Hey everyone! Here we go! Chapter 3! So honestly there isn't a whole lot to this chapter, but I feel like you guys needed to see into Ramona about and see her thoughts on everything going on. Also there is a new character that I am adding. His name is Josh and he will be a frequent part of the story as well.
Also I wasn't going to upload a chapter today, but I received some good news and I decided that I should try and make someone else's day. I have one term left to complete at school before I graduate with my associate's degree! Then I can transfer to a different school and finish my education there, but either way I'm getting closer. This news just really made my day!
All rights go to the creators of Full House and Fuller House.
About You Now
Chapter Three
Ramona
Ramona's day was not going well so far.
First she and Jackson chose separate partners during P.E. Then they didn't even pass notes during English (which is a regular thing for them). And finally at lunch they didn't talk at all. She honestly tried to get words to come out of her mouth, but nothing would. She hoped that he would make the first move, but it didn't seem like she would be getting her wish anytime soon.
After lunch Ramona had history class. A lot of students complained about history, but Ramona didn't see the big deal. She liked history. She was good at history. In the class, she was one of the few that never had any issues remembering dates and names. Maybe that's why the teacher liked her so much. She actually tried in class.
Unfortunately for her she didn't have many friends in the class. She had one or two "project friends" who she will work will if partners are needed or who she will get notes from if she misses a day.
That's why she was surprised when Josh Hannigan sat in the desk next to hers today. Usually he sat by the wall in the corner so not to be called on by their teacher. But now he's actually voluntarily sitting next to her near the front. Weird. Josh was definitely a nice guy, and he's cute too with his messy black hair and bright blue eyes, but he usually stays with his close-knit "popular friends."
"Hey, Ramona right?"
She looked up at him surprised.
"Yeah hey," she said a little awkwardly.
Josh seemed to shift in his seat nervously. "Look I'm just going to come right out and say it. I need your help." She raised an eyebrow. He explained, "I'm not doing too well in this class and my mom is threatening to cut me from the soccer team." Everyone knew that his mother was also the school's soccer coach so she could actually do that. "I have got to bring my grade up, and well, I know that you're the best student in this class so . . ."
"You're hoping I'll tutor you," she guessed.
He nodded his head. "Mrs. Howard said that if I get an A on our monarchy presentations then that will be a huge help to my grade. After that I just have to pass the next two tests and then the final. Will you help me?"
She sighed. It was impossible not to give in to that face. "Okay. I will help you."
He beamed.
"Mrs. Howard said we're choosing partners for our presentations today. Now listen I am not going to do all the work. You have to pull your own weight if you want a good grade on this thing."
Josh smiled at her honestly. "I respect that and of course I will help as much as I can."
She nodded accepting it. Ramona pulled forward her instruction sheet for the assignment and gave it a quick once over. "Alright so we have to choose a figure of monarchy and do a presentation on them. Mrs. Howard is going to have us all assigned to whichever figure we decide to do so that way no researches the same person."
Josh nodded at her words. "Did you already have someone in mind?"
"I have a few ideas," she replied. "What about you?"
"Honestly I really don't know that many people from renaissance history?" he admitted sheepishly.
"Well, it doesn't have to be from the renaissance period necessarily," Ramona told him. "We could do a modern day monarch."
Before Josh could say anything else, their teacher called their attention.
"Alright so when I call your name tell me who your partner is and who you will be researching," she informed them. "Alyson Rodriguez."
"I will be teamed with Cassidy and we've decided on Elizabeth I."
Ramona quietly groaned. That was one of her choices.
"William Heft."
"Lyle and I are researching Richard III."
"Interesting," Mrs. Howard commented. She continued to call names one by one. As it seems the students were definitely going for the more famous monarch figures: Henry VIII, the Romonov family, Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary), Catherine de Medici, Elizabeth II, James VI of Scotland (James I of England).
Finally Josh's name was called. "Well me and Ramona have decided to partner up," he told the teacher.
"And who will you two be researching?"
Ramona waited worried. Josh had admitted that he didn't know many figures of historical monarchy and most of the memorable ones were already taken.
"Mary Queen of Scots," he answered without batting an eye.
Ramona was impressed. Mary Stuart was a good figure to do the project on. Maybe this wouldn't turn out so bad after all.
The two agreed to meet up after school that day. So once Ramona's final class was released she put away her unnecessary text books and made her way to the clock tower where they would be meeting. Josh was already sitting at a table texting on his phone.
The two greeted each other as she sat down. Ramona put her backpack on the table and pulled out her laptop so they could research.
"So why did you choose Mary Queen of Scots?" she broke the silence.
"Honestly?" Josh looked a little embarrassed.
She nodded.
"I watch Reign."
Ramona couldn't hold in the small giggle that escaped.
He groaned at her laughter. "It's not funny. My sister loves all of those history shows. She watched The White Queen, The White Princess, Reign, and The Tudors. Unfortunately at the time that she was watching Reign in the living room, I started watching it and I became addicted."
Her hands were raised in surrender. "Hey, no judgement here. You're talking to a girl who still watches Spongebob."
This time it was Josh who laughed. "Well why wouldn't you? Spongebob is awesome."
They laughed together. Ramona was enjoying herself so much that she didn't notice Jackson walk up to them. "Hey you guys," Jackson interrupted them.
Josh greeted him happily while she remained silent. What did he want? She wondered. Last time they had talked it hadn't gone well. Anxiety began to course through her just at the thought of them fighting again.
"Ramona, can I talk to you for a sec?" he asked politely.
She hesitated. Part of her wanted to agree, only the other one wanted to decline with some excuse. Before Ramona could say anything however Josh stepped in, "It's no problem. You guys stay here. I'll head over and get us some snacks from the vending machine."
Ramona internally groaned at his words. She did not want to hear what Jackson had to say. Once Josh was a safe enough distance away, Jackson sat down next to her.
"We need to talk," he told her quietly.
"So talk," she said focusing her eyes on her history textbook.
Soon her worst fear escaped Jackson's lips. "Popko knows." She raised her eyes to meet his. Knows what? She asked with her eyes. Luckily they knew each other enough that she was positive he would understand. "You know about us. About the kiss." Jackson's voice was lowered as he spoke.
Ramona narrowed her brown eyes. "How does he know?" A horrible thought crossed her mind. "Did you tell him?"
Jackson quickly shook his head. "Of course not. He figured it out. He watched our behavior and could tell that something was wrong."
She groaned as she remembered one of his favorite activities. "That boy always did watch too much Criminal Minds," she commented.
Jackson chuckled and smiled at her words. "He wants us to go to his house tomorrow. His parents are out of town and he's throwing a party. He wants us both there."
"Why?" she demanded. This was not good. Not good at all.
His shoulders shrugged helplessly. "I don't know," he confessed. "He just said we had to be there and if we didn't he would tell everybody about what we did."
A helpless sigh escaped her. Knowing Popko nothing good could come from this party. "You know he probably has something planned for us at the party right?" she pointed out.
Jackson nodded. "I know. So will you come?"
"I don't really have a choice now do I?" She quietly stated.
Before another word could be passed between them, Josh returned with two bags of chips and two bottled waters. He hesitated before asking, "Everything okay?"
Ramona lowered her eyes back down to her textbook as his eyes tried to meet hers. Jackson reluctantly nodded and lied, "Yeah. Everything is fine. I was just telling Ramona that our moms are going out tonight with my aunt so we'll be babysitting my brothers."
The lie flew out of his mouth with ease. It seemed effortless it him. Ramona couldn't help but wonder what else he had lied about lately. Had he lied to her recently? Did she even want to know?
Next to her Josh nodded. Though he seemed to know that something was up he didn't question Jackson's lie.
With nothing left to say, Jackson picked up his backpack from its spot on the floor and stood from the table. Jackson turned back toward them looking like he wanted to say something. "Oh, and Josh, you should give Ramona the barbeque chips. They're her favorites," he told Josh gesturing to the bags between them.
Ramona smiled at his words. Things may be awkward between them right now, thing may be uncertain, but it was times like these that reminded Ramona exactly why Jackson is her best friend. He cared not only about her, but also for her. It seemed like he would go to any length to make her happy. It was that, his selflessness, that Ramona loved above anything else.
So tell me, what do you think of Josh? Interested? intrigued? Hate him? Love him? I'm open to hearing your opinions. Like I said there wasn't must to this chapter, however the next one is going to be Popko's party and boy is that going to be interesting. Send me suggests of what you want to see happen and if they're good enough I may just add it into the chapter!
~Kaylee
