The Iron Bond - A Cobra Kai story (Miguel X Zara)

Zara had just walked out of the cafeteria, food in hand, when she ran straight into Sam and Devon. The girls looked at her, momentarily surprised, but Zara flashed a confident smile.

"Well, if it isn't the dynamic duo," Zara said with a smirk, giving them both a once-over. "Didn't expect to see you two together. You having a moment?"

Sam raised an eyebrow, keeping her distance while Devon smirked right back at her. "Maybe we are. But we're not here to start trouble," Devon said, her tone friendly but carrying an edge.

Zara chuckled lightly. "I never start trouble. I just finish it," she said, her eyes flicking between the two girls. "But hey, you two enjoy your little chat. I wouldn't want to interrupt your bonding."

Sam frowned, but Devon spoke up before she could retort. "Are you trying to imply something?"

Zara shrugged, uninterested in engaging too much. "Just making conversation," she said coolly, her eyes shifting over to Miguel, who was now at a nearby table. "But it looks like someone's waiting for me."

She walked past them, deliberately brushing against Sam's shoulder. "You girls have fun now. Don't get too attached to your side of the dojo."

As she reached Miguel's table, she leaned in close and whispered, "The fun never ends." She took her seat with a grin, leaving the girls behind, the tension from the encounter still lingering in the air.

Sam and Devon sat down together on a nearby bench, both still feeling the lingering tension from the run-in with Zara. The cafeteria buzzed with the noise of other competitors, but the two of them were quiet for a moment, reflecting on the brief but charged encounter.

Finally, Sam broke the silence, her voice low. "I don't get it. What is Miguel thinking? Zara... she's so different from anyone he's dated before. And not in a good way."

Devon raised an eyebrow, her expression thoughtful. "You think? I mean, she's definitely got a... unique style. But, you know, there's something about how she carries herself. Confident, flashy. She's not afraid of being in the spotlight. And that can be powerful, especially in a place like this."

Sam frowned, crossing her arms. "I know that, but it's not just her skills I'm worried about. It's her whole attitude. She thrives on drama. She knows how to manipulate the room and make it all about her. That's not Miguel. He's always been the kind of guy who avoids drama at all costs."

Devon nodded slowly, looking over at Zara, who was sitting across the room with Miguel, laughing and teasing him. "I get where you're coming from. Miguel's kind and honest, a total guy-next-door type. He doesn't need all that... chaos. So why would he go for someone like Zara, who doesn't mind stirring the pot?"

Sam sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Exactly. I don't know. Maybe he sees something in her that we don't. Or maybe... maybe he's just caught up in the excitement of being with someone so different. Zara's got a way of pulling people in, but I wonder if he's really seeing the whole picture. She's got her own agenda, and I'm not sure it aligns with his."

"I don't know, Sam," Devon said, a small smirk on her face. "Maybe he just likes a challenge. You said it yourself. Zara thrives on drama. Maybe that's exactly what Miguel needs right now—someone who isn't afraid to challenge him, shake things up a little."

Sam's eyes softened as she looked down at her hands. "I just don't want him to lose himself in her game. He's been through enough already. I don't want him to get caught up in something that could hurt him in the end."

Devon turned to Sam, her gaze shifting to where Zara and Miguel were still talking. "You know Miguel better than anyone. But don't forget, he's been through a lot. Maybe he just wants to be happy. And Zara? She might be exactly what he needs right now."