Too tired to put much of a preface for this... so here's the second chapter I've put up in practically one night. I'm tired, so I'll just let you all get to reading... lol Also, please note that I'm much more creative with my writing when I'm tired.

When we finally reached the area of the mess hall, the smell of bacon, pancakes, eggs, and orange juice was saturating the air. My stomach let loose a roar fit for a tiger when the perfume of all the food reach my nose and teased me with it's distance from me and my ravenous hunger; okay, so I was exaggerating a bit, but hell, I was hungry! That's exactly how it felt... if I would have felt poetic that morning.

"Mom's the cook here, and she sure is good at it. She makes all the food herself with only a bit of help from the kitchen crew for washing the dishes after." My breakfast companion was beaming with pride.

My mother never really cooked at home, so feeling that sort of pride was foreign for me. She was the queen of burning everything that could get burned, and was a queen in training at burning the things you wouldn't think possible. Take water for example... she had somehow managed to make a foul stench linger in the house for a few hours when she was trying to boil the water! How can you burn a pot of water?! Rice, yes, but water? Even I hadn't done that before. Granted, I had never tried boiling water before.

Jason intertwined his fingers with mine as we near the large cabin emitting the smell of a homemade breakfast. It smelled like the one time my Grammy had cooked breakfast for Mom and me. It was amazing; just how I thought this would be. "Smells so good."

"Yeah, it does. Now you just have to be around when she isn't hurrying to make the food; it smells even better," Jason said, his voice now adopting a nervous tone.

What could be wrong, I thought, to make him go from Sir Sunshine to Mister Paranoid? "What's up?" I nudged his shoulder with mine and looked up to him, seeing that his gaze was locked on the open door showing many chattering, happy children. The type of children you just know want to stir up some trouble.

"Nothing... I just... I..." Tears welled up in his beautiful chocolate eyes, making me feel like crying. It was like watching an angel cry: you can't help but want to feel their sorrow as well.

"Jason," I stopped walking, keeping a grip on his hand to stop him as well, "They won't be able to make fun of you as long as you're with me. Remember Lina? I was able to get her to leave you alone that four years ago, and I think I can do it now. 'Specially since I don't even know these kids." I grinned, my headache gone in my quest to make Jason not worry about the others.

He still looked uncomfortable, so I did the one thing I always saw in those old romance movies, I kissed him. You may be thinking, 'Aw, that's so cute, she kissed his cheek like he did to her last night!' Oh no, it wasn't that innocent. Don't start thinking it was this all tongue kiss, but it was mouth to mouth. Yes, we were a bit young to be doing anything like that, but it was quick, so I saw no problems with doing that.

"W-what did you do that for?" Jason's cheeks were a deep crimson when I pulled back from the impromptu kiss.

"To make you feel better."

He laughed nervously, a sound even more charming and adorable than his normal full bodied laugh. "I think it worked." He blushed deeper, much deeper. Amazingly enough, I wasn't blushing at all. It had felt like the natural thing to do... especially with someone you love.

"Shall we go in now?" I uncoiled my fingers from around his now limp hand and hooked my elbow toward him with a cheesy grin, much like in the Wizard of Oz when the group wanted to hook arms to go skipping off to unknown areas of Oz. Of course, they would be singing when they went off. We wanted to be a bit more inconspicuous.

Jason smiled widely and interlocked his elbow with mine. "I think that'd be a good idea; I'm really hungry now."

I was extremely happy to hear his optimism return, but my down mood began to return as we walked confidently to the building with the counselors and children. Sure, I could put on a show and actually believe myself when I was just with Jason, not thinking of anyone else in the world, but when it came back to reality, I was crashing every time.

What if all those children decided it to be a good idea to do more than just tease him and pick on him? With counselors like all those teens, seemingly unaware that there were others besides themselves and the one of the opposite sex they were staring at, in charge, you never knew what could happen. You're just being paranoid again, Jennifer, I scolded myself, lighten up. They might not even pick on him you know. He isn't that different.

Isn't a lovely thing when your love for another stops you from seeing them in a clear light? Sadly, that's exactly what my love fro Jason was doing to me. He was different, and when I dwelt upon it, I knew it was true. But... if I didn't dwell upon that fact, my eyes seems to be shielded from the outward appearance to see the boy that I knew with his beautiful eyes, endearing smile, and lovable personality. To someone who was judgmental, he could have been considered a freak.

As soon as we had set foot in that stupid chow hall, the volume of conversation was cute almost in half, laughter seemed to cease mid-giggle, and most of the head seemed to turn to us as their breakfast partners saw Jason and me. I watched as one boy, about my age, let his food actually drop from his mouth as he ogled us. The talking eventually ceased, and I felt myself flushing in embarrassment and anger. How dare they stare at my Jason! How dare they judge us! We weren't a circus act!

Though it may seem that such an ordeal must have lasted for a minute or two, it was only a momentary reaction. After a couple of seconds of dead silence, most of the people went back to what they were doing... though not without a nervous glance our way.

I put on a brave facade and smiled at the few that still continued to stare, tightening my arm to bring Jason and I closer together. Eventually, all but about ten or so children stopped staring at us, but no counselors were stopping them. Sure, they weren't doing anything bad, just staring, but it was still rather rude, I mused.

"Let's get some breakfast, Jason." I looked up at him, and his eyes were locked on my face. "What?"

"Thank you."

Good? Bad? Odd? Lol, whatever you thought of it, I'd ove to hear from you. I like reviews, and it keeps stuff like this 2 for the price of 1 thng going more often. I decided to screw the idea of killing my sweey Jason for a few chapters (probably 5 or so, dunno yet) so you can see just how much closer they grew tgether (Jen and Jason). Nighty night, lovely readers; do look for more chapters tommorrow night and/or the day after tommorrow's night, since I'll still try for a couple more chapters within that time. ((NOT AS SHORT AS THIS ONE THOUGH))