The gossip had started as soon as you and Johnny started arriving at school together.

Hand in hand. He always carrying your backpack and a stupid smile, you with your eyes shining as if nothing else mattered. But for some people, it seemed that it mattered too much.

Bella, for example. One of the most popular girls in school - and clearly frustrated since Johnny Kavanagh chose you and not her.

Since that day, the comments began. Small, mean. Insinuating that you weren’t good enough, smart enough, beautiful enough. And that afternoon, in the hallway near the closets, she decided to go straight to the point.

“Wow, Kavanagh really has a peculiar taste, right?” Bella commented loud enough for you to hear, surrounded by her friends. “First he goes after Shannon, now you. It seems that he enjoys the charity project.”

You stopped, closing the closet slowly.

“Does he like girls who can’t even tie their own shoelaces without looking lost?”

“The ones that turn red just hearing his name?”

“Maybe he feels sorry. Cute of him, right?”

You took a deep breath, biting your tongue, because you knew that if you answered as you wanted, you would end up suspended.

But then, a familiar voice echoed behind you.

“Repeat that. Very loud now, to see if I listen better.”

Johnny

Silence fell in the corridor like a heavy curtain. Bella widened her eyes. He approached slowly, his eyes hard, his shoulders tense, as if he were fighting against the urge to explode.

“It’s none of your account who I’m dating. But since you’re so curious...” - he put his arm around your waist, pulling you close - “...I’ll make it very clear.”

He looked you in the eyes, and you saw there a mixture of affection and anger.

“She is the best thing that happened to me. There is more courage in one finger than you in the whole body. And do you know what’s funny? She never needed to lower herself or invent lies to get my attention.”

Bella crossed her arms, trying to keep the pose. “Wow, how defensive. I just commented.”

“You commented because you can’t stand to see someone happy with what you never had.” He smiled, sarcastically. “Go try another school. Maybe there someone will fall for yours.”

He pulled you by the hand and took you away from there, ignoring the whispers, the looks. Only when they arrived at the parking lot, he stopped.

“Sorry.” he said, looking at the floor. “I just... I can’t stand still watching them treat you as if you weren’t amazing.”

You approached, took his face with both hands and smiled.

“I’m fine. You make me feel good.”

“Even?” He whispered, touching his forehead to yours.

“Even.”

He was quiet for a second, then laughed low.

“All this just because I like a girl.”

You smiled. “All this just because I like a boy.”

And then he kissed you. In the middle of the parking lot. Without caring who I saw. Because loving you has never been a secret - and defending you would always be your priority.