yeah, I'm never asking you guys to make guesses ever again lmao xD i think i ended up confusing the heck out of everyone (so sorry btw)
Also a common confusion was that Mallory was never mentioned in any of the previous chapters... Which is true -- she was never mentioned by name but she did make an appearance. Its okay, its okay. It'll all come together eventually :P

PEA SIZED BRAIN

"NICE FLOWER," JASPER'S VOICE FLOATED to her ears as Nova stood at the end of the lunch line, tapping her right foot impatiently.

Mentally groaning at the unwelcome presence, she cast a look over her shoulder to see that he'd stepped in right behind her.

Now she was even more annoyed with herself for being late — she had stopped at Mr Desmond's desk just as the lunch bell rang to clear a doubt but then he'd started talking enthusiastically about his daughter's first day at elementary school and Nova didn't have the heart to just up and leave.

She thought she'd paid the price when she ended up at the end of the queue, but Jasper's insufferable presence merely inches behind her was a bit over the top.

Why was the universe punishing her for being a sweetheart and listening to one of her teachers rant on about the joys of being a dad?

"Thanks," Nova shot back in reply, deliberately taking it as a compliment.

"It wasn't a compliment," Jasper snorted. "Geez, talk about beauty without brains."

"In case your pea sized brain didn't register it, you just complimented me," she muttered in a bored tone, "again."

"Of course you'd look past the no-brains part," he laughed and the condescending undertone lit a fire on Nova's nerves. "The looks are the only thing you've got going for you."

He's wrong, she told herself, he's wrong. He's wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

He didn't know her; not many did. And she was under no obligation to make them think otherwise.

Oh, who was she kidding? Of course it got to her at times like these. She could shout it out to the world that people's opinions of her didn't matter. That their words couldn't creep in through the crevices of her heart. But that's wasn't completely true was it? Somewhere deep down, a tiny part of her did wonder why she was the one subjected to such condemnation and mockery.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" asked Jasper.

"No, Jasper," Nova sighed exasperatedly, pinching the bridge of her nose as she felt the fight slowly drain away. She wasn't in the mood for this, not right now. She just wanted a goddamn break. "You're just an idiot and a wise person once said arguing with an idiot is as effective as talking to a wall and expecting it to respond."

Jasper, on the other hand, seemed to be on full energy and wholeheartedly ready for a fight, much to Nova's dismay.

"And what is your idea of a wise person, Nova? Someone who says you'll ride into the sunset on a horse with the love of your life?" 

Nova's eyes scanned the crowd in front of her; there were just three more students before she could get her lunch. She didn't have to listen to the absolute bigot behind her for much longer.

There was an odd tightening sensation in her throat... and her legs felt the slightest bit wobbly. Oh for the love of Katherine Heigl, get your shit together Nova!

There were profanities, words so vile and hateful just sitting there on the tip of her tongue begging to be spat at Jasper.

But she stamped down on the urge and moved forward once it was her turn to order food, now ready more than ever for this horrible day to just be done so she could go home.

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It just hit me how amazing it is that you're all practically strangers to me and yet you guys keep making my day/night over and over again ❤