Queen of Cobra Kai

Episode 1.3

"Cyberbullying is no laughing matter. Sending a cruel message to someone online can be just as hurtful as saying it to their face. Now I'm not going to name names but the other day a mother called me up because her son was crying after a group of kids online made fun of his facial deformity." Mrs. Phillips announced to the whole cafeteria. I tried not to look around as I heard kids whispering about Eli. He was covering his lip and looking down to avoid the attention. Poor thing. I reached across the table and placed my hand on his, showing him that I was here for him. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes. 

"But today our goal here is to make this school a safe place for all students. " Mrs. Phillips finished her speech off. I don't think I had ever been as pissed at a teacher as I was now. How ignorant was she? 

"You know if you're sick of getting bullied, my karate dojo is looking for recruits." Miguel told the table. 

"I didn't know you did karate." Of course. I think I was cursed with some karate curse as some point in my life. It was like I couldn't avoid it. 

"How would you know? We just met yesterday." He nudged my arm in a teasing manner. 

"You hear that Eli! A little karate training and you're gonna kick some major ass!" Demetri joked. He was honestly Eli's biggest bully. 

"I'm serious Demetri. My sensei is the real deal and I'm sure I could get you all discounts." He was looking at me waiting for a response. Demetri responded before me. 

"As enticing as that sounds, I think we'd rather spend our afternoon playing Crucible Control than getting hit in the face." Demetri answered for Eli. Miguel was still looking at me to say something.

"I'll think about it. You know I took some karate classes when I was little." I replied. 

"Then you have to take some classes! I know Sensei would love you. You're tough and real. You don't take any shit." My heart fluttered a little when he spoke about me. I had no idea why, but it was a good feeling to have. The table got quiet and I realized that Mrs. Phillips was still talking. Now she was talking about wearing appropriate costumes to the Halloween dance. 

"Are you guys going to the dance?" I asked the table, but I only listened to what Eli and Miguel had to say. 

"Yeah, I'm going as a-" I cut Demetri off. 

"Eli do you know what you're wearing?" Miguel laughed at my aggressiveness towards Demetri. 

"Um not yet. I was just going to find an old costume I think." He mumbled as he looked down at the table. 

"I'm going shopping for my costume after school if you'd like to join me! I know one of those pop-up Halloween stores just a couple blocks down the street from here." I offered to Eli and Miguel. 

"I have karate after school." Miguel replied. I looked to Eli. 

"Yeah I guess I could go with you. I don't have anything." Eli grinned. 

"Great. Now my only friend is replacing me with a hot girl and I'm going to be left to finish high school all by myself. Life couldn't get better." Demetri complained. Eli looked at me for help. He seemed like he didn't know what to say.

"Demetri, I'm not replacing you. If anything Miguel and I are joining you. Out of all the tables in this cafeteria we chose to sit at yours. That should make you feel special." Right then the bell rang to end the period. Lunch with Demetri was so long, but at least I made plans with Eli. 

~

I stood around after school waiting for Eli by the carpool pickup. This was the perfect opportunity to get Eli to open up to me because I felt like he would be more talkative away from Demetri. I was looking down at my phone pretending to look at something when I heard Eli come around the corner.