ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡*ೃ༄
*ੈ✩‧₊˚๓คՇƈɦﻝกց รƈคɼร⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 —

TW: mentions of kidnapping, death, nightmare

Author Note: I am not romanticizing kidnapping or death, I am showing awareness as well that this is in a Nightmare and she does have trauma from the kidnapping experience, again, I'm just showing the affects of it.

         MARISOL SPRINTED THROUGH THE HALLWAY AND PUSHING THROUGH EVERYONE. Marisol's eyes lit up as she spotted Eli at his locker. "ELI!" she called out, waving her phone in the air to get his attention. Eli turned towards her, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Mars?" he muttered to himself, trying to figure out what she wanted. Marisol couldn't contain her excitement, grinning from ear to ear as she jumped up and down in front of him. "Guess what, Eli?!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

Eli's tone shifted to a more upbeat and curious one as he asked, "What is it, Mars? Tell me!" His heart started beating faster, and he felt butterflies fluttering in his stomach. Marisol leaned in closer, whispering the news she had to share. "My mom is in jail," she revealed quietly, not wanting everyone to know but still feeling a sense of happiness.

Eli's jaw dropped open in disbelief. "No way! Are you serious?" he exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise. Marisol nodded enthusiastically, her grin growing wider. "Yep!" she confirmed, turning her phone to show him the text her dad had sent her along with an article. Eli couldn't contain his shock. "Oh my god! She got caught?" he asked, his voice filled with astonishment.

Marisol's face lit up with excitement as she nodded vigorously. "I don't have to worry anymore!" she squealed, unable to contain her joy. She started jumping around in a circle, and Eli couldn't help but giggle at her infectious enthusiasm. Feeling playful, Eli grabbed her by the waist and twirled her around, adding to the moment of celebration.

Just then, Dr. Santos's voice came over the announcement speaker, interrupting their joyful moment. "Marisol Cervantes, please report your attention to Sam LaRusso," the announcement echoed through the halls. Marisol and Eli exchanged confused glances, their expressions mirroring each other. "What?" they both exclaimed in unison, wondering what this unexpected summons could mean.

Marisol's eyes caught sight of Sam approaching her in the hallway, holding a poster. Intrigued, she stepped out into the middle of the hallway, squinting her eyes and leaning in to get a closer look at it. It said:

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐋 𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐒,
𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆?

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚,
𝓢𝓪𝓶<3

Marisol's eyes widened in surprise as Sam suddenly appeared in front of her, causing confetti to burst into the air. Marisol bit her bottom lip, feeling a mix of emotions as she looked at Eli with an apologetic expression. Sam couldn't help but crack a grin, clearly enjoying the moment. "So?" she asked, holding the poster up in front of her.

Marisol let out a light scoff, trying to gather her thoughts. "Well, uhm... we should probably talk alone," she whispered to Sam, her tone soft and gentle. Sam nodded, though her smile seemed a bit forced. Marisol couldn't help but feel a fluttery sensation in her stomach, unsure of what this conversation would bring.

Eli's heart sank as he watched Marisol take Sam's hand and walk away from the crowd. He couldn't help but feel a wave of worry wash over him. What if this meant that she was saying yes to Sam, but didn't want to say it in front of him? Marisol clicked her tongue, a sign of hesitation. "Sam, I really like you... but I can't," she began, her voice filled with sincerity. "I thought that trying to work things out with you would reveal that we were meant for each other, but it didn't. I'm truly sorry. I hope you understand, it's just..." Marisol trailed off, her gaze shifting to Eli, who was standing across the hall. In that moment, he saw a glimmer in her eyes that filled him with hope.

She looked back at Sam. "I—"

Sam let out a sigh, her voice tinged with sadness. "I get it, you love Eli, not me," she said, her words heavy with understanding. "I really hope we can still be friends, Mars." A sad smile played on Sam's lips as she ran a hand through her hair. Marisol's eyes filled with empathy as she replied, "We will always be friends, Sam. I know we have history, but I've known Eli for much longer, and... you know..." Her voice trailed off, her gaze shifting downward. Sam waved her hand with a small nod, trying to hold back her tears. "Yeah, I get it. I'm glad you gave me context," she said, her voice filled with a mix of acceptance and sadness.

Marisol wrapped her arms around Sam, embracing her tightly. "You're welcome," she whispered, her voice filled with warmth and compassion. Slowly, she pulled away from the hug and made her way back to Eli, wearing a sad smile. As Eli looked at her with hopeful eyes, he couldn't help but blurt out, "Are you going to prom with her?" Marisol shook her head gently, her expression filled with certainty. "No," she replied, her voice soft but resolute.

Eli let out a relieved breath, his arms flailing in the air. "Thank fuck!" he exclaimed, his excitement palpable. He placed his hands on his head, causing Marisol to burst into giggles. "I do feel bad for rejecting her, but I've got my eyes on someone else," Marisol said, her lips curling into a mischievous smirk. With a playful wink, she added a touch of mystery to her words, leaving Eli intrigued.

Eli furrowed his eyebrows, his curiosity evident. He wanted to question it, but he didn't want to mess anything up. "Hey, can I crash at your place tonight? I'll be all alone since my sister is sleeping over at the LaRussos or something, and Nat and my dad are going out of town for some Dealership thing. My dad is really trying to get back on track and stay sober this time," she rambled, pouring out the details.

Eli responded with a toothy grin, unable to resist her enthusiasm. "Sure," he agreed, his voice filled with warmth. She squealed with delight, shaking his shoulders in excitement. "Great!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her joy.

Marisol made her way up Eli's porch, her footsteps echoing with anticipation. She tapped her foot anxiously, her nerves getting the best of her. Suddenly, she heard a rustling in a nearby tree, causing her to flinch and glance over. Relief washed over her as she realized it was just a bird. She let out a long exhale, feeling a wave of calmness wash over her. Just then, the door swung open, and Eli greeted her with a welcoming smile. "Hey, come on in! My mom's out for the night," he informed her. Marisol nodded her head, a smile spreading across her face.

As Marisol stepped inside, she was greeted by an enthusiastic pounce from Eli's dog, Dobby. She looked down and saw the adorable Cavapoo, named after his favorite Harry Potter character. Marisol chuckled, admitting that she wasn't a big fan of Harry Potter, but she still recognized the character. "Oh, there's Dobby! Such a cute name for a dog," she remarked, appreciating the connection.

Marisol couldn't contain her excitement and let out a gasp. "You have a dog now?!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening. Eli nodded, crossing his arms with a proud smile. Marisol's joy erupted as she squealed and scooped up Dobby, enveloping him in a warm hug. "What's their name?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and affection as she showered the dog with gentle pets. Eli cracked a grin and replied, "His name is Dobby."

Marisol continued to shower Dobby with affection, rubbing his belly as he playfully licked her face. Her giggles filled the room, her smile growing wider, which brought a grin to Eli's face. "You know, my mom felt really bad about what happened, so she came home last night with Dobby," he explained, his tone filled with sincerity.

Marisol gave him a questioning look, her curiosity piqued. "I do feel bad," she admitted, her voice apologetic. "I'm sorry for not really being there since that night. Demetri texted me and said that he talked to you and that you joined Miyagi-Do."

Eli fixated on her, his scrutiny evident in the narrowing of his eyes. "You're not harboring any resentment about me joining, are you?" he probed, raising his eyebrows in anticipation. She met his gaze with a mixture of insight and amusement, her response delivered with a seemingly indifferent tone. "Why should I? Your choices don't concern me," she stated, nonchalantly arching a brow and casually shrugging her shoulders. Eli, feeling a sense of exasperation, sighed audibly. "I suppose it's because you're associated with Eagle-Fang, complicating things," he remarked with a tinge of frustration.

She released a light snort, tenderly lowering Dobby to the floor, allowing him to dart away. "Nah, it's all good!" she proclaimed, her hands finding a confident resting place on her hips, drawing a subtle, reassuring smile from Eli. "But seriously, I hope things remain smooth between us. It's a bit complicated, you know, being in competing dojos and having to square off against each other's teams. I can already imagine facing Tory and Sam – that's going to be quite the challenge."

Marisol's brow knitted together, and she placed her hands confidently on her hips. "Actually, about that, I'm not competing," she disclosed, breaking the news as Eli's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, what?" he asked, clearly caught off guard.

Marisol hummed, her lips forming a thin line as she continued. "Yup. My dad and Nat thought that with my new meds and trying to balance them, participating in the tournament would throw things off. I agreed. However, don't worry; we've got two formidable girls representing us: Therese Alsten and Devon Lee. I'm pretty sure Johnny has taken a liking to them – they're practically his favorites now, although Miguel still holds the top spot in his heart."

Eli's lips shaped into an 'o' as he responded, "Well, okay," followed by a light chuckle. A brief silence hung between them. Breaking it, she flashed a grin and proposed, "How about we head upstairs and indulge in a Scream Franchise marathon?" Eli laughed in agreement. "Sure," he replied, his lips forming a half-smile, ready to share another round of movie enjoyment.

Marisol and Eli crafted a night brimming with laughter and shared moments. They delved into the suspenseful world of Scream movies, navigated through rounds of "would you rather" and "truth or dare," and Marisol showcased her artistic flair by doing Eli's nails. The evening took a playful turn as they created vibrant TikTok videos, Eli proudly revealing her concealed tattoos.

As the night unfolded, they found comfort in each other's company, eventually drifting into a cozy cuddle session. The glow of the screen illuminated their faces as they enjoyed the parody delights of Scary Movie, a fitting conclusion to a night filled with camaraderie and shared joy.

Marisol entered her house, calling out, "Dad? Nat? I'm home!" Her voice echoed through the silent, empty space.

Marisol's brow furrowed with concern as she navigated through the house, guided by the muffled voices echoing from the basement. With a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, she swung open the basement door, the slow creak of each stair intensifying the rapid beat of her heart.

Descending into the depths, the darkness enveloped her, adding an extra layer of suspense to her journey. With each step, the anticipation grew, and Marisol found herself immersed in the mysterious atmosphere of the dimly lit basement.

A knot of unease tightened in her stomach, prompting a slow, hesitant retreat on the stairs. Each step seemed to amplify the ominous silence that enveloped the basement. As she turned towards the door, it swung closed with a resounding thud, leaving her in a sudden, chilling solitude. A gasp escaped her lips, the breathy tremor betraying her growing anxiety.

Nerves on the brink, her heart raced, a cacophony of erratic beats accompanying the flickering dance of the lights. The room plunged into momentary darkness before the illumination returned, revealing the unsettling scene. A scream, raw and visceral, tore through the air as her eyes locked onto her dad, helplessly bound to a chair. The sight unfolded like a nightmare, leaving her paralyzed in shock and fear.

A chilling scream pierced the air as a figure in a Ghostface mask emerged behind her dad, wielding a menacing knife. "You and Mila, come with me, or I'll end your dad!" The masked figure's threat echoed through the room with a sinister urgency.

Marisol's gaze hardened as she confronted Ghostface. "Get away from him!" Determined to intervene, she took a step forward, only to find herself thwarted by an inexplicable force. It was as if her feet were bound to the floor, refusing to obey her command. Puzzled, she looked down, discovering the unsettling reality that her feet were actually glued to the floor, rendering her momentarily immobilized in the face of the unfolding threat.

Her eyes widened in terror as she looked back up, helplessly witnessing her dad being stabbed in the chest. The world seemed to freeze around her as a gut-wrenching scream tore from her throat. "DAD!" The echoes of her anguished cry filled the air, a haunting soundtrack to the devastating scene unfolding before her.

A sudden gasp expelled her from the depths of sleep, her body jerking upright as if escaping the clutches of a nightmare. Eli, roused by the disturbance, observed the pillow beneath her, now soaked with a pool of sweat. Marisol, her form glistening with perspiration, released a trembling sob as she met Eli's concerned gaze. "It was just a dream?" she asked, her eyes desperately seeking confirmation in the wake of the haunting visions that lingered in the shadows of her subconscious.

A flicker of panic crossed Eli's face as he observed Marisol's distress. "Marisol, are you okay?" he asked, his concern palpable. She shook her head, eyes searching for reassurance. "My dad is alive, right? He's okay?" The worry in her voice resonated as she sought confirmation from Eli, who nodded with sincerity. "Yeah, he is. He's fine, Mars," he affirmed, attempting to provide the comfort she desperately sought.

Marisol's breathing quickened into hyperventilation, and Eli's eyes reflected the deep worry clouding his thoughts. "Marisol, I'm worried about you," he admitted, his voice carrying the weight of genuine concern. Her gaze remained vacant, a silent acknowledgment of the turmoil within.

In response, Marisol sought solace in Eli's embrace, enveloping him with her arms. Tears streamed down her face as she buried her face into his chest, finding a refuge in the comforting warmth he offered amid the emotional storm.

Eli reciprocated the embrace, his hand gently rubbing her back in a comforting rhythm. As he held her, a growing worry gnawed at him. She resisted the idea of therapy, and he grappled with the challenge of helping her through this difficult time. His feelings for her extended beyond care; he found himself acknowledging a profound love for her, making the weight of her struggles all the more pressing on his heart.

—

ash speaks!

Did I write this at 5am? Yes i did. I pulled a all nighter to write this😨😨