author’s note

hey, this is Another Lie and this is one of my very first stories i’m making! this is also my first story i’ve actually posted publicly, so i hope you enjoyyy. ik that it’s still short, but i will be working on this constantly to continue posting chapters. fun fact, none of this-for the most part-is real, so i hope you like the experience of my mental space as i pour out the many thoughts in my mind.

pls know, i am NOT a professional whatsoever. there may be some errors, but i still hope you can connect with the characters, and maybe, js maybe enjoy this storyyy.

there are also pinterest boards i made for the characters, so feel free to learn their aesthetics and personalities. they also might be a semi ish spoilers, or a lil sneak peak on how the story goess.

if you have any thoughts, recommendations, ideas, etc., feel free to comment and i will try my best to reply. i will most likely respond late - an hour is the least - but i will reply back (sorry!). now know that i understand all the emotions and thoughts that julia goes through, and i love every character dearly. I hope you enjoy julia’s and jason’s world, have fun reading!!

• the author, ofc. (pinterest username)

Playlist

Those Eyes - New West

this is what autumn feels like - JVKE

Lovesick - Laufey

her - JVKE, Annika Wells

Here with Me - d4vd

I Can’t Handle Change - Roar

back to friends - sombr

pov - Ariana Grande

Small Rainbows - Anthony Lazaro

Love Me Not - Ravyn Lenae

Black Friday - Tom Odell

This Is How It Feels - d4vd, Laufey

So Easy (To Fall in Love) - Olivia Dean

No One Noticed - The Marias

Nothing - Bruno Major

I Like Me Better - Lauv

late night thoughts - Belfa, ft. kayli marie

Forget-Me-Not - Laufey

Perfect - Ed Sheeran

Chapter One

I’m late. Of course I am. I slap a hair tie on my wrist. With my phone clutched in hand, I run down the stairs and toss my bag over my shoulder. Swallowing a pill, I chug water and snatch the car keys from the drawer, then open the unnecessarily loud garage door. I practically launch myself in the car and throw my bag on the passenger seat.

A life saving five minutes to spare as I pull into the parking lot. Thank God. I slam the door shut and step on campus. What period do I have?

I take a sharp turn on my heel as I go through my same routine half awake. One might assume that after all that rushing, I would be awake by now. One would be wrong. Kids are lingering in the halls as I open my locker, and pull out a textbook on instinct. I slam my locker shut, and risk a glance at my phone for the first time. How in the world do I have two minutes left? I shove my phone back in my pocket and tighten my grip on the books in my hands. I enter my classroom and control my breath as if I did not run a hundred miles per hour. Not bothering to look at anyone or notice anything, I move past a row of tables.

What day is it-

I stumble and nearly face plants from tripping. Instinctively, I mumble a sorry, then the thoughts quickly align in my head. Who the heck left there legs out-

I turn around and see a guy in a casual tee and meet his gaze.

Idiot.

“Well..?”

“Well?” He responds, and he has the audacity to let the corners of his lips curve up.

“Couldn’t move?” I finally found the words after too long of a second.

“Guess not.”

So he’s stupid. What type of lame response is that? I quickly decide this idiot is not worth the attention, and just turn on my heel and walk toward my seat. I slump down, and toss my bag on the floor. Placing my textbook down, I actually look at the textbook I brought. An English textbook. What day is it again?

“All items off your desk except writing tools and extra papers. The English test will start once you receive your papers.”

Holy crap, it’s English today. Why am I still stuck in last trimester’s schedule? I did study for this, it’s just I mixed up the days is all..

“First period was so boring today,” Lena does her usual ramble about her first period experience, which is nowhere near the same as mine. “What about you, how was your first period?”

“Test.” I mumble as I place my English book in my locker.

“Bright and early?” Lena questions while she locks her locker and checks it with two test yanks.

“Bright and early.” I reply dryly, locking my own locker as well.

“Sounds terrible. Anyways, that one guy that I saw actually works at that coffee shop. I knew it was him when he was leaving after his shift.”

“Mhm.” I respond, nodding when it seems right. Turning on my heel, I continue walking with her as she continues rambling.

“And he- are you even listening?” I finally glance at her for once and give her a look.

“You know me, I’m not get that type of stuff.”

“And you’re boring. But still, I could've sworn that he looked at me.”

“Wow. Normal human eye contact.”

Her eyes start to look dreamy and I roll my own eyes in response. The warning bell rings as we enter the classroom.

“Aren’t you supposed to be with Mrs. Wilson right now?”

I raise my eyebrow, “What do you mean, it’s..” Third trimester. Not second. Third.

“Crap.” I mutter and rush out of the classroom as I hear Lena scream at me to take my time. I take a sharp corner, pass a billion lockers, and finally enter the correct classroom. The bell rings and I find my way to my usual seat. The class chatter is, thankfully, still loud which allows me to blend in as some other kids are still lounging around.

“Discussion questions for this chapter are due tomorrow.”

Yay. I open up my laptop, remembering my other works and open a new google doc. All I need to do is rant out a billion word essay. Fun.

***

The bell rings. Lunch. Finally, I toss my bag over my shoulder and head out the classroom. Turning a corner, I move through the crowd and keep my head down. That stupid English test this morning is still haunting me.

I reach my locker and place a book inside. I close my locker shut, and hear a familiar voice coming from behind me.

“..And he was not a jerk for once. Jules, did you survive the test?” Emma asks.

“It was great.” I respond dryly and close my locker to see a phone practically shoved in my face. I back up, looking at some guy’s insta with over thousands of followers. Before I fire a retort, they interrupt my complaint instead.

“I found him! I found his account!” Lena practically beams and she squeals in excitement while Emma smiles at her.

“Did you stalk him or did he give it to you?”

“Everyone stalks these days, Jules.” Lena scrolls on her phone as I follow their lead to the cafeteria.

Why do I even bother?

I follow in step behind them as we enter the cafeteria. A burst of chatter fills the room as we walk past a group of kids laughing their heads off. I slump down on the open seat while they follow pursuit. Voices overlapped as I sat myself down at the end of the table.

“Isn’t he also in his senior year?”

“He’s actually so fine.”

Voices overlapped as I sat myself down at the end of the table. Emma and Lena continue rambling on about their own love lives, leaving myself to my own thoughts. I took it today, right? Someone asks a question, I believe in what the next period is. She’s probably talking to Lena-

“Jules, you good?” So she was talking to me.

“Yea, sorry, spacing out,” As usual. I chew on the inside of my cheek and finally answer. “I think social studies.”

The bell rings faster than usual. I muster up a smile as Emma walks to her other class. I wave bye to Lena, and walk through the crowds and step inside the classroom. I make my way to my seat and look over the agenda in my head. What is happening today?
“All right, class, today is the start of your projects.”

Oh great.

“These presentations will be due in a month.”

It could be worse.

“And you will be partnered.”

And that’s worse. I glance around the room, seeing my potential options. Great, all of them pretty much suck. That’s harsh, I’ll live I guess.

“Jospeh and Jace, Roan and Rena, Lillian and Ryan…”

Collective groans and squeals fill the classroom as the names continue to be listed. I awkwardly shift in my seat, keeping my head down as I flip through random pages in my textbook.

“Julia and Jason.”

Who? I’m not exactly great at remembering names. My eyes drift around the classroom, finding a guy in a casual tee with black hair.

You’ve gotta be kidding me.

He has a hand in his bag and places a notebook inside. My leg starts bouncing on the floor, as more problems start filling my brain.

Someone pulls out a chair and sits on the desk right next to me.

“Doing well, partner?”

I don’t bother responding to him and just pull out my laptop from my bag.

“Gonna ignore me all day or what?” Mind you, it has barely been a minute.

“You’ll live.”

“So she does speak, wonderful.”

I roll my eyes in response and sign into my account.

“Geez, you have that many tabs open?”

“Grab your laptop, slowpoke.”

“Your laptop will crash with that many tabs open.”

I finally whipped my head and deadpan him. He raises his hands in mock surrender.

“Relax, you’ll live,” He uses the same gesture I had done. “This will be easy.”

Liar.

“I’m not failing this stupid project because of you, so hurry up and sign into your account.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He mocks the tone and lazily types in his password to finally open a blank doc. We start off by taking brief notes on the assignment to get the gist of it. I’m still staring at my own fresh tab, still waiting.

And he still hasn’t apologized.

“Gonna start working, boss?” He taps his pen on the table, then looks towards me.

“Well..?” I trail off, staring at him for his response.

“Well?”

The repeated scene of words replays in my head.

“Are you going to apologize?” I stare at him, the rehearsed question that has been screaming in my head finally gets said out loud.

“For?” The corner of his lips have the audacity to curve up.

“You know what for.” I mutter, and look away from his gaze. I don’t have time for him. I don’t have time for this.

This is gonna be one long trimester.

Chapter Two

“Hi, how can I help you?” My words drill through the usual steps. The same old routine. The lady asks for an iced espresso and pays with her card. I give a smile and ask the repeated question to the next person in line.

I turn away and grab a plastic cup to pour the awaiting beverage inside.

“Order for Rodriguez.”

The cafe is louder than usual. I walk over to another printed receipt and find one with a protein shake. A girl in apron looks down at the receipt, looking lost.

“I’ve got it.” I nod and grab the receipt from her, supplies coming back to my memory.

“Oh, are you sure?” She hesitates before handing the receipt to me.

“Of course, no worries.” I muster up a smile, that honestly feels genuine enough, and she mutters a thanks as another kid calls for help.

What was her name again?

I start moving quicker and pour milk in the memorized mixture, then place that carton back in the fridge. Who, honestly, remembers anyone's names? I don’t realize that I am scooping powder into the cup and a slight twist of my hand has the powder flying on my apron.

Crap.

I pat myself down, and just continue finishing the drink.

***

I hate math. It sucks. This stupid problem is not clicking, and I do not have time to be dwelling on a singular question. I look down at another question.

Make that multiple.

I glance at the time. Only 11:36. That’s a record, honestly. With a rerun of my agenda in my head, there is just one assignment I need to finish. A conclusion.

Why do you need me to conclude what you have just read?

I rub my face in my hands and start typing. At that, I hear a rhythmic noise against my bed.

“We can’t play now, Bruno.”

I turn around and see the huge German shepherd’s tail thumping on my pillow, a ball in his paws. He lets out an exaggerated sign and rests his head on his paws. Drama king.

I turn around again and look at my huge rant. What else was I supposed to do? I look down at my papers and find a hidden math sheet peeking out at me. This should be fun.

***

Running can be fun. That moment of freedom, running from everything, is just a great experience. It is as though nothing and no one can stop you.

Being late to class is not. I swear, I literally left early so I could walk. And yet, I end up speed walking when I reach my locker. Slamming my locker shut, I slow my pace once I enter the classroom with two minutes to spare.

Awesome. I start passing a row of tables when the familiar scene kicks in my head. I narrow my eyes as I see him stretching out on his seat. I have to purposely go all the way around the desk to make my way to my seat. Before I sit down, I subtly turn around to give this Jason a death glare just to find a smirk appearing on his face.

Idiot.

Slumping down on my chair, I run through whatever is happening today. Which I have no idea what that would be. I chew the inside of my cheek and place a strand of  hair behind my ear. The teacher starts giving out the usual daily instructions and I am barely processing whatever words he is saying.

***

“He can be both a jerk and sweet all at the same time,” Emma says, glancing over at a group of boys. “I hope he takes me to the dance this school year.”

“Ya’ll are dating. I would hope so, too.” Lena responds, taking a sip out of her overly decorated water bottle.

“And one time, we were hanging out and while we were sitting down, he literally had his leg brush mine. On purpose. He also-”
“Oh my word, not everyone has a love life, Em. We get it.” Lena interrupts, fiddling with the zipper on her bag.

“Oh don’t worry, you’ll find a guy eventually.” Emma smiles, her eyes looking dreamy.

“And that, I better,” Lena says, and starts going off about her type. I roll my eyes at their rambles and put away my lunch in my bag. “What about you, what’s your type?”

“Me?”

“Yea, you, Em already has a boyfriend and I will find one. So?” Lena glances at Em, then looks at me.

“No thanks, I’m okay,” I shrug, hauling my bag on one shoulder. “You know me, I don’t get that stuff.”

“You’re insane.” Lena stares at me as though I dropped a bomb.

“I’m reasonable.”

Lena crinkles her nose, still staring at me as though I’m speaking nonsense. “And how is that reasonable?”

The bell rings and I get up, fiddling with the strap on my bag. I offer Lena a small smile and she mutters about me lying on this.

“We’ll see you later, Jules.” Emma grabs Lena’s arm without looking at her, already halfway down the halls. I wave to them, then turn around to my next class and step inside.

Chapter Three

My screen finally loads after a hundred years as I pull out my notebook from my bag. The goal is to run through the rubric and figure out the theme focus. I take one glance at him and roll my eyes as he stretches on the chair for a thousand years.

“Look through the rubric.” I say, not bothering to look at him as he pulls out his computer.

“Yes, ma’am.” He finally signs in and opens a new tab.

I look through the rubric, which turns out to be an oral history project. The key part to the project is that we have to find a person to interview. Great.

 “See? Isn’t this easy?.” He smirks and we haven’t even done anything. He barely has even made an effort into any of this.

I snort and scroll through the rubric, looking over at things that seem important. Twice. I don’t even notice what he’s doing until I hear him mutter something that sounds like a curse under his breath. Subtly glancing towards his direction, I see Jason staring at a math sheet as if it had insulted him.

“We’re in this class for a reason.” My voice is still calm, but doesn’t change the fact I’m slowly getting more pissed at him. I don’t bother hiding the fact I’m staring straight at him now.

“Whatever.” He doesn’t look up, squinting at his shown work for the millionth time.

Laziness to its extreme. I can’t help but also look at his paper, and it’s one of the only math lessons I actually understood. Looking through his work, I snort and look back at my laptop.

“You find this amusing?”

I look over at him and can’t help but feel the corners of my lips forming a smirk. Turning back to my own work, I hear him mutter that he’s looked over this thousands of times and can’t figure it out.

And he won’t stop complaining.

I lift my hand and point at a specific spot on the paper. He looks at it, raises an eyebrow at me, then back at it until he finally realizes his error.

And he doesn’t even say thank you. This lazy-

The bell rings and I grudgingly stuff my laptop in my bag. Chairs scraping, kids file out the room, with me being one of them. I look up and see Lena gaping at me once I step outside.

“What? Is Em alright?” I ask, and worry fills up like a large cloud in my head. She’d only gone to class, there’s no where she could have gone.

“Huh, what, no? She’s fine,” She looks past me, distracted. “You know who’s also fine? Like, very, very fine. Like-”

“Geez, Lena. I thought somebody died.”

“I didn’t know there was somebody that looked that good in your class.”

You’ve gotta be kidding me.

I don’t bother turning around to see whatever guy that was trailing behind me. I don’t care, cause there’s a bunch of kids in that classroom and there’s a bunch of things Lena likes.

“Like maybe a foot taller than you, he actually wasn’t that bad..”

I’m tuning her out now. I hear Emma jogging to catch up behind us and she laughs at something Lena says.

“He was being so goofy today. But like, adorable goofy.” Emma sighs, and opens her locker. “He’s such a sweet jerk.”

“Here we go, you and Forrest’s lovely relationship.” Lena says, munching on a snack she had just opened right at that moment. “I think I might be getting a guy, though.”

“Oh, who?” Emma asks, letting her locker swing shut.

“Don’t tell me it’s the cafe guy.” I groan, zipping my bag up.

“He’s still an option, but I think that one guy in my class. Like he’s..”

I don’t listen to the rest of her rambles. I nod when it seems right, and don’t realize that voices seem to be drowning out. My head starts to hurt, and I clutch the straps of my bag. I’m gonna need to take another dose today.

***

Bruno looks at me as though I insulted him. I quickly shove the pill down my throat, and place the bottle back in the cabinet.

“Alright, I’m done, happy?” I sigh and open the front door, watching Bruno impatiently wait for me as I close the door and finally let him take laps along the front lawn.

His zoomies are gonna be the death of him.

“Come on, Bruno, let’s go.” I make a whistle noise and he trots to my side. “You need to remind me I shouldn’t run today, I’m wearing jeans and I don’t wanna sweat either.”

Bruno pants alongside me and we turn a corner, reaching an intersection, and stopping at the light. Our usual routine is we either walk out the neighborhood, or just go to the dog park. I slow my pace, letting Bruno sniff the life out of anything he sees.

I look around, viewing the usual parts of my surroundings, an old lady walking her, no offense, rat looking dog, a couple walking with purpose in their step, a child tugging on his father’s hand while the mother laughs along, another younger couple sitting on a bench too close for comfort, and a few boys wandering around. My age.

They all laugh, a familiar chemistry between all of them, and a kid with blonde white hair and an oddly familiar laugh.

Is that Emma’s boyfriend?

Well that’s just great. I’m not exactly in the mood for any small talk, not that I am ever. That is when another figure with familiar black hair catches my eye.

Oh hell no.

I quickly turn around and glare at Bruno who is taking a dump.

“Bruno, I swear, if you don’t hurry up.” Bruno seems to comprehend my tone and perks up to look around. His natural guard dog instincts are finally kicking in.

“About time.” I mutter and grip his leash and we walk away, I turn a corner, and then another.

This changes our routine. I’ve never taken this route before, but Bruno doesn’t seem to mind. I look up to see my house just ahead, shove the door open, and lock it closed. As if to encourage my problems, a crappy headache starts lingering.

Do people have to be everywhere I go?

I place a strand of hair behind my ear, and feel a trickle of sweat down my neck. Great, I’m sweating now. My head feels fuzzy, had I already taken a dose before we left?

Inhale. Exhale.

That corner of the room. Sweat rolls down my face, and my hands are shaking.

Oh God, I’m panicking.

Inhale. Exhale.

It’s so loud. Too loud. I squeeze my eyes shut and clench my fist, hard.

Breathe, Julia. You’re useless panicking.

I slowly open my eyes, finally remembering no one is here. On instinct, I open up the familiar cabinet, toss a pill down my throat, and slump down in my room.

A sudden whine snaps me back to reality.

I look and see Bruno, staring intently at me, standing near his water tray.

“Oh, sorry.” I mutter, refill his tray, then slump down on the floor next to him. Another whine and he curls up to place his head on my lap. “Thanks, Bruno.”

Bruno lets out a small sigh, eyes closed but ears still perked up. I’m looking around my room again, feeling less panicked, but more aware of this splitting headache. My eyes suddenly make way to a clock, and find it’s already past eight.

I need to get up.

Bruno blinks in confusion at me suddenly getting up, and I sit on an actual chair. I look at my homework, words getting blurry. I circle an answer, check it, and find an error. This is gonna take a while.

***

“I still haven’t forgotten.” Lena snaps at me, or Em, somebody, while I’m closing my locker shut. “Hello? Earth to Julia?”

“Yea, what’s up?” I say without looking at her, still zipping up my bag and finally lifting it off the ground to toss on my shoulder.

“Julia Emerson. Quit ignoring me.” Lena’s staring straight at me once I finally make eye contact.

“I wasn’t trying to-”

“You were taking too long, anyways-”  

“You impatient, little-”

“Hey yall!” Emma’s voice seems to change the atmosphere, surprising the both of us. “Are you ladies having a heated conversation without me?”

“Came in to save the day.” I mutter, and Lena gives Emma a sheepish smile.

“Anyways,” Lena continues, looking back at me. “What is your type, you absolute liar?”

I snort and we enter the cafeteria, and sit at an open table.

“Wait, does she actually like someone?” Emma adds in, her eyes widening as she looks back and forth at me and Lena.

“No, and never will.”

Emma frowns. “Lena, you said-”

“I said that I saw someone good in her class, I didn’t say she agreed,” Lena says, raising her hands in surrender as Emma glares at her. “And besides, I thought she was joking about this.”

“On her never being in a relationship?” Emma asks, as if it’s obvious.

“On her never having a crush on just some guy before.”

“I’m right here.” I add, and Lena stares at me like I’m insane. She opens a snack, tosses a chip and hands one to an eager Emma.

“Okay, then what do you look for in someone?” Lena asks, then munching on her snack.

“It’s not gonna work.” Emma mumbles, and grabs another chip from Lena’s snack.

“I don’t know. They’re all guys.” I shrug, fiddling with the zipper on my bag. Right at that, Lena shoves her phone in my face and I see a random guy with messy brown hair. “Okay..?”

“Well?” Lena asks, and Em is looking up at me too, and finally realizing that was my answer.”Okay? He is more than okay, thank you very much. This is my future husband, thank you.”

“What about personality? You know Forrest can be mean sometimes, but he’s really just goofy” Emma asks, her own face flushing red from just talking about him.

“Geez, Em, you’re a blooming tomato.” I say, and see Lena shaking her head at me.

“Oh my word, we’ve got work to do, Em.” Lena mutters, looking at me, her phone, then back at me.

“We can try.” Emma smiles, her cheeks still red and she nods.

“I am right here.” I roll my eyes, and get up, the bell ringing. The halls are crowded, and the bell seems to ring longer than usual. Or maybe that’s just my head.

 I can’t tell at this point, anymore.

Chapter 4 - Jason

The sky is nice today. I grab my cluttered books from my desk and shove them in my bag. I haul my bag over my shoulder and head into the living room when an aroma hits me. I run down the hall and drop my bag near the floor.

“Morning.”

“Morning, Ma.” I reply to the sing-song voice and grin at her as she gestures towards the opened waffle iron.

Waffles. Praise God.

“Are you leaving early today? Oh, and I’ve got a-”

“Meeting today. Don’t worry, Ma, I was planning on walking.”

She gives a slight nod and a blasting ringtone comes from the living room. Ma places the pan down and speed walks towards the living room to turn off her nuclear alarm. I start to hear voices soon after. I turn off the waffle iron and eat the glorious waffles with some syrup.

I wave bye to Ma and head out the door. Phone in pocket, I take it out to check the time. I’m surprisingly early.

***

I sit at my usual seat, the clock showing an extra ten minutes to spare. My bag is still on my desk, as kids continue entering the class, a hand slaps on my shoulder from behind me.

“Luke, you’re gonna be the death of me.” I sigh as I hear familiar chuckles from behind me.

“Whatever you say, Jays.” Lucas Brooks grabs the seat next to mine and dramatically collapses on his seat. “You don’t look dead, for once.”

“And you don’t look ugly, for once.” I snap back quickly.

“Jealous?”

I groan as he makes stupid faces. Now don’t get me wrong, Lucas is actually attractive and pulls most girls. Not that I’d ever admit that in front of him.

I stretch out in my seat, and brown hair flashes in my view.

The familiar scene replays in my head.

***

“That test sucked.”

Murmurs of agreement follow pursuit as I sit down on my seat. I dab up Lucas and stretch out on my chair, my legs also stretched outwards.

At the corner of my eye, a girl rushes in the room.

She carries her books tightly in her arms and starts moving in front of my desk.

I should probably-

She stumbles in front of my desk and quickly mumbles sorry. After a second, she turns around and meets my gaze.

“Well..?”

“Well?” I reply, and can’t help the slight twitch at the corner of my lips as she realizes I had left my legs out.

“Couldn’t move?”

Her tone is surprisingly calm.

“Guess not.” I reply with a smirk on my lips, and I can’t get a read out of her.

Huh.

She takes one more glance at me, then spins on her heel, and slumps down on her seat.

***

Being partnered with the person you pissed off wasn’t exactly on my to do list. Even though this Julia shows that she doesn’t care, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s holding a grudge. I can’t seem to tell though.

And that’s certainly a first.

She’s got this no nonsense energy. I suppose the universe decided to hate me and partner us up together. I just breathe and she tells me to start working, she’s already stressing out on this stupid project we’ve just started. We’ve got a few weeks to work on it, and she wants me to tackle it all down. I tell her it’ll be easy, though that’s not something I can be entirely sure of, and she looks at me like I’m the problem. Has she ever heard of taking a break?

In short, she’s boring.

“Hey partner.” I slide into the seat next to her and stretch out. Already greeting me with a singular side eye, she looks over at my direction as though I personally insulted her. She pulls out her laptop and logs in.

“Did you look over the section?” No acknowledgement. Got it.

“Your disbelief wounds me.” I reply, and still don’t get a single reaction out of her.

Instead, she opens up the same document she’s been working on and starts reaching towards my bag.

My bag.

“Excuse me?” I say, and pray that my tone doesn’t sound stupid.

She looks up with a raised eyebrow, one hand still buried in my bag. And unless I’m imagining it, the corner of her lips slightly curve up.

“Grabbing your notebook, genius.” Julia replies, pulling it out of my bag and tapping it with the same hand she’s using to hold it.

Oh.

“Oh yea.” I roll one shoulder, as if to shrug it off.

“Seem a little nervous, Wells.” She says, tugs on the zipper of my bag, then her eyes are right back on the screen in front of her.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

I might’ve actually thought she was capable of humor until I see her face betraying no emotion.

“Whatever.” I mutter, then look at my own laptop in front of me.

I take one extra glance at my bag, then look away, and start typing.

***

Does the person I get paired with have no feelings whatsoever?

Yes.

Am I also grateful such a person I get partnered with doesn’t take out all her anger on me?

Also yes.

Am I still skeptical? Absolutely. I’m not sure why I hadn’t apologized to her. It really was an accident, but I can’t seem to bring myself to say sorry.

Too late now, anyways.

I unlock the door to my house, shut the door, then walk into my room. My bag gets tossed on the floor, I sit down on my seat, and right as though the chaos seems to be over, my phone vibrates.

“Hey, Ma.” I put my phone on speaker, and start grabbing my laptop from my bag.

“Jason, do you know if James is okay? I can’t get a hold of him.”

As usual.

“I’ll try and call him.” I say, though I already know the result despite not even calling yet.

“Okay, love you.”

“Love you.”

Extra background noise is all I hear, a few extra seconds, until the phone call ends. I sigh and scroll down my accounts and find him.

I call him once. Twice.

He doesn’t answer. Not that it’s anything new.

I take out a math sheet and grab a pencil from the side pocket of my bag. After a surprisingly short amount of time, I finished the rest of the problems, and remembered when I had made an error.

Then Miss Has No Feelings actually points out what I had done wrong.

Not that I’m giving any credit. Sure, she might’ve helped, but I was the one who had to figure the rest out. At that, a little bark breaks the tension in my room. I look down and see a little white fur ball looking up at me.

“Geez, Dottie, I was starting to think you might’ve disappeared.”

I lean down and pick her up, and pat her. The little dachshund jerks around and licks the tip of my nose.

“Come on, Dot.”

I give the attention seeker all the pats, and look up at the time. Sleep certainly sounds nice right now.

Chapter 5 - Jason

“And there’s a test tomorrow.” I watch Lucas shove a burrito wrap down his mouth in frustration, with the rest of us guys finishing up our meals. “Anyways, I finally got a reliable partner, for once.”

I raise an eyebrow at that.

“Forrest,” Lucas says, gesturing towards a guy with blonde hair, waving at a girl as she walks away. “My sanity has now been saved.”

Forrest comes over to our table and I give him a nod. He’s a nice guy, very jumpy, but at least he’s not some self centered wannabe.

The bell rings and we haul our bags on our shoulders. I walk down the halls and enter the classroom. At last, Miss Boring walks into the room.

Her steps seem a little off. The way she walks kinda reminds me of him.

Not that I care anyways.

“Have you looked over the rubric?” She asks, and doesn't bother looking at me. Typical, but I have no idea why but it ticks me off.

“Good morning to you too, ma’am.” I say instead, and her screen loads, showing the billion tabs that are left open. “Sheesh.”

“Have you looked, looked at the rubric?” She asks, and for once, turns and stares at me like I’m being put on trial.

“Yes..?”

“Did you know we needed to find an interviewee?” And that’s where I’m wrong.

She lets out a low sigh and opens a new tab, good grief, and looks up a list of interviewees near the area. I turn to my laptop and look at the rubric, showing it has to be a live interaction. Not just online.

“Seems easy enough, no?” I say, and don’t get a rise out of her. Worth a shot.

I look up interviewees as well, finding places to visit them.

***

I look at the contacts list and call him again. And of course, no answer.

Why do I even try?” I mutter, to no one in particular, as I am currently alone in my room.

An encouraging whine replies.

I look at Dot, her little stubby legs standing on my bed.

“You really think he’s gonna answer?” She barks, then starts digging in the mattress of my bed.

I glare at her and get off my seat, laying down on my bed as she doesn’t spare a glance at my direction. I gently pick her up, and she starts licking me like crazy.

She jumps up, paws against my chest, and continues her routine. I laugh as she jumps down on a pillow, and starts chasing her tail like her life depends on it.

My phone rings.

Huh.

I glance over at Dot who gives me a look, and roll my eyes.

“Oh, come on. It can’t be-” I look over at the contact name flashing on my screen.

That’s a first.

I pick up the phone and answer.

“James?”

“Jason, what’s up, man?” Blasting music overlaps his voice, but there’s no mistaking that this is really him.

“Where are you?” I ask, straining my ears to focus on his voice. “Are you okay? Ma’s worried about you-”

“I’m fine. Look, I’ll be coming home soon, k?” His words slur.

“Okay.” I say after too long of a second. He laughs after someone says something, and the music seems to increase. The call ends, and I’m sitting on my bed, staring at my screen.

I look up and check the time. It’s already late.

I put my phone down on my desk, and Dot slowly trots over to rest her head on my knees.

“You were right, Dot.” I mutter, and she lets out a knowing sigh.

I scoff and pat her, then grab the phone to tell Ma he’s fine.

Thank God. Jason, I won’t be back for a while, remember?” Ma’s business trip on her calendar jolts back in my memory.

“Oh yea, you have fun.” I hear her talk to another person, and end the phone call.

I lay down on my bed and debate whether eating or sleeping is more desired.

A food craving settles in my stomach and I get up, and walk in the kitchen. Dottie’s little paws trots behind me, and I take out a snack from the cabinet.

***

Live, laugh, love Red Bull. I’ve never been more efficient during a work shift my whole life. I push on the gas pedal at the intersection, driving through the familiar route into my neighborhood.

I finally pull up in the driveway and park the car.

It’s already past midnight, and my first thought is to eat. I’d gotten home late after the work shift, and eating sounds wonderful as of now.

I close the car door and see a familiar looking car parked near the driveway, must be a neighbor’s. I step inside my house and lock the door.

A pungent smell hits me almost immediately.

Originally, I would cough a billion times before running to the nearest trash can and puke.

You get used to it.

I see his tall figure leaning against his doorframe, his eyes glued to the phone in his hand. He’s faced away from me, but turns around and starts walking towards me.

“Hey J.” He says, one hand still on his phone, and the other messing with my hair.

“You shouldn’t smoke in the house-”

“Yea, yea.” He sighs and turns around, running a hand through his own hair, and walks unbalanced as he goes inside his room.

I watch his familiar figure leave the hall. His hair is more curly than mine, he’s gotten skinnier too.

He’ll be fine.

No point in telling him to stop. I’ve tried, and he never listens. He’s both stubborn and stupid, but he’s still my older brother.

He should be fine.

But now the house stinks, and most likely myself as well.

I turn around and step inside my room. Dot is already curled up on my bed, and I let out a low groan, smelling the smoke already lingering in my room. I pat her tiny head and throw myself on my bed.

Chapter 6 - Julia

Maybe a work shift in the morning isn’t the best idea.

I somehow didn’t sleep during the first period, and I’m pretty much moving off of routine. Not that’s anything new, anyways, I walk towards my locker and place a textbook inside.

A familiar figure leans against the locker next to mine.

No, an annoying person does.

He awkwardly scratches the back of his neck and hesitates before fully facing me. I sigh and close my locker, then turn to look up at him. And yes, look up.

It really isn’t fair how height works. He runs a hand through his black hair, and his other hand fidgets at his side.

He’s nervous.

The sight is odd to see.

“Can you help me with the math lesson?” He finally asks, and shoves his hands in his pockets.

I blink.

“What?”

“Whatever you did last time, I kinda need help on the next lesson.”

His ego must be diminishing by the minute.

I almost laugh at that though, but an unsettling feeling grows in my stomach. There’s gotta be something up with this.

Oh hell no.

“You’re using me.”

He blinks in surprise.

“What? No, look, I just need help on this next lesson-”

“And then you’ll ask for the next one afterwards. Then the next.” I stare at him dead in the eye, my tone somehow still calm, though it doesn’t change the fact I’m pissed.

“This is just one math lesson!”

“I’m not your tutor. You can pay money for that, but I’m not wasting my time dealing with your stupidity.” I turn on my heel and start walking to my next class.

Does he really think I’m that stupid? He’ll ask for help, again and again. What a waste of time.

“Hey, wait,” Oh God, he’s still following me. “Come on, just one problem.”

I feel a hand wrap around my wrist and I slap it instinctively. He reaches for my hand again, and I turn around to stare straight at him.

The turn must’ve been so sudden that he nearly crashes into me.

His brown eyes widen in surprise and he quickly drops my hand, putting his hands up in surrender.

“Look, I’ll find an interviewee. If not a day, then in two. Then you can focus on stressing about the rest of the stupid project.”

An interviewee.

So he can use his brain.
“Do we have a deal?” He slowly puts his hands down to his sides, blinking at least a million times before I respond.

“Fine.” I finally answer, and turn around to continue walking. “You better find one.”

I hear him let out a sigh of relief, and I turn the corner to enter my next class.

***

“Smash.”

I sit down on an open seat as Emma swipes her screen  to show another picture to Lena.

They go on at it for a few more rounds as I start taking a bite out of my meal.

“I get to hangout with Forrest later!” Emma says, smiling ear to ear as she puts her phone down.

“Beach?” Lena asks, and she twirls a strand of her hair.

“‘Something like that.”

Forrest. That’s right, her boyfriend just so happens to be part of his group too.

Speaking of which, I don’t want to bring him up, but I’m tired of not knowing his background.

“Do any of y’all know Jason?”

“As in Wells? Like Jason Wells?” Lena asks, and I nod. “Black hair, tall guy. He came in junior year, that’s probably why you’re not familiar with him.”

So that’s why I don’t know him.

“Oh him.” Emma scrunches her face and looks over at his table. “From what I’ve heard, he’s a flirt, but it’s just what I’ve heard. Forrest knows of Jason, but he’s not tight with him like Lucas is.”

Who in the world is Lucas?

Emma seems to notice my confusion and explains, “Lucas being Forrest’s partner. In one of his projects, he told me he got partnered with Lucas. They're in a sort of friend group, but Lucas knows Jason the best out of all of them.” I nod in response.

So he’s just a guy.

Maybe he’s going through something at home.

I shove the thought away. Even if he is, everyone's got their own problems, and whatever he’s dealing with, he’s got a buddy to rely on.

“You and him..? I mean, I don’t blame you, he’s pretty hot.” Lena says, pulling out a snack from her bag.

“Ew, what? No, I asked a singular question about a random guy. Besides, he’s not my type.” The words come out too quickly but I don’t stop. “He’s my partner for a stupid project.

“That’s a lot of words coming out of your mouth, Jules.” Lena slowly smiles, turning to face me fully. “You sure you don’t-”

“Oh my word, It’s not like that.” I groan, and the memory of him looking down at me flashes in my mind. He’s just another guy, a stupid and lazy one for that matter. “He’s lazy, and barely puts in any effort.”

“In fact, I did notice you two looking at each other in the halls.” Emma adds in, her eyes racing back and forth from me to Lena.

“Congragulations, you stalked me with having normal human eye contact with a guy in the halls. Do you want a gold star?”

“Jason Wells. What do you know?” Lena laughs and opens her water bottle. “Remind me that this is the same Jason we’re talking about 'cause he is certainly not that bad.”

“Go on ahead and take him.” I groan, burying my face in my arms in an attempt to block out their stupid comments.

“Oh no, this is your man. But I’ve gotta say, you do have some competition.” Lena responds, looking around at other girls. “A bunch of girls like him. And I don’t blame them.”

I look up at Lena and deadpan her.

“I’m just saying.” She shrugs and looks at Emma who’s smiling like she won the jackpot.

At last, the bell finally rings and I haul my bag over my shoulder.

“Have fun with your partner!” I hear Lena yell from behind me and I roll my eyes. Em’s laugh follows pursuit, and I go through the halls and enter the classroom.

And of course, he’s already here.

I walk towards the seat next to him and pull out my laptop.

And surprisingly, no noise comes out of his mouth for once.

I continue on with my notes, and glance over at him.

Oh great.

“Look, maybe we can do this,” He gestures towards the math sheet he pulls out. “Right now. Just one problem, I might need help afterwards for something else, but really-”

“I’m not helping you. Twice. We had a deal, remember?” I interrupt him, and he runs a hand through his hair.

“I know, I know, but it’s just one problem.” He points at the bottom section of his paper. “I’ll actually find an interviewee today. After I figure this out, then I will.”

I sigh and take one look at the problem, then mutter, “Give me the stupid paper.”

He eagerly hands it to me and I look over his work. I point at his mistake, hand the paper back to him, then look back at my screen.

Unless I’m imagining it, I hear a mumbled “thanks” from him. I roll my eyes in response and continue looking up research.

And for once, he actually did his work without any complaints for the rest of the period.

Chapter 7 - Julia

“I vote no school this week.” Lena says, and I lower the volume of my phone from how loud she is. Our facetime calls usually last for hours, and this is hour two.

“That would be amazing.” Emma responds, and grabs yarn tossed in the corner of her room and starts crocheting.

Surely this call won’t last past midnight, for once.

I look at my laptop and finish up my homework, and the oral history project pops up.

“He better find that person.” I mumble, and unfortunately, they hear me for once.

“What?” Lena asks, looking at me expectantly from her screen.

“The project. He’s supposed to find an interviewee.”

“Oh your partner, huh?” Lena emphasized the word ‘partner’ and even Emma looks up from her crocheting.

“Aren’t you going to ask him?” Emma asks, and simultaneously crochets without looking at her work.

“I’m sorry?”

“If he did whatever he’s supposed to do.” Lena says, as if it’s obvious.

“I’ts not like I have his number.”

That has them snapping their heads in my direction.

“You’re joking.”

“It’s a project, it’s not like I’ll necessarily need his number-”

“Oh my word, even if y’all aren’t lovers yet, you guys are partners.” Lena says, looking straight at me and I cringe at the sentence. “Ya’ll need to work together. Besides, maybe even build some chemistry along the way.”

I groan and look back at the screen. We do need to start working on the next section. We do need to interview a person, and very soon. And in order to do all of that we need an interviewee.

I scramble through every social media app, and eventually find his account. And Lena’s not wrong. He’s popular ish.

I scroll down and find his number.

“I can just ask him tomorrow.”

“Absoultely not, you’re doing this right here, right now.” Lena snaps, and an encouraging Emma nods like there’s no tomorrow.

I open up messages and type in his number.

did you find an interviewee? I stare at the message, and I hate that I’m overthinking. I hate that I don’t know how to message him.

He’s just a guy,

Not a teacher, or higher authority.

“Any day now, Jules.”

I roll my eyes and just tap send. It doesn't feel like a big deal, it shouldn’t.

Then quickly, I add this is Julia, btw.

This really isn’t a big deal.

Then why in the world am I getting a sinking feeling from this?

I sigh and toss my phone to the side, my hands searching inside my bag for my notebook, something, anything to keep me busy.

“What’d you say?” Lena asks, all innocently like she won’t criticize me on how I should talk to people.

“I just asked him, and said it’s me.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

I only get ten seconds of peace before I get bombarded with questions.

“Well then, how’d you guys meet?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Was it like forced partners, or like did you choose the partners..?”

“And why in the world would I choose him as my partner?” I pick off where she left off, and she shrugs lightly.

“I can’t believe you didn’t even tell us!” Emma jumps in, looking up again from her work.

“About..?”

“About him.” She says, as if it’s obvious.

“He’s literally just a random guy I got partnered with.” I say, fighting the urge to roll my eyes for the millionth time. “That’s it.”

“Says the one who was running her mouth about him.” Lena adds, looking at me like she’s proven her point.

“You’ve gotta tell us, too, Jules.” Emma says, and she looks back down to grab another different colored yarn.

“Y’all never asked.” I shrug.

You guys never listen, is what I don’t say.

Two minutes pass. Five.

“If he doesn’t respond, that’s his loss.” Emma says, and switches to a different colored yarn.

“I just asked him a singular question. He probably won’t respond-”

Ding!

Huh.

“Did he reply? Did he answer? What’d he respond with? Did you-”

“Let the girl read it, will you?” Emma interrupts Lena, but I don't bother looking at their screens. I grab my phone and look at the notification.

Jason: Yea, the interviewees at the local museum

So he can use his brain.

“Well..?”

“He just said he found one.” It was only five minutes, and he responded already.

I debate on the instinct of saying thanks, but don’t want to make the conversation any longer.

“You gonna say thanks?” Lena asks, raising an eyebrow.

“He’ll live.”

“No acknowledgement?”

“And you’re talking?” I fire back, looking at her screen.

“I agree with Lena on this one, you should just say thanks.” Emma shrugs. “It won’t hurt.”

“I’m sorry, did I just hear you agree with me?” Lenna cuts in, a slow smile spreading on her face.

“Well? It won’t hurt, no?” Emma asks again, completely ignoring Lena who’s grinning ear to ear now.

“Oh yes it will.”

“How?”

“I can’t increase his ego like that.”

“It’s a start, Em.” Lena sighs, and plops on her bed. “It’s a start.”

***

I look up at the clock on the wall, and it seems to tick slower each minute. 20 more minutes until a few minutes of freedom.

Then I’ll have to meet with him again.

I sigh and rest a cheek on my fist. Mrs. Houston continues rambling on the steps to the problem.

What had she just said?

I fiddle with a pen and quietly tap it against my desk. My head feels like it’s spinning and I try to remember the schedule for this week. Did I take a dose today?

I feel a light tap on my arm and look over. Emma gives a look that asks you okay? I nod and muster up a smile, and a pen gets rolled onto my desk.

Lena mouths a thank you and I nod in acknowledgement.

I look back to the teacher again, not remembering the last steps she had said.

“And remember, class, this Friday is the Winter Formal.”

Already?

Emma perks up in excitement as Lena lightly nudges her with her elbow. That singular comment seems to get everyone’s attention, as the other kids look up at Mrs. Houston.

“Oh my word, I’ve got to show you guys the dress I got.” Lena squeals, unlocking her phone and scrolling through her photos. “I’m pretty sure I saved it somewhere.”

“I bet it’s cute.” Emma says, and she leans against her shoulder towards her phone to get a better view.

The bell rings and Lena lets out a frustrated noise as she shoves her phone in her pocket.

***

Lunch finishes too quickly, and I wave to Lena and Em as they walk to their period.

I walk inside the classroom and head towards our usual spot.

And unfortunately, he’s got a stupid smirk on his face.

“You know, you never actually explained how you got it.” He says, and stretches out on his seat.

Get what, exactly?

I barely even remember last night, except that I barely turned in an English assignment in time. And I think I facetimed the girls, hadn’t I?

I don’t have time for this.

“Well?” The idiot asks, breaking my thoughts.

“Well what?”

“How’d you get my number?”

Oh.

“From a friend.” I don’t say from stalking his account.

Before he says anything else, I pull out my laptop and ask, “Interviewee?”

“No ‘please’?”

I roll my eyes in response and I swear I see the corners of his lips go up.

Not that I’m focusing on it. Like that.

I’m not.

“Just seeing if you have any manners, boss.”

“And you’re talking?” I snort, and he lets out a laugh and runs a hand through his hair. His laugh is light. It’s a real laugh.

You can hear it in the tone, the facial expressions, the gestures.

It kinda sounds nice. He was surprised.

My screen finally loads after a hundred years and I grab my notebook.

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

He doesn’t reply.

I turn my head to face him and he smirks.

“Okay, okay. I found some old shop with surprisingly large amounts of reviews. And then a museum that seems like the best pick. There’s a lady who’s willing to answer any questions.”

“Great.” I mutter the response and look back at my laptop. My eyes drift down to the time showing five minutes left.

Of course.

“We need to find a time after school for this,” I hate the words right as I say them. “What days are you free?”

He pauses for a second, then starts placing his laptop in his bag.

“I should be free anyday. You?”

Crap.

Shifts are usually four days a week. Usually. Two during weekdays and both on weekends. If I do weekends, probably around the afternoon time would be likely. Another stupid test is coming up, so I’ll need to study for that. I was looking forward to running this Wednesday, but I might have to call it off. Unless I can cram that in an hour. But sometimes I might run with a shift afterwards.

What days are shifts again?

“Any day now.”

I don’t realize the bell rings until kids start walking out the classroom.

“Weekends are fine in the afternoon. Maybe Tuesdays or Thursdays, but weekends seem like the best bet.” I haul my bag over one shoulder. “Are you free today?”

“Glad you could figure it out, ma’am.” He nods.

I somehow don’t roll my eyes and step out in the halls.

***

I look down at my phone and slowly tupe each letter in every word. I’m a fast typer, I have no idea why I’m taking so long to write a simple sentence.

can you come to the cafe at 4:30? I finally sent it after looking over it a million times.

He’s just a guy.

I groan to myself and hear Bruno let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Remind me to take you to the daycare tomorrow, yea?” I tell Bruno, who simply turns a hundred times just to plop on my bed.

I chew on the inside of my cheek and look at the phone number. How in the world did I forget?

A notification pops on my phone and I snatch it almost instantly.

Jason: Yea, see you there, boss

I put my phone down and glare at Bruno who’s chewing the life out of his ball.

“This’ll go well.” I mutter to no one in particular.

I get up and grab the keys to my car tossed on my desk.

Before I leave my room, I quickly toss a pill down my mouth and chug water.

I sigh as I step out in the halls, and hear two voices shouting from the kitchen.

They’re actually here, for once.

And of course, they’re already at it.

I hear Mom yell about some stupid paper sheet, and Dad arguing on how to fill it out.

One of them lets out a sharp tone, the other firing back a response.

I would’ve jumped by now, I used to. But I don’t.

Not anymore.

Just a bunch of noise.

Mom’s usually out for work, and Dad has been going to farther places for his work since the past month.

And they always yell. Stupid, petty reasons.

I ignore them, as usual, and unlock the front door to get in my car.

The familiar buildings pass, and I end up in the parking lot faster than expected. I check the time and see I’m five minutes early.

I open the cafe door and step inside.

The familiar aroma hits me, the coffee scent of a part-time workplace that I work for.

I look around to find an open table and hear a familiar voice near me.

How in the world is he already here?

I fight the urge to roll my eyes and sit at the chair beside him.

He quickly ends his phone call, mutters a quick “Love you, bye.” and lifts his hand in acknowledgment at my direction.

I wonder who that is.

Not that I care.

I don’t.

“Hey.” Jason gestures towards his open laptop, showing the reviews of the lady who’s gonna be our interviewee. “Deal’s a deal, yea?”

I lean over to see his screen and see her reviews, finding a description indicating that she’s an immigrant.

“You got a theme.” I say, pushing away the thoughts from earlier.

“Impressed?” He smirks, and stretches out on his chair. “I know, you’re welcome.”

I blink in response and just pull out my own laptop.

So he can work, he just chooses to be lazy.

“See if there’s any brief summaries we can already work with.” I unlock my laptop and look up the museum we’re going to. “We can get a headstart and a foundation on whatever she’ll tell us.”

He stares at me for a hot minute, and I almost laugh from the look of disbelief on his face.

“Unbeleiveable.” He mutters, then finally turns back to his screen.

“Would you like a gold star for actually doing your work, for once?” I say without looking at him.

“Some acknowledgement would be nice. “ He scoffs and gestures at his screen. “I even visited the place, just to make sure it’s the right one.”

“How inspiring.”

“It really is.”

“What time?” I turn away from my screen and look at him to see if there’s actual confirmation. “How long will we be meeting her for?”

He pauses.

Oh great.

“Can’t we just come in at any time throughout the day?” His words come out more as a question than a statement.

This idiot.

“You obviously need a time slot, genius.” I gesture at his screen. “She actually works, and there might even be kids interviewing her as well.”

“Really?”

“Did you even look at any time slots she has? Have you even called her?” I look at her number on the screen then back at him. “You said you visited, did you have a chance to meet her?”

“About that, surely we'll find one right now, yea?”

“You genius idiot.” I mutter, and turn his laptop facing me. I click on their website and find her employee details. “Here, choose a time slot.”

He scrolls and clicks a time, then submits the confirmation.

“There.” He says, letting out a satisfied sigh. “Happy?”

“Congragulations, you can use your brain.”

“Hey, some encouragement can come a long way.”

“Some effort can come a long way.”

He laughs. It’s real, not forced, and he runs a hand through his hair.

The sounds of the usual cafe chatter, coffee machines, the scent, the clicking of our keyboards, everything blends in.

Time seems to fly by, and we start packing up after an hour.

I wave a hand in acknowledgement, and get up from my seat.

“See you later, Miss No Fun.”

Chapter 8 - Julia

A car honks at the car ahead of him once the light turns green. Mind you, it’s barely been a second.

Poor guy.

After jogging in place for a bit, I’m finally able to go on the crosswalk and run past the familiar buildings. I reach a block just before the cafe and feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I take out my phone and answer the call.

A manager talks. My manager.

Crap.

“Hey Julia. Unfortunately, two people called in and couldn’t make it on Saturday in the afternoon. Are you able to stay until 4pm instead of 2pm?”

Oh great.

“Yea, I should be okay.”

I don’t hear the rest of her comments except that the call ended quickly after. After a few more steps, I step inside the cafe I work for and change inside the bathroom. I splash water on my face, tie my hair up, and finally get to work.

My hands start moving off of routine, every drink getting made at a steady pace. An employee gestures for me to take the cashier spot and I walk towards it.

A middle-aged lady orders a drink and a complementary biscuit. I give her a receipt and look around the cafe.

It’s less busy than usual. People usually always come all at the same time anyways.

I look up and help a guy order his drink, then open the cash box to organize the dollars.

“Having a good day, ma’am?”

Oh great.

**Jason**

“Just get the damn drink, J.”

“Patience can come a long way, James.” I reply, and grab the keys to the car tossed on the counter.

“Some coffee can come a long way.” The impatient guy messes with my hair and saunters towards his room.

“You’re paying.” I slam the door shut before I can hear him say anything else.

I turn on the car engine and drive out the driveway. I pull up to the cafe and step out of the car.

I open the door and the smell of coffee hits me. For once, it’s not busy, and I step inside.

“Order for Lisa!”

Hold up.

A lady gets up from her seat and picks up the drink. She heads towards the table she came from, and I look up ahead to see who is at the register.

What do you know?

I get in line behind an older guy in his mid-50s.

“Hi, how can I help you?”

He asks for a cappuccino. She quickly types the order down.

She hasn’t noticed me yet. Busy as always. Her hair’s up in a ponytail, and she rushes towards the counter behind her then quickly turns around to hand him his receipt.

Her head’s down, filing away cash, and I don’t think she’s even noticed me.

“Having a good day, ma’am?” I ask, and lean against the counter in front of me.

Miss Boring looks up at me like I’ve committed a crime.

“What would you like?” Julia asks, her eyes back on the screen as she taps away.

A Black Coffee and an Americano is what’s planned.

But I’m bored.

“What do you suggest?” I ask.

“Our customer’s top favorites include espressos and capuccinos.”

“What’s your favorite?” The question slips out instinctively.

“You’re holding up the line.” She replies quickly and looks up. Her dark brown eyes lock with mine. I don’t bother turning around.

“You shouldn’t lie to your customers, ma’am.” I lean forwards with a smirk. “That should be a discount for me, no?”

“If you’re not ready with your order…” She starts to turn around.

“Alright, alright. A Black Coffee and an Americano, please.” I run a hand through my hair.

She taps the order in a matter of seconds and I pay.

“Recepit?”

“No thank you, ma’am.”

She turns around and pulls out a stack of cups from a cabinet, then places them where they go. I walk towards the waiting area and lean back against the wall. The guy in front of me from earlier receives his drink from Julia who offers him a tight smile. It’s only a few minutes until mine is ready as well.

I walk towards her and she places one of my drinks in front of me.

“So, you work here?” I ask, as she finishes up the second one.

“What does it look like, genius?” Her voice is subtly lower, the tone the same calm, but still manages to make it sound like a threat.

She hands the drinks to me and our fingers brush against each other. Her palms have some calluses, but her fingers are still soft.

“You gonna grab the drinks or what?” Julia asks, her tone slightly impatient.

I quickly pull away, not even noticing how long it’s been.

“It was nice seeing you, boss.” I say, and risk a glance up at her. And I swear, she has no feelings whatsoever.

I clear my throat and clench my jaw tight.

With the drinks in both hands, I turn away and leave the cafe.

I blame James for this.

**Julia**

I close the door to my room and toss my bag on the floor. A drama king trails behind me as I sit down on my chair when my phone gets a notification.

I open up messages and see Em screaming for help with the test for tomorrow by messily summarizing her idea on how to tackle it.

There’s a test tomorrow.

Crap.

Emma: Is it good? pls tell me it’s good, but don’t lie to me. it makes sense, right?

Me: yea, that’s pretty much what it is

Emma: TYSMMM

Me: ofc, no worries

I’m not sure why I’m so willing to help others out. That is unless such a person is being lazy and choosing not to try. At all.

After checking her work twice, I then toss my phone to the side. I pat Bruno and almost immediately a notification pops up on my phone again. I look at it and it’s from our group chat including all three of us.

Lena: im so excited for the dance tmww!!

Emma: yessss, I can’t wait for ygs to see my dresss

Lena: omg me tooo

Is the Winter Formal already tomorrow?

And there’s a freaking test.

Test now, dress later.

“I’ll figure it out.” I mutter, and Burno sighs as if he’s disappointed. “What? I’m more worried about the test, thank you very much.”

He rests his head on the floor and I start grabbing what I need to study from my bag.

Surely there’s a random dress hibernating in my closet.

Surely I’ll finish at a reasonable time.

And surely I won’t forget the event is tomorrow.

I still don’t look in my closet, and lose track of time. As usual.

Chapter 9 - Julia

That test sucked.

I swear, the clock hates me.

I barely finished in time, as I turned it in right as the bell rang. I step out in the halls and walk towards my locker, and see a too eager Ema and Lena this early in the morning.

“Aren’t you excited?” Em asks, as we walk towards the cafeteria.

“We just had a test.” I mumble, and silently groan from my own self mentioning it. “What is there excitement for?”

“That’s besides the point.” Lena waves her hand in the air as if to brush it off and puts her bag on a table. “I wish we got off earlier today.’

“For..?” I trail off.

“The Winter Formal!” Emma squeals, and she pulls her phone out to scroll through it.

The dance is today.

Oh crap.

“Don’t tell me you forgot again.” Lena sighs as she looks at me.

“I don’t think I’m going-”

“Jules, you’re kidding right?” Em looks up from her phone and sets it down on the table. “Besdies, you’ve there to volunteer during it. So you have to go.”

Volunteering hours.

I volunteered for hours to help out with the drinks.

Dang it.

“Oh yea.” I say and scratch the back of my neck. “I might be late, but I should be there.”

“And that you will be.” Lena declares and brightens into a smile again. “I can’t wait for y’all to see my dress!”

“Me too!” Em beams and she twirls a strand of her hair. “Mine’s an emerald green dress.”

“That's gonna look so pretty on you.” Lena sighs in awe and looks at Em as though she’s picturing the image in her head. “I chose burgundy.”

“That’s so pretty!”

“I know.”

They turn their heads towards my direction.

Uh oh.

“Well?” Emma raises an eyebrow and leans towards me. “What’d you get?”

Do I have a dress at home?

Lena takes one look at me and groans.

“Geez, Jules, how do you not have a dress for the dance?”

“I think I have a suit, actually.” I say, and try to remember whatever’s stuffed in my closet. “From a meeting.”

“And you’re sure you don’t have a dress?” Emma asks.

“Completely.” I don’t even remember the last time I wore one. “It’ll be fine.”

“For prom, we’re all going shopping together.” Lena announces, and as if on timing, the bell rings. “Agreed?”

“Absolutely.” Em says, and gets up from her seat.

“Sure.” I mutter and get up from my seat as well.

I don’t get how they’ve already moved on from that test.

I can’t mess up again. I better have not messed up.

Did I take a dose today?

I wave towards them and my steps take me towards the next class. And of course, Jason’s already stretching out on his chair like there’s no tomorrow.

“Hey, boss.”

I sit down next to him and grab my computer.

“We’re good with Tuesday, right?” I ask without looking at him.

“For the project?”

“What else would it be for?”

I look over how far we’ve gotten, and we’re actually making good progress. He gestures towards his screen and I lean towards it.

“Happy?” He puts his hands behind his head and leans back. “And yes, Tuesday is all good, ma’am.”

“Did you share it with me?”

“Huh?”

“You genius idiot.” I mutter and share it with myself.

As I turn back to my screen, the kids next to our table start rambling about tonight. I sigh from the reminder and start typing.

Practically everyone’s going to it. But I wonder…

“You going?” The question slips out before I can stop it.

“Not my thing.” Jason says, and he gets the question without me even having to clarify. “You?”

“Probably not.” I reply, and feel my shoulders slightly droop from his response.

Not that I care.

I don’t.

***

After several clothes were chucked out of my closet, I finally found what I needed.

I scramble around the room after such attempts and fix up the necktie for the pantsuit.

I pat Burno, toss a quick pill down my throat, and partially run out the door. The car door slams shut, and I race to find the parking lot already filled.

A miracle comes through and an empty slot is still open.

Praise God.

I park the car and walk outside where a bunch of kids are lined up near the entrance doors in clumps outside.

“Hey, Jules!” I hear her before I see her.

Emma’s in a gorgeous emerald dress, like she had said, and Lena pulls up in her burgundy dress as well.

“Ya’ll look gorgeous.” I offer them a tight smile and look towards the entrance doors.

“We know,” Lena says and lightly nudges Em with her elbow. “We saw some kids check in through the office gates.”

“Thanks.” I nod and bid farewell to them as I go to the side doors.

Some staff stand near a table with a sign in sheet on it. I quickly fill it out and go inside the event space through side doors, heading towards the drinks area. Almost instantly, kids start pouring in.

The lights are dimmed slightly, and though the event is called the Winter Formal, the whole place gives a whole party vibe. The DJ keeps the volume at a consistent rate, low enough for now that I can still hear everyone’s chatter.

As this goes on, I keep myself busy by organizing the drinks. Multiple times. Some kids grab the cups, and somehow don’t spill on themselves.

Eventually, the DJ calls everyone up on the supposed dance floor and it doesn’t take long until a sea of bodies are dancing together.

I look up and find Emma tugging on Forrest towards the floor and they both start laughing and dancing as well. I eventually lose sight of them due to the crowd and turn around to see more staff members entering the room.

A staff member comes up to me and says we can start putting away some stations, including mine.

“You can go on ahead and join the party.” She says, as another staff member comes to help.

“Oh, I’m okay” I muster up a smile and grab the table cloth from my station before anyone else can.

I roll it up, toss it in a trash bin, and watch as food stations get put away while everyone’s partying in the middle.

I feel a light tap on my shoulder and turn around.

“Come on, Jules.” Lena says, and grabs my arm before I can protest.

I debate prying her off of me until she crams me towards the middle of the crowd. Bodies jump up and down, and I can’t hear a thing Lena says unless she’ s screaming in my ear.

“Come on!” Lena dances beside me with a grin. “Em’s with her boyfriend right now, and until I find mine…”

Her voice drowns out and I watch her get swamped away until I realize she’s walking towards a group of guys just ahead of her.

Traitor.

I sigh and start pushing my way out of the crowd, and for some reason the crowd starts to get jerky. We’re all too tightly packed, though not seems to care as they all keep dancing like there’s no tomorrow. Throughout all of this, multiple people crash into me.

I straighten up and start shoving past others, then tip toe to see if I’ve gotten some sort of progress. A sudden lurch and someone gets shoved towards my direction. On instinct, I grab whoever before he crashes on the ground and catch him in a semi bridal style, with their feet touching the floor while I manage to support their neck and back.

His light brown eyes are widened as they find mine. A black silk necktie chosen along with his white inside shirt that he’s left a few unbuttoned, showing a bit of his chest.

You’ve gotta be kidding me.

“Ma’am-” He starts before I shove him forwards and off of me after holding for too long.

I should’ve dropped him.

“Hey, wait.” Jason says and reaches towards my arm. “Wanna get out of here?”

“I can get out myself, thank you-” Almost instantly, another swarm of bodies are all shoved in my direction. If I wasn’t paying attention, I might as well have been rammed by now.

“Well?” He offers a hand, and notices me starting to move past him. “This isn’t a proposal ma’am. Unless you’re distracted by such contact-”

I groan and roll my eyes, then reluctantly take his hand. The corners of his lip curve up slightly, and he turns around to guide me out of the crowd.

“Thank you, by the way.” He leans down and murmurs in my ear so I can hear him over all the noise, and can’t help but feel my stomach do something weird from it.

I push the feeling down as he continues moving past the crowd.

We move towards the side of the room, while the dance floor is occupied by a bunch of kids partying like there’s not tomorrow.

“This doesn’t look like a formal dance event, if you’d ask me.” Jason states, then lets go of my hand after saying so.

“Why are you here?” I finally get to ask, and by the looks of him, he seems like he rushed to get here. “I thought this wasn’t your thing.”

“Forced.” Jasons says casually, like it’s a regular reason on the daily. He smirks at my comment. “By a friend. And yes, it’s not my thing, yet here we are. And you, ma’am?”

“I volunteered to help out the drinks section, but they closed early.” I point towards the mass of teenagers jumping around. “And I got hauled in there by a friend.”

“Sounds fun.”

“So it would seem.”

Mr. Lazy then leans back against the wall, looks up at the ceiling, and sighs.

“Are you going to prom?” The question slips past my lips, and though it comes out bored, he takes it the other way.

“You sound excited.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Don’t lie, boss. Lying gets you nowhere.”

“Speak for yourself.”

“And what have I lied about?” He mocks a gasp and puts a hand over his chest.

“The past lessons you’ve needed help with, it’s clear you understood them. You didn’t even need my help.”

“Am I not allowed to simply check my work?”

“You’re allowed to stop being lazy.”

He laughs and runs a hand through his hair. It sounds so genuine, so real, that I have to bite back a smile from myself.

Something’s wrong.

My eyes drift away from him and towards the crowd again. I try to find Em or Lena, and see Em dancing with Forrest. Lena’s hanging with a guy, and by the looks of it, there’s just something going on between the two of them.

“You’re allowed to have feelings, you know.”

“No kidding, you genius idiot.”

Whenever something good happens…

I lose track of my thoughts and keep my eyes on the crowd and away from him.

His eyes are still looking at my direction, and he hesitates before saying more until someone beats him to it.

“Julia!” I look towards the direction of the familiar voice and see Lena waving a hand at me, along with Em beside her as her face is as red as a ripe tomato. “Come on!”

They must've not seen him yet, otherwise they’d be giving me stupid looks by now.

“Have fun, boss.” Jason says and I turn around to see him lending against the wall. “Learn to breathe a little.”

“That would be ideal.” I somehow don’t roll my eyes and turn around to leave him.
I wonder if he has someone to hang around with.

And why else would he be here to begin with?

I sigh and I recollect the thoughts in my head, for he was ‘forced’ to come here  anyways. I head towards the girls and they’re both beaming at me.

Oh great.

“Did you see?” Emma asks excitedly and looks back and forth from Lena to me. “Did you see Lena? Did you see her?”

So they didn’t see him. Hopefully.

“With her lover?” I replied.

“It was just a dance…” Lena trails off with a smile breaking on her face.

So there is something going on between them.

Of course.

“I need a lesson on poker faces from you, Jules.” Lena sighs as we walk out of the building together. The atmosphere changes almost instantly, as kids start heading into the parking lot as well. “I don’t know how you do it.”

I snort, then notice Em looking back and find her glancing at her boyfriend.

“I think I’m going with Forrest.” Ema says after a beat.

“You guys practically live next to each other.” Lena says, slowly coming back to her usual self, but still in a daze from earlier. “Oh, and did I forget y’all are in a relationship?

“He brought you here?” I ask, ignoring Lena’s comments and making sure she’s got a ride back home. She nods.

“Go ahead and have fun with your boyfriend.” Lena exaggerates the sentence.

“Hey, you can’t be talking.” Em replies.

“It was just one dance!”

“And there’s clearly something going on”

They finally stop bickering after a minute or two, and I lead Lena back to her car.

“You good?” I ask, and watch as the cars in the parking lot start to form a line, if that’s what you’ll call it.

“Yes, mom.”

“A thank you would be nice.”

“You gonna start lecturing me on daily life?”

“Wanna start telling me about your ‘dance partner’?”

I receive a response by her slamming the door on me as she barely lasts a few seconds before breaking into a smile.

Chapter 10 - Jason

“You good, Jays?”

Lucas has stayed longer than intended and waves a hand to a random girl before we leave the place.

“Yea,” I answer, and we head into the parking lot. “Just fine.”

He laughs and finally turns around as we walk towards our cars. Which is a longer distance than I remember.

“Where’d you go?” Lucas asks, patting me on the shoulder. “You were gone for a while. Find someone?”

“Just stayed on the sides,” I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “As usual.”

“Doing what?”

“What do you think?”

“With who?”

I don’t know what we did.

I don’t know what happened.

I was forced here unwillingly. I planned to do absolutely nothing.

Her being there was not planned. Her catching me after being shoved in the crowd wasn’t planned. Just seeing her wasn’t planned. Just her being there seemed different. When she caught me, some of her hair fell on her face. Her hair so brown it’s almost black. Even though the whole place was loud with music, I could only hear her. I could only focus on her. Everything seemed to blend in, like a little bubble we’re both in while the rest is just background noise.

I wonder what might’ve happened if she hadn’t left early.

“So there is a who.” Lucas snaps me back into reality, and I can hear the smile on his face. “Think you can compete with me?”

I groan and unlock my car and start to get in, along with Lucas doing the same as well.

“You awake?” Lucas teases, slapping the top of my car before getting in his own car. “It’s like you’re in a daze or something. She left you speechless?”

I slam my door shut and reverse from my parking spot. Ignoring the smug grin on his face, I leave the parking lot and drive back home.

And yet, my mind keeps lingering back to tonight.

She’s stronger than she lets on. Once I got bored of Lucas' rambles with another, I left his side and ended up getting shoved back and forth against the crowd. And then she caught me.

She could’ve dropped me.

The realization hits me as I roll to a stop at an intersection, just half a mile before I’m back home.

Instead, she shoved me to the side.

Still, she could’ve dropped me.

But she didn’t.

I turn the corner and see my house come into view, parking the car just outside. I step inside my house and get greeted by Dottie’s stubby legs jumping up against my own legs.

“Hey, Dot.”

I crouch down and watch her run around me, then crash lang right on my lap.

“How was it?’

I Look up and see Ma looking at me up and down, a knowing smile slowly spreading on her face.

It was good.” I reply, and continue patting Dot who’s jumping up and down like crazy.

“Did you dance with anyone?”

“No.”

Ma gives one good look at me, then smiles to herself.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get her soon.” She says, and whistles a tune as she goes back in the living room.

“Come on, Ma, it’s not like that.”

She whistles louder and ignores my protest.

“I didn’t even tell you there was somebody..” I trail off, catching myself before finishing.

“Exactly.” Ma replies from the kitchen and continues whistling her melody.

“I blame you for this.” I sigh at Dot, and she licks my hand in response.

I swear, Ma knows everything.

I get up from the floor and Dottie trails behind me while I walk to my room. My bag gets thrown on the floor, and I walk back to the kitchen to get a snack.

“James left?’

“He left earlier.” Ma answers and starts going to her room. “Night.”

Night.” I say as he passes down the hall.

I finish up my snack and go back to my own room as well. I pass by James’ room, who still owes me a drink, and see his room is still a mess.

Grabbing what I need from my bag, I pull out my math lesson and am able to finish all of the questions except the last one.

She started catching on, ever since the past other lessons, I have started understanding them. I grab my phone and open up messages. But knowing her, she’ll most likely ignore me. Especially since tonight.

I tap on her account and click the call button.

“What am I doing?” I mutter to no one in particular.

I have no idea what’s gotten into me. But I do need some sort of help.

And maybe I just want to talk to her.

The phone continues ringing and I debate ending the call. She’ll probably ignore this too, just like with anything else.

These are the longest seconds of my life.

“Hello?”

She actually answered. I let out a sigh of relief and quickly clear my throat afterwards.

“Are you okay?” She asks, and for a second, I’m not sure if I am.

“Yea, yes,” I reply after too long of a second. “Yea, I was just asking about the math lesson. If you wouldn’t mind.”

“You genius idiot.” She mutters then sighs. “I thought you were.. never mind, was that all?’

Thought that I was what?

I don’t acknowledge it. Not yet.

“We’re about to visit the lady in a day. It’s just one question, and I actually finished the rest of them.”

“How convenient.”

“Come on, boss, I’ll even participate in our little field trip.”

She doesn’t reply.

“Okay, wait, I’ll drive us both there. And I’ll drop you off back to your house.”

I’m met with silence at first. I almost thought she hung up on me.

“I’m sorry?” She asks after a few seconds.

“You know, I’m doing quite the luxury of even saying you some money as well.”

“No, I’m not getting caught dead in the same car as you.”

“Oh, come on, you want me to be your Uber?”

“And you’re okay with it?”

“Of course I am.”

“You sound enthusiastic.”

“These are desperate times when one needs help with their homework.”

“Let me rephrase, are the rest of your hundred fangirls okay with it?”

“Jealous?”

“Bye.”
“No one will even notice. We can leave later on, I’ll pull up from the side as well.” I insist, gripping my phone tighter as it’s up against my ear. “Well?”

“And you just want help with this lesson?”

“Yes, ma’am. I mean, are you really that nervous to go in the same car as me?”

“With an idiot, yea.”

I laugh and run a hand through my hair.

“The last question, right?’ She asks.

“What?”

The last question.” She adds slowly, “for the homework?”

“Oh, right, yea.”

“I’ll send a picture to you explaining it.”

“Pleasure doing business with you, boss.”

She ends the call and I place my phone on the table.

“How’d I do?” I ask Dot and she sneezes in response. “Was it really that desperate?”

She sighs and rests her head on her tiny paws.

Ding!

I pick up my phone from the table and look at the image she sent. She literally hand wrote every step, along with the answer.

Julia: does that make sense?

Me: Yea, thank you, ma’am.

I set my phone back down and lean back in my chair.

“What’s going on with me?” I mutter and find Dottie chewing on my bag straps. “Dot!”

I grab her and set on her on my bed, and she starts running around in circles while chasing her tail. I reach my bag and open the side pocket.

My mind flashes back to when she grabbed my bag. I hope I didn’t look too obvious with it.

I sigh and unzip the pocket into a deeper one, reaching inside and feeling a paper tip. Carefully, I gently tug it out and see the slightly worn photo.

His hair’s the same, along with mine, and the date goes back two years. We’re both laughing. Laughing during a stupid game. And mom took the picture.

The sounds come back to me, how alive our house used to be. When we used to spend more time together.

But he got older. And so did I.

So why can’t I let this go?

I’m not sure why I left it in my bag.

I’m not sure why I even kept it to begin with.

I sigh and place the photo on my shelf. Dottie lets out a low whine and I rub her ears.

“You miss him?”

Dottie sighs in response.

“Yea,” I look back at the photo on the shelf. “Me too.”

Chapter 11 - Julia

I entered my home after school, the sky was overcast this afternoon.

A smile is still stuck on my face, and my stomach hurts from laughing so much today. Not only that, I even finished most of my homework at school.

I start to head to my room and pass by the kitchen.

“Where were you?”

“School.” I reply to the voice from the kitchen and stop in the hallway.

Tossing my bag in my room, I come back to the kitchen and help her put the dishes away.

Maybe I can cheer her up…

“Here.” I hand her the dish she points at and continue placing the bowls back.

“What’d you do at school?”

“Just had a test today.”

I grab a small plate and a slight twitch of my hand, it slips and lands on the counter.

Crap.

“Did it break?”

I feel my stomach drop.

Thankfully, it’s just a small crack.

“Just a crack,” I add lightly, “I’ll throw it away.”

What a waste. I’m sure we have more in the drawers.

I hear her mutter something and feel a small stir in my stomach.

Idiot.

“How was school?” She sighs, and I immediately catch her tone.

“It was good.” I reach out towards a glass cup, “I’ll put it away.”

“Watch your tone.”

What?

“Okay.” I reply, and put away the last cup.

She mutters again and I silently curse myself before taking my leave.

How do I always mess things up?

Always make things worse.

***

“They were literally dancing together.”

“I thought they broke up.”

“It’s a quote on quote ‘situationship.’” Lena raises her hands and makes air quotation marks with her fingers. The cafe has its usual crowd of people, and Lena and Em continue talking about these random kids at the Winter Formal.

And my stupid headache isn’t going away.

“I thought it was good though. The Winter Formal.”

“Yea, it was fun,” Lena smiles then turns her head in my direction, “I think someone had some fun too.”

“Well?” Emma asks, and she tiles her  head just slightly.

“Huh?” I ask, finally realizing they’re talking to me.

“I think you had some fun,” Lena continues, “With a certain someone.”

“And you’re talking?” I raise an eyebrow.

So they did notice.

Great.

“And here I thought you had a grudge with your partner.”

“I do.”

“Hey, don’t think we didn’t notice.”

“I think I noticed you tossed me in a crowd and left me.”

“Are you denying?” Em pops in.

“You can’t be talking. “ I say, and lean back in my chair. “Speaking of which, you had some fun, no?”

“Changing the subject, are you now?” Emma teases.

“We’re talking about the Winter Formal, no?” I roll my eyes then look back at Lena. “And you, you and him..?”

“We’re talking.” Lena simply says and takes a sip out of her drink.

“More than talking,” Emma adds and Lena glares at her, “am I wrong?”

“That dance did say otherwise.” I shrug, but agreeing with Em nonetheless.

Lena rubs her face in her hands and pulls out her phone just to set it down on the table.

“I mean he was just talking and like I was trying so hard to focus but like,” she takes a quick breath, “He’s just so fine.”

She continues rambling as the words tumble out of her mouth. She buries her face in her hands soon afterwards.

“There, there,” Em pats her shoulder. “Just wait until prom.”

“Emma!”

She merely smiles in response while Lena scowls at her.

“We agreed on this date, right?” Emma pulls out her phone and taps on a date on her calendar. “To go to the mall?”

“Mhm.” Lena peaks out from her hands and looks at her phone.

I nod in response and she sets her phone down on the table.

“Oh shoot, what time is it-” Em grabs her phone and scrambles to stand up, “-oh we’ve gotta go, Lena.”

“I thought it wasn’t until an hour later.” Lena groans.

“And it has been an hour,” Emma slides her chair under the table. “Sorry, Jules, we’ve gotta go.”

“No worries.” I reply, nodding in acknowledgement.

“Do we have to go?” Lena sighs and slowly raises her face from her hands.

“Hurry up, we’re gonna be late.” Emma prods her off her chair and waves a hand at me as they  leave the cafe.

“Trators.” I mutter and get up from my chair, then leave the cafe as well.

***

I’m not sure why I’m like this.

His tone is sharp. Low at first, once I entered the room.

He’s getting louder.

I’m sure I did something wrong. But that’s the thing, I always get something wrong. I can’t sem to get anything right.

He’s shouting now.

Why can’t they see I’m trying? Why can’t I just do as they say?

It’s really not that hard to do.

I’m sorry. Sorry doesn’t cut it.

I need to do better. I have to.

***

A car honks from the intersection, snapping me back to reality.

I need to do better than that. I need to pay attention.

I wave a hand in acknowledgement towards the driver and leave my jogging in place. The wind blows past my ears and causes a whistling noise.

I only had one job. I need to run faster.

I pick up my pace, and turn a corner as I pass a familiar park. A couple walks their dog, a man in a suit rushes to his car, kids racing towards the slides. My ears start to ring.

I keep messing up.  I need to keep running.

Run away from the noise. Run towards a sense of relief. Something, anything is better than this. This drive, this experience, the trees become a blur. I’m sprinting now, two quick inhales and one exhale.

Faster. Faster.

A car alarm turns on. I turn another corner and place my hands on my knees.

Breathe, Julia, You’re useless panicking. Useless. You’re-

I gasp for air and feel something buzzing against my thigh. I look down and finally realize that half of the ringing is from my imagination, and the other half is from my own phone. I pull it out and see a daycare update. Bruno’s daycare.

Crap.

After an attempt at controlling my breath, I let out a low sigh and continued heading the same direction. It’s just a mile or two down.

The familiar streets enter my view as I cut through a shortcut, and I open the door to pick up Bruno.

“Hey, boy.” I rub the back of his head then give his back two light pats.

I thanked the employees, then left the place.

“You know, if it weren’t for you,” I tell Bruno. “I’d probably not get home until past sunset.”

He lets out an exaggerated sigh and I keep the same steady pace.

“I’m gonna need another dose when we get home.” I mutter to myself as we pass by a park and head towards another intersection.

Cause I can’t seem to be getting anything right.

Bruno lets out a whine.

“I know, we’re almost there.” I mumble.

There’s red light up ahead. At least I think so, isn’t there?

How many times have I already messed up today?

A car suddenly honks and the guy flips me off.

I blink and take a step back, looking up and seeing the crosswalk sign with a hand up.

It would be easier. Idiot.

Make things better for everyone else too.

Another sharp whine and I look down and see Bruno staring up at me.

“Sorry, Bruno.” I sigh and pat his back. “Let’s get you home.”

Chapter 12 - Julia

Why in the world does five minutes feel like a whole lifetime?

I look back up at the clock and the hand seems to tick slower each second.

I rub my face in my hands, forcing myself to stay awake. The teacher drills on and on about information we’ve already gone over.

Just stay awake.

No kidding, Sherlock.

I rest my cheek on my palm and my head feels heavier. In an attempt to stay awake, I try to blink a million times, but that doesn’t do much either.

Don’t pass out.

How many times have I already messed up today?  It could be worse.

At last, the bell rings and I force myself to stand up, haul my bag over my shoulder, and finally make it to lunch.

Maybe I should cut it down too.  I probably won’t eat as much today.

Heading towards our usual spot, I wave as Lena and Em make their way towards their seats.

“Guess who passed their math test!” Lena announces, and she tosses her bag on the table like she owns the spot.

Oh crap.

“Oh really?” I say instead.

How in the world am I forgetting everything?

“Yup, I honestly didn’t feel too bad about it either.” Emma says as she takes a bite out of her meal.

I wonder what I got.

“Oh yea, like you weren't panicking and rambling about it afterwards.” Lena states.

“Hey, we all were.” Em points out.

At the corner of my eye, I see Forrest heading over to our table. Emma smiles and waves him over, and they both talk quietly to each other.

“Well then, how’s your partner been?” Lena shifts her attention towards me and tilts her head.

“Fine.”

He is. His usual self, his same practiced charm. His easy and real laugh, and him leaning against the wall when we moved away from the crowd.

I’m pretty sure I walked past him this morning on the way to first period.

I think.

But he hasn’t said much. Not that there’s anything to discuss anyway, besides our trip to the museum today. And not that I care or anything. It really doesn’t matter.

He’s probably used to this.

I look up and see Lena give me a look.

I roll my eyes and sigh, finishing up my meal as the bell finally rings.

Walking down the hallways, I turn a corner and enter the classroom. I pull out my laptop and sit next to him.

“You excited?” Jason asks as he leans back in his chair.

“For..?”

“Today, the trip?”

Oh.

I shrug in response and gnaw on the bottom of my lip. I look at our time slot, making sure we actually did get accepted for our slot.

“Tough crowd.” He mutters and runs a hand through his hair.

I click on our project and go over what we need to get done.

And surprisingly, we’ve actually gotten most of the mid section done.

But we’re also running out of time as well.

“See? And you said this wouldn’t be easy.” The idiot continues talking.

“We’re not even done, genius.”

“But we’re past the halfway point.”

“And we’re also running out of time.”

“You always think we’re running out of time.”

“Because we are.”

“Not really.”

I look away from my screen and glare at him.

He raises his hands in mock surrender, and my mind can’t help but linger back to the dance. All he did was be there. Nothing else. And he wasn’t exactly terribly dressed either.

“Relax, boss. Maybe you’ll even learn a thing or two there.”

“That would be ideal.”

“Of course it is.” He mutters, then slowly rests his hands to his sides.

***

“Took you long enough.”

“Hey, you were the one who didn’t want anyone seeing us.” Jason says, opening the passenger door and holding it. “After you.”

“How kind and considerate.” I reply dryly.

He smirks and I close the door myself before he can do anything else. He enters the driver's seat, closes his door, and starts driving out the parking lot.

He’s going forty in a fifty-five limit.

“You drive slow.”

“I do prefer safety over speed.”

“Yea, right.” I mutter and he changes lanes.

The minutes pass until it’s ten minutes before our meetup.

“Can you drive any slower?”

“I am now driving five miles below the speed limit. Five.” He grips the steering wheel and stops at a stop sign. “Does that bother you, ma’am?”

“Maybe pick it up and it won’t.”

“You really think we’re gonna be late? Really?”

“At this rate, yea.”

“It’s me, by the way.”

“No kidding, genius.”

“You’re insufferable.” He mutters and keeps a steady pace.

“Next time, I’m driving.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I’ll drive the way back.”

“My car, my rules.”

“We had a deal, no?”

“It’s still my car.”

I roll my eyes and look up and see the tiny clock on the dashboard.  

Oh great.

“Trust the process, ma’am.” He says, and has the audacity to lean back in his chair. “Have some faith in me, will you?”

We barely got there in time. Speedwalking, I rush inside the building and head towards the front desk.

Jason trailers behind me and we talk to the lady at the desk.

“We’re here for an interview.” I say, controlling my breath and offering a tight smile. “With Linda Melendez? Mrs. Melendez?”

“Let me check her survey for you guys.”

I nod in acknowledgement, and he finally saunters up right beside me.

“Did you bring your notebook?” I ask and turn to face him.

“What am I, a backpack now?”

I roll my eyes and turn away from him.

“Oh, she’ll be right out.”

“Thank you.” I pull out my phone and tap on the notes app, still standing in front of the desk.

“You guys..?”

“I’m sorry?” I look up from my phone and see Jason with a smirk.

Oh great.

I look at the lady in front of us and quickly shake my head.

“Oh, no, we’re not-” I let out a quick and humorless laugh. “-we’re not like that.”

I turn to look at Jason and he merely shrugs. I glare at him and watch as the lady gets a phone call. I quickly move to the side and stand near the side of the room.

“What is wrong with you?”

“What?”

“You know what.”

“Are you really that annoyed by it?”

“I am not gonna be another random person on your list, thank you very much.”

“Geez, boss, I really am not like that. Really.”

“Not anymore.”
He mocks a gasp and places his hand on his chest. And thankfully, the lady finally comes and I quickly walk over to her. I glance down at her name tag showing Linda, and briefly handshake to greet each other.

“Mrs. Melendez, thank you for your time, really-”

“Please, call me Linda.”

I blink, then quickly nod, and she handshakes the slowpoke as well.

“If you’ll follow me…” Linda starts and I turn to see Jason lazily gesturing me forward.

I roll my eyes at him then quickly fall into step behind her, and we trail her until we enter the library section of the museum. We head over to a quieter corner, and she sits down at the end of the table opposite of us.

“I believe you two have an oral history project? Linda asks, and she folds her hands neatly on the table.

“Yes,” I nod and scramble to pull out my phone. “Can you state your name for the record, please?”

“Linda Mendelez.”

“Where were you born?”

“I was born in Tijuana, Mexico.”

“Can you tell me your earliest memory there?”

Linda starts explaining briefly about her main favorite parts, and I quickly jot down the info in my notes. I ask her a few more questions, like when she was born, when she came here, and what her life was like. And so on.

“And how was that like?” I ask, and she answers after a beat while I take the key points from her.

I then turn to face him and ask, “Do you have any questions?”

He pauses, as if not expecting me to acknowledge him, and I nearly slap his leg under the table when he finally opens his mouth.

“Yes,” He turns from me and smiles at our interviewee.” Mrs. Mendelez-”

“Linda.”

“Linda, what was your journey like when coming her?”

“Well, it was…”

I start typing without looking at my screen and see the idiot casually leaning back. He turns his head just slightly and smirks at me, then looks back at lInda and nods at her enthusiastically.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes and keep typing like there’s not tomorrow

After a few more questions and a few more well earned glares, we finally finish and Linda leads us back to the lobby right beside the front desk.

“Thank you, Mrs.-” I clear my throat and quickly correct myself, “-Linda. Thank you.”

“Anytime.”She replies and bids us farewell with two handshakes.

I turn to take my leave and finish typing down notes on my phone.

“I think that was quite successful, boss.” Jason says, and he catches up to me in two long strides. “Much effort on my part, of course.”

“Yea, right.”

“You don’t need to lie to me, ma’am.”

I snort in response and he opens the door in front of me.

“After you.” He gestures towards the door, a stupid smirk on his face, and I walk right out as I still instinctively hold the handle of the door on my way out. “No manners?”

“Seems like a simple task.”

“Seems like common sense.”

“Speak for yourself.”

He laughs and I roll my eyes, then look over all the notes I took. Then briefly checking the rubric for our project, I realize we’re actually nearly done with the mid section.

Huh.

“What’s up, ma’am?” He raises an eyebrow and looks at my phone over my shoulder. “Sheesh. You took that many?”

“We’re almost done with the mid section.” I mutter, and don’t bother looking up from my phone.

If only we could finish it today…

“Well then,” he says, his voice low and near my ear. “Wanna finish it?”

I push down the weird feeling in my stomach and clear my throat.

“What?”

“You wanna finish it?”

“The project?”

“Yea, you said we’re almost done with the middle part.” He finally leans back and checks the time on his phone. “You down?”

“I guess. I mean, I don’t have a shift today anyway.”

“Might as well.” He shrugs lightly as we walk towards his car. “Do you mind, at my house..?”

His house. I’ll be going to his house.

I don’t even remember the last time I’ve ever been to anyone's house before.

Then again, that was before she had left.  It’ll probably be fine.

I wouldn’t mind a distraction anyways.

“Yea, if you’re okay with it.” I answer after too long of a second. “Wait, right now?”

“Yea.” He adds quieter, “He won’t be there anyways.”

I don’t acknowledge it and just simply nod, sending the topic seemed to bother him in some way. But he’s probably fine. Really.

And not that I care.

I step inside his car as well, and he starts leaving the parking lot.

“I’m driving next time. I say as he rolls to a stop at a red light.

“My car. My rules.” He replies smoothly, and turns at the next light.

He drives down a few more blocks, passing by a park and turning at a roundabout. Soon enough, we pull up in a driveway and I look out the window.

“Cozy.” I say as I step out of his car.

“It’s…” He starts then trails off. “...yea. It’s home”

He hesitates at the front door, sliding the key halfway though the lock.

I’m not even sure why I…” He mumbles to himself, and I can’t help but notice the discomfort from him.

“I can just leave if it’s-”

“No, it’s fine. It’s fine.” He lazily waves a hand, his usual edge coming back to him but not entirely.

At last, he opens the door, and I hear high-pitched barking. A small golden dachshund comes chagrin at Jason, and he crouches down and gently pats it.

“This is Dot,” he sighs and lightly rubs her head. “Short for Dottie.”

I bite back a laugh.

“What?”

“Oh nothing.”

“What is it?”

I crouch down as well and Dottie comes over to me, her tiny paws jumping up against my legs.

“She's just so small.” I finally answer, and the size difference between them is almost comical. “And you’re so-”

“Physically attractive?”

“Oh please.” I roll my eyes and pat Dottie, in which she happily pants.

“Jason, can you shut the door, please? It’s-” A woman stands down the hall, a phone in her hand, and she brightens into a smile. “Jay, you didn’t tell me you’re inviting people over!”

She’s slightly shorter than Jason, but their hair’s practically the same, their curls matching each other and she rushes over towards me.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I should-”

“Oh, don’t be sorry. Please, come on in. Are there any more people?” She greets me with a warm hug.

“No, Ma, it’s just us.” Jason sighs, and he closes the front door shut.

“Oh. I see, well then,” Jason’s mom starts to turn away and gestures down the hall,” You cleaned your room, right?”

“Yes.” Jason groans and she whistles a tune as she leaves us alone in the living room.

He walks past me and starts heading down the hall, and I slowly trail behind him until he stops in front of a bedroom door. A faint smell comes from another room, but I can’t quite put my grasp on it, and simply shake it off.

It’s his house anyway.

He opens his door and steps inside, a slight organized mess, he crouches down and grabs his bag on the floor. It’s a tropical bedroom, but I can’t help but notice certain items placed. Near the side wall, a picture without a frame sits on it, two little boys laughing with each other.

Isn’t that…

“You gonna come in?” Jason asks, breaking my thoughts as I’m still standing just outside his door.

“You’re fine with it?”

“Geez, it's not like anything’s gonna bite.” He mutters and turns around to glance around his room.

As if noticing something, he quickly grabs his bag up from the floor and says, “We can go to the living room, actually.”

I nod and he moves past me, and I follow his lead back to the living room. He tosses his bag on the floor, and slumps down on the sofa.

“Just wherever.” He lazily gestures a hand around the room, even though the only seat is the sofa.

I snort then sit beside him, staying near the side so I can place my laptop on the armrest. I sign in and open up the project, pulling out my phone to look at my notes as well.

“Good interview, yea?”

“You barely even asked any questions.”

I asked some.”

“That was three questions.”

“Like I said. Some.” He looks down the hall and clicks his tongue. “Come here, Dot.”

“Dottie trots over to our area, and nearly crashes into the sofa. She jumps up and I turn away to look at my laptop when I feel a persistent tapping against my thigh.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Jason glares at Dottie and I bite back a smile.

Carefully, I pat Dottie on her tiny head.

“She’s cute.” I say, and rub the back of her ears.

“She’s an attention seeker, is what she is.”

He clears his throat and turns away, reaching to grab the notebook from his bag.

I look back up at my screen and start adding the main points from the interview.

***

I wave bye to his mom as I step inside the car. He backs up from the driveway, and starts heading back to my place.

“Here’s my address.” I say, and place his phone down on the dashboard.

I hear him hum in response, a familiar tune, and realize it’s the same melody his mom had.

Thankfully, there wasn’t much traffic and we arrived back at my place in nearly twenty minutes. The car ride was mostly quiet besides his humming. But not awkward quiet, but just a comfortable quiet.

 I hadn’t even realized how long we’ve been working that I lost track of time. I look out the car window and see the sky dipping into a sunset.

It looks nice.

“This the one,” he asks after a beat, “boss?”
“Oh, yea.” I step out of his car and close the door. “Thanks.”

I walk towards my front door and put the key inside. Opening the door, I step inside and close the door shut soon after.

In an attempt, I try to not be seen as I peer out front the side window. He stays there in the driveway for a few more seconds, still looking at my front door and breaks into a soft smile.

Into a real smile.

And man, it looked…

He takes one final glance at the front door, then pulls away and drives back to his house.

Chapter 13 - Julia

“Happy?”

Am I ever?

“With what?” I ask.

He gestures to his screen. “That I finished the first part of the final section.”

“Liar.”

“Look!”

“Congrats, you’ve organized your notes. What a miracle.”

“It’s what it says in the rubric.”

I snort and start packing my things away. The cafe is buzzing with more people than usual at this hour. At the corner of my eyes, I notice a girl no older than I am ogling at him.

I roll my eyes and tuck in my chair with a small creak.

“You good?”

“Splendid.”

I shrug my bag on my shoulder and he does the same. I’m about to rush out the door when he decides to be a slowpoke again.

“Boss, wait up.”

I let out a low sigh and slowly turn around, as I keep my hand on the door handle. He starts to move past the table when a girl suddenly bumps into him.

The same girl.

Great.

“Oh, sorry, are you okay?” The words fall smoothly out of her mouth.

“Yea, you?” He puts on a charmed smile, and I swear, I’m leaving him behind.

I turn around again and start to head out the door.

“Excuse me,” he says to her then looks over at my direction, “Emerson, wait up!”

This idiot.

I turn around again, ever so slowly.

“Hey, wait,” the same girl reaches for his arm, “don’t we go to the same school?”

Oh. My. Lord.

“I believe so.”

She smiles. “I’ll see you around then.”

‘Of course.” Then, after a billion seconds, she finally lets go of him.

He’s a slowpoke, an idiot, all of the above.

I step out the door and don’t bother to see if he follows or not. Either way, we’ll have to walk back to the school parking lot because someone decided that we should walk to the cafe.

Why in the world did I agree?

I hear footsteps from behind me, and he catches up at the same pace as me.

“Geez, ma’am, can't you wait?”

I don’t bother responding.

“Hello? You good?” He continues.

“And why wouldn’t I be?”

“She was nice, wasn’t she?”

“Absolutely wonderful.” And I don’t care. I don’t.

He lets out his easy laugh and we start passing by a larger park. Just a few more blocks until the parking lot.

Why did that bother me so much?

I slightly shake my head then look to the side and see the park swarming with little kids.

“Bundle of joy, yea?”

“They're loud,” I reply unenthusiastically, “and annoying.”

“You don’t like them?”

“Do I look like it?”

“Why not?”

“I’ve explained just fine.”

“But still, you really don’t like them?”

“Oh, and what are you? The ultimate father figure now?”

“I think they're cute.”

“Of course you do.” I mutter.

A sudden scream comes from the park, but I don’t bother looking. He turns his head to the side and looks towards the play area.

“You don’t wanna check if they’re alright?” And as much as I hate that I notice it, he actually sounds concerned.

When and why in the world does he care?

“The kid’s fine,” I say, “there's a difference. You can tell between an obnoxious noise and an actual kid in danger.” I gesture towards the play area. “He’s just mad he didn’t get to be the first to go down the slide.”

“Huh.”

Most kids scream for whatever stupid reason. Over a toy, a game, random little stupid things. The majority of the time, there’s nothing terrible. But an actual shriek in their scream, that’s the difference.

But kids are still annoying.

I hear a kid crying on the side. I wonder where the parents are.

A little kid runs up to me and wraps his arms around me.

Oh great, it’s the same kid that’s crying.I start to raise my hands to shave him away, but quickly catch myself.

I don’t want him going through this type of crap anyway.

I slowly kneel down to his level and the kid wraps his arms around my shoulders while burying his face.

Great.

The little kid continues sobbing and that’s when I finally find it. A small scrape on his knee.

Thankfully, it’s not that deep.

It’s barely anything at all.

“It’s alright,” my tone softens almost instantly, “are you okay?”

The little kid finally, slowly, unwraps his arms around me and wipes his face from their tears.

“It hurts.”

“Ah, well, you're a tough cookie.”

I gesture for him to lift his leg and check the scrape. The kid sniffles and I gently reach out to wipe a tear rolling down his face.

“I think I need to tell mommy this.” He looks down at it and his hair falls over his eyes.  

“That's a great idea,” I nod lightly and smile, "that's smart. Always tell mom and dad when these things happen, okay?”

The moment he hears the word smart, he instantly brightens up.

Yea, he’s fine.

“Here,” I gently raise his arms, “whenever certain things happen, sometimes you just gotta shake it off.”

I make some sort of random movement by waving my arms. He starts laughing, then continues raising his arms and jumping around.

“Justin!”

“Go on.” I gesture towards his parents and he rushes over to them.

First, he was sobbing like a wreck then left giggling like there’s no tomorrow.

I let out a low sigh and stand up.

“You’re a big help.” I finally turn to face him.

“You're good.” He says, his eyes still on the kid as he runs around.

“I’m sorry?”

With kids,” he looks at me, “come on. You gotta admit, he was cute, wasn’t he?”

“He was annoying and crying over a little scratch.”

“You’re still good with them.”

That’s because I don’t want them to go through certain things.

“We’ve all been there, haven’t we?” I say instead.

“True.”

The kid, Justin, needed help. Not impatience, not getting yelled at.

It’s not that hard to calmly handle situations, is it?

I look over at the kid’s parents, their worried faces looking at his knee.

The kid’ll be fine.

**Jason**

“...He’s just mad he didn’t get to be the first to go down the slide.”

“Huh.”

She stares at the park a little while longer, then shifts her gaze back to the sidewalk ahead. There's a sense of purpose in her step.

A kid suddenly sprints towards her and embraces her in a hug. Her hands raise up but she quickly pulls them back

Huh.

Then she does the least expected, she kneels down to the kid’s level. He doesn’t let her go.

He’s crying.

There’s an imperceptible mark on his knee, a scrape most likely.

'It’s alright,” her tone softens almost instantly, “are you okay?”

I didn’t even know her voice could be that soft.

“It hurts.” the little boy replies, his voice quavering.

“Ah, well, you’re a tough cookie.”

While he sniffles, she lightly raises his leg to check it.

“I think I need to tell mommy this.”

“That’s a great idea.” She nods softly and offers a small smile, “that’s smart. Always tell mom and dad when these things happen, okay?”

The little guy instantly beams once he hears the compliment.

I’m surprised at how genuine she sounds.

He nods enthusiastically and quickly rubs his face. She gently reaches for his arms and says, "Whenever certain things happen, sometimes you just gotta shake it off.”

She gestures her arms up and starts shaking them. The little guy starts giggling and follows pursuit until he starts jumping up and down.

“Justin!”

“Go on,” she nods towards his parents and he runs away just like how he came.

She lets out a low sigh then stands up.

“You’re a big help.” She says dryly, and she finally turns to face me.

 I watch the kid- watch Justin- rush over to his parents and crash into them.

“You’re good.” I say after a few seconds.

“I’m sorry?”

“With kids,” I turned to face her, “come on, you’ve gotta admit, he was cute, wasn’t he?”

“He was annoying and crying over a little scratch.”

“You’re still good with them.”

She pauses at first.

“We’ve all been there, haven’t we?”

“True.”

I follow her gaze and see the parents bend over to check his knee.

I look back at her, just seeing how calmly she handled it. Gently, carefully, and almost instinctively. She changed almost immediately once Justin came over.

She’d nearly shoved the kid away but quickly stopped herself.

What’s up with that?

I don’t acknowledge it.

But after that, her voice became soothing and made gentle gestures. Her hair fell perfectly in place and she brushed a stray strand to the side.

She actually smiled.

Sure, it was small, but I’ll take something over nothing.

So much for being Miss Has No Feelings.

Chapter 14 - Jason

“Gotcha.”

He looks down at me as he pins me on the ground. His hair falls over his face and he’s grinning like an idiot.

“You cheated.” I glare at him and he finally lets go of me.

“And how-”

I tackle him immediately afterwards, nearly wiping the smile off his face.

He quickly readjusts, grabbing a hold of my arm before I jerk away.

I elbow his chest and he lets out a low grunt.

“Ow.”

“Shut up.”

He tries and holds his hands up, attempting to create some distance between us. I shove his shoulders backwards and his back lands on the floor with a thud.

“Hey, no one’s getting hurt over there, right?” Ma’s voice comes from down the hall.

I look at him and a smirk comes on his lips.

I mutter a swear to myself.

An agonizing period of seconds passes.

“We’re fine, Ma.” He finally raises his voice so he can be heard from where we’re at.

He looked over at me, the smirk still on his lips, and in his regular tone, “You looked like you were gonna be sick.”

“And you suck.” I frown and jerk away when he continues ruffling my hair.

“You looked like an idiot.”

“You are an idiot.”

“What are we talking about, boys?” A voice comes from down the hall.

“Nothing.” I reply as James says at the same time, “We’re fine.”

“Better hurry up unless you guys don’t want dinner.” She called out from the dining room, and whistles a familiar tune.

We both start to get up at the same time, our limbs tangled together and we both crash on the floor. We laugh for so long that I hear a sigh come from the hall.

***

“Why are you still here?”

I look up from packing my bag and see her. She’s got a ridiculous amount of cup packaging in her hands.

“We finished working a while ago.” Her lips just slightly go down in a frown as a noise starts beeping from the cashier area.

“Am I not allowed to order a drink?”

“You already had one.”

“Correct. And I’m having another.”

She lets out a light scoff then moves past me, heading towards the cup station to refill all the items.

She’s nearly gonna drop one of them.

I start walking over to her, while in the background the noise continues.

“I can help-”

“I got it.” She lifts them up higher so a few of the items land on the side counter.

“It really isn’t that big of a deal.”

“It’s fine.” She sets a few more of them down and catches a plastic container before it falls.

 The beeping noise from earlier is louder than before.

 “Why isn’t anyone…” She mutters and trails off to herself.

Her shoulders droop just slightly, and still stubbornly holding on to the rest of the items, walks towards the cashier area and finally turns off the noise.

She sets those times down and starts making a drink.

For crying out loud.

I turn around and look at the items left abandoned on the side counter.

I start putting them away, each little holder and container set back in place. It’s quite tedious, actually.

A girl my age walks beside me, setting her drink down and grabbing a cup sleeve.

“You work here?” She asks, as she places an extra container back.

“Just helping out.”

“Oh, I see,” she taps her drink, “you come here often?”

“Every now and then.” I shrug lightly, placing the last container in place.

“That’s nice. What you’re doing.”

“It’s nothing really.”

“Do you have instagram?”

At that moment, someone sets their stuff on the counter right behind me.

“Excuse me.” She mutters.

“Sorry.” I reply to the voice, then quickly turn around to move out of her way.

And that’s when I see her.

“Oh, boss.”

She went around us. Literally around us to take the longer route.

She could’ve gone right in between us.

But she didn’t.

Huh.

The new girl’s phone rings and she holds it up to her ear.

“See you around,” she says, then heads towards the door, “Yea I’m coming out now…”

I wave in acknowledgement as she leaves.

A few seconds pass.

She’s awfully silent.

“Didn’t see you there.” I turn to face her, and she’s restacking a row of coasters.

“You’re in the way.”

“So was she.”

“She’s a customer.”

“You could’ve asked us to move.”
“And disrupt a lovely conversation between you two?” She says lightly, then adds dryly, “No thanks.”

I raise an eyebrow, then the thought hits me.

Wait a minute.

“Did that bother you?”

“You’re slacking on the job.”

“So I was hired?”

“And now you’re fired.”

“I, too, am a customer.” I say innocently and cross my arms, “If I’m bothering you so much, why not just kick me out, huh?”

She suddenly brightens in a tight smile.

I’m not sure if I’m scared or on the brink of laughing. Maybe both.

“Our cafe is specifically designed to be a happy, healthy, and safe environment for all customers. We give what the customers want, supply their needs, and create a calm atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.” Her tone is a fake cheery voice, as she rambles this memorized lecture in her head.”We wish everyone a positive day and have a happy evening.”

My corners of my lips threaten to go up until I’m in a laughing fit.

“Is this what you signed up for?” I ask and run a hand through my hair.

“Well, you just so happen to be a customer as well,” she instinctively places the last containers back without looking, “Congrats, you get special treatment as well.”

“I feel honored.”

“Now get out.”

“Anbd what happened to customer service?”

“Cafe's closing soon.”

“And my drink?”

She blinks, as if she actually forgot about it.

I can’t help but wonder…

But she can’t, she’s not into that type of stuff.

Right?

“What’s taking so long?” She mumbles and takes one glance at the counter to pick up drinks.

“Order for Luisa.” Then soon after, “Order for Jason.”

There it is.

“About time.” She mutters, then promptly walks over to the cashier area to start closing it up.

I walk over to the pick-up station and grab my drink sitting on the counter. I take one sip out of it and lightly drum my fingers against the countertop. Simply waiting patiently.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” I clear my throat while she says at the same time, “What do you want?”

I raise my drink for her to see. “Some more creamer, please."

She walks over, grabs the drink in my hand, and starts reaching for the creamer on the shelf. She starts to pour before she hesitates and checks the container she’s holding.

She mutters something under her breath, puts that container back, and grabs another one from the shelf.

Her brow furrows and she chews on the bottom of her lips.

My eyes quickly flick down and I watch her hands, and unless I’m imagining it, she’s subtly shaking.

I don’t acknowledge it.

The container gets quickly placed back, and she hands the drink to me.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“Go on, Wells.”

“Whatever you say, boss.”

Chapter 15 - Jason

“Order 124!”

I shout out the next few orders as I flip through receipts.

The room is practically crowded with a bunch of people.

Behind me, kids rush past me and pass food items along the counter. Many of the kids working here are from different schools. Some even in college already.

“Extra?”

“I got it.” I answer to the voice behind me as I finish topping a food item.

I place the tray on the counter, then head towards the kid asking for the extra and quickly help him out.

There’s always something new that happens here. Something different.

That older lady in the corner finally asked for a different entree today.

One of our team members’ dogs just had puppies. Plural.

They’re adorable, by the way.

My hands move with practiced ease as I stamp receipt after receipt. I turn around and see someone standing frozen near the side counter.

A new guy keeps looking back and forth between two of our drink cups.

“Jacob, right?”

He looks up in surprise and nods.

“This one,” I tap the one in his right hand, “use the other one for almond milk.”

We don’t label the containers for some reason.

“Thanks.”

I pat his back near his shoulder and continue moving along past him.

“Got a free hand?” A familiar voice comes from behind me and he taps my shoulder.

“I’m clocking out.”

I turn and see Lucas carrying a box of new containers.

He frowns and takes out his phone with his free hand to check the time.

“Lucky you.”

I shrug in response and he lightly punches my shoulder.

“Later.” I take off my name tag on my uniform and wave at him.

I step out the building from the back exit, stars scattering the night sky.

I get in my car, drive out of the parking lot, then finally head back home.

And surprisingly, there wasn’t as much traffic.

Some fog stretches and covers the night sky.

I pass by the familiar houses then see it.

His car’s parked in the driveway. Literally in the driveway.

Asshole.

It’s already late. Later than it typically would be after a shift.

I step inside the house and lock the door.

I keep one light on and head down the hall.

“James?” I ask from the kitchen area.

No answer.

As usual.

I get up from the counter and head to his room.

“James, get up,”I knock on his half opened door, open it all the way without waiting, and see his slumped figure on his seat as he lights another cigarette, “your car’s in the way.”

“What?” His voice is low and rough on the edges.

“You heard me.”

“Mhm.”

“James.”

“I’ll move it.” He gets in a coughing fit, then finally looks over at me.

I’m not dealing with this right now.

“Now.”

“I heard you, J.”

“Come on, man, you’re gonna get another ticket again.”

He reluctantly gets up with a low grunt, and he’s swaying just slightly. He leans against his doorframe, stopping just in front of me. His cigarette rests easily between two of his fingers, puts it up against his lips, then exhales.

I’m greeted with a puff of smoke in my face.

“You stink.”

He reaches up and ruffles my hair, I brush past him and start heading to my room.

“Where’s Ma at?”

“On a business trip,” I reply, then ask pointedly, “you gonna answer her calls?”

“Yea, yea.”

I stay standing outside the door of my room.

“Yes, I will,” He draws out a sigh.

“And that’s what you always say.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Will you?”

“I will, J.” He scoffs and turns around to head towards the kitchen, “Relax, it’s gonna be fine.”

“This is the third time.” I raise my voice louder so he can hear me.

“Quit whining.”

“Oh, I'm the one complaining?”

He turns around before stepping outside the front door.

“I’ll be fine, J.” He retorts sharply, turning on his heel, then slamming the door shut.

Yea right.

Fine.

He’s gonna be fine.

Chapter 16 - Julia

I place the rest of the change in the cashier box and make my way towards the bathroom.

Taking off the apron, I shove the clothing in my bag and go up to the sink. I toss water on my face, then reach into my bag and find the small container.

I take off the cap, toss the pill down my throat, and chug on water.

I quickly put the rest of my stuff in my bag, toss it over my shoulder, and step outside the bathroom. I wave a hand in acknowledgement that I’m leaving and head towards two girls already arguing about which store to go to first.

“About time,” Lena rolls her eyes in my direction and gets up from her seat, “What took you so long?”

“Work.”

“No duh, you had work,” she taps at her phone that shows the time, “which ended ten minutes ago.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“Am not.”

“It was five.”

“Were you busy texting somebody?” Emma chimes in.

“You are not helping.” I point at her as she gets up from her seat as well.

“You’re not denying it.”

“And how does that relate to any of this right now?”

“Deflecting now.” Lena pipes in.

“And who in the world would I be texting?” I raise an eyebrow and switch my bag to my other shoulder.

They both give each other a look.

Oh you’ve gotta be kidding me.

“Absolutely not.” I turn around and start heading out of the cafe.

“But you’re not denying it!” Emma adds lightly.

“No, I was not texting anyone,” I turn in their direction and hold the door open for them, “Happy?”

“Whatever you say, Jules.” Lena replies in a bored tone.

“I’m driving,” I close the door and head towards my car, “And no, no one gets shotgun.”

“You sure you don’t wanna use my car?” Lena asks.

“You really wanna drive?” I then open the car door to the backseats for them, “Look, I’ll even be nice and let you two have aux.”

The two of them scramble inside and start arguing over who gets first pick of the song.

***

After nearly an hour of blasting music and belting sessions, we finally found a parking spot.

“We’re finally here!” Lena squeals and closes the backseat door with a thud. “Let’s go upstairs first, most of the smaller shops are up there.”

“Isn’t that one dress store downstairs?” Emma asks.

“No, I could’ve sworn it was upstairs.” Lena insists.

“Well, the map literally says it’s downstairs.”

“And the website literally says it’s upstairs.”

“Y’all, it’s a two-story clothing shop.” I cut in before they continued arguing and gestured for us to continue walking.

“You could’ve just said that.” Lena replies back smoothly.

“You could’ve just looked at it better-”

“Come on, there’s not that many people either!” Em rushes over to the store while Lena runs after her.

I eventually trail behind them.

And, geez, there are hundreds and hundreds of dresses.

The place is huge.

And mind you, this is just one floor.

Lena rushes past a section and disappears after turning the corner.

Emma gasps and heads towards the opposite direction of her, leaving a trail of swinging dresses in her path.

Great.

Just great.

***

Hours pass.

Hours.

In one singular store.

It’s huge though.

After meeting back with each other, a ridiculous amount of dresses covered their arms before going inside the dressing rooms.

I even helped carry some of theirs.

Em decided her favorite pick to be a light pink and strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline. It caught her eye the moment she saw it and couldn’t stop rambling about it even though she hadn’t even tried the rest of the dresses in her hands.

Lena was stuck on a couple of options, and I don’t blame her. She decided not to go for red again, since she wore a burgundy dress for the Winter Formal, and went through a bunch of green and blue dresses. None of them really spoke to her, if that makes sense. She eventually fell in love with a gold and strapless satin dress with a beaded corset.

“Well, did you find one?” Lena asks.

“I’ve been busy helping you guys,” I fidget with the fabric of the dresses in my hands, “Almost though.”

I think.

Simple would be nice.

It’s just that the dresses either end up too tight or too small.

Never fully fitting.

Never quite right.

Even with some of them I had actually liked, I couldn't get the right size.

I’d even been eating less.

I should’ve gotten better.

Hadn’t I?

“Earth to Jules?” A hand waves in my face. “Did you hear me?”

“Sorry, what?”

“Drop those dresses and find at least two new ones.” Lena gestures at the ones draped over my arms.

“What?”

“You heard me,” Lena hands me one of the hangers for them, “It’s good to have a fresh start.”

“You already tried them anyway,” Em added.

I had?

Huh.

I had.

“Come on, we’ll be here until you find one.” Emma lightly nudges me on the shoulder.

“We’ve literally planned this trip for one reason only,” Lena patronized and continued pointing out the obvious, “We can’t leave until we all find a prom dress.”

“Yea, yea,” I add dryly, “Thanks for the reminder. Appreciate it much.”

I hang the dresses in my arms on the clothing rack outside the fitting rooms and continue on with my same mission.

It’s just a dress.

Just one dress.

Not that anyone will pay much attention anyways.

***

“It’s good, isn’t it?”

Lena looks me up and down, as if admiring her work.

As if.

“You’re welcome, by the way.”

“I picked it, you know.” I scoff and start looking for the hanger for the dress.

“You do like it though, right?” Em asks.

I nod.

For once, I do.

It’s a pretty simple dress. A darker blue shade. Being also strapless and having a slit I hadn’t even noticed until I put it on, I think it’s nice.

I quickly pack up the dress and we all get our dresses bagged.

Power walking to the parking lot, we carefully hung the bagged dresses on the hooks in the backseats.

After slamming the car doors shut, Lena started their lovely music session where they both screamed their hearts out until I drove them all back to their homes.

Chapter 17 - Julia

Please stop yelling at me.

Just deep breaths.

In and out.

Deep breaths.

Deal with this now, cry later.

It’s getting a bit tedious, honestly.

Just numb it.

Numb it all.

I swear I studied, that I worked.

That I tried.

Why doesn’t he see that?

I even thought I did good today.

Hadn’t I?

***

He’s finally done.

All he does is yells.

I go to the bathroom and grab my towel. The voice is still ringing in my head.

Shut up.

Other people have it worse, I suppose.

I turn on the water, it’s warm.

Numb. Numb it.

I shouldn’t be complaining.

I turn it hotter.

Still messed up.

Still not good enough.

Shut up.

But I’m not complaining, aren’t I?

Nobody’s listening.

No one to talk to anyway.

I turn it up more.

Why can’t I do anything right?

 The water’s hot.

Not hot enough.

More. Numb it.

There’s steam coming out now. I hadn't even noticed it.

The side window’s fogging up.

It’s not enough.

Never enough.

Chapter 18 - Jason

Everyone sure does love prom.

I’d nearly forgotten about it.

That is if that’s possible, considering that everyone talks about it constantly.

Someone might’ve even leaked who the prom king and queen is.

What I did forget about it was when it’d happen.

Which is soon.

Very, very soon.

As of tomorrow soon.

I continue tapping my pen against the desk and look up at the clock.

A minute until first period starts.

A minute until school starts.

And a minute until an empty seat near the side of the classroom finally gets filled.

Everyone is still talking about it. People are way too awake at this hour.

Then she rushes into the room.

She takes the longer route to head to her seat.

Typical.

There’s an awkward step when she walks. A slight sway. Some discoordination as she heads to her seat.

It’s almost oddly familiar.

And why does she look so tired?

The bell rings and everyone plops down on their seats.

She, as she always does, slumps on her seat just in time without anyone noticing she had nearly missed the bell.

After pulling out a notebook from her back, she shakes her head, then grabs a different notebook.

It’s not like she’s into that sort of stuff like he is.

She isn’t, isn’t she?

My arm gets jabbed and I’m suddenly snapped back to reality.

“And that’s what I thought, am I right?” Lucas laughs with someone then jabs at me again, “Hey, you awake?”

“Yea, relax, will you?” I clear my throat and jab back at him.

Lucas shrugs at that same someone a desk away then finally turns to face me.

“You sure? I asked you when you’re not busy and you nodded. Twice,” he scoffs, “You still sleeping?”

“I’m fine, man.”

“What you thinking about, huh? Something going on?” he pauses then tilts his head, “A somebody going on?”

I scoff and start rummaging through my bag.

“Oh?” He breaks into a stupid grin, “Really? You’ve finally-”

“No, man, I ain’t got time for that.”

“‘Ain’t got time’ my ass.” he sneers, “fine. Well, something’s going on.”

“You done?”

“You gonna tell me?”

I toss the English assignment at his face and open my laptop, “Leave me alone.”

“I thought we’re working together?”

“And now we’re not.”

“Right. Cause now you’ve got a new someone in your life now.”

I groan then actually look at my laptop.

“Oh, come on,” I mutter under a breath.

“Miss me already?”

“It’s dead.”

“Sounds like a you problem.”

I close the laptop and drag a hand down my face.

***

Someone needs a charger for their computer.

That particular someone would be me.

And no one’s being particularly helpful.

Already five minutes have passed.

She’s late.

I lean back in my chair and let out a low sigh.

She didn’t leave.

She’s been here the whole day.

I look up and see her rush in, clutching her bag straps slightly. There’s almost a slight sway in each of her steps. Some dark circles showed imperceptibly under her eyes. She nods to the teacher in acknowledgement, pulls out the seat beside me, and slumps down on it.”

“You look terrible.”

“How observant,” She retorts dryly and pulls out her laptop, “You gonna start working?”

“It’s dead.”

“How convenient,” she mutters under a breath and rummages through her bag, then tosses a charger at me.

Huh.

“You’re actually being nice?” I gasp and dramatically whisper, “It’s almost like you care.”

“Yea, about my grade.”

“You didn’t need to ruin it.”

“You know, a ‘thank you’ would be nice.”

“You’re right,” I sigh in defeat and plug in the charger, “Thanks, boss…”

She rolls her eyes and keeps her gaze locked on her screen.

“...you good?” I continue after hesitating too long of a second.

“You can’t be talking.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“You too have been looking wrecked. You’ve-”

“Been watching me now?”

She scowls and turns her gaze back to her laptop.

I'm honestly surprised she had noticed.

I’m surprised that someone has noticed.

Not that that means anything.

Sure, it hasn’t been that great.

Especially since that night.

I tilt my head slightly as she focuses back on our project.

Which we’re practically finished with.

Her hair rolls down her back, along with stray strands over her face. She blinks and mutters to herself, then switches tabs before going back to her original website. One of her legs bounces lightly against the floor. She chews on the bottom of her lip and starts tapping at her keyboard.

I quickly look away.

It’s not like she’s into that stuff.

Not like how he is.

Right?

“Wells?” she types faster on her keyboard, “Did you hear me?”

“What?”

“You going to prom?”

I smile, the familiar scene coming to play.

“It’s still up in the air, “ I say and lean back against my chair, “You?”
She scoffs softly and shrugs lightly, “Up in the air.”

Her tired eyes return my gaze and I look away a moment later.

***

The house still smells like it. I can still hear his voice.

It’s been three days.

“You don’t even know what he was like when he was here.”

I shake my head and toss my bag on the floor.

His hand shoves at my chest and I take a step backwards.

Dottie starts jumping on it then eventually scrambles over to me.

“Hey, Dot,” Her floppy ears bounce up and down as she jumps on me.

My phone buzzes.

Lucas: See you there

I sigh and look over at my closet.

Then again, she might go.

I need a distraction anyways.

“The things he did were nowhere near to what I’m doing now. What I could be doing right now…”

The smell is too strong. His voice continues replaying in my head.

“...But I’m not… I’m not…” His voice breaks off as he pants, trailing off at his loss of words.

He looks down at his hands and scowls.

A flicker of concern disappeared on his face as fast as it came.

Before I can find the words in my mouth, he turns to leave, slamming the door shut behind him.

I need to get out of here.

Short breaths slip past my lips until my throat gets dry. The room blurs, and my hearing starts ringing-

Something light jumps against my legs.

I look down and squint to see her, blinking as the room slowly steadies into place.

Slow breathing.

In and out.

“...Thanks, Dot.” I gently rub the back of her ears and pat her small head.

Deep breaths.

The ringing fades in the background, and I force my legs up, rummaging through my closet until a suit and tie stares right back at me.

Small paws lightly pounce against my legs again.

“Yea, yea, I’m going,” I mumble as Dot continues attacking me, “Geez, Dot, I’m going.”

It’ll be fine.

He’ll be fine.

Just. Fine

Chapter 19 - Jason || Three Days Ago

The clock ticked loudly.

I stared up at the ceiling and dragged a hand down my face. The bed creaked beneath me. A light tune ringed in the air.

Laundry’s done.

I shifted in my bed and tapped at my phone beside me. Past 2 AM.

I closed my eyes shut briefly, no sleep came to me.

“Whatever,” I muttered and got up from my bed and headed to the laundry room.

Light crashed in my vision when I flicked the light switch on. I tossed the clothes from the washer into the dryer, then closed the door of the room.

I glanced down the hall and sigh, then walked past my bedroom to head towards the kitchen. The dryer from the laundry room hummed quietly across the hall. I poured a glass of water and set it down on the table, prop my elbows up against the counter, and looked up at the clock.

The low hum of a car engine pulled in from the front. The engine cuts off and a jarring silence gets interrupted once the door slams a moment afterward.

About time.

The garage door closes and he steps inside.

“It’s late,” I muttered.

“And?”

“You said you’d be here-”

“God, you sound like Ma right now,” He sighed and pulled out a cigarette.

“Stop smoking in the house.”

“It’s gonna be fine.”

“Will it?”

“Yes,” he smiled lazily, “it will.”

I groaned and dragged a hand down my face.

“What? What do you want me to say?”

“You look terrible. You keep showing up like this. I don’t even know why Ma still lets you…”

“‘Let’s me’ what, huh?”

“Nevermind.”

“No, no, finish,” he tilts his head, “why she lets me what?”

“Come on, man, you’re just-”

“So what? I can’t come and visit anymore?”

“You’ve been a mess. The whole house is always wrecked whenever you come over.”

“And now everything’s my fault? What,” he gestures at our surroundings, “you think this is bad?”

“Come on, you know you didn’t used to act like this-”

“-Oh God-”

“-the damn house smells every time you show up.”

He scoffs and tosses the cigarette in the sink with the flick of his hand.

“Happy?”

“Forget it,” I muttered.

“What else do you want from me, huh?”

“Actually listening for once,” I gestured towards the car outside, “Ma paid for your parking ticket just before it expired. I had to rush back home from work to move your damn car before it got a third ticket.”

“Oh so you’re the only one with problems here?” He mocked as he tilted his head slightly, “You’re the only one dealing with problems while I’m, what, causing them? Causing all hell to break loose? A problem?”

“I never said that.”

“You really think that it’s just you who had to go through all this?” He slammed a drawer near us, cracking a plate on a table. “Imagine hearing that as a nine year old, wondering every night if there would ever be a quiet night to finally get some sleep.”

I flinched as he pulled out the shattered plate and laughed bitterly.

“You think this is bad? That once I start enjoying life and come back late, I’m the bad one here?”

“You said you’d never end up like this,” My voice lowered, I looked down at the counter and slowly tilted my head up to hold his gaze.

“Well now you’re just putting words in my mouth.” He rolls his eyes carelessly.

“Drinking, smoking, coming home late,” I shook my head and gestured my hand lazily toward him, “You told me. You said you’d stay away from it all.”

When we were kids.

“And you really believed that?” He scoffs lightly, “Can’t take a joke, can you?”

“It wasn’t a joke. You meant it-”

“Did I?” He slammed another cupboard door, the cups rattled inside, then slammed the already shattered plate on the kitchen island. “Surely this is a joke too then, huh?”

“That’s the point. It’s not-”

“You think it’s a joke hearing shouting from down the hall while trying to get some damn sleep for one night? Just for one night,” he pointed a finger at my chest, “You know what your problem is? You’re always smiling. Always able to charm your way out of everything and ‘always looking out for the positive’ and ‘surely everything will be alright.’”

“At least I’m not always sulking and making a mess around the house.”

“At least I’m not waking up with a fake personality and a cheerful mood everyday just to hold up to everyone’s standards.”

“At least I try.”

“And fail every time you do. Do you really make them feel better? I mean, living life a lie sure is an accomplishment. Tell me, when’s the last time you’ve actually laughed?”

With her.

Whatever look was on my face, he rolled his eyes and continued talking before I could say anything.

“Oh please, that one person who’s always there for you and truly gets you.”

“Like you know.”

“Do they even care about you? Does that certain someone know who you really are when you’re not smiling all the time?” He shoved at my shoulder and I took another step back, “Do they?”

“My God,”  I muttered

“You can’t even stand up for yourself, can you? Just smile and laugh, then everybody likes you.” A look of disbelief crossed my face and he stared straight back at me, “Fuck off with how I live my life and I’ll let you live yours.”

“That’s not even remotely close to-”

“Just get mad. Tell people how you really feel about them. Then we’ll see whether you’re really the person that they all love to be around.”

“Just shut up,” I looked down and muttered under my breath

“You’re fucking weak. Always having a fake smile. For what? For people to accept you? You can’t even stand up for yourself ‘cause you’re so damn soft.”

The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them,

“Stop acting like Dad!”

Chapter 20 - Julia

It’s loud in here.

Lights flashing around, photobooths being taken.

The venue is nice, I’ll give them that.

Somebody flashes in view and quickly disappears as fast as they came.

Huh.

I think I forgot to take an extra dose before coming here.

No, no, I had. I think.

“Come on!” Lena tugs on my hand as she’s being led by Em towards the dance floor.

Already crowds of people start joining, the music slowly easing at first until everyone else gets comfortable.

Then they all start dancing like there’s no tomorrow.

Lena ends up getting pulled into another group of people she knows.

I look over at Emma and see her hesitating and lightly tap at her shoulder.

“Go on,” I nod and she smiles sheepishly as she mouths ‘see you’ and heads towards him.

Dresses and suits surrounding me, I watch as the bodies jump up and down. Everyone’s moving around.

Somebody always has another person to be with.

Just standing still.

A familiar figure hesitantly stands near the concession tables, his hand taps aggressively against the table.

So that was him.

After getting bumped from behind, I glare at the oblivious pair of students, then head my way out from the crowd.

Once I pushed through dancing figures, I adjusted a cupstack on the table beside him.

Of which I find an empty glass at his side.

Has he been drinking?

“You look terrible," The words come out instinctively from my lips as I stack another stray cup.

No answer.

I raise an eyebrow and look down, his fists clenched tightly near his sides that they’re nearly turning white. Sweat beads at his forehead while his eyes stay locked on a bowl of random snacks.
The rise and fall of his chest comes out uneven, and based from what I can tell…

He can’t even hear me, can he?

He doesn’t even notice I’m right here.

Good God, a therapy session at prom was not on my to do list.

I lightly flick the back of my hand at his shoulder. He blinks and finally turns his head to face my direction.

Tired, glistening eyes return my gaze.

Was he actually..?

Oh Lord, he’s been crying.

“...you okay?”

He lets out a short, humorless laugh and rubs the back of his neck.

“Yea,” he sighs after too long of a second.

Yea right.

“Liar.”

His fingers tap repeatedly against the table, his gaze lingering at the wall before meeting mine again.

“Distract me, will you?” A weak smile appears on his face.

I shouldn’t care.

I don’t.

This certainly has never happened before.

Something’s obviously up.

Too many seconds have passed. I need to answer him with something.

First time for everything, I suppose.

“I don’t know how to dance.”

**Jason**

“Distract me, will you?”

A flicker of hesitation disappears as quickly as it came on her face.

“I don’t know how to dance.”

I blink.

“You’re joking,” I tilt my head slightly and she shakes her head regretfully.

Now that’s something I didn’t expect.

“I’m a quick learner. I just,” then quieter, “never had anyone to do it with is all.”

I gesture towards the floor and she hesitantly joins me.

“Just start off loose. You’re stiff as a rock like that.”

She rolls her eyes and looks around and frowns.

I follow her gaze and watch as paired dancing starts to form.

Ah. I see.

“May I?” I hold out a hand for her.

She mumbles something under her breath until she reluctantly takes my hand.

“One hand here, the other…” I trail off and end up positioning the both of us.

I slowly place a hand at her side, then move on through the motions.

The music deliberately matches the dance as couples glide around us.

“Now move back. Left.”

“Yea, yea,” she mumbles under her breath.

“Remind you of someone?”

“You’re annoying.”

She picks it up faster than I’d expected. Annoyingly so.

Practically almost as if she’d done it many times before.

The only thing out of place were her eyes that are still glued to the damn ground. Or looking anywhere elsewhere.

“Now look up.”

**Julia**

“Now look up.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Look up. You keep focusing on your feet and you’ll stumble,” he shrugs lightly, “It’s clear you’ve got it down anyways.”

“Oh great. An idiot at anything, but now suddenly a genius at this,” I scoff and mutter, “Of course.”

“I believe ‘genius’ is the perfect title for me in everything.”

I snort and catch the tips of his lips curving up.

 A low sigh of relief slips past my lips before I can stop them. I look around us to distract myself instead.

It’s almost like a test.

Keeping up at it, otherwise you’ll fall behind.

It wasn’t too hard to pick up. Thankfully.

Before I could look beside me, the room spins, and I end up dipped near the ground. An arm wrapped securely around my back, my hair drapes down, and a small smile appears on his face.

A stupid grin. Soft at its edges.

Real.

It’s not fair how effortlessly he looks the way he does.

“A heads up would be nice,” I finally found the words after staring dumbfoundedly.

“I knew you could keep up,” His eyes looked up and down before slowly bringing me back up from fighting against gravity.

“No one else was doing it.” A half lie. Some people were, and it just so happened to conveniently match with the tempo of the song anyway.

“You can handle it,” he replies lightly then sighs, “boss, I’m telling you, just look up.”

“No thanks,” I mumble, still counting the steps in my head despite no longer needing to do so. Some sort of distraction.

“Ma’am?”

I let the music drown out his voice.

“Look up.” A group of dancers laughs near us, conveniently drowning out his voice.

As the ground continues looking particularly interesting, a light touch gently lifts my chin upwards.I look up and hold his gaze.

I freeze.

His light brown, honey-like eyes held my gaze. A softness in his smile. That similar sharpness still shows in his stance, the edges of his eyes crinkle, along with this messy hair falling place.

His tie hangs loosely, along with a few buttons still left open. That once fatigue left him, revealing the usual spark in him.

He tilts his head slightly forwards, just inches away, looking down-

“Julia!”

I blink and we both quickly step away.

I hadn't even realized how close we were.

My eyes still on his and never leaving his gaze, I finally find the words in my mouth, “I’m coming,” then to him, “I should-”

“I gotta-” he jerks a thumb behind him where a group of guys laugh loudly.

My pulse stupidly races and I clear my throat and quickly turn around, creating distance where it had been seconds ago.

No, minutes ago

An hour?

How long has it even been?

His stupid smile flashes in my mind.

We’d been close enough to…

Oh God.

**Jason**

“Look up.”

She continues stubbornly ignoring me, acting as if she can’t hear me.

I gently lift up her chin before I even realize what I’m doing.

A mistake.

Her dark brown eyes slightly widen in surprise, her gaze locking with mine.

I can’t think.

So close. Too close.

The only thing that I notice is the fact that everything else drowns out and suddenly this moment seems to matter more than anything else.

It’s like we’re in our own little bubble. The music sounds muffled, distorted, the noise from everyone else far away.

I finally took her in. Memorizing details I hadn’t seen before.

The simpleness of her dress. No dress outshining just who she is.

Stray strands fell perfectly over her face. She’d curled it tonight.

I look down and my eyes flick down briefly at her lips before deliberately looking up again.

“Jason.”

Somebody calls my name. Or hers.

Both of ours do.

I quickly step away, as she does the same.

“I’m coming,” she replies while still holding my gaze, then scrambling for words, “I should-”

“I gotta-” I scratch the back of my neck and gesture behind me when I hear Lucas laughing.

Good timing.

She clears her throat and turns to leave.

Her hair lightly bounces against her back. I tear my gaze away and turn the other direction where I walk past Lucas.

“Gotta go,” I mutter to him and he smiles widely at someone before nodding in response.

He waves a hand in my direction as I walk past him and the group he’s with. I head out towards the parking lot where everyone else is leaving as well.

A stupid smile still lingering on my face.

I open the car door and shut the door.

Ring!

My phone buzzes and I pull it out and open the call.

“Hello?”

An unfamiliar voice answers.

What?

“Who is this?”

The voice continues talking.

The tone is lowered, at a calm pace.

No.

The car engine roars to life, and I shove the keys in the slot and slam on the gas pedal.

lil note:

srry for the long delay ygs. also, pls know that pinterest is not letting me reply to some comments.

i have no idea why.

pinterest is js being weird.

and  i also do not control whenever the comments randomly turn off, but js know that i try to respond whenever i cann

also. this chapter might get tweaked. maybe. prob not, but we’ll see.

hope ygs enjoyy