𝐓𝐖𝐎. 𝖲𝖳𝖱𝖨𝖪𝖤 𝖥𝖨𝖱𝖲𝖳

The sound of drills and hammers echoed through the empty dojo as Johnny Lawrence stood in the center, hands on his hips, glaring at the clipboard in his hand. He hated paperwork, and he hated rules even more. But apparently, running a dojo came with a long list of requirements, none of which he cared for.

“Safety mats,” he muttered under his breath, scanning the list. “Fire extinguisher... mirrors secured to the wall? What’s next, a snack bar?”

His frustration was interrupted when the door swung open, and Miguel walked in, a determined look on his face. Behind him trailed Zhen, carrying her gym bag casually over one shoulder.

“Morning, sensei,” Miguel greeted, his voice tinged with enthusiasm.

Johnny nodded at them but didn’t bother hiding his irritation. “Morning? Yeah, sure. It’s

---

The party was already in full swing when Sam walked in, the thumping bass of music vibrating through the walls. The house was massive, every corner oozing wealth and privilege. Sam smiled politely as she moved through the crowd, though she couldn’t shake the feeling that she didn’t quite belong—not tonight. Her friends surrounded her, laughing loudly and sipping from red plastic cups, but their conversations felt shallow, distant.

Across the room, Miguel stood awkwardly by the snack table. He adjusted his hoodie, scanning the crowd with a mix of curiosity and nerves. Cobra Kai had taught him to stand taller, to look people in the eye, but a part of him still felt like the invisible kid in the corner. Until now.

Miguel’s gaze landed on Sam, and for a moment, everything else seemed to blur. She was laughing softly at something one of her friends said, her smile radiant under the dim party lights. She looked different from the other kids—there was something real about her, something kind.

“Go talk to her,” a voice urged.

Miguel turned to see Aisha standing next to him, sipping a soda and giving him a knowing look.

“What? No. I can’t,” he said quickly, his confidence wavering.

“Why not? You’ve been training, right? Cobra Kai confidence?” Aisha teased, nudging him.

Miguel sighed, his cheeks flushing. “That’s different. Kicking someone in the face is easier than... talking to someone like her.”

Aisha rolled her eyes but smiled. “You’ll never know unless you try.”

Before Miguel could respond, the music shifted, and the crowd parted slightly. Sam was walking in his direction. His heart raced.

Meanwhile, Zhen—known to most as "Lilu"—stood by the pool, her expression unreadable as she observed the party. She wasn’t a fan of these kinds of events. Back in China, she had lived a life far removed from this kind of teenage drama. But Aisha had convinced her to come, insisting it would be good to “get out and meet people.”

Nearby, Tory leaned against a deck chair, sipping her drink and nodding in Zhen’s direction. “So, what do you think? Is this your scene?”

Zhen shrugged. “Not really, but it’s... interesting.”

Tory smirked. “Stick with me. I’ll make it more fun.”

Their conversation was cut short when a commotion erupted inside the house.

Sam’s voice rang out, sharp and accusatory. “Where’s my mom’s wallet? And her jewelry? I know I brought them with me!”

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to her. Sam’s gaze locked onto Zhen, who had just stepped inside, curiosity piqued by the noise.

“You,” Sam said, pointing a trembling finger. “You were near my bag earlier. Did you take it?”

Zhen’s expression hardened, a quiet storm brewing behind her eyes. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me!” Sam’s voice rose, fueled by the judgmental whispers of her friends. “You’re new here, right? Just admit it, and maybe I won’t call the police.”

Zhen squared her shoulders, her voice calm but firm. “I didn’t take anything. You’re jumping to conclusions.”

Miguel stepped forward, glancing nervously between the two. “Hey, maybe we should all just—”

“Stay out of it, Miguel,” Sam snapped, her frustration spilling over.

Tory moved closer, her eyes narrowing at Sam. “You’ve got some nerve accusing people without proof. Maybe you should check your facts before you start a scene.”

Sam bristled at Tory’s tone, but her gaze remained locked on Zhen. “I know what I saw. She was near my stuff!”

Zhen took a slow step forward, her calm composure beginning to crack. “I don’t care who you are or what you think you saw. I don’t steal.”

The tension boiled over as Sam’s frustration escalated into action. She lunged forward, shoving Zhen’s shoulder. It wasn’t much of a push, but it was enough to ignite the fire.

Zhen’s reflexes kicked in immediately. She stepped back, avoiding the shove, and raised her hands in a defensive stance. “I don’t want to fight you,” she said coolly.

“Maybe you should!” Sam snapped, her emotions clouding her judgment.

The crowd around them had grown, everyone eager to watch the confrontation.

Tory smirked, crossing her arms. “Your call, Sam. But don’t cry when you lose.”

A small gasp rippled through the crowd as Sam threw a punch—a clumsy, untrained swing. Zhen sidestepped effortlessly, catching Sam’s wrist and twisting it just enough to make her stop.

“Enough,” Zhen said, her voice low and controlled. “I didn’t take your things, and you’re embarrassing yourself.”

Sam pulled away, her face red with anger and humiliation.

“Check your bag again,” Zhen added, her tone softening slightly. “And next time, don’t accuse someone without proof.”

The crowd began to disperse, the energy of the party shifting back to normal as the confrontation ended. Sam’s friends muttered awkward apologies as they led her away, leaving Zhen standing in the center of the room.

Tory approached her, a sly grin on her face. “Nice moves. You handled that better than I would’ve.”

Zhen gave her a small nod, though her expression remained serious. “It wasn’t about winning. It was about control.”

“Still,” Tory said, nudging her playfully. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

Miguel lingered nearby, unsure of what to say. Finally, he stepped closer to Zhen. “That was... impressive,” he said. “Are you okay?”

Zhen nodded, glancing at him. “I’m fine. It’s her I’m worried about.”

Miguel smiled nervously. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you handled it perfectly.”

“Thanks,” Zhen said quietly, her gaze softening.

As the night wore on, Zhen found herself standing by the pool once again, the cool night air brushing against her skin. She glanced at Tory and Aisha, who were laughing together nearby, and then at Miguel, who was talking with a few other partygoers.

For the first time in a long while, she felt something close to belonging. It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t easy, but maybe—just maybe—this place could become something close to home.

---

The next morning, word of the party spread quickly throughout school, and everyone seemed to have their own version of what had happened between Zhen and Sam. Some exaggerated the fight, claiming it had been a full-blown brawl, while others whispered about Sam’s accusations and how Zhen had handled herself with such calm confidence.

Zhen ignored the rumors, walking through the halls with her usual quiet demeanor. She wasn’t interested in drama, but the incident had left a sour taste in her mouth. Being accused of something she hadn’t done was bad enough, but the fact that Sam hadn’t apologized only added to her frustration.

“Hey, Lilu!” Aisha called out, hurrying to catch up with her.

Zhen turned and gave her a small nod of acknowledgment.

“I just wanted to say, you were awesome last night,” Aisha said with a grin. “The way you shut Sam down? Legendary.”

“It wasn’t about shutting her down,” Zhen replied calmly. “She made a mistake, and I defended myself. That’s all.”

Aisha chuckled. “Well, either way, people are talking. You’ve got some serious respect now. Even Tory was impressed, and she doesn’t like anyone.”

As if on cue, Tory appeared, leaning casually against a locker nearby. She gave Zhen a nod of approval. “She’s right. You handled yourself like a pro. Most people would’ve lost their cool, but you kept your head. That’s rare.”

Zhen met Tory’s gaze, sensing the genuine respect in her tone. “Thanks. I just don’t see the point in fighting without reason.”

Tory smirked. “Sometimes, fighting is the only way to get through to people.”

Zhen didn’t respond, though her expression made it clear she didn’t entirely agree.

---

Later that day, during lunch, Zhen found herself sitting with Aisha and Tory at a table outside. It was an unspoken agreement that they were slowly becoming friends, though their personalities couldn’t be more different.

“So,” Tory began, leaning back in her chair. “What’s your deal, Lilu? You’re obviously not from around here. What brought you to West Valley?”

Zhen hesitated for a moment before answering. “My family moved here from China. My parents wanted a better life, and they thought this was the place to find it.”

Aisha nodded thoughtfully. “And how do you like it so far?”

“It’s... different,” Zhen admitted. “I miss home, but I’m starting to adjust.”

“Adjusting means kicking rich kids’ butts at parties?” Tory teased, a playful glint in her eye.

Zhen shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “That wasn’t exactly my plan.”

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and for the first time, Zhen felt a sense of ease around her new companions. Tory’s sharp wit and Aisha’s easygoing nature balanced each other out, creating a dynamic that Zhen found surprisingly comforting.

---

Meanwhile, in another part of the school, Sam was still stewing over the events of the previous night. She sat with her usual group of friends, who were trying to reassure her that she had done nothing wrong.

“Lilu’s suspicious,” one of them said. “She just shows up out of nowhere, and suddenly she’s some kind of martial arts expert? Who even is she?”

“She embarrassed me in front of everyone,” Sam muttered, her fists clenching.

“Forget her,” another friend chimed in. “She’s not worth your time.”

But Sam couldn’t forget. She felt a mixture of anger and guilt. Deep down, she knew she had been in the wrong, but her pride wouldn’t let her admit it.

---

That evening, Zhen returned to the Cobra Kai dojo for training. The atmosphere was electric, with Johnny pushing everyone harder than ever in preparation for the All Valley Tournament.

“Alright, listen up!” Johnny barked, pacing in front of the group. “You think last night’s little party drama is what matters? Newsflash—it doesn’t. What matters is what happens in this dojo. What matters is winning. So if any of you think you can slack off because you’ve got a reputation now, think again.”

His words were sharp, but his gaze lingered on Zhen for just a moment longer than the others. She met his eyes with her usual calm confidence, and he gave a subtle nod of approval.

“Pair up,” Johnny continued. “We’re sparring today, and I want to see some real aggression. No holding back.”

Zhen found herself paired with Tory, and the two faced each other with mutual respect.

“Think you can handle me?” Tory asked, a teasing smile on her lips.

Zhen raised an eyebrow. “Think you can keep up?”

The sparring match was intense, each of them pushing the other to their limits. Tory’s raw power and aggression clashed against Zhen’s precision and control, creating a dynamic that left the rest of the dojo watching in awe.

By the end of the session, both of them were breathing hard but smiling.

“Not bad,” Tory said, wiping sweat from her brow. “You’re tougher than you look.”

“You’re not so bad yourself,” Zhen replied.

Johnny clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “That’s what I’m talking about! That’s the kind of energy we need for the tournament. Keep it up, and Cobra Kai will crush the competition.”

As the students filed out of the dojo at the end of the night, Zhen lingered behind, taking a moment to reflect on everything that had happened. Despite the challenges, the misunderstandings, and the conflicts, she felt a sense of purpose here—a feeling that she was exactly where she was meant to be.

And for the first time since arriving in America, Zhen allowed herself to hope.

---