SUNSHINE | 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝘇

|All-Valley|

"Gracie, tell me you're not being serious right now" Dad demanded. I sighed lightly and we both looked to mom for help. "Johnny, if she doesn't want to go then you can't make her" Mom defended.

"It's the All-Valley, Cobra Kai needs her" Dad explained. Alright, here's the thing. I want to go to the tournament, I do. There's just one little problem. My friends probably hate me right now.

Well, most of them. I answered one of Sam's calls last night and we talk for a long time. Apparently she thinks Robby's great and she completely understood why I didn't tell people about us being siblings.

"If we don't have Grace we're left with Miguel and he's only one person" Dad argued.

"Dad, Hawk, Aisha and plenty others are awesome at karate" I told him. Dad just waved a dismissive hand at my words.

"You've wanted to do this since you were three, what happened?" Dad asked. I looked up at him from my seat on the couch. "The team don't want me there. Frankly, I don't want to see him- them, I mean them"

Smooth, Grace. Real smooth.

"I don't know who you're really talking about but it doesn't matter. 'Cause who cares about them? Gracie, this is the All-Valley. Don't go for them go for you" Dad finished his motivational speech and I hate to say that I felt better.

"Fine. I'll go. But don't blame me if shit goes down because of it" I said. "Language" Mom yelled from the kitchen.

"Sorry, Steve Rogers" I joked as I was getting up to get ready. Mom waved a dish towel in my direction. "She gets that from you" She added to dad.

"Her awesomeness, I know"

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"Whatever, I mean, we're here and he's not. We're gonna have to do this without him" Hawk said just as Dad and I were approaching.

"Do what without me?" Dad asked. Hawk and Miguel looked shocked to see me. Aisha however, texted me and asked me if I was coming while I was on the way.

Dad gave Hawk and Miguel a challenging look when he noticed them looking at me. I don't think he knows what's up but he knows enough to understand that the boys and I are disagreeing.

"Sensei" Aisha said in surprise before smiling at me, "Grace"

I gave a tentatively wave and avoided Miguel's eye. "We didn't think you were gonna show up" Hawk admitted.

"I may not always win but I never back out of a fight" Dad told them. "Alright, let's sign up" Miguel said moodily.

"He's been like that all morning" Aisha whispered into my ear. I felt guilt consume me at those words.

"Not yet" Dad said, "There's one more lesson I have to teach you"

We made our way into the building. It was packed with other kids entering the tournament. Tensions were high. Dad had us stand in a circle to hear his lesson.

"You've all learned to strike first, to be aggressive, to not be losers" Dad stated, walking around to look at all of us. "I've taught you to strike hard, put every ounce of your power behind everything you do"

"But I haven't taught you the third rule of Cobra Kai... No mercy. The older you get, the more you're gonna learn that life isn't fair" That I could agree with.

"You wake up one morning feeling great, and then life throws a spinning heel kick to your crotch. Takes a big steaming shit in your mouth. You get an F on a test. You get suspended. You fall in love with someone, and you lose them" At those words I glanced at Miguel. Our eyes locked till he looked away.

"Your car gets set on fire. Just when you think things are going good, everything falls apart. That's how it goes. Life shows no mercy, so neither do we" Dad told us.

"We do whatever it takes to keep our heads above water. We do whatever it takes to keep moving forward. We do whatever it takes to win!" Dad's voice was getting louder with enthusiasm.

"Remember who you are. You're badass. You don't give a shit. You kick ass. You're Cobra Kai" He yelled. "Cobra Kai!" Miguel almost howled, throwing his head back.

The rest of us cheered, getting excited. "All right, guys, let's get down there and kick the shit out of everybody" Dad grinned around at all of us. Miguel pulled his white gi out of his bag. The one dad had given him.

"No" Dad said, stopping him, "You're not wearing those"

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I am so sorry for the delay on this chapter. I got lazy and stopped writing for a while. Hope you liked it. I changed Johnny's speech to be a little more inclusive.

Don't be a ghost reader. 🤼‍♂️

L x