flashback
— july 1985; encino hills, ca

the california sun was starting to set, with a cool summer breeze setting in around the encino overlook. bella sat on the hood of her white mercedes convertible, looking out to the city skyline. she wiped the small tears streaming from her eyes as she listened to the music on the radio.

bella frustratingly ran her hands through her hair as she remembered the argument that she and johnny had a couple hours ago. the couple had made plans to have dinner together, but the cobras had other plans. the guys headed out for a round of drinks, which caused johnny to arrive late and a little tipsy to dinner.

the couple got into a heated argument which resulted in a rough exchange of words between the pair. johnny and bella hadn't spoken all day as they worked the pool. a little before closing, bella left and drove to the encino overlook, to clear her head.

after a while of peace and quiet, she turned to find the red avanti with zebra blasting on the radio. bella turned her attention back to the smoggy los angeles skyline as johnny walked out of the car.

"hey." johnny said.

bella stayed quiet as she wiped the tears from her eyes. johnny ran a hand through his golden blonde hair as he slowly approached the brunette's car and sat next to her.

"y'know, i don't really listen to all that girly stuff, but i really like that lucky star song that madonna sings." johnny said, referring to the song playing on the radio.

bella remained silent as she continued to wipe the tears from her eyes. johnny sighed as he looked down and let out a sigh. "look, you don't have to say anything, i just wanted to apologize." he said. "i fucked up, big time. i know how important dinner was to you, i completely blew it off and i'm sorry."

bella nodded and remained silent as she messed with the sleeve on her sweater. "i know you're disappointed and i deserve the silent treatment." johnny said. "i just wanted you to hear me out."

"johnny lawrence, apologizing?" bella softly whispered. "that's a new one."

"it's nice to hear your voice." johnny softly smiled. "y'know i didn't mean all that shit i said–"

"i know, but it hurt." bella said as she wiped her tears.

"i know and i'm sorry." johnny said. "i'm an ass."

"yeah, you are." bella sighed. "but i know i was out of line too. why didn't you just tell me you wanted to go with the guys instead?"

"it was last minute and i thought i could make it, but i guess i couldn't." johnny said as he looked over to bella. "i'm sorry."

bella sighed as she placed her head on her boyfriend's shoulder. "i know." she said. "just be honest with me next time."

"i love you." johnny said, placing a soft kiss on bella's forehead. "i owe you dinner."

"you owe me a lot more than that." bella softly chuckled. "i love you too."

⸻

"what's up with you?" johnny said as he walked into the office as stevie checked her phone.

"nothing, i'm fine." stevie said, tossing her phone inside her purse. she let out a loud sigh as she reached for her water bottle, while her father grabbed a beer from the mini fridge. "hey dad, this is probably gonna be, like, super random, but do guys just randomly stop calling?"

johnny sighed as he opened his beer bottle. "it's about that guy, isn't it? the one from the halloween party." he said.

"yeah." stevie said. "the last time we talked he said he'd call me, but he hasn't, then every time i do try and call him, he says he'll call me later."

"look, if i ever told a girl i'd call her back, i called her back–"

"you really expect me to believe that you never stopped calling a girl, just because." stevie chuckled.

"alright, i did, once, but it's a long story." johnny said. "anyway, just give him a chance. he'll come around."

"i hope so." stevie sighed. "thanks pops."

"you got it." johnny smiled as he softly kissed stevie's temple. "if you're not too busy moping around about your boyfriend, you can come help me with the class."

"i guess i could be your co-sensei." stevie smiled as she grabbed her water bottle and stood up from behind the desk.

⸻

after spending the entire afternoon in her burbank apartment, bella decided to get some fresh air and headed to the beach. it was her last few days off break and the tension of work was starting to catch up to her. she knew that there were meetings and fittings that she had to attend to after today.

not only did she have the pressures of work troubling her, she also had the argument she had with johnny on her mind. bella had a lot on her mind and the only place she could clear her head was out in the overlook outside encino.

as she took one last drag of her cigarette, she put it out before taking a sip of her cherry coke bottle. the sun began to set as she sat in her white mercedes, listening to music on the radio. she stepped out of her car and paced around for a while before finally sitting down on the hood of her car. she crossed her arms as she felt the light breeze. it was quiet until she heard a the loud engine of a car, that belonged to the black dodge challenger.

bella took a sip of her cherry coke bottle as she continued to look out to the skyline, paying no attention to the blonde, who stepped out of the car.

"hey." johnny said.

"how'd you find me?" bella said, messing the the soda cap.

"i know where to look." johnny said.

"so, what are you doing here?" bella said, looking out at the sunset.

"look, about that night, everything you said." johnny said. "you're right."

"wow, johnny lawrence, admitting that he's wrong?" bella scoffed while talking a sip of soda. "that's a fucking miracle."

"you can say whatever you want, but i just wanted you to hear me out." johnny sighed. "i know i can be an ass and i know that's why you keep runnin' off–"

"why are you so convinced that i ran away?" bella scoffed as she stood up. "is that what you told everyone after we separated? that i ran from you and took stevie?"

"it's not about that." johnny said. "i didn't go around talking about you, although i can't say the same about you."

"i never once talked shit about you–"

"i find that hard to believe–"

"is that what you came to tell me, john?" bella said. "did you come up here to accuse me of talking shit about you after the divorce?"

"just fucking listen, for once." johnny said. "i'm a shitty person and i know it. i'm sorry, for all of it."

there was silence as bella sipped on her cherry coke and messed with the cap as she stayed silent, taking it all in. "say something, isabella." johnny said. "i'm glad that you walked back into my life and i don't wanna lose you again."

"you're an ass and you drive me fucking crazy." bella sighed. "but i know that i've also crossed the line, so i'm sorry."

"so i drive you crazy?" johnny chuckled.

"shut up." bella said, rolling her eyes. "you're a literal headache, john. i swear."

"but you love it." johnny smiled as he intertwined his hand with hers, placing a kiss atop of bella's head. bella chuckled as she looked up at his baby blue eyes, as the pair pressed their lips together.

"i've gotta get going." bella sighed. "i gotta go get ready for that meeting. i'm beyond nervous."

"ah you'll be fine." johnny said. "maybe after that meeting, we can go get some drinks."

"i'm definitely gonna need a drink after this meeting, so i'll take you up on that offer." bella chuckled as she sat back down on the hood of her car. "you doin' anything later?"

"what do you have in mind?" johnny said.

"stay for a while longer." bella smiled. "it's a beautiful evening."

"alright." johnny smiled as he sat next to bella on the hood of her car, as bella placed her head on his shoulder.

"i forget how beautiful the view is from up here." bella smiled.

"i think my view's even better." johnny smiled as he looked down at bella.

"quit it." bella laughed.