The hallway at East Ridge High was unusually quiet. Andrea walked with purpose, her backpack slung over one shoulder, hoodie up, earbuds in. But the calm was short-lived.
As she rounded the corner near the lockers, the crowd seemed to part—and there she was.
Kate.
Leaning casually against the lockers, arms crossed, lips curled into a smirk like she’d been waiting.
Andrea stopped dead.
“Round two?” Andrea said, tugging out her earbuds.
Kate pushed off the locker. “Didn’t like how we left things.”
Andrea narrowed her eyes. “Pretty sure I left you on the ground.”
Kate stepped forward, voice low. “Let’s fix that.”
Students nearby started whispering, circling, pulling out phones.
Andrea dropped her bag with a thud.
Then, before the first punch was even thrown—
“Back off, psycho.” Tory’s voice cut through the tension.
She strode into the circle, her glare fixed on Kate. “You wanna start something? Try me.”
Miguel and Hawk were right behind her. Hawk cracked his knuckles, stepping protectively in front of Andrea.
“You okay?” he asked her.
Andrea nodded. “I’ve got this.”
Miguel’s voice was calm but firm. “Not alone. Not this time.”
Kate scoffed. “Oh look. You brought your fan club.”
Then another voice joined in.
“Yo, what the hell’s going on?” Kyler pushed through the crowd, followed by Kenny, Bert, and Mitch—Cobra Kai shirts visible under their hoodies.
They sized up the scene and instinctively moved toward Andrea, Hawk, and Miguel.
“You good?” Kyler asked, eyes flicking between Andrea and Kate.
Andrea raised an eyebrow. “You on our side?”
Kyler smirked. “Hell yeah.”
Kate scoffed. “Bunch of brainwashed idiots.”
From behind the crowd, new voices joined the chaos.
Chris and Nate from Miyagi-Do stepped forward, both in defensive stances.
“You guys are picking fights in school now?” Nate said, frowning.
“Someone has to put you Cobra Kai psychos down,” Chris muttered.
Demetri appeared at the edge of the group, nervous. “Guys, maybe we shouldn’t…”
“Then stay out of it,” Kate snapped.
More students piled in, crowding the hallway.
Then—
Robby stepped into view.
His eyes locked with Andrea’s instantly. Tension crackled like a live wire.
“Back off, Kate,” Robby said quietly. “This isn’t how we settle things.”
Kate turned to him, furious. “You’re defending her now?”
Robby didn’t answer. He was watching Andrea.
Andrea took a step forward, teeth clenched. “You want a fight too, Keene?”
Before he could answer—
All hell broke loose.
Kate lunged first, swinging hard at Tory. Tory blocked, then retaliated, fists flying.
Chris and Nate charged Kenny and Kyler. Mitch grabbed Nate mid-punch and slammed him into a locker.
Robby intercepted Andrea’s punch and shoved her back—but Hawk tackled him with a snarl.
Miguel tried to separate them, yelling, “Enough! Stop!”
Kate and Tory rolled across the tile floor, hair-pulling and striking.
Bert launched off a bench and body-slammed Chris.
Andrea turned toward Robby again, teeth gritted, fists tight.
“You gonna hit me too?” she spat.
“Only if you ask for it,” Robby muttered.
He moved first, jabbing low—she dodged and came back with a sharp elbow to his chest.
They fought in sync, years of anger in every strike. Hawk joined in again, helping Andrea push Robby back—but Robby was faster, fiercer.
Miguel ran toward them to break it up.
Then it happened.
Robby turned too fast. Andrea ducked.
And his arm shot out—unintended—but full force.
He hit Miguel square in the chest.
Miguel stumbled.
His foot slipped on the blood-slick tile.
And he—
Fell.
Over the stairwell railing.
Time froze.
Andrea screamed. Tory gasped.
Miguel’s body slammed into the lower level with a sickening crack.
Everything stopped.
Even Kate.
Even Robby.
“MI—MIGUEL!” Hawk’s voice cracked as he bolted down the stairs, skidding to Miguel’s crumpled body.
Andrea stared in horror, unable to move.
Robby took one slow step back.
“No…” he whispered.
Everyone turned to him.
“You did this!” Tory yelled, pointing.
“I didn’t mean—” Robby stammered.
But it didn’t matter.
Johnny’s voice could’ve stopped time if he’d been there.
But he wasn’t.
So Robby ran.
Through the crowd.
Out the doors.
Into the parking lot.
Later…
Daniel LaRusso’s car peeled out of the school lot, tires screeching. Robby’s hands shook on the wheel, eyes wide, mind racing. He didn’t know where he was going. Just away.
Hours Later
Miguel lay motionless in a hospital bed. Machines beeped softly. Andrea sat by his side, staring blankly, her eyes rimmed red.
Tory stood at the window, fists clenched.
Hawk paced, muttering curses.
“He was trying to stop the fight,” Andrea whispered. “And I… I let it happen.”
Hawk stopped. “It wasn’t your fault.”
Tory’s voice was ice. “It was Robby’s.”
The Next Day
News spread fast.
“Student in coma after school brawl.”
“Police investigate East Ridge incident.”
Daniel LaRusso’s car was found abandoned off a dirt road.
Robby Keene: arrested. Transferred to juvenile detention pending charges.
End of Chapter 4 – Fall Before the Flame11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjJ3QEvvZo
