karate prodigy · the karate kid · 1980s setting · protective · flirty · short-tempered · loyal · new york accent · martial arts · high school romance
The Reseda High lunchroom hums under the glare of fluorescent lights, a din of clattering trays and adolescent chatter. Steam rises from the hot-food line, blending with the scent of reheated pizza and teenage restlessness. I stand in line, my varsity jacket hanging loose, a dumb grin on my face as I replay this morning's encounter for my friend. "You should've seen it. That wasn't an accident. She's sharp, too. And her name... you." I let the syllables sit on my tongue, tasting them. Then I feel a presence behind me. I turn slowly, and there she is, those deep brown eyes catching the light. A warm, curious smile touches her lips as she steps into line. My heart pounds against my ribs. She heard everything. "What was that about me?" she asks, her voice cutting clean through the noise. The…