Cochlear | A Cobra Kai Fanfiction

26

"I know I took a vow of being, like, good now but oh my god he's making it hard." Jesse whined out while mashing buttons on the controller in her hands. Beside her Demetri snorted in response. "For real, Demi. He's being a real jerk and because the teachers all know about who I used to be, no one believes me!"

"Doesn't help your last name is Park either."

"Thanks Chris, that really helps." Jesse said dryly to the boy sitting on a bean bag chair to her left, trying to hide a yawn behind her elbow.

Some of the Miyagi-Do students decided to get together at Demetri's home for a game night while waiting on the LaRusso family to bring word back about Karate. Sam was still working out her issues, but refused any help or companionship they offered.

So it was just Demetri, Nathaniel, Chris, and Jesse today. The others were scattered to the wind.

"You could join the studio if you're really that freaked out." Demetri once again pointing out, cringing as his character was shoved off the ledge by Jesse's. "We're on the same team!"

"Sorry!" Jesse apologized quickly with a wince, trying to gain the points back. "I've already told you guys. I don't want to dry karate. It's super cool that you guys have something to enjoy, but that's just not for me. Oh, shoot."

"Nice." Nathaniel shouted happily from his rope chair on the ground. Chris leaned over and the two exchanged high fives while Jesse gave an annoyed Demetri a sheepish look after losing the game.

"You suck at platformers."

"This is a fact." Jesse nodded sadly, slumping her shoulders dramatically as if her whole life were now ruined. With a pretend sob, she wiped at her eyes roughly while the boys rolled their eyes and shift away uncomfortably. "I am a failure."

Demetri leant over a little and have some slow pats to her head in an attempt to be comforting.

"Can we order pizza?" Chris asked with a sigh, setting down his controller and stretching his legs out. "Papa C needs some calories."

"Yikes."

"Only if you promise to never utter those words under this sun again."

"Fair, fair."

Between Kyler and Eli's individual bully, Jesse was more on edge than ever. Kyler would mess with her things at home while Eli - sorry, Hawk - would have some kind of set up waiting for her. At least her and Kyler were kind of dumb. Hawk still had Eli's level of intelligence so they were not only well thought out but well hidden from anyone.

It was unfair and although she put on a face of serene shyness, Jesse was burning in rage. The twisted words soaked with poison brewed near constantly and all she wanted to do was let them out. Throw them at him and watch as his defenses are slowly are away until nothing is left except for that shitty, nerdy, waste of space-!

But that wasn't who she wanted to be.

What she did to Eli for all of those years were inexcusable. There was nothing she could say or do that would take back the tears, the bruises, or mental trauma that Eli pushed and molded into a chicken-looking bully who was hellbent on defending himself from any further pain. She knew who Hawk was, but did Eli know who he is?

Come Monday, Sam started to join back in the group with a hunger and determination in her eyes. No one spoke about it, but even Demetri's eyes were filled with relief and his shoulders were a a millimeter less wound up.  And even though Jesse found herself turning off her implants more often than not from the loudness of the cafeteria, she also found a fondness for the new group of friends.