Heartstrings | Johnny Lawrence x (y/n) | 1984 |

| 10 | Different

The country club was lively, the ballroom decorated with twinkling lights and polished marble floors. Everyone who was anyone in town was dressed to the nines, mingling and laughing as the band played soft jazz in the background. You stepped into the scene, turning heads immediately. You looked stunning, every detail of your outfit perfectly chosen to make an impression. Heads turned as you entered the room, exuding confidence and elegance. You were well aware of the whispers, and you could feel eyes following you as you made your way toward the main ballroom.

Johnny was there already, standing near the bar with his friends, looking every bit the part of the golden boy, with his blond hair slicked back and a cocky grin playing on his lips. But the moment he saw you, something in his demeanor softened. His eyes lingered on you, a small, genuine smile replacing his usual smirk. For a moment, it was as if the entire room had fallen away, leaving just the two of you, connected by an unspoken understanding.

But before he could make his way over to you, someone stepped in between — Ali Mills. She moved in close to Johnny, brushing her arm against his and smiling up at him with a flirtatious glint in her eyes. You felt your stomach twist in annoyance. Ali knew about you and Johnny, but it didn't seem to stop her from clinging to him every chance she got. She looked over her shoulder at you, and her eyes narrowed in a brief flash of jealousy. She knew you looked incredible tonight, and she wasn't happy about it.

Johnny, glancing over Ali's shoulder, mouthed "sorry" in your direction, trying to reassure you. But Ali wasn't about to let him go that easily. She leaned in, whispering something in his ear, her hand resting possessively on his arm. You clenched your fists, reminding yourself that Johnny was with you, not her, and that whatever she was trying to do, it was pointless.

Meanwhile, outside the ballroom, Daniel LaRusso had found his way into the country club. He wasn't supposed to be there, but he was determined to see Ali. He peered through the doorway, his gaze falling on Ali and Johnny as they stood close together, and a hint of jealousy crossed his face. Ali noticed him from across the room, but instead of acknowledging him, she turned her attention back to Johnny, almost as if she were using Daniel to provoke him.

Inside, Ali's persistence was starting to wear Johnny down. He looked uncomfortable, glancing over at you with an apologetic expression as she continued to cling to him. Finally, she managed to maneuver him onto the dance floor, pulling him closer as they began to sway to the music. You watched, trying to keep your composure, but your heart sank as you saw how close they were standing, her face just inches from his. She whispered something in his ear, laughing softly, and he forced a polite smile, trying not to look completely uninterested.

From his vantage point near the doorway, Daniel's expression shifted from jealousy to disappointment as he watched Ali with Johnny. He felt his heart sink, the reality of the situation setting in as he realized he was watching her drift away. Distracted, Daniel tripped over a waiter passing by, sending the tray of spaghetti flying through the air.

Back in the ballroom, you caught sight of Daniel just as he stumbled, and before you could react, the tray of spaghetti landed directly on him, staining his shirt and jacket with red sauce. A wave of shocked laughter rippled through the crowd, and Daniel's face turned red as he glanced at Ali, hoping for some sympathy. But instead, he caught sight of her leaning into Johnny, looking as if she were about to kiss him.

Ali, seizing the moment, leaned in and kissed Johnny's cheek, and to anyone watching, it could have easily looked like something more. You felt a surge of hurt and frustration. It looked like he was kissing her back, and you couldn't help the wave of anger that bubbled up within you. Johnny looked taken aback by the kiss, clearly uncomfortable, but before he could push her away, he caught sight of your expression.

Ali finally released him, looking smugly satisfied, as if she had won some invisible battle. But Johnny barely noticed her; his eyes were fixed on you, and he could see the anger in your gaze, the hurt that lingered just beneath the surface.

As you stood there, your emotions boiling beneath the surface, you felt betrayed. Even though Johnny hadn't actively reciprocated Ali's kiss, it still stung. The sight of them together, with her so close and laughing in his ear, left a bitter taste in your mouth. Your hands clenched at your sides, and before you could stop yourself, you turned on your heel and stormed off, your head held high, not wanting to give Ali the satisfaction of seeing your hurt.

Johnny's eyes widened as he saw you walk away. Realizing what you might have thought, he quickly pushed through the crowd after you, dodging waiters and guests as he called out your name. "(Y/N), wait!" His voice was pleading, and he didn't care who heard or saw.

He just needed you to stop.

You continued down the corridor, the echo of your heels hitting the polished floor. It felt as though the walls were closing in around you, each step away from him solidifying the hurt you felt. Before you could reach the exit, Johnny caught up to you, his hand wrapping around your arm gently. He turned you to face him, his eyes searching yours, desperate to explain.

"(Y/N), please, just hear me out," he said, his voice barely a whisper, laced with urgency. "It wasn't what it looked like."

You pulled your arm from his grasp, your eyes narrowed with anger and hurt. "It sure looked like something, Johnny. And you didn't exactly push her away, did you?" Your voice was shaky, and you hated that he could see how much this affected you.

Johnny opened his mouth to respond, his face showing a rare vulnerability. But before he could get a word out, the sound of laughter and footsteps filled the corridor. His parents, along with a few other family friends, rounded the corner, their expressions warm as they spotted the two of you.

"There you two are! We were just saying how lovely it would be to take a photo of you both," his mother said, oblivious to the tension hanging in the air.

Johnny shot you an apologetic glance, silently begging you to go along with it. Forcing a tight smile, you nodded and stepped closer to him, feeling his hand gently settle on your back as the photographer positioned you both. His touch was familiar, comforting even, but your heart still ached from what had just happened.

As the camera clicked, you kept your face composed, but your mind was racing. Here you were, standing beside Johnny, pretending that everything was fine when it felt like your world had just shifted. Johnny squeezed your hand, trying to silently convey that he wanted to explain, but you pulled your hand away the moment the picture was taken, still feeling the sting of betrayal.

The second his parents and their friends moved on, you took a step back, creating distance between you two. Johnny's face fell as he looked at you, pain evident in his eyes. "(Y/N), please... let me explain," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

But you shook your head, swallowing back tears. "I don't want to hear it, Johnny. I thought you were different." With that, you turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone in the empty corridor, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between you.

As you slipped out of the country club and into the cool night, the silence was deafening.