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

| 25 | Dogs

It was a bright, crisp morning, and you were leaning against your locker, listening to your walkman, totally in your own world. The beat of the music pulsed through you, an escape from the noise and bustle of the school hallway. Johnny strolled up, a teasing smile on his lips as he nodded toward your walkman. "Mind if I borrow it for a sec? I wanna check out whatever it is that has you so zoned out."

You pulled off the headphones with a grin, handing them over. "Sure, just don't lose yourself in my amazing taste in music," you joked.

Just as Johnny put the headphones on, adjusting them and letting a small smile slip as he listened, Emily appeared out of nowhere. She sauntered over, her gaze sharp as she took in the two of you. She forced a light laugh, stepping in a little too close to Johnny. "What're you listening to?" she asked, flashing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "You could let me listen, too, you know."

You raised an eyebrow, feeling a familiar heat rise within you. "Actually, it's my walkman," you said, trying to keep your tone even. "I was letting Johnny borrow it."

Emily tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh, come on," she scoffed, her tone too casual. "Johnny doesn't need permission to share. We're all friends here, right?"

Johnny, sensing the tension, took off the headphones, trying to play peacekeeper. "It's just a song," he said with a laugh, looking between the two of you. "No need to go to war."

But Emily wasn't backing down, and she turned back to you, a trace of challenge in her gaze. "I don't see why you're being so possessive. It's not like Johnny's your property," she said with a smirk, crossing her arms.

Your jaw clenched. "You don't seem to get it, Emily. He didn't ask you—he asked me."

The spark of tension flared hotter, and a few passing students slowed down, sensing the drama brewing. Johnny ran a hand through his hair, clearly feeling caught between you two. "C'mon, Emily, chill," he said, stepping a little closer to you, his arm brushing against yours as if to make a point. "I'll catch up with you later, alright?"

Emily's eyes flashed, a quick look of irritation crossing her face before she plastered on another smile. "Fine," she said, though her voice was icy. "But don't come running to me when you get bored of... this."

As soon as Emily spat out her cutting remark, you felt a sharp sting of irritation, opening your mouth to shoot back, but a shadow crossed your line of sight. Just then, the Cobras—Bobby, Tommy, Jimmy, and Dutch—appeared, swaggering down the hallway. They'd caught the last bit of Emily's words, and every one of them shot her a look that could melt steel.

Dutch was the first to step up, crossing his arms and smirking with that dangerously casual look he wore when trouble was near. "Oh, 'bored of this,' huh?" he mocked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You think you know what Johnny wants after... what? A day here?"

Emily glanced at Dutch, then shifted her eyes to the rest of the Cobras, her icy demeanor faltering just a bit. But she lifted her chin, feigning confidence. "I just don't see why everyone's so obsessed with her," she sneered, casting a sidelong look your way. "It's not like she's all that."

Bobby scoffed, stepping forward, his easygoing expression replaced with a hard glare. "Well, maybe because she's actually our friend. You're just... some new kid trying to stir up drama," he said pointedly, his voice colder than you'd ever heard it.

Emily's mask of confidence cracked, and her mouth twisted in frustration. She opened her mouth to retaliate, but Johnny beat her to it, stepping in with a fierce intensity you rarely saw in him. "You really don't get it, do you?" he said, his voice steady but full of frustration. "We've been through everything together. She's the one who's always had my back." He looked at you, his expression softening before he shot Emily a cutting look. "So if you think I'd throw all that away for... whatever it is you're trying to pull, you're wrong."

Jimmy shook his head, his eyes flashing with distaste. "Don't take it personally, but it takes more than a pretty smile to get our respect." He looked her up and down with a faint, unimpressed smirk, adding, "Or maybe do take it personally. Whatever works."

Emily took a shaky breath, clearly thrown off by the group's loyalty to you. But she wasn't ready to back down just yet. "Oh, please," she scoffed, though her voice wavered. "It's not like I was doing anything wrong. You're all acting like I committed a crime for talking to Johnny."

You stepped forward, your voice calm but laced with an edge. "It's not just about talking to him, Emily. It's the way you act, like everyone else here doesn't matter. Like you're entitled to him because you just showed up." You locked eyes with her, adding, "If you're trying to make a point, it's not working."

Emily's cheeks flushed with anger, her composure cracking even more. "You know what? Forget this. I don't have time to deal with people who act like a pack of guard dogs," she snapped, her voice wavering. "You all are so quick to shut me out when I've barely even tried to be part of this group."

"Maybe that's the problem," Tommy shot back. "You've barely tried, and yet here you are, acting like we owe you something." He looked over at the others, shrugging. "And honestly, we just don't care what you think."

With a final furious glare, Emily whipped around and stormed off down the hallway. Her heels echoed sharply against the floor, her shoulders tense as she pushed her way through the other students who'd been watching the exchange with wide-eyed interest.

When she was finally gone, Johnny let out a breath, running a hand through his hair and looking over at you, his expression softening. "You okay?" he asked, his eyes scanning your face for any hint of hurt or discomfort.

You nodded, feeling a warm surge of gratitude as you looked around at Johnny and the rest of the Cobras. "Yeah. Thanks, guys," you said, a small smile tugging at your lips.

Dutch grinned, clapping you on the back. "Anytime. You're family—you know that."

Bobby nodded, giving you a reassuring smile. "If she wants to start something, she's gonna learn real quick that we don't mess around when it comes to one of our own."

Johnny took your hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, his gaze fixed intently on yours. "You're way more important than she'll ever be." His voice was quiet but full of conviction, making your heart skip a beat.

You squeezed his hand back, your voice soft. "Right back at you."

The rest of the Cobras smirked, exchanging knowing glances before Bobby spoke up, a teasing glint in his eye. "All right, lovebirds, let's head to lunch before we get caught in the middle of some other hallway soap opera."

With a shared laugh, you all turned and headed down the hall together, the tension melting away as the familiar rhythm of joking and teasing settled back in.