My semi-fictional boyfriend - Young Johnny Lawrence (The Karate Kid)

Chapter 5||Leisure

Johnny Lawrence was by no means the perfect gentleman. He snored and snorted and mocked, but he knew how to have a good time. That following morning, we went to the lagoon as promised. The sun was glinting through the water, illuminating it from inside. We sat on the rocks beside the glinting wetness and talked for hours, eventually I shoved him in.

How could I not?

He glared up at me. "I'll get you for that, Sunshine."

"Ooh, I'm so scared." I laughed.

Five minutes hadn't passed before I was in the water, too. He kept his arms wrapped around my middle to keep me from drowning. It wasn't that I couldn't swim, it was more that I panicked when I was suddenly underwater. He understood, though not seeming to mind all the weaknesses that I had.

I felt my cheeks begin to burn despite the cold water as his hand lingered on my stomach.

"You can let go now, I think."

"You trying to get away from me, Sunshine?" He laughed in my ear, making goosebumps raise along my skin.

"Just don't want you to carry all my weight." I whispered, trying (and failing) to sound mocking.

He leaned back, letting me lean against his chest and leisurely paddled us back to shore. Helping me out first, he crawled out onto the rock and lay back beside me.

"This place is great." He remarked as I tried to calm my stupid, traitorous heart. This was Johnny Lawrence, for heaven's sake! He shouldn't have this effect on me.

"Yeah." Damnit, now I was mumbling.

We wandered back to the parking lot behind the lagoon, throwing down a blanket Johnny stole from my room on the warm pavement. Together, we had chosen cheap snacks from the store - chips, Coca-Cola and energy bars. It wasn't a gourmet feast, but I didn't mind. I had forgotten how much fun it was to be outside the house on summer break.

Johnny didn't seem to mind, either as he chewed obnoxiously loud on a hand-full of chips.

"You okay? You're awfully quiet."

"Yeah, I'm good." I stretched the good out to an awkward extent, then snapped my mouth shut. What the hell was going on with me?

He gave me an odd look, but let it go. "You come here often?"

"Nah, ever since Aaron and Simon stopped hanging out with me, I stopped going outside to be honest."

"That sucks, it's really beautiful out here." His eyes roamed over my face as he said it.

My heart hammered against my ribs. "Yeah, I guess it is."

"This would make a great spot for a date."

"Wouldn't know."

"You've never been on a date?" His voice was disbelieving.

"Surprised, Lawrence?"

He snorted. "Bummed out." He got this sparkle in his eye. "Is there anywhere you can dance in this town?"

"Uhm, sure. There's an old-fashioned dance club down on Park Avenue, I think. Why?"

"Because, Billie Diaz, I'm taking you on a date tonight."

I couldn't help bursting out in laughter. Surely, he must've been joking.

"What's so funny?"

"You can't be serious."

"As a heart-attack actually. What? You afraid you might fall in love with me Diaz?"

My laughter was a little more forced this time. "In your dreams, Lawrence."

"That settles it, then. We're going. And before you say something, like 'I don't have anything to wear', remember that you'll look good in whatever."

He seemed just as surprised as me at that last comment. Was that a compliment?

We packed up and headed home just after that.

Mom and Dad both had shifts that ran late, so neither was home to see me get dressed for some dance club. I borrowed some of Dad's old clothes that he doesn't wear anymore for Johnny and let him get dressed in the bathroom, while I got ready in my room.

Deciding that I actually wanted to look good, I chose the dark blue dress that Mom bought me last Christmas. It stopped a few fingers above my knees, flaring out a little. The sleeves were shoulder-width and made of gauze, only touching my neck and the tips of my shoulders. I couldn't help but wonder how it would look when I spun around. Eyeing my shoes I settled on silver flats. If I was going to fall on my face, I didn't want to twist my ankle doing it. I left my curls loose, letting them fall to my shoulders. Even though I knew nothing of make-up, I applied some mascara and lip gloss and decided less is more when I spotted the torture devices at the bottom of Mom's make-up bag. Giving myself a once-over in the mirror, I decided I looked okay at least.

Quietly, though I didn't know why, I slipped out into the livingroom. Johnny was just adjusting the sleeves of Dad's jacket, folding them up to his elbows and mumbling something about women taking forever to finish up. He turned when he heard me clear my throat and his jaw kind of dropped. It was subtle, but I saw it.

"Worth it." He mumbled under his breath. He looked good in Dad's clothes, like they were his. The black shirt I gave him, clung to his lean frame and the blue jacket made his eyes pop. He was actually attractive, I thought before snapping that thought in half and throwing it away.

Johnny was making his own assessment, his eyes moving from my face to my feet and back again. He gave an appreciative whistle that made my ears glow.

"You clean up nicely, Diaz."

I rolled my eyes. "Gee, thanks. You don't look half-bad yourself, Lawrence."

He offered me his arm and a soft grin and we walked to the club together.