╔.𖥸. .════════════════╗

𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬

chapter three
cobra kai

╚════════════════. .❀.╝

MIGUEL WAS QUITE literally sulking.

So, as it turned out, he actually was alive after Kyler beat him up. He had some bruises and scrapes on his face, and other than a battered ego, he was fine. The only problem was that his mom no longer wanted him in karate after what happened to him. Understandable, but judging by the way he talked about karate, Alyssa could tell he really liked it.

The four of them — Alyssa, Miguel, Eli, and Demetri — all sat in the library at a table. They had decided during one of their free periods that they would catch up on homework and such. All of their notebooks and textbooks were spread across the table in front of them. Alyssa, sitting next to Eli (as always), had her chin resting in the palm of her hand as she stared down at her biology sheet.

Biology. Her arch-nemesis.

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

"I guess so," Miguel replied.

"It's probably for the best. It was starting to boost your confidence."

Miguel blinked at him in confusion. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"No," Demetri answered. "What has confidence ever gotten anybody except for a black eye and their backpack thrown in the trash?"

"Well, I thought it was kind of cool how you stood up to Kyler," Eli admitted quietly.

Alyssa nodded in agreement, giving Miguel a small smile. "People like him need to be put in his place. He may have beat the shit out of you, but at least you didn't do nothing."

"Are you insane?" Demetri demanded, making Alyssa roll her eyes. "Let me ask you. What is the best superpower anyone could have?"

"Flight," Alyssa instantly stated.

"Super strength," Miguel said.

"Wrong," Demetri responded.

Alyssa's eyebrows knit in confusion. "Wrong? What do you mean wrong?"

"I mean wrong. It's invisibility. A distant second would be super speed to run away fast."

"Run away from who?" an infuriatingly familiar voice questioned, and Alyssa looked up in annoyance to see Kyler leaning over Eli with a hand on his back.

"Whom," Brucks corrected. "It's the object of a preposition. Remember English class."

As he said that, the four of them started to pack up their things. Alyssa slung her backpack over her shoulder and stood up from her chair.

"We were just leaving," Miguel announced.

Kyler grabbed the back of Eli's neck. "Hey, where you going?" He grabbed Eli's face with his other hand and lifted it up to look at his scar, making Alyssa grit her teeth in anger. "Look at this freak. Oh, shit! What kind of girl would ever kiss this shit?"

"Let him go, Kyler," Alyssa ordered, a glare on her face.

Kyler chuckled at her. "What, you his girlfriend, or something?"

Alyssa's face flushed a vibrant shade of red. "No, I'm not. But even if I was, it wouldn't be any of your business. Now let him go."

"If you wanna protect him so bad, how about you prove that you would kiss this mouth, huh?"

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. Alyssa pushed away Kyler's arm by knocking her forearm in the stretch of skin where his elbow was. It forced Kyler to let go of Eli with his one arm, and she stepped in between him and Eli. Alyssa placed her hands on Kyler's shoulders and shoved him back, making him let go of Eli completely. She crossed her arms across her chest, glaring up at Kyler.

"I don't know what kind of weird fetish you have, but I'm not kissing somebody for your entertainment," Alyssa told him. "You know, I really don't know what Sam sees in you. You're disgusting."

Kyler put his face closer to hers. "What are you gonna do about it?"

"Leave them alone, Kyler," Miguel protested.

Brucks laughed at that. Kyler stepped away from Alyssa and Eli to look at Miguel. Alyssa moved to stand at Eli's side now, and she felt him take her hand.

"What'd you say?" Kyler inquired. "You haven't had enough, 'Rhea?" Brucks punched Miguel's shoulder. "Huh?" Kyler then pushed Miguel's head, making him turn around fully. "Yeah, get the hell out of here, man."

Alyssa shook her head and walked forwards. She led Eli between Kyler and Brucks, their interlocked hands behind her back. Suddenly, his body collided with hers, making her stop and stumble forwards. She looked back only to see Brucks laughing. Alyssa's jaw clenched in anger.

"No," Eli said quietly, pushing her forwards gently. "Just leave it."

Alyssa scoffed as they left the library. "You know, one of these days, either you and I are totally going to beat up Brucks to give him a taste of his own medicine, and he's gonna deserve it."

"I don't think that'll ever happen, Lys."

"Yeah, well, a girl can dream." She sighed and looked up at him. "You okay? You shouldn't let Kyler's words get to your head, you know. Any girl would be lucky to kiss you."

Eli's face flushed a bright shade of red. "T-Thanks."

"Ally," Demetri's voice called from behind her. She turned around, only to see him carrying his backpack that was covered in yogurt. "Can you take me to get a new backpack after school?"

She gave him a small smile. "He threw your backpack in the trash, didn't he?" Demetri nodded. "Yeah, I'll take you to Target. But for now, let's go get that cleaned up."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

THERE WAS A new rumor going around school. It was that Sam and Kyler had sex in a movie theater, and Sam was facing some avoidance from it. Alyssa, however, didn't buy into this rumor. One, Sam didn't seem like the kind of girl to do that, even if Alyssa didn't know her that well. And two, the source of this rumor was Kyler himself, and Alyssa never believed anything Kyler said ever.

Alyssa walked into the cafeteria with the three boys, holding onto the straps on her backpack as they approached their usual table. Demetri, for some reason, was asking them random questions, because he apparently never stopped talking.

"Ally, if somebody said they would give you a million dollars to smack me across the face, would you do it?" Demetri asked.

Alyssa scoffed. "I'd smack you across the face for a high-five."

"Hey, guys," Kyler announced. Alyssa looked over to see him standing by his usual table, and Sam was in front of him, anger etched onto her features. "You know that billboard with a big-ass dick on it? I guess Sam takes after her dad."

Most of the cafeteria laughed at him. Alyssa rolled her eyes as she stopped in her tracks.

"Hey, Kyler!" Miguel interjected, slamming his lunch tray down onto the table. "Why don't you shut the hell up and stop being such an asshole?"

Kyler squared his shoulders. "Want another beatdown, 'Rhea?" He pushed Miguel back. "I'm ready for your lame-ass karate this time."

He shoved Miguel back again, who ran into the table. Alyssa watched as a look of determination settled on his face.

Miguel straightened back up. "It's not lame-ass karate." Kyler went to punch Miguel, but Miguel blocked it and held onto his arm. "It's Cobra Kai."

He then punched Kyler right in the nose. Kyler ran forwards and picked up Miguel, slamming him onto the table. He dragged him by his hoodie to slam him onto another table. Kyler then dragged him back off the table and held Miguel in a headlock.

"Miguel!" Alyssa shouted. She reached up and held onto Eli's arm tightly. "Oh my God."

Miguel elbowed Kyler, making him let go. He grabbed Kyler's arm and twisted it before punching him across the face. Miguel then spun himself around and kicked Kyler in the back, making Kyler slam into a table and fall to the ground.

"No mercy!" Aisha yelled.

Brucks went to punch Miguel, but Miguel turned around just in time. He crouched down to the ground and swept his legs against Brucks', making Brucks fall completely. Big Red, another one of Kyler's friends, ran up and grabbed Miguel. Miguel elbowed him in the stomach and Big Red doubled over in pain. Another guy ran up, but Miguel kicked him in the stomach and sent him stumbling back. Miguel spun himself around and kicked Big Red straight in the face.

"Holy shit," Alyssa commented. "He was not lying about karate."

The fight suddenly got closer to Alyssa, Eli, and Demetri. All three of them stumbled away as Miguel ran to the lunch table right next to theirs and rolled across it, grabbing a lunch tray as he did so. Miguel kicked a chair, sliding it across the floor to hit a guy who was charging at him. He hit Kyler with the lunch tray, sending him to the floor. Miguel hit Brucks with the lunch tray and then Big Red with the lunch tray. He then kneed Brucks and hit him with the lunch tray again, causing him to fall.

Kyler stood back up. Miguel sprinted towards the lunch table they usually sat at, and using Brucks as a stepping stool, he kneeled on top of it. He kicked Kyler in the throat and smacked his head with the lunch tray. Kyler fell, and him and his friends didn't move again against Miguel.

Alyssa let out a breath of amazement as the cafeteria cheered. "Wicked."

"Hey!" Counselor Blatt stated. "Get down from there right now."

She grabbed Miguel's wrist and pulled him off the table. The cheers for Miguel continued as Counselor Blatt dragged him out of the cafeteria.

Demetri blinked in surprise. "Did he really just do that?"

"Yeah, he did," Alyssa answered, slightly nodding her head. "That was actually really cool."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

AFTER MIGUEL'S FIGHT with Kyler and his friends, everybody was suddenly interested in joining Cobra Kai karate.

Eli was one of them. He had been absolutely mesmerized by Miguel standing up for himself and had practically started begging Alyssa and Demetri to go with him to the next practice. They had agreed . . . well, one of them needed a lot more convincing than the other (cough, Demetri, cough.)

Alyssa knew Eli was definitely picked on the most out of the three of them because of his scar. She didn't blame him for wanting to learn how to defend himself like Miguel. Besides, Alyssa and Eli were the dynamic duo. Whenever one was spotted, the other would most likely be by their side.

(And maybe she agreed because she wanted to learn how to kick like Miguel did. His kicks were cool.)

The three stood on the mats where Cobra Kai practiced. Dojo, Alyssa recalled Miguel saying. The room was crowded with all of the new people who came. Demetri, as always, was doing what he did best — complain.

"Why did I let you both talk me into this?" Demetri questioned. "This goes against everything I stand for. It's like extra gym class for no reason."

"Let's just give it a chance," Eli voiced. "You saw the fight. Miguel kicked ass."

"He's right," Alyssa agreed. "I'd rather be a lover than a fighter, but . . . learning karate could be cool."

"Quiet!" a loud voice demanded.

Alyssa slightly jumped. The chatter in the room immediately died down. She looked up front, only to see a man with blonde hair standing in front of all of them. Oh. That was Sensei Lawrence. Alyssa assumed it was him because Miguel always talked about him.

"Face front." They all did as they were told, and Sensei Lawrence started to walk around the room, looking at all of them. He passed by Demetri. "Nice shirt."

"Thanks," Demetri replied.

"I'm joking, it sucks."

Alyssa tried her best to hold in her laugh at that. Demetri glared at her once he noticed her struggles, and she shook her head. If she laughed, she was sure Sensei Lawrence would say something to her, and she honestly didn't want that to happen.

Sensei Lawrence stopped in front of somebody else. "Word of advice. If you got shit for teeth, don't smile." He looked at a younger kid. "God, it makes me feel like a virgin just looking at you." He made his way back to the front. "When I look around this dojo, I don't see Cobra Kai material. I see losers, I see nerds. I see a fat kid with a funny hat with his tits popping out."

Alyssa blinked in shock. Oh?

"But in my short time as a Sensei, I've also seen some miracles. So, maybe there's some hope for you yet. But first, I need to see where you're at. So everybody, fall in."

Nobody moved. Alyssa shared a look with Eli and shrugged.

"That means line up," Sensei Lawrence translated.

All of them moved to stand behind Miguel and Aisha, who were actual Cobra Kai students judging by what they were wearing. However, this apparently wasn't what he meant.

"No, not — not line up in a line. Lines, get in lines."

"You mean, like, rows?" Demetri inquired.

Alyssa sighed to herself. "Dear God, I'm already tired."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

ALYSSA STOOD IN the dojo the next day. She hadn't quite gotten used to Sensei Lawrence's abrasiveness, but she actually kind of enjoyed learning a little bit of karate.

"Fighting positions," Sensei Lawrence announced. Alyssa got into stance and raised her fists, just like she had learned the previous day. "Jab punch." A few punched. "Nope, wait till I say go. Hiyah!"

They punched. Sensei Lawrence continued to say hiyah, and they continued to punch. He walked around the room and corrected a couple of their stances. Alyssa focused her attention forwards, punching when she was told to do so. It felt strangely . . . natural?

Sensei Lawrence nodded a little at her. "Not bad, Purple."

Alyssa got confused at the nickname until she looked down. Duh, she was wearing a purple shirt. How clever.

"Hey, Lip," Sensei Lawrence called once he got to the front of the room.

Alyssa dropped her fists, her eyes widening. She glanced over at Eli worryingly, whose body instantly tensed up from the nickname. Oh, no.

"Yeah, you. The one with the freaky lip. Who do you think I'm talking to?"

"Excuse me, uh, Mr. Lawrence—" Demetri began.

"Sensei Lawrence," Aisha corrected.

Demetri raised his hands in surrender for a moment. "Okay. You really shouldn't make fun of someone's physical appearance."

"Oh, is that so?" Sensei Lawrence countered. "So I'm not supposed to mention his lip at all?"

"Well, yeah."

"Maybe that's what they teach you in school, but in the real world, you can't expect people to do what they're supposed to do. All right, you hear that, Lip? If you can't handle someone making fun of you, how are you gonna handle an elbow to the teeth?"

"By calling the police," Demetri responded like it was obvious.

"Dude," Miguel interjected. "Knock it off."

"What? He does realize the Nazis lost the war, right? Why should I be scared of him? Because he's got a snake on his wall? It's not like he's a teacher who can give us a bad grade. We're paying him. He works for us. It's not like he can actually hurt us."

Miguel closed his eyes. "Oh, shit."

"He has a death wish," Alyssa muttered to herself.

Sensei Lawrence walked up to Demetri. Instantly, all of them backed away. Alyssa reached over and took Eli's hand, giving it a tight squeeze. He glanced over at her with big blue eyes, which told her that Sensei Lawrence's words had really gotten to him. She moved a little closer to him, hoping that it told him that it would be okay.

"Are you done?" Sensei Lawrence asked Demetri.

"What?" Demetri replied.

"Hit me. Go ahead, hit me. Strike me right here."

He gestured to his face. Demetri got in his fighting stance and threw a punch, but Sensei Lawrence easily blocked it.

"Harder," Sensei Lawrence stated. Demetri threw another punch, harder this time, but Sensei Lawrence blocked it again. "Is that all you got, Princess?"

Demetri threw another punch, but Sensei Lawrence blocked it. He caught onto Demetri's arm and flipped him onto his back on the mats. Alyssa gasped slightly as Demetri's body hit the mats. She looked up at Sensei Lawrence in slight disbelief.

Sensei Lawrence looked around at all of them. "Let that be a lesson to all of you."

Alyssa turned to Eli with wide eyes, letting go of his hand. "He's never coming back here after that."

Eli sighed. "I know."

•─•°•❀•°•─•

thank you netflix instagram account you're so real for this

anyways

I wish y'all knew how much time went into making all of these jodi gifs

like I had to screen record a portion of her vods, convert it into a gif, and then crop it and I did that literally 44 times BYE