Jesse and Andrew at Flatpoint High
Title: Jesse and Andrew at Flatpoint High
Author: tafidadarling
Fandom: Strangers with Candy which belongs to Comedy Central and RPF which of course means belongs to no one and is completely false. I make no money from this.
Characters/Pairings: Andrew/Jesse, Chuck/Geoffrey, Jerri, Tammy, Orlando, Jimmy
Rating: FRM to be safe.
Summary: Chuck gets jealous. Jesse looks for acceptance. Andrew looks for love. Geoffrey questions his self love. Jerri makes fun of everyone.
Notes: For my friend Gina. The most quality person in the TSN fandom.
Cross posted to mark_eduardo and theboysroom.
Jesse never felt as if he fit in at Flatpoint High. The first week of his freshman felt more like pulling teeth than furthering his education. All of the students were insane, and the teachers were no better. He swore if he caught one more Principal Blackman poster staring at him while he was trying to eat his lunch, he’d scream. However, the next Monday, during his social studies class which had been up until that point taught by Blackman’s assistant, Chuck Noblet walked in, his cowboy books clunking on the tile.
“I would say I’m sorry for missing the first week of classes,” he began as he walked to the board and wrote the word ‘sarcasm’ in big, bold letters. “However, I’m not. I was finishing up my summer vacation. With my wife. I’m married.” He held up his left hand, the wedding ring glinting in the horrible florescent lighting. “For those who don’t know me, I’m Mr. Noblet. I only introduce myself this way because I see some familiar faces. Jerri.”
A woman, yes woman, in the middle of the classroom looked up. She had been writing on her desk, something that looked very much like “Noblet sucks co…” which she tried to cover with her arm. “Yes, Mr. Noblet.”
“I see you failed freshman year… again. Maybe I’ll just give you an A even though I’m sure you’ll fail miserably. At least I won’t have to see you next year.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you to do for two years Noblet,” Jerri said with a determined nod of her head.
After their banter, Mr. Noblet goes on to describe how he not only teaches social studies, but also creative writing, runs the newspaper and is assistant to the principal. Jesse sees himself in Mr. Noblet - someone who is afraid of letting people down and has to do everything to please them in case said letting down does occur. That’s how Jesse finds himself in the newspaper office after class asking for a position on the staff. Mr. Noblet just nods without looking up from an article on cowboy fashion he was typing up and asks Jesse to get him a brownie from the vending machine.
Jesse doesn’t care. He at least belongs somewhere in this school.
------------------------------------
Andrew had been sketching odd looking aardvark type creatures for the past week. The art teacher has been suspiciously missing the first week of school, but that day, he came in wearing a paint splattered smock as if he had always been there. He clapped his hands together and asked everyone to gather around him.
“Hello class,” he said drawing the words out. “I’m Mr. Jellineck. I’m afraid I wasn’t able to be here the first week because I was on vacation.”
“Did you go with your girlfriend Mr. Jellineck?” one of the other students asked.
“No Orlando,” Mr. Jellineck said, frowning for just a second. “I’m a confirmed bachelor. I have no need for a girlfriend. Nope. I like being alone. I can’t share any of this with someone.” He splayed his hands across his chest, smearing paint across his palms. “Now, what has Coach Wolf been doing this past week?”
“She told us to draw whatever we wanted,” Andrew said. Mr. Jellineck looked over his shoulder at one of the blue aardvarks seated a table with an orange hamster.
“That is creepy.”
“Thank you,” Andrew said smiling.
“That wasn’t actually a compli… What’s your name?” Mr. Jellineck took a hold of Andrew’ shoulders as he moved him toward the kiln to talk privately as the other students went back to doodling in their sketch pads. Andrew couldn’t help the butterflies in his stomach. The art teacher was good looking, he couldn’t deny that, but the last thing he needed was to form a crush on his probably straight, clearly abstinent teacher.
------------------------------------
One week had indeed already passed, and Jesse still had no one to sit with at lunch. He held his tray as close to his body as he could, playing this game again. He searched the cafeteria praying there would be at least one empty table. Unfortunately there wasn’t, and Jesse could feel the panic rising. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the woman from his social studies class waving him over to her table.
“Yo, Twiggy. Come sit with me and the gang.”
“My name’s not Twiggy. I’m Jesse,” he said as he slowly eased into the last seat at the table.
“Oh, don’t worry. Jerri gives everyone nicknames,” a girl with bright red hair said.
“Yeah, just listen to Spitfire,” Jerri said validating the girl’s point.
“My name’s Tammy. I see you know Jerri, and this is Orlando, Jimmy and Andrew.”
The last boy she pointed to waved enthusiastically, flashing a bright smile at Jesse and as if he was already having trouble breathing, Jesse was sure his heart stopped beating as well. The boy was so handsome and cool where Jesse was average looking and dorky. He was wearing a red and orange plaid shirt that was as warm as that smile which Jesse realized was still gracing Andrew’s face.
“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Jesse said finally.
“So, I was just telling Jerri that she should try and pass Noblet’s class this year,” Tammy continued now that Jesse was settled in. Well, as settled as he could be. The conversation seemed intimate, as if these kids had been friends for years, and Jesse felt left out. He soon realized he had stopped listening when Andrew rested his hand on Jesse’s. He nearly fell out of his chair.
“What?!”
“Mate, we were askin’, do you mind helping Jerri? She really needs to pass this class, and she says you seem to do well.”
“Now Fagtron, I didn’t say that. I said, he kisses Noblet’s ass,” Jerri corrected.
“What?” Jesse sputtered. “No, we’ve only had one class with him.”
“He’s already joined the newspaper staff,” Jerri pointed out. “Whadya say Twiggy? Lemme copy off of ya?”
“Jerri, that’s not how you pass the class,” Orlando chastised her. “You have to actually try.”
“I’m going to be the laughing stock of Flatpoint High, though. I’m not even going to graduate until I’m 52 at this point.”
“Please Jesse. It’d mean a lot to all of us,” Andrew said with a sharp elbow to Jerri’s side. “Especially Jerri.”
“Uh, yeah, I’d… I’ll try to help.”
He wasn’t doing it for Jerri. He was doing it because Andrew’s smile widened, if that was even possible. He was doing it because it’d give him an excuse to sit with them again. He was doing it because he might have been just a little bit afraid of what Jerri might do to him if he didn’t.
------------------------------------
Jesse couldn’t believe it, but he had friends. Tammy and Jimmy took to driving him to the mall on the weekends where they would play some games in the arcade and throw wrappers at the cult members. Orlando helped him with getting Jerri to actually study for tests and, minus some name calling and flirting, Jerri actually cooperated.
Then there was Andrew. Hands at the small of Jesse’s back. Walking him to class. Smiling when he saw Jesse first thing in the morning. Jesse told himself it was irrational to believe he was in love with someone after only a month. Also, despite Jerri’s preferred nickname for Andrew being Fagtron, Jesse wouldn’t even dare get his hopes up that Andrew might feel the same way as him. He was from England, and they just must be overly affectionate there. Yes, that was definitely it. Because Jesse might have been watching to see if Andrew looked at others that way, and while the art teacher Mr. Jellineck seemed to be the only other one, Jesse was positive it meant nothing. No, nothing at all.
“You should skip the paper and come to art today Jess,” Andrew said, and Jesse had to stop himself from swooning. Did Andrew truly just call him Jess? “Mr. Jellineck is really nice. He’ll let anyone sit in on his class.”
“I don’t know. Mr. Noblet would be mad if I just didn’t show up.”
“Noblet and Jellineck are friends. Trust me, it’ll be alright. C’mon. I want to show you my masterpiece.” Andrew said the last few words with an air of flare, a hand over his heart, and Jesse laughed silently.
“Okay, yeah. Sure, why not?”
That is how Jesse found himself being stared down by the art teacher, his eyes large and relentless behind his reading glasses. He seemed to mind quite a bit that Jesse was sitting in his classroom. More specifically, next to Andrew. Like, really close to him too. Andrew had pulled a chair next to his for Jesse to sit in. Their shoulders bumped, and Jesse could feel the blush creeping up his neck.
“Andrew, maybe I should leave. Mr. Jellineck doesn’t look happy. He’s creeping me out.”
“Don’t pay him no mind. He’s crazy, but who isn’t in this school? He’s not that bad once you get to know him. In fact, I kinda even had a crush on him at first.”
Jesse was about to agree with Andrew that yes, it was about time someone else realized that everyone in this high school needed to spend some time in an insane asylum, when he registered that Andrew had said he had a crush on Geoffrey Jellineck.
“Did you just say crush?”
Andrew ducked his head, the first time Jesse had ever seen him doubt himself or his actions. “Yeah, I figured you knew. Jerri always picks on me for it. I’m gay. Probably not the best way to come out, but you’re pretty much my best friend Jess. I thought you’d…”
“No!” Jesse said, perhaps too loudly, the rest of the class staring at him and Andrew. “No, I… I wasn’t asking because I was, offended, or something. I just… Yeah, I’m okay with it. I’m actually… I’m gay too. Wow, that just took away from your moment. I’m sorry.”
Laughing, his head thrown back and Jesse stared at the immense span of neck and swallowed slowly, Andrew playfully shoved Jesse, paint getting on his sweater. Jesse didn’t even mind.
“It was no one’s ‘moment’ Jess. I guess it’s best we both just got it out of the way. So, now that I know, let’s discuss what the hell is going on between Noblet and Jellineck?”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh please Jess. Your gaydar must be broken if you can’t see the way they sneak around this place.”
All Jesse could do was shake his head. “I can’t believe you just said ‘gaydar’.”
------------------------------------
Chuck watched Geoffrey wander around the classroom, writing the grades for students’ paintings into his smiley face notebook. He looked disappointed in the lack of talent, but his face lit up when he reached that Garfield kid’s painting. It was of a wishing well with several of his strange creatures standing around throwing coins in. Geoffrey still thought his style was creepy and not very good, but he couldn’t help but always be intrigued by what he produced. He obviously was not as naturally gifted as Geoffrey, that was for sure, but it was refreshing after the tenth self portrait.
“Geoffrey, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind meeting me in the boy’s bathroom,” Chuck said interrupting Geoffrey’s thoughts.
“Hold on one second Chuck. I just need to finish grading these paintings.”
Chuck stepped closer to Geoffrey and looked over his shoulder. “You gave someone an A? The Garfield kid?”
“Yeah, his work is… different.”
“You just want to get in his pants!”
“Chuck, that is a ridiculous conclusion to come to just from a grade I gave him.”
“Ridiculous? No, what’s ridiculous is the looks you give him. Don’t think I don’t see you! He is underage Geoffrey. What’s next? Are you going to go after my son?”
“Jesus Chuck, that’s gross. And I don’t want to sleep with Andrew, okay? You might find it hard to believe, but I have feelings for you.”
“You only love yourself.”
“I never said it was love Chuck. And yes. Who couldn’t love me?”
“Geoffrey, just come to the boys room with me? I’ll make you forget about scary looking beavers and young men in tight jeans.”
“Okay. Give me five minutes.”
------------------------------------
“Jess, did you just see Mr. Noblet and Mr. Jellineck go into the boys room together? Please tell me you saw that.”
Jesse smiled and nodded. “Yeah, yeah I did see it this time.”
“You can’t deny it any longer. They are definitely together.”
“I’ll admit that your crazy theory isn’t completely crazy, but it could just be a coincidence. They might have both needed to use the restroom at the same time. Just because two people are going into the restroom together doesn’t mean they are together… as an item. I mean, you and I go to the restroom together, and we’re not together.”
“Well, for us it’s because we’re such girls,” Andrew said jokingly with a wave of his hand. “But I would much rather if it was because we were together.”
“Wait wh-what?” Jesse looked at Andrew shocked. “You… you want to, be with, you want me?”
“Jess, you’re so stupid for someone who is so smart, but yes. I was getting a bit tired that you haven’t picked up on my hints. I thought I was being as obvious as Noblet and Jellineck are. So, they’re currently occupying the first floor boys room. Wanna see if they second floor is empty?”
“Are you serious?”
Instead of answering, Andrew grabbed Jesse’s wrist and pulled him up the stairs. The boys room was thankfully unoccupied as Andrew pushed Jesse into one of the stalls, claiming his lips in a bruising kiss. Jesse’s mind was racing between ‘This place is disgusting. I can’t even begin to imagine the germs that are getting all over me.’ and ‘I can’t believe that Andrew is kissing me. He is kissing me right now… in this bathroom. Which is disgusting.’
“Stop thinking so much,” Andrew muttered as he pulled away then latched onto Jesse’s neck, sucking a mark that would be visible for weeks. Jesse decided this meant they were going steady now. He smiled. He never had a boyfriend before.
------------------------------------
Chuck noticed that in the past few days Geoffrey was watching the Garfield kid less and less. Jesse was spending even more time with him that he had quit the paper for good so he could join art. Surprisingly it Chuck awhile to realize that the two students were friendly like he and Geoffrey were. He supposed that Geoffrey could only handle being the ‘other woman’ in one relationship. He was still going to have to keep an eye on the situation, just in case. He was not going back to having sex with his wife.
Chuck was surprised that his whole life seemed to be turned upside down because not only did he have to deal with this, but it seemed Jerri Blank was actually doing well in his class. He couldn’t find a cheat sheet no matter how hard he searched after every test. What was going on?
Jerri, of course, wasn’t cheating. That day after school, she was over Jesse’s house along with the rest of their friends working on homework together. Jesse had to get used to Andrew threading their fingers together as they sat on the couch. He had to get used to the “aw”s they got from Tammy and Jimmy and the “gross”s from Jerri and Orlando when Andrew leaned over and kissed Jesse’s cheek. He thought that he could get used to it if he tried.
Author: tafidadarling
Fandom: Strangers with Candy which belongs to Comedy Central and RPF which of course means belongs to no one and is completely false. I make no money from this.
Characters/Pairings: Andrew/Jesse, Chuck/Geoffrey, Jerri, Tammy, Orlando, Jimmy
Rating: FRM to be safe.
Summary: Chuck gets jealous. Jesse looks for acceptance. Andrew looks for love. Geoffrey questions his self love. Jerri makes fun of everyone.
Notes: For my friend Gina. The most quality person in the TSN fandom.
Cross posted to mark_eduardo and theboysroom.
Jesse never felt as if he fit in at Flatpoint High. The first week of his freshman felt more like pulling teeth than furthering his education. All of the students were insane, and the teachers were no better. He swore if he caught one more Principal Blackman poster staring at him while he was trying to eat his lunch, he’d scream. However, the next Monday, during his social studies class which had been up until that point taught by Blackman’s assistant, Chuck Noblet walked in, his cowboy books clunking on the tile.
“I would say I’m sorry for missing the first week of classes,” he began as he walked to the board and wrote the word ‘sarcasm’ in big, bold letters. “However, I’m not. I was finishing up my summer vacation. With my wife. I’m married.” He held up his left hand, the wedding ring glinting in the horrible florescent lighting. “For those who don’t know me, I’m Mr. Noblet. I only introduce myself this way because I see some familiar faces. Jerri.”
A woman, yes woman, in the middle of the classroom looked up. She had been writing on her desk, something that looked very much like “Noblet sucks co…” which she tried to cover with her arm. “Yes, Mr. Noblet.”
“I see you failed freshman year… again. Maybe I’ll just give you an A even though I’m sure you’ll fail miserably. At least I won’t have to see you next year.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you to do for two years Noblet,” Jerri said with a determined nod of her head.
After their banter, Mr. Noblet goes on to describe how he not only teaches social studies, but also creative writing, runs the newspaper and is assistant to the principal. Jesse sees himself in Mr. Noblet - someone who is afraid of letting people down and has to do everything to please them in case said letting down does occur. That’s how Jesse finds himself in the newspaper office after class asking for a position on the staff. Mr. Noblet just nods without looking up from an article on cowboy fashion he was typing up and asks Jesse to get him a brownie from the vending machine.
Jesse doesn’t care. He at least belongs somewhere in this school.
------------------------------------
Andrew had been sketching odd looking aardvark type creatures for the past week. The art teacher has been suspiciously missing the first week of school, but that day, he came in wearing a paint splattered smock as if he had always been there. He clapped his hands together and asked everyone to gather around him.
“Hello class,” he said drawing the words out. “I’m Mr. Jellineck. I’m afraid I wasn’t able to be here the first week because I was on vacation.”
“Did you go with your girlfriend Mr. Jellineck?” one of the other students asked.
“No Orlando,” Mr. Jellineck said, frowning for just a second. “I’m a confirmed bachelor. I have no need for a girlfriend. Nope. I like being alone. I can’t share any of this with someone.” He splayed his hands across his chest, smearing paint across his palms. “Now, what has Coach Wolf been doing this past week?”
“She told us to draw whatever we wanted,” Andrew said. Mr. Jellineck looked over his shoulder at one of the blue aardvarks seated a table with an orange hamster.
“That is creepy.”
“Thank you,” Andrew said smiling.
“That wasn’t actually a compli… What’s your name?” Mr. Jellineck took a hold of Andrew’ shoulders as he moved him toward the kiln to talk privately as the other students went back to doodling in their sketch pads. Andrew couldn’t help the butterflies in his stomach. The art teacher was good looking, he couldn’t deny that, but the last thing he needed was to form a crush on his probably straight, clearly abstinent teacher.
------------------------------------
One week had indeed already passed, and Jesse still had no one to sit with at lunch. He held his tray as close to his body as he could, playing this game again. He searched the cafeteria praying there would be at least one empty table. Unfortunately there wasn’t, and Jesse could feel the panic rising. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the woman from his social studies class waving him over to her table.
“Yo, Twiggy. Come sit with me and the gang.”
“My name’s not Twiggy. I’m Jesse,” he said as he slowly eased into the last seat at the table.
“Oh, don’t worry. Jerri gives everyone nicknames,” a girl with bright red hair said.
“Yeah, just listen to Spitfire,” Jerri said validating the girl’s point.
“My name’s Tammy. I see you know Jerri, and this is Orlando, Jimmy and Andrew.”
The last boy she pointed to waved enthusiastically, flashing a bright smile at Jesse and as if he was already having trouble breathing, Jesse was sure his heart stopped beating as well. The boy was so handsome and cool where Jesse was average looking and dorky. He was wearing a red and orange plaid shirt that was as warm as that smile which Jesse realized was still gracing Andrew’s face.
“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Jesse said finally.
“So, I was just telling Jerri that she should try and pass Noblet’s class this year,” Tammy continued now that Jesse was settled in. Well, as settled as he could be. The conversation seemed intimate, as if these kids had been friends for years, and Jesse felt left out. He soon realized he had stopped listening when Andrew rested his hand on Jesse’s. He nearly fell out of his chair.
“What?!”
“Mate, we were askin’, do you mind helping Jerri? She really needs to pass this class, and she says you seem to do well.”
“Now Fagtron, I didn’t say that. I said, he kisses Noblet’s ass,” Jerri corrected.
“What?” Jesse sputtered. “No, we’ve only had one class with him.”
“He’s already joined the newspaper staff,” Jerri pointed out. “Whadya say Twiggy? Lemme copy off of ya?”
“Jerri, that’s not how you pass the class,” Orlando chastised her. “You have to actually try.”
“I’m going to be the laughing stock of Flatpoint High, though. I’m not even going to graduate until I’m 52 at this point.”
“Please Jesse. It’d mean a lot to all of us,” Andrew said with a sharp elbow to Jerri’s side. “Especially Jerri.”
“Uh, yeah, I’d… I’ll try to help.”
He wasn’t doing it for Jerri. He was doing it because Andrew’s smile widened, if that was even possible. He was doing it because it’d give him an excuse to sit with them again. He was doing it because he might have been just a little bit afraid of what Jerri might do to him if he didn’t.
------------------------------------
Jesse couldn’t believe it, but he had friends. Tammy and Jimmy took to driving him to the mall on the weekends where they would play some games in the arcade and throw wrappers at the cult members. Orlando helped him with getting Jerri to actually study for tests and, minus some name calling and flirting, Jerri actually cooperated.
Then there was Andrew. Hands at the small of Jesse’s back. Walking him to class. Smiling when he saw Jesse first thing in the morning. Jesse told himself it was irrational to believe he was in love with someone after only a month. Also, despite Jerri’s preferred nickname for Andrew being Fagtron, Jesse wouldn’t even dare get his hopes up that Andrew might feel the same way as him. He was from England, and they just must be overly affectionate there. Yes, that was definitely it. Because Jesse might have been watching to see if Andrew looked at others that way, and while the art teacher Mr. Jellineck seemed to be the only other one, Jesse was positive it meant nothing. No, nothing at all.
“You should skip the paper and come to art today Jess,” Andrew said, and Jesse had to stop himself from swooning. Did Andrew truly just call him Jess? “Mr. Jellineck is really nice. He’ll let anyone sit in on his class.”
“I don’t know. Mr. Noblet would be mad if I just didn’t show up.”
“Noblet and Jellineck are friends. Trust me, it’ll be alright. C’mon. I want to show you my masterpiece.” Andrew said the last few words with an air of flare, a hand over his heart, and Jesse laughed silently.
“Okay, yeah. Sure, why not?”
That is how Jesse found himself being stared down by the art teacher, his eyes large and relentless behind his reading glasses. He seemed to mind quite a bit that Jesse was sitting in his classroom. More specifically, next to Andrew. Like, really close to him too. Andrew had pulled a chair next to his for Jesse to sit in. Their shoulders bumped, and Jesse could feel the blush creeping up his neck.
“Andrew, maybe I should leave. Mr. Jellineck doesn’t look happy. He’s creeping me out.”
“Don’t pay him no mind. He’s crazy, but who isn’t in this school? He’s not that bad once you get to know him. In fact, I kinda even had a crush on him at first.”
Jesse was about to agree with Andrew that yes, it was about time someone else realized that everyone in this high school needed to spend some time in an insane asylum, when he registered that Andrew had said he had a crush on Geoffrey Jellineck.
“Did you just say crush?”
Andrew ducked his head, the first time Jesse had ever seen him doubt himself or his actions. “Yeah, I figured you knew. Jerri always picks on me for it. I’m gay. Probably not the best way to come out, but you’re pretty much my best friend Jess. I thought you’d…”
“No!” Jesse said, perhaps too loudly, the rest of the class staring at him and Andrew. “No, I… I wasn’t asking because I was, offended, or something. I just… Yeah, I’m okay with it. I’m actually… I’m gay too. Wow, that just took away from your moment. I’m sorry.”
Laughing, his head thrown back and Jesse stared at the immense span of neck and swallowed slowly, Andrew playfully shoved Jesse, paint getting on his sweater. Jesse didn’t even mind.
“It was no one’s ‘moment’ Jess. I guess it’s best we both just got it out of the way. So, now that I know, let’s discuss what the hell is going on between Noblet and Jellineck?”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh please Jess. Your gaydar must be broken if you can’t see the way they sneak around this place.”
All Jesse could do was shake his head. “I can’t believe you just said ‘gaydar’.”
------------------------------------
Chuck watched Geoffrey wander around the classroom, writing the grades for students’ paintings into his smiley face notebook. He looked disappointed in the lack of talent, but his face lit up when he reached that Garfield kid’s painting. It was of a wishing well with several of his strange creatures standing around throwing coins in. Geoffrey still thought his style was creepy and not very good, but he couldn’t help but always be intrigued by what he produced. He obviously was not as naturally gifted as Geoffrey, that was for sure, but it was refreshing after the tenth self portrait.
“Geoffrey, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind meeting me in the boy’s bathroom,” Chuck said interrupting Geoffrey’s thoughts.
“Hold on one second Chuck. I just need to finish grading these paintings.”
Chuck stepped closer to Geoffrey and looked over his shoulder. “You gave someone an A? The Garfield kid?”
“Yeah, his work is… different.”
“You just want to get in his pants!”
“Chuck, that is a ridiculous conclusion to come to just from a grade I gave him.”
“Ridiculous? No, what’s ridiculous is the looks you give him. Don’t think I don’t see you! He is underage Geoffrey. What’s next? Are you going to go after my son?”
“Jesus Chuck, that’s gross. And I don’t want to sleep with Andrew, okay? You might find it hard to believe, but I have feelings for you.”
“You only love yourself.”
“I never said it was love Chuck. And yes. Who couldn’t love me?”
“Geoffrey, just come to the boys room with me? I’ll make you forget about scary looking beavers and young men in tight jeans.”
“Okay. Give me five minutes.”
------------------------------------
“Jess, did you just see Mr. Noblet and Mr. Jellineck go into the boys room together? Please tell me you saw that.”
Jesse smiled and nodded. “Yeah, yeah I did see it this time.”
“You can’t deny it any longer. They are definitely together.”
“I’ll admit that your crazy theory isn’t completely crazy, but it could just be a coincidence. They might have both needed to use the restroom at the same time. Just because two people are going into the restroom together doesn’t mean they are together… as an item. I mean, you and I go to the restroom together, and we’re not together.”
“Well, for us it’s because we’re such girls,” Andrew said jokingly with a wave of his hand. “But I would much rather if it was because we were together.”
“Wait wh-what?” Jesse looked at Andrew shocked. “You… you want to, be with, you want me?”
“Jess, you’re so stupid for someone who is so smart, but yes. I was getting a bit tired that you haven’t picked up on my hints. I thought I was being as obvious as Noblet and Jellineck are. So, they’re currently occupying the first floor boys room. Wanna see if they second floor is empty?”
“Are you serious?”
Instead of answering, Andrew grabbed Jesse’s wrist and pulled him up the stairs. The boys room was thankfully unoccupied as Andrew pushed Jesse into one of the stalls, claiming his lips in a bruising kiss. Jesse’s mind was racing between ‘This place is disgusting. I can’t even begin to imagine the germs that are getting all over me.’ and ‘I can’t believe that Andrew is kissing me. He is kissing me right now… in this bathroom. Which is disgusting.’
“Stop thinking so much,” Andrew muttered as he pulled away then latched onto Jesse’s neck, sucking a mark that would be visible for weeks. Jesse decided this meant they were going steady now. He smiled. He never had a boyfriend before.
------------------------------------
Chuck noticed that in the past few days Geoffrey was watching the Garfield kid less and less. Jesse was spending even more time with him that he had quit the paper for good so he could join art. Surprisingly it Chuck awhile to realize that the two students were friendly like he and Geoffrey were. He supposed that Geoffrey could only handle being the ‘other woman’ in one relationship. He was still going to have to keep an eye on the situation, just in case. He was not going back to having sex with his wife.
Chuck was surprised that his whole life seemed to be turned upside down because not only did he have to deal with this, but it seemed Jerri Blank was actually doing well in his class. He couldn’t find a cheat sheet no matter how hard he searched after every test. What was going on?
Jerri, of course, wasn’t cheating. That day after school, she was over Jesse’s house along with the rest of their friends working on homework together. Jesse had to get used to Andrew threading their fingers together as they sat on the couch. He had to get used to the “aw”s they got from Tammy and Jimmy and the “gross”s from Jerri and Orlando when Andrew leaned over and kissed Jesse’s cheek. He thought that he could get used to it if he tried.