warnings: mentions of suicide, death, grief and mental health!
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NO voicemail. No note. Only the echoing words of a news presenter proclaiming Blake James' last words. They buzzed in Cameron's mind as her Father was buried the next day — suffocated but the earth and promises to never be forgotten as a final meal was concluded in the James' family home. Relatives, friends and all the Cobra Kai's were present, watching the mourning mother and daughter ignore condolences and throw themselves into distractions.

A new distraction was helping Drew James move in. He needed a place to stay as his mother got a promotion across the country. The cousin of the James family knew not to step on any toes unless it was in his football cleats.

"In the end, he couldn't be saved. My mom and me... we weren't enough for him to fight. Or maybe the pain was too much. Or just the numbness. I don't want to ever feel like that. I want to keep doing stuff. I have to," Cameron expressed.

Miguel's arm snaked behind the back of her chair, "But it's okay to do nothing. I'm sure everyone would be fine with you taking a step back. Karate will still be there."

"No. I want to go. Last year I just scraped by, same with School. I want to do better this year," she took a sip of their strawberry milkshake. "But forget about that. We should be celebrating. You won Mig. I'm proud of that. Can we focus on that?"

Miguel's softening gaze followed her, "If that would make you feel better."

She stiffly nodded, "It would."

"Then okay," he murmured, eyes narrowing as she picked the black nail polish on her nails and played with her braided hair. Condolences were given in more than just words, Lily's aunt offered a free salon appointment so that was one thing less Cameron would have to overcome for the Summer. "Oh shit." Miguel delicately plucked a fallen eyelash from her cheek, startling her as she stared at it on his thumb. "Make a wish amor."

Her jaw tightened, sighing as she pushed his hand away, "it already can't come true."

Miguel gulped as he stiffened up. He had felt guilty. Severely guilty, mulling over his thoughts – had he not been so desperate for her attention maybe she would've had a dad or had more moments and memories to hold dear.

Cameron's phone buzzed, and she picked it up from the table as waitresses went past their table. She has to text her mom every hour when she's out as a precaution. She told her mom that she would be on a Applebee's date but she still had to check in.

"Drew's picking me up later," Cameron informed, putting down her phone.

Miguel's face twitched as he responded, "Oh yeah... the cousin."

She caught the agitated edge to his voice and said, "He won't be around that much. He's a grade above us."

"And popular as hell."

"Again you're the All-Valley champ. Are you jealous?" she jested, though a smile didn't appear.

"No. I'm cautious. All that attention won't be good for you now that you're —"

"Grieving?" she grumbled, taking his hand in hers as she spoke, "Miguel, stop saying it."

He cocked his head to the side to say, "You are... listen..."

"No. I'm tired of wearing a brave face." Even with a meek and punctured voice, it was tough. "The sympathetic stares are just a reminder of..." what she lost, what they lost, what she could never get back, not with jabs or kicks or acrobatics. "I need to not focus on it. I'll break if I do. And you don't want me to break do you?"

All she wanted was to cling to the remanence of the contentment she felt when she fought.

Miguel exhaled deeply, swiping his tongue over his brace-less teeth to state, "I want you to lean on me if you need to. Just process —"

"Do you want wings? I think if we get wings it'll be fine but we shouldn't mix them with a shake," she hastily cut him off, earning a depleted expression. Her downcast eyes lit up when Lily, Hawk, Demetri and Aisha came over. "Can we get some food, please? I've been telling Mig, that I'm hungry."

"Feed your girlfriend, El Serpiente," Hawk said, patting his friend on the shoulder as they took their seats.

Hawk seemed to be the only one who understood that she needed distraction.

Miguel rolled his shoulders back as he gave into Cameron's pleading look.

"Fries?" he asked and she nodded.

"Thank you."

Lily fluttered her lashes as she turned to her boyfriend, "Hawk..."

"On it." he didn't hesitate to get up, then tapped Aisha, "Aisha?"

Aisha cast him a grateful look, "Sure thanks."

The two Cobra Kai's strolled away nudging each other on the way to the counter.

"I was thinking we should all stay at mine tonight," Cameron suggested.

They slept on her bedroom floor after the funeral. Not all the Cobra Kai's only a handful.

Demetri grimaced, "Will your cousin be there?"

Lily chuckled as she noted the worry on his face, "You're scared of Drew? He's harmless, 'Metri."

"He's 6"2," Demetri deadpanned.

"And?" Aisha pressed.

"He's 16, almost 17. Boys usually don't stop growing at 18. He's got 2 more years until he turns into Godzilla. Plus he plays football. A beastly sport."

Cameron eyed him, "Careful Demetri. Are you calling my cousin an animal?"

"What?! No. I mean. He's a big guy. He could squash us," Demetri's eyes reiterated, spluttering out his response, mindful of his choice of words.

"You. he could squash you If you don't grow some balls," Cameron retorted, then took a sip of the strawberry shake, smacking Lily's hand away when she tried doing the same.

"You could always join Cobra Kai." Aisha suggested, "Sensei won't go easy on you."

Cameron added, "I won't go easy on you."

Miguel and Hawk returned with their order, sliding back into their seats.

"Thank you." The girls chorused and Demetri sat there, dumbfounded.

"Have you asked your cousin about Cobra Kai?" Hawk questioned, confused when Miguel rolled his eyes.

"He's not joining." Cameron huffed, "Beside. One James is enough right?"

"Well, he's got a reach —" Hawk quietly groaned when Miguel kicked him under the table,  "Right. One James is more than enough."

"Eat Mig," Cameron encouraged since Aisha and Lily were digging into their small portions.

Miguel frowned, "They're yours."

"Ours." Cameron corrected, earning a small smile from him when he took a fry to please her.

"Gross," Lily practically gagged.

Hawk joined in even though the pair were far worse with their PDA. After the haste introduction to her grandma, Hawk was comfortable in their budding relationship, even with Lily still determining her sexuality. It was confusing and hard at times, but they made it work.

Aisha spoke up, turning to her grieving friend, "You have to help me spar tomorrow."

"You're still training tomorrow?" Demetri was the only one stunned by her decision, "Not even gonna give it a week?"

"Nope," Cameron said with indifference, leaning into her boyfriend's side.

"Isn't wise to give this sorta thing a while to recover? You know take a break?" Demetri glanced around, confused as to why no one shared the sentiment.

"Cool it," Hawk hissed.

Cameron remarked, "And who would be satisfied with being a quarter-finalist? Not me."

"Damn straight." Hawk agreed, as his girlfriend fed him a fry. 

Cameron added,  "Can't let my boyfriend upstage me again."

Miguel feigned offence, "Mean."

She almost smiled at that.

"Or me. Next time I'll body you. All of you," Aisha commented, eyes wide and determined.

Cameron raised an amused brow, "Oh really?"

"Yes really."

"Not the Hawk no way," Hawk disagreed, reaching over to flick her shoulder.

Demetri scrunched up his face, "Third person really?"

Cameron cocked her head to the side, "The Hawk?"

She wasn't mocking him like Demetri, she was genuinely intrigued.

"It suits him." Lily defended, stroking his hand, drawing a wry smirk from him. She knew of his insecurities. He hid them with rage and hair dye. "Leave him alone."

Interrupting their bickering, Aisha informed, "Moon texts she wants to come."

They all saw how Lily's face dropped, "Not her."

"I thought you two got along," Miguel raised his hands in defence at the glare he received.

"Is she still friends with Yasmine?" Lily questioned, staring at Aisha.

Aisha shrugged, "I think so."

"That she can shit in her hands and clap," Cameron voiced.

Most of them stifled their laughs.

"Damn straight," Lily applauded.

"Gross," Demetri murmured, as Hawk high-fived Cameron. "I guess that puts my plans to eat tonight on hold."

They all laughed.

Miguel walked Cameron out of Applebee's, firmly holding her hand as they approached the parking lot.

He quietly soothed the back of her hand with his thumb as she leaned against him, prompting him to gently pull her toward his chest as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us? You'll be home for 11." He softly asked.

"Can't. Still need to move some of my things out of the spare room for Drew," she answered, playing with the ends of her braids.

He hummed, "Okay, want me to call you later?"

"I do. Can't stop the Spanish lessons even if we're out of school," she joked, despite loving that his voice sounded deeper recently. And hair was thicker.

Her attraction to him was ever-growing.

Miguel whispered, in her ear, "Of course not. Would be insane if you did."

"Insanity. And I don't wanna turn into JLO."

Miguel chuckled.

A car horn snapped them out of their comfortable bubble.

Miguel suppressed the urge to roll his eyes when he caught the sight of Drew James behind the wheel.

"Bye," Cameron murmured, pulling from his arms only to turn around and peck his lips.

It was a fleeting kiss, but it only made them adore each other more.

"Bye."

His hands slotted into his pockets when his girlfriend walked away and toward the Audi, Drew exited from.

Miguel lifted his head when the tall and slender running back approached him much to Cameron's disdain. Drew's narrow brown eyes had a cocky twinkle to them.

The two teens sized each other up for a moment, Drew was clearly taller, making Miguel crane his head even more.

"Tell your mom I said thanks," Drew spoke up, breaking the silence.

Miguel's brow quirked up, "For?"

"She left more food for our family so thanks," Drew specified. "

Miguel deadpanned, "It's a cultural thing."

"We know," Drew nearly rolled his eyes. "We do the same thing."

"Cool."

Swinging his keys around, Drew begrudgingly asked, "Do you want a lift?"

"I'm good. I'm still with my friends," Miguel nodded his head toward the group of people sitting inside by the window.

Drew followed his gesture, finding teenagers quickly turn around and face elsewhere.

"Just friends?" He pressed, earning an irritated look.

"Of course, I'm loyal to my girlfriend," Miguel snapped back.

"Just checking."

"Didn't have to."

"Have fun, hanging out, Diaz," Drew sent him a mock salute before striding back to his car, leaving Miguel to scoff but remain standing waiting until they drove off.

"You're an asshole. You know that right?" Cameron remarked once he slammed the car door shut. "You indicated Miguel was cheating on me."

Drew kissed his teeth when she waved her phone filled with a quick message from Miguel detailing their conversation.

"Snitch."

Cameron groaned, "Just start the car."

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"WHAT the hell?" Drew eyed the kids leaving Cobra Kai, who stared at his cousin in awe as they approached the Dojo. "Are you famous or something?"

"Being an All Valley Quarter finalist will do that," Cameron replied, shrugging as they pulled open the door, perplexed by the white Gi's the Cobra Kai's wore, Aisha leading the warming up and her boyfriend and his best friend doing press-ups. "Sorry that I'm late, Sensei."

"Holy Shit," Bert's eyes widened at the sight of Drew, who smirked at the punishment Miguel and Hawk received.

"James. Leave." Johnny instructed, snapping out of his shock from seeing her so quickly after the funeral. But then he nodded to the tall teen standing next to her, "Praying Mantis can stay."

"I'm Drew James," Drew said with his usual leave of arrogance.

Johnny's eyes darted between the two cousins, "There's more of you?"

"One of many first cousins Sensei," Cameron informed, scanning the dojo, as she gestured to her cousin. "And no he's not joining."  She pointed at the two teens doing push-ups in their clothes, not gi's. "Why are they doing pushups?"

"Teaching them why purposely attacking an opponent's injury isn't badass," Sensei stated, eyes flickering toward the two on the floor, "being pussies isn't what I taught you. Attacking opponents when they're not looking isn't Cobra Kai. Cheating is not Cobra Kai."

"Cheating? It was just creative winning," Cameron defended them.

Johnny scoffed, "Another reason why you need to leave James."

"I need to be distracted. I'm fucking suffocated by condolences. I just want to train. Make sure I don't lose for a second time," Cameron strained voice, made Miguel's head snap up as some of the other students stopped to stare.

"Kid..."

"Or that no one lands a punch on this face," Cameron added, swallowing the knot in her throat.

"Come to my office," Johnny instructed, dragging his eyes over to Drew. "You too."

"Football's more my thing. I'll see you later CJ." Drew flashed her a smile, before calling out "Keep up the good work Diaz!"

"Asshole," Miguel muttered under his breath, moving faster when he heard the front door swing shut.

When Cameron entered the office with Johnny.

A moment passed where neither spoke, and she adjusted the strap of her bag, anxious and ready to train. It reminded him of himself. He wasn't comfortable with death. Not since his mom passed away, leaving him to the grilling and verbal terror of his stepdad.  He didn't want condolences he wanted his mom and he knew she felt the same about her dad.

"You wanna work through your grief?"

"I do."

"You rely on your feet too much. All that pivoting and tricks work now. But you need to work on your endurance. It's why you lost that fight. Focus on your upper body kid."

Cameron let a smile grow on her face at the constructive criticism.

"Is your mom doing okay?"

Cameron pondered her response, like her, Alexis didn't want to just sit and think. But her firm thought otherwise and gave time off for bereavement. A few weeks of paid leave because she was one of the best Data Analytics in the area and they wanted her to give her respectable time to grieve.

"She's like me. She's working through it."

Johnny nodded, with narrowed eyes.

Miguel lightly knocked on the door, scanning his girlfriend as her face lit up.

"Hey," he greeted.

"I'm gonna go change, see you in there," she shuffled passed, gently touching his shoulder as she did.

"Yeah see you."

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CAMERON sat up in bed as she jotted down some strategy after returning home from watching 'Over the Top' at Hawk's house.

She decided to go on a night run only an hour prior, which frightened the hell out of her mom who then gave up with ranting and retired to her bedroom. Drew was off doing God knows what with God knows who, leaving her to think of ways to better her endurance besides running.

She knew that Miguel's fighting style was relentless — an endless series of short strikes coupled with necessary defence. Not always looking for an opening. Just overloading his opponent by constantly attacking. He wasn't easily intimidated by gimmicky tricks, which are easy to avoid and cost too much energy and momentum.

Although acrobatics were important to her, there were other ways of being sneaky, ways that involved upper body strength.

She adjusted her dad's shirt as she clicked on her pen. Cardio. She started writing. Skipping. HITT - High-intensity interval training.

Sensei would help her with this.

She would need all the help she could get.

Cameron turned to the side when she noted her glass was empty making her huff and get out of bed, taking the glass and leaving her room.

The hallways of her home were never this silent. The television in the living room would always echo through, the flushes of water from the kitchen sink, and the clattering of dishes.

But now as she stepped passed her parent's room she sucked in a deep breath, hearing the sobs coming from inside.

17 years of marriage, all for Alexis James to lay in bed alone.

Her late husband's family would always state that the spirits would reside and therefore no one was ever alone but she didn't listen, she couldn't. Not when her Blake was not by her side.

Shuffling into the kitchen, Cameron hadn't noticed a silent tear trickle down her face as she saw the plate of food covered with a plastic cover sitting on the dining table. It was for Blake. For her dad.

Leaving out food or drink for the dead was a tradition.

One they would follow religiously now that Blake was no longer with them.

"I'm working through it," Cameron breathed out, as she shakily took a sip of her water, leaning against the sink. "I'm working through it."

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a/n:

funeral traditions vary within every culture. although i'm half sierra leonean, my family are christians not muslim, however, I like to think blake's side of the family would follow the family tradition of burying their dead the next day. also, it goes into the theme of the james' family, never looking back just continuously distracting themselves. also in my family, on my mum's side, we leave out food for the dead on their birthdays for the day and throw salt over our shoulders before throwing it away.

miguel isn't jealous of drew. i hope that's clear, he just doesn't want anything extra to add to cameron's plate. he's being cautious, but their subtle beef is too funny to me. It's different to his and lily's. also, i touched slightly on lily's relationship with hawk and her sexuality and how she's navigating it with his help. i do want to go into detail or mention it more, however, i want to keep the focus on cameron.

johnny and cameron's relationship this season will change this season. he clearly sees himself in her regarding her grief so he will encourage her. do you think he will regret that decision? also alexis will continue to be featured in each chapter as will drew, just in different ways. but drew is gonna be trouble.