12 Chapter 12 (2/2)
”You still need to work on talking nicely” Aeris says as she marks down another tally.
”W-well, I don't know about dating” Emma says, ”b-b-but if Wyatt wants to, then...”.
”Y-Yeah” Wyatt says. ”We're dating”.
”Ooh, gossip material” Jessica says.
”Please... don't” Jackson says. ”I get enough of their awkwardness during school. The last thing I need is to hear about it constantly”.
”Come on!” Jessica says, ”school is so boring, and there's not much to do between classes! Just let me have this!”.
After the next couple classes, lunch began. The Rejects gather on the roof, like usual and Emma and Wyatt sat next to each other like usual. ”They're still acting awkward...” Jackson says. ”They're even dating now and still don't seem to even know how to show affection... I swear, hanging around these two would make any normal person feel awkward”.
”What do you mean?” Wyatt asks. ”We're fine. We don't have to show you guys, do we?”.
”I think Jackson is just confused” Jessica says. ”He probably has no idea how relationships work either”.
”H-how do they work then?” Emma asks.
”Some couples like showing affection for each other in public” Jessica says, ”and Jackson is lonely, so he's probably frustrated”.
”Hey!” Jackson says, ”it's not my fault these two don't-”. Suddenly, Emma sets her tray of food down, stands up, then sits in Wyatt's lap. Aeris, Jessica and Jackson stared at the two of them.
”Uh, Emma?” Wyatt asks. Emma picks her tray of food back up and goes back to eating. ”This is awkward...” Wyatt thinks to himself. ”But at the same time... she does smell good... no wait, get your head on straight!”.
”Yep” Jackson says, ”I was wrong. This is much more awkward”. Jackson starts moving away from Wyatt and Emma.
”Is that jealousy I hear?” Aeris says with a short laugh.
”What? No!” Jackson says.
”Oh come on, Jack” Jessica says, ”you're surrounded by girls. There's got to be at least one person you're interested in”.
”Yeah, I'm surrounded by four females, and all of you are nuts” Jackson says.
”Four?” Jessica asks.
”If you count Wyatt” Jackson says. Emma stares at Jackson, squinting her eyes at him. Jackson starts getting a little nervous as he asks ”A-are you gonna tally that one, Aeris?”.
”I'm not sure if I need to” Aeris says. ”Because I'm sure Emma will beat your ass for that one...”.
”Wait!” Jackson says as he moves further away from Emma, ”I-I'll take that tally”.
”You messed up now!” Jessica says with a laugh.
”Alright” Aeris says as she marks down a tally in her notebook. ”I wrote down the tally. NOW you can beat his ass, Emma”.
”Hold on!” Jackson shouts, ”you can't write down a strike AND hit me! Isn't there like a rule against that or something?”.
”Nope” Aeris says.
”Back onto the last topic” Jessica says, ”don't you like someone, Jackson?”.
”I don't focus on those things” Jackson says.
”You could at least try asking Aeris out or something” Jessica says.
”No way!” Jackson complains, ”if we went on a date, she'd just beat me!”.
”Are you sure you wouldn't try it?” Aeris teases.
Jackson gets a little angry and embarrassed at the same time. ”Come on, just try asking her out, and you'll feel better” Jessica says.
”Why are you being so weird, Jess!?” Jackson complains.
”Because, you seem like you were being jealous” Jessica says.
”Fine, you know what?” Jackson says. ”I'll ask, and once I get rejected, then that will be the end of this conversation. Deal?”.
”Deal” Jessica says.
Jackson stands up and says, in an unenthusiastic tone, ”Aeris, will you go out with me, or whatever?”.
”Sure, why not?” Aeris says.
”Wait! Hold up!” Jackson panics, ”h-h-Hold the phone!”.
”I thought you didn't have a phone” Jessica says with a laugh.
”You!” Jackson says as he points at Jessica. Jackson then points at Aeris as well and says ”Why are the two of you so hellbent on making things worse?”.
”Is it worse?” Aeris asks. ”I thought we might be able to have some fun, once you learn to stop being mean to people”.
Jackson sighs and says, ”Fine... I guess I asked for it. Screw it, let's see if this date fails, I guess”.
”Alright” Aeris says. ”And if it doesn't fail?”.
”... Whatever the case” Jackson says as he calms down finally, ”I'll just roll with it”.
Aeris giggles and says ”Alright, but don't try to force a relationship to move”.
”Yeah, thanks” Jackson says sarcastically, ”like I didn't already figure that much...”.
”And no tongue” Aeris says.
Jackson's face suddenly grows red as he yells ”You! I can't even- why do you- you guys... ARGH! You always find a way to make everything harder than it needs to be!”.
Wyatt laughs and says ”Good luck on your date then”.
”Look!” Jackson says as he looks at Wyatt, ”I don't need more input! Can we drop it!?”.
”Aw, he's embarrassed” Jessica says. ”That's so cute!”. Jackson gets angry, and his brown fox ears pop out for a second. ”Calm down, I get it. I'll drop it” Jessica says.
”Thank you” Jackson says.
”... so that's what your half form looks like” Jessica says with a giggle.
”DROP IT!” Jackson yells.