Tessa Keene was a sweetheart through and through- pure-hearted, kind, and incapable of cruelty. She didn't have much, but she had Robby, and that was all she needed. He was her rock, her safe place, the one person she could always count on. But when...
Gym class felt like it was never going to end, the sound of basketballs bouncing and sneakers squeaking on the court echoing all around her. Tessa had spent the entire period trying to blend into the background, keeping to the sidelines and pretending Anthony LaRusso wasn't actively trying to get her attention. Every time the ball came near her, he'd toss it in her direction—not aiming for a pass, but just hoping to get her to look at him. And every time, she would turn her head quickly, focusing on the game or the floor, anything to avoid meeting his gaze.
Things at school had finally started to calm. The whispers weren't as loud. Some of her classmates had even stopped pretending she didn't exist. It wasn't perfect, but it was better. Still, Anthony wasn't making things easier.
Tessa let out a sigh as she spotted him again—this time in Kenny's face between rounds like he had something to prove.
She groaned, brushing back a few strands of hair that had fallen loose from her ponytail.
"You okay?" Lia asked, coming up beside her with a cautious look.
"Does he ever stop?" Tessa muttered, nodding toward Anthony, who was now squaring up like basketball game had suddenly turned into a full-blown karate match.
"Guess not," Lia said, already starting to jog over.
"Hey, come on." Lia interrupted the two, stepping between Anthony and Kenny. "Give the new kid a break, Ant. We've got a game to finish."
Anthony handed the ball to her, his gaze shifting past Lia to land on Tessa. The moment their eyes met, she quickly looked away, pretending to tie her shoes even though they were already secure.
"Yeah, alright, Lia." Anthony sighed, his voice distracted as he glanced back at Tessa, then started making his way toward her.
Tessa stood up abruptly, ignoring the weight of Anthony's gaze still on her. Without a word, she started jogging toward the end of the court, her sneakers slapping against the floor as she pushed herself to put some distance between them.
Anthony watched, frustration building in his chest. He had barely taken a step toward her when she was already halfway down the court, her pace quickening as if she was trying to outrun him.
"Hey!" he called out, his voice edged with irritation. "Seriously, Tessa?"
She didn't even glance back, her focus on the far hoop. Anthony's jaw clenched. He hated feeling like this—like he was invisible to her. Like no matter how hard he tried, she just wouldn't acknowledge him.
The rest of the day passed in a blur, Tessa carefully avoiding Anthony at all costs. She didn't want to make things worse—she just needed some space to breathe. Every time their paths crossed in the hallways, she would sidestep him with a quiet determination, her focus fixed on the floor or her phone, anything to keep her from meeting his eyes.
At lunch, she found her usual corner table again. It had become a quiet refuge, a place where she could hide from everything. The other students kept their distance, and that was fine by her. But today, the table wasn't as empty as usual.
Lia slid into the seat next to her, a warm smile on her face, followed by a few other girls from class who didn't seem interested in the rumors or drama surrounding Tessa's family. They just saw her for who she was—someone who was kind, funny, and more than the chaos around her. They just talked about normal stuff: classes, random school gossip, what their plans were for the weekend. It felt like a breath of fresh air, a moment of relief from all the noise in her head.
Tessa couldn't help but smile softly, grateful for the normalcy of it all. She leaned back in her chair, letting her friends' laughter fill the air, a gentle warmth spreading through her. And for a little while, she let herself savor it, content to just be Tessa—the girl who loved her friends, the girl who wasn't defined by the mess around her.
Across town, the koi pond shimmered quietly beneath the afternoon light, peaceful and undisturbed. "That's it," Daniel called out, his voice steady but hopeful as Johnny stood wobbling on the narrow platform in the middle of the koi pond. "Balance good. Karate good. Everything—"
Splash!
Daniel flinched as Johnny's foot slipped out from under him, sending him crashing into the water with a loud grunt and a splash that rippled across the pond.
"This thing isn't even level!" Johnny shouted, slapping the edge of the platform in frustration. His soaked shirt clung to him, water dripping from his hair into his eyes.
Daniel laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "Or maybe," he said, voice quieter now, "you've got a little imbalance inside of you." His tone shifted again, this time softer—almost sad. "Reminds me of Tess."
Johnny stilled, blinking water from his lashes. "Tessa?"
Daniel looked down at the water, a fond smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, she probably spent more time in the water than on the platform. Took her hours, but she figured it out."
Johnny was quiet for a beat, staring at him. Then he cleared his throat, glancing down at the water before meeting Daniel's eyes. "I know I never said it before," he began, his voice low and rough, almost like it hurt to say it. "But... thank you. For everything you did for her."
Daniel's expression softened completely, his chest tightening at the words. "She's a great kid," he said, nodding slowly. "I just... I miss her. A lot."
Johnny nodded, and for a second, they were both quiet—letting the silence say what words couldn't. He knew Tessa was still keeping her distance—from Miyagi-Do, and from Daniel.
"Eagle Fang. Tomorrow. 7:30," Johnny said, his tone clipped. He hesitated, then his voice dropped just slightly. "Tessa leaves around 7...if you wanted to show up early."
Daniel looked at him, a hint of surprise in his eyes, then gave a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Johnny."
Johnny gave a quiet nod, saying nothing more as he stepped away, the towel slung over his shoulder already soaked through. There was still distance between them—things left unsaid—but maybe that was okay for now.
The drive across town was quiet, the kind of quiet that left too much space for thinking. His fingers tapped idly on the steering wheel at every red light, his shirt still clinging damply to his back. But the tension in his chest had eased a little.
When he pulled into the school parking lot, he spotted Tessa right away—walking out of the school with a small group of girls, laughing with a lightness in her step he hadn't seen in a long time. He couldn't help the small smile tugging at his mouth—she was finally coming back to herself. Happy again. Despite everything that had tried to drag her under.
She spotted him and jogged over, her smile widening—then faltering slightly as she took in his soaked clothes and damp hair.
"Hey," she teased, giggling. "Did you train or hangout with the koi?"
"Shut up," Johnny muttered, his lips curving into a reluctant smile. It was hard not to, seeing her so lighthearted, so genuinely happy. It felt like a small victory, one he hadn't realized he needed.
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