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

| 23 | Familar Faces

It was the day after the tournament, and whispers filled the school hallways. Everyone was buzzing about Johnny getting second place — it was unexpected, but they still regarded him with respect. He might not have taken home the trophy, but in their eyes, he was still one of the toughest guys around.

By the time you both settled into history class, you'd nearly tuned out the chatter... until the door opened, and a girl stepped in. She was striking — blonde hair, vivid green eyes, an aura that made heads turn the second she walked in. There was something familiar about her, a hint of recognition just out of reach, and when you glanced over at Johnny, he was watching her intently too. His gaze lingered, a mixture of curiosity and something else you couldn't quite place. That flicker of jealousy hit you almost instantly, tightening in your chest as you turned back to your desk, biting the inside of your cheek.

The teacher glanced at her attendance sheet, giving the girl a welcoming smile. "Class, we have a new student today. This is Emily Taylor. She'll be joining us for the rest of the year, so make her feel at home."

Johnny's eyes were still on her, and when he caught you rolling yours, he seemed to snap out of his daze. He leaned forward, reaching to tap your shoulder, but you shifted slightly, letting your gaze fall back to the front. You weren't about to give him the satisfaction of knowing his distraction bothered you.

Emily, meanwhile, had been directed to the empty seat right behind Johnny, which only made things worse. She sauntered over, flashing a smile as she sat down. You could practically feel her presence over your shoulder, and it grated on you even though you couldn't figure out why.

"Hey," Emily said softly as she settled in. You heard her whisper to Johnny as class began, her voice too low for the teacher to catch but just loud enough for you to overhear. "You look familiar. Have we met before?"

Johnny paused, glancing back at her with a small, uncertain smile. "Uh, I don't think so. Maybe I just... have one of those faces?"

She laughed lightly, the sound enough to make your jaw clench. "Could be," she replied, a playful note in her voice. "But you seem more memorable than that." Her hand brushed against his arm as she leaned forward, just enough to make you grit your teeth.

Johnny glanced over at you, eyes widening a bit as he noticed your stiff posture and the way you pointedly avoided looking back. He leaned forward again, trying to catch your eye. "Hey," he whispered. "You okay?"

Without turning, you nodded curtly. "Fine. Just really into the lecture."

He let out a quiet sigh, clearly picking up on your mood, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he turned back to Emily with a polite, "Nice to meet you."

As the class continued, you tried to ignore the way she kept leaning over, whispering comments to Johnny, laughing too easily at his small reactions. The jealousy was there, unshakable, but you told yourself it was nothing. Johnny was with you; he wouldn't be swayed that easily.

But that didn't stop your stomach from twisting each time you caught sight of her out of the corner of your eye, or from imagining what she might try next. And Johnny, though he didn't seem interested, didn't exactly brush her off either.

By the end of class, when Emily gathered her things and turned to Johnny with a bright smile, you couldn't help but listen in.

"So, what's there to do around here?" she asked, her tone casually flirty. "Maybe you can show me around?"

Johnny shifted, glancing back at you. "Uh... maybe," he replied, but he kept his response vague. He shot you a reassuring look, as if he could sense your discomfort. "I've got plans, though. Might be busy."