FRIDAY WAS A welcome day as the weekend had finally arrived. Linda and I had been chatting about the upcoming test in history class when we found Barbara and Susan rushing towards us. "Hey guys!"

"Hey what's up?"

"We've been looking for you two all day!" Barbara complained.

"Sorry," I said and Linda and I exchanged a look.

"Oh never mind it!" Suzi waved it off, her excitement getting to her, "There's a party in the Hills tonight. Everyone is invited. You guys wanna go?"

Linda and I looked at each other before turning back to them, "We sort of already made some plans."

"We're gonna go the arcade." Linda told them.

"Can't you do that another time? It's a party! In the Hills!"

I shrugged, "Next time we'll go. Linda and I wanna do go karts."

Suzi shook her head like we were crazy for not wanting to go but she didn't push it anymore. "Fine, suit yourselves. You'll know where to find us if you want."

"For sure," I said and watched them walk off to their last class.

"Thanks," Linda said relieved. "I hate parties."

"I know, so do I." We wouldn't mention to the others that we had made up that little fib to get out of going to the party.

"So I guess that means we have to stick to our lie huh?"

I looked at Linda, "It sure does. We'll be off to the arcade after I'm done at the Dojo."

"Maybe I could come and watch?" Linda asked.

I looked at her surprised, "Yeah. You can come." I was shocked that Linda was interested in karate all of a sudden. "What makes you want to come?"

Linda shrugged nonchalantly, "Just because."

Not pressing the matter any further, Linda and I went our separate ways to our last classes of the day.

My father was tough on the class today. He had us doing drill after drill to help build up our strength. I saw Linda in the back, watching us but most likely realizing that she should probably not join. Although it would be nice to have another girl in the Dojo.

At the end of class I told my father about my plans with Linda and that I'd be back pretty late. He didn't seem to mind since I had been doing well under his supervision in class and the extra time I had been putting in too for the tournament. It seemed like that was what he was the most focused on at the moment.

At Golf n' Stuff, Linda and I had a blast. We played in the arcade for a good hour before hitting some of the rides like water bumper cars and go karts. At one point I thought I saw Ali and Daniel too but they looked as if they were on a date and we didn't want to disturb them.

My hair had gotten a little wet from the bumper car ride and I was wringing it out a bit when I heard someone honking at us. I looked over to see Johnny's red convertible pull up. Dutch was in the front passenger seat and Tommy was in the back with Barbara and Suzi. I wondered why they were here and not at the party they had seemed so excited about. Especially why they were in the same car as the Cobra Kais.

"Hey (Y/N)! Linda!" The girls waved to us frantically like they thought we wouldn't see them.

"We've come to abduct you!" Tommy howled.

"Get in ladies!" Dutch said. "We got room!"

Linda looked uncomfortable so I tried to change the subject. "Aren't you two supposed to be at some party?" I confronted Suzi and Barbara.

Suzi nodded and pointed at us, "That's why we've come to get you! You're missin' out!"

"Nah, Linda's gotta go home soon."

Barbara held up her hands, "That's right in the Hills! Come on!"

I looked at the girls then at Linda. I couldn't read my friend's face but she wasn't saying anything to help our case.

"Come on (Y/N). Just get in. We'll drop Linda here off at her house if she can't handle my party." Johnny said and smiled up at me sweetly only there wasn't anything sweet in the smile. It was completely bogus. They just wanted us to go to the party.

I laughed and shook my head, looking at Linda who only shrugged. She knew I'd stick with her. I turned back to them and nodded, "We'll go. But only, for a little while!"

"Alright!" Tommy squealed, throwing his arms around the girls in the back.

Linda got in the back with the girls and I made to as well when Johnny motioned to Dutch, "Boot it, man." He gestured to the back of the car and Dutch looked at him incredulously like he couldn't believe Johnny was making him leave his seat. "Come on, man. We don't have all night!"

"Alright, man!" Dutch snapped and moved to the back. It was a tight fit for them. Really probably illegal to be honest.

Johnny gestured for me to sit in the front with him, and I hesitated only a brief second before sitting in the seat. I clicked my seatbelt into place and moments later we were speeding down the road towards Encino Hills.

I glanced at Johnny, "So this is your party?"

Johnny smirked and looked at me before returning his gaze to the road. "Sure is."

I shifted in my seat so I was facing the back more too, "So how come you all are missing the party and driving around looking for strays to pick up?"

Tommy chuckled, "Not strays, just you!"

Susan rolled her eyes, "They weren't havin' it that you wouldn't be there so we took a drive to where you would be." Suzi shrugged. "Lucky for them we knew where to look."

Dutch grunted and Tommy leaned forward as is he had some giant secret to tell, "Really it was for Johnny." He put his hand on Johnny's shoulder, "He couldn't bear to not have you there with us."

Johnny shoved Tommy's hand off him, "Shut it, man."

Tommy leaned back laughing, placing his arms around Barbara and Susan again.

I gave Johnny a smirk and placed my hand over my heart jokingly, "I'm touched you wanted me there."

Johnny avoided my gaze and rolled his eyes but I thought I could detect a blush somewhere on his cheeks but then again it could have been from the wind too.

We got to the Hills in a hurry. They didn't bother to stop at Linda's house and we drove right to Johnny's instead. I got out with the girls and followed everyone inside. I stopped once to look at the house. It was so big. Two stories tall with a lower side five car garage. The porch was about as big as the whole living room in my father's house and the front door alone was twice the size of a normal one. I had never seen anything so amazing.

"What a place!" Barbara said.

I nodded and followed them into the house. The inside was much the same as the outside for how nice it was. The furnishings were downright spectacular. I didn't want to know if I should touch anything.

"Aren't your parents gonna be upset Johnny if the house gets messy?"

Johnny looked back at me, "Maybe. But they won't be home for another week. They went to Tahiti."

Tahiti! I realized Johnny and his family had money but... This was crazy!

I let Barbara and Suzi herd me and Linda into the house further. Music of the day was blasting from one room but I was certain that it could be heard from wherever you were in the house.

Suddenly Jimmy came flying down a staircase, a glass in his hand and a relieved expression on his face. "Thank God Johnny! Dumb ass upstairs just puked his guts on the carpet."

"Damn!" Johnny swore and bolted up the steps after his friend.

Suzi led us past the throngs of people gathered in the house and all the way to the kitchen which was huge. She offered me and Linda a cup of beer and I took it but only sipped it lightly. After seeing my father drink himself to sleep most nights I deemed it better to leave most of it well enough alone.

Barbara patted me on the shoulder, I didn't realize how drunk she was until we were looking right at each other. "Aren't you glad you came?"

"Sure," I said and rolled my eyes.

"Oh don't be so lame! Can't you just have fun?" Susan asked me pleadingly.

"I know!" Barbara said. "Shots!" She turned around and started bustling about. She came back with two shots and handed Linda and I one. "Come on! Drink up!"

Was I lame?  I didn't think I was much different than anyone else... 

Linda looked ready to pass out from the just the beer she drank. I didn't think she held her own very well when it came to alcohol.

Taking my shot I threw it back. It burned on the way down but I still grabbed at Linda's and took it from her so she didn't have to drink it. The second shot barely went down easier and I placed both the empty glasses on the counter. I smiled at Barbara, "Round three!"

I was definitely not lame.

After a few more drinks I could feel myself getting the start of a headache but I pushed through it. I walked over to the window that overlooked the backyard. There was a large pool out back but no one was in it. "You know, I'm going for a swim..."

"A swim?" Linda asked. "But you have no bathing suit!"

"Doesn't matter!" I called out into the throng of people gathered and asked if anyone wanted to swim.

"Hell yeah!" Was that Tommy?

"(Y/N) wait!" I heard Linda call after me but it was no use for I was already making my way out the door and down to the pool that called my name. I couldn't stop giggling. I bent down and touched the water first to test the temperature. Perfect!

I stood up again and started to take off my sweater. I heard howls from behind me but paid them no heed. Some part of me told me I should be embarrassed by what I was doing but another part said that everything was fine and I should just get in the pool already.

My shirt was almost over my head when someone grabbed me roughly from behind. "Who goes there?" I teased and snuck a glance behind me. Johnny was there holding me back from taking my shirt off.

"Don't, do that. You'll regret it in the morning."

"I will not!" I scolded him.

"Yes, you will," He said matter of factly. "Almost the whole school is watching you and your... Antics."

How dare Johnny try to control me. He had no right. "I want to swim!" I struggled against his hold, trying to get away from him.

"Stop, fighting me!" He said through gritted teeth.

Furiously I grabbed him back. If I couldn't get away so I could get in the pool, I would take him with me.

"Shit," He cursed and lost his footing as we struggled against one another. With him unbalanced for a moment, his weight pushed into me and I lost my footing too. One second I was on solid ground and the next I was falling into the body of water next to me.

Somehow, the pool was not as warm as I thought it was. It was much colder and when my head came back to the surface, I was freezing. I blinked the water from my eyes, I swam for the edge of the pool. I tried pulling myself up but my clothes were soaked and weighing me down.

Then there was an arm around me. It was warm and strong as it helped me up out of the water and onto the dry deck. When I looked round I saw Johnny again. He was right behind me and heaving himself out of the water as well. "Looks like you got your swim," He scoffed.

I didn't reply only started to stand up and wring out whatever water I could from my clothes. I was drenched though and the wind coming from the beach didn't help my case as I tried to get warm.

Johnny took off his shoes and wet shirt before he came over to me and picked me up. At first I struggled in his grasp but when I felt how warm he was, I clung on only a little tighter.

"So stupid," He murmured as he carried me back into the house. At first, I thought he was talking to me but then I realized he was saying it to himself.

Linda was waiting at the door and followed our descent down the hallway and upstairs. Johnny dropped me roughly inside a bedroom and immediately began rummaging through the drawers of a dresser along the far wall, his grumbling continuing. When he found something he flung it at me. I barely caught it in time with my slowed down reflexes. It was a shirt, I observed and a big one at that.

When Johnny came over to me, he shoved a pair of sweatpants in my hands too. He pointed at the open bathroom. "Go change."

I didn't need him to tell me twice. I took the opportunity to get away from him, and closed the bathroom door shut behind me. I stripped off my wet clothes, suddenly not liking that I had wanted to go for a swim.

Since I didn't know what to do with my soggy clothing, I hung it up on the shower arm where the curtain was attached to. I proceeded to put on the shirt and pants Johnny had given me and found that I was warmer the second I did so.

When I came back out of the bathroom, I saw Johnny tugging a clean shirt over his own head too. He must have heard me because he spun around. His eyes only lingering for a split second before he went to the door, opening it. "Keep an eye on her. I'll be back," He said. I was wondering who he was talking to when Linda appeared in the doorway.

When she saw me she came further into the room, "I'm so sorry. I should never have let you do that!"

I waved her off, suddenly realizing how tired I was. "I'm just going to rest for awhile, okay?"

Linda looked concerned, "Okay."

I didn't have the energy to give her a smile, only turned around and made my way to the bed. I didn't even pull back the covers, just laid right on top and snuggled into one of the soft, plush pillows. I just needed to sleep for a little bit. Then I'd be able to go home and have enough energy to face my father. 

 It didn't take me long to fall into a dreamless sleep.