A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed! Also, if you see LINE BREAK written repeatedly, it means there should be a line break. (My line break is broken)
FIFTEEN SWEET THINGS
Chapter 2:
Connor Rush
By Tuesday Jess was well enough to go to school with Maybelle and Leslie. The trio walked to the bus in an odd silence, but the biggest blow came on the bus. Apparently over the week Jess had been absent, two new students joined Mrs. Myers's class. They were fraternal twins, named Connor and Abigail Rush. Leslie said Mrs. Myers had paired her up with Connor for a big science project, and Abigail had been paired with Jess.
Could this Connor Rush kid be Leslie's quiz guy? Jess wondered.
The duo sat in their normal isle seat, when Connor approached.
"Hey Leslie." He said.
"Oh, hey, Connor."
The two stared at each other for a few seconds. Or rather Connor stared at Leslie. Leslie just kept glancing at Jess awkwardly. Now, if Jess had been in a normal state of mind and not in hyper suspicious/jealous mode, he would have noticed that his friend's discomfort was genuine. But since Jess WAS NOT in his normal state of mind, he saw the new boy as a threat.
Look at the way he's staring at Leslie. And she keeps looking at me, all freaked out. I bet he's the quiz guy, and she's worried he'll slip up.
"Who's this?" Jess asked after a few seconds.
"Oh, Jess, this is Connor Rush. He just moved here from California. Mrs. Myers paired us up for our science project."
"He your boyfriend?" Connor asked lazily.
"NO!" Both shouted, in terror. Jess was a bit wounded by how disgusted Leslie sounded.
This Connor guy is good at acting…
"Sit down Rush." The bus driver ordered.
"Uh, Leslie, I need a bit of help with my part of the project. Would ya mind sitting with me and helping me out?"
"Um…" Leslie looked at Jess.
"Why would I care?" Jess mumbled and shrunk in his seat.
It was Leslie's turn to be hurt. A rare sadness flashed through the blue eyes, and for a moment, Jess felt guilty.
Think secret boyfriend, think lying, think secret boyfriend, think lying…
After this he felt no guilt. He simply slid out to let her by, and as she went across the bus she didn't give him one glance.
Leslie continued her silent treatment throughout lunch, only giving him a hurt look, as if saying: "Don't you trust me to tell me what's up?" But Jess only shook his head stubbornly. With a deep sadness in her blue eyes that made Jess's heart ache, she shrugged and sat by Connor and Abigail.
Without Leslie, Jess sat by himself under the old oak by the race field. He wasn't hungry, so he gave Maybelle his cookies and juice, threw away his sandwich, and went outside to draw.
He was staring at his sketchbook, angry. He had been trying to draw a picture of P.T. as an apology gift for his friend, but his mind kept wandering to the copy of the magazine quiz. (He still had the original as well, since their 'fight' he hadn't had the chance to give Leslie the quiz. But there was NO WAY he was bringing out a girly magazine quiz at school.) Groaning in frustration, he tossed the book on the ground and put his head in his hands.
"What's the matter Aarons?" Came an all-too-familiar smug voice.
"Go away Hoeger." Jess said without even removing his head from his lap.
Scott, of course, did the opposite. He advanced on Jess, his voice becoming more cool, mocking, and demeaning.
"Aww, are you sad your girlfriend dumped you, Jess?"
His head shot up. "Leslie isn't my girlfriend Hoeger. If you can get your brain to work, please try and remember that."
Scott just laughed. "It's no surprise Rush made her ditch you."
The bully had his attention now.
"Rush? Connor Rush? The new guy? Leslie's science partner?"
"No duh. I guess they're totally into each other. Didn't she tell you?" Scott seemed genuine.
"No…" Jess whispered.
"Boo-Hoo Aarons. Guess you won't be seein' much of your girl now." With one final laugh, the Squoger was gone.
Jess kept his head in his lap for the rest of the period.
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Leslie had just said goodbye to Connor and Abby. Heading to her locker, she bumped in to Susan O'Dell.
"Oh, hey Leslie." Her tone was clipped. Leslie was confused. Susan usually liked her.
"Hi Susan. Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine. How about you though? Still got a best friend?" Susan's voice was slimy, degrading, and mean.
Leslie was stunned. What on earth was the matter with Susan?
"Still got a best friend? Susan O'Dell, what are you talking about?"
"Oh, everybody knows, Burke." Normally sweet Susan was starting to sound like Madison McCafferty and her clones.
"Everybody knows what?!" But she had the feeling someone was about to drop an ice cube down the back of her shirt.
"Everybody knows about you and the new guy, Connor Rush."
"So, everyone knows we're science project partners? Big Whoop."
"Hardly. Everyone knows your secret. You ditched Jesse Aarons for Connor."
Leslie's eyes almost bulged out of her head. "WHAT?! Susan, how could you even…why would you even…WHAT?!"
The girl laughed. "Knew you would hate it when people found out you dumped farmer boy. But at least you're setting higher standards for yourself…"
Leslie was fuming. How dare they talk about Jess like that!
"First of all, Susan, Jess IS NOT my boyfriend. We have never dated, ever. We're just friends. Secondly, that is a stupid rumor. I've known Connor Rush for under a week, and Mrs. Myers assigned us to be science project partners. THAT'S IT."
But the other girl just laughed.
"Sure Leslie, whatever." And she was gone.
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There was more silence on the bus ride, Jess being stubborn and quiet. Leslie's mind kept wandering to what Susan had said about everybody thinking she liked Connor. Suddenly, she had an idea. If Jess wanted to keep being mean and stubborn, why shouldn't she have a little fun? Oh, she wondered how far she could take her little idea… and she knew the perfect boy for the job.
A/N: We have a bit of a cliffy, don't we? :) Review!