dakota +

ten minutes had passed and i still had no clue as to what i was exactly looking for.

i turned to jack, but he was no longer beside me so i looked around and found him reading a game in his hands.

i walked towards him, "i don't really think that world of warcraft is exactly nate's kind of thing".

"yeah" he awkwardly chuckled. "i know that".

he hastily put the game back and continued walking ahead me until i came to a realisation and folded my arms.

"what?" jack cluelessly asked.

i raised my eyebrow at him this time, long enough for him to break.

"okay, yes. football player jack gilinsky is a warcraft geek" he confessed. "go ahead, laugh all you want".

i couldn't help but start laughing as i held onto his arm to control myself.

"no...no, i'm not" his unamused face quickly caused me to suppress my laughter. "i actually like that you're into that".

jack scoffed, "that's a first".

"it proves that you're different" i elaborated. "so do you like sit in your room, playing the game with a pretend sword and try to slay dragons?".

he threw his head back and circled me to head for the exit, "okay, we're leaving".

i caught up with him and pulled his arm back to face me.

"i'm kidding, i'm kidding. but i'd kill to see that" i told.

"well, too bad because you're not going to. you're the only person that knows about this".

"seriously?" i somewhat responded in surprise. "why?".

"because it's embarrassing and..." he shrugged. "...and because i trust you".

my lips formed into a smile that i instantly tried to hide by tucking my hair behind my ear.

"i won't tell anyone, i promise. plus, i doubt anyone would believe me" i replied, whilst we started walking down the mall again.

"there you are, man!" sam's voice called from behind us. "you were supposed to be my wingman today, where have you been?".

"i've been hanging out with dakota" jack stated.

"i can see that but dude, i needed you" sam lightly hit his arm.

"okay, i'm sorry. next time, yeah?" jack put his arm around his best friend's shoulder as i walked alongside them.

"i should hope so. you're all loved up with this olivia, so you should be trying your hardest to get me with someone".

"um, so can you drop us at jack's place now?" i intentionally interrupted. "we really need to get this tutoring done".

sam childishly smirked, "oh, yeah - tutoring".

"stop" jack sternly told, although sam continued to laugh at his sexual thoughts until we went to find adrianna and seriyah and finally make our way home.

+

a week later, i sat at one of the lunch tables in the school courtyard eating a tuna sandwich and with my headphones blasting music into my ears.

jonah was off sick today and kelsey was at volleyball practice, and since they're two of my best friends and the only people that i hang out with, lunch was just for one today.

as i bit off some of my sandwich, i was suddenly joined by liam, who settled his backpack down beside him and i removed my headphones.

liam and i have known each other since we were babies - our parents grew up together, so we were obviously forced to grow up together too.

we would attend each other's birthday parties, we used to take baths together and spent a few summer vacations together.

we're not exactly in the same social circle at school, so we never hang out as much unless our parents bring us together.

but we have a friendship where we don't have to talk for days, but act like we never spent a second apart when we do.

"how come you're spending lunch alone?" he asked, locking his hands in front of him on the table.

"jonah's got the flu, kelsey's preparing for a volleyball match".

"come on, they're not your only friends" he told. "what about me?".

i shrugged, "i couldn't find you".

"did you even try?" he cocked his brow at me and i shook my head, holding back a smile.

"anyways, no offence, but your friends make me uncomfortable" i confessed.

liam dramatically gasped, "what's wrong with my friends?".

"it's just the way you all speak and talk about literature and other intellectual stuff - it's really hard for me to relate".

"there's nothing wrong with being well educated, dakota" he said. "i thought you'd understand that since you're tutoring hudson high's quarterback".

i stared at him questioningly since i was confused as to how he knew.

"your mom told my mom" liam added. "she was going on and on about how proud she is of you embracing and spreading your knowledge".

"yeah, but that's hardly why i do it" i placed a grape into my mouth.

"then what's the real reason?".

i slid over my container to share my fruit with him.

"you remember how i had that crush on jack gilinsky?" i mentioned and he nodded his head, taking a few blueberries into his hand. "well, that never quite disappeared".

liam cleared his throat, pulling his brows together, "it didn't?".

i observed his concerned face and titled my head to side.

"what's wrong?" i inquired.

"nothing" he straightened up and gave me a quick smile. "it's just, i remember how you used get really upset when he wouldn't acknowledge you or pay any attention to you".

i fiddled with my hands, "i know, but it's different now. we actually talk about things and we laugh together, and he actually starting to—".

"dakota!" jack abruptly cut me off. he jogged up to us as his friends sat down at a table nearby.

i sat up straight and promptly wiped the corner of my mouth for any food, then smiled at him.

"hey" i first spoke.

"i think that i left a few of my textbooks at your place, do you mind if i come over later to get them?" jack asked and i nodded a little too quickly.

"sure. oh and don't forget, you promised to give me your input on that birthday present" i reminded.

"really? i don't remember promising anything" jack teased and i rolled my eyes at the smirk on his face. "i'm kidding, you have something on me so i have no choice".

"you know that i'd never use that against you" i tried to assure him and i briefly admired the smile that he gave back to me.

jack soon turned to liam and held his hand out.

"hey bro, i'm jack" he greeted, causing liam to bluntly shake his hand.

"liam" he answered, then stood up to put his backpack over his shoulders. "i've gotta go. i'll talk to you later, dakota".

he hardly gave jack and i a second look, then went on his way to catch up with his friends as i wondered what suddenly rained on his mood.

-

added a new guy, liam to make the story a bit more interesting. i haven't decided but he may or may not be played by cole sprouse aka jughead jones.

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