falling for 13 || Johnny Kavanagh

Halloween night

G R A C E

The abandoned hotel in Ballylagin was packed with all kinds of young people, for the halloween sesh. Joey and Shannon agreed that they would cover for me so that I could go, plus I'm ninety percent sure Joey would be slipping out to see his girlfriend- at least that's what I think she was, Aoife. Mam was working, and Dad was at the pub as per usual, drinking whatever sorrows he had away, not that he had any.

As I stepped into the crowded hotel, the atmosphere was electric. Pumpkins carved with twisted smiles lined the bar, flickering candles casting eerie shadows across the walls. The faint sound of music pulsed through the air, blending with the laughter and chatter of my classmates, many of whom were dressed in elaborate costumes.

I pulled my black witch hat down low, trying to hide my nerves. This year, I had gone for a classic look—long black dress, a pointy hat, and enough eyeliner to make me look slightly intimidating. Or at least that was the plan. I glanced around the room, spotting Clara dressed as a sexy cat and Orlaith in a full-on witch get-up, complete with a broomstick. They were mingling with a group of boys from the year above, their laughter ringing out as they sipped on drinks.

"Grace! Over here!" Clara called, waving me over. I made my way through the throng of people, my heart racing as I scanned the room.

Orlaith laughed as I reached them. "You look like you mean business."

"Yeah, I figured I'd lean into the witchy vibe," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. My eyes wandered to the far side of the room, where I caught a glimpse of Johnny Kavanagh standing with his friends, his hair messy, dressed as a zombie with fake blood splattered across his white T-shirt.

Even from a distance, he looked effortlessly handsome, and I felt a flutter in my stomach despite the annoyance I had towards him. The tension between us since that kiss last year was high, and I had been doing my best to avoid him.

"Did you see Johnny?" Clara asked, following my gaze. "He looks ridiculous."

"Yeah, but in a good way," I replied, almost to myself.

"Whatever you say," Orlaith teased. "Don't tell me you still like him."

I shot her a warning look. "I don't like him. I hate him."

"Sure you do," Clara said, rolling her eyes. "Come on, let's grab some drinks."

***

As we made our way to the bar/ table in the centre of the hotel, the energy in the room shifted. The music became louder, and a group of boys from the year above took to the makeshift dance floor, showing off their ridiculous moves. I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head at their antics.

Just as I was about to grab a drink, I felt a presence behind me. I turned around to find Johnny standing there, looking slightly smug, with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Nice hat, Grace," he said, his voice teasing.

I rolled my eyes, trying to maintain my composure. "Thanks, Johnny. Nice blood. Did you get that from a horror film or did someone finally try and kill you?"

He laughed, stepping closer. "That's harsh, I don't think anyone would want to kill me, Gracie."

I was acutely aware of the distance between us, the tension hanging thick in the air. He was infuriating, yet part of me was drawn to him, a constant pull that I couldn't quite shake.

"Shouldn't you be off with Niamh or one of your other fans?" I shot back, crossing my arms defensively.

Johnny's expression shifted slightly, and for a moment, I thought I saw hurt flicker across his face before he masked it with a casual grin. "Nah, I wanted to see what the little witch was up to."