Chapter 5 - Losers

Mackenzie's POV. -

Students couldn't stop talking about Yasmine's cruel prank on Aisha. The video was everywhere, and the taunting comments made it even worse. Kenzie did her best to ignore it, reporting the video and blocking Yasmine on every platform. The only person she still kept in touch with was Sam ans Moon, who seemed oblivious to her friends' bullying.

On the way to school, Kenzie texted Aisha asking fi she was coming to school today. Aisha's reply was quick but weary saying she wish she could say no but she will be there.

Kenzie sighed and took a sip of her caramel frappe, resting her head against the car window as music played on the radio. Her mom's sudden outburst caught her attention. "What in the name of—" she trailed off, pointing at a billboard advertising LaRusso Auto Group.

Someone had spray-painted a crude drawing over the image of Sam's dad, Daniel LaRusso. The defaced image was enough to tell Kenzie that whoever did this must really hate him. She quickly snapped a photo and sent it to Sam with a brief message: You might want to see this...

●●●●

At lunch, Kenzie sat with Aisha, determined not to let her friend feel alone. Students kept making pig noises as they passed, their snickering cutting deep. Kenzie couldn't stand it anymore and snapped at a group nearby. "You want some pig slop to go with your lunch, or should I shove it down your throat?!"

Aisha attempted to calm her down. "It's okay, Kenzie. You don't have to protect me."

Kenzie shook her head. "You're my friend, Aisha. Friends stand up for each other, no matter what."

Aisha gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you. You're the only one who cares."

After lunch, Kenzie walked Aisha to her locker, glaring at anyone who dared make more pig noises. One guy got the finger from her, which made Aisha chuckle despite herself. Just then, they saw Sam approaching. Kenzie knew it was time to give them space, so she said goodbye and headed to class after giving Sam a friendly wave.

●●●●

Later that afternoon, Kenzie met up with Emmy, Demetri, Eli, and Miguel in the library for a study session. When she noticed Miguel's bruises, her concern was immediate. "Miguel, what happened?"

"Kyler," he muttered, barely looking up. He explained that his mom had forbidden him from returning to Cobra Kai. The name "Cobra Kai" sounded vaguely familiar to Kenzie, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"So that's it? No more karate?" Demetri asked.

"I guess so," Miguel grumbled, not happy about it.

"It's probably for the best," Demetri continued. "That dojo was just boosting your confidence, which is a double-edged sword."

"Isn't confidence a good thing?" Miguel asked, looking confused.

"It shouldn't be," Kenzie said, making the whole tabIe look at her. "I see karate as boosting your self esteem and self defense. As long as you only use it to defend yourself and use it wisely then I don't see anything terrible about it."

Miguel agreed. "Preach." Eli nodded in agreement.

"No." Demetri said, taken aback. "What has confidence ever gotten anybody except for a black eye and their backpack thrown in the trash?" Kenzie get what he was saying but you can't let stupid people tear you down. He needs to learn to kick it up a notch. Maybe there is a way she can help. If he would let her. "Well, I thought it was kind of cool how you stood up to Kyler." Eli spoke up. "Are you insane? Let me ask you. What is the best superpower anyone could have?"

"Super strength." Miguel guessed.

"Wrong."

"Telekinesis." Emmy guessed.

"Eh, wrong."

"Scarlet Witch's magic?"

"Close but still wrong," Demitri said, "It's invisibility. A distant second would be super speed to run away fast."

Kenzie huffed and was about to focus studying for the stupid test when. "Run away from who?"

Uh-oh

She looked back to see Kyler behind Eli with his hand on his back accompanied by his friend.

"Whom. It's the object of a preposition. Remember English class..." his friend said.

She rolled her eyes and started gathering her stuff with the others and putting them in her bag.

"And we were just leaving lets go guys " Miguel not wanting anything to do with him right now.

Kyler kept Eli from leaving."Hey, where you going?" He roughly grabbed his face and made fun of his scar." His friend laughed. "Oh, shit! What kind of girl would ever kiss this shit?

"Me! Now leave him alone!" Emmy snapped; her anger bubbling up at how they are treating her boyfriend.

Kyler sneered. "Why would a girl like you want to kiss this ugly ass?"

Miguel stepped up, voice firm. "Leave him alone, Kyler."

Kyler turned his attention to Miguel, releasing Eli. "What'd you say?"

"They told you to leave him alone, you moron," Kenzie interjected, crossing her arms defiantly.

Kyler's eyes narrowed. "Who asked you to talk to me like that, red?"

Kenzie crossed her arms. "I am." Demetri and the others watched fearfully as the jerk walked towards her. "You have no right to treat people that way especially over something that is beyond their control."

"You're just asking for it, aren't you, red?" Kyler took a threatening step toward her.

She held her ground. "I'm not scared of you."

The tension snapped when Kyler feigned an attack. Before Kenzie knew it, her fist connected with his face, sending a shockwave of silence through the room. Everyone stared at her in disbelief, including Kenzie herself. Her hand stung from the impact, and without another word, she grabbed her things and bolted out of the library, heart racing.

(A/N: Yikes what'd you think happened next? Stay tune for more!)