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CHARLIE PEDALLED ON HER BIKE, the seat slowly becoming uncomfortable, until finally she arrived at the dojo. She parked her bike on the rack and secured it with a chain, then noticed Hawk and Miguel approaching.
Miguel placed his hand on her head, scrunching it, while Hawk searched her eyes for any signs of hurt. "You okay? I mean, after last night, yo-"
"Nothing happened last night," Charlie interrupted, starting to walk away with the two boys trailing behind her.
Hawk quickened his pace to keep up with her, determined to get an answer. "But your mom, sh-"
"She was asleep when I got there," Charlie interjected once again, not bothering to look back. "That's all that happened."
Hawk knew exactly what she was doing. She had done it before — avoiding her problems, pretending they didn't exist so she wouldn't have to deal with it. It was her usual coping mechanism.
"Oh hey, look!" Charlie pointed towards the crowd of teenagers waiting outside the entrance, attempting to change the subject.
Hawk wanted to press further, knowing her avoidance would eventually catch up to her, and when it did, she wouldn't know how to handle it. However, he understood that she would just dodge his questions. So, he shifted his attention to the people outside.
"Looks like we've got some new students," Miguel remarked, as Hawk patted him on the chest. "Fresh fish."
The three of them started walking over, and one of the boys in the crowd pointed them out, staring at them in awe. "It's the champs."
"Check this out," Hawk said to Miguel and Charlie, as he confidently approached the boys. "Hey, mouth-breathers. Move it."
The boys quickly moved aside and apologized, while the taller one held the door open for them. "I'll get the door."
"So, you guys wanna be Cobra Kais, huh?" Hawk asked, before suddenly lunging forward and making them flinch. "You've got a long road ahead of you."
Charlie shook her head, wearing a smile, as Miguel and Hawk walked inside. She turned to the boys and extended her hand. "Ignore him. I'm sure you'll do great here. I'm Charlie."
"Chris," the first boy shook her hand, followed by the boy next to him. "Mitch."
She thanked them for holding the door and walked in to join Miguel, Aisha, and Hawk. Glancing around as she took off her shoes, she noticed that the room looked different. There was a missing mirror, a burnt wall, and shattered glass in the corners.
Charlie went to go ask Johnny in the office what had happened, but he was already out, "quiet!"
Everyone immediately fell silent and turned their attention towards him.
