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

Chapter 9||Cereal silence

The next two days were absolute agony. Things were a bit awkward between us and I had the distinct feeling that Johnny was mad at me for not kissing him. Which made me angry, because I had my reasons, didn't I?

We didn't go out and we avoided my parents - and each other - as much as possible. I felt myself slip back into that depressing lull that I was in before Johnny came along, but it was somehow worse now because my only friend wasn't talking to me. We did share the bed though, that became part of our routine.

On the morning of the third day, I couldn't take it anymore. This was so much worse than him leaving - this was him staying and ignoring me. My heart ached.

Mom and Dad had both left early to go to work - as usual and we were left to cereal and silence. We washed the dishes, put them away and as soon as he started going back to the room, I called him back.

"Johnny, can you give me another karate lesson?"

He frowned at the random question and after a second shrugged as if to tell himself he was just going with the flow.

"Sure. Why not?" We rearranged the living room and took our places. He came to stand behind me, twisting my hips and moving my feet into the right stance.

Facing me again, we bowed.

I threw the first punch. He ducked, rolled and came up behind me. Turning, I threw my arm out. He caught me by the wrist and instead of punching me in the side, tickled me until I kicked his feet out from under him. My stomach ached from laughing as I fell down beside him and pretended to hit him in the stomach with my elbow.

He feigned getting hurt.

We reverted to our stances, bowed.

I came at him again, this time with a front sweep.

"I know you're mad at me."

"What?" He asked, shocked into a halt. I punched him in the stomach - thank heavens I was weak!

"After the other day...I can't take this awkward silence anymore. I feel like I need to explain..."

"No, no you don't. I can understand no for an answer, Billie. I'm not going to force you into feeling the same and I'm pretty sure I couldn't even if I tried."

He thought I didn't feel the same. The hell?

Next thing I knew my feet buckled beneath me and I lay on the floor, looking at the ceiling. "I can't believe you think that."

Somehow, my disbelief had turned into anger and I knew it wasn't fair, but damnit why couldn't he just stop making my heart flutter!?

I shoved myself up, standing on my tip-toes to look him in the eye. Despite the fact that he could kick my ass, I poked him in the chest - repeatedly - using each jab as an exclamation.

"I hated you when you were in that movie, okay? Everyone did. You were supposed to be an asshole. A bully. Then you show up at my door and I thought I had finally gone over the edge. That I'd made up someone to be friends with after everything."

He stood his ground, his mouth slightly open in shock, his eyes wide.

"Then I spend time with you and it turns out, you're not as much of an asshole as the cinematic universe has made you out to be. You're kind and funny and supportive, though these moments are rare and far in between." He had the audacity to snort at that.

"And for some reason, I find myself falling for you, the more time I spend with you. I didn't kiss you because I don't like you. I didn't kiss you because I do. It's already gonna be hard enough when you go back to your universe, but if I've kissed you, I know I'll never get over you. And you'll forget me when you go back, I know it. And you'll be trying to get Alli back and beat Larusso up and I'll be here, trying to pick up the pieces."

Wow, when had I become so dramatic? It did feel good to scream at him though.

"So, you like me, huh?"

Heat flooded my cheeks. "That's what you heard?! Forget it."

I turned to stalk off to my room, but I didn't get two steps in before his hand was around my arm.

"Let go."

"Never."

He pulled me close. "I wasn't mad because you wouldn't kiss me. I figured you had your reasons. Just wish you would've told me."

"It's embarrassing enough as is, thank you." I mumbled into his shirt.

"Makes sense, though. But I can promise you one thing: I will never be into Alli again, not unless she's you and we both know that could never happen."

It was my turn to snort.

"And, the only reason I seem nicer is because I spend so much time with you."

I pulled away and gave him a puzzled look.

"You make me a nicer person. You've ruined me, Billie Diaz."

Standing so close to him, all I could see were those eyes that were taking every inch of my face in. The laugh lines beside them. The small curve of a smile he always wore. And I thought, would it be so horrible to be in love with him? Would it be so bad to be left behind if I knew that he liked me too?

Next thing I knew, I was on my tiptoes again, reaching my arms around his neck. With our foreheads touching, he whispered, "What about being left behind?"

"Screw that." I whispered back and then I kissed him.