There was a woman in Dad's office.
A beautiful, dark-skinned woman who was wearing jeans and a bright red blouse. She was sitting on Dad's desk and Dad was standing between her legs, kissing her passionately, his fingers holding the back of her neck under her braided hair.
Hearing the door opening, Dad turned to look. His eyes widened, he stumbled back bringing his hands to his hair.
"Shit—" he groaned. "Sky—"
"Sorry, sorry, sorry—!" Sky bolted into action, fled the room, and slammed the door after her.
What the actual fuck? Jesus Christ—
She had never been this embarrassed in her life! Her cheeks were burning, her heart tried to escape through her chest, and the only thought in her mind was that she needed to get away, as far as she possibly could from that door and the horrible sight behind it.
Why the fuck didn't I knock?!
Her legs were trembling as she made her way through the living room. Emotion was making her shoulders shake and she wasn't sure if she was about to burst into a fit of giggles or into tears.
Dad. Kissing a woman. In his fucking office. And I walked in there like an idiot—
She heard muffled voices, then a door opening and footsteps approaching. She didn't turn to look - she would have recognized Dad's soft, almost soundless footsteps anywhere - but now they were paired with an unfamiliar sound, high heels, clicking against the wooden floor.
Sky forced her trembling legs to move and fled the living room into the hallway still not looking back. Out. She needed to get out, right now. The walls were shrinking around her, she could barely draw in a breath.
She was just stepping into her pink sneakers by the front door when Dad reached her.
"Sky—"
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry—," Sky interrupted him, trying to get the damn shoes on. "I'm so, so sorry. I should have knocked—"
"No, I'm sorry." Dad breathed. "I didn't want you to find out like this—"
"Then why didn't you tell me?" Sky snapped and finally looked up, suddenly recognizing the emotion that made her voice tremble. Anger, it was. And also fear.
"I was going to tell you. Today."
Dad was leaning on the doorway of the living room, his hair still a mess, bright red spots on his high cheekbones. And next to him, was the lady in her jeans and her high heels, and suddenly Sky felt like she would start screaming.
"Hi," the woman said. Her voice was soft and nice and she had a hesitant smile on her lips. "My name is Lisa. You must be Sky? I've heard so much about you."
Sky finally managed to get the shoes on. She glared at the stranger, took a step back, then another. Lisa. Oh, joy. This was the woman Dad had taken on a date the day Sky had tried to kill herself. The woman, dad had stood up in a Sushi bar to rush home to his suicidal daughter. Sky could only imagine what Dad had told this lady about her, but none of it could have been good.
Her throat went tight. Suddenly she was about to break into tears. The floorboards were shattering under her feet, she was losing her balance and soon she would fall, she would fall through the floor to the basement and fucking die there.
"I—" her voice got stuck in her throat. "I— I'm sorry, I can't do this right now."
And she swirled on her heels, grabbed the car keys from the counter before rushing out of the front door. She didn't turn to look if anyone followed, didn't hear if Dad called her name as she stepped into the car and slammed the door.
She steered away, not looking back once. The phone in her pocket started buzzing almost immediately, but she didn't take it out - Hell, it was hard enough to drive with one hand only even without a phone as a distraction.
It was only when she reached the shady apartment complex in Reseda some 20 minutes later and parked her car, that she pulled the phone from her pocket.
Dad had called her a dozen times and sent almost as many texts. Annoyed, Sky rolled her eyes as she scrolled through them.
Dad: you are in no state to be driving!
I'm worried
Please answer your phone, Sky
Sky?
Come home and let's talk about this
The last thing Sky wanted to do was to go home and talk, so she simply stuffed the phone back into her pocket without writing a reply. It wasn't like she wanted to make Dad worried, but for the life of her, she couldn't think of how to answer him.
She knew she was being childish, running away like this. She knew Dad was right - she shouldn't be driving with one arm in a cast and her right leg still slow and stiff - but right now she didn't give a shit. She had needed to get out. She was nowhere near ready to discuss Dad's love life or to have polite small talk with a stranger who knew practically nothing about her, except that she was crazy and suicidal. Besides, Sky still felt all cringy after seeing Dad sucking that lady's face. A shiver went through her and she quickly brushed that image off her mind.
It made her feel all wrong - her stomach tied into a tight knot and she felt nauseous.
Stop being ridiculous. What did you think - that he was a monk? And why do you even care? You should be happy that he's found someone.
But she couldn't shake the fear, the suffocating feeling that everything was changing again and that she had no control over it. Sure, now it was just walking into dad kissing that woman, but what next? Would he marry her? Would she move in with them?
Sky hated these thoughts that coursed through her mind and brought a bitter taste to her lips. To repel them she quickly stepped out of the car and walked into the courtyard of the apartment complex - just to witness a very bizarre sight. Johnny Lawrence was on the balcony, dangling something from a fishing rod in front of Miguel, something that looked suspiciously like a magazine with nude girls, taunting Miguel to stand up from the wheelchair and take it.
"You know I can just find these pictures on my phone, right?" Miguel was asking with a frown.
"It's not the same. Chicks are hotter on the page," Johnny argued as if that made some sense, but at least Miguel tried to reach the magazine now.
"Damn," Sky grinned, walking closer. "If nudity will heal your spinal injury, I can show you some real tits, Miggy."
Miguel turned to look at her over his shoulder and let out a laugh. "Tempting, but even if it somehow worked, I'd have to pass."
"Scared of my boyfriend, are you?" Sky smirked.
"As any rational person would be."
Sky laughed, but apparently, Johnny had had enough of their chit-chat.
"Quiet!" he barked, and just the sound of his voice made Sky stand up straighter. She swallowed her laughter as Johnny continued: "Stop whining, Diaz! Now stand up and take this thing."
Sky rolled her eyes, crossed her arms, and leaned on a column. She wasn't exactly optimistic that Johnny's method would work but at least watching this was taking the image of Dad kissing some random woman in his office off of her mind. The distraction soon turned into something else, though, when Miguel tried to reach the magazine - and fell off the wheelchair, hitting the ground full force.
Sky rushed to his side, but wasn't much of a help with her cast. It took Johnny's strong arms to get Miguel back into the chair, but even if he clearly hadn't been badly hurt by the fall, Sky could tell he wasn't ready to try again. He looked hopeless - and that hurt Sky more than anything.
"Don't you get it?" Miguel spat at Johnny. "You could dangle a new PlayStation in front of me, and I still wouldn't be able to stand up."
With that he turned to go, pushing his wheelchair towards his door.
"Miguel, wait—" Johnny started, but Sky interrupted him.
"I'll talk to him," she said to her former Sensei. "Just give him some space, okay?"
Johnny looked like he wanted to argue but then didn't. He gave Sky a resigned nod, his shoulders falling. "Yeah, okay."
Letting out a sigh, Sky turned her back on Johnny and followed Miguel, opened the door, and pushed his chair inside. Miguel didn't protest - they had been through this many times already.
Sky had visited Miguel every day when he had been in the hospital, and almost daily after that so there was nothing new in this. She wasn't sure Miguel appreciated her visits, or if they did any good - but at least Miggy had never asked her not to come or thrown her out, so she took that as a positive sign. She wasn't going to stop visiting Miguel now that she was back in school - no matter how busy her schedule was with studying, trying to make time to see Hawk, and doing the science project with Demetri. There just had to be time for Miguel too. After all, Sky knew better than most how much it sucked to be home alone after something bad had happened, how loneliness could eat you up like cancer, sucking out all the hope in the world. She had seen a shadow of that pain on Miguel's face just now after he had fallen from his chair. Miggy was lucky to have Johnny, though, and his family - Sky adored Carmen and Rosa, and she knew how important their love and care were for Miguel. They were always there for him, just like Sky's Dad had always been there for her—
Sky stopped that thought and shoved it away. She didn't want to think about Dad. Anything but him.
"You sure seeing my tits wouldn't help?" Sky teased when they reached Miguel's room and Carmen and Rosa were out of earshot.
Miguel rolled his eyes but let out a laugh anyways. "Come on, seeing boobs won't heal my paralysis, and you know it."
"Yeah," Sky replied, taking a seat on Miguel's bed. "But it might make you feel better."
Miguel rolled his eyes and changed the subject. "How is Hawk? I haven't seen him in ages."
Sky shrugged and turned her eyes away. She had tried to ask Hawk to come to visit Miguel with her many times, but he was reluctant. It wasn't because he didn't care about Miguel - that much Sky knew. It was just hard for him to see Miguel like this, trapped in his wheelchair. Karate had been such a huge part of their friendship, and now that it was taken away, Hawk didn't know how to be around him. It made him awkward and nervous.
"Busy." Sky replied with a half-truth. "With school and Cobra Kai—"
"So he's still in Cobra Kai?"
Sky looked back at Miguel, their eyes met. "Yeah, he is."
"And you're okay with that? Sky, all the things Kreese said… that's what got us hurt. Kreese and all his shit about striking first, about showing no mercy—"
"I know. And I'm not going back there. But I also can't stop Hawk from doing what he feels is best for him."
"It's not, though. Best for him."
Sky shrugged again. "Well, maybe we don't get to decide what's best for him. Besides, I don't talk about Cobra Kai or about karate with him. We do… other stuff."
Miguel glanced at the hickies on her neck and let out a dry laugh. "Sure. Other stuff."
Sky's cheeks heated. "What can I say? He's pretty good at other stuff."
Miguel rolled his eyes and muttered something about not wanting to know more, and they changed the subject. Or more likely, Sky tried to change the subject - multiple times - but it seemed like no matter what topic she picked, Miguel only managed a couple of sentences before falling silent again, and a sad, frustrated look fell on his face. It made Sky feel like crap - she missed Miguel's smile, his laughter, his optimism. And she hated the fact that no matter what she did, she couldn't bring that back.
"You don't have to keep coming here, you know." He finally said, after a silence that had lasted a bit too long since Sky was running out of energy to keep talking by herself.
Sky turned to look at him, her brows furrowing. "Why would you say something like that?"
Miguel looked down at his legs, at his wheelchair and a pained expression took over his features. "This. I mean, I get it. You're getting better, you're back in school, things are going good with Hawk… and I'm still here. You must have better things to do than this."
"I am your friend. And I will keep coming here every fucking day because that's what friends do. And I won't stop until you either walk or throw me out. You get it?"
Miguel let out a sigh, his frown deepening. "I don't want you coming here just to pity me."
"You were there for me this summer." Sky said, very clearly. "You made me smile when I wanted nothing but death. And I got better. And I know—" She pointed a finger at Miguel. "I just know that you will get better too."
"And how could you possibly know that?"
"Because I'll annoy the fuck out of you and in the end you'll do anything to stop me visiting?" Sky smirked. "You'll have to stand up to be able to throw me out of here. I know your Mom won't do that - she fricking adores me."
That earned a small smile from Miguel. "Fine, whatever—"
At that moment the phone in Sky's pocket decided to start buzzing again. Rolling her eyes Sky pulled it out, and - surprise surprise - it was Dad again. Sky hit the red button and threw the phone on the bed with a frustrated sigh, lying back down on the covers.
"What was that about?" Miguel asked, giving Sky a frown.
"My dad," Sky threw an arm over her eyes as the mortifying memory of walking into Dad's office earlier today, invaded her mind again.
"Okay..? And why aren't you answering - or do I even want to know?"
Sky groaned. Miguel knew she had a great relationship with her Dad, so it was a valid question, but she really didn't want to talk about what had happened. She would rather gnaw off an arm with her teeth than recall the horrible sight. But on the other hand - Miguel seemed genuinely interested in having a conversation for the first time since Sky had arrived, which sure was an improvement.
"I walked in on him making out with someone in his office." Sky muttered, still covering her face with her forearm. "And he wants to - I quote - 'talk about it.'"
Miguel laughed. "Seriously? Is he dating someone?"
"I guess. I mean, yeah, I knew he was seeing someone but I didn't think it was anything serious and I sure as Hell didn't imagine he was bringing women to our home."
"Okay, I can see why that was awkward," Miguel said, and even without looking Sky could hear the smile in his voice. "But maybe you should just talk to him."
"You trying to get me to leave?" Sky peaked at him from under her arm. "Cause I would rather sleep on your floor than face him after what happened."
"I think you might be overreacting a bit." Miguel replied with a laugh.
"What?" Sky sat up in one, swift move. "I'm not! It's easy for you to say - your mom isn't dating some weirdo and making out with him in front of you, burning your eyes off their sockets."
"Well, no. But honestly? If Mom met someone who made her happy and treated her right, I wouldn't try to stop it."
"Really?"
"Well, yeah. I want Mom to be happy. Don't you want that for your Dad?"
Miguel's words felt like an elephant had stepped on Sky's chest, even if she knew he hadn't meant it that way. She knew he was right, just as she knew she was being childish and selfish. But knowing is different than feeling, and suddenly Sky felt like she would start to cry again.
"I guess—" She breathed, trying to suck down the stupid tears that had no business breaking free. "I guess I'm just scared this will change everything. It's always been just the two of us, you know? And I don't want that to change."
"Then maybe tell him that?" Miguel suggested. "He's your dad. He would do anything for you, you know? Just hear what he has to say."
Sky didn't answer anything. She kept staring at the opposite wall, not looking at Miguel. He was right. Of course, he was right. But Sky was clinging to her right to be childish and stubborn, because Fucking Hell, she wasn't feeling like she could be a reasonable adult any time soon.
"Sky?" Miguel asked after some time had passed.
"No," she muttered. "Can't we watch a movie instead?"
Miguel let out a resigned sigh. "Fine, let's watch a movie. What do you wanna watch?"
"I don't care as long as there's Tony Stark in it."
Miguel didn't protest. They had been watching a lot of Marvel movies together lately - since both of them loved MCU and had seen all the movies multiple times, they were easy to watch while talking - or not talking - about anything and everything else. Miguel moved from the wheelchair to the bed, took a comfortable position next to Sky, and turned on his laptop that was balanced on his legs. Sky snuggled closer to Miguel and laid her head on his shoulder. His warmth and his familiar scent made Sky feel like home.
"The first Avengers movie?" Miguel suggested.
Sky felt a smile tugging on the corner of her mouth. "Yes please, I'm feeling like Loki tonight."
"I thought it was Tony Stark you wanted?"
"Do I have to choose?" Sky smirked. "I can marry Tony, and Loki can be my secret lover instead."
"And now I see why you never watch Marvel movies with Hawk," Miguel muttered but Sky saw he was smiling as he chose the right movie and clicked on the play button.
"He's too busy being stupid jealous about real guys to get jealous over my imaginary boyfriends," Sky giggled. "Which reminds me, better not tell him we're spending this much time in your bed."
Miguel was just about to answer something when there was a knock on the door and they both looked up from the laptop screen.
"Yeah?" Miguel asked, and the door opened, revealing Carmen's slightly worried face.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, kids," she said apologetically, leaning on the doorway. "But Sky, your Dad is here. And he is not happy."
I know, I broke the timeline. It wasn't really time for that scene with Johnny and Miguel yet, but I just really wanted to use that.