1st POV:
The morning air was crisp, and the faint golden glow of the rising sun painted the quiet streets. My boots clicked softly against the pavement as I walked to school, the cool breeze tugging at my hair. The peacefulness of the morning gave me time to think—though, if I was being honest, my mind had been all over the place since last night.

I wasn't even sure what to make of it yet. Johnny had kissed me, and I didn't stop him. That alone was enough to mess with my head. I wasn't supposed to be thinking about him like that, right? The Cobras knowing about us was one thing, but this was still a secret from everyone else, and it needed to stay that way. I had no idea what this thing between us even was.

As I turned into the school parking lot, I caught sight of Ali leaning against my locker, arms crossed, one brow raised. The look on her face told me she was waiting for something—an answer, an explanation, maybe both.

"Good morning to you too," I greeted, forcing a casual tone.

Ali didn't budge. "Where were you last night?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

I blinked, playing dumb. "What do you mean?"

Ali scoffed, tilting her head. "Oh, don't give me that. Your mom called me last night, asking if we were having fun. I had to lie, Rosie!"

My stomach flipped. Oh, crap.

"You're welcome, by the way," she added with a smirk.

I let out a nervous laugh. "Oh... thanks for covering for me."

Ali rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. So, are you gonna tell me what that was about?"

I shrugged. "I just needed some time for myself, you know?"

Ali stared at me for a second, then sighed. "Fine, keep your secrets," she teased. "But don't make a habit of it, or I might actually start demanding answers."

I laughed, relieved she wasn't pushing it.

----

The bell rang, signaling the start of English class, but there was no teacher in sight. The classroom was unusually quiet, and the absence of authority gave everyone the chance to relax. The students were chatting, some scribbling in their notebooks, while others, like Ali and me, simply sat back and enjoyed the break.

Ali and I sat together, as usual, and she was already looking at me with that eager, expectant expression she always had when she wanted to talk.

"So, I've got some news," Ali said, leaning toward me. "Daniel asked me out."

I looked at her, a surprised but excited grin spreading across my face. "Daniel? Really? That's awesome!" I couldn't help the excitement in my voice. Ali had been eyeing Daniel for a while now, and it was nice to see things finally click for them.

"Yeah," she replied, a little shy but beaming. "He asked me yesterday after school, and I was honestly kind of surprised. He seems really nice. I think it'll be fun."

I nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! You deserve it, Ali. He's been checking you out for weeks now." I gave her a playful nudge.

"Ugh, you're right!" Ali laughed, glancing down at her notebook for a moment. "I don't know what I should wear though. I want to look good but not overdo it."

"Honestly, you'll look great in anything," I said with a grin. "But if it were me, I'd go for something casual, like a cute top and jeans. You don't want to go too fancy."

Ali tilted her head, considering my suggestion. "That's probably smart. I don't want to look like I'm trying too hard. Just want it to be chill, you know?"

"Definitely. Casual but cute," I confirmed. "You want him to see the real you, not someone you're pretending to be. You've got this."

She smiled at me, and I could tell she was feeling more confident already. "Thanks, Rosie. You're the best."

I gave her a wink. "Anytime. So, what are you guys doing for the date?"

"We're just grabbing dinner this weekend. I think he said there's a new place in town," she answered, twirling a pen in her fingers. "I'm kind of nervous, but it'll be fun. It's not like we're getting married or anything, right?"

I laughed. "Right, no pressure! Just enjoy yourself."

Ali nodded, clearly relieved. "I'm excited, though. I think it's going to be great."

As we continued chatting, the conversation drifted to more random topics—homework, teachers, and the usual high school drama—but the excitement about Ali's date with Daniel was still hanging in the air.

Then, out of nowhere, Ali turned to me with a curious look. "So, Rosie, what about you? Any dates in your future?"

I hesitated for a second, feeling the familiar discomfort. "Nah, nothing for me. Just focusing on school and stuff." I gave her a quick smile, trying to make it sound lighthearted.

Ali didn't seem convinced, but she didn't press the matter. "Well, if anything comes up, you better tell me," she said, raising an eyebrow with a teasing grin.

"Of course," I said, keeping the conversation light. "But for now, I'm just cheering you on with Daniel."

She smiled at me again, clearly happy that I was supportive of her.

----

The bell rang, signaling the start of chemistry class, and I walked in, feeling the usual nerves that came with Mr. Parker's unpredictable classes. I had barely shaken off the excitement of last night's date with Johnny when I saw that Bobby from Cobra Kai was sitting at my assigned desk. My heart sank a little. Of all people, I got paired with him. He was one of the quieter Cobras, but still, it felt like a bit of a trap.

"Looks like it's just you and me," Bobby said, flashing me a grin as he rearranged the lab materials in front of him. He wasn't being his usual loud self, which actually made me feel a bit more comfortable.

"Yeah, seems like it," I replied, trying to focus on setting up my lab equipment. I didn't need this to be awkward. I wasn't in the mood for drama—not with everything going on with Johnny.

We got to work, quietly setting up our stations, but it wasn't long before Bobby leaned over, his voice just loud enough for me to hear.

"So," he said, looking at me sideways, "how'd the date go?"

I froze for a moment, my heart skipping a beat. I hadn't expected Bobby to ask, but I knew he already knew. He had been there when Johnny had asked me out, so there was no point in denying it.

I sighed, trying to sound casual. "It went fine."

Bobby raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Just fine? I thought you two had a bit of a spark going on."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Is that what you think? You've got a pretty good eye for things."

Bobby shrugged, still grinning. "I mean, I was there when Johnny asked you out. I could tell there was some chemistry."

"Chemistry, huh?" I muttered, my mind briefly flickering back to Johnny and I at Golf N' Stuff. The way he had looked at me when we were talking, the way he'd been so different from how I expected. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

Bobby leaned back in his chair, still watching me intently. "So, how'd it go? You guys hit it off?"

I hesitated. I hadn't really told anyone much about the date—not even Ali. Keeping it a secret felt like the only way to keep things from getting too complicated. But with Bobby knowing, I figured I might as well spill a little bit.

"It was good," I said finally, feeling my cheeks warm up a little. "Johnny's... not like what I thought. He's different. And he's actually a good guy. Surprising, right?"

Bobby nodded slowly, his expression more serious now. "Yeah, Johnny's a bit of a mystery. People don't always get him, but deep down, he's not as bad as everyone thinks."

I blinked at him, a little surprised. "You think that about him?"

Bobby looked me dead in the eyes, his voice steady. "I do. I've known him for a while. He's not perfect, but he's not a monster. He just has his own way of dealing with things. And if you're good for him, then maybe he's good for you too."

I couldn't tell if Bobby was trying to be supportive or if he was just speaking from experience, but either way, it was comforting to hear someone else back up what I was starting to feel about Johnny.

Before I could respond, Mr. Parker, our chemistry teacher, walked into the room, making the whole lab go quiet. He was a no-nonsense teacher, and he quickly got to work, pairing us up with our lab partners.

"Alright, let's get started, people," Mr. Parker announced, handing out the first set of instructions. "And remember, I don't want to see anyone chatting while we work. Get your experiments done first, and then we can talk."

I shot Bobby a look, and he gave me a quick wink before focusing on the lab work. I wasn't about to break the rules, so we both settled into the experiment, trying to get through it as efficiently as possible.

For a while, we worked in silence, measuring liquids and mixing chemicals. I couldn't help but glance over at Bobby occasionally. He wasn't the stereotypical Cobra that everyone warned me about, and it was kind of refreshing to see him be a bit different from the others. He worked quietly, but his easygoing nature made the lab feel less tense than it usually was.

After a while, Mr. Parker walked around to check on everyone's progress, and when he reached our table, he paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the room.

"Rosie, Bobby," Mr. Parker called out, and I looked up at him, surprised he was paying attention to us. "I see you two are working well together. I'm glad to see you're getting along." He glanced over at Bobby, then back at me. "You two make a solid pair. Keep up the good work."

I was a bit taken aback, not expecting such praise. Usually, Mr. Parker just gave us instructions and moved on, but he seemed genuinely pleased with our progress.

"Thanks, Mr. Parker," I said with a smile, trying not to feel too awkward about the compliment. Bobby, on the other hand, just shrugged like it was no big deal, but I could tell he appreciated the acknowledgment.

When Mr. Parker walked off to check on the other groups, Bobby leaned over again, this time speaking in a lower voice, just loud enough for me to hear.

"So, what's the deal with you and Johnny? Are you guys keeping this on the down low?"

"It's... complicated," I finally said. "We're just taking it slow. It's nothing official."

Bobby seemed to understand and nodded. "Got it. That makes sense. You know, Johnny's not exactly the easiest guy to figure out. But if you're happy, that's all that matters."

I smiled, appreciating his non-judgmental tone. "Thanks, Bobby. I mean, yeah, things are good. Just... I don't know."

Bobby gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it. You know, I've got your back. But I'm guessing you don't want the whole school to know, right?"

I nodded quickly, grateful for his understanding. "Exactly. We're keeping it quiet for now."

After finishing our lab work, we cleaned up the station. As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I grabbed my things and stood up, ready to head out. Bobby gave me a quick nod.

"See you later, Rosie. Take care."

"Thanks, Bobby," I replied, offering him a genuine smile. "You too."

----

The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. I grabbed my books from my locker, thoughts already drifting to the night ahead. Chemistry had been surprisingly uneventful—Bobby and I managed to get through the project without incident—but I was ready to head home and relax.

When I turned around, there he was—Johnny, leaning against the lockers with his usual smirk plastered on his face. He looked casual today, in a plain T-shirt and jeans, but somehow it was still enough to make my heart skip a beat.

"Hey," he said with a wink as I approached.

"Hey," I replied, trying to sound casual, but I couldn't help the grin spreading across my face. There was just something about the way he looked at me.

"So, how was your day?" Johnny asked, pushing off from the lockers and taking a step closer.

"Same old," I replied, my heart beating faster now. "Busy as usual. How about you?"

"Busy enough." He chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "So, need a ride home?"

I glanced around quickly, making sure no one was paying attention. "Sure, but let's keep this low-key. I don't want anyone catching on."

Johnny smiled knowingly. "I get it. Wouldn't want people to think we're hanging out." He raised an eyebrow as if challenging me to say something, but he opened the door for me, and I climbed into the passenger seat. He got in, starting the engine, and we pulled out of the parking lot.

The car hummed as we drove down the street, and the silence between us was comfortable. I could feel the weight of his gaze every now and then, but neither of us said anything for a few minutes. Then Johnny broke the silence.

"So," he said casually, glancing over at me. "Are you going to the Halloween dance?"

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden question. "No, I'm not really planning on it. Why?"

Johnny shot me that signature mischievous grin. "Well, I was thinking maybe I could change your mind. I mean, I could be a pretty fun date."

I couldn't help but laugh, rolling my eyes. "And who would that be?"

He gave me a look that made my stomach flip. "Well, it's me, obviously. So what do you think? Want to go to the dance with me?"

I paused for a second, feeling a bit unsure. This wasn't something I had expected, but Johnny was looking at me so seriously, the playful teasing gone from his expression. I took a breath, trying to keep it light.

"I'll go with you," I said, my voice softer than I intended. "But just so you know, we're going alone. I don't want any labels or anything."

Johnny's expression softened, and he nodded. "I can deal with that." Then, without missing a beat, he leaned over, his face getting closer to mine. He brushed a hand lightly against my cheek before leaning in to kiss me on the cheek, his lips lingering just long enough to make my heart race.

I pulled back slightly, startled but amused. "Smooth," I said, laughing softly. "But don't get any ideas. I said we're going alone, remember?"

Johnny chuckled, his grin growing wider. "I know. No labels, no pressure. Just us."

As we drove, the excitement of the evening ahead began to build. It was going to be fun—maybe even more than fun, but for now, I wasn't ready to think too much about it. I was just looking forward to spending time with him. Johnny had a way of making everything feel easy, like everything would work itself out as long as we had a good time.

We pulled up in front of my house, and Johnny parked the car. Before I got out, he looked at me again, his smirk never leaving his face.

"I'm glad you said yes," he said, his voice low.

I smiled, opening the door to get out. "Don't get too comfortable, Johnny. We're just going as friends. But it'll be fun."

With that, I slammed the door shut, but not before seeing him flash me that signature grin, his eyes still holding that teasing glint. As I walked to my front door, I couldn't help but smile. This Halloween dance was shaping up to be more interesting than I ever imagined.

Author Note:

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for reading! In this chapter, we get a sneak peek into Rosie's day—starting with Ali's curiosity about the Halloween dance, Bobby's playful comments in chemistry class, and, of course, Johnny offering Rosie a lift home. Sometimes it's all about those little moments, right? I hope you enjoyed it! There's more coming soon, so stay tuned. Also, big thanks for the amazing support—your comments and feedback make writing this so much fun! Don't forget to vote! Much love. 🫶🏼

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