Burning Point

Chapter 1- Welcome to the Dojo Jungle

Hello everyone! I really hope you enjoy this story. Please, Please, Please do not be a ghost reader. Please comment and vote! I would really appreciate that. Thank you for reading <3

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Transferring schools mid-semester was Emery Sloan's specialty, if you could call it that. She was fluent in locker combinations, lunchroom hierarchies, and pretending she wasn't lost when she absolutely was. Her mom liked to call them "new beginnings." Emery called them free trials of disappointment.

Still, West Valley High had a surprisingly solid vending machine game, and her first-day outfit—combat boots and a denim jacket covered in sarcastic iron-ons—earned her at least two compliments and one raised eyebrow.

Win-win.

Her plan was simple: Get in. Lay low. Graduate. Never speak to anyone named "Brad."

Unfortunately, West Valley had... karate drama.

Like, actual karate. Like, actual drama. She wasn't ready.

⸻

It started in third period, when a guy with a literal mohawk flopped into the desk next to her and dropped his bag like it had personally offended him.

"You're new," he said.

His tone wasn't curious. More like an accusation.

Emery blinked. "Wow. You psychic, or did the fresh face and schedule map give it away?"

He blinked back, then smirked.

"Name's Eli," he said. "But people call me Hawk."

"Oh," Emery said slowly. "Like... the bird?"

His grin widened. "Exactly."

"Cool. I'm Emery. Like... the noun."

He laughed. "Okay. You're funny."

"You're observant. We're gonna do great in group projects."

It wasn't love at first sight, but Hawk had that kind of confident energy Emery found mildly exhausting and slightly magnetic. There was something sharp in his humor, but not cruel—yet.

She noticed the Cobra Kai hoodie he wore like armor. She'd heard of them already—rumors about rival dojos, hallway fights, a Valley-wide karate Cold War that sounded like an over-budget Netflix reboot.

And Hawk? Definitely a general in whatever turf war this was.

Still, he was cute in a chaos gremlin kind of way. Emery had made worse choices.

So when he asked if she wanted to grab boba after school, she said yes.

Because Emery Sloan wasn't looking for trouble.

But it definitely had a crush on her.

⸻

Week Two at West Valley:

Things moved fast. Hawk introduced her to the rest of Cobra Kai—Miguel, who was surprisingly sweet; Tory, who was surprisingly terrifying; and a few others who spent more time shadow-kicking in the hallway than studying.

Johnny Lawrence was the sensei. Emery had met him once when Hawk dragged her to the dojo.

Johnny had asked, "You know how to throw a punch?"

She'd replied, "I once punched a guy for cutting in line at a Taco Bell. Does that count?"

He'd nodded solemnly and said, "You'll do."