Somehow even though we resided in the same small apartment, my brother had managed to avoid me since the country club incident. He was up and out before me, and either came home later or got in before me.

No matter how many times I tried to catch him to talk I came up empty-handed, I do know he's been working extra hard with Mr. Miyagi, but I have a feeling that wasn't the reason for his avoidance of me.

Unfortunately, Johnny and the rest of the Cobra Kai had to listen to my angst, but seeing as they were a part of the reason why I felt so shitty it didn't make me feel so guilty about dumping my emotional baggage on all of them.

Ali had also tried to talk to Daniel, but once she caught up to him he gave her an earful about her being rude along with everyone she knew including her family, she didn't try to talk to him again after that, but she was sure to let me know about it.

Getting off the back of Johnny's motorcycle, I noticed Daniel chaining up his bike when he saw my stare, he quickly got up and began to walk away, "Daniel, wait!" I called out, but once again, I was totally ignored.

Our birthday was in a few days, and for once I didn't want to go another year without spending it with Daniel, the last time we really spent a birthday together was when we turned 13, and our Ma took us to an arcade after saving her money.

Dropping my hands to my side, I let out a sigh before looking at the guys "I'm going to class" I muttered sadly giving Johnny a kiss "I'll see you guys at lunch" taking my bag from Johnny's hand I slowly made my way to Home Economics.

Johnny watched with the guys as his girlfriend walked away, her usual confident stride now a slow shuffle. "Wow, she's really sad about this," Jimmy commented as Johnny felt his blood boiling, it wasn't unusual to see the LaRusso twins at war, but this was different.

It seemed wrong to him how his girl was the one hurting from the altercation.

Gritting his teeth, Johnny climbed off his bike and marched off towards the way Daniel had gone with a quick warning to the guys that he wanted to be alone, Bobby - the mother hen - yelled out to him about the hands-off rule.

Johnny didn't need his fists to make Daniel feel as beaten down as Kat did right now, she had done nothing wrong, and yet Daniel was treating her like she betrayed him in the worst possible way.

That wouldn't fly with him.

His girl loved December mostly because of her birthday and Christmas, but even the shitty school decorations she'd delegated being put up with the decorating committee wasn't enough to get her out of this funk.

Noticing the dark-haired boy he'd gone looking for leaning over the water fountain, his hands twitched at all the possibilities. Still, he urged away the red mist descending over him, knowing he couldn't psychically touch the male LaRusso.

As Daniel stands back up, he realizes who he's face to face with a fearful spark appears in his eyes before Johnny thrusts a piece of paper into his hand. "Wanted to make sure you got it," Johnny hissed at him.

Daniel took a quick glance at the paper, "What's this for?" He questioned as Johnny circled him like a predator watching its prey.

Johnny smirked as he circled, he couldn't keep himself still, it was like an itch, and he wanted badly to reach out a scratch it "So they know where to claim the body" the fear in Daniel's eye multiplied as they widened.

"I thought it was supposed to be no contact," the smaller boy stuttered as Johnny continued to relish in his fear.

"Accidents happen" was all the blond said before turning to go, he got what he came for, he wanted Daniel trembling with fear, and he succeeded.

"Hey!" Johnny froze in his place, what would make Daniel call him back, he turns to the dark-haired boy silently noticing the confused expression on his face.

"Can I ask you a question?" A beat goes past where Johnny doesn't answer him, but he doesn't walk away either "What pleasure do you get from that?" Daniel asks, looking genuinely interested, but Johnny has no idea what he was talking about.

"What?" He huffed, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head at the question.

"The intimidation number," Daniel explained simply "We both know you can kick my ass seven ways from Sunday. Right?" Once again, Johnny doesn't answer, what could he say to explain why he does the things he's been doing to Daniel.

"So why do you still bother" The smaller of the two questions innocently, but the question brings out insecurity in Johnny, so he acts in the only way he knew how.

Stepping closer to Daniel, without actually touching him, Johnny leaned into his face, "Maybe 'cause I like to" Although his words come out aggressive, they sound empty and lack conviction. Rolling his eyes, Johnny turns to leave again.

"you ever think he might be wrong?" Daniel calls out, making Johnny stop perplexed. It was getting harder for him not to throw the other boy through a window.

"who" He questioned with a raised eyebrow watching as Daniel subtly shifts from one foot to another as if he knew what he was about to say might actually get him killed.

"Your teacher."

Johnny's face drops as he approaches Daniel as he flinches back, getting into Daniel's face; he grips the front of his tee-shirt, paying close attention to not actually touching Daniel.

The 'ex-degenerate' practically hisses at him. "Watch your mouth, asshole" the dark-haired boy nods his head, quickly hearing the threat in Johnny's voice.

Being this close to Daniel made Johnny see some of the similarities to Kat, but that only mad Johnny madder. "I may do the 'intimidation' thing, but at least I don't make Kat feel like a piece of shit" Daniel looked stunned at the words Johnny expressed.

It almost looked like Daniel was shocked that Johnny even cared that much about Kat, and depending on what Ali has told him, Johnny wasn't surprised, but he did treat Kat a lot better than he ever did with Ali.

Daniel went to open his mouth, but Johnny beat him to it "Yeah we're all jerks, and Tommy took it too far, but Kat didn't do anything to you" The blond watched as Daniel's eyes hit the floor guiltily "or is there another reason why you're doing this?".

Johnny let out a laugh in disbelief "You were jealous, right?" Daniel visibly bit his cheek but said nothing. "Oh, I see it now," Johnny taunted with a smirk. "The 'bad' twin starts getting all the good things, and you hate it."

"I'm guessing Ali didn't invite you, so you took it out on your sister who did get an invite," Johnny grinned, finally understanding why Daniel was putting Kat down.

She had told him herself that she had done worse things before and didn't understand why she was getting the silent treatment now.

"She didn't belong there," Daniel hissed back as his eyes flashed angrily "neither of us did, but I watched her in there, dancing with you guys, laughing it up with the suits. We're not the hills".

Johnny's eyes narrowed, hearing the same words from Daniel that he had heard many times from his girlfriend, her twin obviously has the same insecurities she had.

"She doesn't need to be," Johnny admitted out loud. "I don't care about any of that. I like Kat because she's everything the hills aren't".

"She's the type to strike out first and ask questions later" a smile appeared on Johnny's face "she's not meek or submissive like the hills girls, and that's hot. Yeah, she's explosive, but then so are the rest of us. She just handles it differently".

The blond swallowed as he thought, "Kat has issues, I get that, but that just makes her...Kat," remembering who he was in front of Johnny's face steeled again as he stood tall, "hurt her again, and I'll make you wish you were never born LaRusso."

Not featured in this chapter:

-The other Cobras impatiently waiting for Johnny to come back.
-Them expecting him to come back with bruised knuckles.
-Daniel walking away feeling shitty that Johnny was right about his jealousy.
-Kat making plans with the girls for her birthday, knowing Daniel wouldn't want to spend it with her.
-Dutch wanting to rip Daniel's head off his shoulders.
-All the cobra's wanting to hurt Daniel for upsetting their 'Princess.'