Cochlear | A Cobra Kai Fanfiction

13

"U-uhm..." All eyes snapped to Jesse as she nervously started to speak to attempt to deescalate the situation. The memories of bullying the two kept pounding through her head as she tried to make some sense. "Why don't we just calm down and talk?"

Hawk just blinked at the girl, a hint of something slithered in the back of his head hidden by a thin wall made him dislike her immediately. His eyes went back to Demetri and gestured to the girl with a head tilt and a sneer.

"Who the hell is this whore?"

Demetri felt his hands clench at the insult towards his friend and when he looked over at Jesse he felt an arrow of anger go through his veins. Jesse had flinched in on herself and looked down, going quiet.

"Hey, don't call her that."

Hawk smirked at finding something that pushed Demetri's button. "What? Don't like me calling the geek a whore? Then what is she?"

"I'm his friend." Jesse spoke up with a determination. She was quiet but she wasn't going to let Demetri fight alone. Her own spark of anger went through her when she thought about everything Demetri had done for Eli. All the abuse the nerd went through to protect his friend and this is how he gives thanks? Pathetic.

"Yeah, I figured." Hawk sneered at the girl. "Nerds hanging out with nerds."

"That's crazy. It's almost like people with similar interests hang out with each other." Jesse sassed with narrowed eyes. "Video games, comics, not being a jerk..."

"Shut up." Hawk snapped, taking a step forward. Something about this girl made him want to run, an alarm going off in a distant hallway of his mind. His new persona prevented him from running and instead responded in anger.

Demetri was quick to look between the two teens and see a tension he didn't understand. Having someone stick up for him was a great feeling, but he didn't like that it was them against Eli. But when he watched Jesse flinch at the confrontation, he was quick to move attention onto him while he took a step forward.

While Demetri spoke to his old friend, Jesse felt shame for both reacting so cowardly and for her past bullying. It really was her fault the two best friends were now turning into enemies and the more time went on, the further the guilt ate at her conscious relentlessly.

Jesse let out a small Yelp when Hawk pushed Demetri, causing him to fall into her and her to fall onto the ground. Demetri immediately helped her up and looked over at his old friend in anger.

"You think I'm afraid of you?!"

The girl behind Demetri couldn't help but stare at the escalating fight between Hawk and Demetri with wide eyes. She took a glance at the cash register and saw that Travis was too focused in his reading to even notice Demetri and her falling.

As Jesse was backing up to get Travis, she bumped into a body and she quickly turned around in surprise to notice two more smirking teens. "Oh God, they're multiplying." She whispered in horror. "T-they're like the clones."

Demetri got into a stance and Jesse watched with wide eyes. "D-Demetri I don't thi- oh!" When Demetri hit the ground the girl turned towards the cashier and hollered out for his attention. "Travis!"

When the boys were distracted, Jesse quickly grabbed Demetri and shoulder checked the two boys behind them before the two ran away from the bullies.

"I-I told you I'd run with you!" Jesse hollered out with adrenaline chasing her veins. Demetri didn't reply as the two continued to sprint to the food court. Jade's breathing was heavy and her heart was thumping in her chest aboutShe was not used to running and the long legged Demetri was hard to keep up with.

Demetri noticed the struggle of his friend and switched their hands so he could help pull her along. If the situation was any different, he would have been a blushing boy at holding hands with Jesse.

The boy led Jesse to their table, who all but fell on it to catch her breath. Demetri cursed when it was empty and looked around. His eyes widened at the incoming Hawk and grabbed Jesse's arm to pull her behind him.

"It didn't have to be this way Demetri!"

Jesse scowled while panting. "Y-yeah. You could have chosen not be a fucking turd."

"Are you deaf or something?" Hawk snapped at the girl, still feeling unnaturally angry at her. "This is between me and the nerd."

"Well, now you involved me because Demetri's my friend!"

Hawk only sneered, a red hot fire entering through him. Demetri was quickly grabbed and Jesse felt panic. Jesse pulled out her taser and aimed it shakily at Hawk while Demetri looked over at his friend with wide eyes at the weapon.

How long had she had that for?!

The redhead only smirked at the weapon held with shaking hands. He took a few step forwards and kicked it out of the girls hand, causing her to hiss at the pain.

Jesse didn't know what she would have done had Sam and Robby not intervened. She was not a fighter even with her past of bullying. Jesse Park was not physically aggressive like her brother Kyler Park. The taser was something she had for protection but she couldn't use it.

Jesse Park was a coward.

Instead of wallowing, the girl headed over to Demetri and hugged his arm for comfort. Neither teen blushed and Demetri found himself thankful for the physical support. The two watched in awe at the circular fighting going on around them and every time a teen got close, Demetri tried to get Jesse out of the way.

"Fuck." Jesse hissed as the brunette kicked Hawk to the ground. "That's going to hurt...."

"Y-you know, I think this has been the most I've heard you curse ever." Demetri commented still in shock at what just occurred. Jesse snorted.

"We saved your chicken!"

Jesse turned towards the girl with wide eyes as she handed a box over to Demetri with a smile. Demetri looked down to see his arm still being held hostage and Jesse followed his gaze. She quickly let go, took a step away and blushed.

"Is this your girl friend?" Robby asked as the four walked away from the food court mess. The two nerds blushed and sputtered.

"N-no, definitely not. T-this is my friend Jesse." Demetri realized in that moment he hadn't been told of Kesse's last name but shrugged it off. "We, uh, met earlier this summer."

"Just friends." Jesse smiled, feeling a little put down by Demetri being quick to deny a relationship.

Demetri felt his shoulders drop a little.

Just friends.