𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁  / ❛ liar ❜

[ episode nine, different but same ]

Jace and Marlee sat down near his car, the bottles of alcohol between them, the familiar hum of the party in the background. They'd been to plenty of Yasmine's parties together over the years, often finding themselves hanging out in the quieter spots, just like old times.

Marlee took a sip of her drink, leaning back against the car. "So, what's this 'terrific plan' of yours to get Moon, huh?" she teased, smirking at him.

Jace grinned, clearly excited about his latest scheme. "Alright, listen to this," he said, leaning in as if he were about to drop some serious knowledge. "I'm thinking, I'll take her out somewhere super casual, like a café or something. Then, I'll just... drop some compliments, y'know, tell her how amazing she is. Then, boom—instant connection. She won't know what hit her."

Marlee laughed, shaking her head. "Dude, you're so full of it. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen."

Jace shrugged, unfazed. "Nah, I've got this. Trust me. That's how you got Hawk, right?"

"Shut up. We haven't even gone on the date yet." As they shared a laugh, they both stood up, brushing themselves off. The party was starting to feel a little too loud for their tastes, so they began walking around the edge of the bonfire, the music thumping in the distance.

Marlee glanced over at Jace. "You're actually serious about this, huh?"

Jace shot her a playful grin. "Wouldn't be the first time I've pulled off a miracle."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," Marlee responded, rolling her eyes but secretly entertained by his confidence. "Just don't get your hopes up too much."

They walked side by side, a comfortable silence hanging between them for a moment, the sounds of laughter and music blending into the background as the night carried on, until Jace suddenly skidded to a halt. Marlee followed his gaze and saw his expression shift, his jaw slightly dropping.

"Marlee.." Jace whispered, his voice barely audible, his eyes wide.

Marlee furrowed her brows, confused, then looked up at him before glancing in the direction he was staring.

In front of them, Moon and Hawk were sitting on a log, locked in an embrace, their lips tangled in a kiss. Marlee felt her stomach drop, the world around her slowing to a stop. She blinked rapidly, hoping her mind was playing tricks on her.

Spoiler alert: it wasn't.

Her heart raced, and she felt the air leave her lungs. She stumbled back a step, feeling Jace's hand catch her waist just in time. The alcohol from earlier suddenly seemed to hit her all at once, her vision blurring and the world spinning around her.

"Come on, Mars—" Jace's voice was distorted, like he was speaking through water. His words barely registered as she felt the weight of what she'd just seen settle in her chest.

Miguel appeared out of nowhere, a shot in hand. "You okay?" he asked, despite the mood he was in, concern etched on his face.

Without thinking, Marlee grabbed the shot and threw it back, the liquid burning down her throat. It didn't do much to dull the ache in her chest, but it at least gave her something else to focus on. She wiped her eyes, blinking away the sudden rush of tears that threatened to spill.

"I'm so stupid," she muttered under her breath, her voice shaky. She turned back toward the fire, trying to steady herself, but every time she glanced in Hawk and Moon's direction, the scene replayed in her mind, a sharp, bitter reminder of what she'd hoped for that would never happen.

She felt Jace's hand on her shoulder, his presence offering a slight comfort. "It's just a kiss, Mars. Don't let it mess with you."

But it was more than just a kiss. It was everything she didn't expect—everything she had thought she could have, but now, was nothing more than a fleeting dream.

"I—I don't understand," Marlee muttered, her voice shaky. "He told me.. he was gonna take me out—god, I'm so stupid." In a fit of frustration, she threw her cup toward a nearby log, the plastic clinking against the wood before bouncing away.

Her mind spun, thoughts racing too fast for her to catch. It was just a kiss, right? But it meant more than that. If Hawk truly cared about her, why would he be making out with Moon? She clenched her fists, the familiar sting of insecurity creeping back in.

It had to be Moon—the perfect, untouchable girl, the one everyone gravitated toward. The one who always had what Marlee couldn't. She felt herself growing smaller inside.

"God, I'm such an idiot," she muttered, the tears threatening to spill but not quite making it through.

Jace stood beside her, clearly concerned, his hand resting on her back. "You're not stupid, okay?" His voice was calm, trying to soothe the chaos inside her. "Maybe it's nothing. Maybe you don't know the whole story."

Marlee shook her head, trying to brush him off. She didn't want his sympathy. "No, you don't get it. It's always like this," she said bitterly. "Everyone always picks someone else. I'm just—" She didn't finish her sentence, because she couldn't.

Jace stepped closer, his voice softer. "Marls, I know it sucks, but this isn't about you. It's about him." He paused. "You're worth way more than whatever that was."

But Marlee didn't want to hear it. She felt the weight of the entire night press down on her, and all she could think about was drowning it out.

"I need a drink," she muttered, the words slurring a bit as she turned back toward the party, already reaching for another drink.

Jace hesitated but didn't push further. He watched her for a moment, feeling helpless, before stepping back. Marlee didn't care, though. She grabbed the bottle, unscrewing the cap and taking a long swig, the alcohol burning as it went down.

She ignored Jace's worried look, her vision already starting to blur. The dizziness hit her almost immediately, but she kept drinking. Maybe if she drank enough, it wouldn't hurt so much. Maybe if she just forgot for a little while, it wouldn't matter.

And maybe, for once, she wouldn't have to think about the fact that no one ever chose her.

.・゜゜・・゜゜・

Marlee had lost track of how much she had drunk. The world around her spun in slow, heavy circles, her vision blurring with each sip. She found herself standing beside Demetri, of all people, but it made sense. He wasn't going to push her to talk or ask her how she was feeling. He was just.. there.

"He did like you, you know," Demetri broke the silence, glancing her way. "Hawk."

She gave him a thin-lipped smile, the weight on her chest still there, her attempt with the alcohol failing to take away the tension.

Her head turned, and through the distorted haze, she saw Miguel, Sam, and the boy from the skatepark—Robby—standing together, a tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Their stares were cold, the air between them practically crackling with hostility.

With a sigh, Marlee pushed through the crowd, stepping right between them. "What's up, man?" she grinned at Robby, trying to keep it light, even though her words slurred a little. She turned to stand next to Miguel.

"Wait, you know him?" Miguel's voice was sharp, the anger bubbling up in his tone.

"Yeah, he goes to my skatepark," Marlee shrugged easily, though a part of her was already starting to regret getting involved.

But Miguel wasn't done. "Wait, have you been drinking?" Sam asked him, her voice full of concern.

"No, no, no," Miguel snapped. "You don't get to turn this on me. I texted and called you all day, and you couldn't answer me back once?" His words were quick, almost too quick, the frustration evident.

Marlee blinked, trying to focus, but the words felt like they were floating through thick fog.

"No, I literally couldn't. My mom took my phone—" Sam started, but Miguel cut her off with a sharp scoff.

:Oh, oh that's so convenient!" Miguel's voice rose, and Marlee felt a pang of unease.

"Hey, hey man, just tell—" Robby started, but he was interrupted by Miguel's furious shout.

"You get out of here!" Miguel yelled, pushing Robby harshly to the ground. Sam shouted at him to stop, her voice panicked.

Marlee's heart pounded as the scene unfolded, her body swaying slightly. She rushed forward without thinking, stumbling toward Robby to help him up. "Hey, man, you wanna try that again?" Robby's voice was low but steady, an edge to it.

Miguel squared up to him. "Try it again, huh?" he shot back, his fists clenched.

Marlee didn't think about it—she just threw herself between them, her hands on both of their chests in an attempt to break them apart. But before she could even register the movement, Miguel swung his fist, aiming for Robby, and Sam in her attempt to stop him, stepped in front of him just in time.

The punch landed, but instead of Robby, it hit Sam square in the face. Marlee gasped, her heart stopping for a second as Sam crumpled to the ground.

"Miguel!" she shouted, her voice raw with disbelief. The two boys froze, realizing what had just happened. They both rushed to help Sam up, but she pushed them away with surprising strength.

"You asshole! What the hell was that?" Sam shouted, staring at Miguel in shock and anger, her face pale.

Miguel stammered, looking horrified. "I didn't mean—"

"My dad was right about Cobra Kai," Sam snapped, her voice cold as ice. "Good luck at the tournament. I won't be there." She turned on her heel, walking away, leaving Miguel standing frozen in place. Robby followed behind her, giving Marlee a slight wave before following Sam.

Marlee stood there, feeling her chest tighten. Her mouth was agape, unable to form the words she needed. She glanced at Miguel, who was watching the two walk away, utterly defeated.

"Hey, man," she said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright."

But even as she said it, she wasn't sure if she believed it. She wasn't sure if anything was going to be alright after this.

"Let's go home," Marlee said, her voice quiet but firm, knowing it was time to leave. Miguel nodded, his expression still clouded with frustration, as they made their way through the crowd. Both of them knew they couldn't drive in their state, and they were hoping to find Aisha and Jace before leaving.

Hawk appeared behind them, his hand lightly resting on Marlee's waist to steady her as she swayed slightly. "Hey, you alright?" he asked softly, looking down at her with concern.

She immediately pulled away from his touch, a wave of irritation washing over her. Aisha was already ahead of them, turning back when she saw Marlee. "Hey—we're gonna head out. Do you know where Jace is?" Marlee asked, rubbing her temples, her head pounding.

"Yeah, he's over there," Aisha replied, pointing in Jace's direction. "Jace!" she called out, and the guy waved from across the yard. "Get some rest, guys," she added as they started to make their way toward him.

Marlee smiled faintly at Aisha before Jace walked up beside her, immediately offering his support as they began the walk up the hill. He stayed close, making sure she didn't trip as her steps wavered.

"Mars—" Hawk started, his voice filled with confusion.

"Don't talk to me," Marlee snapped, shaking her head. She didn't have the energy for this, not now. Hawk stood there, watching them leave, his brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of it all.

Without looking back, Marlee kept walking, leaning on Jace for balance, her heart heavy with everything she was feeling.

.・゜゜・・゜゜・

Marlee fumbled with her keys as she unlocked the front door, the quiet chirp of birds outside the only sound breaking the stillness of the night. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the dizziness hit her again. She stumbled inside, locking the door behind her and leaning heavily against the wall as she made her way up the stairs.

When she reached her brother's bedroom, she paused for a moment, steadying herself before opening the door. Ryder was sitting at his desk, headphones on, fully absorbed in whatever was on his screen. He didn't notice her right away, but when he did, his eyes flickered back to her, noticing something wasn't right. Her shaky hands, the red-rimmed eyes, and the way she leaned against the doorframe sent a jolt of concern through him.

"Oh, shit," he muttered, quickly standing up and dropping his controller. "Marlee?" he asked, his voice soft but worried. "What happened?"

Marlee didn't answer immediately. She staggered into his room and collapsed onto the floor, her vision blurry. Ryder hurried over to her, grabbing a bucket just in case and kneeling beside her. "What happened, M?" he asked gently, rubbing her arm as she continued to shake.

Marlee couldn't hold it in anymore. She let herself break down completely, everything she'd been holding back over the course of the night spilling out. "He likes somebody else," she whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion. "He told me he liked me... he asked me out... but then he was with another girl. Why am I never enough, Ryder?" She let out a choked sob, the tears finally coming.

Ryder's heart broke as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. He didn't have the answers, but he knew one thing: she was his sister, and she wasn't alone. "You're enough," he whispered, rubbing her back. "You're always enough. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise."

Marlee clung to him, her body shaking with every sob, letting herself feel the weight of everything she'd been holding in. Ryder stayed there, holding her, not saying much else but just being there, knowing she needed that more than anything