Molting

Cherry and the others were at what looked to be a car dumpster. Hundreds of old and totalled cars surrounded the group. Johnny was standing ontop of one and he cracked open a can of beer. "You've trained hard. You've gotten stronger, tougher, faster - you've done your best. You're ready for this tournament, am I right?" "Yes sensei!" "Wrong! The best ain't shit! If you want to win the All-Valley, under 18 karate tournament, you gotta give me better than your best. Which is why from now on, you're gonna get my worst. Do you understand?"

"Yes sensei!"

"Are you losers?"

"No sensei!"

"Are you nerds?"

"No sensei!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes/No sensei!"

Cherry was the only one to say "yes", causing both her and Johnny to facepalm at everyone else. Johnny them instructed them to start running through tires. "Move those feet! Go, go, go!" Aisha had suddenly fallen, causing everyone behind her to fall as well. Cherry groaned and shook her head.

"Your enemies are all around you. Destroy them!" They all began to break the windows of cars, and totall the ones that haven't been totalled already. Aisha and Cherry took a car and just went at it. Miguel looked over and he had to admit, he was a little terrified of Cherry seeing her that angry and how happy she got when the car was a wreck.

Johnny set up a plank over a crate with sharp objects. Cherry went first and she speed walked her way over to Johnny, not once losing her balance. "How'd you do that so fast?" "I'm a trained dancer, we have to have the elegance and balance of a ballerina." Johnny nodded and Miguel went next. Cherry hoped down and went back in line.

"You want to win, you gotta be hungry." Johnny began to hand out pieces of jerkey. "You guys hungry?" "Yes sensei." "Good. . . So are they." He blew into a whistle and they suddenly heard barking. Cherry was the first to run, and everyone looked at her weirdly. That is, until, they saw a pack of dogs running towards them. They all ran and Johnny and Cherry watched from a safe spot. A dog approached her, and she gave her half of her jerky, then she began to pet it. "Ms. Bennington?" "Yes sensei?"

"Did you just befriend that dog?"

"Yes sensei."

Johnny was surprised, but nodded his head. "All right. Um, carry on."

× × × ×

"Why are we the only ones here, sensei?" Miguel and Cherry were the only students in the dojo. "Because let's face it, you two are the only chances I have at winning this thing." "So what, we're your best students?" "Don't flatter yourself. Cherry is. Have you seen the others?" Cherry smirked and stood up from stretching.

Miguel grabbed his phone and chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Johnny asked. "Oh, nothing, just this funny picture that my girlfriend posted." Miguel showed them a picture of Sam and Johnny took the phone. "Wait a second." Johnny began to swipe and Cherry gave him a curious glance. Johnny then turned to Cherry. "Is that Daniel Larusso's daughter?"

Cherry glared at the picture before nodding.

Johnny then turned to Miguel. "You're dating a LaRusso?" "Yeah. Is something wrong?" Johnny glanced at Cherry before taking Miguel outside. Cherry sighed before going back to punching. When they walked back inside, Johnny gave her a nod and Miguel went back to punching as well.

× × × ×

Cherry was taking out the trash the next day. "Hey!" She turned her head to see Robby. "What do you want?" "I just, uh, just wanted to say hi." "Okay, you said it." "Are you okay?" Cherry sighed and shook her head no. "Do you want to talk about it." Cherry began to weigh her options. Turning around, she sighed. "Fine, only because if I don't, I'll explode while training." She beckoned Robby over and they sat on the porch swing that Cherry's family owns.

"There's this guy thag I like, and we were getting close. I thought he liked me too. But then, Sam came in, flirted with him, kissed him, and they're now dating." "Oh." "Yeah. Not to mention, the LaRusso's still don't like me." "I'm sure everything will soon blow over and it'll all be okay again."

Cherry scoffed.

"What?"

"This isn't some Disney movie, Robby. I can't just burst into song, quit karate or expect them to get over it. This is the real world, and in the real world, people don't do things that they're supposed to do. Not everyone does the right thing. Make it even worse, my parents are never home because they're lawyers and are always traveling."

"And they don't know what's going on?"

"Nope. Listen, thanks for trying to make me feel better, Robby. But I suggest you go over to the LaRusso's. Why do you go over there?"

"Oh. Mr. LaRusso is teaching me karate."

Cherry nodded and noticed his skateboard. "You skate?" "Yeah. Why? Want to learn?" "Yeah, actually." Robby stood up and held his hand up. "Come on then, I'll teach you." "Really?" "Yeah, really." Cherry took his hand and stood up. "All right, we're gonna work on balance right now. Which is your dominant leg?" "Right." "Okay." Robby held his hand out and helped Cherrh onto his skateboard. "I'm just going to roll you around so you get the feeling of it. Ready?"

"Yeah."

Robby placed his right hand on her waist, the other was held out. Cherry gripped onto his outstretched hand and gripped his shoulder with her left hand. He began to walk and pulled her along. "Don't worry, I won't let you fall." After a while, Cherry decided she had enough.

"You did good."

"All I did was balance."

"And for now, that's good. I better head over to Mr. LaRusso's, but I can stop by tomorrow to teach you again?" "Yeah, I'd like that." Robby smiled and bid her goodbye before skating to the house across.

× × × ×

That night, Cherry had ordered Chinese food, not wanting to cook. She noticed that Daniel and Robby arrived back. "Cherry?" "Hey Mr. LaRusso." She stiffened up when she noticed that Daniel and Robby were making their way over. "Um, Cherry, this is -" "Robby. We met." "Oh. You have?" Before Cherry could say anything, Robby cut in.

"Yeah, we met this morning. I introduced myself and helped her learn how to skate."

Daniel turned to Robby, giving Cherry a chance to send him a questioning look. "Oh, that's nice." Daniel then turned back to Cherry and sighed. "Um, Robby, can you go wait by the car? I want to talk to Cherry alone." Robby nodded and sent Cherry a supportive smile before going back to Daniel's car.

"Mr. LaRusso -"

"Please, Cherry."

Cherry looked into his eyes and nodded.

"Okay."

"Look, I'm sorry that we've been distant. But, I mean, you know how I feel about Cobra Kai." "I know." "Then why did you join?" "I missed karate. And I knew you were too busy, so I didn't ask. I have friends there. And I'm not turning bad, I'm just. . . Getting tougher. Johnny said that he wants to change Cobra Kai, and I'm willing to help. Isn't that supposed to be good?" Daniel sighed and looked over at Cherry.

"I know I'm not your father, so I can't tell you what to do and what not to do. I may not approve of you being in Cobra Kai, but, you are family, Cherry. Know that you're welcomed over at our house any time. . . And you can practice karate with Robby and I too."

"Thanks Mr. LaRusso, but I don't think I'll be going over any time soon. Sam and I aren't exactly friends at the moment." Daniel sighed and gave the girl a hug before leaving.

× × × ×

There was a knock on Cherry's door. When she opened it, she was surprised to see Miguel.

"Miguel, what are you doing here?"

"Can I talk to you?"

Cherry nodded and let him in.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

"I don't know -"

"Cherry." Cherry sighed and looked at her socks.

"Please, just tell me what's going on. I want to be back in your life. Tell me the truth, please." "You want the truth?" Miguel nodded and Cherry took in a breath. "The truth is: it sucks seeing you all happy with a different girl. What makes it worse is that that girl is my ex best friend. Don't you see, Miguel? I'm in love with you. I've flirted with you, kissed your cheek, care about you. I know our rule is strike first, but goddamn it, I'm a pussy when it comes to feelings! I always get rejected."

Cherry breathed in and out, trying to calm herself down.

"I'm in love with you, Miguel Diaz."