Sharon

I hate Louis Dimucci! I seriously hate him, like way more than I've ever hated anyone before. There was this girl in third grade who used to pick on me cos my hair was curly, well I hate Louis even more than her.

'Sharon, don't you think you're being a little dramatic?' Rhonda asks. We're in my bedroom trying on our outfits for the talent show, yet again.

'Dramatic? You weren't there Rhonda, he took me to this godforsaken place and expected...well you know what he expected, and when I said no, he said....' I can't go on, I'm furious he could even say that!

Rhonda shrugs. 'I guess your right.' I bet Goose has put her up to this on Louis's behalf.

'Well I think you should be flattered,' Paulette says and I scoff. 'I'm serious Sharon, he obviously likes you although god knows why.'

I throw a magazine at her so she knows how dumb I think she is. 'So what if he likes me, he has no respect.'

 Paulette frowns and speaks slowly as if I'm an idiot. 'Sharon guys can't just stop.'

Rhonda laughs. 'Of course they can stop, jeez Paulette what guys have you been going out with?' Paulette shuts up now cos she knows she's being stupid.

'Fine dump Dimucci I don't care,' she says sulking.

'I already have.' No one is going to treat me like this. They both look shocked.

'But what about the code,' Rhonda says.

'I couldn't care less about it, but I won't date anyone else so it doesn't matter anyway.' I've already thought about it, Steph has the right idea staying single, these guys have no respect.

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Davey

Dimucci's been miserable all week cos Sharon won't talk to him although he's trying to pretend he's not bothered. I can tell he is though.

'Look you're off the hook,' I tell him. He should be grateful to be shot of her cos she's not the sort of girl who would be easy to dump.

'Yeah, yeah,' he says as we make our way down the corridor to our lockers.

'There are plenty of other girls.'

He seems to cheer up a bit at that suggestion. 'Yeah, maybe I'll show her what she's missing.' He sounds cocky but I can't think why he'd want to go and tie himself down again. I can see Sharon stood by her locker talking to Stephanie and I think we should hang back till she's gone but Louis heads straight for her.

'Hey Sharon,' he says stopping by her locker. She pulls a face and turns her back.

'Leave her alone Dimucci,' Steph growls and the look she gives him should have had him back right off but he doesn't.

'Stay out of it Zinone,' he snarls and she rolls her eyes at Sharon.

'Go away Louis,' Sharon says slamming her locker shut so loudly everyone is now watching them. I start to giggle even though it's not funny.

'Make me,' Louis says standing right over her so she can't get away.

'Get out of my way,' she says but she doesn't sound so confident now, and I feel a bit sorry for her. He's being a jerk. Sharon tries to get around him and he puts his arm out stopping her.

'Not till we've sorted this out,' he says to her.

'It is sorted, it's over.'

'Who are you to decide?'

Sharon tries to push past him again, and it's getting embarrassing cos everyone's watching them. 

'Will you just let me go!' She raises her voice and Johnny of all people comes over.

'Leave her Lou,' Johnny says placing his hand on Dimucci's arm. No way does Johnny like public scenes, we're supposed to be cool. Louis lowers his arm and Sharon scurries away.

'She'll come round,' Johnny says. 'She's just gotta make you suffer first. So take your punishment like a good boy and you'll be back with her by the end of the week.' 

'I guess.' Dimucci smirks but I hope Johnny's got it wrong.

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Louis

I take Johnny's advice and try to leave Sharon alone for a while, I know what her temper's like so he might have a point. By the end of the week she's not exactly avoiding me but she's barely speaking either. However, she's stopped with all the filthy looks and snide comments to her friends.

'So do you still want me to help with the talent show?' I ask in homeroom on Friday morning. I know this is her weak spot cos she's desperate to win.

She glares at me pursing her lips. 'Yes but only cos it's too late to find anyone else.' That's a lie, half the guys in our class would be lining up to take my place.

'Ok, I'll see you at rehearsal.'

'Fine!' I think she might be trying not to smile. I don't say any more, I'll get under her defences with the soft approach.

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Rehearsals go well and as Sharon's act is the last one on we're pretty much left by ourselves afterwards. Her so-called friends always leave her to do the tidying up.

'How long are you going to ignore me for?'

She looks up from the box she was packing. 'I'm not ignoring you, I'm just not speaking to you.'

I can't help but laugh. 'That's the same thing, Sharon.' She frowns but I can tell she's not really angry. 'Look I'm sorry about the other night, I was totally in the wrong.'

'How could you treat me like that? And to say what you did?'

I shrug, I know I was out of line. 'I didn't mean it, what I said. I admit I wanted to get you alone, well obviously I do, and I thought that was what you wanted as well.'

She steps back, folding her arms across her chest. 'How many times do I have to tell you no? And you still keep pressurising me, all the time.'

'Look it won't happen again, if you don't want to do it then ok, I'll wait.' She looks at me, and I can tell she's not convinced. 'I mean it, Sharon, it's you I want to be with, the other stuff...it doesn't matter so much.'

'You know I have a good mind to tell my brother what you did.'

I humour her, if she was gonna tell her brother she already would have. 'I guess I'd deserve that, and if you told your dad as well.'

She fake laughs. 'Like he'd care! He only remembers I exist when he needs to play the family man.'

I feel a bit sorry for her cos I think she has a point. 'Sharon I'm sure your dad cares, he was giving me the third degree remember?'

'Yeah but that's cos you were there in front of him, he'll have forgotten you exist by now.'

'Has something happened?' I'm glad we're not to talk about the bomb shelter fiasco anymore.

'No, he's just being his usual disinterested self. I daresay he'll be in touch for my birthday, no doubt Angela will remind him.'

'I'm sure he'll remember,' I say although he does seem like a shit parent.

'Yeah maybe.' She turns to throw more clothes in the box.

'Well you know I'll remember, I wouldn't forget something like that.'

She stops what she's doing and looks at me. 'Really Louis?' She sounds like she doesn't believe me but I know she's posturing.

'Yeah really.' I take her hand and pull her towards me. She's looking up at me and I kiss her cos I know the moment is right. She doesn't respond at first but after a moment she's kissing me back and I know we're back together again.

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