Cover is by me. (I was too lazy to do anything creative with the title since all my creativity was drained in making the art #excuse Also, this isn't a strictly serious piece, so there's that.)

Yo yo yo, 'SUP MY PEEPS? Shadow who Speaks here (Formerly Meow Shadow for all my fans. (whoamikiddinghere))

Yes. I know I should be working on Playing God and I Hate You, I Love You. But I just had to write this. I am a huge fangirl shipper at heart, and I have my dear OTP :") I DO NOT CARE IF YOU HATE THIS. You no like, you no read. Besides. I've got some more ships and scenes up my sleeve. Be patient.

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention this is set in a Highschool AU.

Jesse: 2nd F!Jesse

Enjoy!

Jesse sat on a swing set in the park. Her dark brown hair hung into her brooding caramel eyes as she watched her feet go back... and forth... and back... and forth.

Normally, she'd be back with Axel and Olivia at the diner in town, probably laughing over something stupid one of them had said or done this week. But not today. Today she'd hit an all-time low. She'd flunked a history quiz. Aiden and his "Blaze Rods" (seriously, who names their gang after some flying monster?!) wouldn't stop rubbing it in that she wasn't popular or pretty or smart or whatever. Jesse didn't fail her classes, but she didn't get outstanding grades; she was a student. Just that- an average student. She closed her eyes as her heart twisted with a pang of grief when she remembered.

And then there was that depression that came and went. It all started with Reuben's death a few months ago. He was killed when he ran out onto the road during what was supposed to be a simple game of fetch. And a stupid drunk driver just had to be driving by on that exact street. How stereotypical. Jesse hadn't recovered from his death, just learned to plaster on a convincing smile when someone asked her about it and give some answer that covered the hurt. Then that time the sadness hit hard when no one asked her to the spring dance, and she came up with a lame excuse for not showing up like her English teacher had assigned her an additional essay or something like that. She was sure that no one was going to ask her out this year, anyways. She wasn't exactly part of a popular clique or considered herself what anyone would actually call pretty like some of the other girls. Jesse sighed as she faced the realization that had kept her awake for many nights- she was some unnoticed girl that floated around the halls at school.

She pumped her legs like she could kick away the pain. It probably didn't help that she didn't like to tell anyone about her hurt, but she didn't care. Listening to the chains squeal and her feet dragging on bark chips was almost therapeutic for her. Otherwise, it was silent. It was getting late, so all the elementary or middle school kids were home, eating dinner or something. Axel and Olivia were probably going to start wondering about her. They hit the local diner every Friday night to celebrate another week of surviving high school. But Jesse pushed the thought away; not caring about what anyone thought anymore. She was 18 for crying out loud. Legally an adult. Ready to make her own decisions.

Yeah, right.

Being an adult meant that now, when she screwed up her life, she'd be the one that had to take the blame. And that her screwing up her life could have consequences. SERIOUS consequences.

Jesse was lost in thought when crunching steps came from behind her. When they stopped, she muttered something along the lines of, "Yeah, 'Liv. I'm okay, just leave me alone."

There was a rather stunned silence.

"I- uh-" Jesse's head snapped up and she looked over her shoulder. Blond hair, fair skin, blue eyes, signature leather jacket and burgundy-striped white shirt paired with jeans- definitely not Olivia.

"Oh! Oh, uh, Lukas. I-I thought you were-" She shook her head, "Never mind."

Awkward silence.

"Hey, are you alright?" Lukas asked in that careful way that had, all those years ago, made Jesse cautious around him. He was nice- too nice, she'd figured, until Jesse learned that he was one of those rare people in the world that were nice to pretty much everyone most of the time.

She just picked that smile from her collection. The one that was a faked carefree smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Really? You don't seem like it." Jesse made a mental note as she dropped the grin. Carefree smiles don't work when you feel like you're lower than bedrock.

She sighed, "I don't know. It's been a pretty lousy day." He started pushing her, gently. Surprised, she didn't resist, but just let her legs hang loose, letting her body just go with the flow.

More silence. Push. Swing. Push. Swing.

He finally broke the pause. "Do you want to talk about it or-?" She debated mentally. Lukas was a good friend. They'd been cool since they were sophomores, and more friendly junior year. She'd even considered dating him a few times senior year, this year, but dismissed the idea. Freshman year- not so much. They had a lot of fights and clashes before Lukas decided to hang with Jesse's gang and drop leading the Ocelots over to Aiden. The Jerk King.

"I'd rather not."

"Oh. Cool."

"It's just that, I don't understand what Aiden's deal is!" Jesse fumed, pumping her legs, "He such a-" she took a deep breath, clenching her teeth in a grim smile. Lukas just shrugged as he leaned on the metal structure of the swing set.

"Aiden's got his own problems," he said, looking away.

"I just wish he and his jerks would leave me alone! I mean, it's not my fault I'm this way." She lowered her gaze to her worn gray sneakers. Her Friday sneakers. "Is it?" she whispered almost inaudibly.

"No! Jesse, don't beat yourself up. You're fine, just the way you are. Swear."

Jesse smiled at her feet. "Thanks, Lukas."

"Mmmm. Do want to go hang at my place tonight or something?" Jesse stopped all efforts of swinging to stare at him. "I-I mean, we could- grab some pizza or something. Unless you have other plans..." he trailed off.

"Uhh," Jesse glanced up at the sky, "I'm meeting up with Axel and Olivia at the diner. If you want to tag along, uh, I think they'll be okay with that. I mean, I'm fine with it as long as you are. I mean- Never mind what I mean." She sighed as she got off the swings and started shuffling in the direction of the diner. She stopped when she realized Lukas was not following, but instead, staring blankly at the gently rocking swing. Looking back, she called over her shoulder, "You coming with?"

He looked up, "Wha-? Oh, yeah." Lukas strode evenly over to her, a sheepish grin on his face. "Sorry, just- thinking." Jesse watched as the park scenery rolled by.

"A penny for your thoughts?" she muttered, not really expecting him to listen.

"It's a beautiful night."

"Uh-huh."

"And I was kind of thinking-"

"Mmmm."

"-About the spring dance." Jesse paused for a slight second, then continued walking on, suddenly interested in what he had to say.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think you can-"

"Yessss," she hissed, "Whatever it is, I'll do it."

He stopped and looked at her, grinning.

"I wasn't sure if you'd say yes or not. Thanks!" He gave her a piece of paper. Folded. "Will you give this to Olivia? I kinda wanted to ask her out to the spring dance. But it's a bit hard; I don't see her that often and I haven't seen her around-"

Jesse's heart hit the floor. She looked away.

"Oh."

Lukas laughed, eyes shining with a mix of something between pity and humor, a combination she'd hate from anyone except him, clasping one of her hands in his.

"Jesse, you're kind of gullible at times, you know that?" His blue eyes searched her hazel ones, "It's for you."

She blinked. Felt like she was free-falling.

"I-I don't know what to say-" she started, stammering.

"Then just say yes," he said, smiling. Jesse slowly grinned, bitterness fading behind a euphoric stupor.

"Yes."

Mfffmmm... Feels.

Anyways. Hopefully, this one won't sink like my Warriors OTP, Ashflight (IMHO Ashfur is lovable, but such an idiot for not trying to get Brambleclaw instead of Squirrelflight's dumb KITS. SHAME ASHFUR. SHAME *hits Ashfur with a broom*)

*clears throat* Anyways.

I WILL ACCEPT PM REQUESTS. 'Kk? K. Note: PM REQUESTS ONLY. No reviews. Reviews will be considered, but unless I absolutely love the idea, I won't do them. And I might not take all PMs. Just saying.

RQTC: Did you view the solar eclipse today? How was it? :D

Toodles!

~Meow