Heartstrings | Johnny Lawrence x (y/n) | 1984 |

| 6 | School

The Next Day: School

You walked into school the next morning, still feeling the adrenaline from yesterday's fight. Word had spread fast—by the time you reached your locker, people were already whispering, glancing at you with a mix of curiosity and admiration. It wasn't every day someone took on Ali Mills and came out on top.

You were putting your books away when you heard a familiar voice behind you.

"Well, look who's the new talk of the school."

You turned to see Johnny leaning casually against the lockers, a smirk on his face. The way he was looking at you sent a shiver down your spine. There was no tension between you two now—just something raw and unspoken that hadn't been there before.

"Guess I am," you replied with a small smile, shutting your locker.

Johnny stepped closer, his presence instantly commanding your attention. "You handled yourself pretty good yesterday," he said, his voice low. "Didn't think Ali had it in her to put up that much of a fight."

You raised an eyebrow. "Didn't think you cared."

He shrugged, his eyes never leaving yours. "I don't."

The way he said it—so blunt, so indifferent to the fact that Ali had seen everything and left humiliated—sent a thrill through you. There was something freeing about knowing he wasn't hung up on her. He was here, talking to you. His interest was clear.

Just then, Bobby, Tommy, and Jimmy strolled up, grinning as usual. "Yo, yesterday was epic," Tommy said, clapping Johnny on the back. "Didn't think you'd just let them go at it like that."

Johnny shrugged again, completely unbothered. "What can I say? They needed to settle it."

Bobby chuckled, looking at you. "Gotta admit, didn't think you had it in you either. Ali's been a princess her whole life, but you showed her."

You smirked. "Someone had to."

The group laughed, and for a moment, you felt like you were one of them—part of the Cobra Kai crew. There was an energy in the air, something that made you feel powerful. Like you weren't just standing on the sidelines anymore.

As you all made your way through the halls, you could feel people staring, whispering about the fight, about Johnny, about you. But none of it mattered. What mattered was that you had Johnny's attention now, and Ali was out of the picture. The drama wasn't over—there would always be more with the Cobra Kais—but for now, you felt in control.

Johnny walked beside you, his arm brushing yours as you walked. He didn't say much, but the way he glanced at you from time to time said everything you needed to know.

You were on his mind.

As you and Johnny walked side by side, the energy buzzing between you two was palpable. His presence felt almost magnetic, drawing you closer as the school day unfolded.

But just as the atmosphere began to settle, Daniel LaRusso appeared around the corner, a determined look on his face. The moment he spotted Johnny, his expression shifted from casual to confrontational.

"Johnny," Daniel called, his voice carrying a hint of warning. "We need to talk."

You felt a tight knot form in your stomach. The tension in the air became thick, as if everyone around you could sense the impending confrontation. Johnny stopped in his tracks, his posture straightening, while you instinctively stepped back.

"About what?" Johnny replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm, but you could see a flicker of irritation in his eyes.

"About this whole situation," Daniel shot back, glancing at you before locking eyes with Johnny again. "You think it's cool to mess around with Ali's feelings? She's not just some girl you can play with."

Johnny scoffed, his arms crossing defensively. "What are you talking about, LaRusso? Ali's not my problem anymore, and neither is this."

"You're not the one who gets to decide that," Daniel said, stepping closer, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You think it's all a joke? You're gonna end up hurting someone, and you don't care. Just like before."

At that moment, the tension escalated. You could feel Johnny's anger bubbling beneath the surface, and Daniel's determination was palpable. You didn't want to be the one to break it up, but this was spiraling.

"Guys, can we just—" you started, but Johnny cut you off.

"Why do you care so much about Ali?" Johnny snapped, his voice rising. "You two have been over for weeks. You're just mad because you want to play the hero again."

Daniel's jaw clenched, and you could see the frustration building in his eyes. "It's not just about Ali! It's about you and your stupid games, Johnny. You think you're tough, but you're just a bully hiding behind that Cobra Kai image. And it's time someone stood up to you."

The crowd that had gathered around you all shifted uneasily, the whispers growing louder. It felt like the entire school was watching, waiting for the explosion.

"Is that right?" Johnny challenged, taking a step toward Daniel, his expression darkening. "You want to see who's tougher? Fine. You want to fight me, just say the word."

"Stop!" you shouted, You could feel the heat radiating from both of them.

But neither of them was listening. They were too caught up in their rivalry. Johnny's eyes narrowed, and Daniel took a deep breath, his fists still clenched.

Johnny was still glaring at Daniel, and Daniel was resolute, refusing to back down.

"Whatever you think you're doing with her, it's a bad idea," Daniel said finally, his tone shifting slightly but still laced with concern. "You need to think about the consequences."

"Consequences?" Johnny shot back, anger rising. "I've dealt with consequences my whole life. Maybe it's time for you to let go of your white knight routine and focus on your own problems."

That seemed to hit Daniel hard. He took a step back, his face momentarily registering surprise before he regained his composure. "I'm not the one who needs to change, Johnny. You are."

The hallway felt electric, charged with unspoken challenges and emotions. It was clear that this confrontation was far from over, and you could feel the weight of both of their expectations pressing down on you.

Just then, the bell rang, and students began to disperse, leaving you standing there, caught in a storm of uncertainty. You turned to Johnny, your heart racing. "I didn't ask for any of this," you said, frustration bubbling over.

He looked at you, his expression softening for a moment before the hard edge returned. "Neither did I, but I'm not letting Daniel dictate my life. If he wants to fight, that's on him."

"Johnny, this is about more than just you and Daniel," you insisted, desperation creeping into your voice. "You have to think about the bigger picture. I don't want to be in the middle of this. Just because of that stupid fight, now everyone wants a say"

"Then what do you want?" he asked, his voice quieter now, as if the fight had drained some of the tension between you. "Because right now, it feels like you're choosing him over me."

You hesitated, feeling the weight of your decision pressing down on you. You had always admired Johnny's strength, but did you really want to dive headfirst into this drama? You could feel Daniel's gaze still on you, waiting, and suddenly everything felt overwhelming.

"I want to be my own person," you replied finally, your voice steady. "Not someone's pawn in a battle."

Johnny sighed, running a hand through his hair, frustration etched across his features. "Fine. Just know I'm not backing down from Daniel."

You nodded, feeling a mix of anger and admiration for his determination. But you also knew that this wasn't over. With the tensions rising and alliances shifting, you were about to find out just how deep this rivalry went—and where you really stood in the middle of it all.