Chapter 21: One Day

When Ava arrived at school, Rachel met her at her car. They've been parking beside each other, now, since Monday. She unlocked her doors and Rachel got in, her friend began asking questions. "How are you? How did the dinner, and conversation beforehand, go? Meeting parents is always difficult, even you know them already."

Those are interesting questions because "I'm fine. Tired but fine. It was good and bad." She saw Rachel's confusion turn to worry. "Let me explain," Ava told her all about the conversation with Johnny's mother. Even the part regarding how she felt in ninth grade and her hope for the future.

With a wistful face and voice, Rachel spoke. "Oh wow! That's so sweet. I agree with his mom. I think the two of you are wonderful together. I believe it's clear you're meant to be. There's so much love between the both of you. Plus he's so different when he's with you. It's like he's not trying so hard to be something he isn't. He's a cool guy, and everyone knows he is, but with you, he doesn't try so hard to be cool. He just is."

She twirled a piece of hair and continued talking. "Like with Ali, he was trying so hard to be something. I remember sitting in math (I think it was math). He was in my class last year. Anyway, he always tried to be the class clown or the cool guy, or he'd smart off and get into trouble. I have history class with him. Honestly, he sits there and doesn't goof off. It's like now he's just Johnny."

Hmm... Ava likes that. Just Johnny. She agrees with her friend. Smiling a bright smile, Ava told her "I agree. He was faking it. Fake people have an image to keep up. Real people just don't give a shit. Johnny cares, and I still think he cares a lot, but he's not as wound up. He's his normal self, but only with those he really trusts."

Twirling her hair, Rachel smiled hugely and spoke. "He must trust you a whole lot then."

Turning to look off in the distance, through the windshield, Ava let a heavy sigh. "Well, thank you. But let me tell you about the actual dinner and then you'll understand my sigh and concern." She began telling her friend all about it.

"Ms. Laura had everything set on the table. Johnny and I both helped her carry things into the dining room. Anyway, Sid came home and we all went to sit down and eat. This is where things got dramatic. Each of us had sat down and served our plates."

"The dinner looks delicious Ms. Laura." It does. Ava couldn't help but say so. "And thank you for having mac and cheese. It's one of my favorites."  Everything looks amazing. There's ham, mac and cheese, green bean casserole, corn, a side salad, freshly baked rolls, and black-eyed peas. For dessert, there's homemade apple pie.

Laura turned her head with a smile. "Thank you Ava for your kind words. Johnny told me mac and cheese is one of your favorites, so I wanted to be sure to have some for you." She picked up her wine glass and took a sip.

After putting his own wine glass down, Sid remarked "Cooking is one of the things she does well. What do you do well?"

Finishing her bite of ham, Ava remembered her manners and smiled pleasantly. Before she could speak, Johnny answered for her. "She does lots of things well. For one, she's well-read in literature and writes her own poetry for the poetry elective. Plus Ava's the top golfer on our women's golf team. She came in second overall, beating out a ton of other chicks, in the fall golf season."

Sid's eyes watched Ava like a hawk. It made her skin crawl, but Johnny put his hand on her thigh for support. "So you're a golfer on the women's golf team. Women's golf." He scoffed. "You clearly move the ball well for a girl, then. But still not as good as the men."

What he says doesn't matter to her. It doesn't phase her as this kind of talk is routine. She hears it often on the golf course. However, she could tell it bothered Johnny. Doing as he did for her, she placed her hand on his thigh and gave it a squeeze. He turned and smiled at her.

Still not through with Ava, Sid asked "What are your plans after graduation?"

Straight and to the point. He holds no punches with anyone. "I plan to go to college, Sir. I have applied to several and there have even been a few who've offered me a golf scholarship. I would love to continue playing in college, but my ultimate aim is to be a teacher." She forked a bite of the warm mac and cheese.

He looked thoughtful as he sipped and swallowed his wine. "One of the most underrated professions out there. Why do you want to be a teacher, of all things? The pay is terrible and so are the students, if my stepson is anything to go by."

Why did he have to bring Johnny up? Why couldn't he have just left it alone? She took her boyfriend's hand under the table and laced their fingers together.

This is the most he's ever spoken to her. Even when she and Johnny dated in ninth grade, Sid wasn't this talkative. "My Aunt Vicky is a teacher. She teaches elementary school and loves it. I guess I was inspired by her and all of my teachers who made school interesting. The ones who helped me learn. I'm not sure what grade level I'm interested in teaching yet."

Tapping his fingers on the table, Sid commented "At least you've got a plan. This one" —-he pointed to Johnny—- "doesn't have anything in his head except karate. He flunked his SATs and has only applied to one school. The school I can help get him in, Stanford."

His eyes looked at Ava then at his stepson."What do you see in him anyway? The two of you broke up. Now you're back together. You have a good head on your shoulders. You should've stayed broken up. At least you're prettier to look at, than the girl he was dating, and actually talkative."

At Sid's words, Johnny stood up and left the room. She was torn between chasing after him and telling Sid what she thought. Ultimately defending Johnny won out. Placing her hand in her lap, she turned to look at Johnny's stepfather. Noticing Ms. Laura's hurt face, she chose her words carefully.

"Sir I mean you no disrespect and I realize I may not be welcomed into your home anymore. But I have to say something. I love Johnny. I love your stepson and if you just opened your eyes, just a tiny bit even, then you might see what a wonderful guy he is. Johnny may not be the smartest person, but he makes up for it in other ways. He's kind, caring, respectful, a true gentleman, funny, and he can turn the worst day into something enjoyable. He's creative like that."

She shook her head. "I feel sorry for you because you've had Johnny all these years in your home. Yet, you've never really given him a chance. I don't know your reasoning for that, but it must be awful tiring finding words to put him down with." Unshed tears filled her eyes. "You might not think he hears you. But he hears you loud and clear. He hears every disparaging look and every word not spoken and every put down you've ever said. He's a person, your son, not a punching bag." She got up, put her napkin on her plate, and left the room.

What she didn't hear was Sid saying "I like her. I hope he keeps this one, this time."

Rachel couldn't believe what she heard. "Oh wow! You're right. That was drama-filled. Almost better than an episode of Dynasty. So, where did Johnny go and what did you say to him? Did he listen to you?" She had no idea his stepdad is a total jerk.

Looking at her friend, Ava continued her story. "I found him sitting on the bottom step of the stairs."

Johnny was sitting on the bottom stair with his head in his hands. She thought he looked tired hunched over like that. Coming to stand in front of him, she ran her hands through his soft hair. He took her hand and brought it to his mouth, then rested his head on it. After softly placing another kiss, he looked up at her. His eyes were filled with tears too.

"Let's get out of here," she said with a soft voice. He nodded and stood, then went to retrieve her bag from the living room. Handing it to her, he reached his hand out and she took it. They left together, in her car. He let her drive for a change, which is rare.

Not even asking, she went through the Burger King drive-thru. She knew he was hungry since he hardly touched his dinner. They drove to the Malibu house and took their food out to the patio. Ava carried a blanket, for her legs, and another one for Johnny.

They ate in silence, then sat together on the porch swing huddled under the blankets. Lightly swinging, Johnny needed to know something. "Why? Why did you defend me?"

Looking off in the distance, she stated,  as if it were obvious, "Because it needed to be said."

He nodded. "And you meant it? The things you told him?" His eyes followed her gaze ahead.

"Yep." There's a lot of lightning bugs out tonight. She loves those. They make the night look magical. They're tiny messengers of silent sparks, reminding you to light up the darkness. Thinking about that, she declared for his ears "It was all true."

Trying not to cry is the hardest thing to do. Johnny does it well. He only ever cries alone, but on a rare occasion, he'll do it in front of someone he trusts. He turned his head and wiped at his face. She took his hand in hers. They sat there sniffling in the quiet.

When he spoke, he informed her "I know I'm hard to love and broken on the inside. But I promise you, I love you with everything I have. Broken parts and all. I'm loving you with all my pieces."

She shook her head. "You're wrong. Loving you, Johnny, is easy. Forgetting you or ignoring you is hard." Caressing the hand in his own, he brought it up to his lips.

"That's basically it. We sat, swinging some more. Then went inside and watched TV," she finished her tale.

Rachel wiped a few tears. "As I said before, he trusts you. You're his true love." The two sat in silence then. "I brought all of my stuff with me. When I leave Granny's I'll meet you at your house. Thanks for inviting me over." It went without saying that she wasn't going to tell anyone what Ava confided to her.

They got out of the car and strolled toward the Cobras. Ava spoke with a hushed voice. "I think you shouldn't give up on the idea of Bobby."

Disagreeing, Rachel stated "I don't know. His heart is set on someone else and it's not me. I know when to take a hint. I think I came on too strong and now he thinks I'm a needy girl. I'm going to go to my locker, but I'll meet you later." Before she left she gave her friend a hug.

Ava stopped her. "Wait. Do something for me. When you reach that bench over there, drop something on the ground and pick it up. I have a reason why I ask." With a confused expression, Rachel said she would. Walking slowly to join Johnny, Ava watched her friend. She dropped her bag, then stooped over to pick it up.

Not only did she watch Rachel, but she also watched Bobby. And what she saw made her think Rach is wrong. His eyes followed her the whole time, especially when she bent over. Oh, this will be so much fun!

With a huge beaming smile on her face, she went to her boyfriend. Reaching out and taking his hand, she laughed. "What's up with you?" he questioned. He can't help but feel joy cause she looks so happy. She makes him happy with her smiles, hugs, laughter, care, kisses, and love. Everything about her makes him fall in love more each day.

"Nothing except I know something you don't." She giggled thinking of his friend and hers, the only one she actually trusts.

He knows she's up to something. "What? Tell me."

Her bright eyes held his own. "OK, but you can't tell anyone. It's a secret" She saw his promise fingers come up. "Are you listening?" He nodded. "I love you."

Smiling down at her glowing face, he kissed her forehead. "I love you too," he told her. Taking her school bag from her shoulder, he told his friends bye and walked with her to their lockers. "So, Rachel's sleeping over with you tonight. Will I get to see you at all?"

She gave him a playful shove. "Of course. I want you to meet us at the Malibu house." Then she had a great idea. "And Johnny can you do something for me?"

Thinking she wants him to stop by that beauty store again, he was about to tell her no. One time is enough of that mess. But she must have seen his face, 'cause she said "Will you bring Bobby with you?"

Bobby?! "Why do you want him?" he wondered out loud.

Shaking her beautiful head, she spoke. "I told you before. I'm secretly in love with him. He's the cutest and sweetest snake of the bunch." She saw his face look disgusted. "It's true."

Now at her locker, Johnny stopped in his tracks and dropped her bag to the ground. "Well, I'll just have to remind you whose girl you are." He pinned her to it and planted a steamy kiss on her willing lips. The kind of kiss that leaves you weak-kneed and breathless. Her hands bunched up his shirt in the back. And he finished much too quickly for her liking. Playing with her hair, he asked "Do you remember now?" Oh yeah, she totally does. Unable to speak she could only nod. Thoughts of him filled her mind all day long.

After school, she met up with Rachel again. "Don't forget, to stop and rent the movie."

Rachel asked, "Does it matter which one?"

"Anything but horror. Maybe, Valley Girl and Risky Business. Tom Cruise... hot, hot, hot." Johnny is totally her guy and he's gorgeous, but so is Tom. She can look, not touch. As if she ever would. It's Tom freaking Cruise.

Agreeing Rachel, said bye. Waving, Ava started walking to her REAL boyfriend. Her gorgeous Johnny freaking Lawrence. He brushed the hair off his forehead and flashed her his famous toothy grin. "Hey, Babe. I feel like I haven't seen you all day. Oh, wait. I haven't, except for lunch." Leaning down he kissed her cheek.

With her arms around his waist, she directed him to tell her "What do you want for dinner?"

Seeing as how he asked Bobby, and his friend said "Sure. I haven't got anything better to do." Johnny knew he loves BBQ. "Could you get some BBQ?" If she orders from that shack close to the beach in Malibu, it would be ready on time. He told her that too. "I think it's called Flying Pig or something like that."

Laughing she fixed it for him. "You mean Flying Ace BBQ. It's fab. Ha, ha. But yeah, I'll order from there." He mimicked her words and she playfully pinched his side. "Love you. See you later." She turned to leave. "Bye guys."

As his hot babe walked off, he wrapped his black headband around his head and took his helmet off the handle. Dutch mimicked Ava. "Love you. See you later," he said in a girlish voice. Then he made a throw-up sign.

Johnny hit him in the arm. "Punch buggy. Oh, wait. There's none around. I'm so sorry. Loser. Don't mock the girl I love."

Gagging, himself, Tommy told him "You should just marry her already. You've loved her forever and a day."

Not thinking, the words flew out of Johnny's mouth. "I plan to one day." When it hit him, what he said, he froze. Did he say that out loud? "I mean in a galaxy far, far away." There he saved it. Putting his helmet on, he started his bike and sped off.

The others followed but they weren't buying what he said. They know he loves her. They also know he gave her his grandmother's bracelet, which is a huge deal. Plus they think they're good for each other. They actually like Ava. Yup. They'll get married. One day.