Sweethearts and Suckers 1: Average Aftermath
Jojo McDodd entered the front door of his house from a long day at school, humming. He tilted his head from side to side, swaying to the tune. He closed the door behind him carefully, and took his books with him upstairs.
"Jojo?" His mother, Sally called to him. But he paid no mind, not hearing a word, but his own song.
"Jojo? You okay?" She asked. But he was out of hearing range by now.
"Mommy, what's wrong with Jojo?" one of his younger sisters, Holly asked.
"Nothing honey, just keep playing with your sisters," she assured her. Holly simply shrugged and continued her play.
"Good evening my lovely wife!" Ned declared as he walked through the front door, and gave Sally a little smooch.
"Somebody had a good day today," she chuckled.
"Somebody had a very good day today!" He beamed. "I finally checked out every last detail about the giant meatball for the Who-centennial! We are good to go!" He cheered.
"Great!" Sally agreed.
"Hey, is Jojo here? I wanted to ask him something," Ned asked.
"He just got home, I'm sure he's in his room," Sally replied.
"Thanks honey," he kissed her cheek and headed upstairs to find his son.
"Jojo? Son? You in here?" Ned knocked on his bedroom door, which was cracked open. He opened it slightly wider, finding the room dark.
"Jojo?" He called in a quieter tone. He opened the door completely to see Jojo lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Hey, Jojo, are you okay?" Ned asked, wondering what he was doing sitting on his bed doing nothing. Jojo just nodded in response.
"I wanted to ask you something, son," Ned began to speak as he sat at the end of Jojo's bed.
"The Who-centennial arrangements have been made already, including the giant meatball. I was wondering if maybe, you wanted to sit on it with me. You know, the mayor and his son, sort of bonding. Who-ville would be Whostory if it wasn't for you, you know. They'd love to see their hero on top of that meatball. So whatd'ya say?" Ned's smile was sincere, full of hope. He had been wanting an opportunity to "bond" with Jojo, even if it was on a giant meatball.
Jojo simply sighed with a sweet smile on his face. "Sure dad, whatever you say."
Ned thought he would have been thrilled if he answered yes, but somehow, there wasn't very much excitement.
"Jojo? Are you okay?" Ned waved his hand in front of his face. But Jojo didn't stir the slightest flinch. He snapped his fingers instead, and Jojo blinked a few times before sitting up from his bed.
"What? What's going on?" Jojo asked, sort of confused.
"Did you hear anything I just said?" Ned asked curiously.
"Oh, sorry. I guess I kind of dazed off. What were you saying?" He still held a dreamy look on his face when he spoke, as if entranced.
"Jojo, are you sure you're okay?" Ned cocked a brow.
"Yeah yeah, I'm fine. No worries," Jojo assured him.
"Well as I was saying, I was wondering if you wanted to sit on the giant meatball with me at the Who-centennial, being the town hero and all," he repeated his question.
"Sure. Why not," he shrugged, then laid back down on his bed.
"Oh, this is gonna be great! Thanks Jojo!" Ned squeezed him in a tight hug before he left.
"No problem, dad," Jojo rolled his eyes as his dad ran out the door.
"Ned, what were you asking Jojo?" Sally asked as Ned came down the stairs.
"Oh I just asked if he wanted to sit on the giant meatball with me at the Who-centennial," Ned replied.
"Well that should be fun! Did he say he would?"
"Yep! Mayor and future mayor bonding! Can't go wrong with that!" He declared. Of course, there was nothing wrong with that. But there was something slightly out of place in Jojo's mind, no matter how much he refused to admit it.
"Excuse me, do you know where room 10 is?"
Jojo closed his locker door and saw the girl speaking to him. She had above shoulder length black hair that shined with a touch of blue. Her eyes sparkled like blue sapphires and had cream colored fur with blueish black stripes. She was a bit shorter than some of the girl Whos at school, but that didn't seem a bother.
"Yeah, it's this way. Follow me," Jojo pointed down the hall and ushered her to follow.
"Are you new here?" He asked while they were walking.
"No. I'm just transferring classes," she replied.
"How come?"
"Careless teachers. Some Whos actually strive to learn, you know," she grunted and rolled her eyes.
"Not a lot do, though," he shrugged.
"Such as yourself?" She cocked a brow.
"No, no. I like learning. It's not so bad. Some subjects are better than others, though."
"True enough. All depending on your own interests," she nodded.
"I'm Jojo, by the way," he held out his open hand.
"Meagan," she shook it, then quickly let go, as if she wanted to be anywhere but there.
"So I guess we're gonna be in the same class now, huh?" He half smiled.
"I had guessed that would be the case. It appears so." Jojo was a little nervous that she sounded so stern and disappointed.
They arrived at the classroom where Whos were seated quietly and waiting for the bell to ring.
"Hello Miss Kepler. From your marks, I trust you will be a wonderful student at this school," the teacher, Mrs. Carson greeted Meagan, smiling. Meagan simply smiled back, so the teacher continued while Jojo sat down at his desk in the middle of five rows.
"You may sit wherever you like, there's open seats in the back or the front." Meagan chose a seat in the second to the front row, near the open window.
Jojo sat at his desk behind her, staring at her quizzically. There was something that was strange about her. Something...different. She was definitely smart, yet...she had a slight trace of an attitude. A wise cracker, maybe? He couldn't tell. But there was something that caught his eye, something he couldn't really see, but something about her.
She remained quietly seated at her desk, hands folded neatly in her lap, and perfect posture. Jojo's look of wonder somewhat disappeared as a new thought crept into his mind. He wondered why Mrs. Carson said she would be wonderful for the school when Meagan said she was only switching classes. Why did she lie?