Sorry this has taken a while, but my teachers have just been PILING on the homework since my first GCSE is in January :/
Anyway, thank you to my reviewers: hellsingfan101, TeamCullenCovenForever and .Angel! I hope you guys like this chapter!
Chapter Twenty One
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Yes, Ant!" I said, laughing. "I am staying here!"
After the pizza incident, a moment that I would always remember and would stay very close to my heart, the rest of the week passed without any more exciting moments. But, hey, that was my life. Sometimes boring, and sometimes exciting and amazing and brilliant and...
I was exaggerating a little.
"Wow, that is...amazing."
"I know, right?"
Ant grinned as he squeezed my hand, which he had been holding since we turned the corner from my home. I grinned back.
"I'm glad you're staying," He told me. "I was gonna miss you when you went."
"Well now you don't have to! You've got to put up with me forever and ever and ever!" I said in a sing song voice, skipping like Dorothy from The Wizard Of Oz.
Ant laughed. "You're bonkers, Joey."
"Yeah, but you wouldn't have me any other way."
Ant rolled his eyes as he playfully tugged a strand of my hair, and then tucked it behind my ear. I couldn't help blushing.
"I love it when you blush." He said softly.
"Yeah, and only you and my grandma think that as well." I muttered.
"Does that put me in good company?"
I snorted. "Hell no."
Ant raised his eyebrow inquiringly. I shook my head.
"Don't ask. Seriously, just don't ask."
Ant grinned and then looked away. I also grinned and then yawned.
"Tired?"
"I had a...weird dream." I said with a shrug. It was true. It was weird.
"Wanna talk about it?" Ant asked softly. I froze. Did I wanna tell him? Frowning, I replayed my dream in my head.
I sat at the windowsill, carefully sewing as I softly sung to myself. Next to me was a cage, with two little birds sitting inside.
A knock at the door made me look up.
"Come in," I called softly, lowering my sewing. The door opened to reveal a tall man with grey hair and a beak-like nose. I smiled up at him.
"H-hello, sir." I greeted him, my voice wavering slightly.
"Hello, Johanna." He said, walking forwards.
The rest was just...ugh, I didn't like to think about it. It was not nice.
"No," I eventually said. "No, it's fine."
"Alright."
I grinned. "Thanks, Ant."
"So, you looking forwards to beginning school?"
I screwed my nose up. "Should I be?"
"Mmm...I dunno. It depends on the subjects you like, really."
"Art."
"Anything else?"
"No, not really. Oh, yeah, actually. I like Drama. Art and Drama." I said, nodding. Yeah, I liked Drama, on the stage.
"Cool. I reckon you'll be ok. Just, y'know, be yourself." He told me. I grimaced.
"Ant, if I was myself, it would not be good."
Ant laughed.
The movie afternoon was...fun. Fun and interesting. It included Moulin Rouge, popcorn and a lot of fizzy. It also included us getting very hyper while lounging about on the living room floor, surrounded by pillows and cushions.
And I kissed Ant again.
A lot.
And liked it.
Being the perfect gent he was, Ant insisted on walking me back home. Once again, we held hands, and we'd occasionally stop to just randomly kiss. It was quite cool, and a lot of people saw us.
"Who's that?" I asked for the millionth time as Ant waved at someone.
"Someone from school. He's in my Geography class." Ant explained.
"Oh, right. Do you want me to walk ahead of you so you can pretend you're not actually with me?"
"Why would I want to do that?"
"I dunno, cos that's what people do with me now." I said before I could stop myself.
"What?"
"Nothing." I said quickly.
"No, Joey, what do you mean?" Ant asked, stopping. I also stopped, gazing into his eyes with mild despair.
"It's nothing, Ant." I insisted, turning to carry on walking. Ant kept hold of my hand and tugged me back.
"Joey, me and you are together. I know it hasn't been long, but you've got to trust me." He said, his eyes boring into mine. I looked away, chewing my lower lip.
Hell, I would have to tell him eventually. Might as well get it over and done with.
"I'm ill," I admitted quietly. "As in...mentally ill."
Ant didn't answer. He simply stared at me, his brow furrowed slightly. I sighed.
"Look, if you want to end it, I'm fine. Just don't tell anyone, please. I don't want to start a new school with everyone knowing that I'm a freak."
"No."
I looked up at Ant. "What?"
"Of course I don't want end it, Joey," He said. "I honestly don't care or mind if you're ill. I...I want to be with you. I l-"
"Ok, I get it!" I interrupted him before he could the say the 'l' word. No way was he gonna say he loved me.
"Joey,"
"No, Ant! Please, let's go!" I insisted, pulling him along.
Ant and I walked along in silence for the rest of the way, and I didn't feel so happy as I did earlier. Damn, I hated boys sometimes. It just made me glad I didn't have a brother. Then again, a brother would be better than Grace.
"Ok, I'm here. Thanks for today, it was really fun. Bye." I babbled, turning to leave. Ant grabbed my hand and pulled me back, gently.
"Joey, I-"
"Ant, stop it!" I cried. "Please, I'm just not in the mood now." I added in a calmer tone before Dad and the calvary came rushing out.
Ant frowned and let go of my hand, his arm falling back to his side.
"Ok. Bye."
Without hugging me or kissing me, he just turned around and walked away.
"Ant!" I called. He turned back with a lot of reluctance.
"What?"
I stared at him in confusion. He had just turned into a typical teenage boy, something I knew he wasn't, as he asked that.
"Do you know what? Forget it!" I yelled, spinning around. Instead of walking through the shop, I simply carried on until I got to the small gate in the fence. Ignoring it, I clambered over the fence and then ran up the wooden steps.
"Oh, hello, love! How was it?" Mrs Lovett asked as I entered.
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"Joey, what-"
"I. Don't. Want. To. Talk." I snapped. Letting out an aggravated noise, I threw myself onto the barber's chair and curled my legs up, hugging my knees.
"Johanna."
I looked up, my eyes meeting Sweeney's.
"What?" I demanded.
"What happened? Did he hurt you?"
"No."
"Are you sure, love?" Mrs Lovett asked.
"Yes."
I watched as they exchanged glances, and then sighed.
Being a teenager sucked.