The school day went by within a blink of an eye, and it was over before Jess knew it. Her first day at Emerald High went reasonably well, and although her expectations weren't that high, a part of her was already in love with her new school. But to Jess, the most important thing was that in one day she had managed to make a friend. An actual friend. And a great one, at that. Keeping that in mind, the black-haired girl left the school in search for her brother.

Outside, there were countless students chatting and standing in groups. Jess hastily passed her peers, and just as she began to wonder where Jesse was she spotted him talking to Lukas. As she approached the two boys, she overheard part of the conversation they were having.

"..is not half bad."

"Oh Notch, I know that look. Don't get any ideas with her."

"I was just kidding!"

Jess tapped her brother on the shoulder, making him spin around and smile at the sight of his little sister. "Oh, hey Jess," he greeted, holding up his left hand. Jess immediately understood what her Jesse wanted to do and gave him a high five. "Lukas and I are going to hang out today. Is that alright with you?" Jesse asked, although Jess knew that she wouldn't have a say in the matter. With a shrug, she looked at the guys and smiled. "Sure, I don't see why not."

"Sweet!" Jesse turned his head to the blonde boy next to him. "My friend, I have four words for you—Monster Kart 8 Deluxe."

"Technically, 8 isn't a word."

"Shut up."

Monster Kart 8 Deluxe was a two-player game, where players competed against each other in go-kart races on various courses. Up to twelve characters could compete in each race, which were all "monsters", as the franchise called it. (Coincidence? I think not.)

The three teens made their way to the sidewalk before the school. They patiently waited for the Farland's mother to pick them up, when suddenly..

"Hey nerds. And Jess," a girl's voice greeted from behind the trio. Jess turned around and smiled at her, happy to remember that she didn't make one, but two new friends today. Man, she was on fire today. Not in a literal sense of course, but you know.

When Jesse noticed Petra approach them, he stared at her, silent. Her slender limbs in that black-and-white uniform; her long, shining auburn hair; her sparkling cyan eyes—she was a beautiful, priceless jewel.

The instant Jesse realized what was happening, his mind fell into a deep panic. As Petra approached them, he felt his hands get sweaty and aggressively started to wipe them on his pants. Just as Jesse began to wonder if it was too late to run off unnoticed, he heard a voice next to him say, "Nerd? I thought I was more of a geek."

Petra ignored Lukas's statement and looked Jess in the eye. "Thanks for letting me borrow your pen earlier today. I forgot to give it back to you after class, so here." She held out the pen for Jess to take. Jess looked at the redheaded girl before her, then at the pen in her hands. She actually wasn't expecting to get the it back. When do people ever give back stuff they borrowed?

"Thanks, Petra" Jess hesitatingly mentioned before taking the pen. A small yet seemingly genuine smile crawled onto Petra's plump lips. She then turned her head at the guys, and then back at Jess. Her content expression shifting into a rather confused one, Petra pointed a thumb in Jesse's and Lukas's direction. "What are you doing hanging out with these guys?"

"Jesse is my older brother, and Lukas is a friend of his," Jess explained. Petra nodded her head and looked at the guys one final time. She noticed that Jesse was acting aloof and decided to ask, "You okay there?"

Jesse's startled expression remained the same. When Lukas noticed this, he waved a hand in front of his face, as if trying to snap him out of a trance. "Is he having a stroke?" Petra asked, confused. Finally, Jesse regained his consciousness and blurted out, "I'm fine. I always sweat this much." Which probably wasn't the best choice of words.

"..Okay? I think I'm going to go now," Petra commented, taking a step back. She made a peace sign with her right hand before walking off. "Later."

Jesse put a hand on his chest and let out a breath of which he didn't know he was holding in. Staring at the redheaded girl as she walked away, Jesse tried to comprehend what just happened.

Unknown to Jess, Jesse had a huge crush on Petra. And to make it worse—he was doing a terrible job at hiding it. To him, everything about her was just perfect. Jesse loved the way Petra's hair flowed back as she walked. He loved the way Petra looked when she was fencing—she made it seem like a dance of swords. He loved Petra's confidence, recklessness, charisma, and the list goes on. Jesse could write an entire book about all the things he loved about his crush. She was smart, beautiful, confident and athletic. To sum it up: completely out of Jesse's league.

"You're friends with Petra?!" Jesse asked his sister, amazed. Jess tilted her head in confusion, raising an eyebrow. "Yes. Why? Do you not like her?"

Jesse practically choked on air before exclaiming, "Like her? Of course I like her! She's Petra friggin Johnson, who wouldn't like her?"

Lukas noticed how flustered Jesse was getting and instantly felt his mom-friend instincts kick in. "There, there. You'll get her attention someday," he commented, patting Jesse on the back.

"I'm confused. Why do you like her so much?" Jess asked her brother. Lukas turned his head to face Jess. "Jesse here has a crush on Petra. For a while now, actually."

"I do not!" Jesse exclaimed, knitting his eyebrows together in irritation. Lukas smirked at Jesse's annoyed response, before proceeding, "Unfortunately, he's to antisocial to tell her how he feels."

Startled, Jess searched for the right words to say. How was she supposed to respond to that?

"That.. sucks."

"Your mom sucks," Jesse hissed like a cat. Smirking, Jess gave him a look. "You do realize we.."

"We have the same mom. I know, I messed up," he reluctantly admitted. "Today is not my day okay?"

Jess grinned at Jesse's mistak, but at the same time felt sympathy for him. She subconsciously clutched her hands, then felt something in her right hand. When Jess remembered what she was holding on to, she got an idea. A broad grin crawled onto her lips as she looked at Jesse and asked, "Do you want this pen?"

"YES. PLEASE," Jesse blurted out. He then realized how loud and pathetic he was acting and repeated himself, "I mean, that would be nice."

Jess handed Jesse the pen and she couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her content brother. Conveniently, Jesse's and Jess's mother then arrived at school. The teens got in the car, Jess in the front next to her mom, and Jesse and Lukas in the back. On the way home, Jess talked to her mother about her day at school while the boys chatted in the back. Jesse's and Jess's mother dropped them off at home, then drove to the grocery store to buy groceries for dinner.

When the three teens got inside, Jesse and Lukas immediately flopped down on the couch and made theirselves comfortable.

"It's nice to be back here," Lukas remarked, looking around the house. "Your house is like a second home to me."

"I'm gonna go to my room, just yell if you need me or anything," Jess said as she was already going up the stairs. When she was gone, a brief silence filled the living room.

"So.. Monster Kart?" Jesse proposed.

"You know it."

Jesse smiled, standing up to grab the controllers. He sat back down and handed Lukas his red controller while Jesse used the blue one. After a few minutes (mostly consisting of Jesse complaining about how the Wither Skeleton was one of the worst characters to play as), the boys got into their usually rhythm. Monster Kart 8 Deluxe was one of Jesse's favorite video games, but he liked it even more when he played it with Lukas. It was comforting to know that someone had his back.

A few hours and several races later, Lukas had gotten bored. He cast a glance in Jesse's direction, who was entirely occupied with what was on the screen. Lukas's thoughts were elsewhere
and he tried to start a conversation with the first thing that came to his mind. "So, your sister seems nice."

"Wow, that was random," Jesse replied jokingly, although Lukas could tell he was being serious.

"I didn't mean it like that," Lukas hesitatingly responded. "It's just that—we've known each other for years, and somehow I've never had a chance to meet your sister until today. Don't you think that's a little odd?"

"My initial plan was for you to show her around today. But that didn't work out, with your council meeting and all," Jesse answered. "Could you maybe show her around tomorrow?"

Lukas nodded his head, although he had to admit he wasn't extremely thrilled. Oh Notch, what had he just agreed to? Not only was he going to be alone with a girl, he was going to be alone with a cute girl. At those thoughts, Lukas heaved a sigh, his cheeks taking on a shade of red. The fact that he found his best friend's sister cute disgusted him. Lukas was supposed to be Jesse's best friend—his player two, meaning that siblings were off-limits.

"Great," Jesse commented. "Now, less talking more gaming! Wanna go for rainbow road?"

"Last time we did rainbow road I totally crushed you," Lukas reminded him, to which Jesse only scoffed. "That was because you were cheating!"

"Well, technically we both cheated. I just cheated better than you," the blonde admitted with a cheesy grin. Jesse scoffed again and dared Lukas to a rematch, which he gladly accepted. The boys then competitively played another round on the rainbow road course, both eager to win. After what felt like an eternity, Lukas was getting hungry and ran a hand through his hair. "Not to be that guy, but do you maybe have something to eat?"

"Sure thing," Jesse answered, standing up from the couch. Lukas followed him to the kitchen and watched him open a cabinet filled with various types of snacks. Jesse looked back at him, a broad grin crawling onto his lips.

"Do you think I could fit 15 marshmallows in my mouth?"

"You're a hazard to society," Lukas commented, giving his friend the 'mom' look. "And a coward. Do 20."