Chapter 11: Reputation

James's POV:

I arrive at school and everyone is pointing and glaring at me. What the hell? This must be connected to Steve. After what happened yesterday, I managed to get into my backpack. However, I noticed that my laptop was missing. I walk over to my friends to see what's going on.

"Hey, why does everyone seem angry at me?" I ask. Miguel looks down at the ground before pulling out his phone. He shows me my instagram account. Oh shit. I remember I had instagram open in a tab on my laptop. Steve got in. What I saw was horrible. Not only were there a lot of racist and sexist remarks, but there were also posts spreading rumors about people at this school.

"What?! I swear to God that I didn't post these things!" I shout.

"It's okay, we believe you. You told us that Steve stole your laptop, remember?" Miguel points out. I begin to calm down. However, it doesn't matter if my friends believe me or not, my reputation is ruined.

Later…

I'm in the hallway, walking to the cafeteria, when a tall dude shoulder checks me. I'm startled, but I turn around. It's the captain of the basketball team. Behind him are three of his teammates.

"You think you're funny?" He says in an angry whisper.

"What?" I ask confused. This angers him. He slams me against a nearby locker.

"Don't play dumb. You spread a rumor that I had cheated on my girlfriend with two other girls!" He says.

"Okay…this may sound hard to believe, but my backpack was stolen yesterday along with my laptop. I didn't make those posts." I try to explain. He just chuckles to himself. He then punches me in the gut.

"Stop lying! My girlfriend broke up with me because of you!" He says more loudly. That's when I push him off me and quickly step away.

"I'm not gonna fight you. Believe me or not, but I didn't make those posts." I say more aggressively. We glare at each other before he and his team finally walks past me and into the cafeteria. I wait a few seconds and then enter the cafeteria myself. After I get my food, I spot my friends and begin walking towards them. However, I don't notice that Steve had stuck his leg out. I trip over it and all my food hits the ground. Everyone begins laughing. As I get up, I hear what they're saying.

"That's what you get you sexist pig!" One girl shouts. I begin clenching my fists and stand up. I glare at Steve.

"That's what you get, pussy! You hide behind a screen and post the most degrading stuff, but as soon as we see you in real life? Well, you're nothing! Nothing but a pussy!" Steve shouts so that the whole cafeteria hears. That's when the chanting starts.

"Pussy! Pussy! Pussy!" Everyone shouts. It gets so bad that the cafeteria workers are trying to get everyone to stop. But it's too late. The tears have already formed in my eyes. Why is Steve getting all this praise? He's done nothing but torment me, yet everyone thinks I'm the villain. Why does he get to win? As the whole cafeteria begins shouting, all those memories come flooding back. Hawk beating me up after my crash, Steve and Kyler beating me up in that alleyway, getting punched by Steve over and over at the house fight. Maybe they're right. I am a pussy. I quickly get up and leave the cafeteria. It's very clear that I'm not wanted.

Third Person POV:

The karate students are the only ones who seem utterly shocked at what just happened.

"What the hell was that?!" Hawk says angrily.

"It's that prick, Steve." Sam says angrily.

"Yeah? Well, we're not gonna let him get away with this." Hawk says while getting up.

"Wait, you're not suggesting we fight him, right?" Demetri says. Hawk doesn't respond. He approaches the table that Steve and the other Cobra Kai's are sitting at.

"You messed with the wrong dojo." Hawk says while towering over Steve. Steve just smiles and gets up. So does Kyler.

"Oh really? As far as I'm concerned, this whole school supports me. If you do anything, they're all gonna side with me." Steve says smugly. Hawk continues to glare at Steve.

"How bout this. Give me James's laptop. You do that, and I won't kick your ass." Hawk says. Steve chuckles and reaches into his backpack. He pulls out James's laptop.

"You mean this?" Steve asks. Then, in one swift motion. Steve slams the laptop as hard as he can against his knee. It completely snaps in half.

"Well…I guess you can kick my ass now." Steve says. Hawk snaps. He grabs Steve and throws him to the ground. When Kyler tries to grab him, he receives an elbow to the face.

"Hawk! Stop!" Miguel shouts. Before Hawk can do anything else, school security arrives.

"Help! He's attacking us!" Steve shouts. The security guard asks no questions and just takes Hawk away.

"Stop! He did nothing wrong!" Miguel shouts. It's no use. The security guards take Hawk out of the room. The remaining karate students look down at Steve.

"I win." He says.

Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait.