After moving to Reseda California with her twin brother Daniel LaRusso and their mother, she catches the eye of the popular Cobra Kai, Johnny Lawrence.
She tries to ignore his teasing and flirting, but eventually everyone caves.
Johnny Lawrence x...
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F I R S T D A Y O F S C H O O L
• • •
I KNEW THE next morning would be awkward. With Danny and me not talking and him needing to hide that black eye, it was bound to end badly. I walked into the kitchen, greeted by the comforting smell of toast and eggs. Mom had already set the table.
"Good morning," I said, sliding into my seat. "Thanks for breakfast, Mom." A few minutes later, Daniel came in wearing oversized dark sunglasses.
"How was the beach?" Mom asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
"It was fine," Daniel muttered, barely looking up.
I shot him a glare. "I met some new people. Bobby and Ali seemed nice." My tone was sharper than I intended, but I couldn't help it.
"I gotta go," Daniel said abruptly, grabbing a slice of toast and gulping down some orange juice.
"Eat first," Mom insisted.
"I'm not hungry," he replied.
"I didn't ask if you were hungry. You need energy to be charming," she shot back, her eyebrow raised.
"I've got energy. See ya," he said, trying to make a quick exit.
"Daniel, take off the glasses," Mom commanded.
"Why?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"Because I asked you to," she said, her tone firm.
"Hey, Ma, it's California," he said, trying to deflect.
"Take 'em off. I want to see those baby browns," she replied with a soft smile.
"Ma, c'mon," he groaned, but she wasn't budging.
"Now!" she said, slamming her hand on the table. The sharp sound made me jump. Daniel hesitated, then slowly removed the sunglasses, revealing the dark, swollen bruise around his eye.
"Oh my gosh!" Mom exclaimed, rushing over to him. She turned his face from side to side, inspecting the damage, then looked at me. "Lia, where were you during this? Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded.
"Daniel doesn't need my help anymore, Ma. He said it himself," I said with a smirk.
"Lia, I already said I was sorry!" Daniel pleaded.
"It doesn't matter," I snapped. Turning to Mom, I added, "Thanks for breakfast. Love you." Then I grabbed my bag and left.
Outside, I hopped on my bike and pedaled toward school. When I reached the bike rack, I shoved my bike into place and locked it up. Someone tapped my shoulder, and I spun around, pushing them slightly with my elbow, assuming it was Daniel.
"Jeez, someone's feisty," Bobby joked, hands up in mock surrender.
"Sorry, I thought you were... never mind," I said, shaking my head.
"You're mad," he said, matter-of-factly.
"That obvious?" I replied as we walked toward the school entrance.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing, just Daniel. I'm responding reasonably, right?" I still felt slightly embarrassed about Daniel telling me he didn't need my help in front of everyone, so I knew my anger was only because of that.
"You're allowed to feel how you feel, Ophelia." Bobby said, handing me my schedule.
At my locker, I thanked him as I loaded my books.
"We've got English, P.E., and study hall together," he said, glancing at my schedule. "You've got history with Johnny alone, so watch out for him. Let me know if he gives you trouble."
"Thanks, Bobby," I said, offering a small smile.
"Let's head to English. I'll show you the way to math after," he said. His friends called out to him from the lockers nearby.
"Your posse's calling," I teased.
"Want me to introduce you?" he offered.
"I'd rather die," I replied. "They all look like major assholes."
"Hey! I look like that!" he said, clutching his chest in mock offense.
I laughed. "Go. I'll find English on my own."
"You're sure?" he asked.
"Yeah. If I get lost, I'll ask for help."
He nodded and jogged over to his friends while I made my way to English. After a few wrong turns, I found the classroom and slipped into a seat at the back. Ignoring the stares and whispers about the "new girl," I pulled out my notebook and began sketching.
"Hey," Bobby greeted, sliding into the seat beside me.
"Finally. I was about to punch that girl over there," I said, nodding toward a redhead glaring at us. When she realized we were looking, her face turned crimson, and she quickly looked away.
A boy with light brown hair and a gap-toothed smile sat in front of me. "Hey, Bobby. Ophelia, right?"
"That's me," I said cautiously.
"I'm Tommy. Bobby here hasn't shut up about you since yesterday," he said, grinning.
"Not as much as Johnny, though," Bobby added, and they both laughed.
"Johnny? The blondie?" I asked.
"Yeah. He's still salty about you calling him a dick. Won't stop talking about you and Bobby here," Tommy explained.
"Why does he care if I hang out with Bobby?" I asked.
Both boys just shook their heads as if the answer were obvious.
After class, Bobby led me to math before heading to his own. Daniel came in shortly after, taking the seat beside me. I glanced at him, still upset but missing my brother. Tentatively, I leaned my head on his shoulder. He didn't say anything, but the small gesture felt like a truce.
During P.E., soccer tryouts were underway. I opted to sit on the sidelines, wearing the school's grey shirt and green shorts like everyone else. I waved at Daniel when he spotted me, then at Bobby. But things took a turn when Bobby tripped Daniel on purpose.
Daniel's patience snapped. He tackled Bobby, punching him square in the face. Chaos erupted as other boys pulled them apart.
"You don't hit me, man!" Bobby shouted, struggling to break free.
"Off my field! Both of you!" the coach yelled.
Daniel stormed off. "This school sucks. I hate this place!" he shouted.
I chased after him, catching up as he sat against the locker room wall.
"I hate this place. Why did we even have to move? Things were fine back in Jersey," he vented.
"Things will get better, Danny. I'll talk to Bobby," I said, though I wasn't sure he'd listen.
"You're friends now, right?" he asked.
"Maybe. I thought he was different, but now I'm not so sure," I admitted, burying my face in my hands.
Daniel placed a comforting hand on my back. "It's okay, Lia."
When Bobby called out to me later, I ignored him, retreating to the girls' locker room instead. For now, I needed space.
