Maria and Miguel were walking home from the convenience store at the strip mall, when they ran into Sensei.
"Kids, I've decided to open the dojo back up." He says as soon as he sees the Hispanic twins. They're overwhelmed with joy, they could do a handstand. "Get your shit. Practice in five."
Maria and Miguel race back home and also to the dojo, hoping that their mother wouldn't wonder what was going on, why they were so happy, and why they had their gym bags.
"Karate?" She asked them just before they left the door.
"Okay, mom, listen -" Maria started, but Carmen cut her off.
"It's okay, you two." She assured. "Go ahead, just . . ." Carmen walked over and planted a kiss on both of their heads. "Don't get hurt."
"Okay!" They called as they began racing down the street towards the dojo.
"Ready to get your ass kicked?" Miguel panted as they entered the dojo.
"In your dreams." Maria countered.
The two worked extra hard that day, hoping to get their muscles back in the swing of things. It worked, and by the end of practice they were naturals again.
As the twins sat to the side for a water break, a girl entered the dojo. Maria recognized her immediately as the African American girl that everyone snorted at because she was bigger, and therefore a 'pig'. She was the one from the dance, and the mean video Yasmine posted online about the buffet.
"No yoga 'till five," Sensei said. "No matter how bad you need it."
Maria rolled her eyes. He could be such a dick sometimes, but he had listened to her after the incident with Connor, so she was willing to tolerate him.
The girl looked uncomfortable. "Uh, I'm actually here for karate. I saw your website, it said there was a session going on today."
"I appreciate you coming in, but there are no girls in Cobra Kai." Sensei said sternly.
The girl gave him an unfair look than motioned to Maria desperately. "What about her?"
"She's not a girl." Sensei argued.
"Yes. I am." Maria spoke up.
"Maria, shut up." Sensei replied, and of course the girl obeyed with a roll of her eyes. Sensei turned back to the African American girl in front of him. "If you want to be a Cobra Kai, you can't act like a girl."
"What do you mean?" The girl inquired. "How do girls act?"
"You know, loud, emotional, complain-y, that never letting you finish a sentence bull crap." Sensei obviously didn't remember what happened when Maria went over to his house.
"Well, I know a few guys that act just like -" The girl was cut off.
"QUIET!" sensei commanded, making the girl flinch. "What's your name?"
"Aisha. Aisha Robinson." She answered, straightening her back.
Sensei gave her a skeptical look. "Why do you want to be a Cobra Kai, Ms. Robinson?"
"Because . . . the kids at school won't leave me alone." Aisha admits, staring at the ground.
"They harass you? How?" Sensei inquires.
"Yeah, mostly online. I get mean texts and emails sent to me," Aisha confesses. "Makes me not want to go."
Maria knows how she feels. Kyler and his goons could be lurking around every corner.
Sensei nods and starts to pace in front of Aisha. "Now, who sends you these messages?"
"Well, they're mostly anonymous. Kids create fake accounts and tell me things like I'm ugly and I should kill myself."
Sensei stops mid step and turns to look at the twins, then back at Aisha, then back again. "Oh my God! What a bunch of pussies!"
Maria allows a smile to curve her lips. This was her sensei. "Back in my day," He begins to rant. "If you wanted to tease someone, you did it to their face. It was honor, respect. These geeks hiding behind their computers . . . what a bunch of spinless losers." He turns back to Aisha. "You're not afraid of these losers, are you?"
"No," Aisha said confidently.
"You going to take shit from these losers?" Sensei inquires.
"No." Aisha says with even more confidence.
"Good," Sensei stops in front of her, suddenly calm again. Maria assumes he's bipolar. "Because when I'm done with you, you'll be sending a message back. Only It won't be with you keyboard, it'll be with your fists."
★★★
"You should try it," Maria said to Eli for the millionth time. They were in his room, trying to pick a movie to watch for the night. She leaned her head on his shoulder, trying at all costs not to eat the popcorn before they chose a movie. She failed, as did Eli. "I think it'll be good for you."
"I don't know, babe." He wrapped an arm around her. "How about Bad Boys?"
"No, we watched an action movie the other day." Maria argued.
"What do you want to watch?" Eli inquired.
"A romance," She answered without hesitation.
"Of course you do," Eli sighed and Maria giggled. They continued scrolling through Netflix on the TV, Eli asking Maria every single time he saw a romance movie if this is one she'd want to watch.
"Oh, how about Five Feet Apart?" Maria asked after a while, pointing to the movies on the screen.
"Or, maybe," Eli shrugged suggestively. "The Other Guys?"
"We can watch that tomorrow, I promise." She was practically begging him. "Please?"
He sighed. "Fine, you're lucky you're cute."
Maria scooted closer to Eli as he pressed play.
★★★
Okay, so I tried to put in at least one Eli and Maria scene in here, and luckily I got it. I don't have much to say right now, but when I'm writing this it's July 2nd, so Happy Forth of July!!
But anyways, make sure to vote and comment your thoughts and suggestions!
Question: How do you celebrate The Forth? If you don't, you don't have to answer.
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Always ~Cobra Kai~
RomanceMaria takes up karate for the same reason her brother does. To deal with bullies. ★★★ Maria Diaz immediately falls for the quiet boy, but there's someone else, too, someone who she's not exactly in love with. Someone who doesn't go to their school...
