Samantha LaRusso had a habit of running in circles—jumping from one person to another, always looking for something she could never seem to hold onto. First Kyler, then Miguel, then Robby, then Miguel again. It was exhausting to watch. It was even worse to be around.

Lately, she had been acting different. More distant. More defensive. Like she was waiting for someone to say something just so she could have a reason to snap. Training wasn’t the same anymore. Her movements were sharper, her aggression barely hidden beneath the surface.

It was building up—this tension between the two of you. And eventually, it broke.

Samantha turned sharply, eyes blazing with something cold. “I don’t need your opinion on my life,” she spat, stepping closer. “You don’t like the way I do things? Then stay out of it.”

There it was. That wall she always built, the one that made it impossible to get through to her. Maybe she knew she was repeating the same mistakes. Maybe she just didn’t care. Either way, she wasn’t going to listen.

And just like that, it was clear—this wasn’t just some petty rivalry. This was something deeper. Something personal.