Hot For Sensei

Chapter Twenty-Three

          The next morning, Ivy lay in bed with tears in her eyes. She had had the most wonderful dream, a dream where her parents hasn't died, and she had come home from school to go camping with them as they had planned. It was just an ordinary day of sun and summer breeze, but she could see their faces so clearly, smiling and laughing and worn from the rays, it all felt so real. Until she awoke and saw the plain white walls of her bedroom and realized that there would be no swimming or fishing or smores or hiking, because her parents were gone.

All year she had worked tirelessly to convince herself that the accident never happened, that they were still alive and well back home while she was out here visiting her grandparents. With Miguel and Eli and Cobra Kai taking up all her time, and even Robby when they were dating, it was easy to live in the fantasy. She was having fun and she had made a few good friends. It felt like a vacation, but the camping dream had shattered the veil she so carefully hung over herself. Her parents had died, they were gone, and the vacation had ended a long time ago. She turned on her side to hug her legs to her chest as she heaved painful sobs.

Suddenly, someone knocked on her door, but she neither flinched nor moved to answer it. She didn't care who it was, what they wanted, or what obligation she had to fulfil today. She was too lost in her sorrow and tears.

"Ivy! Are you in there?" she heard Miguel's muffled voice as he continued to knock, "You didn't answer your phone and it's almost time for school!"

She still didn't answer. Instead, she clutched her legs closer to her body and squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that he would just give up and go away.

"Ivy! This isn't like you, I'm coming in!" Miguel announced.

The door opened and closed, and she heard his footsteps inch closer and closer to her room. She wanted to scream, to make him go away, but she couldn't bring herself to. As embarrassed as she was to be seen like this, she knew Miguel only had the best intentions at heart.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked gently as he reached the bed.

For a moment, she stayed silent, but then she rolled over to face him, her eyes red and puffy and still spilling tears. Miguel reacted right away and got down on the bed to pull her into a tight hug. She clung to him as hard as she could, not knowing how much she needed it until he hugged her. He rubbed his hands over her back and shoulders and waited patiently as she sobbed. Eventually, there was a break in the tears, and she was able to pull back and face him.

"It's real, isn't it? My parents are dead." She whispered weakly, "I'll never see them again, and I'm never going back home..."

Miguel's features fell as he struggled for a way to comfort her. With a deep breath, he gave it his best shot.

"Yes, they're gone. Physically, but not from here." He paused to place a finger over her heart, "They'll always be there."

"I feel so alone." She whimpered, "I miss them so much."

"I know it hurts, but I'm glad you decided to face it." Miguel let out a sigh as he moved his hand to her shoulder, "But you're not alone. You have your grandparents, and me, Mami and Yaya, and Sensei, Hawk and Dimitri. You're loved here, Ivy, You're one of us."

The last of her tears trickled down her cheek as she sniffled. She took a deep breath and wiped them away, feeling a little stronger now that Miguel was here. It still hurt like hell, but he was right, and being reminded of such made her feel a lot better.

"Thanks, Miguel. You really are a good friend." She nodded.

"Anytime." Miguel smiled, "I'll go tell Mami that you're not up for school today, and then I'll come back and keep you company later."