falling for 13 || Johnny Kavanagh

She's A Psycho

G R A C E

It was a typical Friday afternoon at the garage, and Seamus had disappeared into the office, leaving me and Katie to mind the front. The radio was on low, playing some old tunes, and the afternoon rush hadn't really kicked in yet. I was wiping down the counter, lost in my own thoughts when the bell above the door jingled. I glanced up out of habit, expecting it to be one of the usuals—maybe someone grabbing smokes or paying for petrol. But no, it wasn't just any customer.

It was Bella Wilkinson.

The air in the garage seemed to freeze, and my stomach instantly knotted. She walked in like she owned the place, head high. There was something about the way she moved—confident, almost predatory—that set my teeth on edge.

"Afternoon," Bella said, her voice dripping with false sweetness, eyes scanning the room before locking onto me.

Katie, standing beside me, immediately stiffened. She shot me a look, as if to say, you alright? I nodded subtly, forcing a neutral expression onto my face. I wasn't about to let Bella Wilkinson see that she got under my skin.

"What can I do for you?" I asked, keeping my voice steady and professional, even though my insides were squirming.

Bella didn't answer right away. Instead, she took her time strolling up to the counter, her eyes flicking up and down as if she was assessing everything from the oil-stained floor to the way I stood behind the till. Finally, she leaned one perfectly manicured hand on the counter, her lips curling into a slow smile that I didn't trust for a second.

"I need a pack of cigarettes," she said, her voice smooth. She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And... I wanted to have a little chat with you."

Katie tensed beside me, but I gave her a quick, don't-worry-I've-got-this glance. I wasn't sure if I did, but the last thing I needed was Katie getting involved in whatever the hell Bella the fucking psycho was about to start.

I grabbed the cigarettes from behind the counter, slapping them down in front of her. "There you go. Anything else?"

Bella didn't touch the cigarettes. She just stood there, staring at me with that same cold, calculating smile. "So," she started, her tone casual but with an edge, "how's Johnny these days? I assume you still talk at school. You know, since you're... friends."

The way she said friends made it clear that she didn't believe it for a second. I kept my face neutral, my voice even. "He's fine, as far as I know."

She laughed, but it wasn't a nice laugh. "Oh, come on, Grace. We both know you're not just 'as far as I know' when it comes to Johnny Kavanagh. So, what's the story? You two still playing that little 'will-they-won't-they' game?"

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to snap back. Bella was trying to rise me, and I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Bella leaned in slightly, lowering her voice, but it was still loud enough for Katie to hear. "You do know he's been seeing me, right? Off and on, sure, but it's been... serious enough. I just thought I should clarify things for you, in case you were confused."

I couldn't help the small, bitter laugh that escaped my lips. "Serious enough? Right. Is that what you tell yourself every time he ignores you for weeks on end?"

Bella's eyes narrowed, and for a second, I saw her mask slip. There was a flicker of anger behind those dark eyes, but she quickly smoothed it over. "Oh, Grace," she said, her tone dripping with condescension. "You really think you know him, don't you? Like he's going to come running to you every time he's done playing around. But here's the thing—you're nothing more than a pit stop to him. A backup."