Cochlear | A Cobra Kai Fanfiction

27

In the hustle and bustle of the school's hallway, Jesse found herself being shoved backward, her back hitting her locker with a harsh slam, and a hiss left her mouth as her brother held her shoulder firmly. She glared over at him with the same eyes as her own as he bore daggers down at her.

"Where were you last night?"

"None of your business, asshole."

Kyler's lip lifted in distaste and his free hand pointed at her in a familiar manner of their father when he was upset. It shocked her just enough to have her breath catch in her throat, but she remained cold to keep her cool. "Listen, Bug. You didn't come home last night. Where the fuck were you?!"

"Like you care?" Jesse scoffed incredulously with a sneer and angry eyes. She shoved Kyler's hand off of her and slipped away from him already heading to her next block class with a brush stride. "Sorry you didn't get to torture me."

"Jay? Don't you walk away from me, Jay!"

Jesse made a show of turning around with a thin smile - walking backwards was a skill - and showcased herself turning off her implants, afterwards bringing her hand up to her dad and signing dramatically I can't hear you and ending with her favorite middle finger. As she walked backward into the class she spun around with a sigh, crashing into a human in her silent world.

She stuttered out an apology feeling embarrassed before looking up see a familiar sneering mohawk glaring down at her. His lips moved and she heard nothing, too busy focusing on the harsh beat of her heart. Jesse was starting to regret claiming that skill as her own.

She regretted her apology.

When she didn't answer, Hawk scoffed and his eyes flickered down to the shirt she was wearing, a contrast to what she normally wore and.. didn't she wear those jeans yesterday?

Jesse was a snob and just because she put on a nard facade doesn't mean her love for fashion changed - even Hawk knew she never wore the same thing twice in a row. It was a popular gloat for her and her shitty twin to boast about the clothes that they owned and could throat away at a moments notice. For a second he hated that he noticed her clothing and the fact that he recognized the shirt.

As the sick scowl turned worse, fingers snapped in her face and Jesse was quick to back up with a flinch away from the hand in fear of the hand. She could of sworn there was a small glimpse of... surprise? Regret? Fear? in Hawk's eyes but...

No. She was imagining it.

Jesse looked down at the floor and hurried herself to her seat, ignoring her old victim's attempt at getting her attention for the rest of the class period through various means of kicking her chair to throwing erasers at her head. It wasn't until her teacher was patting her desk for her attention that Jesse realized her hearing was off and her ears burned red.

Even though Demetri insisted, Jesse slept in her bed for the rest of the week and Kyler did nothing that she could tell. Even so, sleep did not come as soundly as it did when she was a wall away from Demetri. She never knew what would wait for her behind her door.

Come Saturday was the car wash for Miguel and Jesse excitedly dressed in her bathing suit top, stolen shirt, and jean shorts for the even to go pick up Demetri and a few other kids on the way. They were the first ones on the scene for set up and Demetri refused to look at the girl for longer than five seconds. At first it was easy for him, but over time Jesse had discarded her stolen Miyagi-Do shirt, leaving her in only the small fabric around her chest.

It was unfair.

"Why are you ignoring me?" Jesse signed to a cornered Demetri with her face looking both concerned and offended with a frown on her face. Demetri stuttered while looking over her head but Jesse knew the difference in the way his chin would tilt down to give her his full attention or the small slouch of shoulders to give the appearance of being not as that tall.