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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆, Stella woke up to her usual 9 AM alarm. Groaning softly, she reached over to the nightstand, grabbed her phone, and turned it off. Pulling the blanket back, she slipped out of bed and padded down the short hall. The scent of something frying greeted her before she reached the kitchen. Johnny stood at the stove, spatula in hand, wearing a faded Metallica tee and black jeans.

"Morning," Stella said, smiling softly.

Johnny turned, and that usual rough-around-the-edges grin spread across his face. "Hey. Good morning. Sleep alright?"

"Fine, thank you." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, still a little shy. "I could've taken the couch, you know. You didn't have to give up your bed."

"It's alright, princess," he said with that teasing edge, flipping the bologna like a pro. "I didn't mind."

"Well... thanks for letting me stay," Stella replied, fiddling with the drawstring of her sweater. "I really do appreciate it."

Johnny turned off the stove and brought two plates over. "It's no problem. Actually..." he smirked, sitting across from her, "I kinda enjoy having you around."

Stella laughed lightly, feeling her cheeks warm. "You're not so bad yourself, Lawrence." She picked up a fork, eyeing the fried bologna with curiosity before cutting into it.

Johnny leaned back in his chair, watching her with that sly glint in his eyes. "You can stay anytime you want."

"Well," she said with a playful tilt of her head, "as soon as I get my apartment, you can crash at my place anytime too."

Johnny raised a brow, a slow grin forming. "So it was an invitation."

Stella rolled her eyes and gave his shoulder a soft shove. "Maybe... maybe not."

"Yeah, that sounded like a yes." He chuckled, clearly enjoying how flustered she was getting.

"Seriously though," she said, tone softening, "thank you for listening last night. Sometimes, that's all you need—someone to just... listen."

Johnny's smile faded into something more real, more raw. "I get it. About your mom... I know what that's like. My mom was the only person who ever gave a damn about me. She was the best." He glanced toward the photo of Laura on the wall.

"She certainly was beautiful," Stella said sincerely.

"Yeah," Johnny murmured, the corner of his mouth twitching into a bittersweet smile.

"She looked like the kind of mom who could fix anything," Stella added softly, sipping her orange juice.

"Yeah, she was." He hesitated, then asked, "Was your mom like that too?"

"Yeah." Stella's eyes softened as memories washed over her. "She could fix anything. Especially broken hearts—with just her gentle spirit and radiant smile."

Johnny stared at her like she was the only person in the world right then. Something about the way she said that... it hit him deep.

They kept talking, laughter slowly easing the heaviness. Somehow they went from grief to teasing about music.

"I still can't believe you called George Jones 'Jones George,'" Stella teased, trying not to laugh too hard.

Johnny shrugged, reaching for his Coors. "Hey, I'm not a country guy."

"Well, I prefer rock too," she said, grinning, "but even I know it's George Jones."

"Whatever. Like I said, I'll have to show you my mixtapes sometime," Johnny said with a cocky smirk.

"I'd love that," she said before glancing at her phone. "Well, I better get going. I'm meeting Kara and Lori at the apartment complex, but..." she hesitated, then smiled, "I'll see you later."

Johnny gave her that signature grin. "Call me." He winked.

Stella flushed a little, smiling as she teased, "Yes, sensei," before grabbing her phone and keys.

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"So what do you think, Ms. Walker? Is the apartment something you'd be interested in?" the landlord asked, standing in the middle of the chic, pre-furnished space.

Stella looked around, her lips curling into an excited smile. "I love it. It's so close to campus, and it's already furnished."

"Furnished and Instagram-ready," Kara chimed in, her tone effortlessly polished as she adjusted her oversized sunglasses. She perched on the arm of the sofa like it was a fashion shoot.

"Yeah," Stella said, trying not to laugh. "It's... different."

"Different?" Lori said as she fluffed a throw pillow and struck a pose with it. "Babe, this is like... everything. The lighting alone? Totally sliving."

"Sliving?" Stella repeated with an amused grin.

"Slaying and living, duh." Lori giggled before flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Seriously, you have to move in. We'll have girls' nights, charcuterie boards, like... real aesthetic."

Carter, leaning casually against the kitchen island in a crisp button-down, nodded. "It makes sense, Stella. Closer to campus, closer to your friends, and way less chaotic. You need a calm space to focus."

The landlord smiled, flipping through the paperwork. "So, where are you currently staying?"

"Well, right now I live in an apartment with my dad, my brother, and my grandmother in Reseda," Stella said honestly. "But... I think this is it. This feels like the right move."

"Completely understand," the landlord said. "Well, let's finish up the paperwork, and you can start planning your move."

"That sounds amazing." Stella beamed. "Thank you so much."

Kara looped her arm through Stella's. "Okay, now we have to go celebrate. Drinks tonight, no excuses."

Lori squealed in agreement. "And we're totally doing a TikTok reveal when you move in. It'll be hot."

Carter chuckled, sliding his arm around Lori. "Welcome to the neighborhood, Stella."

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At West Valley High, Sam walked into the cafeteria, grabbed her food from the lunch line, and looked around the cafeteria for a place to sit. Her eyes landed on the table full of her friends, well, ex-friends, but they smiled at her with fake, smug smile and ignored her and placed their purses in the chair. Walking over to Aisha's table, she set her tray down.

"Oh, don't even think about it." Aisha said, clearly annoyed by Sam's presence.

"Come on. I need a place to sit." Sam pleaded.

"You can go sit with Kyler. I hear he doesn't mind that you suck." Aisha retorted

Sam glared angrily before storming over to him and pushing his shoulder. "Think it's funny to spread lies about me?" she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest

"What are you talking about? We saw a movie and that's it. Well, maybe I saw a little bit more than you." Kyler smirked, making his friends burst out in laughter

"Yeah, we heard you got pretty choked up." Brucks mocked, making the group laugh even harder.

Noticing Kyler's lunch tray on the table, she angrily swiped it to the ground, making the whole cafeteria fall silent. At that time, August, Eli, and Demetri walked into the cafeteria as Kyler began taunting Sam.

"Hey, guys. You know that billboard with that big-ass dick on it? I guess Sam takes after her dad." Kyler taunted

"The students started laughing while Sam stood there with a blank face. August was pissed someone was tormenting the girl he had fallen for.

Following in his older sister's footsteps, and doing what she would do, August slowly approached the group and stood beside Sam. "Hey Kyler, why don't you shut the hell up and stop being such an asshole?"

"What another beat down 'Rhea?" Kyler asked as he shoved August back. "Your hot sister and that bum ain't here to save you this time. Besides, I'm ready for your lame ass karate this time." he mocked as he shoved August back even harder.

"It's not lame ass-karate, asshole." August defended as Kyler threw a punch and August caught it, bending Kyler's arm back. "It's Cobra Kai." he growled as he punched Kyler in the face.

Blood poured from Kyler's nose. Running at August, he grabbed him by the waist, threw him on the table and the two boys struggled. Kyler kept a tight hold on August's neck, but he threw his elbow into Kyler's neck pulled his arm forward, throwing a punch to his face before he spun him around and kicked him in the back.

"No mercy!" Aisha yelled

Another one of Kyler's friends ran at August, only for him to punch the boy in the stomach and kick him in the face, then round house kick the other. He turned around and saw a few of the boys get up and follow behind him.

Grabbing a food tray, August pushed one of the chairs with his foot, making them fall, and slammed the tray over on his back. As another came up to his side, August, hit them with the tray a few times.

August noticed another one of Kyler's friends regain consciousness. He ran after him again, but the boy just slammed it over the guy's, then at his head. August struggled against Brucks, where he jumped on top of him, and used his strength to throw him to the ground. The students let out low gasps as Kyler began getting up. He ran towards the table, but August kicked him in the face, hit them with the food tray, then made them fall to the ground.

Everyone began to cheer, as August's eyes scanned over the crowd until they locked with Sam's, the latter looking at him admiringly, and he returned the look.

"Hey! Get down from there right now!" Blatt demanded, grabbing August, as he was pulled out of the cafeteria, with the sound of cheering and applause following him, but not before getting one last look at Sam

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"All four of them?" Johhny asked, as he sat at his desk and looked at August.

"Yeah!" August replied proudly.

"Even that big dumb one?" Johnny asked

"Yeah, it all happened so fast, everything just came together. I was blocking. I anticipated. I slithered." August said, and Johnny nodded his head proudly

"Well, I'll bet your dad is going to kill us." Johnny said

"Well, he would if he knew." August said, and Johnny gave him a look of confusion. "When my school called, my grandma answered. Never seen her so proud. She won't say anything."

Johnny nodded again, then stood up and walked to the teen that stood in front of him. "So let me get this straight. You took all the lessons I taught you and you used them to straight-up beat the shit out of those punks?"

"Well, yeah." August answered, as if it were obvious.

"Follow me." Johnny said

Outside, Johnny and August walked to the Firebird, and he popped open the trunk. Inside was a white gi with the Cobra Kai symbol. It was faded, indicating it was older. He picked it up and looked at it.

"I wore this when I was training for my first tournament back in '81. I want you to have it." Johnny said as he gave the gi to August

"Are you sure?" August asked, staring at the gi with wide eyes

"Hell yeah. You earned it." Johnny said

"Thank you sensei." August said as he pulled him into a hug. "Thank you so much."

Author's Note:

Sorry this one was so short, I promise the next one will be longer. Also, me not naming most of the chapters after a George Jones and Tammy Wynette song, because I love them so much.❤️ Anyway, leave any feedback you have if you'd like. Xoxo

— Katie