They'd told her. Tee had shouted it out and it was too late to take it back. 'Johnny loves Carmen!' were the words that got to hi most. He hadn't wanted to realize it, he hadn't wanted to admit to it, and he hadn't wanted to know.
Elektra, Lily, Jody and Tyler were laughing. Tee looked guilty. Faith, Frank and Rick looked sympathetic. Mo, Harry and Floss were just kind of sitting there, unsure of what to say or do. But Carmen wasn't doing any of those things.
She had a gentle expression on her face and her eyes were soft. She was going to reject him, Johnny knew it.
"You don't have to say anything." Johnny mumbled, and he turned and ran out, heading to the garden.
Carmen glared at Lily and Jody, who were the only ones still laughing. "You're so stupid!" she shouted at them. "He's in love, and it's not with either of you, get the fuck over it." And with that, she went to find Johnny.
He was sitting on the dusty armchairs at the end of the garden, glaring at the floor and yet it wasn't exactly angrily. He was annoyed, sure, but more embarrassed and upset than anything. Carmen was beautiful, strong, funny and brave. He didn't deserve her, and she deserved better. But what he didn't realize was the only person she wanted was him.
Johnny was attractive, smart, protective and genuine. He'd protect her from things she needed protecting from and he really cared. Sure, he could be a bit bossy, but that was only to Tee because he didn't want her to turn out like their mother had. Plus, when Carmen had first arrived, Johnny had been her best friend.
They'd gone to the park together, eaten ice cream together…you name it. But then they were separated by Lily, who dragged Carmen off and made her all pink and girly. Now, Carmen and Johnny were both growing up, and they had both realized their true feelings for each other.
Tee had known right from the beginning, but her being mad at Johnny was the only thing that caused her to shout it out. Carmen wasn't going to reject him; she was touched that she, of all people, was the one Johnny Taylor loved. She was determined to prove to him that the feeling was mutual.
It didn't take her long to find him; it never did. She sat beside him and intertwined their hands. For a long while, they just sat there, with her head on his shoulder and one of his arms round her, while the other kept their fingers intertwined.
"I love you, Carmen. I really do." Johnny said.
"I love you, too, stupid." Carmen said, leaning up and kissing him, softly, sweetly. It lasted around 20 seconds and then they broke apart. She leaned her head on his shoulder again.
"Will you…" Johnny began.
"Be your girlfriend?" Carmen finished. "Of course I will."
Many people think that in care homes, there's no such thing as friendship or family or love. But these two were just one of the many examples that people are so wrong. Because sure, maybe some people wouldn't like the way this had turned out, and heavens, I know that's true.
But love really does conquer all.