AUTHORS NOTE: I tried to double space and it ended looking up strange and hard to focus on for me...not sure what i did wrong..if anyone has suggestions please feel free...hope you all can read it this way...i updated ch 5 and 6 because 5 was such a short chapter...hope you guys like it!

Chapter 6

Kristina glanced up at the dark grey sky that was threatening to erupt with rain. She was walking on her way to Kelly's when she ran into Johnny. "Hey what's up? How are things?" Johnny asked. "Good I guess. I will be so glad when the school year is done and I can be rid of that place for good. All I can think about is kiefer and all the mistakes I made." Johnny felt sympathetic for Kristina knowing she had been through so much. "It's almost done Kris and soon you'll be off to college doing all sorts of great things. High school long forgotton. Well atleast long gone." Kristina laughed. Every adult she had ever talked to said no matter how hard they tried they couldn't seem to forget high school not matter how much they had wanted too. "So what have you been up to lately? Staying out of trouble?" she teased. Johnny smirked. "yeah I try but you know…."

Suddenly the sky opened up and there was a downpour. Kristina squealed trying to pull her jacket over her head in an effort to protect herself. It was all for nothing though. They were both drenched. "Come on Kris. My car is over there. I'll drive you to your car." Johnny said gesturing to the black town car on the street. "I don't have it. I was going to get a coffee at Kelly's while I waited for my car. It's getting a tune up. Dammit!" she wailed stomping her feet in annoyance. The rain kept on heavily beating down around them. "This is ridiculous. You look like a drowned rat." Johnny laughed gleefully. Kristina narrowed her eyes at him. "Come on Kris. Why don't you come to my house and dry off while you wait for your car. Atleast you can warm up." Kristina looked toward kelly's and then towards the town car. Johnny was right. It would be much warmer at his house. Besides, this would give her a chance to get to know him better and if he was planning anything against her father she could find out about it. "Ok. Let's go."

Johnny and Kristina arrived at his penthouse beyond drenched but in good spirits. Laughing Kristina walked in behind Johnny and shivering. "Ok that was the worst. Can I use your bathroom and atleast somewhat dry off." Johnny laughed, shaking his head. "Like I said you look like a drowned rat. Come on I'll get you a change of clothes. I'll throw your clothes in the dryer if that's ok." Kristina's heart warmed at Johnny's kindness. She just wished her father could see what a truly good man Johnny was. Instead they let their hatred of each other cloud their judgement.

"Thanks. I appreciate it. It is getting a little cold being soaked like this." Johnny led her upstairs into his room. "I would lend you something of Olivias's but she left nothing behind when she left." He told her sadly. Kristina's heart broke for Johnny. She knew that he was dating Olivia Falconari, who was her newly found brother Dante's mother. It was still unbelievable to her that she even had another brother. "I didn't know you guys had broken up." She said quietly as he slipped into the master bathroom momentarily. "Yeah well…I guess my wanting revenge on Sonny was too much for her. Them being friends and all. They grew up together. I guess I can see where her loyalty lies." Kristina stared awkwardly around the room as he came out of the bathroom with a soft plush black robe. "Which is also why I don't understand what you are doing here. Why do you want to be my friend Kristina?" He looked at her intently. His eyes dark and intense eyes pierced her gaze. That was a hard question to answer. She didn't really know. She felt connected to Johnny somehow. Like maybe, just maybe, here was another person who understood her. Like her brother Michael and Ethan. Johnny didn't judge or coerce. Just listened when she talked. She liked to believe that under that tough exterior was just a guy that was like everyone else. "I- I don't know. I just do." She whispered. Johnny face broke into a grin. "Well then I guess that's good enough for me then." He handed Kristina the robe and turned towards the doorway. "I'll let you get dressed. Just bring down your clothes when you're done." Kristina nodded, saying nothing.

Kristina came downstairs with her clothes rolled up in a ball in one hand and part of the robe clutched in her other hand. This was Johnny's robe and he was much taller than she was. She came down to find him staring out the window near his balcony watching the storm. He was in dry clothes. She figured he must have spare clothes lying around in the guest rooms or the laundry room. He was wearing a white wife beater and a pair of of low slung dark blue jeans. She bit her lip thinking of the possibilities of what lay beneath those clothes. Johnny was a good looking guy but she couldn't help but to imagine it was Ethan at the window dressed the same way. Now that had her mind spinning with dirty happy thoughts.

"Johnny sorry to disturb you if you were in deep thought but I just needed to put these in your dryer. " Johnny turned to Kristina. "Oh don't worry about it Kris. I'll put them in for you." He started to head over before Kristina put her hand up to stop him. "Thanks but I want to. There is no way I want you touching my gitch and bra. I don't want you getting any ideas." She joked batting her eyelashes at him. Johnny's face was priceless. He turned bright red and instead guided her to the laundry room without saying a word. She couldn't believe how embarrassed he had gotten."Oh for god sakes Johnny they are just underwear!" she laughed. Johnny turned an even brighter red. "I –I know. It's just that its yours. Not some random girls. Your different." He bit out.

Kristina wasn't sure what to think of that. Seriously! How was she different? Kristina wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about his comment. Johnny as if sensing her annoyed glare turned to look at her. "Aww Kris don't be offended. I don't mean anything by it. Look you remind me of my sister Claudia. I know that she wasn't always easy to get along with but she had a heart of gold and just this intensity about her. You kinda remind of her. Which in turn would make you like my sister and I don't want to think about even touching my sister's underwear. Don't get offended." Kristina smiled. "I'm not. I know what went down with her and my dad was messed up. I know Claudia wasn't innocent by any means but neither was my father. I'm sorry about what happened to your sister Johnny. She was always nice to me. I know she felt sorry for what she did to Michael even though she tried to hide it. Secrets always come out in the end." Johnny nodded in agreement. His mind seemed elsewhere as she put the clothes in the dryer and turned them on.

They headed back into the living room and Kristina sat down while Johnny poured himself a drink. He looked at her again awkwardly not sure of what to say. "What?" Johnny thought a moment before responding. "I'm sorry Kristina. I wanted to ask if you wanted a drink but I am not even sure of what to offer you. All my friends and associates I offer alcohol. I know you aren't legal for that yet which I think is stupid since you are legally an adult according to the state of New York. Sorry I just don't know what to say." Kristina couldn't help but laugh but felt that his concern for her comfort was endearing. "Thanks Johnny. Don't worry about it. I drink wine at home. If you have a glass of that its fine. I never have more than one anyways." Johnny laughed. "Do I have wine? You're asking an Italian man if he has wine?" Kristina rolled her eyes. "Yeah laugh it up!" Johnny disappeared momentarily when she heard her phone going off indicating she had a text message. Curious , she got up to check and saw it was from Ethan. "Where are you? I thought you would be at kellys…"

Kristina wasn't sure of what to say. While her friendship with Johnny wasn't exactly secret, she didn't want a lot of people knowing. She didn't want her parents to know because her father would go nuclear. Kristina didn't want to lie either. "I am with a friend…." and then so Kristina didn't have to answer anything else she shut her phone off. She figured she could atleast think up an answer later. She felt guilty but it had to be done.

Johnny came back with a glass of wine and found Kristina sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under her hiding beneath the folds of his robe. "Here you go Kris. It's a red. I hope you like it." Kristina accepted the glass with thanks. "So How have you been? Sorry I never asked before the rain and all." She asked him. "Nah its ok. It's going. Things have been lonely admittedly but I try not to think about it." Kristina frowned thinking of how lonely things got for her. How Ethan denied that there was anything between them. She grabbed his hand holding it between her own. "I know how you feel. Sometimes it's frustrating to be lonely. "Johnny was no fool. He knew of kristina's crush on Ethan. "I know how you feel about Ethan Kristina. Trust me. My vendetta against your father is what lost me Olivia. It was my fault. You and Ethan are different. I think he is a fool to not give you a chance but I can't say I'm not relieved. I mean, he's a con man. You deserve better." Kristina scowled at Johnny. Her defences always went up when a bad word was said against him. "I don't care what job he does or what you do. I know you are both good men. Ethan is one of the most kindest sweetest men I have ever met. I don't care if he is older than me or has been to jail or what. That is all I need to know."

Johnny couldn't believe how much Ethan had lucked out in finding Kristina, even if Kristina had found him. She was gold. "Wow Kristina I hope Ethan knows what a great girl he has in you. If he ever hurts you I'll kill him myself." Kristina laughed in embarrassment. "Thanks. I think" They both laughed, enjoying each other's company. "Well I have to say I am excited for this summer. My parents are giving me a vacation to Europe for Graduation. It's going to be awesome. Have you ever been?" she asked. "Yeah I have been all over the world. My mother was really into all that cultural stuff. She made sure Claudia and I learned all about art and culture at a young age. My mother died when I was young but she made sure that my dad kept up with it. When she died he sent us to boarding school in Europe. It was a good experience if nothing else."

Kristina was fascinated at the life Johnny had lived but saddened at how much loss he had experienced. "I am sorry about your mom. I didn't know." Johnny shrugged. "It's ok. It's been years since it happened. I know what love is because of her. My father is a crazy bastard. I learned nothing but hate and greed and revenge from him. Claudia and I did have my mother though and luckily we learned what love is because of her. "

Kristina felt like crying for Johnny. As much as her father could be greedy, coldhearted and vindictive, he also had a big heart and showed great love to his children. He loved his children with everything and always strived to give them a life he never had. It made Kristina sad that his father obviously had not done the same. It turned out her father and Johnny weren't so different from each other. Too bad they would never know that about each other. "Well thanks for letting me come up here to dry off. It would have sucked waiting at Kelly's for my car and freezing to death inside. " Johnny shrugged as if it was no big deal. "Anytime. It's been good getting to know you Kristina. " and it was.