Date: September 25, 2018

✰

--Time skip to a few weeks later--

Sitting at her empty lunch table, Jessie groaned internally as she saw the unfortunately familiar face of Ryan Campbell coming her way from afar.

'Ugh, where are you, Hayden?'

She wondered.

Luckily, they came rushing in struggling to keep the loose sheets of paper in their hands from falling.

"Jess! Sorry I'm late." They hurried to get their items into their bag. "Miss Thompson wouldn't let me leave until I finished my assignment. But I'm here now!"

They settled in across the table, a calm smile appearing on their face as Jessie looked relieved to see them.

"I'm glad you're here. I needed someone to hold me back so I don't beat Ryan to a pulp." she admitted.

Confused, they asked, "What do you mean?"

Jessie pointed and they turned, seeing Ryan who was much closer than before.

She groaned. "He drives me insane! Why can't he leave me alone??"

"Well... maybe he likes you." They suggested, dawning and innocent expression.

Jessie laughed incredulously. "Yeah, right. I doubt it. That guy has everyone in this school eating from the palm of his hand."

"I thought they ate from the lunch trays? I guess some kids do bring lunch boxes though-"

"Hayden. Not literally."

"Oh, sorry. Continue."

She peered around them, seeing that he'd stopped at the cheerleader's table, an eruption of giggles and compliments eroding her ears.

"As I was saying," she straightened herself in her seat. "Ryan has no business bothering us. Literally everyone at school likes him - I didn't have to be here long to figure that out. So exactly why, dear friend, would he be pestering specifically me?"

They thought for a second. "I can't think of anything besides that he either really likes you or really dislikes you." they shrugged, pulling out a Tupperware from their bag. "Best not to think about it."

The two ate lunch in silence, not noticing that the brunette boy had finished his conversation with the cheerleaders and had continued coming in their direction.

He sat down a seat away from Jessie, her trying her very best not to pay attention to him.

"Hello, princess~." He flirted.

She ignored him.

"Enjoying your lunch period, I see."

No response.

"Well, just letting you know that you'd be enjoying it a whole lot more over at my table."

Hayden scoffed. "Oh, buzz off, Ryan. She obviously doesn't want to sit with you. So would you please go away and leave her be?"

Jessie appreciated that, though knowing that their attempt would end up futile.

"Zip it, Curly. Jess and I are friends." He slipped into the seat next to hers, snaking his arm around her shoulders, only for it to be slapped away.

"First off, don't touch me." she stated, annoyance clear in her tone. "Second of all, don't call me Jess. Only my friends call me Jess."

She tried to ignore the tiny gasp and giggle coming from the person across from her.

"And lastly, we are not friends. Don't go spreading around that misinformation."

"Aww," he teased, leaning in. Jessie leaned away in response. "Princess doesn't wanna admit she has feelings for me."

She laughed loudly, keeling over in amusement. "Yeah, keep dreaming, lover boy."

"I will be your lover boy soon enough." He tapped his finger on her nose.

"I'll bite that finger off if you ever bring it that close to me again." Jessie hissed.

Ryan sighed lovingly, blowing an imaginary kiss before going back to his table.

The girl sighed, bringing her hand up to her temple. "Ugh. He gives me a migraine every time he's within ten feet of me."

They smiled sweetly, placing their hand on top of hers. "Forget about him, he's bound to give up at some point."

✐

Spoiler alert - he did not give up.

Practically every other day at school, he simply would not stop getting in the way and just aggravating her. One thing or another, he kept persevering. Whether it be with flirts or serenades, that boy would not quit.

Luckily for her, winter break was coming up and she wouldn't have to focus on him and his bratty attitude much longer.

Now, she could just chill out and celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa with her family (Hayden would be celebrating Hanukkah with their family).

Oh, how she cherished those days.

And, oh, how she'd wished it could last forever.

Too bad for her.

× × × × × × × ×× × × × × × × × × × × × ×

Episode Two - done.

Any thoughts on what you think will happen next?

(I won't confirm any - just curious)

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