The Serpent Queen

Quiver | Part One

Quiver- A group of cobras.

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After Johnny had unlocked the door and allowed his students and all the other potential ones in. They all crowded on the mat talking amongst themselves in their friend groups, watching the fight video on their phones.

Miguel, Aisha, and Phoebe stood in their trio at the front of the class, all dressed in their white gi's. They practiced punches. Aisha punched Phoebe's outstretched palms that were used in the moment as human blocking pads. However, the girl with the glasses didn't punch Phoebe too hard.

"You are a genius, Miguel. I can't believe you edited a video to get them all here."

The Hispanic boy chuckled. "Well, how could I not use our success to the dojo's advantage?"

Phoebe nodded, "Right on."

"You did great." Aisha said. "There's a great turnout here."

Miguel's eyes scanned over the crowd of scattered teenagers. His eyes settled on two standing in the middle of the mat. He nudged his blonde friend, "Look who's over there."

Phoebe and Aisha stopped and followed his line of sight to see Demetri and Eli.

Aisha looked to Miguel's smile and Phoebe's avoidance of eye contact. "So, who is it?"

"Eli." Miguel answered. "Demetri's her cousin."

"Oh." She lightly pushed Phoebe. "Go over there."

Phoebe sighed, "Okay, okay." She walked over to the middle of the mat to the two boys. When she left, Miguel took her place with Aisha.

"Why did I let you talk me into this? This goes against everything I stand for. It's like extra gym class for no reason." Demetri complained to his friend.

"Eli, Demetri. You're here. I knew you two would come eventually."

"Don't get too excited. Eli dragged me here against my will."

Phoebe rolled her eyes at her cousin's comment.

"Let's just give it a chance. You saw the fight. Miguel and Phoebe kicked ass." Eli made eye contact with Phoebe when he said her name, when he did, he smiled at her.

The girl stared at him and smiled back.

Demetri looked between the two with a strange look and then he scoffed while rolling his eyes. "This is not the time and place to be eye banging each other...and frankly I don't want to see it."

That comment made the two break eye contact immediately out of embarrassment. Demetri would always make the most sarcastic or blunt comments in any situation.

"Okay! Today we begin..." Johnny walked out of his office. Nobody listened to him, so he did what he usually did. "QUIET! Face front." All the teenagers faced him.

Phoebe darted away from the two boys to the front beside Aisha and Miguel. Her two karate companions leaned forward a little to glance at her face. Her cheeks were quite rosy looking. The girl kept her eyes straight to the office window in front of her.

The teacher walked amongst the kids on the mat, taking in the varied shapes and sizes of the kids, "Nice shirt."

Demetri glanced down to his green T-shirt with the pi sign on it, "Thanks."

"I'm joking. It sucks." The Sensei walked by another teen. A girl with long brown hair and glasses, "Word of advice: If you got shit for teeth, don't smile. Go to an orthodontist." Johnny noticed a small brown haired boy. "My God, makes me feel like a virgin just looking at you." He kept walking and stopped at the back. Looking at a pretty dark haired girl, he asked, "You. I know your face from somewhere. Where do I know you from?"