A/N: Jason and Miguel's respective suspensions are over, which means that things are back to normal. The cafeteria fight happened earlier than it did in canon, which means that I'll be covering Christmas and New Year (in Season 1). And I've got some cool things planned. I'm about halfway done with this story and will hopefully be making it part of a series. Feel free to read and/or review if you haven't already. Any feedback or criticism is much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Karate Kid movies, Cobra Kai or anything else that I might reference.

Return

Miguel had ridden his bike from his apartment to West Valley High with his backpack on his back and a sports bag containing the Gi that Sensei had given him slung over his shoulders.

He got off his bike and locked it in the place where the bikes where before putting the key to the lock in his backpack.

"Hey! Miguel!" Miguel could hear a voice.

He looks up and sees Jason walking towards him.

Miguel gives Jason a high five. "Hey, Jason. So, how was the weekend?"

"Pretty good. Have you been looking forward to coming back to school? I know I have. It kind of got a bit boring training, doing schoolwork, watching TV and playing video games." Jason replies.

Miguel agrees. "Yeah. It's the first time that I've ever been suspended from school for anything. So, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I know that we saw the other Cobras and Sensei at training for the two weeks, but it just wasn't the same."

"I know what you mean. I was even starting to miss Counsellor Blatt." Jason says.

Miguel lets out a chuckle at that statement. "It was that bad? Really? I thought you'd be used to being suspended."

Well, yeah. I am. But…" Jason starts.

Miguel interjects. "You've made friends since you started being a student at West Valley High?"

"Exactly. And they're probably going to start wondering where we are. So, let's go." Jason answers.

Miguel nods. "That's a very good idea. Let's go."

They walk into West Valley High.

It's not long before they see the Cobras along with Sam, Demetri and some other students.

They walk towards the group.

When they get there, there are hugs and high fives all around.

Jason and Miguel even get pats on the back from some of the Cobras.

Eventually, the crowd disperses.

Jason and Claire walk over to his locker.

Which just leaves Miguel and Sam.

"Welcome back. It was kind of strange not seeing you in school for the two weeks you were suspended. Especially because you didn't do anything wrong." Sam breaks whatever silence had ensued.

Miguel smiles. "Thanks. So, did you miss me?"

"Of course. I know you had dinner at my house last week, but I still missed you." Sam replies.

Miguel is still smiling. "Thanks. This is the first time a girl has ever told me that she missed me. And I'm still kind of getting used to it."

"What was being suspended like?" Sam asks.

Miguel shrugs. "It was kind of boring. I didn't really do too much apart from having dinner with you and your family. And training. All the other students got Gis last week, by the way."

"Oh. Well, I'm sure that things will be more interesting now that your suspension is over." Sam says.

Miguel nods. "Yeah. Speaking of something interesting, there's a screening of Enter the Dragon at a drive-in movie theatre on Saturday."

"That sounds amazing. I don't think I've seen Enter the Dragon before." Sam replies.

Miguel smiles again. "Awesome."

"Well, I'd better get to homeroom. See you later." Sam turns around and walks off.

Miguel watches as Sam walks away.

He walks to homeroom and sits beside Jason.

Jason leans back in his chair. "So, how'd your talk with Sam go?"

"It went pretty well. We're going to see Enter the Dragon on Saturday. There's a drive in that's screening it." Miguel replies.

Jason grins. "Awesome. I might just take Claire to it."

"Cool." Miguel says.

Homeroom goes by relatively quickly after that.

Everybody goes to their next classes after homeroom.

Miguel watches as Jason and Claire talk for a bit before going their separate ways.

He gives them a nod before going to his next class.

Everything was going pretty great so far.

And the day was only just starting.

….

Jason almost couldn't believe that it was lunch already.

The day had gone by quicker than he had expected it to.

He walked into the cafeteria and saw Leonard waiting to get his lunch.

Jason gets into the queue behind him.

"So, how are you finding being back at school?" Leonard asks.

Jason shrugs. "It's pretty cool. I was kind of getting bored being stuck at home for the two weeks. Yeah, I was training at home and at the dojo as well as doing other stuff. But it just wasn't the same."

"Oh. What will happen if you get suspended a third time? Will you get expelled?" Leonard wonders.

Jason nods. "Probably. But I've got a family friend who could put in a good word for me. He'd probably be able to overturn an expulsion as well. If I ever needed it."

"Cool." Leonard says.

They get their lunch and walk over to the table where they usually sit. The other Cobras were sitting at different tables around the cafeteria.

Miguel, Claire, Aisha, Hawk, Sam and Demetri are sitting around the table.

There's a free spot near where Claire is sitting and there's a free spot near where Demetri is sitting.

Jason sits down next to Claire and Leonard sits down next to Demetri.

"I've probably said it already, and everyone else has probably said it too, but it's great to have you two back." Demetri says.

Miguel looks slightly embarrassed. "Thanks? I guess? We weren't gone that long. And we were always going to come back."

"We know." Demetri replies.

Miguel nods. "So, how have things been, anyway?"

"Things have been good. Kyler and his friends haven't tried anything since the fight because they're scared of you and Jason. I passed by Kyler in the hallway once and he scurried away. Which is something that hasn't happened before. Or ever." Demetri answers.

Miguel considers this statement. "So, what else is new?"

"Not too much." Demetri replies.

Leonard interrupts. "You know what would be cool? If someone threw a party before Christmas or something. And invited people besides just the Cobras, Sam and Demetri."

"I'm definitely considering throwing a party before Christmas. I'll invite the Cobras, Sam and Demetri to start with. Maybe you can invite some other people? Mainly because it would be pretty dull with just a couple of guests." Jason says.

Miguel leans forward in his chair slightly. "I've never actually been to a party. So, it would be nice to actually experience one."

"I haven't really been invited to parties either." Demetri points out.

Hawk nods. "Same. Jason doesn't have parents to worry about so he can throw a party. And he could call it the "Quiver Kickback" or something similar to that."

"That's a pretty good suggestion. I was going to call it something else, but "Quiver Kickback" fits." Jason replies.

Aisha nods. "That's a pretty good name for it."

They finish their lunch and are just about to go to their afternoon classes when Moon walks up to the group.

"Hey, Aisha. And Sam. There's something I've been meaning to say to you. Well, specifically Aisha…." Moon starts.

Aisha frowns. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to apologise. What Yasmine did was completely wrong. I shouldn't have just stood by and let her humiliate you like that. I might be a lot of things, but I'm not a bully." Moon replies.

Aisha nods. "I believe you."

"Does that mean you accept my apology?" Moon asks.

Aisha smiles. "It does."

"Great. I guess I'll see you around, then." Moon answers.

They watch as Moon walks away.

There isn't much to say, so they go off to their afternoon classes.

….

Miguel had gone to the dojo as soon as school was over.

By the time he got to the dojo and found somewhere to lock his bike, the other students had arrived.

He saw Jason's Dodge Viper parked in the same space Jason had parked it in, Claire's Volkswagen Beetle and Leonard's Mercedes Benz SLR. There were also other cars parked near the dojo, including Aisha's car.

Everybody looks on as Sensei's Pontiac Firebird pulls into an empty space.

Sensei gets out of the car and walks to the front door of the dojo before unlocking it.

Miguel and the other Cobra Kai students follow Sensei into the dojo.

They get changed into their gis.

"Diaz, Kreese. My office." Sensei calls out.

Miguel and Jason look at each other and nod. "Yes, Sensei."

They follow Sensei into his office.

Sensei sits down at his desk and takes out a Coors Banquet from the mini fridge.

Jason looks at Sensei. "You okay, Sensei?"

"I'm fine, Kreese. And I'm proud of you guys. You served out your suspensions like men and stepped up as assistant Senseis. Well, again in Kreese's case. Which is what leads me to why I called you two in here. There's something I've been meaning to give you." Sensei replies as he drinks his beer.

Miguel looks surprised. "What would that be, Sensei?"

"These." Sensei reaches down and puts two black belts on his desk.

Miguel's mouth opens. "Are you sure? Doesn't it normally take people months to get black belts?"

"I don't care what goes on in other dojos. If I say that you've earned them, then you've earned them." Sensei throws the empty Coors Banquet bottle in the trash.

Jason speaks up again. "Thanks for the black belts. But what about the others? Do they not get black belts, too?"

"They'll get black belts eventually. You guys were my first students, and you've really proven yourselves worthy. And I'm sure that the others will agree." Sensei answers.

Jason and Miguel untie the karate belts they had on and tied their black belts around their waists.

Miguel is about to give his white belt to Sensei. "I'm not sure if you want this. Seeing as you gave us black belts and everything."

"No, you can keep it. Besides, I didn't give that to you in the first place. At least, I don't think that I did." Sensei shakes his head for emphasis.

Miguel understands. "Cool. I guess that's it?"

"Yeah. I'll have another beer then I'll be right out. You're leading warmups today, Diaz." Sensei replies.

Miguel and Jason leave Sensei's office as Sensei takes another Coors Banquet out from the mini fridge in his office.

Jason looks at Miguel. "I didn't think we'd be black belts this early."

"Me neither. But it's pretty cool that we're black belts now. "Miguel replies.

Jason smiles. "I know, right?"

"Yeah. I think everybody else can hear us and can see that we're black belts, by the way." Miguel answers.

Jason looks around and sees the other Cobra Kai students looking at their black belts.

He smiles. "Don't worry, guys. You'll get black belts eventually. Sensei doesn't really believe in being like other dojos when it comes to that kind of stuff."

Different Cobra Kai students start talking at the same time.

At least until Sensei walks out of his office.

"Quiet! Everybody, line up! Diaz is leading warmups for today! And you'll be sparring after that!" Sensei yells.

Everybody lines up.

Miguel walks to the front of the room when everybody has finished lining up.

He notices that Sensei is hanging back and observing in relative silence.

Which is slightly unusual.

Miguel gets into a fighting stance. "Ready!"

He throws a couple of punches and watches as the other students follow his movements.

Miguel does a front kick and follows it up with a hook kick.

The other students do kicks afterwards.

Miguel throws a quick punch.

The other students follow him.

Miguel throws a roundhouse kick and watches as the other students do the same.

The warmup ends soon after that.

"Good work, everybody! You're really getting a hang of the moves. Which means that sparring is going to be more interesting." Sensei says.

Everybody is happy to hear that they've improved. Particularly the students who'd joined after the cafeteria fight.

Sparring goes by relatively quickly.

Sensei calls end to training when the different sparring bouts were done.

There is a lot of talking as the students disperse.

Miguel makes his way over to his bike after talking to the other students and getting his stuff.

He unlocks his bike and puts the lock in his backpack before putting his backpack on and getting on his bike.

Miguel couldn't wait to tell Mom and Yaya that he became a black belt.

And Sam.

Obviously.

….

It took a Coors Banquet for Johnny to work up the courage to go to Miguel's apartment. He brought his keys with him and kept them in the pocket of his jeans.

He knocked on the door of Miguel's apartment and waited.

Until Carmen opened the door.

"Hi, Johnny. Miggy's in his room…." Carmen starts.

Johnny nods. "No, that's okay. Actually, I kind of wanted to talk to you."

"Oh. Okay. Miggy said that you gave him and his friend, Jason, a black belt. And that it was different to what went on in other karate dojos." Carmen says.

Johnny smiles. "Yeah. Anyway, I was just wondering if you wanted to maybe have dinner and a couple of drinks with me on Saturday? That is, if you're not at work or don't have any other plans? Don't worry, I'm not going to drink and drive or anything like that. I'm not a complete idiot. We could get a cab or something."

"I don't have any plans on Saturday. Miggy's going to see a movie with his girlfriend and my mother is going to be socialising with some friends of hers. Dinner would be great, by the way. So, it's a date?" Carmen replies.

Johnny nods. "Fantastic. I'll probably be seeing you before then, though."

"Probably. Well, I'll see you tomorrow." Carmen says.

Johnny watches as Carmen closes the door behind her.

He almost has to resist the urge to let out a yell of triumph or celebrate.

So, he waits until he walks back to his apartment and gets back inside to let out a triumphant yell.

He grabs a Coors Banquet from the fridge and sits down in one of the chairs in his apartment.

Johnny doesn't turn on the TV.

Mainly because he wanted to be alone with his thoughts for the time being.