SYDNEY

After what felt like a never ending night of tossing, turning, tears, and a horrible ache in her stomach, morning finally came. She was resigned to going to school. A cynical part of her thought that that's what she gets for skipping school the day before.

Sydney knew that wasn't true though.

A piece of butter toast, a lazy attire composed of skinny jeans, a journalism hoodie, and a messy bun later, she was headed towards one of the last places she wanted to be.

The day was overcast mimicking her feelings for once. Seated in her Journalism class she was relieved to see that Mat had seemingly decided to take off from school. She knew she should feel guilty about that, but she had no clue what would even happen the next time they saw each other.

"Where's Mat? You two avoiding each other and not telling Meg and I what's going on between mom and dad?" Emmery swept into the seat beside her.

Tense, her first instinct was to ask if Meg and her knew what was going on, but quickly getting a hold of herself she knew that Mat wouldn't have told the two of them.

"Nope," the pop of the 'p' was pronounce. "Have you texted to check in on him?"

The dark manicured eyebrow of her friend curled upwards, "No, that's usually your job Syd."

"Oh," She shrugged, "Well maybe he is mad at me for skipping and wanted to get back at me, so maybe best bet's you text and check in on him." It was intended to sound sarcastic but it came out on a dead note.

Emmery frowned but pulled out her phone, "If you say so."

Thankfully class began, and Emmery only had the chance to say Mat's reply was 'taking a personal day.'

Lost in her thoughts, logging onto the schools computers, she scanned through her notes for edits she was intending to make.

"Sydney," Mr. Greg's voice interrupted her thought process, "are you and your group ready to head down to the English Department to get more interviews? I know they want every student interviewed, but then you and the rest of the Editorial staff can choose what students to narrow down and focus on."

Her stomach dropped. She completely forgot about the English Department projects.

With a dry mouth Sydney nodded. "Of course, sorry. Muscle memory going straight to the computer. I'm ready to go whenever everyone else is."

☽✣☾

Convincing herself that, much like last time, it was unlikely that she would be paired with Jay, and that, like Mat, he could've also been avoiding school.

A.K.A. Her.

A small flurry of conversation behind her though from a few of her fellow classmates reminded her that Jay and the team had a game that evening though. It wasn't mental gymnastics for her to figure it'd be unlikely that Jay'd be allowed to skip school and still show up game day ready.

So when she entered the classroom, Emmery talking at her side about the last debacle Meg had with her family, she was somewhat prepared to see Jay in the corner of the classroom, staring out the windows into the grey. She admired his profile as he propped his head up on his hand staring out the window lost in thought. Well he was until he lifted his head from its resting spot and his unique eyes quickly settled on her.

Maybe I shouldn't have been so defensive last night... so far Jay's been nothing but kind and considerate of the entire situation and while, yes, Mat's confession blindsided me it wasn't right for me to downplay Jay's concern...

The teacher started directing the journalism team to new pairs and somewhere in that mess she found herself sitting next to the boy she had kissed less than twenty-four hours ago and now neither of them knew what to do with each other.

Her body was going on autopilot pulling out pens and a notebook to take notes down even though she wasn't sure he was going to speak at all. Fingering through her pages of notes and interviews she dated a new page with a vibrant pink pen, then headed the page with a curled script of Jay's full name. The pen seemed to have a mind of its own swirling and curling to flourish his name while the two of them just sat in silence.

Jay can't have expected me to know Mat's feelings though. Mean it's not as though I freak out every girl that seems to be around him despite his reputation.

Sydney considered the past few days and the time they spent together though, and never once had a girl been at his side or his attention been deterred to his phone.

This realization made her heart flop though with both guilt, but a key of excitement and flattery.

Whispers brushed her ears and she looked up to see people around peeking at Jay and herself. It was when the teacher walked up and past the pair that finally startled Sydney from her thoughts to settle back into herself and realize this wasn't about them but about representing the work of the school, and that included Jay.

"So um," She cleared her throat, "why did you join this class?"

His eyes flashed over to look at her then he apparently thought better as his eyes drifted away to observe his fingers twirl a pen in his hands. "Originally my parents wanted me to participate seeing as it offers college credit, but I went along with it as an out from...my friends." Friends being pointed for pack.

Jotting down the main idea Sydney nodded on trying to get in her full journalistic mode. "Was this class what you expected? If not how so? Would you suggest it to underclassmen?"

Jay rubbed his neck. A smile was threatening to pull at her lips witnessing Jay attempt to be professional for the interviews sake. "Ugh, yeah, I would suggest it for underclassmen. I thought this class was mainly going to be resume building and just learning how to put together documents for either pursuing college or trying to go out and get a career. Mean a few of the classes are dedicated to formal writing projects like that, which are helpful, but this class is actually meant to just help build whatever writing skills we want. Some people want to be journalist like yourselves, but are already working for the city paper, or are trying to get an internship out in the world. Some wanna be professional poets, or even just work up their slam poetry reputation. Probably most surprising though it's shown me to journal, write, and read, things I didn't know I'd enjoyed doing since I've never had the time."

This new information piqued her interest. "Oh, what have you been reading and writing about? Are they connected?"

A ghost of a smile graced his handsome lips, "It started out just from previous English classes, the standard read, analyze, and write, which I'm fine with, but recently I've gotten into creative writing. I kind of found some inspiration over the summer and didn't realize I need an outlet like this."

Her lips formed an 'o' shape as she noted down more of this on her paper. "That's really neat! I feel like I don't have a creative bone in my body. I just like working with the facts and polishing them up to something understandable and presentable. But anyways, are you going to college for some sort of writing career?"

His smile turned grim, "Nah, unfortunately for me my career path is kind of already made."

Cocking her head to look at him perplexed, she set down her pen to just listen. "What do you mean? You said you were taking this class for college credit?"

"Yeah, because my parents want me to do a quick sweep through college for a business degree to help the..."

She could fill in the blank.

"Why not double major or even just have a minor? A business degree I don't think has ever hurt anyone, but I could understand the struggle of trying to pursue that degree if it doesn't pique your interests."

Jay nodded consideringly, "Yeah, mean it's possible. I'd need to scrap together my own money for it though."

"But I thought you're family was..."

"Filthy rich?" He filled in her statement with a laugh, "Nah, hence the business school. Running the area means supporting it with funds. My parents have enough to send me and Jac to college to come back and help the area. My mom's job helps bring in money to the area, they just set enough off to the side for us to go to school."

"That sounds kind of unpleasant. I guess I just always assumed like you said that your family lives the highlife with all the other popular athleticy sporty people of our school." An uncomfortable laugh tickled at her and she dropped her gaze from him. "I guess I'm not as good at my job as I thought I was," Sydney looked down to her paper and scrawled a few more notes trying to avoid eye contact with Jay who is now looking at her instead of fumbling with his pen in avoiding her. The burning of his eyes on her became overbearing and after she didn't know what else to write down, so she looked up to Jay which seemed to move him out of his headspace.

"I don't think you're bad at your job," he said lightly. "I think he was right in saying you see the best in people."

Sydney snorted at this, "Yeah? And how is seeing you as a stereotypical lacrosse player who is filthy rich considered seeing the best in you?"

"Because you're able to sit here or sit anywhere it seems, and interview people and ask them genuine questions and truly listen to what they're saying and change your opinion about them to have a better idea and understanding of who they are as people."

His words warmed her chest as well as her cheeks with the flattery. A smile graced her lips and he gave her a small one back as well.