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audience
favorite was--hands down, it was Spawn of Satan.
    The judges then passed their results to the
majorette. She announced the top three bands in no particular order
first, and of course one was Johnny’s band. She then told them who
was number three, then number two. And Katie was not surprised to
learn that Spawn of Satan would be playing at the prom that
spring.
    The crowd was excited and so was the band.
The principal then got up to thank everyone and send all of them on
their merry way. Katie ran up to Johnny’s band to congratulate
them. Trent saw her first, and she said, “You guys were fantastic!”
Still shy, he smiled softly and nodded, then said “Thanks” in a
voice so quiet Katie could barely hear him over the din in the
gym.
    Riley and Johnny, however, were as loud as
could be. Riley gave Johnny a high five. “That was awesome!”
    Johnny replied, “Did you see all the girls?
We’re gonna get laid tonight! Take your pick, man!”
    Katie felt the blood drain from her face.
Crestfallen, she steeled herself. How could she tell her best
friend she had a sudden love for him when his plans were to have
sex with the cutest-looking, most available slut nearby? She
couldn’t. She bit the inside of her cheek as she felt hot tears
form in the corner of her eyes. She forced a smile and tackled
Johnny from behind, hoping she would look and could act like her
usual self, because she didn’t know that she could pull it off.
    He turned around. “Hey, buddy! So, what’d
you think?”
    Katie kept the too-wide smile plastered on
her face. “You guys were great. I had no idea you were that good.
You’re professional, Johnny, all of you.”
    He hugged her and kissed her on the
forehead. Then he pulled away but lowered his head to look her
straight in the eye. “You’re not just saying that, are you?”
    Katie was pretty sure Johnny did get laid
that night, and probably by more than one girl. At least that was
the rumor floating around school. She tried not to think about it.
And she tried to keep it a deep, dark, buried secret, but she loved
Johnny as more than a friend from that point on until the last time
she saw him, pale, weak, and sickly, darkening her doorstep, a
broken man.
     

Chapter
Four
     
     
    “What have you been up to since I saw you
last?”
    Katie wasn’t prepared to tell Johnny the
whole truth. Not yet, anyway. She played around with her salad and
finally stabbed a cherry tomato with her fork. “Well, you already
know I bought a house. I did that this spring. I have a huge garden
in full swing this summer that I hope I can keep up with. I started
volunteering at the animal shelter last year. They’re working
toward being a no-kill shelter, and having volunteers helps out.
You know, less money on salaries. And--uh--well, you know I became
a vegetarian. I actually did that about two years ago.”
    Johnny started pouring another glass of beer
and interrupted her. “So what the hell inspired that, Miss
American?”
    The waitress showed up at the table with two
pizzas. “Careful,” she warned, and slid Johnny’s onto the metal
table stand. Katie’s small pizza sat on the table on top of wooden
pizza peel. The waitress set one plate in front of Johnny and
another next to Katie’s salad. She smiled. “Can I get you anything
else?”
    Johnny looked at Katie who shook her head.
“Nope. I think we’re good. Thanks.”
    “Enjoy.”
    Katie took a deep breath and slid a tiny
slice of her pizza onto her plate. “Well, I made the choice for
dozens of reasons.”
    Johnny used his spatula to slide two pieces
of his pizza onto his plate. He tilted the plate toward Katie, the
discs of pepperoni curled up on the pizza, tiny bowls for the
orange grease inside them. “But how can you say no to this
deliciousness?”
    “Easily.” She took a bite from her pizza.
“And if I were really good, I’d give up cheese too. But I just
can’t.”
    “You’re crazy.”
    Katie managed to explain to Johnny