"Jack, is there anyway we could convince you to come back to the dojo?" Rudy asked looking at Jack hopefully.

Jack looked at his friends, there was no way he could join back, they didn't trust him. They didn't have his back when it came down to it.

What stung the most though, was Kim not believing him. They were best friends and he really liked her, not that he would admit that to anyone. He thought that she liked him too but apparently he was wrong.

He let out a harsh breath "Look, I only have one thing to say to you guys." He looked away for a second before looking up eyes blazing "No." He spat.

The group looked shocked and hurt. Kim's eyes widened "Jack" she whispered, eyes wide in shock

"You guys don't trust me" He pointed at them. "I trusted you guys" He swallowed, before continuing "And I thought you trusted me too, but you obviously don't, when Carson joined you guys dropped me like I was some old toy and replaced me with him just like that. You believed him over me, even though I've never lied to you guys" He finished, one hand clutching his ribs, careful to keep his face blank so they didn't see how much it hurt him.

"Jack, we do trust you BUT you have to understand that it wasn't that simple. Carson was one of our best friends too before he moved away" Kim cried, throwing her hands in the air.

"Yeah man, before you moved here, Carson was our best friend, we never expected him to cheat. But we were wrong, I'm sorry man" Jerry continued, looking at his bestfriend, eyes downcast.

Milton, Eddie and Rudy nodded

"We all are, whatever happened while he was away changed him, he wasn't like that before" Rudy added, looking up at Jack pleading for him to understand. Rudy really liked Jack not only because he was his best student but because he was a good kid. He has a mentee-mentor sort of relationship with all of them. Seeing Jack leave the dojo made his heart clench.

Jack shook his head again "I'm sorry but I won't join the dojo again" he stated, his voice cracking slightly and he walked away before they could say anything else.

He couldn't believe it. His friends thought that he was lying, after everything they've been through together, They didn't believe him. They thought he was lying and that he was accusing Carson of cheating because he lost a fight. They thought he was too ashamed to admit that he wasn't the best anymore? Is that what they thought of him? That he was that egotistical?

Jack started walking toward his house, arms wrapped around himself.

Carson cheated and they all believed him. Instead of Jack when he tried telling them the truth. Do they really think that he's that much of a sore loser, that he would make up a lie just because he couldn't beat someone. Is that how lowly they thought of him?

Are you serious? He thought, fists clenched, he was getting angrier the more he thought about it.

Jack scoffed and shook his head as he neared his house. Opening the door and stepping inside he was instantly greeted by his mother.

"Jack, sweetie how did the tournament go?" She asked, a loving smile plastered on her face.

"It went great Mom" Jack answered, running a hand through his hair, a small smile formed on his lips. His mom was always there for him, she's been so strong. His dad left them three years ago when Jack was 13, it was before they moved to Seaford. Back when they lived in San Fransisco. His father had cheated on his mother and was seeing other women behind her back, not only that, he had also pulled out money from their shared account and had given it to his girlfriends. Jack disgusted by his actions, ordered his father to leave when he saw his mother crying on the ground. It broke his heart.

When his dad left and slammed the door shut, he had kneeled infront of his mother and embraced her in a hug. "It'll be okay Mom, we don't need him" He whispered tears streaming down his face. His mother kissed him on the forehead and they both had cried.

Shaking his head, he snapped out of his memories and hugged his mom "I won" He said, as he pulled away from the hug, lips curving into a small smirk.

"That's amazing Jack" his mother exclaimed as they walked into the kitchen, when they walked in Jack noticed she had prepared dinner for them.

"I'm so proud of you Jack and I know your grandfather would be too" She continued, as they sat down.

"Thanks mom" He whispered, a sad smile on his face. After that they fell into a casual conversation. She asked about his day and vice-versa. It wasn't until after dinner when her face fell slightly, Jack noticed.

"Is everything okay Mom?" The teenager asked, eyebrows furrowed

She looked up, tears in her eyes. Jack immediately got worried and was about to speak but she beat him to it.

"Jack I got an amazing job offer" She started cautiously, her fingers tapping on the table.

Jack was confused. Wasn't that supposed to be a good thing? Why does she look so sad?

"That's great Mom" He exclaimed, head tilted to the left slightly, a confused smile on his face

"Honey, it's in Los Angeles" She blurted out, nervously looking at the teen closely for his reaction.

Jack's jaw dropped and his eyes widened in disbelief. He felt like he had been punched in the stomach.

"W-We're moving?" He croaked out.

"I'm sorry Jack, I know how hard this must be for you. You've made so many great friends and now this is happening. I'm so sorry Jack" She looked at him apolagetic, a singular tear sliding down her cheek.

At first Jack was furious, but when he saw her mother's face, all the anger vanished and was replaced by immense sadness and understanding. His mom's job here in Seaford wasn't the best, it barely paid enough for the bills, food and other needed stuff. Even though she worked long shifts.

He swallowed hard, He would have to leave his friends, Eddie, Milton, Jerry, Rudy and most importantly Kim. Sure he wasn't planning to join the dojo again, but that didn't mean that he was going to stop talking to them. Now that they're moving he's most likely never going to see them again.

Choking back a sob, Jack looked up at his mother and tried his best to smile, even though his heart was breaking inside.

"It's okay mom, I understand"