warnings: mental health!
___

"IF I knew you were coming before I would've cleaned up more," Johnny explained, moving some of the beer cans away from the table as Alexis calmly sat down. "Want anything to drink?"

"A large cocktail would be my drink of choice," Alexis's answer stunned Johnny, drawing a smirk from him. "But, I'm fine. I'm not here to drink. Just to talk." She played with the ends of her sleeves whilst she turned to him. He sat down. "Thank you for having me here on such short notice. I just... I'm a single parent now. You know what's that's like I'm told."

"You're nothing like me. It's a good thing, my only son's in juvie." Johnny was shamefully informed. "He's coming out soon. You're what, supporting two growing kids?"

"Struggling too," Alexis admitted, still haunted by her daughter's behaviour. "I always thought it was good Cami was leaving the house. She was active after she stopped gymnastics. She stopped doing it because she was uncomfortable. I get why, growing girls, especially ones that look like us get unwanted attention," Johnny shifted in discomfort. "Karate seemed good. I was supportive of it, what mother wouldn't be happy that their child is having a social life?"

Johnny had no answer for that, instead, he fidgeted with his hands.

"Blake was so happy she was doing something she liked." Alexis's jaw tightened, as always whenever she mentioned her husband. "We were happy. And then we weren't."

"Yeah... I remember how that goes," his own mother's death just led him to more bullshit that life threw at him. "When Cameron wanted to come back to Cobra Kai after her... you know, I should've said no but I knew she needed to work through it."

"I'm the same. I love distractions, which was why I went back to work. In some ways my daughter my a mirror. We compartmentalize, don't make a scene and just don't fuss over things we can't control. All the women in my family are like that." Alexis huffed, "but I should've stopped her then. Not you. You're not her parent I am I was just —"

"Grieving. Hey, no one blames you for this." Johnny cut her off. "You're already a better parent than most I know. Kids nowadays are terrible. I was a terrible kid. Cobra Kai made me a terrible kid. An asshole. A bully."

"And it's done the same to my girl," Alexis confessed. "I'm not blind. I know the shit that she's done. It scares me, because she sees it as power, as strength. All because that beast of a man has convinced her to stop taking her medication." She tried concealing her rage but it was no good, Johnny recognised the same in Cameron. "I got a plumber to check our drains and they found weeks worth of pills." She shakily exhaled, "I should've stopped it then and there. Taking her to the psychiatrist as soon as summer came. Straight after the funeral. But then after Miguel's accident..."

Johnny didn't mention the breakup, believing she already knew. Miguel told him in confidence, shedding tears when he did.

"Her mental health is my priority. I have to be — we have to be careful about this. I know you care about her."

"She was one of my first students. Awkward as hell when I first met her. But talented," Johnny remembered the anxious glasses-wearing girl.

"I always thought you'd be some sort of perv," Johnny choked on his saliva, and Alexis continued. "But when Cameron reported back to me and I realized you were a douchebag."

Small laughs escaped them.

"Look, Alexis. Kreese is a monster. He's using whatever hole I left in her heart and filling it with hatred. Anger —"

"— vengeance." Alexis shook her head. "Drew's spying on her for me at school."

"You could always ground her."

Alexis gave him a deadpan look, making him chuckle.

"Girls. Daughters, I wouldn't know where to start, but students. You need her to confront her shit. Head on."

"What do you suggest then?"

A cheeky grin grew on his lips, "Got any Christmas plans?"

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

BLACK sunglasses sat on the bridge of Cameron's nose once she left the school bathroom. She tugged on her backpack whilst pulling up her hood. Her head was pounding and her hands were clammy from her tight yet sore grip.

Excuse me, never let her mouth but students moved out of her way instead.

She wanted nothing more than to leave but the school was already being watched closely due to the amount of times she had already skipped. Her attendance was low for the semester just like her grades.

She took no notice of who walked past, just kept her dimming eyes ahead.

Lily wistfully watched her ex-best friend find her way over to her ex-boyfriend and the rest of their lackeys who made room for her as she stiffly sat down.

"I need to wash out my eyes from what I just saw," Cameron said in disgust.

Caldwell asked, "Teachers getting at it again?"

"Worse. Demetri and Yasmine swapping spit."

All the boys couldn't believe it.

"You're lying," Hawk appeared more angry than confused. "That nerd with front wedgie?"

"As if I have the energy to lie." Cameron grumbled, "That nerd definitely has some sort of humiliation kink."

They just laughed, catching the attention of Sam and Miguel.

The two stood, smiles faded as they watched the scene.

"Shouldn't you be making your way back to the rage twins?" Sam regretted the jest, seeing the frown on Miguel's face. "Sorry. They're your friends and girlfriend."

"Not anymore." It pained him to say. Even more so after having to explain to a perplexed Sam, "Not after what they did to you guys."

"But you've been with Cameron since forever. She wouldn't want you to see us together."

"Well we're just friends, Sam," he made clear. "And I can't be with Roni... Cameron," he corrected himself. "Not when I can hardly recognise her."

She nodded understandably and appreciatively.

Cameron glared at Johnson when he nudged her side, "What?!"

"Look." He nodded over to where Sam and Miguel stood.

Caldwell snickered, "No way he's hooking up with LaRusso."

"Shut up!" Hawk hissed at him, before turning back to his close friend, who had felt stiffen.

"I don't care." Cameron wasn't sure who she was trying to convince. "I really don't."

"We've got dumped by the same people," Hawk mumbled to her, glad that the others couldn't hear, too amused by other things to even pick up on her wiping a stray tear.

It was tough, even more, so that they were now sitting next to each other in homeroom far away from their exes who used to be so close.

"Ugh. What now?" She groaned when her phone went off. She pulled it out of her jacket pocket so Hawk could see as the rest of the boys went off.

mommy, misscarmen +
(text chain)

you're invited to a james
and diaz christmas feast.
bring your best festive
smiles. feliz navidad and
merry christmas!
read

"Oh I wish I could be there to see that shitfest," Hawk snorted only to receive a sharp glare.

"No way in hell am I going," she exclaimed angrily.

Nearing his cousin, Drew chuckled, "You acting like Miss Carmen doesn't cook up a storm." Hawk dapped him up despite Cameron's clear scowl.  "You're going. So am I."

"Great," she said sarcastically.

It would be their first Christmas without Blake.

And no one was really looking forward to it.

"Wanna wear matching sweaters?!" Drew teased.

"Get lost!" Cameron shoved him away, as he laughed over to his friends.

Hawk's amusement didn't fade as he asked, "After school, just punch the shit out of a dummy at our dojo."

"Why not anyone here?"

"That too." Hawk then motioned to Miguel who scrolled through his phone, "You think he knows?"

Miguel's brows furrowed when he read the text from his mom, and then he looked up to see them staring at him.

"He does now," Cameron rolled her eyes.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"YOU'VE dropped the dead weight," Kreese didn't bother hiding his beady grin as he stared up from his office desk. "They've been holding you back kid."

Cameron's brows pinched together, not wanting to challenge her Sensei especially not when he was smoking a cigar.

"I thought you said it was the pills," she argued, blinking rapidly instead of scratching her eyes.

They were drying out and she had forgotten her eye drops this morning.

Kreese hummed, his grin never fell, "That too. Well done, Danger."

"Thank you Sensei."

"And remember what I say. No regrets right?" He saw how the taunting question made her shift in her stance.

"Right Sensei."

"No, go spar with Hawk. Your punches need improving and we've seen how powerful his can be. They pack more than just a strike. It's not enough to just take the enemy down. You want them broken. Unable to get back up. You understand?"

She nodded, "Yes Sensei. I understand. And good luck on speaking to the council today."

"Thanks, kid."

He blissfully sighed as he inhaled his cigar.

"Hawk! Grab the body armour!" He heard Cameron yell.

When class finished she was feeling as sluggish as ever.

"You walking?" Hawk asked, sinking his hands into his pockets after saying goodbye to the others.

"Yeah. My mom won't let me drive until I start wearing my glasses again. Contacts are drying out my eyes apparently."

Her eyes were stinging now.

"Aww four-eyed James," Tory teased.

Cameron playfully warned, "I will hit you."

"I gotta go to see my probation officer. Later," Tory gave her a tender shoulder rub.

"Bye girl," Cameron waved her friend off.

Hawk turned to her, "You sure you don't need a lift?"

"Nah, gonna hit the mini-mart. Been craving some sprite."

He stifled a chuckle, "What, to shock your nervous system?"

"Careful Hawk. Your inner dork is showing."

His face fell, "Yeah whatever glasses."

Cameron shoved him with a strained smile before they went their separate ways.

Strolling the aisles of the store only reminded her of when Aisha was beside her, ranting about whatever skill she nearly mastered, or whenever Lily would complain to the staff about them underpackaging the chips. Or when Tory simply scoffed at the prices.

Phantom giggles bounced around her mind until she paid and walked out.

Robby Keene was there when she walked out, unintentionally bumping into her once again.

He stilled, as did she, yet her can of Sprite, fortunately, didn't drop, only his eyes when he caught hers weren't as lively. That bags room up residence under them.

He didn't want any trouble. He couldn't afford it, not when he just left Juvie.

Cameron had words and hands for the boy in front of her. When she sat waiting patiently for Miguel to wake up in the hospital she stared as did she cry. Her bitter thoughts became vindictive. Especially whenever Johnny Lawrence attempted to speak with her.

But all she could muster out was, "Your hair..." She preferred it cut. He looked older, more mature. "Keep it this way. Instead of that fuck ass bob."

Robby's forehead creased in disbelief, wondering why that's all she could say.

"Don't you hate me?" He questioned, thankful he didn't cause her to drop the can.

Cameron scoffed, "I do."

"Then why aren't you trying anything?" Robby expected to get into a fight with anyone.

"If I wanted to hit you I would. And if I wanted you to land back in juvie I could also lie." She rolled her eyes at his darkening gaze. "But I'm not evil enough to see put you away again."

"That's not what I've heard."

"Don't believe everything you hear." She retorted, "And I won't give you a hard time."

"If only your boyfriend did the same. And your cousin."

Cameron's scowl was prominent, "Well. As long as you never mentioned that boy to me again — Miguel, not Drew — you will remain free." She maliciously added, despite his perplexedness, "But you might wanna keep an eye on that girlfriend of yours."

For extra effect, she bumped his shoulder on her way home.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"CAMERON!" Alexis bellowed as her daughter trasped into their home.

"Mom, I'm right here," Cameron murmured against her drink, taking one last sip. "And I can't go to Diaz's for Christmas. I'll be ill then."

She discarded the can in the kitchen. Drew loudly watched the television whilst Alexis stood tiredly yet angrily against the dining table.

She remarked, "You're ill now because of how abruptly you stopped taking your medication — and yes I know." She gritted, pointedly uncaring of the brief shock on her daughter's exhausted face. "I've known that you haven't been on them. Do you understand how dangerous that is?"

"I feel fine," Cameron said, wincing at another ache flowing through her limbs.

Glancing behind him, Drew called out, "You don't look it."

She snapped, "Shut up."

"Both of you shut up," their mouths clamped shut at Alexis' command. "There's no reason for you not to go to your boyfriend's house for Christmas. Unless there's something you want to tell me? Any more aches and pains, insomnia and excessive eating?"

Miguel dumped me! "None."

"And I've booked an emergency appointment with Dr Curtis."

Clenching her jaw, Cameron replied, "Please tell me you didn't."

"You've lost any privileges regarding making choices young lady. You'll do what I say," Alexis demanded, seeing as her glare narrowed Cameron's dark eyes, "you've been doing as you wish for months."

"And can you blame me? My dad killed himself!" She yelled, startling her cousin.

"Yes, and he made me a widow!" Alexis yelled back, cheating rising up and down in distress, "Stop using your trauma as an excuse to be a bully. I didn't raise one."

"You haven't been raising me since Dad died," Cameron spitefully spat, dragging the entire family into an unbearable silence whilst Drew muted the television.

Her body shook with regret once she saw the guilt and shame on her mother's face.

"Mom..." she whispered, only more words couldn't be forced out.

"Room now." Alexis shakily demanded, "Come out when dinner's ready." She staggered back into the kitchen sink, struggling to find a good grip, "Drew you as well."

Drew didn't argue and followed his quiet cousin through the hallway.

He tried reaching out to her only for her to shake softly her head and tuck herself away in the darkness of her room.

Where she could hide away from the blistering truth and find comfort in the demons that guide her.

Only...they didn't fill her with solace anymore, just pain.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

a/n:

cameron yelling at alexis... yup this is nearly rock bottom. whilst i don't defend cameron disrespecting her mum, i do think honesty was needed between them since their way of coping is ignoring and moving on. she's on her "things haven't been the same since dad died." disney shit.

alexis recruiting johnny was not what you were probably expecting. i did think of her speaking to daniel but johnny had a somewhat healthy relationship dynamic with cameron before everything went to hell. christmas at the diaz's... ooop.

do you think cameron's view on kreese has changed this chapter or is partly the same?