WILDFIRE ► COBRA KAI

Chapter 12

Nothing about the exterior of West Valley High had changed, but Flynn knew everything inside would.

Her fingers drummed her thighs restlessly, glaring at the entrance through her windshield. Most of the anxiety that had ensnared her chest for the last few days had melted away to seething anger. The furious pumps of rock music coming from her radio were probably no help.

It was no longer the nasty stares or rumors that scared her. It was whether or not she'd be able to keep her cool that frightened her.

With a indignant sigh, Flynn grabbed her backpack and hauled it into her lap as she fished for her bulky headphones. Faking ignorance and using escapism would be her only way to push through the following school week leading up to the tournament.

Only she severely underestimated how hard it would be.

The disgusted, hateful stares were as strong as ever with her return. Just telling people to fuck off or eat shit rather than smashing their faces into a nearby cabinet or locker proved extremely difficult.

Flynn entered the cafeteria at lunchtime with tense shoulders and limbs that ached from the pain of withholding her violent rage. The sight of her friends already circled around their table allowed her to breathe through her nostrils with relief. She stepped forward with her plastic red lunch tray, only to immediately have her path blocked.

"Well, look who it is," Kyler sneered. "The Valley's newest sexual offender."

Flynn's eyes went black.

A terse laugh barked out of her, the sound thin and devoid of any humor. In one swift motion, she slammed her food tray down vertically on the table next to her, chicken nuggets and fries sprawling across the wooden surface.

Then she slammed the empty tray against the side of Kyler's skull.

An ungodly smack broke through the air, quickly followed by a chorus of gasps from the school. Flynn didn't let Kyler move another inch before she struck again, this time delivering a fierce spinning wheel kick to his jaw. The boy was unconscious before the toe of her sneaker had even left his skin, his body crumbling to the floor like dead weight.

The cafeteria drowned into silence. No more gasping. No cheering. No cameras clicking. Flynn didn't bother finding her friends' table again, unable to bear the thought of what their expressions were right now.

The damaged foster kid had another meltdown. Who would've guessed?

"Flynn Wilder!" The counselor's heels clicked as she charged towards her. The woman's angry blush became red as raw meat.

"I know," Flynn's voice was scratchy and low. "I'll walk myself there, how 'bout that?"

The brunette spun on her heel and began storming off to the principal's office, but not without one final finger to the rest of the room. "Fuck all of you!"

Suspended for three days. Possible charges. Add it to the list, Flynn thought when the principal relayed the news of legal action. She could hardly tune in when the actual situation joined the conversation.

"We take these kinds of accusations very seriously. Your parents will be contacted. So will Jamie's."

Fun. Now they're gonna have to actually try to parent.