Small Town Southern Charm

Chapter Two

Next Day at School:

I was walking through the halls of the school on my way to lunch when I ran into someone as I was going around a corner. When I looked up at the person I thought it was Josh and was about to hug him, until I saw the lip piercing and black skinny jeans.

"Sorry, I'm new here." The guy told me.

"It's fine, I'm Taralyn." I smiled.

"I'm Johnny." He smirked.

"Well, I'm going to lunch. Where are you headed?" I asked.

"Lunch, I got lost." He laughed.

"Follow me."

Something about him told me he was a pain in the ass. But I was going to be nice to him being that he was new and all.

"When I ran into you I thought you were my best friend." I told him as we walked to lunch.

"Really? That's weird." He smirked again.

"Yeah, I almost hugged you."

"That wouldn't have been too bad."

I laughed.

When we got to lunch, I knew I would feel bad if I didn't ask so I asked.

"You wanna sit with me and my friends?" I asked.

"Yeah, sure."

"Woah, I thought that was Josh." Jody told me when Johnny and I sat down.

"Yeah, me too."

"Are you related to Josh?" Jody asked.

"Um, if it's Josh Tatum then yes." He replied.

I almost choked on my water when he said that. I looked over at him and couldn't stop looking at him. What were they like brothers or something? Josh had never told me he had a brother so I was guessing not.

"I'm his cousin. My sister and I moved here with our dad." Johnny told us.

"Where's your sister?" I asked.

"She's somewhere around here. God knows where."

After school I got a call from Josh and he told me he was on his way to my house and he'd be waiting for me. I had some questions for him.

"I met your uh..cousin today." I told him when we went down to the pond.

"Huh?" He asked quickly.

"Johnny. You guys look just alike." I replied.

"Oh, him. Cool, I got to go to dinner with him and his family tonight."

"You don't seem to happy about it."

"Not really. He's a jerk and his sister well, I don't really want to say what she is."

"Oh, sorry." I laughed.

"Yeah, I have to be home and ready by 5."

"Dang, so you have to leave in an hour."

"Yeah..maybe I can say I got stuck."

"You have to go have dinner with your family, I'm sure they'll be glad to see you."

Josh stayed quiet for a long time, like he was thinking. Probably thinking of ways to get out of going to that dinner.

"I got an idea."

"What is it?" I laughed.

"You. You come with me. It'll go by faster."

"Josh, I don't know if you're family would want me there. I mean, it's a family dinner."

"Too bad, if they want me, they want you. That's it." He smiled.

"So, there's no way for me to get out of this?" I asked.

"No way."

"Fine! I guess I'll head back to the house to get ready then."

"Okay, I'll put the poles and stuff up."

I was beginning to panic, I didn't want to go around his family that I had never met. I mean, I met Johnny but I didn't know him that well. I took a shower quickly and done my hair. I slipped on a pair of blue jeans and a light grey v-neck shirt. I finished my outfit off with a pair of my boots. I put on my eyeliner then looked in the mirror. I was happy with the way I looked, with my loose curls flowing down my back.

"You ready?" Josh asked.

"Yeah, let me leave Momma a note."

"I'll be in the truck." He smiled.

Josh and I went to his house for him to get dressed then we were off to Olive Garden for the dinner. I grew more and more nervous as we went down the road.

"You'll be okay. You have nothing to be worried about." Josh told me when we got out of his truck.

"Yeah, if you say so."

The first person I seen when we walked in was Johnny. He sat there smirking at something. Josh put his arm around my shoulders to comfort me but it wasn't working too well.

"Hey guys." Josh smiled.

"Who is this Josh?" The man asked, smiling at me. "Your girlfriend?"

"This is Taralyn." He told the man, not answering the girlfriend question. "Tara, this is Max, my uncle. You've met Johnny and that is JoAnna." The girl just looked at me like she had a problem with me.

"Hey Tara." Josh's mom spoke to me.

"Hey." I smiled.

Her husband sat there beside her, smiling at me.

Throughout the whole dinner I kept catching Johnny staring at me. It was a little weird.

"Tara, it's okay." Josh whispered to me.

"I'm fine." I laughed.

"I can feel you shaking." He smiled.

"Shut up."

He smiled at me and kissed my temple. Sending butterflies through my body. He always kissed me there but it was different this time.

I just couldn't believe how much Johnny and Josh looked alike.

"Thank you for coming with me tonight Tara." Josh told me when he was driving me home.

"You're welcome. You know I'd do anything for you." I smiled.

If I had a chance to change tonight, I wouldn't even think about doing it.

________

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