As his motorbike roared through the streets, Hawk went over in his head what he was going to say. He was fairly confident he could persuade anything with a heartbeat to do anything he wanted, so this wouldn't be a challenge.

He slowed down as he reached the 'rich' part of the hills, there were only a few houses hidden in the hills. He decided to pull over and park his bike to go around on foot to see which house she lived in.

At random he picked one where the garden was immaculate out front, he shrugged and walked up the driveway, shoulders back in confidence.

As he rang the doorbell he looked around, building up an image of the girl in his head of what she'd probably be like. Stuck-up, entitled, typical rich kid who does karate for fun, he wouldn't be surprised if the judges were paid off for her to win.

The door opened to a young woman wearing a professional looking uniform, "hello, can I help you?" She asked, not hiding the fact she was looking him up and down.

"Hi, I'm looking for a girl called Aspen Wilder... does she live here?" Hawk asked.

"She does," the woman began, "forgive me for being sceptical, Aspen doesn't get many visitors or have any friends such as yourself that I know of..."

"We don't know each other, but I'm hoping to ask her to join our dojo... she still does karate, right?" He asked, looking around the inside of the house he was surprised at how pristine it was, it didn't look lived in at all.

The woman in front of him smiled, her face softening, "she does still do karate! She's very good. She hasn't been to many competitions lately, it's not my place to ask why. If you'd like to see her she's out back, take the path through the trees you'll find her."

Hawk thanked her as she led him through the house to the garden, allowing him to go alone from there.

He followed the path through the garden, which felt never-ending. This girl's family wasn't just rich, they were rich rich. He scoffed as he saw a dojo up ahead, "really? She has her own dojo? Jesus." He mumbled to himself.

Slowing down as he approached, the door to the dojo was open and he peered through to look inside.

His eyes widened as he saw a girl around his age, her brown hair pulled back to reveal the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. Her eyes were focused on something in front of her as she punched and kicked the air, then jumping and performing a perfect spin-kick.

In awe, Hawk texted Miguel quickly.

Hawk
found her. she's even better than u!

Miguel
shut up

Miguel
you better ask her
to join us ASAP

Hawk
i'm only partly joking. trust me,
she can't say no to this face. ;)

Leaning against the doorway, he watched as she performed moves he'd never seen and some he had only ever seen his enemy, Robby, do.

Aspen's alarm rang on her phone and she stopped for a break, as she turned to head outside she was surprised to see a boy with a bright purple mohawk and a scar above his lip watching her.

"Uh, hi." He said, noticing that he'd been caught.

"Hi...?" She began, taking a step backwards, "I don't know who you are but you should leave if you know what's best for you."

"I'm sorry, I should introduce myself," he stepped inside of the dojo, "I'm Hawk and I'm here to ask you to join our dojo to help us win the All Valley competition." Short and sweet and straight to the point, how could she say no?

Without thinking Aspen raised her hands to defend herself, she didn't know who this intruder thought he was coming straight to her dojo but she could certainly show him the way out. As soon as her fist was in front of Hawk he blocked her and each punch after that, he got too confident and stopped, "is that all you've got?"

Suddenly he was on the floor as she swept his legs from under him, pinning his arms to the floor.

"You'd be perfect for our team. We need a girl like you." Hawk was winded but still attempting to get her to join their dojo.

"Oh, oh wow I don't know what I was expecting you to say but it wasn't that. How did you get in by the way?" Aspen was shocked, she knew what she'd wished for last night on her birthday but for an opportunity like this to just drop right in front of her was unreal.

She narrowed her eyes, slightly suspicious as she waited for him to say something, still pinning him to the floor.

"Your, uh, maid let me in." Eli wasn't sure why he was suddenly stuttering like his old self, he could feel his confidence crumbling slightly in front of such a pretty girl.

"Oh, Reese? Of course she did." Aspen sighed.

"She said you haven't competed recently... but I'm hoping you'll change your mind." Hawk said.

Aspen relented and jumped up, offering the boy in front of her a hand but he got up by himself.

"I'm sorry, Hawk, was it? I don't know you but I know of the dojo you're talking about... I like to keep up with all of the latest news in the Valley despite the fact I never get to venture down there. I can't just agree to join someone's dojo because you ask me to." She said.

Hawk wasn't going to give up, "give us a chance, one lesson... if you don't like it you can come back up here to your mansion and get back to your rich lifestyle." He scoffed.

Aspen was taken aback by his words, but she supposed anyone would make the same assumptions about her.

She grabbed her towel and swung it over her shoulder and grabbed her water bottle, "which dojo did you say you were from again?"

"Miyagi-do and Eagle Fang... we combined to beat Cobra Kai." Hawk said.

"Interesting... Miguel Diaz is one of the fighters in your dojo right?" She asked.

"Yes, why?" He asked, he frowned slightly unsure why she was asking about him.

"He won the All Valley last year, he's good. I watched it all online," She shrugged then paused, "one lesson."

Hawk grinned, "you won't regret it."

She walked with him to her front door.

"We should probably exchange numbers just in case." Hawk said smoothly.

Aspen observed him for a moment before giving in, "okay."

She didn't have many numbers on her phone, as she handed her phone to Hawk to input his number he frowned slightly, "did you get a new phone or something? You don't have many contacts." He said as he handed her phone back to her.

Aspen sighed, "I don't really know many people, like I said I don't get down to the Valley a lot and I'm homeschooled so..."

"Oh," Hawk replied, "well, don't worry your phone will be blowing up in no time once I add you to the group chat." He grinned.

"Aspen?!" She heard Reese yell her name from inside the house.

"I should get going," Hawk said, "I'll text you the details of the next class." He winked before turning and jogging down the driveway.

Aspen was slightly shaken at him winking at her, she wasn't used to talking to boys especially ones like Hawk. She wasn't sure what to think of him, but she couldn't refuse his offer since it was exactly what she wanted.

Later that night her phone pinged as she was watching tv in her room, normally her mom called instead of texting. She rolled over on her bed and saw a text from Hawk.

Hawk
hey! nice meeting u today :)
we are meeting tomorrow at
9am at miyagi do karate

Aspen
see ya then!! :)

After replying she turned off her phone and went back to watching tv, eventually falling asleep.

Over at Eli's home he was debating on sending another text to Aspen before deciding against it and turning back to his video games. He'd told the group chat all about his encounter and everyone couldn't wait to meet her, although he sensed a bit of hesitancy from Sam since she was used to being the only girl in their dojo.

He played long into the night until he started falling asleep, looking forward to tomorrow's training session.

♡