LUNCH, WAS A welcome respite after the long morning of classes I had. It seemed every teacher was inclined to give us piles of homework today. I knew as soon as I was done shopping with the girls, I'd have to buckle down to finish my work.

I sat inside the cafeteria and soon Ali and Susan found me sitting with Barbara and Linda. Linda, the new girl was telling Barbara about how she plays tennis and was in deep explanation of how a tournament works.

I picked at my food slowly, not really hungry at the moment. "Linda, you should totally come with us after school to shop for a Halloween costume for the dance!" Barbara's voice was very excited.

"A dance?" Linda looked a bit nervous. "I don't really go to those things."

"What?" Susan let out a cry of disbelief. "You have to come. We're all going!"

"It will be fun," I told her. "I'm not a huge fan of school events and all but I do like a good costume. We're going to the mall tonight and hitting up a few stores to see what we can find. Just come with and if you find something it will mean you're destined to go."

Linda smiled and nodded in agreement, "Okay, I'll go with. But that doesn't mean I'll find a costume or anything."

"Perfect!" Ali said. "I'm driving so just find one of us and meet at my car after school." Ali smiled and clapped her hands together in delight.

I joined in on the excitement with a smile of my own when Johnny waltzed past, pausing briefly to talk to me. "Thought about my offer at all?"

The food in my mouth seemed dry as I swallowed and shook my head, "No. I've been too busy."

Johnny's brow furrowed a fraction but then returned to his normal cocky demeanor, "Do think about it. Otherwise I could be taken soon." Johnny turned to Ali for a split second, "Hey Ali." She completely ignored him though. With that being the end of the discussion Johnny turned away to sit at the table where the guys were already seated.

Susan turned to me, "What offer is he talking about (Y/N)?"

All eyes were on me, "Well, Johnny sort of asked me to go to the dance with him. Supposedly it's to make up for messing with the plans I had with Freddy."

The girls all looked a bit worried with the exception of Linda who didn't quite know what was going on since it was only her first day.

"Please tell me you aren't going to say yes." Ali's worried expression was plain on her face as she spoke. "He's bad news (Y/N). Yeah, he may be cute, but he can be a bully and has a bad attitude most of the time."

"Definitely a degenerate," Barbara said.

Linda was glancing over at Johnny, "He is cute. All blonde and handsome."

"He knows it too," Suzi said.

"Please don't worry guys, I know I'm not going to say yes. I think I'll hit this dance solo. There's less drama involved."

Ali let out a sigh of relief and smiled in encouragement, "That's great."

I nodded and went back to eating. I honestly didn't need a date to have fun at the dance but I couldn't help wondering what it would be like to go with Johnny Lawrence...

After school, Ali drove us to the mall. There were a few Halloween stores open and we checked those out. Both Barbara and Susan found their costumes within an hour. Susan's costume consisted of a purple cheetah getup and Barbara's included a suit with a top hat.

I found myself digging through the clothing racks with Linda who actually looked like she was having fun searching for a costume. I came across a leather jacket with matching pants and instantly fell in love. I kept thinking: Grease! God, I loved that movie.

"You have to get that!" Ali scared me as I was looking at the jacket.

"You think?"

"Uh yes! You would look amazing!"

Barbara came up behind us, "If you don't get that then I will."

I laughed, "That won't even go with your costume!"

Barbara gave me a look like she didn't care.

"Okay, okay I'll get it," I caved.

After an hour we decided to grab a bite to eat. We were munching happily and talking about our costumes. Ali found her own masquerade-greek style costume and Linda decided she'd be Wonder Woman. I liked the idea so much that I scolded myself for not thinking of it.

We were so involved chatting away with each other that none of us noticed the group of guys sauntering toward us.

"Ladies," One of them said with a devious grin.

I looked over to them. There were four of them and they were not a crew like Johnny's. They were worse. Way, worse. I wondered if they had knives tucked in their belts. The thought was scary.

One of them looped an arm around Linda and pulled her close to him. "Wanna go for a ride on my bike? I like a girl with a bit more to her." He looked Linda up and down.

"Let her go," I said with what I hoped sounded like a cool calm.

They didn't hear me. Or they didn't care. "The name's Ethan," Another said and slid closer. "You ladies should hang with us. You all look like you could use a bit of fun."

Somehow I don't think we had the same idea of 'fun' as they did.

"I don't think so," Susan scoffed with her lip curled in disgust.

"Oh, come on. Don't you want to say you've hung out with college guys? It's your lucky day if you do."

"Not if it entails you four," I snapped. "Now, let. Her. Go," I said and stood up facing off Ethan and the rest of the dirt bags.

"Oh yeah?" Ethan said and stood up too. "What are you going to do about it if we don't listen huh? I don't see any guy here to protect you."

"I don't need one," I simply said.

He stepped closer and stuck his nose in my face. With narrowed eyes I grabbed his wrist and pinned it behind his back. He howled in pain as I twisted it upward. Any further movement and I would easily break his wrist. "I think it's time for you to leave now. Grab your gang and go."

I let go of Ethan and he and the other three guys backed off. Ethan pointed my way with a snarl plastered on his face, "I'll be seeing you again. Don't think this is over Bitch."

"Go ahead and try Asshole."

Ethan spun around and stalked off.

"Oh my God," Barbara said. "Linda you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine." She sniffed herself, "That guy really stunk."

"They all did. Who knows what they were up to," Ali said and then grabbed my upper arm, "Quick thinking (Y/N)."

"Thanks," I said and started to gather my bags up. "Let's get the hell out of here."

We actually ended up shopping a bit more. Mostly in the shoe departments. I found a cute pair of boots but ended up putting them back. They were too expensive for me.

The sun set and after a quick coffee stop we left the mall and started back towards Ali's car. "I don't know about anyone else but I'm pooped. My feet are going to fall off!" Susan whined.

"You are such a drama queen Suzi," Ali laughed and unlocked her car, throwing her bags in the back trunk.

"Oh ladieeees."

I spun instantly at the sneering voice and found out we were facing the same four assholes from earlier. A spark of fear fled down my spine for a second as there was literally no one else in the parking lot but us and these guys. From what I could tell, they hadn't come to play nice either.

"Think you can tell others what to do Princess?" Ethan leered at me. This time however he kept his distance a bit though.

My body wanted to betray me to my fear but I wouldn't let it. There was only one thing I could try to do: get them the hell away from us so we could get the hell out of there.

"Hey!" Ali cried and was grabbed by one of the others. She struggled to get out of his grasp but it was too tight for her.

Ethan grabbed the scruff of my shirt and instantly I was in action. I ducked under his arms, landed a blow to his ribs and then brought down a chop onto the back of his neck.

A second guy came after me and threw a punch. I blocked him and sent a roundhouse kick to his side. He fell over and I turned to the third guy. I did a series of three punches which sent him reeling backwards. The fourth boy looked at me and at the others on the ground. He let go of Ali and made the choice to run.

Suddenly my legs were knocked from underneath me and I fell onto my back. The breath was taken out of me and I gasped, trying to regain some control. "You little punk. Think you can beat us up and we'll run and hide? I don't think so. In fact, I think you'll be the one wanting to run." It was Ethan again.

"Think again," I gritted and kicked his knee. With him unbalanced, I launched myself at him, grabbing his shoulders and rolling us over until I was on top of him and sending a wicked punch straight into his nose, breaking it upon impact.

Ethan held his face but didn't try to get up again when I stood.

"Holy shit! That was badass! How on earth? You know what? I don't even want to know how you did that." Susan was wide-eyed as she got in the car as fast as she could.

Everyone was in shock as we left the scene and got in Ali's car. Ali stopped me, "Thanks. I'm actually really glad you knew how to beat them up. Even if I don't approve of karate and all."

"Karate is for defense only. I think this situation gave me the right to use it."

Ali looked at the guys on the ground. "Yeah, it definitely did."

"Let's go now this time?"

Ali nodded and smiled a bit wobbly, "Definitely."