"Oh my God! So much of our early relationship makes so much more sense now!" I was saying. Jimmy and I were sitting in the student bar, having completely given up on the idea of class. "No wonder you hated me that Christmas!"

"I didn't hate you!" Jimmy reassured me. "I actually thought you were pretty cool. It's just... well... he liked you." His head dropped and he stared into his soda.

"I heard you guys arguing that night." I said, in a low voice. "I didn't want to seem like I was prying so I pretended I was still asleep but then you left the room and I couldn't make it out. Then, when I actually woke up in the morning, you guys just pretended nothing had happened and you were way nicer to me. I thought Tommy had yelled at you for being crappy to me. We never went round yours again though."

Jimmy continued his staring.

"He found out, didn't he." I said.

Jimmy nodded, ashamed.

"That's what you were arguing about! Did he find out you had a crush on him?"

Again, Jimmy nodded.

"I-... I almost... I almost kissed him." He practically whispered. "He pulled away from me (of course he did). I thought I'd wrecked our friendship so I ran. When he came after me, I shouted at him. Tried to push him away. But it didn't work. Tommy doesn't give up on anyone. Ever!" He chuckled. "Defeat does not exist. That was always Tommy's favourite part of the motto. And he never said anything. To the others I mean. And I don't want you to, either!" He suddenly looked up at me and stared me straight in the eye. "Not yet. I'm not ready. Dutch would probably murder me."

"Of course I wouldn't, Jimmy! C'mon. You know me better than that." I reassured him and clutched his hand for a moment. "Also, Dutch is still AWOL for now soooo..."

Jimmy shot me a look and I giggled.

There was silence for a few seconds.

"So..." I began, "do you still... well, you know... like Tommy?" I asked, possibly over-casually.

Jimmy actually chuckled at this.

"Nah. I was fifteen and was just figuring stuff out. Yeah, I was crushing on him but... Nah. That's over now. He only ever had eyes for you."

I felt a blush rise in my cheeks.

"So, who was the blond?" I asked, quickly, trying to keep it as casual and conversational as possible because, by the Gods, I was going to make this as easy for Jimmy as possible! Jimmy smiled like a lovestruck teenager and I couldn't help but grin. Love suited him.

"Chas." Jimmy answered, his eyes focussed somewhere I couldn't see. "We've been... well, together (kinda) for about a month. He's on the same course as me and we just got talking and..." He trailed off as he glanced up at me again.

But I was smiling fit to bust.

"That's so sweet, Jimmy!" I gushed, louder than was wanted.

"Ssh!" Jimmy hissed, but he was smiling too. "I mean... thanks. I'm actually glad someone else knows (keeping it a secret has been killin' me!) but keep it to yourself. For now. Okay?"

I nodded.

"Of course, Jimmy. You don't even have to ask! But, you know, when you're ready, it'll be nice to finally meet him."

"Yeah. It's just... Dutch." Jimmy muttered, lowly.

I had to agree with him on that one. Johnny would likely take all this in his stride and Bobby was a kind soul who probably wouldn't care. But Dutch didn't seem to be the most open-minded individual. But he wasn't around for now. Jimmy could have come out to the others. But, I supposed he didn't want Johnny or Bobby tripping up and letting it slip when Dutch eventually came back. All I could do was nod and clasp Jimmy's hand to reassure him as much as I could.

"Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me. But..." I ventured, "I suppose I could mention it to Tommy...?"

Jimmy's eyes snapped up to meet mine and he looked very serious.

"Yeah. But if you talk to him about the crush I had on him..!"

"Fuck no! Jesus, Jimmy! I'm not daft!" I cut him off, strongly. "I just meant, I could let him know that I know. You know? We could be your secret cheering section." I smiled, hoping I'd softened things. After a moment's contemplation, Jimmy smiled too, and nodded.

"Right." I said, subtly closing the conversation. "Well, I don't think there's much point me going back to class this period. And I suppose you've missed class too?"

Jimmy nodded.

"Eh, to hell with it. I think I'm going to go home. What about you? Going to track down Chas again?" I asked.

"Nah." Jimmy said. "I'm probably gonna go home too. I'll give you a lift?"

"That's the second offer of a lift I've had today." I giggled. "Yeah. That would be nice. Thank you."

"Second?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah. Would you believe Mike Barnes gave me a lift here!?"

"What!? Why!?"

"I don't know! I tried asking him but he just dodged the question every time. It was weird. He barely said anything to me the entire way here and then just drove off. I don't get it."

"Maybe he's trying to make friends?" Jimmy ventured.

"Well, yeah. That seems pretty obvious. But why though?" I said.

"Guilt?"

"Sure, but how does he expect me or Tommy to suddenly be all pally with him? He nearly beat Tommy senseless two years ago and he was in the car that hit him and Dutch. And now Dutch is missing. He's gotta know he's got a bad record with us. A lift to college isn't going to change that. And if Dutch ever does reappear, Mike better hope he's the faster runner! Dutch would kill him. He's got a lot of making up to do!" I rambled as Jimmy just sat, staring at me. "Would you trust him?" I asked Jimmy.

"No." Jimmy said, shortly. "If you wanna know what I think, he'd better stay the hell away. Guilty or not, he's caused enough trouble. He can't put a band aid over a fractured skull, know what I mean?"

I nodded. Jimmy did have a point. Still, maybe it was worth investigating further, under the Cobras' radar. Most of me was still pissed off at Mike for everything he'd done. I wouldn't soon forget what he'd done to Tommy! But some small, quiet, Mr. Miyagi-sounding voice in the back of my head urged me to dig a little deeper and try and find some sort of hidden good in the guy. Maybe I should consult Mr. Miyagi himself about this.

I traipsed in through the door of my apartment about half an hour later, and dumped my bag in the armchair near the door.

"Ow! Hey, watch it!" Cried a voice. I jumped and spun round. I'd dropped my bag straight in Johnny's lap as he sat, reading. After I'd recovered from the shock, I laughed, shucked off my jacket and threw that on him too.

Johnny snorted.

"Gee, thanks." He smiled and lifted my paraphernalia off himself and dumped it on the floor while I crossed the room to the kitchen area for a drink.

"You're home early." I remarked, necking a glass of water.

"It's Thursday. No afternoon class, remember?" Johnny retorted.

"Is it Thursday!? Wow... I keep forgetting what day it is lately. After all the time at the hospital, all the days just seem to merge into one." I said, taken aback as I stared, absently, out of the window. The sun was already going down, throwing a deep gold light over the surrounding buildings, set against some contrastingly moody, dark grey clouds. I loved this time of day, especially in the Winter. Then I remembered. "Ah shit! I meant to go back to the hospital after college!" I exclaimed, setting my glass down with an unintentionally loud bang. "Something came up and I forgot!" I hissed expletives at myself and dropped down onto the sofa, running a hand through my signature crop, inwardly kicking myself.

"Tommy would forgive you." Johnny said, quietly, not looking up from his book.

There was something in the way Johnny had said it that made me look up at him. It had sounded slightly sarcastic or even stand-offish but maybe I'd imagined it? I shouldn't ask. It wound Johnny up whenever I "acted paranoid".

I shouldn't ask.

I shouldn't!

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, snippily.

Johnny raised his head, his eyes meeting mine and his expression immediately became one of mild confusion.

"What do I mean by what?"

"What you said."

"I said Tommy would forgive you. You know, like always." Johnny said, a picture of innocence.

"It wasn't what you said, Johnny. It was the way you said it." I countered.

"I didn't say it like anything!"

Johnny's voice was starting to rise, the pressure building.

"Why do you always do that?" I asked, frustrated. "You say something with some sarcastic tone, then act like you didn't. It drives me nuts."

"Like it doesn't piss me off when you interrogate me about it?!" Johnny snarled. He threw his book down and grabbed the chair arms, about to lift himself out of his seat.

"No! ...No, Johnny. Don't. Just... stay sitting down. I'm sorry." I said, softly, backing down, quickly. I didn't have the strength to fight today. Not today. And not Johnny. I stepped forwards and stroked Johnny's shoulder, wordlessly begging forgiveness. Johnny was still tense for a moment or two but, eventually, he put out a hand and rubbed my arm, accepting my apology, grudgingly.

"Don't worry about it." He muttered.

I sighed, despairingly. Stupid little arguments seemed to start so easily these days.