ELAPID ✪ COBRA KAI

I. New Kids In Town

"Help me, darling, now I'm feeling tired
Help me, darling, now I'm feeling low
But honey I just wanna let the sun in
Let the day just come and go"

-Let the Sun In by Wallows

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Disclaimer: Mature themes

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The soft morning breeze fell across Andrea's face as she awoke to the bright sun invading her room as she slowly realized she'd left her window wide open the previous night. 

Andrea had a habit of opening her bedroom window and letting the air in whenever she was stressed or uncomfortable. Unfortunately, this usually happened at night- and though she tried to remember to close the window before she went to sleep, she often forgot. 

Ignoring her body's desire to curl back under the covers and drift back into sleep- she pried herself off the bed and walked towards the open window. Acknowledging the rising sun and the morning air's feeling, Andrea took a deep breath in before closing the window, wanting to remember the feeling of the sun's heat on her fresh face. 

Her family wanted her and her brother to start waking up early again in preparation for the start of the school year in a week, something Andrea had been dreading for a long time. Her family had just moved to town, and Andrea had no desire to be the new kid in school again. It was truly one of the worst feelings. Wondering about the halls with no direction, getting lost and being too afraid to ask around for directions, introducing yourself to the new classmates and teachers, and most terribly- finding a place to eat lunch.

...

Before moving to Reseda, Andrea had transferred into an all-girls school at the beginning of seventh grade and learned first hand that girls truly could be cruel. Becoming the new kid in the second year of middle school, when everyone had already established their friend groups, was...difficult. She spent most of her middle school experience locked in the bathroom during lunch breaks and rushing to her mom's car in the carpool line while trying to avoid being seen. Every day was filled with the same feeling of dread in the pits of her stomach, wondering if the girls would find another way to humiliate her publicly or if Diana Terrence was in the mood to lead the next witchhunt for Andrea down a dark alley. 

Happy thoughts weren't associated with her middle school and freshman years of life. They were extremely difficult to get through, and if it weren't for her Abuelita, Brother, and Mom- she didn't know how she could have survived those years. 

This time would be different, though, because this time, at least she wasn't alone. This time she had Miguel to be the new kid with her...and that was enough. 

Miguel Diaz loved his sister more than words could describe. Ever since they were little, he took on the overprotective older brother's role very seriously- even though he was technically born seven minutes after her. 

Miguel was the opposite of Andrea. He was loud, confident, strong, and brave. Though he wouldn't go sticking his nose in everybody's face and showing off his kind personality, Miguel never had to wonder if he was enough for anyone. Never had to deal with the fear of being alone because at least someone would always want to be friends with him. He was everything Andrea aspired to be. 

He knew his sister's struggles in the past and how drained she was after them. He didn't pretend to know all of her demons, but he was always there for her in the nights when she woke up screaming to hold her. They had lived a difficult life- growing up with a single mother, while wonderful, was tough. They never seemed to have enough money, and though their mother adored them, she was always busy working to give them the life they deserved. They spent the most time with their Abuela at home and established a very close bond with her throughout the years.