Chapter Fifteen
WHAT MAKES YOU BADASS?

     After the tournament, the group had decided to go to a nearby restaurant to celebrate. Mara was sitting at a high table with her brother and Miguel. Ryan had his arm slung over his new boyfriend's shoulder as he watched the boy scroll through Instagram.

Mara was on her phone as well watching the videos people had taken of the tournament. The video of her knocking out that blond guy with a kick to the neck had gone viral and Mara couldn't help but feel proud. She popped one of her fries in her mouth and continued scrolling.

"Dude, stop searching up your exes profile while you're next to your boyfriend!" Miguel looked up at Mara and shook his head before typing in Sam's name again. "Are you just gonna let him do that right in front of you, Ryan?"

"It's fine, Mars. She's still Miguel's friend whether I like it or not and she's also our friend. He just wants to apologize for being rude to her at the tournament."

"What did you say to her, Miguel?"

Miguel sighed and placed his phone down. "I got all mad and then told her she was never the one I wanted anyway. And then I proceeded to call her and Robby the enemy. Now she blocked me."

"Damn. No offense, but I would block you too." She dipped another fry into her ketchup. "I can talk to her for you if you want. We were all acting a little crazy at the tournament."

"Thanks Mara but I just want to give her some space right now. I have an amazing boyfriend that I need to spend time with." He placed a quick kiss on Ryan's lips and Mara watched as her brother smiled adoringly at him.

"Ugh, happy couple. I could've used a warning."

Miguel just laughed and started eating his wings that had already started to get cold. "El serpiente, there you are." Ryan and Mara both turned and glared at Hawk.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom," Mara announced to the group before slipping away from the table. She wasn't actually going to the bathroom, she just didn't feel in the mood to party anymore. She texted Ryan and told him she was going home. He responded quickly telling her to drive safely and Mara put her phone in her back pocket.

Ryan had taken her to the canyon to pick up her jeep after the tournament so she didn't have to wait for him. When she got home her dad's car was in the driveway. That meant he probably hadn't left the house all day.

     As soon as she opened her front door the smell of alcohol filled her nose. She gagged a little and walked towards the source, which was her dad passed out on the couch. She scoffed and grabbed the bottle of alcohol that was still in his hand. A few others were laying out on the kitchen counter and she closed all of them and put them away.

Mara looked at her father for a second and turned back to where she put away the alcohol. One sip wouldn't hurt. Grabbing the bottle of vodka she poured some into a cup and downed it. Just like at the party it burned going down her throat. She shook her head and threw away the plastic cup before putting the vodka back where it belonged.

The girl took one last look at her drunk father before heading off to bed.

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Mara pulled into the dojo for her first day back after their big win. Miguel and Hawk came skating around the corner on scooters as she walked up to the door. She laughed at them. "You know Miguel. You could've just asked me for a ride. Or your boyfriend who's currently lounging at the pool."

"I didn't want to bother him. Plus I already knew he was at the pool. He sent me a picture." Miguel had a goofy grin on his face and Mara just bumped his shoulder with hers as she walked to the doors of the dojo.

Hawk watched them talk and was disappointed when Mara didn't acknowledge him. He just ignored it and tapped Miguel's shoulder. "All right. So, I get my license next week. My mom's gonna give me her Sentra. I'm thinking about putting a blue racing stripe down the middle, hood to tail."

"Subtle I like it. Looks like we've got some new students." Sure enough there was a crowd of new kids gathered at the door.

"Fresh fish. Check this out."

Mara rolled her eyes as she watched Hawk walk up to the new kids. "Hey, mouth-breathers. Move it."

The two kids immediately moved to the side and opened the door for them. "So, you guys wanna be Cobra Kais, huh?" Hawk faked a punch and looked satisfied when both the boys flinched and moved away. "You got a long road ahead of you."

Mara turned to him for the first time that day. "You act like you didn't just join Cobra Kai four months ago."

Hawk watched her as she walked into the dojo. Why was she being so rude to him all of a sudden? She was the one who told him she found someone else.

     He looked at Miguel and the boy just shrugged. "She's been really aggressive since the tournament. I'm not sure what happened. She won't tell me."

     Hawk just nodded and followed Miguel into the dojo. The boys' attention was immediately drawn to the burn mark on the wall and the missing mirror.
"What the hell happened here," Miguel asked Aisha. The girl was already changed into her Gi and stretched.

     "Looks like Sensei threw a party."

     Hawk smirked. "Must have been pretty sick if fire got involved." Miguel and Aisha just chuckled at the boy and the group separated to socialize with other people.

"Quiet!" All heads turned to see an angry looking Johnny come out of his office. "The dojo's closed to new students today."

"We just wanted to sign up after we saw the tournament," a dark skinned boy said.

"Do I need to say it again? Get out!" The students started to file out. "Come back tomorrow. And bring your checkbooks." Sensei walked to the front of the room. "Everyone fall in!"

Mara stood in her spot at the front of the last row and waited for Sensei to start talking.

"Must've been a eager, Sensei."

"Yeah, we're you celebrating all weekend," Miguel asked adding onto Hawk's statement.

Sensei didn't seem amused by their excitement at all. Mara wasn't either. "Celebrating what? My students are a bunch of pussies. Diaz. Hawk up front."

Miguel and Hawk looked at each other before taking their place at the front of the room. "Hawk. Did you attack your opponent when his back was turned?"

Hawk had a confused look on his face but nevertheless he still answered. "Yes, Sensei."

"Diaz. Did you purposely attack your opponent's injury?"

"Yes, Sensei."

"You think that makes you badass?" Both boys stumbled over their words not understanding what Sensei was trying to say. "What's the matter, question too tough? Maybe you need some help. Short-stack!"

Mara rolled her eyes and took a deep breath at the nickname Sensei still insisted on using for her. "Yes, Sensei."

"Two cobras in the jungle. One kills the strongest lion, the other kills a crippled monkey. Which Cobra do you want to be?"

"The one that kills the lion Sensei." Mara said quickly.

"And why is that?"

"Because it killed a stronger animal."

"Correct! Cobra Kai is about being badass. And the baddest badass is the one who beats his opponent when he's at his strongest. Not when his back is turned. Not when he's injured! Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sensei," everyone yelled out.

"That means no more cheating. No more fighting dirty. From here on out, those are pussy moves, and you don't wanna be pussies, do you?"

"No, Sensei!"

     "Good. It's why I had you wear your white belts. We're starting over. Diaz, Hawk, 50 push-ups on your knuckles. Short-stack, warm them up."

     Mara nodded and moved to the front of the class.

     "Fighting position!"

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Mara sat in the salon chair and thought about practice that day. She understood what Sensei meant about winning when your opponent was at its strongest. She agreed with it actually. If you have to injure your opponent to win then are you actually a good fighter? She just hoped he wasn't going back on his teachings. Cobra Kai is what made them stronger. Made them confident.

"You're all done." Mara looked in the mirror that the stylist handed her and smirked. Now this was much better. She had gotten half of her hair dyed purple and the other side was her natural hair color. She stood up and payed Bri, her stylist. She figured she should know her stylists name since she would be coming here more often.

"Thanks, Bri. I like it. Makes me look even more badass."

Bri just chuckled at the girl. "You need a cool ass nickname like your friend that always comes in here."

"I don't need a nickname to be badass. I can do that all on my own."

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     So I edited a picture of Mara to show you what her hair looks like now.

     What are your predictions for Mara for the rest of the season?

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