𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 / ❛ cobra kai ❜

[ episode six, quiver ]

Marlee sat on the edge of the pool, her feet lazily kicking in the water, sending ripples across the still surface. The sun was warm against her skin, and the faint sound of cicadas buzzed in the background. She held her phone in one hand, scrolling aimlessly through Instagram with the other. Everyone seemed to be somewhere today—Sam had gone radio silent after their awkward-but-heartfelt ride, Jace was off doing who knows what, and her brother Ryder had bailed earlier, claiming he had "important plans."

Marlee sighed, switching from Instagram to her contacts list. She scrolled through the names, her thumb pausing every now and then on someone she hadn't spoken to in a while. Too many friendships had fizzled out since last year, and the ones that were left felt... complicated.

Eli? She stared at his name for a moment, her mind flashing back to the cafeteria earlier that week. Things had felt almost normal between them—just for a second. But did that mean she could just text him, out of the blue?

Her thumb hovered over the screen before she scrolled past his name. Maybe not.

Sam? She considered it. They were talking again, sort of. But then Marlee thought about how much Sam already had on her plate with Kyler and the rumors. It didn't feel right to drag her into a lazy afternoon just because she didn't want to be alone.

Marlee groaned, flopping back onto the warm concrete. The phone rested on her stomach, the contacts screen still open. She stared up at the clear sky, the corners of her mind tugging at a thought she'd been trying to ignore.

The fight in the cafeteria had been... something. Watching Miguel go up against Kyler and his pack of meatheads had sent a weird buzz through her. Not just because it was entertaining—though it totally was—but because it reminded her of something she hadn't felt in a long time. That rush of standing up for herself, of taking control, even just for a moment.

And yet, here she was, sitting by her pool with no plans, no energy, and no idea how to fix the mess her life had turned into.

She exhaled, clicking on Jace's contact and typing out a text.

Marlee: What are you up to?

Jace: At home. Bored as hell. You?

Marlee: Come over. Bring something to drink.

Jace: On my way. Be ready for greatness.

Marlee rolled her eyes but couldn't help smile. She set her phone down and leaned back on her hands, letting the warmth of the sun sink in. Maybe this day wasn't a total waste after all.

About ten minutes later, Jace strolled through the side gate with a bottle of lemonade and a bag of gummy worms in hand.

"Your majesty," he said with a mock bow, holding the bag out to her.

Marlee snorted. "Wow. Gummy worms. Truly a feast fit for royalty."

Jace plopped down beside her on the pool deck, opening the bag and popping a worm into his mouth. "Hey, these are elite snacks. Don't knock it till you try it."

Marlee grabbed one and bit it in half, letting the sugary tang linger. "Fine. Not terrible."

The two sat in companionable silence for a bit, the sound of splashing water and rustling leaves filling the air.

"So," Jace finally said, leaning back on his elbows. "Why didn't you come to Cobra Kai with the rest of us? Miguel's fight was badass. You gotta admit, you're missing out."

Marlee shrugged, flicking her foot through the water. "I'm not really the dojo type. Plus, I don't need karate to deal with idiots like Kyler."

Jace grinned. "You did hit him with a tray. That was solid."

"Exactly," she said, smirking. "I've got my own moves."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Fair. But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find us."

"Noted." Marlee leaned back, closing her eyes against the sun.

For now, though, she was content to keep things simple. She'd leave the karate obsession to Jace and the others. 

Marlee leaned back, letting the warm sun soak into her skin, the light breeze occasionally brushing over her bare shoulders. The heat of the day mixed with the cool splashes of water as her feet flicked against the pool's surface. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the quiet hum of summer.

"That's a dangerous look," Jace said, smirking as he tossed another gummy worm in his mouth.

Her eyes cracked open, eyebrow raised. "What look?"

"That one. Like you're plotting something."

"Maybe I am," she shot back, sitting up and giving him a pointed look.

"Oh, yeah?" Jace shifted to sit up straighter. "What are you gonna do? Throw another gummy worm at me?"

Marlee just smiled, leaning forward to dip her hand into the water. Without a word, she scooped up as much as her hand could hold and flung it at him.

"Fuck!" Jace sputtered, water dripping down his face.

He jumped to his feet, brushing his wet hair out of his face, and Marlee immediately scrambled backward, laughing. "Don't even think about it. Jace, no!"

"You started it!" he countered, lunging toward her.

Marlee dodged, but he caught her arm, pulling her toward the pool's edge. "Jace, no!" she yelled through her laughter, trying to hold her ground.

"Say you're sorry,"

"But I'm not," she laughed, grabbing onto his arm to pull him off balance.

For a moment, it was a standoff, both of them leaning over the edge of the pool. But it didn't last long. With one final tug, they both toppled over, splashing into the cool water below.

Marlee surfaced first, slicking her wet hair out of her face and gasping for air. "You're an idiot," she laughed, shoving water toward him.

Jace came up a moment later, spitting out water and grinning. "And you're terrible at staying dry."

"Your fault," she said, flicking water in his face again.

"Don't blame this on me!" Jace said, splashing her relentlessly.

・゜゜・・゜゜・

The next day at school, Marlee wandered through the hallway, half-listening to the buzz of conversations around her. She reached her locker and fiddled with the combination, tugging it open just as Aisha Robinson appeared beside her, a bright grin on her face.

"Hey, Marlee," Aisha said, leaning against the lockers.

"Hey," Marlee replied, tucking her books into her bag. "What's up?"

She'd noticed a reoccurring pattern of people actually talking to her. It felt weird, but good. She felt pieces of herself growing back.

"So, the fight yesterday?" Aisha asked, her eyes lighting up.

Marlee sighed, closing her locker. "If I hear one more thing about Miguel punching Kyler, I swear—"

"Come on, it was awesome," Aisha cut in, ignoring Marlee's sarcasm. "Miguel totally destroyed them. Kyler didn't stand a chance. And when you hit him with the tray?"

Marlee shrugged. "He deserved it."

"You should come join the dojo as well." Aisha said enthusiastically. "They got a bunch of new students after it. it's actually really helping me"

Marlee raised an eyebrow. "Damn, okay."

Aisha smirked. "Don't sound so surprised. I need to know how to kick some ass, after everything. Plus, it's actually fun. It might help you too."

"I don't know," Marlee said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "I don't really see myself doing karate."

"You don't have to commit to anything," Aisha said, walking beside her as they headed to the cafeteria. "Just come by. Watch a class or something. You've got nothing to lose."

Marlee hesitated, considering it for a moment. "I'm not exactly the 'karate dojo' type."

Aisha stopped and turned to face her, her expression softening. "Look, I get it. Things have been rough lately. I've been there, too. But Cobra Kai? It's not just about fighting. It's about finding your strength, building confidence. I think you'd like it."

Marlee opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by the bell ringing overhead.

"Just think about it, okay?" Aisha said, giving her a nudge before heading off to class. Marlee stood there for a moment, the idea lingering in her mind. 

・゜゜・・゜゜・

Marlee stood outside the Cobra Kai dojo, her arms crossed and a hesitant look on her face. The sound of muffled shouting from inside. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"What am I even doing here?" she muttered under her breath, staring up at the dojo's black and yellow sign. She took a deep breath, trying to get herself to take a step forward, when she heard footsteps approach.

"Are you just gonna stand there, or are you going in?" a voice said from behind her.

Marlee turned her head, about to respond with some sarcastic remark, but her words caught in her throat. Standing there was a guy with a bright blue mohawk, a confident smirk plastered across his face. For a moment, she didn't recognize him at all.

"Do I know you?" she asked, furrowing her brow as she looked him over.

The boy laughed. "Come on, Lana. Don't tell me you've already forgotten me."

Lana, she stood confused for a moment at the nickname then remembered her Lana Del Ray shirt. Marlee squinted, scanning his face more closely. Then it hit her. Her eyes widened in shock.

"Eli?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's Hawk now," he corrected, the smirk on his face widening.

"What the hell happened to you?" she asked, still processing the drastic transformation.

He shrugged, clearly enjoying her reaction. "I decided it was time for a change. You like it?"

Marlee blinked, still staring at the mohawk. "I mean, it's.. wow."

Hawk chuckled, stepping closer to the dojo door. "So, what about you? Thinking about joining?"

Marlee hesitated, crossing her arms again. "I don't know yet. Everyone keeps telling me to, but.."

"But what?" Hawk pressed, turning to face her fully.

"I just don't know if it's my thing," she admitted, glancing at the door again.

Hawk gave her a knowing look. "It wasn't my thing either. But then I stepped inside, and it changed everything. You'll see."

Marlee tilted her head, studying him. There was something different in his eyes—something fierce and determined. He wasn't the same Eli she used to know, but there was still a flicker of familiarity beneath the new persona.

Marlee walked into the dojo, her steps slow and cautious as her eyes adjusted to the bright lights inside. Hawk strode confidently beside her, his presence almost commanding attention. Johnny Lawrence stood in the center of the room, his hands on his hips as he turned to address the newcomers.

"Welcome to Cobra Kai," Johnny said, his voice cutting through the air.

The room went silent as every gaze turned to the doorway. First to Marlee, and then to Hawk. The shift in everyone's expressions was immediate—shock, confusion, and a mix of awe swept through the group.

"Eli... what happened?" Miguel asked, his voice laced with surprise.

Hawk smirked, his confidence practically radiating off him. "I'm flipping the script."

"Wait," Johnny said, his eyes narrowing as he pointed at Hawk. "Are you the kid with the lip?"

Hawk didn't falter, tilting his chin up proudly.

Johnny nodded in approval, a smirk forming on his face. "Nice cut, bro. You see that?" He turned to the rest of the group, gesturing dramatically. "Doesn't matter if you're a loser, or a nerd, or a freak. All that matters is that you become badass!"

The energy in the room shifted as Johnny's words hung in the air. Marlee couldn't help but glance at Hawk. His cocky expression only grew with each second of attention, and she rolled her eyes.

"Hawk," Johnny barked, pointing to the mat. "Fall in."

Hawk didn't move immediately. Instead, he turned to Marlee, his smirk softening into something more playful. "You too, Princess," he said.

Marlee scoffed, shooting him a withering look. "Princess? Really?"

"Just go with it," he said with a chuckle, striding onto the mat.

Marlee hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of all the stares in the room. But after a quick glance at Hawk, she stepped forward, joining the group. Whatever she'd just walked into, she couldn't shake the feeling it was about to change everything.

Johnny paced in front of the first line of students, his piercing gaze moving from one face to the next. His voice boomed, cutting through the silent dojo.

"Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?"

Hawk stood tall, his arms locked at his sides, staring straight ahead. His voice was firm and confident. "No, Sensei."

Johnny's eyes lingered on Hawk for a moment before moving down the line. He stopped in front of Marlee, who stiffened slightly as his focus landed on her.

"Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it?" Johnny barked, his voice sharper.

Marlee hesitated for the briefest moment before responding, her voice steady. "No, Sensei," she said, falling in line with the chant.

Johnny nodded, moving down the line until he reached Miguel. "Defeat does not exist in this dojo, does it?"

"No, Sensei." Miguel spoke.

Johnny faced the front of the room as he yelled, "Class! Are you ready to learn the way of the fist?"

"Yes, Sensei!" the students chanted back, their voices echoing through the dojo in unison.