THE WAY WE BREAK || cobra kai

Tessa stepped through the doors of West Valley Middle, her heart already pounding in her chest. The moment she walked into the main lobby, she felt the whispers begin. It was like the whole school had been waiting for her return, just to tear her down. She couldn't escape them—couldn't escape their stares, the murmurs that followed her every move.

"She's the sister of that guy who killed a kid."

"That psycho actually came back to school."

"Murder family..."

The words sliced through her like knives, each one digging deeper, making it harder to breathe.

From beside her, Anthony glanced around, his brow furrowing as he caught the whispers growing louder. "They don't know what they're talking about," he said quietly, "Don't let them mess with your head."

The whispers only grew louder.

"She's Robby Keene's sister, right? Isn't he the one who...?"

Tessa's posture stiffened as a wave of anxiety hit her; her stomach twisted in knots while the stares trailed after them like shadows. Noticing her discomfort, Anthony gave her a gentle nudge with his elbow. "They're idiots, anyways. Who needs them?" he asked.

Tessa shrugged, a frown tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Yeah," she murmured, her voice flat. "Who needs them?" She repeated Anthony's words, but the emptiness in her tone didn't go unnoticed.

Anthony frowned, opening his mouth to say something, but Tessa beat him to it. "I'm gonna head to class. I have a lot to catch up on." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away, her shoulders slumped.

"I'll see you at lunch?" Anthony called after her, but Tessa only nodded without looking back, the weight of the day already pulling her down as she made her way to class.

After speaking with her teacher and collecting her late work, Tessa turned to find her seat, her eyes focused on the floor as the whispers continued to swirl around her. She made her way to the back of the classroom, determined to block it all out.

When she spotted Logan sitting at his desk next to hers, she couldn't help but feel a small sense of relief. She gave him a tentative smile, trying to make eye contact. "Hey," she said softly, hoping he'd acknowledge her.

Logan didn't even look at her. He kept his eyes glued to his paper, scribbling something as if she weren't even there. Tessa's smile slipped, her stomach tightening with disappointment. The silence between them felt like a slap to the face, and it stung in a way she hadn't expected. She could feel the tears threatening to come, but she quickly blinked them back, biting her lip to keep her composure.

The morning felt like it dragged on forever. Every hallway, every classroom, was filled with those same whispers, and each passing minute made it harder to breathe. She could feel herself growing more and more irritated, more agitated by the second.

By the time lunch arrived, Tessa felt like she was suffocating. The whispers, the stares, the constant reminders of her brother's mistake—it was all too much.

"Tess!" Anthony called out from across the room, standing up and waving her over. Tessa smiled, unaware of the tension brewing at his table, and started making her way toward him.

"Yo!" one of his friends hissed, yanking Anthony back into his seat. "What are you doing?" he scolded, his voice low but sharp.

Anthony glanced around the table, noticing the disapproving glares from his friends. "What do you mean?" he asked, genuinely confused.

"Why are you calling her over here?" one of them spat.

"She's crazy!" another added, his tone mocking.