Harper's decision to leave loomed over her like a dark cloud. Not only did she have no place to stay but she had no plan. Her choices were limited, almost nonexistent. She swallowed down the surge of panic, forcing herself to keep walking as she pushed her problems aside.
I'll figure it out. It'll be okay, she told herself. Not because she believed it but because she needed to trick herself into thinking it was true.
Harper crossed the busy street and found herself in front of a park. It was busy enough where she could blend in with the crowd and pretend she was just enjoying a summer afternoon.
If only it was that simple. That normal.
Her steps became slower as all urgency left her body and exhaustion taking place. An empty picnic table away from the main path called to her. She sank onto the wooden, splinter-ridden bench and shrugged the backpack off her shoulders. Her mind buzzed with all the thoughts she'd kept at bay, making it impossible to not feel anxious.
She wondered if the Hudsons realized she'd left. If so, were they worried? Were they relieved? It had been nearly an hour since she stepped out of the house, so it was entirely possible they noticed. But Harper had no way of knowing that. All she knew was that she'd made the right choice. As drastic as it'd been, it had been the right move.
At least that's what she told herself. What she tried to convince herself of.
The Hudsons had been as close to a perfect family as possible. Until Harper moved in and ruined the family dynamic. The last thing she wanted was for their family to fall apart. They were already fighting because of her, and she didn't want them to decide to send her back. For once in her life, she wanted to be the one to make the decision. Take control of her life rather than be shipped off to some other foster family that would treat her like shit.
A gentle breeze picked up and rustled the leaves in the trees. Harper moved her hair out of her eyes and squinted against the late afternoon sun. Though there were still a few hours left until night would fall, Harper needed to come up with a plan. She pulled her bag onto her lap and dug through it. Paper crumbled beneath her fingers, and she pulled out a few wrinkled bills. Her options were severely limited as she needed more than the ten dollars in her hand.
A frown made its way onto her face. She'd been in tough situations before but had never been homeless. The idea of sleeping on a park bench caused the anxiety to return at full force. She knew sitting there was counterproductive, so she stood up and slung the bag onto her shoulder. She made her way through the park, forcing herself to believe that everything would be okay. That she hadn't made the worst decision of her life.
Harper quickened her pace when she spotted a bus stop up ahead. Out of breath, her eyes scanned the sign that listed the times and destinations. She had no idea what time it was or when the next bus would be but she sat on the plastic bench and waited. Luckily, the wait hadn't been long, and a Greyhound bus pulled up just a few minutes later.
"Where to?" The driver asked as she climbed the two steps onto the bus.
"San Diego," she said, handing the bills to the driver.
The driver raised an eyebrow. "It's thirty-five dollars, hon. You're short."
Harper blanched at the amount, her heartbeat picking up as she tried to fight for something to say. "R-right. Uhm, I'm supposed to meet up with my cousin. Any way I can pay the difference when I get there? She had the money, I promise."
"Sorry, that's not how it works," the driver said, handing the money back to her.
Harper stood there momentarily, frozen as her world spun around her. Without a word, she stepped back out onto the sidewalk and watched the bus pull away. Sighing, she shoved the money into her pocket.
It's just a setback, she told herself.
A few cars drove past, and Harper stared after them. Perhaps ten dollars wasn't enough for a bus or taxi, but maybe it would be enough to get a ride. Hitchhiking wasn't the safest way of travel but she was out of options and desperate. Harper walked along the street, trying to flag down a car but they sped past her. Oblivious to her or perhaps not caring.
She started to lose hope until one car pulled over. A red Dodge Challenger. The passenger side door opened, and 80's rock music spilled out onto the street. For a moment, Harper hesitated. But then decided to take her chances. No sooner had she closed the door than the driver pulled back into traffic.
As Harper buckled her seatbelt, she only hoped she made the right choice. But no matter what she felt then, it was a little too late to change her mind.
"Hey, Harper," A familiar voice said above the sound of the music.
Harper froze. She looked over to see Johnny watching her. Of all the random people in the San Fernando Valley to get a ride from, she happened to bump into the one person that she knew. Someone that knew her foster parents.
Great, she thought as she struggled to find her voice.
"What are you doing out here?" He questioned as he switched lanes, causing a series of beeps from the angry drivers behind. He hit the horn a few times, flipping off the car that passed them. "Yeah, you, too, asshole!" He yelled out the window.
Harper gripped the seatbelt due to his reckless driving while they accelerated in speed.
Johnny glanced towards her again, his eyes resting on the bag by her feet. "You're running away."
She considered lying but decided against it. "It's just better this way."
He nodded before asking, "So, where are you headed?"
"San Diego," she said after a moment.
"What the hell's in San Diego?" Johnny briefly took his eyes off the road to look in her direction, narrowly avoiding a car as it switched lanes.
"Uhm, I don't know. I guess I'll find out." Harper didn't offer more of an explanation as she herself didn't know all the details. It was something that she made up as she went along. She stared down at her lap and chipped away at the nail polish that was already cracked and off in some areas.
"Of all the places to run away, you chose San Diego?"
Harper sighed. "Can you help me get there or not?"
Johnny stared at her for a moment before he nodded. "Yeah, I'll help you."
Harper looked up in surprise, throwing a cautious look his way, sure that she heard wrong. "Really?"
"It'll be a road trip." Without another word, he turned the music up even louder and sped down the road.
They drove in silence save for the music that blared from the speakers. Harper watched as the streets passed by in a blur of colors. She wasn't familiar with the surroundings but knew that they'd already put some distance between herself and her former foster home. A wave of guilt hit her a few miles back, and she couldn't seem to shake it.
Leaving had been the right choice, or at least that's what she continued to try to convince herself of.
A few minutes later, the car pulled off the main road and into a parking lot before coming to a stop. Harper glanced out the window to the diner in front of them. It was small and somewhat rundown but several cars were parked before it.
"What are we doing here?" Her suspicions rose back to the top as Johnny reached to open the door.
"Getting food," he said matter-of-factly. "We have a long drive ahead of us."
"I'm not hungry," Harper lied. Her stomach growled at the mention of food as her last meal had been earlier that day. L
"Tough shit. I am," Johnny stated and got out of the car.
Harper rolled her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips as Johnny waved her over. She exited the car and crossed the parking lot to where he waited for her. The smell of French fries and burgers filled the air, adding to the hunger pangs. She followed him inside and looked around at the long and narrow dining area. Overused furniture littered the area. Red vinyl booths were scotch taped to hide the rips, and somewhat unstable Formica tables and chairs took up the middle of the room. Despite the appearance, there was something comforting about the vibes the diner gave.
Johnny patted his pockets, a frown growing on his face. "Shit. I left my wallet in the car."
"Maybe they take Apple Pay," Harper suggested but was met with a bewildered look.
"What? Apples aren't money," Johnny said with a shake of his head.
"No, it's…. Nevermind."
"Grab us a table. I'll be right back."
With Johnny gone, Harper looked around the half-full diner. The scent of the food smelled better than it did outside. Despite the delay, she was no longer angry at him for stopping for a bite to eat. Especially since she didn't know when her next meal would be.
"Sit wherever you like," a waitress said as she passed her with a fully stocked tray.
Several tables and booths were unoccupied, and Harper chose one near the back. She grabbed one of the menus and glanced through the sticky, laminated pages. Everything sounded good, but the prices were the deciding factor as they equaled almost or beyond what she had. Harper feared how she would survive on what little money she had but she did her best to push those thoughts away. It was a problem for later.
With the scraping of a chair, Johnny sat down across from her. "What are you getting?" He asked, already looking through the menu.
Harper shrugged. "Fries, I guess." She closed the menu and pushed it away from her.
"That's it?" He looked at her, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Not even a little sissy would be full with that crap. Get something that a real person would eat."
"I told you I'm not hungry," she lied, crossing her arms.
"That's bullshit," he said with a shake of his head as he pushed the menu back towards her. "It's on me. I don't have any apples, but I do have my wallet."
The corner of her mouth lifted slightly but she tried to maintain a neutral expression. She sighed and reopened the menu though her eyes still glanced at the prices first. Even if the meal was on him, she hated owing people and made a mental note to pay him back every cent.
"Ready to order?" The waitress asked, her pen poised above her notepad.
Johnny nodded towards Harper. "You first, kid."
With a sigh, she rechecked the menu before ordering.
Johnny nodded in approval before placing his order though he grumbled that they didn't serve beer.
The waitress wrote everything down and left them in awkward silence. The chatter of the other diners reached her ears, their ease of conversation making her relax. Harper propped her head on her hand and stared down at the worn-out table. She traced the dings and scrapes on the old tabletop as she tried to keep her mind from wandering. But her worries were constantly brought to the forefront no matter how hard she tried to suppress them.
"So, what's your plan once you get to San Diego?" Johnny asked, breaking through her thoughts.
Harper tore her attention from the table to him. She shrugged her reply, not having an answer to give. It was the first city she'd seen listed at the bus stop, and she figured it was as good a place as any.
"Do you know where you'll stay?"
"Not yet," she admitted.
"You're going to a city hours away and don't have a place to stay? Did you even think this through?" There was judgment in his tone as well as in his eyes.
"I'll figure something out," she said, trying to convince him as well as herself.
"That's your badass plan? You'll figure something out? It's a stupid plan, kid!"
Harper narrowed her eyes and looked away just as the waitress returned with their order. The few seconds were enough of a distraction from the conversation. She kept her eyes down as she started on her meal. She avoided looking at Johnny though she could feel his gaze on her.
"Why are you running away, Harper?"
Harper sighed and sat back in her seat. "Why do you care?"
Johnny took a sip of his drink. "Once you go down this path, there's no turning back."
"Then I guess it's too late," she said.
"What about Lucas and Olivia? Did you even think of them?"
Harper shrugged, moving the straw around in her drink. "They'll get over it."
"You're an idiot," he said.
Harper glared his way. "Well, it beats getting attached to some fairytale life only for it to turn into Grimm's version."
"Who cares what some idiot named Grin thinks?" He asked with a shake of his head before his expression softened. "Look, I don't want you to make the same mistake I did by walking away from something good."
It went without saying that he was talking about Robby. Harper didn't see how their situations were similar, considering that the Hudsons weren't her family, but she didn't say anything. She distracted herself by taking a bite of her food and chewed slowly.
"Look. Life's a bunch of shit, Harper. Just when everything seems to be falling into place, life lands a kick to your teeth and knocks you down. But you can't stay down. You have to stand back up and fight. Life won't show you any mercy so you can't show it mercy either. Or you'll never see the light of day again. You can't give up, kid. You have to keep fighting. You're a badass."
As much as Harper appreciated the pep talk, it was easier said than done. Life had been cruel to her from the moment she lost her mom. At first, she tried to be resilient and foolishly believed things would improve for her. That they had to. But after so many years of disappointment and so many terrible foster homes, Harper lost hope.
She belonged to the system, but the system didn't care about her.
After so many years of fighting, she was tired. Tired of being pulled in and out of homes. Tired of the idea of a good life only for it to fall apart. When Cole said he didn't want Harper around, she knew that it wouldn't end well for her. The gossip would soon reach Olivia and Lucas, and Harper would end up in another disastrous home or juvie if a home wasn't available. She knew it was time to take her life into her own hands. So she'd left.
"I've been fighting, okay? But it doesn't do anything." She moved the food around on the plate and then looked toward him. "I'm tired of being in the system. Of just being a check for some family to cash in on. Of not being wanted by any family I get placed with."
"So that's why you ran away," Johnny stated. "Did Lucas and Olivia say they don't want you anymore?"
Harper shook her head. "No. Not exactly. But…," she trailed off, leaving her words unfinished. "It doesn't matter."
"Fine," he said, dropping the topic. A few silent minutes went by before he spoke again. "Look, you don't have to talk to me if you don't want to. But I think Lucas deserves to know the truth." He looked towards the entrance and raised his hand in a small wave.
Harper glanced over her shoulder to see Lucas looking their way. Her mind spun as a wave of emotions filled her. With a glare, she turned back to Johnny. "You sold me out? I thought you were helping me."
"I am," he insisted. "But I never said I'd help you run away."
Her thoughts traveled a mile a minute as she thought about her options. But she was cornered. Trapped like an animal that would be sent back to the pound. Still, she had to try. "Fine. I can find my own way there. I don't need your help." She grabbed her backpack from the floor and stood up.
"Harper," He said, shaking his head. "Don't -"
"You lied to me! I knew I shouldn't have trusted you. You're a liar and a piece of -"
"Quiet!" He yelled, causing a few curious looks to be thrown their way. "Sit down," he said, kicking her chair out for her.
With a glare, Harper lowered herself back into the seat. "You're an ass."
Johnny didn't seem bothered by her anger toward him. "And you're reckless," he said just as Lucas made his way over.
"Thanks for calling," Lucas said, a look of relief washing over his face when he saw her.
"No problem," he said casually, opening his wallet.
Lucas stopped him from paying by gesturing for him to put his money away. "It's on me."
Johnny shrugged and then put his wallet back in his pocket. "I'll leave you two alone." He looked down at her sadly, but she averted his eyes.
Lucas sat down where Johnny had been sitting previously. A mixture of emotions showed on his face as he stared at her. Worry, relief, confusion, and anger. He looked tired, like the world's weight was on his shoulders. "What were you thinking? Liv and I were worried sick. We went to check on you and you were just gone. You packed up and left."
Harper shrugged in response as she nervously chewed her bottom lip, her nails digging themselves into her palms.
"Why did… You can't just run away like that, Harper," he said, leaning forward in his seat.
She avoided his stare and took in the diner to see if there was any chance she could run out, but it was too late.
"Hey. You have to talk to me. Help me understand what happened."
Reluctantly, she lifted her eyes but avoided eye contact. She tried to process her words and put her thoughts in order before she spoke. "I just - I didn't want to be told to leave. I thought that if I left on my own terms, it would be easier." She grimaced at the sound of her voice cracking, at the emotions that threatened to spill over at any moment.
A confused look crossed his face. "What are you talking about? Harper, we-we weren't going to tell you to leave. That thought never even crossed our minds."
Harper wanted to believe him but didn't want to let her guard down and risk getting hurt. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her eyes to his. "Look, I know how the system works, okay? When someone in the family doesn't want the foster kid anymore, chances are they get sent right back."
"Why would we send you back? You're not… Help me understand here."
"Because of Cole. And how everyone is talking about the trashy foster kid you took in." She watched him for a reaction, but he continued to look dumbfounded. "I just… I didn't want to cause any more trouble for your family. So, I thought it would be better if I weren't there."
He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. "Cole's a kid, Harper. And as Liv said earlier, we don't care what some idiots are saying about us. We took you in because we want you there."
Harper laughed humorously. "Why? Why do you even care?" She heard herself ask. As harsh as her words were, it was a question that had to be asked. She was grateful for all they'd done but wasn't prepared for this to last. Nothing in her life ever did. No one in her life cared for her without wanting something in return. There was always a catch and an ending, and she wanted to be prepared for it.
A quiet moment enveloped them amid the noisiness of the diner. The seriousness of the day's events weighed over them heavily.
"Because you're family," Lucas told her softly.
With a shaky breath, she blinked back the tears that obscured her vision. She didn't want to show just how much that meant to her or how much she wanted to be with them. To be included in their family.
"You need to learn to trust us, Harper. At least a little bit," he said. "To come to us if you have any doubts or problems."
But the thing about trust was that it was so easy to lose but incredibly difficult to earn. Difficult to give.
"I'll try," she said quietly with a nod.
"Good," he said with a small smile. "But you have to know how incredibly stupid and dangerous it was for you to run away. And hitchhike. I mean, if Johnny hadn't been there, I-I don't even want to think what would've happened to you."
"I'm sorry."
Lucas nodded to her apology though a trace of anger and worry remained in his eyes. "Come on. Let's get you home."
The pebbles crunched underneath Harper's shoes as she pushed the gate open to the Miyagi-Do Dojo. This was the first time she'd left the house since her attempt at running away just a few days ago. Robby has invited her but she'd been reluctant to say 'yes' considering how things went the last time. And she didn't want to seem too eager, afraid that it might make her look pathetic and end the friendship before it truly began.
In the end, she chose to risk it. As long as she anticipated the worst, she wouldn't feel too disappointed if things didn't work out.
Both Olivia and Lucas thought it was a good idea that she get out of the house. Surprisingly, they trusted her after everything she put them through. She wasn't proud of her actions, but Harper was still learning to trust and to be cared for. Both were alien to her but something she had to work on. She owed them that much.
Harper closed the gate behind her before making her way around the side of the house. She stepped into a spacious backyard that filled her with calmness. Her eyes wandered around the property from the green landscape to the pond near the back.
The sliding doors opened, and Sam exited the house followed by Robby. They laughed at whatever conversation took place between them, at ease in each other's company. Her smile faltered when she noticed Harper standing in the backyard. Robby smiled in her direction though he stole curious looks to see how this would play out.
Harper bit her bottom lip, unsure if she was even welcome here since their last encounter ended in a fight. But she knew she couldn't leave, not since she'd been spotted. Blowing out a breath, she decided it was best to get this over with. She reached them in just a couple of steps. "Hey," she said cautiously.
"Hi. What are you doing here?" Sam asked though there was no trace of anger on her face. Or in her voice.
"I invited her," Robby answered.
Sam looked over at him. "Oh."
Harper threw a curious look at Robby. A thought popped into her head, and she tilted her head. "Did you just parent-trap us?"
He shrugged, shaking his head. "I don't know what you mean."
"Robby," Sam said.
He put his hands up in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. Yeah, I did."
"Why?" Sam asked.
"So you two could stop being in this weird fight and go back to being friends. I know that something happened back at the beach club between you two," he explained.
Harper and Sam shared a look, though if their thoughts aligned was anyone's guess.
Robby pointed to an area of the dojo. "I'll just be over there while you two become friends again."
Sam shook her head in amusement. "Robby's right."
Harper blinked in surprise though she kept quiet, letting Sam do the talking.
"I'm sorry. You know, for what I said. I-I was just mad at Aisha and Tory. And then when my moms' wallet went missing…. I was only talking about Tory but I'm sorry if it sounded like I was judging you, too."
"Thanks," she said and paused, knowing she should say something more. "I guess I can get a bit defensive. I haven't exactly had the best experiences when it comes to people. Or friends. So I'm sorry that I overreacted."
"Think we can go back to being friends?" Sam asked.
Harper nodded, smiling. "Yeah, I'd like that."
Sam matched her smile, a look of relief passing across both of their faces.
Harper was more than ready to put their differences aside. Friendship was new territory for her, and she needed to work to put some of her walls down. And considering that she only had Sam and Robby as friends, she couldn't afford to lose either one of them.
Robby stopped beside them just then. "So," he started, looking from one to the other, "are you two friends again?"
Harper looked at Sam, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth before putting on a frown. "No, Robby, we're not."
"What did you think would happen? That you'd get us in one place together and suddenly we'd be friends? It's not gonna happen," Sam said, following Harper's lead.
Robby blinked and nervously looked at them. As if he couldn't believe his brilliant plan hadn't worked. "Oh. Uhm, I -"
"Just kidding," Harper said with a laugh. "We're friends again."
"But if you ever try that again, we'll both kick your butt," Sam said though she wore a smile.
"You guys are terrible," he said with a shake of his head but he looked relieved that they'd just been joking. And that whatever happened between the two of them was now over.
"This place is pretty cool," Harper commented while she let her eyes roam around the area some more.
"It belonged to Mr. Miyagi. He was my dad's sensei. He taught him everything to know about kata," Sam explained.
Harper nodded to her words as the dojo's name suddenly made sense to her. But before she could say anything more, they were joined by a teen who had an air of awkwardness about him.
"Hey, Demetri," Sam said, her greeting as cheerful as always. "This is Harper."
Demetri towered over them but his lankiness somehow made him appear smaller. He smiled down at her though he looked nervous and put a hand to the back of his neck. "Oh, hey."
"Hi," Harper said, happy that Miyagi-Do had gained a new member in the last couple of days.
"Ready for practice?" Robby asked.
Demetri shook his head right away. "Uh, actually, I don't think I'll be training today. Or ever," he answered quietly, looking away from them.
"What? Why?" Sam questioned, her face creased with worry.
Demetri sighed heavily as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Because I suck. I'm never going to get this."
"But it's only your fifth day," Sam reminded him.
"You won't get better if you quit now," Robby pointed out.
Demetri shrugged. "Easy for you to say. You guys are both natural. I'm just…awkward." Frowning, he walked away from them and plopped down on the porch steps.
"He's not exactly confident," Harper commented, looking curiously over at Demetri.
"You noticed?" Robby asked with a laugh.
"Just a little bit," she said.
"Alright! Let's gather around!" Mr. LaRusso stepped out of the house and stood at the front of the lawn. His smile widened at the sight of her. "Harper. Are you joining us?"
"Sorry, but I think I'll just watch. If that's okay."
Mr. LaRusso nodded though he looked disappointed. "Demetri, come on." He said, clapping his hands.
"What's the point, Mr. L?" He asked resignedly.
"Looks like we're back to just two," Mr. LaRusso said quietly while Sam and Robby took their place.
Harper joined Demetri on the steps and smiled at his awkwardness while focusing her attention on the training that was just beginning. Like the Valley Fest demonstration, the moves were methodical and simple.
"So why are you quitting?" Harper asked, catching him by surprise.
Eyes wide, he looked over at her as if the prospect of her talking to him was unimaginable. "I… it's just… you know, it's not for me."
Harper tilted her head to the side and studied him for a moment. "But you joined for a reason, didn't you?"
"Yeah, but I'm just not good at that." He gestured towards Robby and Sam, who executed the moves with precision. "I'm all limbs, and I'm not exactly the most coordinated."
"Got it," Harper said with a nod. "Instead of putting in the hard work, you're giving up."
Demetri frowned and stared down at the ground beneath his feet. His lack of an answer made Harper's comment valid. "I thought I could do this. I wanted to do it, but -"
"So do it," Harper said simply with a shrug.
"I tried. I-I was at Cobra Kai for a little bit, but I didn't like that we were taught to be bullies. So, I quit. I guess I wasn't badass enough for them." He looked towards her sheepishly, not missing the surprise on her face at the mention of the other dojo. "All I wanted was to defend myself from Cobra Kai after it turned my friends into alpha jerks who are literally making my life hell."
"Okay, wait. Your friends are bullying you?"
"My best friend is." He hid his frown with a shrug. His attempt at acting like this didn't bother him was futile though it was something that she understood. "Eli, Hawk, or whatever name he goes by now."
Harper wrinkled her nose at the information, surprised to hear who Demetri's best friend is. "Hawk's your best friend?"
"You know him?" Demetri asked, equally as surprised.
"Sort of. We met at Valley Fest," she explained.
"Sorry," Demetri said, earning him a smile from her.
"No offense, but I think you need better friends."
He let out a humorous laugh. "You're new here. I get that. So I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I'm not exactly Mr. Popular around here."
Harper narrowed her eyes at his self-criticism. About his willingness to accept defeat. "So change the narrative. Don't let other people define you." The irony of her words didn't get past her, and she shook her head before continuing. "Be who you want to be."
"I'm not sure if I can," he answered.
"Yeah, you can," Harper told him. "If your asshole friends did it, then you can, too. But minus the alpha jerk personality."
A genuine smile crossed his face as he nodded to her words. "Yeah, okay. I guess I can try. Though the probability of that happening is like negative one hundred percent. But I'll try."
"Good. And I'm also not letting you quit, so get up there and train."
His smile faded and was replaced with a look of horror as he glanced at the ongoing training. "What about you?"
"I'm just here to hang out with Sam and Robby." With that said, she gave him a nudge.
Reluctantly, Demetri stood and approached the duo, who smiled at his decision to join the training. Mr. LaRusso explained the current exercise, slowly showing him the movements.
Harper watched Demetri struggle with the lesson with a look of determination on his face. He didn't give up despite not being in sync with the others and taking longer to grasp the demonstrated moves. She knew that he had it in him. All he needed to succeed was a little push and some self-confidence. Or perhaps having someone believe in him.
As she observed the lesson, she was intrigued by the simple yet intricate moves that required a great deal of finesse. It was a type of karate she wasn't used to seeing, not that she had any knowledge of martial arts. It piqued her interest though she didn't envision herself ever doing karate. But it didn't mean she didn't appreciate it or its history. It was too bad that their demonstration had been cut short at Valley Fest and that people didn't get to witness more of the detailed moves for longer than a couple of minutes.
Before she knew it, Mr. LaRusso called the lesson's end. Harper stood and made her way over to her friends, who were in the midst of a conversation.
"You guys were great," she commented.
"Not all of us," Demetri said, absentmindedly kicking at a rock.
"You'll get there," Sam told him positively.
Demetri nodded though he didn't look convinced.
Harper shook her head at how little he believed in himself. She figured reminding him of that would likely deter him from trying. They could all lift his spirits but only Demetri controlled what he'd do.
She followed them to the front of the dojo now that practice was over. A few cars were parked in the gravel lot while a good handful were covered in sheets.
"So, uhm," Demetri started, clearing his throat. "I was thinking. If you guys have nothing better to do, maybe we can grab some food. I mean, it's cool if you can't. Or just don't want to, you know. I'm sure you guys have much better things to do than hanging out with me. But, if you don't, and you want to, then cool."
It took a moment for them to process Demetri's question. But Sam and Robby frowned, each shaking their heads 'no.'
"Sorry, today's just - I have a couple of things I need to do," Sam apologized.
"Maybe another day?" Robby suggested.
Demetri waved his hand, acting like all was okay. "Oh, yeah. Definitely. I just figured I'd ask. But no problem. I've got a ton of things I should be doing anyway."
They said their goodbyes to Sam and Robby, watching as they drove out of the lot.
"Alright, well, I guess I'll see you around. Maybe," Demetri said, taking a step toward his car.
"I thought we were hanging out?" Harper asked. Even though she promised the Hudsons she'd be home right after practice, she couldn't let Demetri feel as if he had no friends. And she found his awkward personality somewhat endearing.
Bemused, he looked down at her. "You want to hang out? With me?"
Harper rolled her eyes at his obliviousness. "Only if you still want to."
He averted her eyes. "You don't have to do me any favors, Harper."
"I'm not. I'm just hungry."
"Uh, y-yeah. Okay," Demetri agreed, a smile lighting up his face. "But are you sure you want to be seen in public with me? I mean, your public image will be ruined if you're seen associating with me. Just saying."
With narrowed eyes, she nodded. "Good thing I don't care what people think. Let's go," she said before pulling Demetri towards the car.
The restaurant was nestled in between several shops that made up the strip. It was fairly small compared to the other stores but appeared popular. The open windows allowed music and conversations to escape from inside and blend in with the noises of the streets. The area was busy with foot traffic as people walked in fervor, each with their own destination. The streets were jam-packed with cars that sped past them, most of which were oblivious to the speed limits.
"I hope this is okay," Demetri said shyly, watching her for a reaction. "I don't really go out that much, but, you know, I used to come here with my friends." He stuffed his hands into his pockets, shifting from one foot to the other. "Back when I had friends," he added quietly to himself.
"You have friends," Harper told him. She took in the restaurant again with its modern exterior but quaint feeling. "This is fine, trust me."
She didn't have much experience with eating out unless fast food places counted. McDonald's once felt like a luxury when she struggled to find food. Most foster homes didn't care if she went hungry and left her to her own devices. She hoped that hunger would be one of the things of her past, the worry of wondering where her next meal would be or if there would even be one.
As of late, she felt spoiled. With a roof over her head and food on the table, the means of surviving were a thing of the past.
But you almost screwed that up, too, she frowned.
Harper knew she was lucky that the Hudsons wanted her despite her attempt at running away. And that they hadn't notified her social worker. It would have ruined everything if CPS found out, possibly landing her in juvie. As little as the system cared, it was good at punishing foster kids and locking them up for the slightest infractions.
Demetri smiled though he still looked uneasy. His eyes flicked to her as if half expecting her to speed walk away from him. He stepped towards the door and pulled it open, allowing more of the inside noise to spill out.
Harper took a step but stopped at the sound of her phone ringing. Olivia. "I need to take this. Can you grab us a table?"
Demetri nodded as a frown tugged down the corners of his lips. "Uh, yeah. Okay."
"I'll catch up in a minute," she promised, trying to reassure him that she wasn't ditching him. It appeared as if his trust in others matched hers. With what he told her about his friends, she couldn't blame him.
Once he stepped inside, she answered the phone and hoped that Olivia wouldn't be too upset with her. Part of the new rules they set for her was to check in if plans changed. And Harper already managed to screw that up. Thankfully, Olivia was understanding and didn't give her too much grief for disappearing again.
She quickly filled her foster mom in on where she was, and after reassuring her that she would be home right after they ate, Olivia let her off the phone.
Shoving the phone into her pocket, Harper let out a sigh. She entered the too-loud restaurant, where the scent of food reached her immediately. A soft smile graced her face. Not just at the food but at the simple act of getting something to eat with a friend. Everyday things were cherished when her entire life was filled with nightmarish events. No matter how small or insignificant.
Her eyes scanned the entrance of the restaurant and quickly found Demetri in mid-conversation with someone.
Demetri spotted her quickly, a look of relief washing over his face. He looked toward the guy he was talking to before introducing them. "Oh, sorry. Miguel, this is -"
"Harper!" With a warm smile, Miguel pulled her into a hug that she hadn't been expecting. "What are you doing here?"
Harper returned the hug and matched his smile though she was surprised to see him. It was the first time that she'd seen him since moving in with the Hudsons. She was aware of how Miguel fit into her friends' lives and this karate war that continued between the two dojos. But, standing before her, he seemed like the same guy she'd bumped into just a few short months ago. "Oh, I'm actually staying here for a bit."
"Really? That's great," Miguel said.
Demetri looked from one to the other and shook his head, clearly thrown off at the two of them knowing each other. "Wait. How - You two know each other?"
Miguel nodded. "Yeah, we bumped into each other a few months ago."
"He kinda saved me from the world's worst cup of coffee," Harper explained.
Miguel chuckled at the memory. "It was pretty serious stuff," he said to Demetri. "I can't believe you're here! This is crazy."
"Yeah, I know. I didn't think I'd be sticking around," Harper admitted, thinking back to that uncertain time in her life. She'd been in such a bad place, both figuratively and literally. But so much had changed in just a few short months. Her life had turned around despite some bumps along the way. She ran a hand through her hair, smiling at the two boys before her. "So what about you two? How do you know each other?"
"From school. Miguel made the crucial mistake of sitting at the losers' table at lunch on his first day. So we had no choice but to be friends with him," Demetri said with a smile though it was shaky. Nervous.
"We?" Harper asked, though she had an idea of who the other person was.
"Hawk," Miguel explained, confirming her suspicions. He looked past them into the dining area, unaware of the frown on Demetri's face.
"Except he was just Eli then," he said sadly, kicking at the tiled floor.
"Better friends, remember?" Harper told him quietly with a soft smile.
Demetri nodded, forcing a smile onto his face.
"So, I'm here with some friends. We have room at the table if you want to sit with us. We can catch up some more," he suggested, his words directed at the both of them.
Harper threw a look at Demetri before nodding. "Uh, yeah."
"Sure. Why not?" Demetri agreed though he looked anything but happy with the idea.
But as they followed Miguel to the table, Demetri appeared more and more anxious. Raising an eyebrow, she nudged him gently. "You okay?" She asked, but he nodded numbly.
"Hey, look who I found," Miguel said happily, getting the attention of the three people that occupied the table.
Harper stopped mid-step at seeing who they would be sitting with. While she should've expected this, she was still surprised. "We don't have to sit here," she whispered.
Demetri stared at the table occupied by Hawk, Mitch, and some girl that Harper didn't recognize. "No. No, it's fine. I mean, we're in a restaurant. It won't be that bad. Right?"
Harper nodded though she looked unconvinced.
Miguel, however, was all smiles.
Demetri stuffed his hands into his pockets as he took in his former friends. "Uh, hey, Eli."
Hawk threw a look at Demetri. A flicker of a smile showed before it disappeared. "What's up?" He asked as a way of greeting.
"Guys, this is Harper," Miguel said, smiling at her.
Recognition dawned on both boys' faces, though only one looked angry.
"Yeah, we've met," Hawk said, noticeably surprised at seeing her.
Miguel blinked. "You did?"
"Unfortunately," Harper sighed before adding, "we bumped into each other at Valley Fest."
"Huh. Small world," Miguel said with a laugh.
The girl who sat next to Hawk smiled warmly at her. "Hey, I'm Hawk's girlfriend, Moon."
"Hey." She returned the smile despite feeling anything but happy about joining them. Maybe it wouldn't be terrible but she knew better than to hold out hope.
"Alright, move over," Miguel said as he sat beside Mitch, forcing the others to make room for them.
Demetri sat beside Miguel, leaving the only available spot beside Hawk. Reluctantly, she took her seat and tried to ease some of the anxiety that crept up in her. She'd had her fill of Cobra Kai over the last couple of days, and to be sitting with them now only made her wish she wasn't.
"How's your nose, Demetri?" Hawk asked with a knowing smile.
"It's, you know, fine. Better," he muttered, eyes downcast at the table.
Harper looked from one boy to the other. She sensed there was more to the story based on the matching smirk worn by Hawk and Mitch. "What happened to your nose?"
Mitch snickered at her question. "He ran into Sensei Kreese's fist."
Harper frowned as a wave of anger hit her. "Wait. He hit you?"
"Well, y-yeah. I mean, I guess I maybe kinda deserved it. I criticized his tattoo," Demetri answered, trying to appear as though it didn't bother him.
"That's not right, and you know that." Harper shook her head, having her fill of adults beating up on kids.
"I'm sure it was just an accident," Miguel spoke up, though he looked as if he didn't believe his own words.
Harper threw a look his way. "And, what, that makes it okay?"
Miguel shook his head to show that he agreed with her. "No, but it's just how Sensei Lawrence and Sensei Kreese teach. They're hard on us because they want us to be tough."
"So they're bullies teaching kids to be bullies," Harper stated in disbelief.
"They have to weed out the weaklings somehow. Those who can't handle training don't belong there, and Demetri just isn't Cobra Kai material," Hawk told her.
Harper narrowed her eyes before looking at Demetri, who shrunk in his seat. "No, I guess he's not."
Demetri widened his eyes in surprise at her words, a look of hurt crossing his face.
"He's better than Cobra Kai," she added, smiling softly at him.
Hawk and Mitch looked at each other before laughing. Finding her words hilarious, they threw incredulous looks at them.
"Right. Better," Mitch said sarcastically, sharing a look with Hawk.
Miguel shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with the conversation that was taking place. His eyes traveled from one to the other, clearly struggling with what to say. "Cobra Kai isn't for everyone. It's not a bad thing."
Hawk fixed him with a look. "Those who can't handle it are -"
"So, Harper, where are you from?" Moon asked, interrupting the conversation that was edging towards an argument.
Harper threw a grateful look her way though she wished the conversation wasn't about her. "Just… around." She played with the menu before her and lifted her eyes to see everyone watching her. Waiting for a more in-depth answer. "I was in Arleta for a little bit before moving here."
"What part of the Valley are you in?" Moon asked.
"Van Nuys," she answered.
"Is that where your new foster family is?" Miguel asked.
All eyes turned to Harper, various reactions across their faces: pity, curiosity, surprise. She sighed heavily, wishing Miguel hadn't brought this up, especially not around Hawk and Mitch. Though it wasn't a secret, it wasn't a topic she liked to bring up. People often used it against her, and she had no doubt they would do just that.
Demetri fixed her with a sad look. "You're a foster kid? I mean - Sorry, I'm just… surprised. I didn't know."
"It's not exactly something I like to talk about. But, yeah. I've been in the system since I was a kid," she told him before answering Miguel's question from earlier. "I'm staying with the Hudsons."
"Wait, you mean Coach Hudson?" Hawk asked to which she nodded, forgetting that Lucas taught at their school.
"I heard something about the Hudson's taking in some stray foster kid. Should've known it was you," Mitch said with a sneer. He looked around the table, waiting for some validation that never came.
"Come on, really?" Miguel asked, shaking his head at the comment. "Why are you being so mean?"
"Because he's still pissed off about what happened Valley Fest," Hawk answered for Mitch.
Mitch crossed his arms. "So what if I am?"
"What happened at Valley Fest?" Moon asked, her eyes round with interest.
An amused smile crossed Hawk's face before he said, "I had to stop Mitch from punching her."
"Are you serious?" Demetri asked, wide-eyed.
Harper snorted, rolling her eyes at Hawk's words. "I didn't need your help. I told you I had it handled."
"Was that before or after he pushed you?" Hawk questioned, leveling her with a glare which Harper returned.
Demetri listened to their banter with a curious look on his face.
"Okay, wait. Back up," Miguel interrupted. "You actually hit her?"
"You would, too, if she spilled a drink on you and then called you an ass."
Harper sighed heavily at the memory. "The drink was an accident," she said, emphasizing the last word. "And I never called you that. I just said you were acting like one."
"Yeah, right," Mitch said.
Harper tilted her head. "You know what? Maybe I was wrong. I'm thinking that you really just are an ass."
Mitch narrowed his eyes at her as the insult sunk in. He stood up quickly, his chair almost toppling over as he balled his hands into fists. "You -"
"Hey, don't do anything stupid. Just sit down," Miguel said, aware that people were looking their way.
Mitch gritted his teeth, a glare set in his eyes. "But I - You heard what she said!"
"Oh, we all heard," Demetri said with a grin that faded at the look Mitch threw his way.
"I mean, you kinda deserved that," Hawk told him. "Don't be a dumbass. Sit down."
Mitch stammered for a bit and shook his head. "You better watch your back, bitch," he muttered as he sat back down.
They watched Mitch for a few seconds, but he said nothing else. Harper felt satisfied with his reaction though deep down knew that she didn't stand a chance against him if they'd been alone. Her nails painfully dug into her palms as that thought stayed with her.
The tension died down now that Mitch sulked in his seat save for a dirty look he threw her way every few seconds.
"How'd you end up in the system?" Hawk asked without the snide tone that she expected to hear.
"Life just worked out that way." Harper wasn't willing to go into detail about her life. The little they knew about her, the better.
Mitch let out a laugh that held no humor. "Are you sure it's not because no one wanted you? Including your parents? I'm sure they couldn't wait to get rid of you."
"Don't say things like that," Moon said with a frown, throwing an apologetic look her way.
But Mitch ignored her, his glare set on Harper. "Why not? She's a foster kid. Nothing but a trashy piece of -"
"You really need to learn when to shut up, Assface," Hawk told him with a glare, interrupting whatever insult was about to be thrown Harper's way.
Mitch shut his mouth, blinking in surprise at being told to be quiet. At not getting the approval he thought he'd get. "It's not like I'm lying. Why are you defending her?"
Harper glanced at Hawk, wondering the same thing.
"I'm not. She can take care of herself," Hawk answered, throwing a quick look her way. Echoing the words she'd spoken that night. "I'm just tired of listening to you talk shit. So do us a favor and shut up."
The waitress stopped by their table just then and everyone scrambled for their menus, breaking the tense conversation. It took them a couple of minutes before they started to order one by one.
Though her appetite was long gone, Harper decided on something small. And cheap. She closed her menu and slid it toward the edge of the table.
Once the orders were placed, the waitress left them in a silence that slowly started to break. A conversation picked up that included everyone but Harper, who chose to stay quiet. Instead, she rested her head on her palm and listened to the simple topics that changed every few minutes. The tense conversation from before resembled nothing of the one taking place at that moment. Even Demetri, who'd been nervous, seemed to enjoy himself as he laughed at something Miguel said. She smiled softly at the scene before her. At the normality of it all.
Minutes went by in peace while normal teenagers talked about normal teenager stuff. Something that Harper wasn't familiar with though she hoped she would one day be. That one day, she would belong and wouldn't be the weird foster girl. Like all her wants, it was just a pipe dream. A nice thought, but that's all that it was.
Sometime in the next few minutes, Harper got pulled into a conversation with Demetri and Miguel. It felt nice to talk about nothing in particular with people her age. She could get used to this, and it scared her because she knew it could never last. This simple, ordinary life wasn't meant for her. Despite joking around, Harper heard those thoughts that danced around her mind. A constant reminder that it was all temporary.
She picked at the food, chewing slowly as she listened to them talk.
"So, do you think you'll go to West Valley High in the fall?" Moon asked, leaning on the table to look her way.
Harper took a sip of her drink before answering. "I'm not sure. It depends on how long I stay here." She glanced at Mitch, expecting him to comment about her life but he stayed quiet.
A worried look flickered across Demetri's face. "You think you'll have to move again?"
I hope not, she thought but didn't say it aloud. The last thing she wanted was to show how much she wanted to stay. Instead, she said, "I don't know. It's not really up to me, you know."
"You think your foster parents would get rid of you?" Miguel asked.
Harper shrugged. "No. I mean, I don't think so. But CPS could come and pull me out. It wouldn't be the first time."
"Why would they do that?" Moon asked with a frown.
"They don't really need a reason." She saw the confused looks on their faces but knew that she couldn't give them a real reason for why CPS does what they do.
"That's messed up," Hawk commented.
"It's just how the system works," Harper said with a shrug as she was used to the unfairness of it all. It was nothing new and not something that would change anytime soon.
"Hopefully, you'll stay here," Miguel said to which Demetri and Moon agreed. Even Hawk.
She smiled at them while silently wishing the same. Save for Mitch and maybe Hawk, she felt she could make friends here. It would be painful to say goodbye to them all if she had to leave, which was why she had always avoided friendships. It was easier to leave if she didn't have anyone to leave behind.
The rest of the meal continued with laughter and conversation. Despite how it started, it ended on a good note. Mitch left her alone, and Harper surprisingly had a good time. With the food finished and the bill paid, they all stood up from the table.
"This was fun," Moon said, a happy smile on her face as they exited the restaurant. The sun started to lower in the sky though there were still a few hours left of sunshine. "We should hang out again."
It took a moment for Harper to realize those words were directed at her. She returned the smile with a nod. "Uh, yeah. We should."
Moon clapped her hands happily. "Great!" Her eyes lit up as a thought popped into her head. "There's this new spa that opened up, and apparently, they have the best hemp smoothies. I've been dying to check it out! Maybe we can go one day."
"Uh-huh, sure," Harper answered though she had no intentions of ever going to a spa. She glanced at Demetri, who was in mid-conversation with Miguel and Hawk. "Hey, uhm, we should probably get going," she said once there was an opening in the conversation. She'd been out late enough and didn't want to push the Hudson's generosity anymore than she had.
"Oh, right. Yeah," Demetri agreed, then said bye to his friends. They made their way to the car in silence though he curiously looked her way every now and again. "So, uh, what was that back there?"
Harper tilted her head, not understanding the question. "What was what?"
"Between you and Eli. It seemed like -"
"It's nothing, trust me," she interrupted with a shake of her head. Before he could say anything else, she got in the car and closed the door on the conversation.
