Dragging myself back into the apartment, I felt dead on my feet, it has been the best birthday ever, and I almost didn't want it to end, but I also wanted to catch up on my beauty sleep.
Closing the door behind me, I jumped, seeing my brother sitting quietly in the living area, his face sullen and defeated as his mouth was drawn down into a frown.
Dropping onto the chair next to him, I watched as he continued to stare at a crumpled piece of paper sadly, "Did ya get the girl?" I questioned, closing my eyes for a moment.
"Yeah," He answered, sounding just as tired as I was "thanks for knocking some sense into me" I smiled at his words but didn't make any move to open my eyes.
"You're welcome, it's what annoying little sisters do," I joked, hearing a small snort come from my brother before silence took over us again; it wasn't awkward at all just - empty.
Frowning at his somber attitude, I finally cracked my eyes open only to see him still gazing down at the paper with an apprehensive look on his face "What's that" snagging the paper from his hand and I read it "A release form?".
Daniel nodded as I peered over the crumpled paper. "Is this for the tournament?" all I got was another solemn inclination, "why is it all wrinkled?" I asked as I tried to smooth the paper out on my lap.
"I asked Ma to sign it, and I guess this was her answer," My brother said quietly, and I knew this wasn't good for him.
As much as I tried to put the past in the past when thinking about what the guys and Daniel did to each other, I also knew how bad it would get if this paper wasn't signed.
If Daniel didn't get the paper signed, he couldn't enter the tournament, and after having met Kreese, I knew that wasn't an option for either my brother or the Cobra Kai's.
"I'm going to bed," My twin sighed as he shuffled away, his eyes glistening. "Just throw that away when you're done," He commented offhandedly before closing his bedroom door.
Shaking my head with a sigh, I stood up and made my way over to my ma's room the tiredness from before was gone now I was on a mission.
Opening the door slowly, I made out the figure in her bed as I stepped closer and turned on her bedside lamp, casting a warm radiance over the bedroom.
"Ma" I shook her gently as I called her name watching as one of her eyes peeked open slowly as I sat on the edge of her bed "Come on Ma, I want to talk" I huffed lightly tapping on her butt like she does to me when I won't wake.
"Katherine?" She groaned as she turned to face me with a smile, "did you have a good birthday, Sweetheart?" she questioned, sitting up in the bed as if I hadn't just woken her up abruptly.
"Yeah, it was great," I answered offhandedly, not really wanting to get into that with her right now. "So I have something I need you to sign for me," I say, pushing the paper towards her as she huffed a short amused laugh.
"What is it with you and your brother-" she stopped seeing the wrinkled paper as her smile turned to a scowl "-I already told Daniel I didn't want to sign that Katherine. The answer is no, and that's final", she scolded, but I didn't move the paper away.
"What about what we want?" I questioned as she wordlessly glanced at me "We've done what you want Ma, we moved here for you because we both knew what it meant to you. We never ask for anything because we know how hard you work for us," I continued as her eyes filled with tears.
"Katherine..."
I shook my head as my own eyes stung "I know how hard it must be for you Ma, but sometimes we have to make our own mistakes to grow" I explained as a tear ran down my cheek, "and I know you'll be there beside us when we make them because we'll always need you to turn to."
Ma just shook her head as her tears began to pour. "I'm sorry, Katherine, but my answer is still no, I won't sit by and watch him get hurt. You shouldn't want to either" Ma leaned over and turned the small lamp off as the room plunged into darkness.
"Maybe he's already hurt," I muttered as I left the room, tugging the door closed behind me after failing to get Ma to sign the paper.
Walking over to the kitchen counter I placed the paper down before getting a pen out from a drawer and bit my lip as I gazed down at the paper, my brother had filled in everything except for the empty dotted line for a parental signature.
"Sorry, Ma" I sighed into the quiet apartment as I quickly pressed the pen down on the line and signed, each letter copied to perfection and forged so well it could have been real "she's going to kill me" I groaned as I folded the paper.
Tip-toeing to my brother's room I gave the door a small knock before entering, the room was just as dark as Ma's except for the little neon light my brother insisted he put up, a red glow was cast over the messy room from it.
"Daniel," I whispered, kneeling by his bed as I shook his shoulder, but I only receive a snore in return "booger twin, wake up," I hissed, giving up on my gentle touch.
"What, Kat?" He asked rubbing his eyes as I put my finger to my lips to show him to be quiet, there was no way our Ma had fallen back to sleep so quickly "What do you want?" He whispered as I showed him the paper.
His eyes widened, and he jumped out of bed, "What? How?" I grabbed him and placed my hand over his mouth, listening for any signs of Ma getting out of bed.
I glared at Daniel as he got the message to be quiet. "How did you get her to sign it?" I scratched my neck in guilt, but this wasn't the first and probably wouldn't be my last forgery.
"Don't worry about that; just be up early tomorrow, okay?" If we could get up and out tomorrow, we would be able to get out before Ma realizes we're gone. "We can get Mr. Miyagi to drive us to the tournament."
Daniel smirked at my words. "If you passed your test, we wouldn't have to get Mr. Miyagi to drive us," he jokingly taunted as my eyes narrowed at him.
"You want me to rip up that paper?" I threatened moving forward to grab the release form from his hand, but he moved it away from me, apologizing as he did it.
"Just give Ma some space, no need to go thank her or anything" at my brother's suspicious look, I smiled innocently "She's just being overprotective, you never know she might change her mind and take it back."
Daniel nodded quickly as he looked down at the paper happily "Thanks for this Kat, it's great, just awesome" I let out a nervous laugh as I made my way back towards his door.
Grimacing, I tried not to think about what punishment I'm going to receive when my Ma finds out or if Daniel gets his ass handed to him.
"Yeah, don't mention it-" I nervous giggled again "- ever. To anyone", giving my brother a weird wave, I closed the door and leaned on it, letting out a deep breath before laughing to myself, "I'm in so much trouble."