Choosing 13 | Johnny Kavanagh

chapter nineteen

Johnny

Waking up to Ollie jumping on my bed, I groan and rub my head, "Ollie, it's too early for this!" I grumble, waving him off lazily.
He jumps harder, "Dellie said to wake you up!" He tries to drag me off the bed but I'm a lot bigger than him so I don't budge.
I half opened my eyes to see him bouncing up and down, "why?" I ask.

"You're driving us to school," Shan informs me, coming into my bathroom and stealing a tube of toothpaste.
"What about Joey?" I ask her.
Shan lets out an annoyed sigh, "went with Podge." She says before she leaves.
'Course he fucking did.

I turn on my back and swing my legs over the bed to sit up. "You okay?" Ollie asks me, standing to the side of me.
The memory of last night pop up in my mind. Drinking with the guys, talking to girls, laughing, Lilie helping her friends, hearing her in the bathroom, she telling me to go away. Punching a fucking prick for her, our "fight" that was a fight because we are not "just" friends.

And she knows it.
Lilie fucking Grayson.
I still haven't forgotten her face when the fight ended and she just stood there and stared at me, like she was speechless.
I kept an eye on her all night last night, watched her with that lad who is clearly interested in her.
I was annoyed, but we're just friends.
I hadn't went over to them because we're just friends.

Just friends...
I know she's going through a lot but I want her to talk to me, damnit!
I take a little breath before saying, "yeah." I glance at the digital clock on the bedside table.
7:30.

I walk to the bathroom to take my morning shower but I take longer than usual this morning, the warm water helping me to relax.
I changed into my Tommen uniform, but getting my school jumper from my closet and sling my bag on my back before walking out into the hallway. "Bus' leaving in ten!" I call out to the others.
Walking down the stairs, I walk into the kitchen to grab one of the pancakes that Mum had made and spread Nutella on it. Eating breakfast, Taghd comes in the kitchen and does the same.

He speaks, making me snap out of a daydream. "What's up with your face?" He spare me a glance.
I finish my pancake, "what do you mean, Tagh?"
He rolls his eyes, "your face... it's not your usual happy one?" He waves a hand in front of me.
I bat his hand away, "people have bad days," I shrug stiffly, a little annoyed by that comment.
Taghd nods slowly, a hint of a sarcastic smirk on his face. "Is it girl problems?" he asks casually.
I raise a brow at him, "how would you know about girl problems?" I chuckle breathlessly.

He shrugs again, "I get all the ladies in my year?" He says matter-of-factly.
I laugh at his confidence, I wouldn't be surprised if he did. The other two come down to eat a pancake and we're off to school.

****

It's my fifth year at Tommen and the chaos has been something that I couldn't get used to. It's an actual shock every single morning without fail.
Claire waves us over so Shan and I walk to our group, "Taghd!" I shout over to him just before he goes off with his group of lads.
He turns around, walking backwards, and nods to me, "what?" He groans.

"Text one of us if you don't need a ride," I say, knowing Joey's car is at the house.
"I will, don't get your fucking knickers in a twist," he retorts, throwing a thumbs up. "I'll get Jace's dad to his then I'll be home." He walks off.
"Kid's got balls to shout that across the room," Gibsie laughs, slinging his arm around my neck as we walk to class.
I snort, "he was talking about girls this morning."

"He's growing up so fast," Shannon sighs, shaking her head with a smile.
Claire nods in agreement, "I swear I saw him chatting up a second year at lunch," she tells us with wide eyes.
Shannon hits her arms lightly, still smiling.
I look around the hallway, "Where's Hughie and Feely?" I ask.