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

| 33 | Beach

The day was blazing hot, the kind of heat that radiates off the asphalt and sends shimmers up from the ground. You, Johnny, and the Cobras trudged through the last periods at school, feeling the sun pouring in through the windows, each of you stealing glances at the clock, counting down the minutes until freedom. Finally, the bell rang, and you were out the door with them, excitement buzzing as plans for the beach became the only focus.

After a quick stop at home, you tossed on a light blue, 80s-styled swim dress that clung to your curves in just the right way. It was tight, accentuating your figure, with a high waist and a scoop neckline that was bold yet classy. You felt confident, throwing your hair up in a relaxed bun that let the breeze cool your neck, and packed your essentials—towel, sunscreen, a few snacks, and sunglasses. Before you knew it, Johnny was pulling up, honking and grinning through the open window as he waved you over.

You slid into the back seat, greeted by Bobby and Tommy, who gave a quick whistle of approval, laughing as they joked around. Johnny's eyes flickered to the rearview mirror, catching sight of you, and for a split second, his jaw clenched. But he quickly turned his attention back to the road, reaching over to turn up the radio as classic rock blared through the speakers.

As you all sang along, the Cobras' voices mingling with laughter and jokes, the drive to the beach felt like a scene out of a perfect summer day. Dutch leaned out the window, hair blowing wildly in the wind, yelling lyrics to passing cars, while Jimmy drummed along on the seat beside him. You and Johnny exchanged glances in the mirror, and though he didn't say anything, there was a hint of something in his eyes—a lingering tension, or maybe just the pull of everything unspoken between you.

Finally, you arrived, piling out of the car, each of you lugging bags and towels as you made your way down to the sand. The ocean sparkled under the intense sunlight, waves crashing in a steady rhythm as beachgoers dotted the shoreline. You laid out your towel, adjusting your swim dress as you stretched out under the sun. The Cobras were already kicking off their shoes, racing each other to the water, and you couldn't help but laugh as Tommy stumbled in his eagerness, hitting the water with a splash.

Johnny stayed back with you for a moment, his gaze lingering as he took you in. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then shook his head slightly, running a hand through his hair. "You look good," he said, his voice just loud enough for you to hear, a note of something deeper in his tone.

You gave him a small smile, unsure of how to respond, but before you could even think about it, Bobby called out, waving you both over. "Come on, lovebirds! We're not getting any younger here!"

Rolling your eyes, you joined the rest of the Cobras by the water, each of you wading in as the cool waves lapped up around your ankles. The Cobras quickly got into a splash fight, each of them trying to drench the others as laughter echoed across the beach. At one point, Tommy snuck up behind you, launching a splash that soaked the back of your hair, and you spun around, shrieking as you retaliated, chasing him further into the waves.

Johnny watched from a distance, his face a mix of amusement and something else, something unreadable. He was still trying to find his way back to you, but you could tell he was hesitant, not quite sure how to close the gap he'd created.

The beach was alive with laughter, the sun reflecting off the waves as the Cobras splashed and roughhoused in the water. You and Johnny exchanged looks now and then, and while he seemed to want to talk, there was still a tension lingering, an invisible wall neither of you knew how to break. But in the moment, surrounded by friends, it was easy to set those thoughts aside and enjoy the day.

After a while, you stepped out of the water, shaking off droplets as you made your way back to your towel to dry off. You plopped down on it, grabbing your sunglasses from your bag, when you heard the sound of a commotion further up the beach. A large crowd was forming, murmurs of concern passing through the people.