Epilogue
It had been two weeks since Johnny last spoke to Alli at her locker and he was starting to miss her. Every time they passed in the halls, Johnny tried to smile or say hi but Alli always looked the other way. While he had no idea what was going to happen with Alli, Johnny never wanted anything like this.
He could have just learned to deal with Alli's niner giddyness and things might have worked out. He also knew that he should have never lied about being a virgin. But Johnny had absolutely no idea how to have a relationship. His last girlfriend was when he was a year younger than Alli.
It was time, once again, to drop a note in someone's locker and pray that person reads it.
When the phone rang later that evening, Johnny answered it on the first ring.
"Hi," said a shy female voice on the other end.
"You called," said Johnny. "I guess you do trust me after all."
"I don't want to fight anymore," said Alli.
"Then come out with me Saturday,." Johnny said. "I promise to be a perfect gentleman and keep my hands to myself. And I promise to have you home by a respectable time," he added half jokingly. Alli giggled.
"Okay," she said.
The next day at school, Alli said hello to Johnny on the halls. Johnny smiled and said hello back.
"So you're back to diaper duty?" asked Bruce. Johnny shot him a look. Bruce backed off.
When school let out, Johnny heard someone call him as he walked out the front door. He turned around to see Alli standing there with Clare.
"See you tomorrow?" she asked.
"See you tomorrow," Johnny replied. As he walked away, he overheard Clare ask Alli if she was crazy. Alli told her to mind her own business.
The next day, Johnny picked Alli up at the end of her block and took her to the Break Room. He taught her how to play pool.
"You seem to have a knack for this," he told her.
"Really?" she said. "Do you think I'm good enough to beat you?"
"No," he replied, laughing. She playfully swatted his arm and then said she was hungry. Johnny ordered food for both of them.
"Gimme two Italian beef sandwiches, dipped, with provolone, please," he told the girl behind the counter. "And two large Cokes, please. Oh, and hot giardinera on the side."
"What's hot jardin..." Alli asked, struggling with the word giardinera.
"You'll see," said Johnny, smirking.
When the food was ready, Johnny carried it to a table and sat down. Alli sat across from him. She picked up the small plastic cup and looked at it. It just looked like vegetables.
"You put a little of that on your sandwich," he told her, which she did. She took a bite out of her sandwich and her eyes bugged out of her head. She put down her sandwich, picked up her soda and nearly finished the whole thing in one gulp. Johnny could not control his laughter.
"What's in this?" she asked. Johnny stopped laughing.
"Cauliflower, carrots, and hot peppers soaked in olive oil," he said.
"My God," said Alli, laughing. "And I thought red curry was hot."
"You can take that off your sandwich," Johnny told her, It was a good thing she didn't put the whole cup on there.
After they finished eating, they played some more pool. A couple of kids from Degrassi were there and they eyed Alli and Johnny curiously. Alli and Johnny barely noticed. They had fun chilling on a Saturday afternoon. It was so nice not to have to sneak around and worry about what other people thought.
They got some ice cream and sat down to eat it. Johnny suddenly got serious.
"You know, Backwoods," he said. "It's okay if you don't want to be my girlfriend. But I want you in my life. You're pretty cool." Alli smiled.
"Thanks," she said. "You're pretty cool too, but I think we're better off as friends."
"Fair enough," said Johnny with is trademark smirk. "I can do the friend thing."
When Johnny drove Alli home, they chatted nonstop, joked with each other and sang along with the radio. They both agreed that they would have to do this again some time but made no definite plans.
"You have my number," he said to her. "Call me if you ever want to talk, okay?" She nodded.
"Thanks Johnny," she said as she opened the car door. "I had a good time."
"Stay out of trouble. Backwoods," he teased. She rolled her eyes, shook her head and laughed. Then she got out of the car.
He watched her as she walked down the street and went into her house before driving home.
For everyone who managed to finish this book, I mean story, thanks for your patience. My next story won't be so sad or so long.
Tatyana
