "You're not on the group chat, are you?"

Sunny shook her head, still staring at the sign. "No. I muted it weeks ago-it's always just drama or random memes. What's going on?"

Jade handed her phone over, pointing to the most recent messages. Sunny's eyes scanned the screen.

Tasha: Guys, Ms. Mara is gone??!
Rachel: Landlord said she packed up last night. Showcase is canceled!
Maddie: Are you freaking kidding me? Third time she's done this!!

Sunny's jaw dropped as she scrolled back up, rereading the messages. "She packed up and left last night? Didn't tell anyone?"

"Yup," Jade said, leaning against the brick wall next to the studio door. "Apparently, she couldn't pay the rent, so she just disappeared. Left all of us hanging."

Sunny groaned, handing the phone back to Jade. "But the showcase was in two weeks! We were working so hard for it. What about everyone who paid for classes? What about-" She paused, the reality of it hitting her all at once. "I can't believe this."

"Classic Ms. Mara," Jade said with a shrug, sliding her phone back into her pocket. "She's done this before, but this is the first time it actually screwed me over."

Sunny turned to the sign again, staring at it as if she could will it to change. "This sucks. What are we supposed to do now? Just... give up?"

Jade tilted her head thoughtfully, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes. "Or..."

Sunny glanced over, suspicious. "Or what?"

Jade grinned, pushing herself off the wall. "We start our own thing. No Ms. Mara, no disappearing acts. Just us and the rest of the group. We don't need her."

Sunny blinked, caught off guard by the idea. "You mean... like a DIY dance crew?"

"Exactly," Jade said. "We've got the routines, the talent, and the drive. Who says we need a studio to pull it off?"

Sunny hesitated, her initial disappointment beginning to fade as a spark of hope took its place. "You're serious?"

"Why not?" Jade said with a casual shrug. "If Ms. Mara can open a studio and skip town three times, how hard can it be to just not abandon people?"

Sunny laughed despite herself, shaking her head. "You're crazy."

"And you love it," Jade shot back, grinning.

Sunny's eyes flicked back to the sign one last time, her mind racing with possibilities. "Okay, fine. Let's do it. But if Maddie can't touch her toes, she's your problem."

"Deal," Jade said, slinging her arm around Sunny's shoulders as they walked away from the shuttered studio. The disappointment still lingered, but it was overshadowed by something new: determination.

Magic Moves might have closed its doors, but Jade and Sunny were just getting started.

Jade and Sunny sat across from Sunny's mom, Elaine, in the family's cozy living room. The late afternoon sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. On the coffee table in front of them sat a few scribbled notes, sketches of costumes, and a hastily drawn plan for what the girls were hoping to pitch. Elaine, seated in her favorite armchair, looked at them with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Her arms were crossed, and she tapped her fingers lightly against her elbow, waiting for one of them to speak.

"So," Elaine said after a long pause, her voice calm but cautious, "you two have something you want to tell me?"

Sunny leaned forward, her hands clasped together in her lap. "Mom, Jade and I... we have an idea."

Elaine raised an eyebrow. "Oh, this should be interesting."

Jade shot Sunny a quick glance before taking over. "We want to start our own dance crew. Not just a crew-a whole organization where kids in the community can come together to dance, practice, and eventually perform. You know, like a real team."

Elaine blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Wait... what? Start your own dance crew?"

"Yes!" Sunny said, her voice bright with excitement. "Since Magic Moves is closed, there's nowhere for us-or anyone else-to go. The studio was like a second home for a lot of us, and now it's just... gone. We want to make something new, something better."

Elaine leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowed. "Sunny, I admire the ambition, but you're sixteen. Both of you are juniors in high school. Don't you think this might be a little... much?"

Jade sat up straighter, her tone firm but respectful. "We know it's a big deal, Ms. Lane. But we've been working with Ms. Mara for years. We know how these things work-how to organize practices, how to choreograph routines. And honestly?" She gestured toward Sunny. "We've been doing a lot of the work already. Ms. Mara wasn't exactly consistent."

Elaine's lips pressed into a thin line. "You mean the skipping town thing?"

"Exactly," Sunny said, nodding emphatically. "She bailed on us-again. But we're not like her. We care about this. About the team."

Elaine sighed, rubbing her temples. "Girls, I hear you. I really do. But running a dance crew isn't just about dancing. It's about organizing people, managing conflicts, finding funding, and keeping everything afloat. That's a lot for two teenagers to handle."

"We know," Jade said firmly. "And we're ready for it. We've already talked to the rest of the team, and they're all on board. We're thinking of renting the community center for practices-it's affordable, and it's big enough for everyone."

"And how do you plan to pay for that?" Elaine asked, her tone practical.

"Fundraisers," Sunny chimed in. "Bake sales, car washes, even performances at local events. We'll do whatever it takes."

Elaine looked at them both, her skepticism softening just a little. "And school? You're both juniors. You're already juggling homework, exams, and everything else that comes with being sixteen."

"It won't get in the way," Sunny promised, her voice steady. "We'll practice in the evenings and on weekends. School comes first, always."

Jade nodded in agreement. "We've thought this through. We're not saying it'll be easy, but we're passionate about this. It's not just about us-it's about giving everyone a place to belong."

Elaine studied them for a long moment, her gaze sharp but thoughtful. "And what happens if it doesn't work? If you can't get the funding, or the community center says no, or things fall apart?"

Sunny hesitated, glancing at Jade. "Then we'll find another way," Jade said confidently. "This is important to us, Ms. Lane. We're not giving up just because it's hard."

Elaine sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I have to admit, you two are making a pretty compelling argument. But-"

"Please, Mom," Sunny interrupted, her tone softening. "This isn't just a dream. It's something we need to do. For ourselves, for the team... for the community."

Elaine's expression softened at her daughter's earnestness. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Okay," she said finally. "Here's the deal: I'll let you try this. But if your grades drop or it becomes too much, you're pulling back. No arguments."

Sunny's face lit up with a huge grin. "Deal! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She leapt out of her seat and threw her arms around Elaine.

Elaine laughed softly, patting her daughter's back. "Don't thank me yet. You've got a lot of work ahead of you."

Jade stood up, a triumphant smile on her face. "We've got this. You won't regret it, Ms. Lane."

As the two girls rushed off to start planning, Elaine leaned back in her chair, shaking her head with a small smile. "Sixteen," she murmured to herself. "And already taking on the world."

Sunny sat cross-legged on her bed, the warm glow of her desk lamp illuminating the cluttered space around her. Her laptop hummed softly as she typed furiously, ideas for her and Jade's dance movement filling the screen. A list of potential venues, fundraising goals, and even costume ideas sprawled across the document. She chewed on the end of a pencil absentmindedly, deep in thought, until a faint tap tap tap interrupted her focus.

She froze, staring at the window across the room. At first, she thought it might be a tree branch or even a random bird, but then the tapping came again-more insistent this time. Furrowing her brows, she set her laptop aside and slid off the bed.

Pushing the curtain aside, she nearly jumped back when she saw Eli perched awkwardly on the tree outside her window. He waved sheepishly, his grin half-hidden by the shadows.

"Eli?" she said, sliding the window open. "What are you doing?"

"I'm knocking," he said simply.

Sunny snorted. "Why not just use the front door? You know, like a normal person?"

Eli scratched the back of his neck, shifting on the branch. "Your dad hates me now, remember?"

Sunny frowned. "He does not hate you."

Eli raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because last time I came here for New Year's, I showed up on my motorcycle, and he nearly had a full-on panic attack."

Sunny blinked, her face falling. "Oh... right. I forgot about that."

"Yeah," Eli said with a smirk. "So, I figured sneaking in through the window was... safer."

Sunny rolled her eyes, stepping back. "Alright, fine. Get in here before you fall and break something."

Eli carefully climbed inside, landing on the carpet with a soft thud. He brushed some bark off his jacket and glanced around her room. "Still the same," he said, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia.

"Yeah, well, not much has changed since the last time you were here," Sunny replied, settling back onto her bed. "So, what's up? Why are you here?"

Eli hesitated for a moment before sitting on the edge of her bed, facing her. "So... today was the first training session where Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang worked together. You know, the first week of this whole 'united dojo' thing."

"Oh yeah!" Sunny said, her eyes lighting up. "How did it go? Sorry, I've been so swamped with this dance movement stuff."

"Dance movement?" Eli asked, his brow furrowing. "What's that?"

Sunny grinned and grabbed her laptop, turning the screen toward him. "Jade and I are starting a new dance crew to replace Magic Moves. We're calling it a movement because it's about more than just dance-it's about community and self-expression."

Eli nodded, genuinely impressed. "That's... actually really cool. You're always doing something creative like this."

"Gotta stay busy," she said with a shrug. "But enough about me. How did the training go?"

Eli sighed, leaning back slightly. "Not great. Both dojos are giving me a hard time. Miyagi-Do still sees me as the guy who wrecked their dojo and bullied half their students. And Eagle Fang? They don't exactly trust me either."

Sunny frowned, her voice softening. "That's not fair. That wasn't you-that was Cobra Kai's influence. I can see you're trying to be better now."

Eli looked at her, his cheeks flushing slightly at her words. He quickly looked away, trying to play it cool. "Thanks," he muttered.

Sunny smiled gently but didn't press further. "So... is that why you're here? To vent?"

"Kind of," Eli admitted, rubbing the back of his neck again. "But also... I saw something at Miyagi-Do today, and it gave me an idea."

"Oh?" Sunny tilted her head. "What kind of idea?"

"There's this painting in the dojo," Eli began, his voice picking up with excitement. "It's of Mr. Miyagi's sparring deck-the one by the lake. It's this big, open platform where he used to train Daniel and the others."

Sunny nodded slowly. "Okay, I think I've seen that. What about it?"

Eli's eyes lit up. "I want to build it. Like, for real. I think it could be something the dojos can use together-something to bring them closer. But..." He hesitated, looking at her hopefully. "I need your help."

Sunny blinked. "Wait, me? Why me? Do I look like a carpenter to you?"

Eli laughed. "No, but you're good at planning and design. I figured if anyone could help me figure out how to make it work, it'd be you."

Sunny folded her arms, giving him a skeptical look. "And you think building a giant sparring deck is going to solve your dojo problems?"

"Maybe not completely," Eli admitted, "but it's a start. It's something positive. Something that shows I'm serious about being part of this dojo. I need to do this, Sunny."

She studied him for a moment, seeing the earnest determination in his eyes. Her skeptical expression softened, and a small smile tugged at her lips. "Alright," she said finally. "I'll help you. But don't expect me to do all the work."

Eli grinned, relief washing over his face. "Deal. Thanks, Sunny."

"Don't thank me yet," she said, already pulling up her laptop. "We've got a lot of planning to do."

Eli leaned back against the bedframe, watching her as she began sketching out ideas. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was finally moving forward.

Eli and Sunny approached the gates of Miyagi-Do under a warm mid-morning sun, the faint rustling of leaves mingling with the distant chirping of birds. Sunny pushed the wooden gate open, the familiar creak echoing softly. Eli followed close behind, gripping a sledgehammer that rested casually over his shoulder. His strides were confident, purposeful.

Sunny let the gate swing shut behind her and jogged to catch up as Eli strode past the gleaming antique cars parked in the courtyard. The sound of voices drifted over from one of the vehicles where Miguel and Sam were chatting inside. The moment their eyes landed on Eli's sledgehammer, their conversation came to an abrupt halt.

"Hawk!" Miguel called out, his voice carrying both confusion and alarm.

Sunny glanced back at them, her ponytail bouncing with the motion. Miguel and Sam scrambled out of the car, their concern palpable.

"Sunny, what's going on?" Miguel asked, his brows furrowed. "Why does Hawk have a sledgehammer?"

Sunny flashed them a smile as she walked briskly to catch up with Eli. "We're going to build a sparring deck," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Miguel and Sam exchanged skeptical glances before hurrying after her, their curiosity piqued.

Eli stopped near the overgrown fence at the edge of the training area and adjusted his grip on the sledgehammer. He inspected the weathered wood for a moment, then took a step back to position himself for the first swing.

"Stay back!" he called out over his shoulder, glancing briefly at Sunny and the others. "It's coming down."

With a sharp exhale, Eli swung the sledgehammer with all his might, the resounding thud reverberating across the courtyard. The impact sent a splintering crack through the fence, drawing everyone's attention.

From inside the dojo, Daniel and Johnny sprinted out, alarmed by the noise.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" Daniel shouted, his tone sharp as his gaze landed on Eli and the battered fence.

Sunny quickly moved to intercept Daniel, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "It's not what it looks like!" she said, her voice firm but calm.

Eli turned to face Daniel and Johnny, setting the sledgehammer down with a thud. He stood tall, his expression serious. "You were both right," he said, meeting their eyes with unwavering determination. "Talk is cheap. So, I'm building a bridge."

Demetri appeared from the far side of the yard, his iPad in hand and a hint of nervous excitement on his face. "Uh, to clarify," he said, stepping into the conversation, "it's an Okinawan sparring deck."

He tapped on the iPad, pulling up a detailed design schematic. "Both Eli and Sunny worked on the concept. I checked their math, and the physics totally hold up. This thing is legit."

He swiped to another slide, holding the screen out for Daniel and Johnny to inspect.

Daniel's stern expression softened slightly, though skepticism lingered in his gaze.

Sam and Miguel joined the group, their own curiosity growing.

"Mr. Miyagi just used this spot for extra storage," Sam explained, gesturing to the cluttered, overgrown space behind the fence. "But having a new deck here would give us so much more room for training."

"And we're all going to help build it," Miguel added. "That is, if you approve."

Daniel hesitated, his eyes sweeping across the group. The sight of his students standing united, eager to work together on something meaningful, seemed to tug at his emotions.

Sunny took a step closer to him, her voice soft but earnest. "I think you should do it," she said, her eyes meeting his.

Daniel glanced at Johnny, who grinned and gave him an encouraging shrug. "Sounds good to me," Johnny said.

Daniel let out a small sigh, then nodded. "Alright. Let's do it."

The group erupted into cheers, scattering to start pulling weeds, clearing debris, and organizing tools. Eli grabbed a shovel, ready to break ground, while Sunny began hauling away some of the old boards.

As Sunny bent down to collect a pile of tools, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, she found herself pulled into a warm embrace by Eli. The unexpected gesture made her freeze for a moment.

"Thanks for believing in me," Eli said, his voice low but filled with genuine emotion.

Sunny's cheeks flushed, but she managed a small smile as she hugged him back. "Always," she whispered.

Eli pulled back, his smile soft and sincere. For a moment, they stood there, caught in a rare moment of shared vulnerability. Then, with a renewed sense of purpose, they turned back to their work, ready to transform the space-and themselves-in the process.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

NEW GIF AND THEYRE SO SOFT AND CUTE HEHEHEHE

S4 IS THEIR SEASON YALL

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) STOP BEING A GHOST READER! ITS NOT HARD TO VOTE AND COMMENT