Before I Forget

Mortal Kombat

The next morning, Sky went to the dojo early, to be able to tell Sensei about her coming trip to Italy in private before the rest of the Cobras arrived. It made no difference, though - as soon as she arrived, it became clear that Sensei was already in a bad mood, and he didn't take the news well.

"What the fuck?" he yelled. "You are the fucking Champion! You don't get to take time off!"

"But–" she started, glancing around nervously. There was a broken mirror and shattered glass on the floor, and one wall was stained black as if there had been a fire. Sensei's eyes narrowed in a threatening way as he saw she had noticed. Sky did the wise thing and didn't ask.

"Italy?" his brows furrowed angrily. "What's in there anyway? American pizza not good enough for you?"

"It's not my choice," Sky muttered defensively. "It's because of my Dad's work. I am underaged, it's not like I have much say about it."

"What's your dad doing in Italy? Is he a mafioso or something?"

"Yeah, he's a mafioso. He kidnaps children and sells their kidneys to organ vendors." Sky replied with an eye roll. "Anyway, we're only leaving in July, so there is still time before that. And I can train there too - not in a dojo, but by myself."

She thought it best not to mention that Hawk was going too. Sensei seemed pissed enough already, even without that piece of information.

"Well, you'd better," Sensei said, still grudgingly. "You are the champion - don't want you turning all soft during the summer. Someone might take your place."

At that moment, that someone walked in through the doors of the dojo, the bell chimed, and both Sky and Sensei turned to look.

"Diaz," Sensei said as a greeting, and his voice was still harsh. "You're early."

"Sensei," Miguel replied, and bowed, but then his glance shifted to her, and his throat bobbed. "Sky - could we... can we talk?"

She hadn't talked to him since the semifinals, and the memory of the merciless look on his face returned to her instantly. A part of her wanted to just turn her back to Miguel and to start hitting the punching bag imagining it was his stupid face she was hitting, but–

But he is my friend. And I'll be damned if I lose any more friends in this lifetime.

"Sure," she said and glanced at Sensei. "We'll be outside, Sensei."

She walked back to the doors and stepped out with Miguel, the heat of the Californian sun hitting her instantly even if it was still morning. She leaned her back on the wall and crossed her arms on her chest, taking a look at Miguel - who now, in his T-shirt and shorts, looked like a different boy than the one who she had met on the mat. That boy had been cruel and vicious - this one looked like the Miguel she had known before.

"So?" she asked, still wary. "What do you want?"

"To say I'm sorry," Miguel replied. "I... I know I acted like a jerk."

"Yeah, you did." Sky replied, her eyes meeting his. She held the stare for a while, and he was the first one to look down.

"I just... I don't know what got into me. I just wanted to win, so badly." he explained, looking ashamed and beaten. He stuffed his hands deep into the pockets of his shorts and stared at his sneakers. "I've never been the best at anything. I wanted to show everyone I could do that."

"I get it," Sky shrugged. "I've never been the best at anything either."

Miguel looked up, and their eyes met. He still looked sullen and serious. "Well, you're the best now."