"Are you looking for a job?" Jen asked Jonesy at the usual table in front of the Big Squeeze.
"I am. And may I say, Jen, you are looking exceptionally fine today."he replied with a flirtatious grin.
Jen's heart fluttered a bit, but she made sure not to show it.
"Save it. Coach Halder is reorganizing the stockroom, and we could use some part-timers."
"Will heavy lifting be involved?"
She shrugged. "Just moving boxes and stuff."
"Yeah, Jen, see, lifting things violates my religion." he said with a grin.
Jen sighed inwardly.
"Jonesy worships at the Temple of Eternal Slack." Wyatt joked.
"Just trying to help you out." Jen said, giving up. Why did she even bother?
"I better go. Break is over."
She stood up and walked over to the Penalty Box, trying to clear her mind so she could get back to work, but as usual, she was lost in her thoughts.
It would never work out, she said to herself as she went inside the stockroom.. We're just too different. Besides, even if he liked me back… he wouldn't be good for me. We'd just end up arguing all the time and we'd break up. It'd be a complete waste of time.
She had had a crush on Jonesy since the 7th grade. Back then, Jonesy wore braces and had geeky hair, and was about a head shorter than he was now. But his personality was about the same- mischievous, overconfident, and clownish. She had tried to forget about him, and tried to focus on other guys- but it was impossible. He was, after all, one of her best friends. She couldn't just avoid him. So she silently let her feelings for him grow over time, until it started to pain her to be around him. This was a secret she didn't dare tell anyone-she didn't even write it down in her journal. It would be too embarrassing if anyone found out. No one would understand anyways. Even though Jonesy was a lazy, womanizing slacker, he definitely had his charm. He exuberated confidence and most people who met him liked him. Maybe it was because of this and the fact that he was so different from her that she felt attracted to him. She sometimes wished she could be a bit more loose and carefree like he was, instead of a bossy perfectionist as everyone else saw her. But she had thought about her situation many times before, and knew it wouldn't happen. Opposites may attract, but it doesn't mean they'll stay together. Even her own parents' marriage had failed after so many years. How could a relationship between her and Jonesy ever work out?
She knew in her mind that all of this was true, but her heart still longed for him. She wished that he would see her as one of the "hot chicks" he always talked about, instead of just as a friend. Even though it was completely irrational, she wished that she could tell him how she truly felt, to let out the words that was hidden inside her all this time.
Just then, she felt her phone vibrate inside her skirt pocket, waking her up from her thoughts. She looked around to see if Coach Halder was watching, then opened it to see a text from Caitlin: Just overheard Jonesy say to Jude that he likes Nikki! What should we do?
She froze. She had tried to ignore Jonesy's flirting with Nikki in the past, and wrote it off as him just being himself. I guess I was wrong, she thought. It hurt her to think about it- Nikki was her best friend, after all. But maybe this was a sign. Maybe it was time to let go. She looked around once more, then typed: Meet me outside of the Khaki Barn in 2 hours. Bring Wyatt.
She paused before hitting the "send" button, and made a decision. If they couldn't successfully break up Nikki and Jonesy, she would give up on him forever.
"Masterson!" The gruff voice barked at her, calling her from the front of the store.
"Yes, coach." She said, as she left the stockroom, slipping her cellphone back into her pocket.