Lost in Hollywood

A Beacon in the Night

Sky hated to admit it, but Cody had been right. Eating, showering, and leaving the house had made her feel somewhat better.

It felt like a betrayal towards Luke, though. Here she was, broken and sad and desperate, but alive nevertheless, eating and showering, breathing, her heart beating, and Luke was in a coffin six feet under, maggots eating through his translucent skin, turning him into dirt and dust while the world kept going on as if he had never existed at all.

Sky swallowed hard to keep the tears down as Cody steered the car into the parking lot of the Miyagi-Do, and turned off the engine. There was a lump in her throat, but it wouldn't move. Luke was dead but she wasn't. It was unfair and it was sad and it was gut-wrenchingly horrible, but Dad had been right and Cody had been right, she couldn't stay in the bed forever. Shutting away the world hadn't brought Kat back, and it wouldn't bring Luke back either.

"You ready?" Cody asked with a silent, gentle tone, glancing towards her.

"No," she replied truthfully. "But whatever— let's get this done."

She opened the door and stepped out of the car, but her feet wouldn't move towards the entrance. She stayed frozen next to the car, leaning her back against its side which was warm under the sunlight. The weather was beautiful, very Californian, with bright sunlight and barely a couple of clouds - it already held the promise of spring, even if it was still months away.

Cody had walked around the car and leaned on it next to Sky, letting out a long sigh.

"It's gonna be okay," he said. "It'll do you good to get something else to think about."

Sky shrugged and turned her eyes to her toes, kicking the yellow dirt absentmindedly. Her pink sneakers were too bright, they were an insult to her mourning, grieving heart. She wished she owned a pair of black ones, made a decision to buy some. She was never wearing pink again, just black, black, black, the color of her broken heart, of her shattered soul.

"Yeah, I know," she muttered. "I just— I wish Sensei Lawrence was here."

She had texted Miguel on her way here, to let everyone know she was coming, but Miguel's reply had left her feeling hollow and scared. He had told her that the senseis had agreed to work with the Eagle-Fangs and the Miyagi-Do's separately this week. Apparently, Mr. LaRusso wanted the Eagle Fangs to learn more defense, and Johnny—

Well, Sky wasn't quite sure what he was going to teach the Miyagi-Do's, but whatever it was, she was jealous. She would have needed Johnny today - his humor, his energy, his strength, his contagious confidence. He would've gotten her out of this miserable slump, he would have believed there was still a badass fighter inside of this broken and crippled girl. Johnny had always believed in her, always pushed her to her limits and over them, making Sky do one impossible thing after another. When she was with him, Sky knew there was nothing she couldn't do. She could fucking fly if he believed he would.

But Mr.LaRusso—

Sky let out a long, nervous sigh. Mr. LaRusso was nice and all, but he would never understand her like Johnny did. Besides, he was Sam's dad. And Sam still hadn't replied to Sky's texts - the latest one she had sent her from the car, saying I'm so sorry, Sam. I know I fucked up. Can we please talk? was read but no answer had come, which felt like a punch in the gut.

Cody had assured her that Sam wanted her to come back to the dojo, but whatever he had said, she wasn't feeling it. The thought that her stupid actions had not only gotten Luke killed and broken Cody's heart, but had also ruined her friendship with Sam, was too heavy to take. Sam had been there for her through everything, and Sky had almost given her life for Sam - and now what? Were her stupid lies and her stupid addiction ruining the best friendship she'd had since Kat? It was too much, she was too tired of losing people, she had lost too much already. Tears welled in her eyes, and she was unable to stop them - since Luke's death she had cried an Ocean, but it seemed there was no limit to the amount of tears she could shed.