Theo leaned against the doorframe of Johnny's office, his arms folded across his chest as he looked out at the sea of teenagers that had gathered in the dojo. Since Miguel, Kai and Theo took down Kyler and his friends in the cafeteria, Cobra Kai had a surge in popularity. Johnny patted Theo's shoulder as he walked past, surveying the crowd in front of him.

"Okay!" Johnny's voice boomed, instantly silencing the chatter. "Today, we begin." His words hung in the air, heavy with significance.

Johnny's gaze fell upon Demetri, and a sly smile formed on his face. "Nice shirt," he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Demetri's face flushed with both embarrassment and a hint of pride. "Thanks," he said confidently.

"I'm joking, it sucks."

Johnny continued to make his way around the room, his scrutiny unwavering. He stopped in front of a teenager, his eyes studying their every move. The student's body language revealed their anticipation, as if mentally bracing for Johnny's cutting remark.

Johnny leaned in closer, his voice laced with both criticism and wisdom. "Word of advice," he began, his voice low and menacing. "If you got shit for teeth, don't smile."

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, the students shifting uneasily in their spots. Johnny moved on, his piercing gaze fixed on another student, ready to deliver his next dose of harsh reality.

"My God," Johnny remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You make me feel like a virgin just looking at you."

Nervous laughter erupted from the group, a feeble attempt to ease the tension. But Johnny's words hung heavy in the air, leaving an indelible mark on their fragile self-esteem.

Johnny's gaze then shifted to Miguel, Aisha, and Theo, his first three students who stood out from the rest. There was a flicker of hope in his eyes as he observed their potential.

"When I look around this dojo," Johnny began, his voice softer, filled with a touch of vulnerability. "I don't see Cobra Kai material. I see losers. I see nerds. I see a fat kid with a funny hat and his tits popping out." He paused, letting his words sink in. "But in my short time as a sensei, I've also seen some miracles."

A glimmer of hope shone through Johnny's tough exterior. He knew that everyone had the potential to rise above their perceived limitations.

"So maybe," Johnny continued, his voice filled with a hint of optimism, "there's some hope for you yet. But first, I need to see where you're at." He motioned for the students to line up. "So everybody, fall in!" he commanded, his voice authoritative.

—————

Theo sat in the dimly lit practice room, his fingers strumming the strings of his guitar absentmindedly. Cami and Freddie sat across from him, flipping through a stack of papers containing their set list for an upcoming gig. Excitement and nervous energy filled the air, as they discussed which songs to include and the order in which to play them.

Kai was currently at the dojo, but he'd be back later.

"So,," Theo began, his voice filled with anticipation. "I've been working on this new song," he handed them the sheets containing the music notes and lyrics, "it's called 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love.'"

Cami raised an eyebrow, her eyes scanning the lyrics before meeting Theo's gaze. "It sounds cool, Theo. But are you sure you can hit those high notes during a live performance?"

Freddie chimed in, a skeptical expression on his face. "Yeah, man. You know that song requires some serious vocal range. Are you confident you can pull it off?"

Theo's face broke into a mischievous smirk as he strummed a few chords on his guitar. "Well, why don't I show you?" he said, a glint of determination in his eyes.

Without missing a beat, Theo began to sing the chorus of "I Believe in a Thing Called Love." His voice soared effortlessly, hitting the high notes with precision and power. Cami and Freddie exchanged surprised glances, their eyes widening in amazement.

As Theo's voice filled the room, his confidence grew. He poured his heart and soul into the song, his voice carrying a raw emotion that resonated with everyone in the room. The chorus echoed through the practice space, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind about Theo's vocal abilities.

When he finished, there was a moment of stunned silence. Cami and Freddie exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of awe and admiration.

"Damn, Theo," Cami exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. "I had no idea you had that kind of range! That was amazing!"

Freddie nodded, a newfound respect evident in his eyes. "Yeah, man. I stand corrected. You definitely nailed it. That song would be killer in our set."

Theo's smirk transformed into a triumphant smile as he looked at his bandmates. "Told you guys I could do it. Now, are you ready to rock?"

Cami and Freddie grinned back at him, their doubts replaced with unwavering belief in their frontman. They knew that with Theo's talent and determination, they had a song that would captivate the audience and leave them wanting more.

"You will never guess what happened!" Kai laughed as he burst into the practice room. "Sensei just put Demetri on his ass."

"You will never guess what happened!" Kai exclaimed, bursting into the practice room. His eyes were gleaming with excitement as he tried to catch his breath. The room fell silent as Theo, Cami, and Freddie turned their attention towards him, intrigued by his enthusiastic entrance.

"What happened, Kai?" Cami asked, her curiosity piqued.

Kai's grin widened as he began to recount the events at the dojo. "You won't believe it. Demetri got slammed by Sensei Lawrence," the four burst into laughter.

—————

The night of the gig had finally arrived, and the band, Social Scum, was buzzing with excitement and nervous anticipation. They were set to perform at a popular bar in the heart of the valley called "Harmony's Haven."

As the band members gathered backstage, Cami took the lead and led them in a small prayer, their hands intertwined in a circle. They sought a moment of calm and unity, hoping to channel their energy and talent into a memorable performance.

Theo, with his guitar slung over his shoulder, took center stage as the crowd eagerly awaited their performance. The atmosphere in the bar was electric, filled with a mix of loyal fans, curious onlookers, and familiar faces from the valley.

Theo strummed the opening chords of "Basket Case" by Green Day, and the crowd erupted into applause and cheers. The band fed off the energy, their nerves transforming into a confident fervor.

Kai, with his signature green hair and rockstar demeanor, shredded on the secondary guitar, adding an extra layer of depth to the music. Freddie, his drumsticks flying across the drum set, provided a solid rhythm that reverberated through the bar, amplifying the excitement.

Cami, with her bass guitar, held down the foundation of the music, her fingers dancing across the strings with skill and precision. The band members locked eyes, their chemistry evident as they seamlessly moved through the song.

As Theo took to the microphone, his stage presence commanded attention. His voice resonated with raw emotion, captivating the crowd with each lyric. The energy in the room was palpable as the audience sang along, their voices merging with the band's.

Among the sea of faces, Tory stood near the front, her eyes fixed on Theo. She couldn't help but be captivated by his talent and the way he commanded the stage. With each song, her admiration for him grew, and her feelings deepened.

As the band continued to play, their passion and artistry enveloped the bar. The music filled the air, creating an atmosphere of unity and connection. The audience, swept up in the performance, danced and sang along, embracing the energy that Social Scum exuded.

Johnny stood at the back of the bar, observing the band, mainly Theo with a proud smile on his face.

As the final notes of their last song echoed through the bar, the crowd erupted into applause and cheers, showing their appreciation for the band's exceptional performance. Social Scum had left an indelible mark on Harmony's Haven, proving their place in the valley's music scene.

"This will be our last song for tonight," the crowd playfully boo'd as Theo announced it. The LaRusso smirked to himself as he playfully held his hands up in surrender. "This is a new one—" there was a deafening cheer at that, causing Theo to laugh as he looked at Tory in the front, sending her a wink. "This is 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love.'"

The crowd cheered as Theo played the opening chords and Freddie joined in on the drums.

"Can't explain all the feelings that you're making me feel.
My heart's in overdrive and you're behind the steering wheel."

"Touching you, touching me
Touching you, God, you're touching me."

"I believe in a thing called love
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There's a chance we could make it now
We'll be rocking 'til the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love.
Ooh, huh."

After the gig, as the band members mingled with the crowd, Tory approached Theo. With a shy smile, she tucked herself under his left arm, reaching up with her own hand to link their fingers together.

"You were brilliant, Rockstar," Tory whispered into his ear.

"Thanks, darling," Theo smiled at her, and Tory's cheeks flushed red.

—————

"Okay, everybody fall in," said Johnny the day after the gig, stepping out from his office to see only half of yesterday's class there. "Where's everyone? Crater face? Nose ring? Slingshot?"

"They quit, Sensei," Theo told him.

"You serious?" He asked him, shock all over his face before he shook his head. "I mean, good. That was a test. I wanted to see who the quitters are," Theo smirked, looking down at his feet. "Not you guys. You're in it to win it. Right, you could be at home, playing your iComputers, playing your video games, eating candy. Instead you're here, doing pushups, learning how to fight. Lip. Look," Johnny pointed at Eli, who looked nervously at Johnny. "Even Lip's tougher than those guys. He's no quitter."

"Could you please not call me that?" Eli asked quietly.

"Excuse me, what?" Johnny asked, turning serious.

"Sensei-" Theo tried.

"I said, could you please not call me that," Eli asked a little louder.

"Um, I'll warm 'em up, Sensei," Miguel cut in.

"No, no, no," Johnny waved him off, staring at Eli. "Lip has something he wants to say. Sorry, speak up, Lip. Or is your tongue messed-up too?" Theo winced at Johnny's harsh words. "Are you one of those challenged kids?"

"Um, the doctor said I could be on the spectrum," Eli said, playing with his fingers.

"I don't know what that is, but get off it pronto," said Johnny, causing Theo to sigh in exasperation. "All right? If you don't want me to call you Lip, then don't have a weird lip. Can't you get surgery for that?"

"I was born with a cleft lip, this is the scar from the surgery," Eli explained.

"You mean it was worse before that? Or did the doctor just screw up?" Johnny asked him. "Because if this is the after photo, that sucks, man. You should sue."

"Can we just please change the topic?" Eli asked.

"You don't think I want to? It's tough when it's right in front of me," said Johnny. Miguel and Theo shook their heads at each other. "If you want to be something other than a nerd with a scar on his lip, then you gotta flip the script. Okay? Get a face tattoo. Or gauge your eye out. We'll call you Patch, all right?" Johnny began to walk away but turned back to Eli. "No, don't do that one. You'll still look like a freak."

And on that note, Eli stormed out of the Dojo.

"Uh, great, really? Another quitter?"

—————

"All right," said Johnny when he walked out of the office the next day.

"Three more absences, Sensei," Theo informed him, leaning against the doorway to the office with his arms crossed. He smirked to himself, knowing what was coming. He and Eli stayed up most of the night perfecting it.

"Bunch of pussies," said Aisha.

"No, it's my fault. Since you joined Cobra Kai, I have been hard on you. I've called you names. I've humiliated you. Some of you I've hit, and for that, I don't apologise," Theo snickered at the students confused faces. "Cobra Kai is about strength. If you're not strong on the inside, you can't be strong on the outside, and right now you're all weak, and I know that because I was you. I used to have no friends."

"You still don't," Theo said sarcastically. Johnny shot him a look which made Theo smirk as he dropped and did twenty push-ups on his knuckles.

"I used to be the weirdo kid... not that weird; I still hooked up with babes and all, but... the point is, I wasn't always the badass sensei I am today," Johnny continued on explaining as Theo stood back up and fell in beside Miguel. "Just like a cobra, I had to shed my loser skin to find my true power. And you guys will too."

At that point, the door opened and in walked a kid with a mohawk.

"Welcome to Cobra Kai," said Johnny, not recognising Eli.

"Eli, what happened?" Miguel asked in shock.

"I'm flipping the script," Eli shrugged.

"Wait, are you the kid with the lip?" Johnny asked, also shocked. "Nice cut, bro. You see that?" Johnny pointed at him. "Doesn't matter if you're a loser or a nerd or a freak. All that matters is that you become badass," Johnny told them. "Hawk. Fall in," Hawk slipped off his shoes and fell in beside Theo, both fist bumping each other.

"Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?" Johnny asked Hawk.

"No, Sensei!"

"Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it?" He asked Theo.

"No, Sensei!"

"Defeat does not exist in this dojo, does it?" He then asked Miguel.

"No, Sensei."

"Class, are you ready to learn the way of the fist?"

"Yes, Sensei!"

—————