She sighed. "Hell if I know."
Johnny blinked, and she got up from the couch and started to pace. "Johnny, I really don't know. It's not a no, but…it's not a yes."
Johnny said, "Why do you put it like that?"
She looked at him, then looked away. "Because I feel different around you."
He looked at her curiously, and she said, "I feel…happier. Safer, if that makes any sense. I mean, we both know I can take care of myself, but having you there…it just gives me more. Does that make sense at all to you? Because I don't understand any of it…"
Johnny smiled and stood. "I understand perfectly. And the answer I think you're looking for…is yes." He looked into her eyes, and she started to breathe quicker. He got closer, but she quickly backed up, fear in her eyes, and she ran out of his house. "W-Flannery!"
Frank walked in and looked at Johnny, who sat on his couch despondently. "Uh…you alright?"
Johnny shook his head, and Frank sat next to him. "What is it?"
Johnny sighed. "Flannery ran out of here when I told her I think she might have crush of me."
Frank blinked. "Were you right?"
Johnny shrugged. "I don't know…she ran out before we could figure it out."
Frank was about to say something, but someone knocked, and Johnny went to answer it. He opened the door, and Flannery was standing there. "Oh, Flannery! Hi…"
She asked meekly, "May I come in?"
He gestured for her to come in, and she did so, saying, "Hey, Frank."
He grinned. "Hey, Flannery." He looked at his wrist. "Oh, look at the time! I gotta get home. See ya guys!" He bolted out the back door, and Johnny started to wonder just what kept Frank going. Besides fifty sodas…
Flannery sat on his couch, and he sat next to her. "So, Flannery…to what do I owe this visit?"
He noticed she was blushing slightly, and he said, "Nervous about something?"
She looked at him, blushing a little more, and nodded slightly. He chuckled. "Well, as part of the bet, I order you to tell me."
Her eyes widened, and she huffed, annoyed at the bet, which was still ongoing since the day was not finished yet. "Jerk…"
He grinned. "Aw, you know you like me."
"I do. And…I think like you like me."
He blinked, and she sighed angrily and leaned back on his couch. "I don't know! God, it's pissing me off…"
He chuckled, and she glared at him. "What."
He grinned and looked at her. "It's just funny to see you lose your composure. It's so rare."
She promptly punched him in the arm. "Ouch, Flannery!"
He rubbed his arm tenderly, and she huffed again, muttering, "That's what you get, jerk…"
He sighed. "You didn't have to punch me…"
She shot him a smirk. "Nope. But I wanted to."
He growled, then leapt on top of her as she cried out with an "Eep!"
They tussled for a few minutes, at the end of which Johnny was on top, pinning Flannery. He smirked and said, "Don't start something unless you can finish it."
She sighed. "Yeah, I figured…I just forgot you were that strong."
He shrugged. "Eh, no big deal."
"Uh, can you get off of me now?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry…" He quickly got off of her and helped her up, and he noticed her blushing slightly again. "Why exactly do you keep blushing?"
She looked at him, then kissed his cheek and ran out. He blinked, rubbing it gingerly, like he couldn't quite believe that had happened. He smiled softly. "Flannery…"