Red venom, Cobra Kai.

30. The enemy's playbook.

Taylor punched the punching bag, letting all her emotions out. Her emotions about her dad, Miyagi-Do. Everything. Especially about Cobra Kai. She decided to stay for good this time. She had no intention of leaving. How could she leave after all that she had done, anyway?

Around her, Kyler laughed to his friends about college. "Yo, I'm telling you, man, when I get to ASU, honeys be lining up for this snack, know what I mean?" Taylor scoffed, striking the punching bag again. "Anyway, my dad, he wants me to go to Harvard, but ASU's like the Harvard of the West Coast."

Tory had enough of Kyler's chattering, stepped forward. "You guys are pathetic. If you handled your business, we would have won that fight."

Kyler turned around. "Okay, whatever. Hawk, he switched sides."

This time, Taylor stepped forward. "Yeah, Miguel just got out of a wheelchair and he still kicked your ass."

"You know what? At least I'm still here." Kyler gestured his hands around the room. "Half the squad quit!" Just as he said that, the bell to the door dinged. Taylor turned around to see Robby just walking in. He must have officially joined the dojo then.

"Well, look who showed up." Tory said, giving Robby a disappointed head shook. He just ignored it before walking past everyone to the back room where he had been staying since he got out of juvie.

"That fool doesn't even practice, but he gets to stay? I don't get it," Kyler mumbled. Taylor watched Kreese leave his office to follow Robby into the back room. She then looked back at Tory, the two sharing quick eye contact before they both went back to their natural routine.

┊ ┊ ┊ ┊

After class finished, Taylor went back home. She hoped that Johnny wasn't home yet, so she wouldn't have to try to avoid him. Hopefully, he was at Carmen's house. Taylor had seen the way that they were looking at each other. Maybe Miguel hadn't noticed, but Taylor did, and she definitely had an idea about them.

As she walked up to the apartment, she immediately smelt the warm, sweet smell of dinner cooking. Carmen was definitely in there, otherwise why would Johnny be cooking this? Taylor didn't really want to talk to anybody tonight, especially after what happened two nights prior, so she opened the door and hoped that maybe she could run right past.

Once the door was opened, everyone became aware of Taylor's presence, making it impossible to do. "Taylor." Johnny said, perking up.

Taylor slowly turned around, her lips pursed. She saw that everyone was here. Johnny, Carmen, Miguel and even Rosa. Taylor gave them all a wave, trying to be respectful. "Hi, Taylor." Carmen greeted warmly. "Would you like to sit?"

Taylor's shoulder slumped slightly as she shrugged. Her eyes trailed over to Miguel, who had a hopeful expression plastered on his face, and she looked at her dad who had the same look. "I have a plate saved for you." Johnny spoke.

Relucantly, Taylor nodded. "Alright, then." She put her bag by the wall and pulled out the empty chair that was next to Miguel. Johnny hurried over to the kitchen and grabbed the extra plate from the counter before bringing it back over to Taylor. "Thanks. It looks good."

Johnny smiled confidently. "Thanks. I made it myself. I got the recipe off the Chili's website. I wanted it to be authentic."

"¿Auténtico para quién? Nosotras somos ecuatorianas no mexicanas." Yaya said, putting food on to her plate. "Authentic for who? We're Ecuadorian not Mexican."