NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: Chapter 18"Is he that innocent?
The weeks that followed the pool party were a whirlwind for Jack. The principal's warning kept him on edge, the threat of expulsion hanging over his head. He struggled to stay out of trouble, controlling his impulses and channeling his energy into training at home. The sandbags were his only confidants, silent witnesses to his frustration.
In moments of calm, he sought refuge on the terrace, where he would talk to Tory. She became an unlikely friend, with whom he could share his thoughts without fear of judgment. Tory, in turn, opened up more and more, revealing her weaknesses. The connection between them grew stronger with each conversation, creating a bond of complicity.
With Samantha, their friendship also evolved. She leaned on Jack, seeking comfort amidst the storm of gossip. Jack became her safe haven, the only one who saw her beyond appearances. Samantha's indirect hints about her feelings left him confused, but he couldn't deny the attraction he felt for her.
One day, while they were talking on the terrace, Samantha mentioned that several boys were hitting on her, but that she only had one in mind. Jack didn't take the hint.
— Who's the guy? — Jack asked, curious.
Samantha hesitated for a moment, blushing slightly.
— I can't tell you. — she replied, with a shy smile.
Jack shrugged, not wanting to pressure her. He wasn't good at reading signs and hints, and preferred people to be direct with him.
"Okay," he said with a gentle smile. "But if you need help getting rid of any of them, just call me."
Samantha laughed, shaking her head.
"Thank you, Jack," she said, with a grateful look. "But I think I can manage on my own."
The conversation changed course, and Samantha asked about Moon. Jack explained that he had been avoiding her because he didn't want to hurt her feelings. He wasn't interested in her, but he didn't want to be rude. Jack told her that he only got together with Moon that night because she had kind of forced the kiss on him, and that if he ran away from the kiss, what kind of man would he be? Samantha was surprised by Jack's naivety about relationships, but she was also intrigued by the idea that he wouldn't run away if she kissed him.
After talking to Samantha, Jack decided it was time to take the next step in his search for Johnny Lawrence. He remembered the ad he had seen on Miguel's Facebook and decided to look him up.
— Miguel, you train at Cobra Kai, right? — Jack asked, approaching Miguel in the hallway.
— Yes, why? — Miguel replied, surprised by the question.
— I wanted to know more about the dojo. — Jack said, with a curious look. — Can you take me there?
Miguel hesitated for a moment. He didn't know Jack very well. Jack hardly spoke to him and was very reserved when it came to talking. He usually only talked to Demitri and Eli, but he felt he could trust him.
— Sure, why not? — replied Miguel, with a smile. — We can go after class.
Jack nodded, grateful for the opportunity.
At the end of the class, Miguel took Jack to Cobra Kai. The dojo was a simple place, but it had an intense and intimidating atmosphere. Jack watched the students train, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension. He didn't know what to expect from his father, but he was determined to meet him.
Meanwhile, Samantha continued to think about Jack. She couldn't deny the attraction she felt for him, but she also didn't know how to deal with her feelings. She was confused and needed to vent this frustration in something...