Jennifer barely made it three steps inside before Daniel's voice cut through the room.
"What is wrong with you?!"
She closed the door slowly.
Lucille wasn't home.
Good.
She didn't have the energy to fake normal.
Daniel stood in the middle of the living room, pacing.
"You kissed him."
She dropped her bag onto the chair.
"It wasn't a proposal."
"He's Cobra Kai!"
"And?"
"And he's been beating me up for weeks!"
She finally snapped.
"That's exactly why!"
Daniel froze.
"What?"
She crossed her arms tightly.
"You think I'm stupid? You think I just like hanging out with the guy who's targeting you?"
"Then why are you?"
She exhaled slowly.
"Because if I distract him, he leaves you alone."
Silence.
Daniel stared at her like she'd spoken another language.
"That's your plan?"
"Yes."
"To date him?"
"To control him."
Daniel actually laughed — but there was no humor in it.
"You think you can control Johnny Lawrence?"
"I already did."
"No," Daniel said sharply. "You didn't."
She stepped closer.
"He hasn't touched you since."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"That doesn't mean he won't."
"It means it's working."
He shook his head slowly.
"You're playing with something you don't understand."
Her voice lowered.
"I understand him more than you do."
That hit.
Daniel's expression hardened instantly.
"You don't get to say that."
She looked away first.
"Believe what you want."
Daniel walked past her toward his room.
"Don't talk to me about this again."
The door slammed.
And for the first time—
Jennifer felt unsure.
📆 Two Weeks Later
Daniel didn't talk to her.
Not really.
Short answers.
Cold tone.
Training with Mr. Miyagi every afternoon.
Ali at his side more often.
Jennifer pretended not to care.
She told herself it was part of the plan.
But the silence felt heavier than she expected.
🏫 West Valley High — Hallway
She saw them before they saw her.
Red jackets.
Laughter.
Cobra Kai.
And at the center—
Johnny Lawrence
She slowed her steps.
Waiting for the usual.
A comment.
A smirk.
A sarcastic "Larussso 2."
Nothing.
He glanced at her once.
Normal.
Unbothered.
Then looked away.
And kept walking.
Her stomach dropped.
Tommy didn't tease her.
Dutch didn't grin.
Bobby didn't nod.
They passed her like she didn't exist.
She stood frozen in the hallway.
He left Daniel alone.
But that meant—
He left her alone too.
And she hadn't realized how much she'd gotten used to the attention.
The friction.
The tension.
The spark.
Now there was just—
Nothing.
She caught up to him near the lockers.
"Hey."
He stopped.
Barely.
"Yeah?"
Dry.
Flat.
She forced casual.
"Did you like the date?"
He shrugged.
"It was fine."
Fine.
"That's it?"
"What do you want me to say?"
She swallowed irritation.
"You don't have to pretend."
"Pretend what?"
"That you don't care."
His eyes finally sharpened slightly.
"Care about what?"
She stepped closer.
"About me."
A long pause.
Then—
"I'm busy."
He grabbed his books.
Turned away.
"See you around."
And walked off.
No smirk.
No anger.
No chase.
Just distance.
She stood there longer than she meant to.
Why did that feel worse than when he hated her?
🎉 Cafeteria — Later
Voices buzzed.
Decorations already being planned.
"Prom's gonna be insane this year."
"Did you hear? Daniel and Ali are going together."
Jennifer looked up sharply.
Daniel sat at another table.
Ali beside him.
Laughing.
Close.
Daniel looked happy.
He didn't glance at Jennifer once.
Like she wasn't there.
Like she'd chosen her side.
Her heart sank before she could stop it.
This wasn't part of the plan.
She told herself she didn't care.
But she did.
She cared that Daniel wouldn't look at her.
She cared that Johnny wouldn't react.
She cared that she suddenly felt…
Alone.
🌅 Outside the Apartment — Evening
She was heading inside when she saw him.
Mr. Miyagi stood near the small bonsai tree.
Hands behind his back.
Watching.
"You walk heavy," he said softly.
She stopped.
"I'm not stomping."
"You think loud."
She sighed.
"You spying on me?"
He smiled faintly.
"I see motorcycle."
Her chest tightened slightly.
"It's not like that."
"Like what?"
She didn't answer.
He stepped closer.
"Cobra Kai strong. But strong not always right."
"I'm not scared of them."
"Not about scared."
He studied her carefully.
"You try to change river by standing inside it."
She frowned.
"That's not even—"
"River strong," he continued gently. "You small."
"I'm not small."
He chuckled quietly.
"In body? Maybe. In heart? Big."
Her throat tightened unexpectedly.
"You're not going to tell me to stop?"
"No."
That surprised her.
"You make own choice."
He picked up a small stone from the ground.
"Just remember — when water hit rock many times…"
He dropped the stone into a bucket.
"Rock change shape."
She looked at him.
"And what if I'm the water?"
He smiled slightly.
"Then careful you don't become storm."
He walked back inside.
Leaving her alone with that.
🐍 Cobra Kai Dojo — Night
The sound of feet striking mats echoed sharply.
"Again!" barked John Kreese.
Cobra Kai moved in unison.
Aggressive.
Sharp.
Precise.
Johnny moved too.
Fast.
Accurate.
But distracted.
His mind flickered.
Nurse costume.
Her laugh.
The kiss.
The silence.
"LAWRENCE."
Johnny snapped back instantly.
"Yes, Sensei."
"You're slow."
"I'm not."
Kreese stepped closer.
"You hesitated."
Johnny's jaw tightened.
"I didn't."
Kreese leaned in slightly.
"You let distraction weaken you."
Johnny's eyes flickered.
Kreese's voice lowered.
"Weakness is infection."
Silence filled the dojo.
"Do you understand?"
Johnny swallowed.
"Yes, Sensei."
"Good."
Kreese stepped back.
"Strike harder."
Johnny did.
Harder.
Faster.
But every time he closed his eyes—
He saw her laughing.
And that irritated him more than anything.