Curiosity Kills

Johnnie’s P.O.V

All eyes are on me as I walk down the hallway at school trying to get to my locker. I know I should be used to it but I’m not. The torture’s been a thing for the past 6 years...

I make it to my locker and just as always there are notes taped to the door. I rip the paper off and throw it on the floor. After getting my books for A block I’m surrounded by the popular kids. But there’s one who immediately catches my eye every time she’s around. The pain of being thrown back against my locker door is what brings me back to reality. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her mouthing “Fight back.“, but I just stand there taking the beating. Until the cute girl grabs the dude hitting me and pulls him away and I slide down onto the floor,

“Dammit, Noah!! Stop you’re hurting him!!.“, she says.

“Why the fuck do you care, Brie!! Listen if you feel a certain way about this freak then you need to tell me.“, the Noah dude says.

“Baby, I don’t, it’s just wrong to beat someone up for no reason.“, she says.

Baby?? She’s dating that douchebag??

“Whatever. I don’t give a fuck. Don’t forget about my place tonight at 7.“, he says and then walks off with his friends.

When he’s completely out of sight she bends down and offers me her hand. I stupidly take it and she helps me up.

“Why did you stop him??” I ask her.

“Because that’s not right. None of it is. The notes on your locker the pranks they play on you in the locker room them jumping you... You don’t deserve it.“, she says staring up into my eyes.

“Thank you. I-I’m Johnnie, by the way.”

“I know who you are.” she starts. ” I mean you’re welcome... I mean I’m Brieanneah. but you can call me Brie if you want to.”

I feel her hand tighten on mine and that’s when I realize we’re still holding hands. We both look down at the same time and she lets go of my hand. I look her up and down taking in her beauty, her short pink pleated skirt, white knee-high socks with a pink stripe at the top, pink high-top converse, white skin-tight shirt, long honey brown hair, sparkling dark green eyes, and soft thin lips. When I come back to reality I realize how deeply she’s blushing. I watch as she shyly brushes a strand of her hair away from her face.

“If you would like... I could sit with you at lunch today??“, she offers.

“You don’t have to. I’ll be fine.“, I say and then notice her facial expression sadden, “But thank you for the offer. “, I pause to look at her again and only see that she looks sadder...“You can sit with me if you wanna.“.

“Really?!?!.“, she happily asks.

“Yes.“. I say.

The bell rings and Brieanneah and I go to our classes.

Brieanneah’s P.O.V

I feel really good about myself right now. I did something I’ve been wanting to do. I stood up for the emo kid. It took a lot of nerve because my boyfriend was the one bullying him, but it was worth it. Johnnie doesn’t deserve what my boyfriend and his friends do to him, none of it’s right. I’ve always been a bystander when Johnnie was being bullied, but with me being too scared to do anything I would only silently encourage him to fight back. He never would. He would only smile at me like an idiot. I wonder why he does it though. I don’t know why but Johnnie’s the only thing I’m able to think about right now...

Johnnie's P.O.V

A B and C block fly by fast. Now it’s lunch break. Everyone stares at me as I make my way to the table in the back corner of the cafeteria. It’s sunny outside today so my corner isn’t as dark as usual. I look up from the table and notice a group of girls staring at me and giggling. When they see me looking at them they blush and cover their faces. Brie is with them. She starts walking over to my table followed by the flustered girls.

I said she could sit with me not all of her girlfriends could sit with me. The girls sit down and two of them scoot their chairs as close as possible to mine. I scoot back and my eyes meet Brie’s.

“Are you not gonna eat Johnnie??“, Brie asks me.

“No, I uh forgot my money at home.“, I quietly reply.

“I can buy your lunch.“, Brie says with a smile.

“Oh no, you don’t need to, you’re already sitting with me and you stood up for me, you’ve done more than enough already.“, I tell her.

“If you won’t let me buy you a lunch at least eat and drink this...“, she says as she pulls a monster energy drink and a bag of chips out of her purse.

“Okay. Thanks, Brie.“, I say as I take the energy drink and chips from her.

“You’re welcome,” she says with an adorable sweet smile.

“Brieanneah?? What the fuck do you think you’re doing??“, a voice from behind us says.

Brie and I turn to look.

“Fight back this time okay.“, Brie whispers to me, “I wanted to be nice, Johnnie doesn’t deserve to sit alone, Noah,” She says.

I take a sip of my monster and prepare for the beating. I’m pulled up from my seat and thrown against the wall. Brie starts to yell “Fight back, Johnnie!!! Fight back!!!.“, I punch Noah hard in the face, and that punch is followed by multiple more. I then pin him to the wall and continue to punch his stupid ass face.

As I continue to punch him I hear a sickening crunch, I continue, and then another crunch. I stop punching him cause I know I’ve done too much. I look at his fucked up face with a broken nose.

I turn around and see everyone standing behind me with a smile. I wipe the blood on my fists off on my black skinny jeans. Brie shoves through the crowd and throws her arms up around me.

“Johnnie!! You did it, Johnnie!! You stood up for yourself.“, Brie exclaims.

“Johnnie!!! Johnnie!!! Johnnie!!! Johnnie!!!“, everyone starts to chant.

I’m too caught up in my sudden increase in popularity to notice Brie writing something on my arm with a black permanent marker until she stands up on her tiptoes and whispers “Call me.“, then motions to the teachers coming into the cafeteria.

“What happened here??“, one of them asks.

“I stood up for myself.“, I say proudly and make eye contact with the teacher who asked.

“Well beating another student this bad is unacceptable. Get your stuff and go to the principles office.”

Sitting in the principles office and listening to her ramble on about how I’m suspended for 3 days and in charge of paying medical bills, isn’t fun at all but at least I get to go home after this.

“Johnnie Guilbert??“, she asks.

“Yep, that’s me. Can I go now??“, I say

“This is going on your record. and yes you can go.“.

When I make it home my mom is sitting in the living room waiting for me.

“Mom, I know what your gonna say.“, I sigh

“Johnnie, I’m proud of you. You finally fought back.“, she says jumping up and hugging me.

“So, I’m not grounded??“, I ask.

“No you’re not.“, she starts saying, “You did what you needed to do...What’s that on your arm??“, she asks

“Oh uhh it’s nothing.“, I say.

“It’s a phone number. You have a girlfriend.“, she says teasingly

“Yes ahh shit I mean no.“, I nervously reply

“It’s okay I’ll leave you alone.“, she says.

Dismissing myself, I go upstairs to my room and sprawl out across my bed, and stare at my phone screen. I glance at my arm...

Why’d she given me her number?? I don’t know, does she want to get to know me?? I don’t know. Will I ever know?? Maybe. Do I want to know?? fuck yeah, I wanna know. But my curiosity is killing me.