{Wow, I haven't been on in forever. I'm really sorry, but with school, volleyball, dance, etc. it's really hard to find time for Wattpad. But I'll try my best to update often!

PEACE AND LOVE L***}

"Did she really say that?" Prudence's eyebrows were raised.

"Yeah, and she wasn't subtle about it either!" Marcy exclaimed with a giggle. Prudence looked away with a smirk.

"She's aways one to talk," she said, receiving another laugh from Marcy.

The two walked down the street in synchronicity. Prudence's usual ponytail bounced as she walked, while Marcy's freshly-cut bob stayed still. The two held their books in their crossed arms, gossiping and making their way across the road.

"Any news on John?" Marcy suddenly said, her expression one of interest.

"What do you mean?" Prudence asked, trying to seem nonchalant. She stared straight ahead as thoughts of John that she had previously shoved out began to pop into her head.

"Y'know, after the Casbah and all that. Did anything happen?"

Prudence sighed. Marcy really didn't know when to stop.

"Nothing happened." She plastered on a smile, and quickly turned her head to her friend, then just as swiftly turned it back away. "We didn't talk afterwards."

In reality, it was much more complicated than that. After John had told her they were "just friends" a week ago, Prudence avoided him. In school, she sat in the corner of the room, near the door, so she could leave as soon as class was over. Whenever she saw him, she looked away, not letting him catch her eye. On her way home, she began to take a different route, away from the record store that John tended to visit. Prudence couldn't bear to see him anymore.

"Oh. Okay." Marcy stopped at the corner, then turned to the right. "See you after school!" she said cheerily, and then walked away.

Prudence sent a small wave, and turned to the left, where the art school loomed in front of her. She took a deep breath, and walked towards it, clutching her books tighter. She looked around. John was nowhere in sight. Her pace sped up as she neared the stairs to the entrance, bumping into people as she walked. She looked at her feet, not wanting to make eye contact with him, wherever he was.

As she neared the door, she reached out to push it open.

A hand grabbed her outstretched arm, tugging her to the side. Prudence dropped her books as she was pulled away from the door.

"What was that bleedin' for?" She shouted, looking up angrily. Her expression turned to shock as she saw who had pulled her.

John smirked down at her. "What a foul word comin' from such a dainty girl's mouth," he chided.

Prudence kept staring at him. After seven days of evading him, she had nearly forgotten how handsome his face was. In her mind, he was a boy in a leather jacket, with big hair and perfect eyes. But now, with him standing in front of her, she recognized everything else: the prominent nose, the strong jawline, the quirky smile that, she realized, she missed. His eyes gleamed brighter than she remembered.

Then she remembered what he had said, and he looked away. She turned to pick up her books.

John stood still, a bit surprised. "Aren't you going to say anything then?" he asked, folding his arms.

Prudence continued collecting her things. "Why did you pull me?" she said quietly.

John, satisfied with the question, walked around in front of her and kneeled down to help. "Well, I noticed that we haven't talked in some time." Prudence felt her cheeks reddening. John didn't seem to notice, looking down as he picked up papers. "And I had some things I needed to discuss with you," he added, his voice softening the slightest amount.

Prudence brushed a stray hair behind her ear, looking up at John. He continued to stare downwards, his eyebrows crinkling.

John lifted a sheet of paper and held it close to his face, squinting. He could barely make out a figure, a person holding something. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his glasses. Prudence watched as he put them on, Buddy Holly-esque frames that made his eyes look even deeper. John focused once more on the paper.

A man stood, his back facing John. He was dressed in Teddy boy attire: tight dungarees, boots, a leather jacket with the collar up. The jacket was very detailed, every wrinkle and fold drawn, and the leather reflected in the light. His hair stood up in a greased quiff, and his legs were spread apart, one slightly bent. A guitar was slung around his body, the strap tight against his back. One arm held the neck of the guitar, and the other was thrown off to the side. A spotlight shone on the man, and smoke swirled from the side of his head, as if there was a cigarette in his mouth. It looked like a photograph, but John could see the neat pencil marks along the sides of the paper.

Prudence, realizing what John was looking at, bent forward to attempt to snatch it out of his hand.

"Can I have that, please?" she snapped, but John turned away before she could grab the drawing.

"Is this....." John's eyes widened as he leaned against the school building, still staring at the paper.

"Please give it back," Prudence said, her voice lowering. She felt the heat rise on her cheeks.

John looked at her. "Is this supposed to be me?" His voice was hushed.

Prudence looked away, tears brimming in her eyes. "Please give it back," she whispered again.

John looked back down at the paper. "This is amazing," he said.

Prudence, surprised, said nothing. She kept staring at the ground, her vision blurry from the tears.

John slowly took of his glasses and replaced them in his pocket. He crawled closer to Prudence. Reaching out, he touched her chin, and turned her head to face her. His eyes were soft.

"Don't cry," he said quietly. Then he leaned in.

He placed his lips on her, for a split second, then pulled back. To Prudence, it felt like an infinity. As he pulled away, she let out a small breath, closing her eyes. She held the kiss in her mind, feeling its sweetness and gentle touch. She felt a wave of relief come over her.

As she opened her eyes, she saw John was looking at her still. His eyes were full of concern.

"I'm sorry, Prudence," he said. "Sorry I was being such an idiot."

Prudence wanted to say something, but no words came out of her mouth. Instead, a smile crept onto her face. John saw it and understood. A silent joy flooded his eyes.

He looked down at the drawing, which now lied on the ground. Picking it up, he looked at her.

"Can I keep this?" he asked. "It might be worth somethin' one day, you know," he added, the smirk back on his face.

Prudence let out a laugh and nodded.

John stood up, brushing his hands on his pants, and then reached out to Prudence. She took his hand, and got up.

The two walked, hand in hand, into the school.