SKYFALL, Johnny Kavanagh

I will ruin you

Johnny's Point of View

I was still pissed off when I found Bella.
At her.

Not Bella – though she was always a fucking problem – but Maeve.

Because I had spent the entire day replaying our fight, every word she had thrown at me, every cold, cutting excuse she had used to push me away.

And I still didn't fucking get it.
She kissed me like she meant it.
She looked at me like I meant something.

And then she called it a mistake.
And I had let her walk away.
Like a fucking idiot.

Like I hadn't been standing there, barely keeping myself from grabbing her by the face and making her say it again – say that she didn't feel anything, say that she didn't want me.

Because she was a liar.
I knew it.
She fucking knew it.

But she still walked away.

And now, instead of tracking her down, I was here – staring down Bella fucking Wilkinson, who had been waiting for me outside the P.E. hall like she was about to say something I'd give a shit about.

"Are you with her?" Bella demanded the second I got close enough.

I rolled my eyes. "Mind your own fucking business."

She grabbed my arm. "Answer me."

"Don't touch me." My voice was sharp. "Your touch is not fucking welcome."

Bella let go, but she didn't back down. "So you are with her."

I clenched my jaw. "And if I am?"

"Then you're a fucking idiot." Her voice dripped with venom. "That girl has whore written all over her."

My vision went white. "The fuck did you just say?"

Bella smiled, smug, thinking she had hit a nerve. "I said–"

I cut her off, stepping forward so fast she stumbled back. "Say it again, and I swear to god."

Bella's smirk wavered. "Oh, come on, Johnny. Don't act like you don't know. The girl had a reputation at BCS. People like her don't change overnight."

I forced my voice to stay level. "I don't give a shite what people say about her."

Bella scoffed. "Of course you don't. You're just thinking with your dick, same as always."

I almost laughed.
Because if I was just thinking with my dick, I would've had Maeve in my bed by now.
If I was just thinking with my dick, I wouldn't be this fucking wrecked over her walking away.

But Bella wouldn't get that.
Because she never meant anything to me.
And that was the difference.

I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand over my face. "Jesus Christ, Bella."

"I don't get it." Her voice turned sharp again. "Why her? What's so special about her?"

I clenched my jaw.

Because I wasn't doing this with her.
Because I wasn't about to stand here and say Maeve's name like it didn't hurt to fucking think about her.

Bella scoffed. "She doesn't belong here, Johnny. She's scholarship trash. She's Elk Terrace filth. Do you really think Maeve Connor is worth ruining your reputation over?"

Something inside me snapped. "Don't fucking say her name again."

Bella's smirk was back, smug and cruel. "I'll say whatever the fuck I want."

"No, you won't."

"What are you going to do about it?"

I took another step forward, voice deathly calm. "If you fuck with her one more time, I will ruin you."

Bella's smirk didn't waver, but I saw the flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "I'd like to see you try."

"I will ruin you." I repeated, letting each word sink in. "Your reputation. Your status. Your friends. Your future relationships. Everything."

Bella crossed her arms, still trying to act like she had the upper hand. "Oh, please, Johnny."

"You think I won't?" I scoffed, shaking my head. "You're thick as fuck if you think I won't. You don't get to talk shite about her. You don't get to threaten her cousin. You don't get to look me in the fucking eye and act like you're untouchable."

Her expression flickered, confidence wavering.

I stepped in even closer, dropping my voice. "You know I can." I said, low and final. "Contrary to your beliefs, I have more going for me than a thirteen jersey and a dick."

Her lips parted slightly. "Johnny."

"You know I can." I repeated.

Silence.
She stared at me, chest rising and falling unevenly, jaw clenched tight.

And I knew I had her.
Knew she understood exactly what I meant.

Because Bella Wilkinson cared about one thing above all else – Bella Wilkinson.
And I had just made her realise that she had everything to lose.

She tried to recover. "You think she's any different from me? You think she's not using you too? Girls like her, girls from places like that – they'll take what they can get, Johnny. And then they'll leave."

I didn't say anything, I just looked at her.

Bella sneered. "You'll regret this."

I tilted my head, giving her the most unimpressed look I could muster. "Are you threatening me?"

"I'm warning you."

I let out a short laugh. "No, Bella. I'm warning you."
I stepped back, shaking my head one last time. "Stay the fuck away from her."

Then I turned and walked away.

And for the first time all fucking day, I felt better.