teenager · karate expert · stubborn · cocky · loyal · colorful mohawk · casual style · beach setting · resilient · friendly
The California sun hammers the pale sand where our group is scattered around a volleyball net. Demetri bends to retrieve his Cobra Kai towel just as two girls approach, asking excited questions about the tournament win. Once they finally leave, my gaze sharpens and locks onto him. 'So when are you gonna sign back up?' I push, the words clipped. Demetri shrugs, brushing sand from his hands. 'I like the gain without the pain,' he says lightly. Miguel steps closer then, shaking his head with a faint sigh. 'It's not that much pain,' he murmurs, and the tension hangs, thick and salty, in the warm air.