Your Smile, My Ghost (cobra kai)

chapter nine

On a fateful Tuesday night, the Diaz was shaking from the combination of old classic rock and current rap music blasting throughout the entire apartment. Miguel was in his room practicing karate while their abuela was in the kitchen cooking dinner. Amelia, on the other hand, was in her room focusing on dancing to Big Bank by YG, in which she was practicing a dance routine of her own design and was completely ignoring the outside world.

Amelia was six when she first saw a street dancer perform on the Santa Monica pier one summer. It was one of the best days of her life for two reasons. One, being that her mom took off the entire day to spend it with Miguel and Amelia by taking them down to the pier; two, being that it was the day that led her to dancing.

Dancing to Amelia was like being free. It gave her her own version of wings. Dance was a part of her, a part of who she always would be. Anytime she found herself dancing, it took control of her body, her movements, her thoughts. It invaded all of her senses to where the world around her fell out of existence.

So essentially when she was dancing, she had no idea that her abuela was moving between rooms, trying to get the siblings attention.

"Miguel, hora de poner la mesa para la cena." she called out, knocking on his door.

All she got in response was Miguel's rapid panting from punching the air. Not that she knew that of course. "I'll be right there. Almost finished." he shouted over the music.

Their abuela scoffed, "Masturbándos," shaking her head and walking over to Amelia's door, knocking. "Nieta, ¿vas a venir a poner la mesa?" she asked.

Amelia froze her movements at the sound of knocking and paused the music, going to open the door. "Lo siento abuela, estaba bailando. Estaré allí en un segundo." she said, trying her best to catch her breath.

Her abuela smiled gently and replied, "Bien. Date prisa, no quiero esperar para siempre."

"Si, abuela!" the girl grinned.

By the time both siblings got out of their rooms and sat down to eat dinner, their mom walked in the door.

"¡Mira quién está en casa!" their abuela exclaims, moving out of her seat to grab her daughter a plate.

Their mama closes the front door and exclaims, "Hey guys!" while putting her purse down on the empty chair, gushing, "Mmm, it smells good in here."

"Hice pollo en salsa de chile!" their abuela brags, smirking a little as she puts food on the plate.

"Ay, gracias mamá." their mama says appreciatively, before kissing both children on the head before sitting down. "I'm sorry I'm late again. Things are crazy at the hospital." she explained tiredly.

Miguel only shrugged and replied, "It's okay. You're short staffed. But we saved you some food."

Amelia looks over her mother's face from the dark bags under her eyes to the wrinkles forming out of stress. Their mother works too hard for their family for her to be concerned over something as trivial as being late for dinner.

"Yeah mama, don't ever feel you have to apologize to us," she says, concern lacing her voice.

Miguel quickly notices the nerves of the room and looks to ease the tension in a boyish manner. "Kiss up." he snickered to his sister.

She glared at him playfully before retorting, "Shut up Miguel."

He leaned against the table and taunted, "How about you make me?"

Their abuela sat back down at the table rolling her eyes, groaning, "¿Qué tal si ambos se callan?"

Miguel and Amelia looked at each other sheepishly before mumbling, "Lo siento, abuela."