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@Aces Away @LovelyComplex @smarty0114
When Jamie Callaghan entered the door with her sister and even chose a seat with empty spots next to it for her to join, Parker did little more than raise her eyebrows before hunching back down over her journal and trying not to think much of her sister’s habit of picking up friends like strays. Moments later, Decky also made his way through the doorway just as Jamie did his announcement of the party tomorrow and JJ took her seat beside him, something PJ noticed that the broody boy in the doorway clocked immediately if his heavier-than-usual scowl was anything to go by. PJ was in the same row as him and her sister, an empty seat between the two girls, and doing a very good imitation of an extra falling outside the scope of a camera lens: she didn’t exist until your visual panned back to her and suddenly you recognized her face again. Even wearing her outfit today was strategy over school pride, as people are more likely to recognize those not participating in spirit week so it only made sense to keep up the look for the sake of her anonymity. It’s not like it was a far cry from what she usually wore, anyway, just a black half tank for modesty beneath a faded red spaghetti strap jumper dress and black shorts and boots.
She knew though, she knew that without Monarch, Rye, or any of Decky’s other friends by association being in class yet meant that there was only one seat he’d grab where he felt safe on both sides, and that was in between the Jones twins and adjacent neighbor to the boy he couldn’t keep himself in check around for the life of him. Now it was going to be PJ’s job. She did it already, whether he realized it or not, whenever the idiot was close to her sister. It’s not that she didn’t trust him or anything, it’s just that if he was too oblivious to realize why he kept looking JJ’s way or perking up when she talked to him, it was PJ’s job to make sure that that stupidity wouldn’t hurt her sister until the rough transfer student figured his shit out.
PJ didn’t hang out with the Gearheads outside of school, just the ones that hang out at the back of the school to skate or smoke regardless of class period, she being one of the few burners that didn’t cross over or spill into multiple other cliques. Knowing and befriending a bunch of people was JJ’s job, directing and informing people was DJ’s job, and Addie had her whole thing with the PLC. Parker’s job was to protect her sisters and finish her classes. Sure, they all ended up in detention, but Parker was the one that ended up there for fights while her sisters’ charges tended to be more geared toward general mischief. She didn’t need to know about people for her fists to know them. Any other time she had her head in her journal or a manga or comic, there and aware but not quite absorbing anything being said around her. Because of this disconnect, however, PJ had no idea why Decky suddenly had such an ugly change of heart for Jamie Callaghan, whom he previously seemed to at the very least treat civily. Aside from the too obvious answer of his break up with one AJ Tyler, but that alone couldn’t have been it, right?
Decky dropped into his seat between the Jones twins just as JJ told Jamie one of her truly terrible puns, and Parker found herself smirking alongside Jamie at how bad it was. It had done the job her sister intended though, because a smirk was still a smile and she got one to break out on the blonde boy’s face. Whatever interaction she’d been having with him, she won this round.
“Mornin’,” Decky grumbled, arms crossed and chin tucked into his chest like he was already ready to take a nap.
“Morning, Grumpy,” PJ responded in a bored tone while he rolled his eyes. She watched him glance towards her sister, who was still angled towards Jamie, and rolled her eyes when he opened and closed his mouth before returning his gaze to the front without saying anything to the other girl. Not having any of that stupid shit, she leaned further over her desk in order to grab her sister’s attention, needing to do no more than stare at the back of her head for the other girl to feel her and turn around to catch her gaze. “JJ, Decky says hi.”
Jordyn was aware of the gearhead that shuffled in and made his way beside her. While she might’ve been focused on cheering Jamie up, she still felt her sister’s presence and didn’t feel the need to say hi. They saw each other like everyday. Even while she laughed at how hilarious she was, JJ listened to the conversation happening behind her. When Parker tagged her in, the excitable gremlin swiftly spun in her seat, causing her tote to lay flat on the ground. She beamed a bright and serene smile at her friend (at least she assumed they were friends, he said hi to her in the halls! That must count!), “Hi, Bashful. How you this lovely morning?”
If her sister was going to call him Grumpy, that left six other dwarves to pick from. Bashful seemed fitting if he was having a hard time saying hi to her. She could’ve gone with Sleepy but some people don’t like being called tired and she didn’t want to upset Decky more than he already seemed. “… oh, and do you notice something different about me?” When she asked her curious question, JJ sat up straight and stopped talking entirely, trying her best not to draw attention to the obvious thing she wanted the boy to notice. The dash of red on her face. Specifically: her lips.
He had noticed. In fact, after her eyes it was the first feature he was drawn to when JJ spun around in her seat; bright rose red on petal soft lips stretched into a smile full of sunshine. The color glowed like a beacon and he found his eyes unable to pull away for a long moment before he regained control of his gaze. He looked away to his left to gain his composure only to see a darker pair of eyes staring into his soul while PJ glared at him, sharp pencil poised menacingly over her journal while her leg jumped a couple times as if waiting for an excuse. Cautiously, Decky swallowed his confusion and responded back to JJ.
“It’s red-” Pain flared in his left shin as Parker’s booted foot connected, quick and sharp, with his outstretched leg. He choked down a reaction and continued to look at JJ as though nothing happened, taking the course correction for what it was. “You’re wearin’ lipstick, it looks really good on ya.” He held his breath, waiting for another correction, but when it never came Decky took it as a sign he’d done something right this time. His eyes dropped down to her red smile once more, unsure why but unable to take his eyes off of the pop of color.
“And….” JJ’s voice trailed off as she leaned forward, noticing he had forgotten her first question. “Your morning?” She should’ve paced herself better in her greeting. Sometimes her mind thought faster than her lips moved. It could be frustrating especially when she had so much to say and not enough time to say it. “No rain clouds or active volcanoes going on inside you, Chai?” Her gaze was filled with warm honey and sweet caramel, mixed together with a hint of new spring growth. A touch of green gleaming; the light peering inside from the large window touching her skin, giving it an iridescent sheen.
Whether she knew it or not, she was an attractive girl but what made her even more enthralling to look at was how she carried herself. How unbothered, how happy and how focused she was, staring at her peer like he was the only thing that mattered. Her twin might be right behind him, making it known that she was her protector and she’d be damned to see her sister fall and get hurt, but that just made this encounter more enjoyable. She liked seeing Mordechai’s reactions, no matter how subtle they were. She liked seeing him and all his shades. She liked seeing him. He was nice to look at.
It was sophomore year when JJ realized she felt a spark between her and this Tootsie Pop boy. Mordechai was rough on the outside but she knew right away he had a soft center. It just takes time to get to the chewy, chocolate part. Prior to that, they only saw each other in passing or in class. While she wanted to introduce herself way before PJ did, she could see how happy he was with his friends. How relaxed and calm he was. She didn’t think it was her place to intrude in his world like that. She was a stranger, and a weird one at that. On top of that, she had nothing in common with his group of friends so at the time she could only assume she had nothing in common with him. But then there was this one time, in December, right before winter break, she found herself locked in the music room.
Don’t ask her how, but somehow these things happen to her all the time, and she was pretty sure she would be sleeping there overnight. Her phone was dead and she was too lazy to grab anyone’s attention. So instead she decided to rat-tat-tat-tat. By pure dumb luck, he looked through the glass window on the door and locked eyes with her. She sheepishly waved with one of her drumsticks. Turns out the door lock for the music room is notoriously known for being defected. No matter how many times it gets fixed, someone ends up breaking it in the end. Decky ended up taking the doorknob off and retrieving her. It was amusing to watch and when he finally got in, she offered him some xxtra flamin’ hot Cheetos.
That marked the day she decided she’d actively talk to him even if it was moments in the hall or like now, sitting next to each other in homeroom and saying little things that may not matter to anyone but them. In her benefit, her best friend was Rye and he always had a lot to say about Decky. He just wished JJ actively talked to him like she did with literally everyone else but it was different with Mordechai. She didn’t want to be too careless and scare him off for being an absolute menace. Plus, what they had was good! She was happy he felt comfortable enough to sit next to her. What more could a girl ask for? “Chai?” She repeated, noticing he hadn’t answered her yet.
The nickname threw him off for a moment. Not just the name itself but the girl’s proper pronunciation of a part of his full name, something that wasn’t said out loud unless you wanted his immediate response of his fist in your face. But she didn’t call him Mordechai, she just called him Chai, Life. As unintentional as he’s sure the additional meaning of the word was to the curly haired girl, it had his face heating up a bit in…what, was that embarrassment? No, not embarrassed, he liked the way that name sounded falling off her tongue, and he wanted to hear it again. Wanted to hear her say anything to him again. Was he being bashful like she’d said? What was that feeling? There had to be a word for it. Another boot to his shin had him scrambling to respond.
“Uh-no I, uh…I left ‘em at home?” He answered, suddenly very unsure of what he had been asked to prompt the nickname in the first place. Shit, had he even been paying attention or was that when he was focused on her lips- her lipstick? She had asked about clouds or something? He could hear PJ’s head meet her desk beside him and he refused to turn and see her judging him without even looking his direction. “Any…any with you?” He glanced past her and quickly returned his sight to her face when that one glance showed Jamie Callaghan right over her shoulder, and he refused to let the scowl threatening to take over his features win.
Her smile widened. He was cute. “Sameeeeeee. No need to bring bad vibes with us on a Friday. Plus, it’s almost the weekend.” Which reminded her. The party. Ethan Green’s party. The Risky Business party. Maybe they could spend some time together there. It wasn’t often that JJ found herself excited to go to a party (she prefers quieter scenes, truth be told), but if Mordechai was there, maybe she had something to look forward to. “You’re going to the party, right? The one that Jamie announced?” JJ roundly asked, shifting her position in order to talk to both boys beside her. Looking from Decky to Jamie then back to Decky, she eagerly waited for his response. She didn’t realize pushing her seat back allowed the two boys, who had natural disdain for one another, a better and unwanted view of the other. Then again, Jordyn had no idea these two had bad blood. She simply was enjoying the company of two friends, and her sister.
The scowl finally took over when Decky got an unfiltered view of the blonde on JJ’s other side, mouth twisting as if he’d tasted something unsavory. This was not something that he wanted, Jamie’s inclusion, and he had a feeling this was no longer going to be a good conversation soon. Another booted heel to his shin had him stepping back from the ledge before he could tip over, PJ doing her job to keep him in check as she’s had to a couple times already. He did his best, and failed, to pull his emotions from his face before answering the person he actually wanted to have a conversation with. “Unfortunately. AJ’s probably already planned ta bring me and the others along by force if necessary, so I’m gonna be showin’ up however he is. He handles all that shit and I don’t really make any party decisions until I’m actually there.”
Jamie didn’t like Mordechai Boaz. Up until about fifteen minutes ago, he wouldn’t have had much more to say on the subject. Decky worked on cars, dressed like a Kenickie understudy, and was generally what he considered “rough around the edges.” Jamie worked on papers, had only seen the inside of a Walmart once, and considered himself an upstanding member of society. Their only overlap was one AJ Tyler, but AJ was not a factor anymore, and Jamie’s casual dislike had just boiled over into a juvenile loathing. Decky was a reminder of everything JJ had just taken his mind off of. To Jamie, he represented everything that had scared him about AJ, and he hated that feeling. He could not do anything about him and AJ, but he could do something about this.
“Did I forget to mention? No Gearheads allowed. I don’t think Ethan wants the place smelling like asphalt and cigarettes.” Jamie didn’t turn to face Decky, or raise his voice. He kept his voice cold, even, almost bored. Perks of being the engine that turned the school’s rumor mill? He could make the social scene a minefield if he needed to, and at this moment, he’d decided that he really needed to. He wasn’t sure if he really didn’t want AJ to come, or if this was a gamble for attention from his freshly broken heart. He didn’t care much.
I’ll give ya an up close and personal chance at those smells ya pretentious fuck, Decky’s mind supplied as soon as the other boy’s words hit his ears, fist curling up against his thigh. He was far too sober for this interaction. He smiled sharply at the blonde, a Boa humoring a corn snake, head tilting dangerously. He opened his mouth to speak and felt PJ’s foot nudge his in warning, and at any other moment he may have been more appreciative of the fact that she didn’t kick him once his anger flared. That she knew that much about him. As it was, it simply had him holding his tongue long enough to form a reply instead of just a threat or insult.
“Oh really?” He asked, aware of the boy’s blunder due to lack of information. Decky wasn’t usually one to stir the pot by way of dangling knowledge or gossip, but Jamie was, so being dead wrong so immediately was going to piss him off. After all, Ethan Green was paying Decky to hang out with his twin brother so this party would be legit enough for him to be allowed to use the vineyard. However the fuck that works. He didn’t ask after Green laid out his price. In fact, even without that instance, Ethan Green had an odd affinity for most of the Gearheads, and wouldn’t personally ban them from his parties. So, Jamie was fronting, talking out of his ass, and it was time to knock him down a peg. “‘Cause Green asked me an’ Sully Harper along the other day already, personal invite, and I may not be the best at math but that’s two Gearheads right there. So, looks like your info’s a bit dated.”
There. Not exposing too much, just dangling the fishing line like the fucker on the other side of JJ loved to do so much. The use of the term ‘dated’ may have been pettier than he usually goes for, but so was the bitter twink he was talking to.
Jamie’s mouth twitched down, and his pencil tapped rapidly against his desk, a sharp rhythm to match the rising tide of anger within. “Ethan’s getting started with philanthropy early then? I should probably get started on my community service hours too.” Of course Ethan had personally fucking invited them. Ethan was like a golden retriever with nymphomania. He’d hump any leg that was available. Some called it friendly, but at times like these, when it began to interfere with Jamie’s peace, he called it stupid.
“Oh ya should, I’ve made up all my hours an’ now that I’m off probation, I’m sure they’re lookin’ for people ta fill the spots. And don’t worry, really, they’ll take absolutely anybody,” Decky sneered back, sick of the interaction already. Sick of Jamie just like he had been for a long time. Things had started off good between the blonde and AJ, but Decky was there with the rest of the gearheads of the Tyler crew to see the slow descent into toxic chaos it became. Decky was there every time a bad moment with Jamie was being erased by a white line, every time smoke in the eyes was used to replace tears and alcohol was used to drown the parts of AJ that just felt too much. Too much for…that. The boy in front of him that could get folded in seconds but talked big shit like he could actually back himself up if cornered.
Pushing Rye toward AJ was a logical decision after the break up. Neither boy liked spending the night alone and they’d known each other long enough as friends that they could actually handle a no-strings situation. Decky took a step back with sleeping with Rye because at the time, the other two needed each other more to sleep at night than Decky needed another hook up, so he was more than happy to give them that push. They’d flirted back and forth for the whole time Decky knew them anyway, the newer transfer having been left to assume that nothing happened between the two because he quickly came along and swept Rye up for himself when he showed up halfway through Freshman year.
Jamie and AJ had then reconnected on a friends with benefits basis, something he had very strongly discouraged but lost the fight on with AJ, and Decky has been simmering on the back burner waiting for his moment to boil over. This was going to hurt AJ. This was going to hurt Rye. He no longer gave a fuck about what it did to Jamie Callaghan.
Was it her or did these boys have a lot of tension they needed to release? It wasn’t JJ’s place to add her two cents to this interaction and the last thing she needed was another detention because she got caught in the middle of two boys who couldn’t see eye to eye. Though once upon a time, last year, they did like each other, or so she thought. When she saw Rye next she would need to get more information on the situation. He was both media and an honorary Gearhead (he didn’t know much about cars but he liked hanging with them). It only made sense he knew the most. He would be able to read between the lines and understand this. She needed her best friend.
Dazing out, JJ continued to think deeper on the two boys throwing quips at one another. Did she even care? It wasn’t her business. Whatever beef they had with each other was just something they needed to tenderize and throw on the grill for a bit. Something good could come out of it, or the meat could get burnt. Either way, this could be a conversation they needed.
What was really on her mind was what was she going to wear tomorrow? She had a chance to impress Mordechai and get him to see her more than the rat girl. If she went all out, he might even consider her attractive. He did like her red lips. Red lips could be a thing for tomorrow’s outfit. Oh she was getting excited thinking about the possibilities. Normally, she’d ask her sisters for help but she might as well kill two birds with one stone. Go to the mall with Rye, go shopping, get pretzels and tacos, and ask him a million and ten questions about Jamie, Decky, and the hate they share. This was a good plan and she was sure he’d love it. At least the food and shopping part. Not so much her probing to know what her crush and his fuck buddy’s ex got going on but still, he loved being with her so she was sure she could get him to talk.
Her mind snapped out of its trance when she saw a familiar rodent walking the window ledge, by her sister. JJ made a face.
Oh no… oh no.
Trying not to interrupt the boys and their heated conversation, but clearly interrupting their conversation, Jordyn awkwardly slid down her chair and whispered, “Don’t mind me…” From there, she grabbed her tote and glimpsed inside it. Goddamn it, Biggie. Her cheetos aren’t meant for mice! This is why he was so fat! How dare! Pulling her tote with her, she crawled, looking toward Ms. Belmonte whose eyes were on her laptop, and hopefully, not on her. She went around Decky’s desk, unintentionally giving him a nice view of her apple bottom jeans, and found her way in front of her sister’s desk. On the ground now, in a standing-crouching position, she soothingly assured her twin, who had gone stock still and wide eyed when she spotted Biggie on the ledge, “Hey PJ… I’m just going to..”
She reached toward the window to grab her mouse.
There was a loud roaring outside, which caused JJ to lose her train of thought. Looking outside, she saw AJ in his red car, revving it up. That red car was only one of his usuals for school. “Oh, speaking of AJ, isn’t that him leaving?” Biggie pranced off the ledge and right onto PJ’s desk. He turned to her and stared up at his mother’s twin. Beady eyes and all.
squeak, squeak.
“EeeeeeeeEEEEWWWNOOOOOOBIGGIE!!!!” PJ screeched, all thoughts of invisibility and peacekeeping Decky gone, buried beneath pure panic as black beady eyes locked onto her, creepy little rodent fingers grasping towards her hair as she threw herself back and out of her chair. Biggie was sitting on her journal. Biggie was sitting on her journal. Heart now beating out of fear and rage, Parker looked desperately to her sister and screamed, “JJ!!!”
“Jordyn Jones! AGAIN?!” Ms. Belmonte was standing up now with furrowed eyebrows.
She had such a hot mama voice and she looked incredible in red. STOP. Focus, JJ. “... sorry, sis.” With a single swoop, Jordyn grabbed her son, placed him in the tote, and rushed to grab her things (mostly just her backpack), “Can’t wait to see you both at the party!” Rushing to the door, JJ looked at her teacher and gave a playful salute, “You don’t have to say a word, Ms. B. Detention, all next week. You got it, teach. Okay, gotta’ go. Please-don’t-call-my-mom. Okay, thanks, byeeeeeeee.” And with that, the eccentric Jones was off to the media room. She needed to see Rye.
PJ didn’t so much as give anyone a second glance as she too gathered up all her things, hands shaking as she wiped at her journal pages as if to get off the essence of rat, and tore out of the classroom in the opposite direction of her sister. There was a disabled bathroom on this floor that wasn’t often used but it had good ventilation and a window that actually opened to the outside, so it was a good place to get both privacy and fresh air, something Parker desperately needed all of a sudden.
“Wait, where are you going, Parker?” Cat called out, having lost yet another student to some chaotic rodent incident — only at BHHS. At least she saw them so she can mark them as here. She didn’t get paid enough to deal with this. Ms. Belmonte just threw her hands up in annoyance, with Italian flair, before settling in her seat, ready for the Morning Show to begin so she could dismiss her class and move onto the next unpredictable thing.
Decky spared a moment of conflict for everything that had just happened. JJ suddenly sliding out of her seat and across his desk had given him a view of the girl that he was sure he’d lose a layer of skin on his shin for later, a la Parker once he’d got her calmed down. The way she had done it so casually, her jeans accentuating her assets just as much as the temporary perch against his desk had, had him completely distracted from his verbal battle with Jamie and completely lost in thoughts that he can’t say he’d had for her previously. He’d always been drawn to her warmth and passion, whether he spoke to her about it or not, ever since he found her casually playing on the drums in a locked music room instead of freaking out to be free. Now…he was wanting to feel that warmth on a whole other level, and he was wholly unprepared for that revelation seconds before AJ’s car peeled out of the parking lot, followed closely by another shift in attention as one of JJ’s pets jumped on PJ’s desk and set the girl off.
Christ, had the bell even fucking rung yet?
With Ms. Belmonte having already settled down and having no chance of beating him to the still open doorway, Decky took his own chance to escape. Not, however, before he leaned over JJ’s now empty desk and got close to Jamie’s face, letting the little breakable blonde see the distrust and contained rage burning deep in his mahogany eyes. He held that gaze for a threatening moment before he snarled out his accusation.
“What the fuck did ya do ta ‘im this time, Callaghan?”
Without letting the boy respond, Decky stomped out of the classroom and in the direction he knew PJ will have gone, having played this routine out many times over the past few years when he and the twins shared classes. As always, he’d be providing the blunt she needed to regulate and calm down. Good thing he didn’t let Sin steal the ones he’d already rolled this morning.
Jamie resisted the urge to follow them out. Instead, he ground his teeth together and ignored the curious gazes of their classmates. What the fuck did he do? For a moment, his thoughts turned sharp, harsh. Not enough, clearly. Pain and guilt and nausea were leading an overzealous conga line through his nervous system as he replayed the last few months over and over in his head. Then he bundled those thoughts up and tucked them away, somewhere dark and dreary, so he wouldn’t have to think about them. This school was about survival of the fittest, and feelings were starting to seem like a god damned liability.
They usually were, but was that such a bad thing? JJ rushed her way through the hall until she got to the media studio. Looking through the narrowed glass window on the door, she stared inside the room and watched her friend and the other anchors host the Morning show. There was so much she needed to tell Rye but now she, and her dear Biggie Cheese, had to wait until the camera was no longer running.
Ugh, she hated waiting. But as she stood there, she thought about her brief moment with Decky, how he looked at her and how that made her feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.
She smiled to herself.
Some things were worth waiting for.
She knew though, she knew that without Monarch, Rye, or any of Decky’s other friends by association being in class yet meant that there was only one seat he’d grab where he felt safe on both sides, and that was in between the Jones twins and adjacent neighbor to the boy he couldn’t keep himself in check around for the life of him. Now it was going to be PJ’s job. She did it already, whether he realized it or not, whenever the idiot was close to her sister. It’s not that she didn’t trust him or anything, it’s just that if he was too oblivious to realize why he kept looking JJ’s way or perking up when she talked to him, it was PJ’s job to make sure that that stupidity wouldn’t hurt her sister until the rough transfer student figured his shit out.
PJ didn’t hang out with the Gearheads outside of school, just the ones that hang out at the back of the school to skate or smoke regardless of class period, she being one of the few burners that didn’t cross over or spill into multiple other cliques. Knowing and befriending a bunch of people was JJ’s job, directing and informing people was DJ’s job, and Addie had her whole thing with the PLC. Parker’s job was to protect her sisters and finish her classes. Sure, they all ended up in detention, but Parker was the one that ended up there for fights while her sisters’ charges tended to be more geared toward general mischief. She didn’t need to know about people for her fists to know them. Any other time she had her head in her journal or a manga or comic, there and aware but not quite absorbing anything being said around her. Because of this disconnect, however, PJ had no idea why Decky suddenly had such an ugly change of heart for Jamie Callaghan, whom he previously seemed to at the very least treat civily. Aside from the too obvious answer of his break up with one AJ Tyler, but that alone couldn’t have been it, right?
Decky dropped into his seat between the Jones twins just as JJ told Jamie one of her truly terrible puns, and Parker found herself smirking alongside Jamie at how bad it was. It had done the job her sister intended though, because a smirk was still a smile and she got one to break out on the blonde boy’s face. Whatever interaction she’d been having with him, she won this round.
“Mornin’,” Decky grumbled, arms crossed and chin tucked into his chest like he was already ready to take a nap.
“Morning, Grumpy,” PJ responded in a bored tone while he rolled his eyes. She watched him glance towards her sister, who was still angled towards Jamie, and rolled her eyes when he opened and closed his mouth before returning his gaze to the front without saying anything to the other girl. Not having any of that stupid shit, she leaned further over her desk in order to grab her sister’s attention, needing to do no more than stare at the back of her head for the other girl to feel her and turn around to catch her gaze. “JJ, Decky says hi.”
Jordyn was aware of the gearhead that shuffled in and made his way beside her. While she might’ve been focused on cheering Jamie up, she still felt her sister’s presence and didn’t feel the need to say hi. They saw each other like everyday. Even while she laughed at how hilarious she was, JJ listened to the conversation happening behind her. When Parker tagged her in, the excitable gremlin swiftly spun in her seat, causing her tote to lay flat on the ground. She beamed a bright and serene smile at her friend (at least she assumed they were friends, he said hi to her in the halls! That must count!), “Hi, Bashful. How you this lovely morning?”
If her sister was going to call him Grumpy, that left six other dwarves to pick from. Bashful seemed fitting if he was having a hard time saying hi to her. She could’ve gone with Sleepy but some people don’t like being called tired and she didn’t want to upset Decky more than he already seemed. “… oh, and do you notice something different about me?” When she asked her curious question, JJ sat up straight and stopped talking entirely, trying her best not to draw attention to the obvious thing she wanted the boy to notice. The dash of red on her face. Specifically: her lips.
He had noticed. In fact, after her eyes it was the first feature he was drawn to when JJ spun around in her seat; bright rose red on petal soft lips stretched into a smile full of sunshine. The color glowed like a beacon and he found his eyes unable to pull away for a long moment before he regained control of his gaze. He looked away to his left to gain his composure only to see a darker pair of eyes staring into his soul while PJ glared at him, sharp pencil poised menacingly over her journal while her leg jumped a couple times as if waiting for an excuse. Cautiously, Decky swallowed his confusion and responded back to JJ.
“It’s red-” Pain flared in his left shin as Parker’s booted foot connected, quick and sharp, with his outstretched leg. He choked down a reaction and continued to look at JJ as though nothing happened, taking the course correction for what it was. “You’re wearin’ lipstick, it looks really good on ya.” He held his breath, waiting for another correction, but when it never came Decky took it as a sign he’d done something right this time. His eyes dropped down to her red smile once more, unsure why but unable to take his eyes off of the pop of color.
“And….” JJ’s voice trailed off as she leaned forward, noticing he had forgotten her first question. “Your morning?” She should’ve paced herself better in her greeting. Sometimes her mind thought faster than her lips moved. It could be frustrating especially when she had so much to say and not enough time to say it. “No rain clouds or active volcanoes going on inside you, Chai?” Her gaze was filled with warm honey and sweet caramel, mixed together with a hint of new spring growth. A touch of green gleaming; the light peering inside from the large window touching her skin, giving it an iridescent sheen.
Whether she knew it or not, she was an attractive girl but what made her even more enthralling to look at was how she carried herself. How unbothered, how happy and how focused she was, staring at her peer like he was the only thing that mattered. Her twin might be right behind him, making it known that she was her protector and she’d be damned to see her sister fall and get hurt, but that just made this encounter more enjoyable. She liked seeing Mordechai’s reactions, no matter how subtle they were. She liked seeing him and all his shades. She liked seeing him. He was nice to look at.
It was sophomore year when JJ realized she felt a spark between her and this Tootsie Pop boy. Mordechai was rough on the outside but she knew right away he had a soft center. It just takes time to get to the chewy, chocolate part. Prior to that, they only saw each other in passing or in class. While she wanted to introduce herself way before PJ did, she could see how happy he was with his friends. How relaxed and calm he was. She didn’t think it was her place to intrude in his world like that. She was a stranger, and a weird one at that. On top of that, she had nothing in common with his group of friends so at the time she could only assume she had nothing in common with him. But then there was this one time, in December, right before winter break, she found herself locked in the music room.
Don’t ask her how, but somehow these things happen to her all the time, and she was pretty sure she would be sleeping there overnight. Her phone was dead and she was too lazy to grab anyone’s attention. So instead she decided to rat-tat-tat-tat. By pure dumb luck, he looked through the glass window on the door and locked eyes with her. She sheepishly waved with one of her drumsticks. Turns out the door lock for the music room is notoriously known for being defected. No matter how many times it gets fixed, someone ends up breaking it in the end. Decky ended up taking the doorknob off and retrieving her. It was amusing to watch and when he finally got in, she offered him some xxtra flamin’ hot Cheetos.
That marked the day she decided she’d actively talk to him even if it was moments in the hall or like now, sitting next to each other in homeroom and saying little things that may not matter to anyone but them. In her benefit, her best friend was Rye and he always had a lot to say about Decky. He just wished JJ actively talked to him like she did with literally everyone else but it was different with Mordechai. She didn’t want to be too careless and scare him off for being an absolute menace. Plus, what they had was good! She was happy he felt comfortable enough to sit next to her. What more could a girl ask for? “Chai?” She repeated, noticing he hadn’t answered her yet.
The nickname threw him off for a moment. Not just the name itself but the girl’s proper pronunciation of a part of his full name, something that wasn’t said out loud unless you wanted his immediate response of his fist in your face. But she didn’t call him Mordechai, she just called him Chai, Life. As unintentional as he’s sure the additional meaning of the word was to the curly haired girl, it had his face heating up a bit in…what, was that embarrassment? No, not embarrassed, he liked the way that name sounded falling off her tongue, and he wanted to hear it again. Wanted to hear her say anything to him again. Was he being bashful like she’d said? What was that feeling? There had to be a word for it. Another boot to his shin had him scrambling to respond.
“Uh-no I, uh…I left ‘em at home?” He answered, suddenly very unsure of what he had been asked to prompt the nickname in the first place. Shit, had he even been paying attention or was that when he was focused on her lips- her lipstick? She had asked about clouds or something? He could hear PJ’s head meet her desk beside him and he refused to turn and see her judging him without even looking his direction. “Any…any with you?” He glanced past her and quickly returned his sight to her face when that one glance showed Jamie Callaghan right over her shoulder, and he refused to let the scowl threatening to take over his features win.
Her smile widened. He was cute. “Sameeeeeee. No need to bring bad vibes with us on a Friday. Plus, it’s almost the weekend.” Which reminded her. The party. Ethan Green’s party. The Risky Business party. Maybe they could spend some time together there. It wasn’t often that JJ found herself excited to go to a party (she prefers quieter scenes, truth be told), but if Mordechai was there, maybe she had something to look forward to. “You’re going to the party, right? The one that Jamie announced?” JJ roundly asked, shifting her position in order to talk to both boys beside her. Looking from Decky to Jamie then back to Decky, she eagerly waited for his response. She didn’t realize pushing her seat back allowed the two boys, who had natural disdain for one another, a better and unwanted view of the other. Then again, Jordyn had no idea these two had bad blood. She simply was enjoying the company of two friends, and her sister.
The scowl finally took over when Decky got an unfiltered view of the blonde on JJ’s other side, mouth twisting as if he’d tasted something unsavory. This was not something that he wanted, Jamie’s inclusion, and he had a feeling this was no longer going to be a good conversation soon. Another booted heel to his shin had him stepping back from the ledge before he could tip over, PJ doing her job to keep him in check as she’s had to a couple times already. He did his best, and failed, to pull his emotions from his face before answering the person he actually wanted to have a conversation with. “Unfortunately. AJ’s probably already planned ta bring me and the others along by force if necessary, so I’m gonna be showin’ up however he is. He handles all that shit and I don’t really make any party decisions until I’m actually there.”
Jamie didn’t like Mordechai Boaz. Up until about fifteen minutes ago, he wouldn’t have had much more to say on the subject. Decky worked on cars, dressed like a Kenickie understudy, and was generally what he considered “rough around the edges.” Jamie worked on papers, had only seen the inside of a Walmart once, and considered himself an upstanding member of society. Their only overlap was one AJ Tyler, but AJ was not a factor anymore, and Jamie’s casual dislike had just boiled over into a juvenile loathing. Decky was a reminder of everything JJ had just taken his mind off of. To Jamie, he represented everything that had scared him about AJ, and he hated that feeling. He could not do anything about him and AJ, but he could do something about this.
“Did I forget to mention? No Gearheads allowed. I don’t think Ethan wants the place smelling like asphalt and cigarettes.” Jamie didn’t turn to face Decky, or raise his voice. He kept his voice cold, even, almost bored. Perks of being the engine that turned the school’s rumor mill? He could make the social scene a minefield if he needed to, and at this moment, he’d decided that he really needed to. He wasn’t sure if he really didn’t want AJ to come, or if this was a gamble for attention from his freshly broken heart. He didn’t care much.
I’ll give ya an up close and personal chance at those smells ya pretentious fuck, Decky’s mind supplied as soon as the other boy’s words hit his ears, fist curling up against his thigh. He was far too sober for this interaction. He smiled sharply at the blonde, a Boa humoring a corn snake, head tilting dangerously. He opened his mouth to speak and felt PJ’s foot nudge his in warning, and at any other moment he may have been more appreciative of the fact that she didn’t kick him once his anger flared. That she knew that much about him. As it was, it simply had him holding his tongue long enough to form a reply instead of just a threat or insult.
“Oh really?” He asked, aware of the boy’s blunder due to lack of information. Decky wasn’t usually one to stir the pot by way of dangling knowledge or gossip, but Jamie was, so being dead wrong so immediately was going to piss him off. After all, Ethan Green was paying Decky to hang out with his twin brother so this party would be legit enough for him to be allowed to use the vineyard. However the fuck that works. He didn’t ask after Green laid out his price. In fact, even without that instance, Ethan Green had an odd affinity for most of the Gearheads, and wouldn’t personally ban them from his parties. So, Jamie was fronting, talking out of his ass, and it was time to knock him down a peg. “‘Cause Green asked me an’ Sully Harper along the other day already, personal invite, and I may not be the best at math but that’s two Gearheads right there. So, looks like your info’s a bit dated.”
There. Not exposing too much, just dangling the fishing line like the fucker on the other side of JJ loved to do so much. The use of the term ‘dated’ may have been pettier than he usually goes for, but so was the bitter twink he was talking to.
Jamie’s mouth twitched down, and his pencil tapped rapidly against his desk, a sharp rhythm to match the rising tide of anger within. “Ethan’s getting started with philanthropy early then? I should probably get started on my community service hours too.” Of course Ethan had personally fucking invited them. Ethan was like a golden retriever with nymphomania. He’d hump any leg that was available. Some called it friendly, but at times like these, when it began to interfere with Jamie’s peace, he called it stupid.
“Oh ya should, I’ve made up all my hours an’ now that I’m off probation, I’m sure they’re lookin’ for people ta fill the spots. And don’t worry, really, they’ll take absolutely anybody,” Decky sneered back, sick of the interaction already. Sick of Jamie just like he had been for a long time. Things had started off good between the blonde and AJ, but Decky was there with the rest of the gearheads of the Tyler crew to see the slow descent into toxic chaos it became. Decky was there every time a bad moment with Jamie was being erased by a white line, every time smoke in the eyes was used to replace tears and alcohol was used to drown the parts of AJ that just felt too much. Too much for…that. The boy in front of him that could get folded in seconds but talked big shit like he could actually back himself up if cornered.
Pushing Rye toward AJ was a logical decision after the break up. Neither boy liked spending the night alone and they’d known each other long enough as friends that they could actually handle a no-strings situation. Decky took a step back with sleeping with Rye because at the time, the other two needed each other more to sleep at night than Decky needed another hook up, so he was more than happy to give them that push. They’d flirted back and forth for the whole time Decky knew them anyway, the newer transfer having been left to assume that nothing happened between the two because he quickly came along and swept Rye up for himself when he showed up halfway through Freshman year.
Jamie and AJ had then reconnected on a friends with benefits basis, something he had very strongly discouraged but lost the fight on with AJ, and Decky has been simmering on the back burner waiting for his moment to boil over. This was going to hurt AJ. This was going to hurt Rye. He no longer gave a fuck about what it did to Jamie Callaghan.
Was it her or did these boys have a lot of tension they needed to release? It wasn’t JJ’s place to add her two cents to this interaction and the last thing she needed was another detention because she got caught in the middle of two boys who couldn’t see eye to eye. Though once upon a time, last year, they did like each other, or so she thought. When she saw Rye next she would need to get more information on the situation. He was both media and an honorary Gearhead (he didn’t know much about cars but he liked hanging with them). It only made sense he knew the most. He would be able to read between the lines and understand this. She needed her best friend.
Dazing out, JJ continued to think deeper on the two boys throwing quips at one another. Did she even care? It wasn’t her business. Whatever beef they had with each other was just something they needed to tenderize and throw on the grill for a bit. Something good could come out of it, or the meat could get burnt. Either way, this could be a conversation they needed.
What was really on her mind was what was she going to wear tomorrow? She had a chance to impress Mordechai and get him to see her more than the rat girl. If she went all out, he might even consider her attractive. He did like her red lips. Red lips could be a thing for tomorrow’s outfit. Oh she was getting excited thinking about the possibilities. Normally, she’d ask her sisters for help but she might as well kill two birds with one stone. Go to the mall with Rye, go shopping, get pretzels and tacos, and ask him a million and ten questions about Jamie, Decky, and the hate they share. This was a good plan and she was sure he’d love it. At least the food and shopping part. Not so much her probing to know what her crush and his fuck buddy’s ex got going on but still, he loved being with her so she was sure she could get him to talk.
Her mind snapped out of its trance when she saw a familiar rodent walking the window ledge, by her sister. JJ made a face.
Oh no… oh no.
Trying not to interrupt the boys and their heated conversation, but clearly interrupting their conversation, Jordyn awkwardly slid down her chair and whispered, “Don’t mind me…” From there, she grabbed her tote and glimpsed inside it. Goddamn it, Biggie. Her cheetos aren’t meant for mice! This is why he was so fat! How dare! Pulling her tote with her, she crawled, looking toward Ms. Belmonte whose eyes were on her laptop, and hopefully, not on her. She went around Decky’s desk, unintentionally giving him a nice view of her apple bottom jeans, and found her way in front of her sister’s desk. On the ground now, in a standing-crouching position, she soothingly assured her twin, who had gone stock still and wide eyed when she spotted Biggie on the ledge, “Hey PJ… I’m just going to..”
She reached toward the window to grab her mouse.
There was a loud roaring outside, which caused JJ to lose her train of thought. Looking outside, she saw AJ in his red car, revving it up. That red car was only one of his usuals for school. “Oh, speaking of AJ, isn’t that him leaving?” Biggie pranced off the ledge and right onto PJ’s desk. He turned to her and stared up at his mother’s twin. Beady eyes and all.
squeak, squeak.
“EeeeeeeeEEEEWWWNOOOOOOBIGGIE!!!!” PJ screeched, all thoughts of invisibility and peacekeeping Decky gone, buried beneath pure panic as black beady eyes locked onto her, creepy little rodent fingers grasping towards her hair as she threw herself back and out of her chair. Biggie was sitting on her journal. Biggie was sitting on her journal. Heart now beating out of fear and rage, Parker looked desperately to her sister and screamed, “JJ!!!”
“Jordyn Jones! AGAIN?!” Ms. Belmonte was standing up now with furrowed eyebrows.
She had such a hot mama voice and she looked incredible in red. STOP. Focus, JJ. “... sorry, sis.” With a single swoop, Jordyn grabbed her son, placed him in the tote, and rushed to grab her things (mostly just her backpack), “Can’t wait to see you both at the party!” Rushing to the door, JJ looked at her teacher and gave a playful salute, “You don’t have to say a word, Ms. B. Detention, all next week. You got it, teach. Okay, gotta’ go. Please-don’t-call-my-mom. Okay, thanks, byeeeeeeee.” And with that, the eccentric Jones was off to the media room. She needed to see Rye.
PJ didn’t so much as give anyone a second glance as she too gathered up all her things, hands shaking as she wiped at her journal pages as if to get off the essence of rat, and tore out of the classroom in the opposite direction of her sister. There was a disabled bathroom on this floor that wasn’t often used but it had good ventilation and a window that actually opened to the outside, so it was a good place to get both privacy and fresh air, something Parker desperately needed all of a sudden.
“Wait, where are you going, Parker?” Cat called out, having lost yet another student to some chaotic rodent incident — only at BHHS. At least she saw them so she can mark them as here. She didn’t get paid enough to deal with this. Ms. Belmonte just threw her hands up in annoyance, with Italian flair, before settling in her seat, ready for the Morning Show to begin so she could dismiss her class and move onto the next unpredictable thing.
Decky spared a moment of conflict for everything that had just happened. JJ suddenly sliding out of her seat and across his desk had given him a view of the girl that he was sure he’d lose a layer of skin on his shin for later, a la Parker once he’d got her calmed down. The way she had done it so casually, her jeans accentuating her assets just as much as the temporary perch against his desk had, had him completely distracted from his verbal battle with Jamie and completely lost in thoughts that he can’t say he’d had for her previously. He’d always been drawn to her warmth and passion, whether he spoke to her about it or not, ever since he found her casually playing on the drums in a locked music room instead of freaking out to be free. Now…he was wanting to feel that warmth on a whole other level, and he was wholly unprepared for that revelation seconds before AJ’s car peeled out of the parking lot, followed closely by another shift in attention as one of JJ’s pets jumped on PJ’s desk and set the girl off.
Christ, had the bell even fucking rung yet?
With Ms. Belmonte having already settled down and having no chance of beating him to the still open doorway, Decky took his own chance to escape. Not, however, before he leaned over JJ’s now empty desk and got close to Jamie’s face, letting the little breakable blonde see the distrust and contained rage burning deep in his mahogany eyes. He held that gaze for a threatening moment before he snarled out his accusation.
“What the fuck did ya do ta ‘im this time, Callaghan?”
Without letting the boy respond, Decky stomped out of the classroom and in the direction he knew PJ will have gone, having played this routine out many times over the past few years when he and the twins shared classes. As always, he’d be providing the blunt she needed to regulate and calm down. Good thing he didn’t let Sin steal the ones he’d already rolled this morning.
Jamie resisted the urge to follow them out. Instead, he ground his teeth together and ignored the curious gazes of their classmates. What the fuck did he do? For a moment, his thoughts turned sharp, harsh. Not enough, clearly. Pain and guilt and nausea were leading an overzealous conga line through his nervous system as he replayed the last few months over and over in his head. Then he bundled those thoughts up and tucked them away, somewhere dark and dreary, so he wouldn’t have to think about them. This school was about survival of the fittest, and feelings were starting to seem like a god damned liability.
They usually were, but was that such a bad thing? JJ rushed her way through the hall until she got to the media studio. Looking through the narrowed glass window on the door, she stared inside the room and watched her friend and the other anchors host the Morning show. There was so much she needed to tell Rye but now she, and her dear Biggie Cheese, had to wait until the camera was no longer running.
Ugh, she hated waiting. But as she stood there, she thought about her brief moment with Decky, how he looked at her and how that made her feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.
She smiled to herself.
Some things were worth waiting for.
