book #1 | be with me | jenzie

16

chapter 16 - ignored

"i didn't know that at that time,

my heart had already been beating for you,"

[edited - 21.12.18]

k e n z i e

"hey anns, hey sis, hey brynn" johnny waved at us as he walked past with his entourage. i froze, avoiding his gaze as i bit my lip. to prevent myself from seeing him, i tried to pretend that i had the stomach bug, but unfortunately maddie saw through my act and dragged me to school. i could feel johnny looking at me hesitantly, as if he wanted to say something, but he seemed to have thought the better of it as he closed his mouth and walked off. i sighed. bumping into him around school was inevitable.

"is he actually ignoring you?" lauren asked, horrified, as johnny disappeared behind the corner.

i shrugged, a helpless expression on my face. i knew i asked for this, i should have expected this kind of reaction from him. why was i such a busybody? i sighed to myself, picking at my jeans.

"gurl, tell me what happened, mama brynn will fight him for you," brynn declared as she started boxing on the spot, while i laughed at her ridiculous position.

"it's nothing," i muttered, looking down.

"what did you do? johnny doesn't usually ignore people," annie asked, looking curious too. i hesitated. should i tell them?

finally, i smiled guiltily.

"i asked him what happened, because, you know, annie, you told me to," i said regretfully, looking down while annie shook her head, "i shouldn't have, that was so stupid of me,"

"no, you had every right to, that idiot, i'll go talk to him now," annie huffed in exasperation as she chased after johnny. i couldn't help but feel a tug in my heart. annie could talk to him so freely and know all about his past, but me? we are just normal friends. i clenched my hands into fists.

i turned to lauren and brynn, who were staring at me apologetically.

"i don't know what it was about, but you can tell me if anything happens, kay?" brynn grinned, before continuing in a frenzy when her eyes latched onto her crush who was standing just a few meters away, "oh my god, oh my god, i have to talk to him, i'll be back soon!"

"her crush again?" lauren face palmed as i nodded. brynn was crazy about him.

"well, i can't tell you why he is mad or anything, because that's his own story to tell, but he won't be mad for long," lauren assured me as brynn ran away, before adding uncertainly, "hopefully,"

at this, i laughed bitterly, "that's comforting to hear,"

"i promise i'll talk to him soon! now cheer up, you look like the human epitome of a bitter-gourd," lauren teased.

"it's okay, lolo, you don't have to go into all these trouble. now i'm happy, see?" i hugged her, trying my best to smile brightly, when brandon suddenly appeared beside us.

as usual, his hand was filled with a heavy pile of books as he tottered unsteadily because of its weight.

i chuckled at the sight of him as he pushed his hair away shyly.

"what happened?" he asked, looking concerned, as lauren rolled her eyes.

"johnny's ignoring her," lauren told brandon before i could stop her and brandon looked thoughtfully at me.

"he is on his period now, don't worry, he will get over it," he smiled and lauren beamed at me while i nodded.

hopefully he will. because he has become my good friend. i never thought in a million years i would say this, but i seriously miss the bad boy.

. . .

"thank god he is not here," i sighed in relief as i looked around the corner furtively, pulling the hood of my hoodie higher. since the girls have ditched me, i had no choice but to walk carefully around corners, trying my best to avoid johnny. imagine if i met him now, how horrible, i shuddered.

"who's not here?" a voice muttered into my ear as i jumped almost three feet high in shock, nearly crashing into the owner of this familiar voice.

"woah, relax, you look like you are going to bite me," johnny was staring at me in amusement, his head cocked to one side as he looked at me curiously, waiting for my answer. there was no trace of anger in his eyes, i noted in relief, so he wasn't here to scold me.

and he wasn't ignoring me. in my moment of shock, i totally forgot my plan - to hide from johnny and rush home before he reached. as if on impulse, i immediately turned away and started running away from him.

"hey! where are you going?" i could hear him shout as he pelted after me. please don't catch up, please don't catch up.

a hand grabbed my wrist, tugging me to a stop. i winced as johnny held onto my hand and frowned.

"let go of me!"

"are you avoiding me?" johnny scowled.

"yes! now let me go!"

"no, i need to talk to you," johnny scanned the packed hallway, where everyone was looking at the scene he caused.

"i do not need to talk to you,"

"too bad, darling," johnny held on tightly as he pulled me down the hallway.

"wait, where are we going?" i could feel my heart thumping furiously as johnny stopped in front of a janitors' room.

"inside," johnny looked around carefully before cracking the door open, pushing me in.

"what? it's illegal," i widened my eyes. if we get caught, we were done for.

"no one said we were doing something legal," johnny squeezed in beside me. it was so cramped in here, and it was dark. i grimaced as johnny's knees knocked against mine painfully.

"okay, now say what you want to say. one minute and i'm off," i crossed my arms. i was elated that he was still talking to me, but i sure as hell wasn't going to show it.

"um, i, that is, i'm sorry, i shouldn't have shouted at you yesterday," johnny blurted out as a small grin rose up my mouth.

"you are sorry?" i asked, while johnny nodded. too late, mister.

"oh, but i'm not sorry," i shrugged. time to get a taste of your own medicine.

"well, um," johnny looked confused, "do you forgive me?"

"nope, sorry not sorry," thanks for ignoring me, jerk.

"what?" johnny looked taken aback. he must have thought that no girl would reject his apology. news flash, i would.

"goodbye," i smiled triumphantly, but the smile slid of my lips soon.

the doorknob was rattling.

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