A minivan with peeling bumper stickers pulled up, the driver handing over a few crumbled bills with a sheepish smile. "Keep the change," the driver said as she started to count out his change.
Harper's smile softened as she nodded her thanks, her chest warming at the gesture. It was small — just a few extra dollars — but simple, selfless moments like these added up. They were reminders of why they were there.
For Miguel.
Her fingers brushed the worn edges of the cash box as she slid another twenty-dollar bill inside, the faded lid creaking slightly with every open and close. It wasn't much, just a thin stack of bills, but each one was a small victory. They'd only been open for a couple of hours, and already the turnout exceeded her expectations. A contented sigh escaped her lips as she turned to the line of cars that were wrapped around the block like a never-ending ribbon of chrome and dust.
Harper squinted against the bright glare of the sun, a smile tugging at her lips as she took in the organized chaos unfolding in front of her. The music blasted cheerfully from the speakers, mingling with the laughter and conversations that enveloped the busy parking lot. The warm breeze that blew carried the clean scent of soap, water and the faint smell of the taco truck that was parked at the edge of the lot.
The noise and busyness were a welcoming distraction as they helped silence her mind. The custody battle loomed over her like a storm cloud, unsettling her with an uncertain future. It was accompanied by the ruthless rumors that clung to her like a second shadow all thanks to Kyler and Jake — their stories taking on a life of their own.
And then there was her complicated… whatever-it-was with Hawk that possessively took over her thoughts. He was infuriating with his offhanded comments and lingering glances. She hated how easily he crept into her mind and how his words — I like you — replayed in her mind over and over again.
Keeping busy proved to silence her mind, though she knew it wouldn't last long. Her thoughts had a way of creeping back in when the silence came.
Today, at least, she could let the chaos drown it all out.
Harper could focus on the fundraiser. On raising money for Miguel's surgery.
Laughter erupted from across the lot, and she turned around just as one of Moon's cheerleader friends dodged the spray of a hose. Their high-pitched shrieks cut through the music, and she smiled at the normalcy of it all.
"I think we're gonna have to open another line or something," Sam said, her voice carrying over the noise. She leaned against the fold-out table, brushing a few loose strands of hair out of her eyes. "How are we doing?"
"Pretty good," Harper said, smiling as the money continued to pile up. "I think we're past a thousand now."
"Are you serious? It's not even noon yet," Sam said, opening the creaky lid and quickly counting the money. "I can't believe it! We're actually doing this."
"Yeah. We are," Harper smiled softly. The feeling of being able to do something to help out Miguel was like a weight lifting off her chest.
Instead of wallowing in her guilt, Harper was doing something productive to help him. To help ease some of the burdens this whole horrible situation put on him and his family.
Each car brought them one step closer to helping Miguel and that was enough.
"Honestly? Moon bringing the cheer squad was a great idea," Sam commented as she let her gaze fall over the parking lot. "I mean, look at all the people who showed up. Not just to get their car washed but to help. It's kinda awesome."
Harper followed her gaze to the pavement that glistened under the sun from the sudsy water that slowly flowed across the lot. She took in all the volunteers working to help the fundraiser run smoothly — her friends from Miyagi-Do were hard at work, random students from school were quickly restocking supplies and the cheerleaders were doing whatever cheerleaders did to get attention.
And then there was the news van parked precariously on the edge of the lot. The cameraman panned the lot, seeming to slow down when he zeroed in on her and Sam. Harper ducked her head, the unwanted attention grating on her nerves. She knew why they were there — to cover Miguel's story and the fundraiser Miyagi-Do was holding. It was bringing attention to the cause but the way the reporters targeted certain students to get their opinions and let them have their fifteen minutes of fame made her uneasy.
"You don't have to talk to them," Sam said, noticing the way Harper turned her back on the camera. "They're just here to cover a story. It's a good thing."
"Yeah, I know. I just… I don't want everyone to lose focus on why we're actually here," Harper said quietly, knowing very well that the news had a way of twisting the truth. Every bad story was made out to be far worse while the good stories were brushed over until a darker angle was found.
"They won't," Sam promised with a smile, her positivity almost radiating off of her. "Look at all the money we raised already, and all the money we're about to get," she continued, nodding towards the endless line of cars.
Harper nodded once, knowing that she was right. The media could spin this whatever way they wanted — just like she knew they would — but the money they were raising had a clear destination and nothing would change that.
"Besides," Sam started, her voice shifting to something less pleased — darker with a frustrated undertone — as she looked towards the edge of the lot. "I think what we should be worrying about is over there."
Her smile faltered when she caught sight of what — or rather who — was responsible for Sam's mood change. Cobra Kai. Of course, they were here. Even from where she was standing, she could see the irritation flicker across their faces, annoyed at the fundraiser that was meant to help their friend while they did nothing but complain and scowl. As if that alone would be enough to help Miguel. She didn't understand it. Didn't understand how they could act like this wasn't a good thing.
But that was Cobra Kai for you. Always on the offensive. Always looking for something to pick apart just because they could.
"It'll be okay," Harper said, though she wasn't sure she believed it. Because they always came in like a tornado, set to destroy everything in their path.
"Right," Sam said with a snort, rolling her eyes. "Things are always okay when they show up."
Harper watched them for a moment longer, relieved that the worst they did was shoot death glares at anyone who looked their way. It was unsettling how the atmosphere changed just by them being there. It was as if everyone held their breath, waiting for them to strike first and hard.
But what unsettled her the most was how at ease Hawk looked next to his friends — the same friends who were responsible for tearing her down not just with their words but with their fists. She'd expected…. Well, she wasn't sure what she expected but it wasn't this. It wasn't him acting like that night outside the Cobra Kai soon never happened. But Harper knew it was better this way, knowing he wasn't getting targeted by his friends for standing up for her. That he didn't have to make enemies out of the one group he felt completely at ease with.
Still, it was like watching a stranger that you thought you knew. Familiar but also frustratingly different.
Until he looked her way and his expression softened just enough for that signature smirk to cross his face.
Harper muttered a curse under her breath at how her heart skipped a beat from a simple glance. She could feel herself unraveling, which was ridiculous because they were friends. It's what she'd drilled into her mind ever since he'd told her he liked her because nothing had changed aside from the nerves that seemed to steal her breath away.
Hawk's smirk widened as if he could tell just how nervous she was. She forced herself to relax — to stop standing there like a deer in headlights. With a forced smile that she knew was ninety percent nerves, she focused on Sam.
"— cause nothing but trouble. Why the hell are they even here?" Sam asked, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "l swear, Harper, your boyfriend and his friends better not start shit again."
"They won't," Harper promised, lacking any of the certainty she wished she had. But then her eyes widened at that one word Sam had used, and she shook her head. "But he's not my…. We're just friends. I mean, I already told you that."
Sam snorted, rolling her eyes in that disbelieving way. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that," she muttered just loud enough for her to hear.
Before Harper could reply, deflect, the rumble of an engine pulled her attention away. A sleek black car rumbled into view, low to the ground and unnecessarily flashy, its engine growling as if it had something to prove. The speakers vibrated with bass-heavy music loud enough to shake the pavement. The window rolled down with agonizing slowness, and a thick wave of cologne followed — cloying and suffocating. She wrinkled her nose involuntarily as two familiar faces came into view.
Jordan and Matt.
Kyler's friends.
Harper had seen their faces enough around school, always lurking behind Kyler like shadows and laughing too loudly at his jokes. Despite knowing their reputation, she kept a smile on her face even though her stomach twisted with dread.
Jordan lounged in the passenger seat, his arm slung casually over the back of his seat as he leaned into view. His smirk – sharp and lazy – mirrored Matt's, who tapped the steering wheel with one hand in time to the music while the other hung out the window.
"Hey, Harper," Jordan drawled, his voice dripping with lazy amusement as he leaned further into view. His smirk sharpened into something that made her feel small, her chest tightening with that familiar, sinking feeling she hated. "Didn't think you'd be working charity today."
Harper froze for half a second before offering a closed-off smile – one she'd perfected over the years as a defense mechanism. "Yeah, well, it's for a good cause," she replied, careful to keep her voice steady.
"Real generous of you." Matt's voice cut in with false admiration. But it was his gaze that made her skin crawl as it lingered too long on the shorts and t-shirt she wore.
Harper held her ground though her chest burned, heat rising to her face as she told herself not to react. They wanted her to squirm, to show them that they'd gotten to her but she refused to give them the satisfaction.
Her gaze drifted for a second — long enough to glance to where Hawk stood with his friends.
He leaned against a car, his arms loosely crossed over his chest but his eyes were locked on her. His usual confident grin was gone, replaced by something darker, sharper. Even from across the lot, she could see the way his gaze tracked every movement — Jordan's lazy sprawl in the passenger seat, the smug smirk on Matt's face as he leaned closer to her.
He noticed. He always noticed.
Hawks' expression shifted momentarily as he raised an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly, the unspoken question clear on his face: You good?
Harper's fingers curled against her palm, nails digging into her skin. It would have been easy to shake her head, to give him some signal that she wasn't okay. But that wasn't who she was. She didn't need him stepping in to save the day — again — because she could handle this. Even if her heart rate spiked at the unsettling way Matt and Jordan were looking at her. Instead, she nodded once as if to say, I've got this.
Hawk's expression darkened, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't push. His gaze lingered on Matt and Jordan like a warning before flicking back to her. The silent promise on his face was clear: Say the word, and they're done.
Then, finally, he looked away, but Harper knew he was close by. Just in case.
But this was her fight to handle, and it meant a lot that he trusted her to deal with it.
Harper looked back to Matt and Jordan, their voices reaching through the silent panic.
"Bet you're good at raising money," Jordan added, his smirk deepening as he shot Matt a knowing look.
"Just figured you'd be raising money another way by now," Matt added, his eyes dragging over her and lingering where they shouldn't. "We've heard you got the talent for it."
"Do you idiots want your car washed or not?" Sam's voice snapped like a whip, and Harper didn't have to look up to see the fire in her friend's eyes. "Because we don't have time for your games."
"Calm down, Sam. We're just having some fun," Matt laughed, holding out a folded bill.
Harper stared down at the money as if it was the most untrustworthy thing in the world. She grabbed it reluctantly, her fingers brushing against Matt's for the briefest second before…
His grip snapped around her wrist like an iron cuff locking her in place.
Harper's breath stilled, her pulse pounding against his grip. It was a split-second freeze before that familiar anger surged in her chest. Her eyes snapped up, sharp as a blade, and she shot him a glare.
"Let me go," Harper said, her voice cold even as her heart beat unsteadily.
Jordan chuckled, watching the exchange with an unsettling smile. "Come on, Matt, don't scare her off."
Matt tilted his head as his gaze swept over her again. "So, what do you say?" He asked, his eyes gleaming with unspoken cruelty. "I was thinking maybe something a little more private."
The meaning hit like a slap, cold and sharp, and for a second, her breath hitched. Her stomach churned as a cold prickle of fear spread across her skin. It was a contrast to the heat that roared up in her chest — anger, raw and dangerous, bubbled beneath the surface. The kind that told her to yank her hand back, even if it meant drawing more attention her way.
But she took a steady breath and straightened, squaring her shoulders. Her gaze locked onto Matt's, cold and unreadable save for the anger burning in her eyes. She wouldn't let him see how shaken she was. He'd get nothing from her. None of them would.
Harper kept her expression neutral – a mask she'd perfected all her life.
"I think you're about to get your wrist broken if you don't let me go," Harper said.
The air between them crackled with tension, darkening as Matt's smirk faltered at the venom in her voice. His fingers loosened just enough for Harper to rip her wrist free. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she took a small step back, but her glare burned into him.
"Relax," Jordan mumbled, his smug laughter dying out. "No need to get so touchy."
Before Harper could respond, another voice chimed — a syrupy sweet tone that was meant to create cavities. She looked over as Sadie walked up, followed by Moon. Despite being dressed in casual athletic shorts and a tank top, she still managed to look effortlessly put together. But her smile was a little too entertained as she zeroed in on them.
"Hey, guys," Sadie said, her smile gleaming a little too bright to be genuine. She leaned down to peer into the car, her presence snapping Matt and Jordan's attention away from Harper like a magnet. "Are you already causing trouble?"
"Come on, Sadie, we were just saying hi," Jordan said, a smile easing onto his face as he stretched back in the seat. "Not our fault Harper can't take a joke."
"Some joke," Sam muttered behind her.
Sadie straightened up, tilting her head as faux sympathy dripped from her words. "Oh, don't mind them. They're just being themselves which is, you know, predictable and annoying."
Matt smirked, undeterred by her words. "Hey, we're just having some fun. That's all."
Sadie's smile widened, though it held no warmth. "Is that what you're calling it?" She asked, her voice sweet yet condescending. "Because sitting here making yourselves look desperate doesn't seem like the best use of your time. I mean, really, don't you guys have someone better to do? This is just sad."
Harper's eyes narrowed as the word hung in the air — someone. It could've been a slip of the tongue but she knew it wasn't a mistake. Not with the way Sadie's smile stretched just a little too sweetly, the kind that begged for attention like she was waiting for Harper to bite. But she refused to take the bait, forcing down the retort that burned at the tip of her tongue. Just like she hadn't let Matt and Jordan's words rattle her, she wouldn't give Sadie the satisfaction of knowing she'd hit her mark.
"Whatever," Matt muttered but Jordan shot Sadie a look, trying to gauge whether she was on his side or not. "We were just leaving."
Jordan opened his mouth, but the sharp edge in Sadie's gaze silenced him before the words could come out. Matt grumbled something under his breath as he aggressively revved the engine, their bruised egos evident as the car finally peeled away.
There was something unnerving about the way Sadie had diffused the situation — the casual way she talked to Matt and Jordan had Harper wondering what her angle was. She couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't about helping her as much as it was about putting on a show. Like Sadie wanted her to owe her for stepping in.
Harper's fingers instinctively tightened around the crumbled bill Matt handed her. It was just another twenty, but it felt like a small victory given the tension that clung to the air like smoke, heavy and suffocating. It was something they hadn't taken from her, no matter how hard they'd tried to get under her skin. She let out a slow breath, the tension in her shoulders slowly starting to unravel.
She looked to Sadie, who was watching her with a scrutinizing gaze — her lips were tugged up in a smile that looked more amused than sincere. And she wasn't sure whether to thank Sadie or resent her for stepping in. Because something told her that she hadn't done this out of the goodness of her heart.
But she had to say something. So, taking a measured breath, she forced a small smile onto her face. "Thanks," she said, the word slipping out before she could decide if she really meant it.
Sadie tilted her head, all wide eyes and practiced sweetness. "Oh, don't mention it," she replied lightly, though her tone carried the barest edge of amusement. "It looked like you were handling it, though."
The words 'looked like' stung more than she wanted to admit. It was a compliment and a jab woven into one sentence. She knew for a fact that Sadie was sizing her up.
"Are you okay?" Moon asked, breaking through the remaining tension. Her face was drawn in concern as she glanced between Harper and the now-empty space where their car had lingered. "That was intense."
Harper let out a breath, nodding as she shoved the money into the cash box with more force than necessary. It's fine. I'm fine. That was what she told herself every time these rumors found new life. She'd heard them before, but that didn't mean they didn't stick. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's nothing I can't handle."
"Well, you shouldn't have to keep 'handling' it, Harper," Sam said, her arms folded tightly across her chest as her anger simmered. "I can't believe those assholes. They're disgusting."
Harper shrugged as if to say I'm used to it, though the heat still burned in her chest. Sam meant well, she knew she did, but having people feel sorry for her – or worse, get angry on her behalf – only made her feel weak. Harper had battled bigger monsters than Matt and Jordan in her life. She would have handled this just fine on her own without needing anyone's help or pity… especially Sadie's, whose faux smile grated against her nerves every time she looked her way.
Sadie shook her head, the fake pity rolling off her like perfume – cloying and suffocating. "It's honestly pathetic how desperate some guys are. They'll say and do anything to get a reaction. You know, most people would've cracked under the pressure but I guess you're just… used to it by now."
The words were like a double-edged sword, meant to cut and humiliate. There were a dozen things Harper wanted to say, but she swallowed the retorts back down because they wouldn't do any good. She wouldn't take the bait. Not with Sadie. Not here. Instead, she schooled her features into calm indifference, though her pulse hammered.
"You seem to know a lot about my life," Harper commented.
Sadie's smile didn't waver, even as her gaze flickered over Harper in a calculating way that made her feel as if she was under a spotlight. "I just heard a few things. But if people talked about me like that…. "
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sam asked.
"Oh, nothing." Sadie shrugged, feigning innocence though the glint in her eyes suggested otherwise. "I just think it's impressive, you know? Harper's been getting so much attention, but she's still standing despite it all. She's so… resilient."
Harper's jaw tightened, and she resisted the urge to tighten her hands into fists. She knew exactly what Sadie was doing. Twisting the rumors, pretending to be on her side while every word was perfectly sharpened to cut her down. It was a talent, really — to sound so sweet and concerned while being so venomous.
But she wasn't stupid or naive — she'd dealt with people like Sadie. Conniving, manipulative but nice enough that it was easy to miss at times.
"You don't have to do that, you know," Harper said.
Sadie blinked, her eyes widening in confusion. "Do what?"
"Pretend to be on my side," she said bluntly. "I mean, we both know you're not so maybe just, I don't know, stop."
Sadie's perfect smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she rolled her eyes as if Harper's words hadn't phased her. "Wow. Defensive much? I'm just trying to be nice," she said, an unmissable edge to her tone now. "You don't have to take it out on me just because they got under your skin. Things like this just follow you around wherever you go, don't they?"
Harper's hands tightened into fists despite her restraint, her nails painfully digging into her palms. Practice. Such a simple word yet it packed a punch. As if the rumors that followed her were somehow her fault — like she welcomed the cruel words and assumptions about her.
She was just about to reply, telling herself to screw being polite, when Sadie's gaze drifted past her toward the edge of the lot. A smile tugged at her lips — sugary sweet yet dripping with poison. Harper knew she didn't have to follow her gaze to know who was there. But she looked regardless because that pull, that instinct was magnetic. Hawk was still leaning against the car, arms crossed as he laughed at something Mitch said. His laugh faded as he sensed her watching, and he locked his gaze on her.
Harper smiled despite herself. A flicker of relief that he was still there despite everything.
Sadie turned back to her with a smile as sharp as glass — meant to cut, not reassure. Then, to twist the knife, she waved in a slow motion — it was as deliberate as it was smug. "Oh, didn't I mention? I invited them. I mean, Hawk's coming over later so it just made sense to meet up here, you know?"
Her eyes narrowed at the implication behind the words but stayed silent.
"It's cute that you two are talking again," Sadie said, tilting her head as she lowered her voice just enough to sound conspiratorial. "You and him. Still in a talking stage. It's adorable, really. You know, considering…."
"Considering what?" Harper asked, the question slipping out before she could stop it.
Sadie's smile widened into something far too pleased with itself, like a predator catching its prey. "Oh, you know. Hawk and I never really needed a 'talking stage'. Things just… clicked between us. But it's cute how he's taking things slow with you. You know, easing back in." She tilted her head, her voice dropping again. "I mean, he did say all those things about you after Moon's party. Like how you carry way too much baggage to be fun. His words, not mine. But, hey, it's sweet that he's giving you another chance. It's almost like you're his little charity project, you know?"
Sadie wasn't just twisting the knife, she was holding it steady like she was waiting for Harper to slip and fall on it. To make it worse. But Harper wouldn't give her the satisfaction. She blinked as the silence stretched on, long and uncomfortable.
"Anyway. I should probably go say hi." And with that, Sadie walked off.
Harper was left with a bitter taste in her mouth and a knot in her chest that she couldn't shake no matter what. Dealing with Sadie had been like a marathon, and she might've preferred Matt and Jordan to the fake blonde now making her way across the lot. She watched as Sadie reached them, her light laughter carrying in the soft breeze to where she stood. For some reason, she was unable to look away — her eyes glued to the scene like it was a bad car accident.
All she could do was watch.
Watch as Sadie grabbed his arm and said something that made him smile. She didn't know what was worse: Sadie's obvious flirting or the fact that Hawk didn't pull away. That he just… stood there, smiling down at her.
Harper wasn't jealous. She couldn't be jealous.
They were friends, after all.
But as Sadie leaned in closer, laughing at something Harper couldn't hear, it left her fuming with something she couldn't quite name. She was angry. Not jealous. Angry because he'd told her he was done with Sadie, and yet he didn't push her away. Instead, he laughed at whatever she said.
"Are you okay?" Moon asked, her voice gentle as she pulled her gaze away from the scene.
"I'm fine," Harper said for what felt like the hundredth time. And she'd keep saying it until it was true, or until she made herself believe it to be true.
"I wouldn't worry about that," Moon said with a reassuring smile. "Sadie's just being Sadie. Hawk likes you, and she's just jealous."
"Yeah, it looks like it," Harper muttered, wincing at the bitterness in her tone before shrugging. "But we're just friends. It doesn't really matter if he talks to her, you know. It's… fine."
"Well, maybe it's all for the best," Sam said before Moon could reply. "He's really not worth it, Harper. You're definitely better off without him."
"Don't listen to her," Moon said, her face scrunching up with frustration as she shot Sam with what looked like a warning look — though coming from Moon, it looked too nice and casual. "I know him, and it's so obvious that he's —"
"Can we just focus on the fundraiser?" Harper interrupted, her eyes scanning the line of cars that waited to be washed. "It's kinda more important than whoever Hawk chooses to talk to."
Was she deflecting? Absolutely.
But thinking about and dissecting what he had told her just a couple of weeks ago didn't feel like the best use of her time — or her energy. It didn't matter. It shouldn't matter. That's what she told herself, even as it killed her to watch him and Sadie talking.
Sam and Moon exchanged a look — a silent conversation that Harper couldn't be bothered to decode. It was obvious they had their thoughts, but she wasn't going to entertain them. Not now. Not when there were better things to focus on. Important things. Things that wouldn't leave her questioning everything.
Without waiting for them to reply, Harper turned towards the next car that pulled up. She needed something to do — something to keep her traitorous mind busy with a mundane activity.
It was easier this way, she told herself. Safer.
She forced a smile onto her face, accepting the money as she fell back into the routine from that morning. Everything else seemed to fade away, but Harper tensed when Sadie's laughter rang out, the sound grating against her already fragile nerves. Her gaze darted in that direction before she could stop herself. Sadie was still glued to Hawk's side, fingers trailing his arm as she leaned in close and said something that made him shake his head and smirk.
Harper quickly looked away, even as the scene replayed itself in her mind. Even as Sadie's earlier words kept looping in her mind. Too much baggage. Charity case.
Her hand hovered over the money box for a beat too long, her fingers curling tightly against the bills before she shoved them inside. The creaky lid slammed with a jarring clang, startling the driver into a brief, wide-eyed stare. "Sorry," Harper muttered, but she couldn't shake the frustration that simmered beneath her skin. It coiled around her like a snake trying to strangle its prey.
Time warped strangely — both speeding up but dragging by unbearably. The monotony of the fundraiser was a welcome reprieve, calming her nerves just enough for her to push through. She fell into the familiar rhythm of directing cars, collecting money, and forcing polite smiles. That is until a shadow fell over her.
Her grip tightened on the lid of the money box as she forced out a smile to a driver who let her keep the change. She ignored the shadowy figure standing just behind her, watching her with that quiet intensity she both hated and learned to crave.
"So, how's the fundraiser going?" Hawk's voice broke through her thoughts, and she didn't have to turn to know it was him. He leaned casually against the fold-out table, his tone laced with that usual sharp-edged sarcasm. "Did Miyagi-Do raise enough money to fix what they broke?"
Harper's glare snapped to him, sharp as a blade. "Don't start, Hawk. We're actually doing something to help."
"Right. Help," he muttered, though he dropped the subject. His gaze flicked to her hands, lingering there as if trying to solve a puzzle only he could see. "Is that money offending you, foster? Or are you trying to commit a federal crime?" His tone was too amused, cutting against the fury rising in her chest.
Harper blinked, frowning at the tear in the bill as she loosened her grip. She didn't reply to him, just tucked the money into the box — the sight of the growing stack of bills should've been satisfying, but any sense of accomplishment fizzled out the second Hawk reached over and slammed the lid shut.
"You want to tell me why you look two seconds away from punching someone?" His voice was light, almost teasing, but his gaze was too sharp. Like he'd been watching her long enough to notice the cracks she'd tried so desperately to keep hidden.
"I'm fine," Harper said, forcing the words out even as her heart hammered in her chest.
"Yeah? You sure about that?" Hawk shot back, tilting his head as his smirk deepened. "Because you've got your angry face on — you know, the one that says 'mess with me and I'll bite.'" He grinned as she rolled her eyes in response, then reached out to poke her in the side.
Harper swatted at his hand, her expression twisting in annoyance. "Stop."
But Hawk didn't stop. Relentless as always, he poked her again. And again. Each jab made his grin widen while her irritation grew.
"Seriously, stop!" Harper snapped, grabbing his hand before he could poke her a fourth time. "What do you want?"
"I'm just here to annoy you," he replied with a lazy shrug, completely indifferent to the glare she leveled at him.
"I'm working here. You know, helping out with the fundraiser that's for your best friend," she bit out, her voice strained as she waved another driver forward. She plastered on a polite smile while accepting the payment before rounding on him again. "So can you, I don't know, find someone else to bother?"
"But it's fun bothering you."
"Well, I'm busy," Harper shot back, her patience snapping as his grin only grew. The next words slipped out before she could stop them, her voice sharp and laced with a bitterness that even caught her off guard. "Maybe go back to Sadie. I'm pretty sure she's waiting for you anyway."
Hawk's grin faltered for a moment before realization dawned on him. "Sadie? Is that what this is about? We were just talking." He tilted his head as another slow grin spread across his face. "Oh, wait… are you jealous, foster?"
Jealous.
That word hit a little too close to home.
But it was ridiculous.
"Wha- No, I'm not jealous," she replied with a laugh that sounded too forced, too fake.
Hawk leaned closer, his grin as smug as it was teasing. "Admit it. You are."
"Trust me, I'm not," Harper shot back quickly, crossing her arms as if that would somehow ground her. "I really don't care who you talk to, you know. I don't care if Sadie flirts with you as if her life depends on it."
He raised an eyebrow, looking far too amused for her liking. "Uh-huh, sure. So, why is your face all red?"
Harper took a deep breath, her hands tightening on the money box. "Because I'm annoyed. At you. You're annoying, so just go away."
"I think it's called being jealous."
"Of what? Sadie?" Harper let out an exasperated laugh, shaking her head. "You're delusional."
"And you're deflecting. Again." He stood there, disarmingly calm as his gaze bore into her. "You know, you're really bad at pretending you don't care."
His words hit their mark, cutting sharper than they should have. It was unsettling how he could read her with just one look like he was immune to the walls she put up. Harper finally turned to him with an icy glare. "Yeah, well, maybe I wouldn't have to pretend if you stopped acting like such an idiot."
Hawk blinked as the smugness eased off but his voice still carried that teasing tone. "Ouch. You really are in a mood today, huh?"
"Thanks to you," she shot back, rolling her eyes.
Hawk studied her for a moment longer like he was seeing past the facade she had put up. Like he could read between the lines, finding the little clues she'd desperately tried to keep hidden from him. Perhaps from herself, too.
"You're wrong, you know," he said after a moment.
"About what?" She asked though she didn't look at him.
"Sadie," Hawk said simply as if daring her to question him. "I didn't lie when I said I was done with her. What you saw? That was nothing. I didn't even want to talk to her but you know Sadie – she doesn't exactly take a hint."
"Could've fooled me," Harper muttered under her breath.
But Hawk heard it anyway. His teasing grin faltered as he straightened up, his voice more serious now. "If I really cared about her, I'd be over there talking to her. Not standing here arguing with you. Again."
Harper froze, her hand hovering over the money box. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond. Didn't know what to make of that. What if she let herself believe it – read into it – only to be wrong? She couldn't risk that. Not again. Instead, she forced herself to glance up, her expression unreadable as she put on a small smile.
Harper took a deep breath, staring at a spot behind him before shrugging. "I really don't care, Hawk. Go ahead, talk to Sadie. Or flirt with her if that's what you want. We're just friends, remember?"
Hawk's expression shifted again, one of frustration mixed with anger. "Friends?" He repeated with a humorless laugh, shaking his head. "We've never been just friends, foster. You know that."
His words knocked the air out of her for just a second, unsettling her with their honesty. For a split second, Harper felt the truth in them, a crack in the armor she'd built so carefully. But she couldn't – wouldn't – let herself believe it.
A sharp horn cut through the tension, jolting Harper back to reality. The driver waved her over impatiently, his expression irritated as if she'd been wasting his time.
"That's hilarious. You're imagining things like always," Harper said, though the words tasted bitter.
"You don't get it, do you?" Hawk muttered, following her as she walked towards the car. "I'm not just saying this for fun, you know."
"I don't have time for this," Harper muttered, shaking her head as she reached out for the money the driver held out. Before her fingers could close around it, Hawk grabbed the cash and tossed it into the box, slamming the lid shut with unnecessary force.
"Yeah? Well, make time," Hawk shot back, stepping in front of her like a wall.
Harper shot him an exasperated look, ready to fire back, but the driver's voice cut through the tension. "Hey! What about my change?"
Hawk turned his head, his glare sharp enough to make the driver shrink back. "Think of it as a tip," he said flatly. When the driver didn't move, his voice dropped and a dangerous edge threaded through it. "You want to keep all your teeth? Drive away."
The driver blinked, clearly thrown off by the aggression in his voice. Mumbling something about fundraisers and teenagers under his breath, the driver pulled away from the curb.
"Seriously?" Harper stepped around him. Or at least, she tried to. Hawk shifted again, cutting her off with infuriating ease.
"Yeah, seriously," he said. "We're not just friends."
"I don't –"
"Friends don't act like this, okay?" He cut her off, his voice low but firm. "They don't look for excuses to be around each other just to argue about nothing. You drive me insane, you know that? Half the time I want to punch a wall, but the second someone looks at you wrong, I'm ready to fight them. But yeah, go ahead – roll your eyes, call me an idiot, whatever. I don't care. Because I don't look at my friends the way I look at you."
Harper's mind stumbled over his words, needing a second to process them. For the first time, she didn't have a witty comeback, and that scared her almost as much as what he just said. She searched his face for cracks – for something to tell her he was lying. But all she saw was honesty.
And it terrified her.
"You're just saying that," she said, but her voice lacked its usual bite.
"No. You're just scared because I'm right." He took a step closer, closing the already small space between them. "And I get it. You trusted people before and they let you down. They hurt you and then walked away. But I'm right here, Harper. I haven't left, and I'm not going anywhere – so get used to it."
"Stop," Harper forced herself to look away. His words were bad enough, but standing this close? It was too much. Too much so that she wished he'd take everything back. Her grip on the wall she'd built started to crumble around her, brick by brick. "We tried this before, remember? You know how it ended and —"
"Because you shut me out! Because things weren't easy, so you walked away," Hawk said, his frustration bubbling over. "I told you that I liked you, and I meant it."
Harper hesitated – just for a second. When she spoke again, her voice sounded smaller, almost fragile. "We're just friends."
The words felt weaker this time, like they were losing weight the more she said them.
"If you really believe that, then prove it." His voice dropped, the challenge unmistakable. "Prove that you don't give a shit about us. Tell me you don't care. Tell me you want me to walk away, and I will."
He leaned closer, his gaze locked on hers with an intensity she couldn't look away from. "You can't do it, can you?"
Harper shifted uncomfortably as every instinct screamed at her to run. To get as far away from this — from him — as possible. But, like the idiot that she was, she stayed glued to the spot, her heart pounding so loudly that she swore the entire parking lot could hear it.
"What's wrong? Am I making you nervous?" Hawk asked with that overconfident, irritating smirk.
"What? No. Shut up," Harper snapped, her voice cracking just enough to give her away. She tried to look calm, tried to stand taller and brush it all off, but her pulse betrayed her. "It's just… people are starting to stare."
"So let them stare."
Hawk reached out and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. She froze, her breath catching as his fingers lingered just a second longer than they needed to. Instead of running, the touch grounded her, cementing her in this moment that confused the absolute hell out of her.
"What are you doing?" Harper asked, her gaze locked on his.
She hated how sure he looked, how there was no hesitation on his face. His thumb grazed her cheek, so faint that she thought she imagined it.
"Making a point."
There was a flicker of something behind his eyes. Hesitation. Maybe fear. But it disappeared so quickly she almost missed it.
Harper's heart skipped painfully, betraying everything she'd tried so hard to keep hidden. He always got too close and said too much, pushing past her walls until she was questioning everything. But it was nothing – absolutely nothing – compared to the way her breath stilled when his gaze flicked to her lips.
Time did that funny little thing again – speeding up and slowing down all at once like it couldn't decide what to do. The air between them felt electric, charged with everything that was left unsaid between them.
Before she could react — could even think — his lips brushed against hers.
The kiss was slow at first, hesitant like it was testing waters neither of them were sure how to navigate. It shouldn't have felt this natural, this right. But it did. The world paused around them, melting everything away piece by piece until there was nothing left but them.
Just Harper and Hawk.
And nothing had ever felt more right.
Harper returned the kiss, sliding her arms around his neck as if they belonged there. He responded instantly, the tension breaking as his hands found her waist, pulling her closer like he was afraid she'd slip away if he let go.
It only lasted a few seconds – barely enough time for her mind to catch up – but it said everything that Harper had been too afraid to admit out loud. Every unspoken thought, every bottled-up emotion, and every truth that had been clawing at her for weeks was poured into that one fleeting moment.
When they pulled apart, the world crept back in too quickly. Her mind screamed at her to say something. Anything. But the words wouldn't come. Every one of her thoughts dissolved into thin air, leaving only a terrifying truth in its wake: Nothing had ever felt this real before.
And if this was as real as it felt — if they were taking another chance at whatever this was — then falling would be the easy part.
Losing it? That would absolutely destroy her.
And she didn't know if her heart could take it.
Hawk didn't smirk right away, and for once, his silence said more than his words ever could. It was almost as if he was letting the moment linger, letting its weight settle before slipping back into that aggravating confidence she'd come to expect from him.
"Still think we're just friends, foster?" He asked, his voice low but teasing.
"This doesn't mean anything," she said, but the words felt hollow as soon as they left her mouth.
"Keep telling yourself that," he said with a soft laugh.
They'd done this before. They'd crossed that line between friendship and something more just a couple of months ago so why did it feel so monumental this time around? Nothing had changed, yet it felt like everything had changed at the same time. Perhaps it was because they no longer had to hide in the shadows, that whatever this meant didn't have to be a secret.
Not like last time.
And maybe that's why Harper was so scared — because she had to face the consequences of falling for the enemy.
As if remembering they had an audience, her attention shifted to the curious, perhaps judgmental, looks thrown their way. Not everyone was watching as the car wash carried on in the background but there were enough people watching. There were too many eyes on them, and Harper felt her pulse spike at the unwanted attention.
Sadie stood across the lot, the anger radiating off of her in waves. Her arms were crossed so tightly over her chest it looked like she might snap in half.
Moon looked absolutely ecstatic — practically vibrating with happiness.
And then there were Sam and Hawk's friends, their mirrored looks of displeasure standing out like storm clouds in the sunny lot.
Before her thoughts could spiral out of control, he took hold of her hand, his thumb brushing across her knuckles.
"They'll get over it," he told her as if they hadn't just kissed in front of everyone.
Harper wanted to believe that more than anything because there was no going back now. While she didn't know exactly what they were, it was obvious that they were no longer just friends. And she wouldn't lie to herself about it anymore. But before she could form a reply, an excited shriek cut through the air.
Moon bounced up to them, her excited energy wrapping around them like a warm hug. Her eyes were lit up with so much excitement that Harper couldn't help but smile.
Until she spoke, that is.
"Oh. My. God. I knew it!" Moon squealed, clapping her hands as she stopped in front of them. Her eyes darted between Harper and Hawk as if unsure who to focus on first. "Finally! I mean, it's about time. I knew you two would get back together. I mean, it was so obvious. You two are, like, officially a thing now, right?"
Harper blinked, startled by her unfiltered excitement. "Oh, uhm, we're just —"
"Figuring things out," Hawk answered for her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
Harper hadn't expected him to say that. She'd braced herself for a smug remark, something overconfident, but instead, his answer disarmed her in the best possible way. Things were complicated and messy without the need for labels. The way he said it made her chest feel a little lighter — like figuring things out was enough.
"Oh, come on! Figuring things out?" Moon shook her head, her smile widening as she waved her hands dramatically to emphasize her point. "Don't even try to deny it. I mean, I saw everything — the looks, the tension, the kiss. You two are so cute!"
"See? We're cute," Hawk said with that teasing tone of his.
Harper felt her face burn from the attention, and she shot Hawk a look — half glare, half something else. He was standing there looking so sure of himself even as Moon's excited energy practically swallowed them whole. And worse, it was contagious. Before she could stop it, a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Adorable. Seriously," Moon agreed with a nod.
"It's not adorable. Or cute."
The words cut through Moon's excitement like a blade, Harper's smile disappearing as Sam appeared beside them. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her expression sharp and disapproving as her gaze darted between Harper and Hawk. A frown twisted her features as if she was waiting for something to explode.
"What are you talking about?" Moon blinked in confusion, her smile faltering as she turned to Sam. "Look at them! They're —"
"A mistake," Sam finished. The word dropped like a weight heavier than it had any right to be.
Harper's shoulders stiffened at the words, the sting slicing through her already vulnerable exterior. She'd expected Sam to have an opinion — hell, she'd voiced it enough times in the last few weeks — but hearing it now, so blunt and unfiltered, was something else entirely.
"Sam, don't," Harper pleaded as her heart hammered against her chest.
"Harper, come on," Sam said. "It was bad enough that you two were friends. But… this. I mean, you can't be serious right now. This isn't going to work."
Clenching her jaw, she forced herself to look at Sam. "You don't know that."
Sam sighed, frustration bleeding into her features. "Yeah, I do. You want to know why? Because he's still Cobra Kai. He's still him."
Hawk stiffened as the teasing glint in his eyes vanished, replaced by something sharper. More dangerous. He shifted his weight forward, like he was seconds away from snapping. Harper noticed it immediately — the tense shoulders, the dark look in his eyes — and reached for him. Her fingers brushed against his arm, a soft but deliberate touch. Enough to ground him.
His glare was still locked on Sam like a silent warning, but he stilled beneath her touch. She felt, more than saw, as his anger ebbed away under her silent intervention. How he let her pull him back without saying anything.
Sam caught the silent exchange between them, and something unreadable crossed her face — a weird mix of frustration and understanding that only made her expression harden further.
"You got hurt before. What makes you think this time is gonna be any different? Nothing ever good comes out of mixing Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai," Sam said.
The words hit harder than she wanted to admit. Sam didn't know what she was talking about, but what if she did? What if she was right and this was just a huge mistake that would blow up in her face? The doubts started to creep in, but she shoved them away — refused to let them take root.
"Unless it's you and Miguel," Harper said, the words sharp and defensive. She hadn't meant to go there, but Sam's constant pushing had cracked something in her. "Look, you don't have to like it, okay? But it's my choice."
Sam's lips pressed into a thin line. The tension thicker than ever as it surrounded them.
"You know, LaRusso's right for once," Mitch said as he walked up, followed by Trey and Logan. His voice was laced with disdain — whether from having to agree with Sam or Harper and Hawk being something now. He folded his arms across his chest like he was daring Hawk to argue. "You can't be serious about this."
Harper turned to face them, her pulse spiking as their disapproval washed over her like a wave. Their glares burned into her but she matched them, refusing to let them intimidate her. But still, a part of her wanted to wipe those smirks off of their faces.
But before she could act on her stupid impulse, Hawk's grip tightened on her hand.
"This is just stupid," Trey spoke up with a humorless laugh. "You're seriously throwing Sadie away for this… foster kid?"
Hawk didn't move at first. He just stood there unnervingly calm. The seconds passed before he turned his attention to his friends. "Say that again," he said, his voice low and quiet.
The threat was unmistakable. Mitch and the others faltered, their bravado slipping for a second.
"We're just saying," Mitch said with a shrug, trying to regain some of his confidence. "She's not worth the drama."
Hawk took a step forward, pulling his arm free from her grasp. You think you get to have an opinion about this? About her?" His voice cut through the air like a knife, sharp and cold.
Logan, the calmer one of the group, raised his hands slightly. "Come on, Hawk, we're just saying it's—"
"I don't care what you're 'just' saying," Hawk snapped, his voice louder now as he dared them — Sam and his friends — to keep pushing. "This isn't your business so back the hell off."
The silence that followed was heavy, comically out of place with the sounds of the car wash in the background. Mitch looked away, visibly uncomfortable under Hawk's glare. Logan, Trey and Sam shifted awkwardly, clearly unsure of what to say or do. They wanted to press the issue, that much was obvious, but they stayed quiet for once. Swallowing down their thoughts and arguments about why they thought this was a bad idea.
A dramatic sigh broke through the tension. Moon, ever the peacemaker, stepped between them. "Okay, okay, enough," she said, her usually calm voice loud and pointed. "Can we all just relax for a second?"
The fight was forgotten for a second as all eyes turned to Moon, who watched them as if dealing with a bunch of toddlers throwing tantrums.
"I get that you don't like this," Moon said, turning to Sam. "But Harper knows what she's doing. She's not dumb, and tearing her down isn't helping anyone. It's one thing to be concerned but you're just letting your own bias dictate what you think is best for her."
Sam opened her mouth to respond, but Moon cut her off, already spinning toward Hawk's friends. "And you guys need to stop acting like you have a say in Hawk's life. This is his decision, not yours."
"Thanks, Moon." Hawk smirked faintly, clearly entertained by her sudden outburst.
"Anytime," Moon replied cheerfully.
Harper exhaled softly as Hawk's hand found hers again. His fingers curled around hers, grounding her in a way she hadn't realized she needed. She risked a glance at him, his unshakeable confidence radiating through the chaos around them.
"They'll get over it," he said, his voice low but steady, meant just for her.
Harper nodded, leaning into his touch. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust in that certainty he seemed to carry with him so easily. But the lingering tension in her was a cruel reminder that nothing was ever as simple.
Still, with his hand in hers, she thought that maybe they could figure it out together.
Sam shot Harper one last look before turning away, her frustration clear in every step. Mitch and the others lingered for a moment longer before Logan mumbled something under his breath and dragged them away.
Moon stayed behind, a soft smile crossing her face as she squeezed Harper's arm. "Don't listen to them. Everything will work out, you'll see."
Harper returned the smile though it felt small and uncertain. She wanted to believe that things could be that simple, but life had rarely been that kind to her.
When they were finally alone again, Harper let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The tension lingered like an ache in her chest but, for the first time in what felt like forever, it wasn't unbearable.
"That was fun," she said.
Hawk laughed softly, his smirk returning as he leaned in closer. "You get used to it," he said, his voice low but certain — like the weight of their choices didn't scare him the way they did her. "You know, since you're stuck with me now." A small smile tugged at his lips but his eyes — serious and steady — told her he wasn't just talking about today.
Harper rolled her eyes but the smile that crossed her face was real. "Yeah, I guess I am."
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Thanks so much for reading! This chapter was so fun to write so I hope you liked it!
A lot happened here so... I want your thoughts on everything!