THE HOUSE WAS quiet as I entered. The only sound to be heard came from my shoed feet as I shut the door and walked toward my room. My father was nowhere in sight luckily and I dove into the shelter of my room.

Silently I shut the door and then proceeded to toss my bag on the bed. There was a bathroom connected to my room and I went inside, splashing water on my tired face before drying it off with the nearby towel. When I looked back up into the mirror I almost jumped. There was my father, standing just inside the doorway to the right.

"You're back very late." His tone was a combination of annoyance and intense interest.

I hung up the towel next to the sink and slowly turned to face him. "I know, I just was with the guys. It's no big deal, we just got pizza."

"It's no big deal when I say it is. You need to let me know what you are doing."

"I didn't know I needed to."

My father stood tall, his voice spending cold dread down my spine, "Now you do."

I nodded distantly. I could tell he was trying to be whatever his version of fatherly was, but it came off as more hostile than having any interest in my affairs. No matter what he was talking about, it still made my heart beat rapidly and I found myself wanting to cower away from him. Although, I knew if I did that it would have made matters more intense.

When he turned away it was only then I decided it was safe to breathe normally again. "I want to see you even earlier at the dojo from now on. I'm going to train you harder. I don't want to see a repeat of what happened today. There are no losers in my dojo."

I swallowed and leaned against the sink when my father was out of sight again. The tension in my head seemed to pulse and I ran a hand over my forehead and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to soothe the ache that had started up.

Truth be told, my father did scare me and I didn't like how he handled things at times. It was like living with the military. Yes, my father had been to war and back but that didn't give him an excuse to treat me like one of his soldiers. He should treat me like his daughter. Maybe make a better effort to get to know me than just run my life with training and karate all the time.

I flopped onto my bed and sighed inwardly while fingering my mother's bracelet halfheartedly. No matter what my father was doing I still wanted him to get to know me and maybe have a more significant role in my life than he ever had before. The truth was I guess I wanted that. To have a parent and a place I could call home again. But this felt more like prison with occasional parole once in a while. I just didn't know how things were going to turn out.

The next morning, I woke early before school and decided to go for a run down to the beach and back. It wasn't too far only about a mile there and back. When I arrived at the coast I stopped halfway out onto the beach and walked the rest of the way down to the ocean.

The sea was cool this morning but it felt good against my bare feet. The salty air stung my nostrils but it only made me want to breathe it in deeper. So early in the day it was that the sun wasn't even up and there was no one on the beach besides me and the few seagulls circling from above, trying to spot their breakfast.

Knowing I had time before I should be heading back home to get ready for school, I decided to walk further down the beach. I passed underneath the huge pier where a fisherman was casting out his line at the end of the dock.

When I emerged out the other side, I noticed a man further along down the shoreline. He was a small and somewhat stout looking man with greying hair and tan skin. But what struck me about him was what he was doing. He was standing on a short wooden pillar positioned in the sand.

The man stood on one leg and gracefully arced his arms out to the sides and up in a swooping motion. In another swift movement he kicked out with the other foot that was balancing on the post, elegantly extending his leg and then landing on the opposite. It was a beautiful and fluid kick that I had to watch for a second time before realizing how he had accomplished it.

Meaning to go speak to the man, I started to walk toward where he was but a group of guys with long carved surf boards dashed in front of me, obscuring the older man from my sight. When they had passed the man was gone. All trace of him washed away completely, not leaving a single trail behind.

As much as I wanted to stay and find the man I knew it was past time I be getting back home. I didn't want to be late for school.

The run home was quicker than I expected and after a shower and some breakfast I was off to West Valley High.

I met up with Barbara as I got off the bus and we went to our lockers together since they were so close. There was always ten minutes before I had to get to class so after we dropped off our bags and grabbed our books for our first periods, we trotted across the hall to where Ali's locker was. Suzi was already there chatting endlessly it seemed like.

"Did we miss something?" I asked as Barbara and I strode up.

"Oh my god guess what?"

Barbara and I glanced at each other, "What?"

Suzi rolled her eyes and sighed impatiently, "You didn't even guess. Oh well. Heath asked me to the Halloween dance last night. I ran into him at the Josie's cafe and he just straight up asked me! I'm so excited!

"Suzi, that's great news. He seems like a good guy."

"I think so too!" Suzi grabbed me and Barbara by an arm each, "We have to go shopping after school. I have nothing to wear and I simply cannot go to the dance without a fashionable costume!"

"I'll drive! I need a costume too." Ali said as she grabbed a book from her locker.

"That's perfect, today I don't have training so that works great for me!"

"Awesome! So, it's settled. We'll all go shopping after school!"

We laughed together and started walking to class. I split ways with Barbara and Ali at the end of the hallway and headed to where my first class was. Suzi and I had first period History together and we sat in our designated desks. On the first day the teacher had let us pick our seating arrangement and so naturally we chose to sit near one another.

As the bell rang Mr. Harris told the class to settle down as some of the other students were a bit obnoxious. Without another thought he jumped right into the day's lesson, "Alright! Native Americans!" Mr. Harris wrote down the two words on the blackboard. "Tell me a few facts that you know about them!"

A girl named Stefanie raised her hand, "They were hunters and gatherers."

"Very good, that's true," Mr. Harris said. "And what did they hunt with?"

Daniel LaRusso who was in my class raised his hand and answered, "Bow and arrows mostly?"

As I jotted down notes, I got to thinking about Ali and Daniel. I knew Ali definitely liked the guy and that he liked her, but maybe I could see about talking to Daniel for her. I felt like they maybe needed a small push in the right direction.

As I was plotting their happily ever after-well, maybe not that far in advance, the door to the classroom entered and a new face appeared, followed by a teacher-no, that was Vice Principle Saunders. The woman came in with her powerful presence and everyone was silent, even Mr. Harris stopped talking as soon as they entered.

"Mr. Harris," V.P. Saunders started. "And students, I'd like to introduce Linda Laouer. Our newest edition to West Valley High."

Linda smiled shyly and blushed in front of the other students who were all staring at her. "Well Miss Laouer why don't you find an empty seat. There are a few you can choose from." Mr. Harris directed the new girl to the desks.

Since there was an empty seat right behind me I flagged the new girl down. She saw and came over thankfully. "Hi," She whispered. "I'm Linda."

Linda was short with black curly hair that she kept adjusting behind her ears nervously. She had blue-green eyes and was slightly plush with curves.

I turned around as far as I could in my seat, "I'm (Y/N). It's nice to meet you," I said and extended my hand out to her. She shook it happily.

"I'm Susan but you can call me Suzi." Suzi waved her hand and smiled at the new girl. "Welcome to West Valley."

At the end of class, we stuck around by Linda, and she followed us into the hallway. Suzi asked, "Are you from around here?"

"Originally a few hours north. Now I live in Encino Hills. We moved for my Dad's job."

Suzi let out a breath, "So, you're like... rich?"

Linda was suddenly uncomfortable, "We're comfortable."

"That is exactly what a rich person would say. Don't sweat it, our friend Ali lives up there too."

"Ali Mills?"

Suzi and I exchanged a glance, "Yeah, Mills."

"Oh. I met her this morning we live across the street from each other."

"Sweet!" I said. I glanced at the hall clock, "I got to go to class but sit with us at lunch Linda. We'd love to have you."

"Really? Thanks! I'll see you there."

I smiled and was on my way to second period.

Later in the day I had math class. I settled in my seat, making sure I had all my homework together for turning in when Johnny swept into the room. He made a gesture for the kid who sat next to me to move. The boy immediately got out of the way.

I sat back in my chair and shook my head in amusement, glancing sideways at him as he sat.

"What?" Johnny asked.

I shrugged, "I guess I should be used to you bossing people around by now on a daily occurrence."

Johnny brushed off my comment but smirked at me sidelong, "It seems everyone complies but you. Although I don't think I could boss you around even if I tried to."

"Were you ever trying?"

"Maybe at first," Johnny said in a way that made it seem more like he meant yes. "But I found out pretty quick that it wasn't going to work. I have to say I like it. Although, I know I can probably get to you in other ways."

"Like messing with what I do in my personal life?"

Johnny sighed with annoyance and leaned forward whispering, "I thought I apologized for that."

"In your own deficient way sure, you did."

Johnny rolled his eyes at my comment and sat back, silent for a second before glancing again at me and smirking. "Okay, so how about this? I'll take you to the dance. It will make up for how I ruined your... date, with the Fernandez kid." Johnny tilted his chin up a bit, "Besides, you should be going with a Cobra Kai anyway."

I laughed, "Well, there you go again with trying to boss me about."

As I went to say no Johnny stopped me, "Don't say anything yet. Just... think about it okay?" This time he sounded genuine like he really did want me to consider going to the dance with him.

I only rolled my eyes.

Johnny's mouth turned up more, "I'll take that as not being a no so far."

"Whatever Lawrence. You're inclined to believe whatever you want."