It was the middle of the afternoon and Jessie was exploring her new school hoping to get her bearings soon. Having to get people to show her everywhere would end well. She's been here for four weeks and still could barely navigate the halls. So, she wanders around finally ending up at the cafeteria. It's like her feet always drag her to food. Only problem, there's a certain depressed Raven sitting at a table with his head down.
"Leo?" Jessie asks, coming into the cafeteria. Leo is sitting in the middle, head in his arms groaning.
"What do you want, Eagle?" He snaps.
"Still bitter about us beating you?" Jessie questions.
"Something like that, what do you want?"
"Well, you look kind of out of sorts, even at the challenge. I thought maybe I could help. Sometimes you just need to talk. I know we don't know each other that well but I don't really know anyone well so I can't judge or have an opinion yet. Sometimes that is a blessing for the person who needs someone," Jessie says. She hasn't talked with the captain of her opposing house much, or at all, but she's still the kind of person to try and help and when needed, especially since he helps her brother.
"How do you think you could help?"
"Just tell me what's got you sitting here all alone." He doesn't respond. "Girl troubles? Halyey?"
"Why would you think that?" He snaps again.
"Because it's kind of obvious, no offense but the first day I got here all you could do was give googly eyes at her. I don't know y'all's past but obviously it's messing you up."
Leo stares at Jessie for a while trying to figure out whether he could trust her before sighing. "It just hurts seeing her with him. It's like she doesn't even care about us anymore."
"Us? Or you?" Jessie prods.
"Me I guess."
"I'm guessing you two were like a thing?"
"Yeah, until Aspen came back, she used to be my girlfriend. I didn't like her but she hung on. It sort of pushed her away, into Daniel's arms," Leo admits, "I guess it was kind of my fault. I could never bring myself to explain everything to her clearly. Either one of them."
Jessie looks at him before reaching over to him and rubbing his arm. "Well, do you want her to be happy?"
"Of course."
"Even if it's not with you?"
Leo pauses not sure how to respond. "I want her to be happy even if I'm miserable. I just can't see myself with anyone else."
"Then you need to get over her, completely. Not this half in half out you're at now," Jessie tells him.
"And how do you suggest I do that?"
Jessie ponders for a moment staring at the love sick boy. "Max told me you were a musician." Leo nods wondering where she's going with this. "That's probably why you're so confused. You mush all your emotions together instead of focusing on one. I say you need to work out with me. With how much chocolate you've consumed thinking about her I say you need it in more than one way."
"Working out?" Leo asks confused and slightly off put, "I'm not an eagle. I don't work out."
"Come on, even as a crazy smart raven you must know the benefits of working out. You get fit, not to mention produce extra endorphins making you happier. Then you can just focus on how mad you are at her. For leaving you and all that. Or how mad you are at yourself. It'll help you get over her. I promise."
Leo still seems iffy on the entire thing. "Why are you trying to help?"
"Because I'm human. Plus all the eagles want to run when they work out," Jessie says scrunching up her nose, "I don't run. So, I need a workout buddy."
"How do you workout if you don't like running?" Leo asks, confused.
"You poor boy. Running doesn't actually give you a great workout and is horrid on your body. Give me one day, if you don't feel ten times better during the day than you do today I'll give you an out. You'll never have to work out with me again," Jessie held her hand out to shake.
Leo looks down at it. "What the hell? I can't feel much worse than I do now. Just promise you won't kill me."
Jessie smirks cheekily, "No promises. Meet me at the beach at 5 o'clock tomorrow. See you then."
Jessie gets up to bounce off as Leo looks at her like she's crazy. "That's too early."
"The sunrise makes every workout better. Then you'll have energy for the rest of the day."
Before Leo can get another word in she's already bound off her ponytail waving.
It's five o'clock in the morning the next day and Jessie is packing a bag full of some workout equipment, water, and post workout snacks.
"Where are you going?" Hayley asks sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
"I'm going to go get in an extra workout on the beach," Jessie tells her, tightening the strings on the bag and slinging it over her shoulder.
"Do you want company?" She offers.
Jessie shakes her head. "I'm working out with Leo to help him let go of some of his emotions."
Hayley looks taken aback at the girls workout partner. "A raven?"
"Yep, now I need to go. Don't want to miss the sunrise for an early morning workout." Jessie quips before bounding out the door full of energy at this awful hour. All that's stuck in Hayley's mind is the fact that Jessie is going to watch the sunrise while barely in any clothes with Leo while they're getting sweaty and working out. Also, that Hayley had makeup on. It's weird for someone to wear makeup to workout, but she did say that she thought Leo was the cutest.
"Am I getting jealous?" Hayley whispers, "No, that's impossible. I'm with Daniel. That's enough for me."
Jessie gets down to the beach first right at 5 o'clock and spreads out two yoga mats right as Leo slumps through the sand.
"How did you get me to agree to doing something with an eagle this early?" Leo questions sleep still strong in his voice.
"Because I don't take no for an answer, also because you know that you need a good workout that will make you sore tomorrow and watching a sunrise solves all problems," Jessie says smiling, "Now come on, let's start."
"It's still dark," Leo grumbles.
"I know, now let's have some fun. Chest and Tris, back and bis, legs, or abs?" Jessie asks.
"What?" Leo asks, wondering if being sleep deprived affects his ability to hear.
"What do you want to work out?" Jessie groans.
Leo shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know. Choose one."
"Well, abs are always the best to start. Also it looks like you've already got some started," Jessie says before laying down on the yoga mat.
Leo follows though not nearly as gracefully, looking more like the ugly duckling. "What's first? Sit ups?"
"I do three sets of ten, alternating between two workouts that focus on different parts but since it's your first time we won't go for a whole hour like usual. Thirty minutes sounds good?" Jessie asks him.
"No," Leo grumbles.
Jessie laughs. "Let's start. Let's do the basic workouts, ten sit ups then go do ten Russian twists. Do that three times."
Jessie starts and Leo emits a very loud groan. Jessie slaps him and he starts doing sit ups with her. Although much slower and not going quite as high as Jessie. He also had to use his legs on the last couple.
"This is going to sound dumb," Leo starts.
"No such thing," Jessie says, waiting for him to finish sit ups.
"What's a Russian twist?" Leo asks annoyed that he doesn't know something.
Jessie laughs loudly. "This is why I wait for my workout pupils. So what you're going to do is lean back and lift your feet off the ground. If you can't do this normally then cross your ankles that'll make it easier."
Leo starts trying to copy what Jessie is doing but slightly struggles with it. "I can't do it."
"Don't give up, it'll get easier if you work for it. Now, it doesn't have to be perfect. It's harder to get started than it is to keep going. The farther you sit up the easier it gets. Now just twist your body. touch your hands to the ground, ten each side."
"I hate you," Leo grumbles.
"Good, focus on your hate. Plus, this is only the beginning," Jessie laughs loudly as she grabs a medicine ball with an 8 on the side and starts doing her work.
After Leo does ten he collapses on the ground. "I hate this, how are you doing that with weight?"
"Because I do this daily so I'm already used to working out, now you just have to do this two more times. Then we'll move on to different types of working out," Jessie tells him, patting his stomach.
"I'm never working out with you again," Leo groans.
"Promises, promises. If I knew you were going to complain so much, I never would've offered you to work out with us," Jessie teases him, "Imagine if each time you go up for a sit up next time that you are head butting Hayley, better yet Daniel. Get some anger out."
Leo groans but both of them start doing sit ups. Jessie smiles secretly when she sees Leo sitting up with a bit more force and pushing his head forward. After the ten sit ups Leo laughs quietly.
"See, now for Russian twists you get to elbow them. One for each side?" Jessie suggests and Leo laughs nodding as he leans against his knees.
"I guess it's not completely awful to workout. But I highly doubt you'll be able to convince me to go out tomorrow," Leo tells her.
"I guess so, now come on, we're wasting time," Jessie tells him and they start working out again. Then she picked up her medicine ball and both of them started working out in sync. Well, not quite since she would finish before him and correct what he was doing as he finished but eh. They went through three different rotations of workouts before he just gave up leaning into the sand.
"You are filthy," Jessie tells him. Leo's shirt is stuck to his body with sweat and his hair is basically glued to his forehead.
"You can't really blame me, that was the most I worked out in years. How are you doing this in long sleeves and pants, aren't you hot?" He groans.
Jessie laughs loudly. "Why yes I am. That would be a warm up for me most days. I swear that was the slowest I ever completed though. But I guess it was nice having a workout partner. Do you feel better?"
Leo shrugs. "I guess those endorphins are working. Although your tips about imaging I was hurting people oddly worked. I always thought I was a pacifist, I guess not."
"No one should be a pacifist when they're working out. You don't get any momentum."
"So, why don't you run. If you work out like this everyday wouldn't it be easy?" Leo asks.
Jessie shrugs, catching her breath from laughing. Watching Leo workout has to be her new favorite pastime. He has no grace. "Running is just super hard on your body. Everyone has that one thing that they hate doing, I guess running is mine. I'm more of a fight over flight kind of girl."
"Hmm, so, we got like an hour and a half before breakfast. Do you always workout this early?" Leo asks.
"Yeah," Jessie responds, "But my normal workout is like an hour long. Then I take a shower and freshen up, study while everyone else gets up and ready before we head down to breakfast. But, since I have thirty minutes till I need to go shower why don't we take a quick dip in the ocean?"
"Excuse me?" Leo scoffs, "I'm not getting into the ocean right now."
"Come on, it'll be relaxing," Jessie begs standing up and grabbing his arm.
"No way, I'm not doing that. Try again next time," Leo tells her.
Jessie stops smirking. "Next time? Does that mean you'll be back to workout with me tomorrow?"
Leo sits up studying her before sighing. "I guess that was kind of fun. Not to mention that the sunrise was gorgeous. Maybe, ask me how I feel at the end of the day."
Jessie pouts, "Fine, but I'll get you to say yes. Now let's go for a swim. The water will never feel as nice as it does after a good workout."
"No," Leo grumbles.
"Don't be a baby."
Leo raises an eyebrow before groaning and letting Jessie pull him up off the beach and into the water. She gets into the water as Leo yells after her, "We're still in our clothes."
Jessie looks at him grinning. Then she dives into a wave. Coming out of the water hollering, "Come on, your clothes are already soaked so I don't think it matters too much." Jessie pulls the hair band out of her ponytail. It stays crimped until she walks in deeper and dips her head under the water smoothing it out. Leo stands in the sand letting the water lap at his feet shaking his head at the girl. Leo tries to keep his eyes on her but she suddenly gets lost under the waves and he can't see her. He looks around thinking she'll show up soon. He doesn't see her head break the surface, Leo starts getting more and more worried.
"Jessie," He calls out, taking a couple more steps in. "Jessie," He screams again starting to go in further, up to his mid thigh.
He catches a glimpse of her hair spreading out in the water before a wave crashes over her. He jumps into where he saw her and pulls her up expecting the worse. Imagine his surprise when she comes up laughing. "Why do you look so worried?" Jessie asks through fits of laughter.
"I thought you were drowning," Leo yells at her angry.
She looks at him confused. "I was barely under for two minutes."
"In the ocean," Leo yells again, "I thought you were dying."
"Don't worry," Jessie tells him standing up rubbing his arms, "I'm okay. Plus, now that you've gotten in the ocean with me you can swim."
Leo groans leaning his head back. "Next time you're going to have to tell when you plan on having a super human ability to hold your breath," He warns her.
"Always, I can hold my breath for three and a half minutes when I'm working out, five if I'm relaxed," Jessie tells him.
"What?" Leo exclaims, "How?"
"I used to be a competitive swimmer. I would go 150 meters of freestyle without breathing. My coach made sure of it. Let's just say I wasn't half bad at swimming," Jessie tells him.
Leo shakes his head. "We should be getting back."
"I guess you're right, the swim was nice though," Jessie gives in starting the swim back doing backstroke.
Leo studies her face looking at her cheek as she swims before grabbing her ankle and pulling her back. "Do you have a bruise?" He asks her, running his thumb over her face.
She quickly cups her face blocking it from view, mumbling, "I'm sure it's just eye bags, they get really bad after a trip, I guess you can't always trust waterproof makeup."
"It looks like a bruise. It was too low on your cheek."
"You're just imagining things," She reassures him diving into the water and starts swimming back. Jessie gets back to shore and quickly reapplies makeup from her back onto her cheek. That was close.
Leo gets back to shore and Leo helps Jessie roll the mats up and collect everything.
"I can't believe you finished up your bottle and most of mine," Jessie says shaking her head, "Here eat this to keep your protein up." She tosses him an energy bar that he fumbles to catch. "See you here tomorrow?"
Leo stands looking over the ocean for a second before saying, "Well, I can't miss the sunrise, we'll see about the workout though."
Little did either of them realize, there was an Eagle girl standing watch their interactions with the jokes and Leo's panic getting a bubble of irrational jealousy burning through her.
Leo and Jessie walk upstairs quietly, neither of them saying a word. "I've never had this much fun with an Eagle. I'll admit, I thought they were all meat heads," Leo tells her, scratching the back of his head.
Jessie laughs, "I'll take that as a compliment then. I'll promise you I'm not a meathead."
"No," Leo sighs, "You're something else entirely. So, I worked out with you, is there anything else you can suggest to help."
Jessie smirks. "Other than beating something up? Change every song you ever wrote for her. Take the love songs and make them heartbreak songs. You've gotten anger out, now it's time for sadness. You need to sort through negative emotions before getting more positive ones."
"How do you know I wrote love songs?" Leo yells, annoyed.
"Because you're a soft boy who is a musician. You wrote love songs," She tells him deadpan.
"Alright, I might have written love songs. That's all I've ever written. I don't know how to write break up songs," Leo admits. He turns red and runs his hands through his hair.
Jessie bumps her shoulder onto his. "I'll help you. After classes today why don't we meet up at the music room. I found it wandering around the school. We'll work on changing those songs up."
"Why do you want to help me?" Leo asks her, stopping in the hall.
"Because you are in desperate need of help and so am I. Helping you get over this Hayley chick will help me figure out what's going on in my brain. Plus, the eagles are great. Honestly, they're nice, and welcomed me in immediately. Never made me feel like an outsider even though I've only known them for a couple weeks," Jessie says, "But you said it, they're a bunch of meat heads."
"What do you need help with, maybe I can help," Leo offers but Jessie shakes her head.
"Nothing you need to worry about. I figure stuff out on my own," She tells him, "The Eagles have their first game of the year today. Will you be there to watch?"
Leo laughs nervously. "I don't know. I guess I should be there to support the Greenhouse."
"Come on," Jessie begs tugging on his sleeves, "I've never been a cheerleader before. You'll get a kick out of me embarrassing myself. Bring all the Ravens and laugh while we cheer. Or have them study the rate of the ball when they shoot or something."
Leo shakes his head. "You drive a hard bargain. Although, don't tell the Eagles this but I think all the boys, other than Max, will be studying the cheerleaders more."
"You mean you nerds have hormones?" Jessie exclaims as they stand in the hallway.
Leo chuckles with her. "I guess so. Shocking right?"
"If they're anything like my little bro, yes, very," Jessie admits, "So, I'll see you at the game."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Leo tells her, "Can't wait to see you embarrass yourself. I hope you know that the only reason I'm coming is to be able to make fun of you later."
"Okay, meet me in the music room afterwards and you can make fun of me all you want," Jessie tells him.
"I expect to see you there," He tells her going into the Raven's clubhouse.
After Jessie washed off and got ready completely she still had time while the rest of the Eagles got ready to face the day. All classes were canceled for the Eagles due to the game. Practice all day.
To supplement for the lack of learning today, Jessie was doing a bit of extra reading, not like she doesn't do it everyday though. She was a bit worried about the game though. The cheerleading uniforms showed a lot so mixing tanning lotion into regular lotion was Jessie's grand solution to solve her bruises. She does it for her arms usually but now she'll do it on her stomach and legs.
Hayley comes over in a tank top and shorts, compared to Jessie's leggings and short sleeve dry-fit shirt. "So, how was your early morning workout with Leo?" She questions.
Jessie shrugs. "Meh, I couldn't get as good of one as usual with him complaining every couple times. It was fun though."
"That's good," Hayley mumbles wrapping her arms around her legs.
"Come on Eagles, we have breakfast then practice. Let's go," Sophie yells from the front of the clubhouse ushering everyone out of the room. Jessie stands up holding out a hand for Hayley who quickly accepts it and they shuffle down to the cafeteria.
Walking through the room Jessie waves at Max and he waved back smiling. Throughout the weeks she's been here Max slowly warmed up to the thought of her being here. He hasn't actually needed to see her much. It kind of seems like she's ignoring him but he hasn't thought too much about it. They still talk once a day but sometimes it's only saying hi, how are you?.
They all grab food and drinks before sitting down. There's small talk throughout breakfast.
"I bet you, this potato chip that you can't get up and do a backflip right now," Alex dares Jessie. Over her time here, she's grown close with most of the people here, especially Alex. Mostly because he learned she's a wicked gymnast who doesn't turn down dares.
"Come, I want to see this," Parker yells.
Jessie rolls her eyes. "Of course you do, perv."
"Not like that," He groans, used to her quick retorts.
"Jessie, Jessie, Jessie," Some of the Eagles start to chant.
"Come on, quiet down and I'll do it," Jessie complains, standing up and walking to the area in the cafeteria without any chairs or tables. Some of the Ravens turn around to see what the Eagles are chanting for. Both Leo and Max give Jessie confused looks that she just shrugs off.
Jessie squats with her arms out in front of her before jumping and executing a perfect back flip. After sticking the landing she gives an extravagant bow. "Thank you, thank you," Jessie says, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
Jessie walks over hugging Max from behind. "What was that for?" He questions.
Jessie shrugs and steals a fry. "Alex dared me to. You know me, I don't turn down a dare."
Max sighs, shakes his head and covers his food from his sister. That little food thief. "Shouldn't you be back with the Eagles?" Leo questions her.
"Shouldn't you have your nose in a book?" Jessie fires back. Leo nods but doesn't say anything as she saunters back to her table.
"Damn girl, firing at the Ravens, but in an accurate way," Parker says when she comes back giving her a high five.
Jessie holds up her hands sitting down. "Hey, I just fire at anyone who tries to fire at me. Now where's my potato chip?" Jessie holds her hand out to Alex who just shakes his head and places a chip on her hand.
"Practice Eagles," Sophie says, causing everyone to get up groaning, well all the Eagles.
"Five, Six, Seven, Eight," Sophie yells at the female Eagles who are practicing their cheer routine outside. They have been out in the hot sun for five hours not yet stopping for lunch.
They do the little dance that was choreographed for them by Sophie. It involves a lot of side stepping and arm waving. It was a struggle at first for Jessie to get used to cheerleading since she was used to being a gymnast and swimmer. Not cheerleading and only dancing in the bathroom.
"E to A t S, let's, let's go, let's go Eagles!" They cheer completing it with high kicks and everything, although Jessie always ends with some sort of flip.
"Okay, let's go get lunch," Sophie hollers, causing cheering, yeah, yeah, throughout the team. All the girls go through the doors causing every boy practicing basketball to stop and watch them walk past.
"Boys, go get lunch. Then after shower and stretch. Don't wear yourself out too much before the big game. Get back here by four to warm up," The coach yells to them. All the boys hoop and holler.
Jessie turns around when they try to follow them. "No, you guys need to shower first. We are not eating with y'all stinking everything up."
"Come on, don't be mean," Alex grumbles.
"She's got a point," Brooke mumbles. Jessie can't tell if Brooke is saying that because she actually agrees with Jessie, which every girl does but most aren't as forward as Jessie, or if she's just arguing with Alex. Brooke hasn't been happy with Alex most of the time but Alex has been oblivious.
"So, you guys go shower. We'll eat without… you guys," Jessie tells them, shooing them the other way.
"Come on, what's that supposed to mean?" Daniel complains.
"That's sometimes girls need to eat without boys. Girl time, with manners and less unusual smells," Hayley tells them as all the girls turn around and walk outside leaving the boys in the dust.
They reach the cafeteria expecting to see it empty and available for some girl talk. However, there's a bunch of Raven boys sitting in there reading. "You've got to be kidding me," Brooke groans, "A little girl time, is that too much to ask?"
Jessie nudges them. "Come on, everyone knows that Raven boys are more girls than gross guys. Take it as a compliment," Jessie tells them.
Max looks up from his chess board where he was playing himself, figures. "Hello, Jessie. You look sweaty."
"Thanks, Max," Jessie says dryly, "I have been working out for the past five hours in the hot sun."
"You're insane. How do you work out so much?" Leo grumbles keeping his nose in the book.
"Endorphins. Maybe if I work out more, I can be happier," Jessie tells him, smirking.
Leo nods, smiling back at her. "Endorphins huh?" Jessie nods.
Hayley tightens her jaw at their interaction. "Why don't we get food and head somewhere else for girl time."
"Please, I'm trying to focus," Max grumbles moving a piece on the chess board.
Everyone laughs but the girls get food and leave. They head towards a spot outside and all sit down getting comfortable.
Sophie gets a glint in her eye as she looks at Jessie. "So, you and Leo seemed pretty close in there. Maybe you two will be the new couple."
Jessie laughs loudly and shakes her head. "No, I am definitely not looking for a relationship right now. He just needed to talk to someone who was objective."
"Objective about what?" Hayley prds.
Jessie snicker shaking her head. "Just because I'm an open book, doesn't mean everyone is. Leo's privacy is something I'll respect," She informs them, "Sophie and Parker though. You two seem close."
Red rushes up Sohpie's face and she buries her head in her hands. "That's ridiculous, you're imagining things."
"I don't know, she has a point. Parker has those Doe eyes for you," Brooke comments.
"I don't really think so. He's just being nice."
"Uh huh," Jessie says, not completely convinced.
"Well, stop focusing on me. How's it going with Alex, Brooke?" Sophie yelps trying to get attention off of her.
Brooke shirks into herself giving a nervous look at Hayley. "I don't know. It's just with everything happening, my dad having to leave. I guess I'm just not in the right headspace right now and Alex has been so focused on his mom and basketball, which I totally understand. I just wish he wasn't so…"
"Oblivious?" Jessie offers.
"Dumb?" Sophie tries.
"A boy?" Hayley tells her.
Brooke laughs slightly nodding. "I guess we're just so wrapped up with ourselves that we don't really have time to fully support the other."
Jessie leans forward rubbing her arm kindly. "If you're not happy you should tell him. Nobody should have to be in a relationship they're not happy in."
Hayley nods. "I agree, Alex is really sweet but he's is so dumb. I'm sure once you talk to him he'd understand."
Brooke smiles at the girls, glad to have them. "Thank you, I was worried you guys would judge me."
"Don't worry, I do judge you," Jessie tells Brooke, "Honestly, I judge your hair. It's so pretty and shiney. How do you do that? Totally unfair." Jessie smirks at Brooke as everyone around laughs and starts complimenting each other.
Jessie sees Leo walk out of the cafeteria. He looks up and sees her watching him so he raises his hand in a wave. Jessie smiles and waves back at him. Leo beams, smirks back at her. He twirls a finger around his hair causing Jessie to laugh. She raises an eyebrow and scrunches her nose up at him. Leo grasps his chest and fakes giggles making Jessie laugh even more.
Sophie catches the interaction and raises her eyebrow at Jessie. "So, nothing is happening between you two?" Sophie double checks.
"Yes, nothing is happening," Jessie squeals, burying her bright red face in her hands. Sophie pulls out her Louie and starts videoing.
"I know I don't do much on my blog right now but I think this would be some quality content. New girl and old captain," Sophie speaks into her Louie.
Jessie looks up, eyes wide, shaking her head. "No, come on. It's nothing. I'm just making friends, is that so bad."
"Come on, everyone sees the chemistry between you two. It's electric," Brooke insists.
"Please don't put that on your blog. I don't want anyone seeing," Jessie begs.
Sophie laughs, "Don't worry, only people at the Greenhouse will see it."
Jessie visibly sighs but no one notices. "I'm pretty sure she's more worried about someone here seeing it," Brooke teases.
Jessie laughs, more at ease than before. Hayley doesn't say anything, getting sort of uncomfortable. They're talking about her ex boyfriend, although Brooke has been able to be cool with Hayley dating Daniel and they were together a lot longer. Brooke's dating Alex, Hayley's brother now though. What's happening in Hayley's head? She refuses to be jealous.
"I'm going to head inside and talk to my brother who is nice enough not to make fun of me," Jessie growls getting up. She flicks her hair over her shoulder and heads back inside. She sees her brother sitting alone at a table still playing chess.
"Hey little dude, blocked into a checkmate," Jessie says sitting down across from him.
"I'm in the middle of a game. It's not checkmate," Max tells her confused.
"What is a checkmate?"
"When there's no possible moves to be made," Max tells her. Jessie stares at the board.
"I'm glad one of us was good at chess. It's truly amazing that you understand all of this," Jessie tells him, putting her head on the table.
Max shrugs moving one of the pieces. "You understand people."
"You and Emma get along. Have you met Leaf?"
Max shakes his head sadly. "No, but they seem like a good couple."
"Uh huh," Jessie says not fully convinced, "And have you told her that you and Jackie broke up?"
Max does say anything looking down. "No, I'm too embarrassed."
"But do you like her?"
Max nods.
"I don't know buddy. But I would tell her that you and Jackie broke up," Jessie advises him.
"What about you and Leo?" Max diverts the attention.
Jessie stares at him, her eyebrows pulling together. "Excuse me, Mister?"
"He was asking about you after you walked out. Said he hung out with you this morning. You seemed fun," Max tells her.
Jessie chuckles quietly. "Well, nothing is happening. We're just becoming friends."
"I don't think so," Max informs her.
"Well think again. You're supposed to be the super smart one here," She grumbles annoyed that everyone thinks her and Leo are a thing. He's cute yeah but, she's just not ready for that type of relationship. "Are you coming to the game?"
"Yeah, Leo asked if I wanted to go watch it with him," Max says.
"Yay," She cheered, "I'll see you there but I should probably get back to the girls."