Counterbalance
Cherry and Miguel were both training - running, knuckle pushups, blocking tennis balls, and sparing against Johnny. Cherry no longer had to help Miguel, for he was going at the same speed as her. Cherry had to admit, she's proud of Miguel. At five o'clock, a group of women came in and began to practice yoga. "Ooh, fun," Cherry said, sarcastically. Cherry and Miguel dressed back into their normal clothes and Cherry sighed when she saw Miguel's bruised ear. She tsked and Miguel held her hands.
"I'm fine, Cherry. Honest."
Cherry reluctantly nodded her head, then looked up at Miguel. "Want a ride? Or are you getting a ride from Johnny?" "Um. . . I'll get a ride from you." Cherry nodded and put on her helmet, giving Miguel the extra helmet. She got on the motorcycle first, then Miguel joined her. He was pressed up against her and his arms were tightly around her waist.
"Ready?"
"Yeah."
Both of them cheered as Cherry raced down the streets, weaving in and out of traffic.
× × × ×
Miguel was practicing with Johnny while Cherry was practicing with a dummy. "What's the second rule of the way of the fist?" "Strike hard," the teens said in sync. "That's right." Cherry kicked the dummy so hard, it fell over. "That's what I'm talking about, Ms. Bennington! There's only one reason to hit someone: to inflict pain."
Cherry paused, remembering something that Daniel had told her.
"Ms. Bennington?"
"It's nothing, sensei."
"Striking hard is about giving your all."
Cherry picked up the dummy and continued fighting. The door opened and Johnny sighed. "No yoga 'till five. No matter how bad you need it." "Actually, I'm here for karate. Cherry told me, and I saw your website - it said that there's supposed to be a session today." "I appreciate you coming in, but there are no girls in Cobra Kai, except for Ms. Bennington." "Sensei, may I speak with you?" Cherry asked. Johnny nodded and he walked to his office, Cherry followed him.
"Don't give me this sexist bullshit. Just because you're here -"
"Sensei."
Johnny was taken aback with how stern Cherry was.
"Aisha is my friend. Kids at school make fun of her - I managed to convince her to give Cobra Kai a try. And, it can't just be me being the only girl."
"Why not?" "If you get more students - which will be male - who do you think they're going to look at. I may be intimidating, but Aisha is also someone you don't want to cross. Besides, you need more students, and she's willing to try karate."
Johnny thought it over and sighed. Looking at Cherry, he began to glare at her.
"You're stubborn, which I normally like. But not when you use it against me. All right kid, you win." Cherry smirked and they headed back. "Okay, Ms. Bennington here has managed to convince me. Take off your shoes, hop on the mat." Aisha did as told. "But if you want to be in Cobra Kai, you can't act like a girl."
"What do you mean? How do girls act?"
"Don't give me that. You know: all emotional, loud, complaining, never let you finish a sentence." "Well I know a few guys -" "Quiet! The only girl who doesn't act like that - that I know of - is Ms. Bennington over here. She also told me that you've been harassed at school." "Yeah. Mostly online. I get mean texts and emails sent to me. Makes me not want to go." "And who sends you these messages?" "Well they're mostly anonymous. These kids create fake accounts, and they tell me things like I'm ugly and that I should kill myself."
