Getting off the bus, I pulled my bag onto my shoulder and crossed my arms feeling very self-conscious as I walked into school.
Passing Barbara and Susan, I walked over to my locker and opened it grabbing some of my books "Kat!" they both called in unison as they stood either side of me.
"Hey," I answered giving them a smile "We didn't think you'd be here," Susan stated giving me a smirk making me laugh "I don't really have a choice," I tell them as I close my locker and leaning against it.
"Have you seen my brother around?" I ask them noticing how their smiles drop, and eyes roll.
"I've seen him around with Ali," Barbara told me as Susan looked away in disgust "She's like totally deserted us for him, no offense" I just nodded with a chuckle.
"None taken" I assured them as Barbara links her arm with mine, "but now we have you" I just look between her and Barbara with a hesitant smile.
I open my mouth, but the sound of the bell cuts me off "Uh yeah I gotta go to class" I tell them as I turn and walk away to class "Kat?" I stopped and turned to see Johnny standing in the now deserted hall.
"Johnny..." I start but stop when Johnny walks closer to me "Did I do something wrong?" he asks quietly as if it wasn't his thing to ask those type of questions.
I shook my head and gripped my books tighter "No it's just... It's nothing. I'm sorry" I tell him leaning my forehead against his chest as he pulls me in closer and kisses my temple.
"Come on let's get to class," Johnny says as he puts his arm around my shoulder and leads me down the hall "Katherine Anne Larusso!" a shrill voice screams as we pass the principals office.
Johnny and I turn around rapidly to see my Mom and Daniel at the door of the principal's office; my Mom looked pissed.
"Do you have any idea how worried I've been over you" She screamed again looking like she was about to cry "Mrs. Larusso please..." Principal Louis spoke to my Mom quietly noticing the students starting to come out of their classrooms noticing the noise.
"Worried? You practically kicked me out; you told me not to come back" I recounted as Johnny tightened his grip on me as he stood tall by my side his glare solely on my brother.
Mom closed her eyes and sighed guiltily "Daniel told me what happened at the restaurant and he is getting punished for not telling me the truth," Ma said as if that solved everything.
"Well isn't he a hero" I shouted throwing my arms up in anger as I looked over at Daniel and hissed angrily "Golden boy again."
Johnny pulls me back protectively when my anger turns into sadness "Come on Kat" he murmurs as Mom glances over at Johnny confused "Who is he?".
I stepped towards my Mom and whispered "He was one of the only people who had my back last night, so you should be thanking him" I told her scathingly as I walked back to Johnny and grabbed his hand.
"Katherine please" Mom begged as I turned and looked at her emotionless trying not to show everyone my heart was breaking, I knew I was always second best in my Ma's eyes.
"Just be home tonight," she begged before she peered at Johnny again "Thank you" Johnny just nodded stoically as Daniel let out a snort of disbelief.
I glanced at my brother who had his arms crossed and his face all bruised up, but he wouldn't look me in the eye; he knew how much trouble he had got me into and that anything could have happened to me on the streets and yet he wouldn't even apologize to me.
"Let's go please" I whispered as Johnny glared at Daniel before looking back at me with his eyes softening "Sure" he muttered as he pulled me away from the two people who were supposed to care about me the most but were the ones causing me the most pain.
Pretending I didn't see eyes on me as I walked away, I looked up at Johnny "Sorry for running out on you" I told him truthfully, I didn't want to run from him but seeing his mother the fashion designer looking through my pipe dream I panicked.
We stopped at Johnny's locker, and I leaned against it as he put his bag inside and pulled out some books "So my Mom wants to meet you officially" I choked on air when Johnny told me that "Does it have anything to do with this morning?" I asked worriedly I didn't want Laura to dislike me.
"I don't think so" Johnny offered a shrug as he looked at me but still looked confused himself "she doesn't usually ask to meet my girlfriends." well that made me feel so much better.
"Oh great I'm just lucky," I tell him sarcastically rolling my eyes as we walk away from the lockers together "Don't sweat it, it'll be fine" Johnny comforts as he puts his arm around me glaring at the other guys staring at us.
I stopped next to my sewing class the room was practically empty, only the girls who were behind or had big projects had this class "So are you going to show me?" Johnny questions as he leans over me "Huh?" I ask as I find myself losing my train of thought when he was this close to me.
Johnny smirked at me knowingly but nodded to the class behind me "Uhh no... sorry" I told him as he looked at me confused "it's a.. surprise" I added hoping he wouldn't get annoyed at my secretiveness "Okay can't wait" he smiled showing me his white teeth.
"I totally can't see what's so bad about you" I laugh before remembering I shouldn't have told him that "What do you mean?" Johnny questions looking pissed "Nothing it was just something Daniel said," I told him offhandedly.
"So then tell me" Johnny half demanded but not in a malicious way "It's just that him, Ali and those guys we hung around with at the beach said some things about you but they were obviously wrong because I've seen how you and the guys are and you're definitely not assholes".
Johnny just nodded with a thoughtful look before smiling at me and pressing a kiss to my forehead "I gotta go but meet me at lunch okay?" Johnny called as he ran backward making me giggle at him.
Biting my lip I tried to stop myself, I wasn't a giggler, and I definitely didn't fall into love, but here I was blushing at a cute guy just because he gave me a dazzling smile and some attention.
I'm not even sure I knew what love is but if it was anything like I felt towards Johnny this quickly I knew it was going to be trouble.
Shaking my head, I walked into the class and into a smaller room behind the teacher's desk, Mrs. Hanson had kindly let me use it when I told her what my project was.
Pulling off the clean sheet covering my project I took out my drawing book and began to get to work.