WILDFIRE ► COBRA KAI

Chapter 13

If there was one thing Flynn had learned about herself early on in her teenage years, it's that her closet was a disaster.

Even with her high school career almost halfway done, the brunette still had not settled on a proper style. Her clothing racks brimmed with outfits ranging from oversized graphic T-shirts, to colorfully striped turtlenecks, to lacy blouses and dresses.

Flynn found herself getting used to it. Maybe there wasn't any shame in being interested in multiple looks. Still, that made dressing herself that much harder.

She eventually settled on an army green romper paired with her worn black Converse for the All Valley. She might as well look nice if she can't fight with her team today, even if she didn't feel nice.

Between the crazed events during her suspension, Flynn was wrought with a turmoil of conflicting emotions. Rage and shame, for being booted from the tournament lineup. A strange mix of pride and guilt, following what she did to Jamie.

But nothing could mask the gray cloud of depression beginning to unfurl inside her. These next few days would be rough, but she was trying her best today to focus on supporting her friends that were competing.

"Yo, Miguel, calm down man," Hawk's blue eyes glanced over at the Diaz boy. "Save some for the tournament."

Miguel's breaths came out in controlled spats as he practiced blows to the empty air. His dark eyes were coated with concentration and anger lying underneath. He lifted his gaze to Hawk briefly, unmoved as he went back to punching.

"Hey, don't even bother," Aisha prodded the Moskowitz in the ribcage. "He's been super aggro' since the breakup."

"Yeah, no sense in stopping him," Flynn mumbled her agreement from below. The Wilder had taken to sitting cross-legged on the grass, picking at the blades surrounding her. "Bro has like fifty pounds of rage built up inside him. He'll have plenty of energy today."

"I'm surprised you're not over there doing it with him," Aisha raised her brow. "How are you not more pissed about Sensei refusing to sign you up? I'm pissed!"

Flynn crushed a torn grass blade between two nails, keeping her eyes low. "I dealt with it in my own way."

"Let me guess," Hawk started. "You broke some shit and then got high?"

Flynn's head shot up at him, mouth puckering into a grimace upon seeing the triumphant gleam in his eye. "No," she lied.

"Where is Sensei by the way?" Hawk changed the subject, scanning the crowd that had doubled since they arrived at the school doors. "The tournament's gonna start soon."

"He'll be here," Aisha mumbled.

"I don't know about that," Bert, one of the younger Cobras, spoke up in a small voice. His narrow eyes peered up at them through his square lenses. Flynn peeled herself off the ground, finding the grass too itchy as she dusted her exposed thighs.

"What are you talking about?" Aisha questioned.

"I saw him at the mini mall last night," the short blond began. "I was buying...a carton of milk," he shied away from Flynn's arching eyebrows, "when I heard him in the parking lot yelling."