Sorry for the wait :3

Chapter 8

Jinx spent about an eternity at the mall. At least that's what she estimated. Katarina and Riven spent hours ogling over the store "Noxianity". But even if it was troublesome, Jinx always felt a bubbly feeling in her chest as the girls asked her opinion and pulled her around.

Until she got a text.

She pulled out her hot pink cell and took a glance.

Ekko cookie: Jinx, get home! Mom wants u at home. She's worried ur not eating dinner and she wants to feed u, get ur ass back here.

Jinx rolled her eyes.

I'll b there, Riv and Kat r taking me home. Smooches, cookie boy!

Katarina snatched the phone from Jinx's spindly fingers. "Smooches?" She snickered, as Jinx turned a bright red. "Give that back!"

Riven laughed quietly. "Don't worry, we'll take you home to your cookie boy. Let's go."

Jinx bared her teeth. "You guys are so annoying," she teased. Katarina laughed and grabbed her friends' wrists. "C'mon. I'll drive." Riven protested slightly, "But-last time you drove my car-she got wrecked-"

"Relax, Riven," Katarina rolled her eyes, and the girls strolled out into the parking lot. "By the way, why is Ekko saying 'to come home'?"

"Oh, I'm living with Ekko right now, because I don't have a place to stay," Jinx said nonchalantly. Riven skidded to a stop. "Hold on, you're saying that you're living with a GUY right now? Where are you sleeping?"

"Oh. Um, his bed." The more Jinx thought about it, the more her face reddened. Katarina started to chuckle. Unable to hold it, the redhead burst out in laughter. "You-did you already-why didn't you tell us, Jinx?"

"It's not like that!" Jinx quickly defended. "We just share the bed. Like, like siblings."

"I'm sure." Both girls responded at once. Jinx crossed her arms. "Let's just go."

...

Jinx rang the doorbell, her face still red from the conversation on the car. The door opened, letting warm yellow light leak through the dark night. Ekko's dark frame filled the doorway. "Where have you been? Mom's been giving me hell since four."

Jinx laughed, pushing past him. "I'm good. What's that I smell?"

Ekko rolled his eyes. "Thanks for asking about me, thanks," he said sarcastically, but led her into the kitchen. "Oh, there you are, dear!" Ekko's mom hurried over to the blue haired girl and cupped her face. "I was worried when Ekko didn't know where you were!"

"Thanks Ms. Timewinder, but it's fine," Jinx waved the woman off sheepishly. "Not used to people caring where I am."

"Of course," Ekko's mother smiled warmly, setting warm plates of food across the table. "But please, call me mom. Without parents, I feel you'd be more comfortable with a sort of family."

Jinx blinked, her blue lashes fluttering and her hot pink eyes widening. "Really?" She whispered. Her new 'mother' smiled patting her head. "Of course, dear. Now, eat up! You must be hungry." She gave her new daughter a quick wink before leaving the room.

Faint flashes flew across Jinx's eyes, causing her to tear up. "Wow, a family."

Ekko gently grabbed her wrist. "Hey, you okay?"

Jinx shook her head and her trademark grin spread across her face. "Yeah, let's chow down!"

"Thank god," Ekko sighed. "I'm starving. I couldn't eat because mom wouldn't let me til" you for home."

Jinx sniggered before digging into her pasta, sauce dripping down her chin. "You are so messy, Jinx," Ekko tsked, grabbing a napkin and brushing it under her chin. Unexpectedly, the crazy girl flushed and blinked. "S'okay," she mumbled, "I'll clean it up after."

Ekko shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said, placing the cloth next to her plate. He began to neatly eat his meal, making Jinx look like a cave woman. "I'm gonna go shower," Jinx shoved her empty plate away. "S'good with you?" She hesitated, but after Ekko raised his eyebrow as a yes, the blue haired girl darted off.

"What's up with her?" Ekko muttered.

...

Jinx twisted her hairbands off, undoing her braids, which had started to pull at her scalp. The girl's hair flowed down to her knees, in waves and knots.

"God, I'm so stupid," Jinx sighed, stepping into the steaming water. The hot water caressed her body, splashing on her face. Jinx vigorously rubbed shampoo into her hair and began the long process of rinsing. Using this time to think, Jinx's thoughts began racing.

Now that I think about it, Ekko really is nice and funny and considerate...and cute?

Her thoughts drifted off to the car ride.

"You really should try to get him to ask you to prom, you know," Riven prodded. Katarina agreed, nodding her heard. "He's a decent guy, but perfect for you."

Jinx huffed. "Please, we'll never be anything more than friends." Annoyed that her voice sounded wistful, she glared out the window.

"You never know," Riven smiled lightly. Jinx cracked a smirk. "I'm sure you would know, with paintbrush guy hanging around."

Riven ground her teeth, embarrassed. "Oh hush."

Maybe, maybe they'd be more than friends. But then all she'd do would lose him, just like her family.

Jinx stepped out of the shower, drying herself off and pulling on a tank top and underwear. She sat on the carpet in Ekko's room, staring at her electric blue locks that splayed across the floor. Her pink eyes flickered to the blue brush in her hand.

"Hey."

Jinx started, turning around quickly. "Oh, um, hi, Ekko."

"Uh, you need some help with that?" Ekko gestured to the brush. "You got a lotta hair there."

Jinx giggled. "Yeah, I guess."

He sat behind her, gently taking the brush and pulling through the knots, wincing as he yanked. "Looks like it hurts," he laughed weakly. Jinx shrugged, "I'm used to it."

There was a tense silence as Ekko continued to brush Jinx's long, tangled hair. "So," Jinx said, startling the white haired boy, "I hear there's a big dance next week."

"Yeah, prom," Ekko responded. "Why?"

"Who're you going to go with?" Jinx fiddled with her thumbs. Ekko paused, blushing. "I'm not sure...I have someone in mind but she'd be the one to crash the party and leave."

"Don't tell me it's Ahri!" Jinx yelped. Ekko snorted disbelievingly. "Of course not. She has a boyfriend, Jinx, his name's Wukong."

"Huh," Jinx tapped her chin. "Can you tell me about all the couples in school? I haven't really been that in touch with anyone, other than annoy hat lady and fat hands in class. And Riven and Kat."

Ekko chuckled. "I guess. Where do I start...?"

Jinx paused, "Tell me about Katarina's couple life."

Ekko laughed, "Well, okay. Back in freshman year, she dated this guy named Darius. Didn't work out too well. They broke up near the end of the year. She's been single since. But rumor has it that she's interested in Garen, even though they both are denying it."

Jinx guffawed, "She keeps denying it to me too! She turns red every time, though," she smirked. Ekko smiled. "Well, you know about Ahri and Wukong now. He's that monkey guy. They've been together for a year and a half, surprisingly. Ahri is well known for having a lot of boyfriends. And you met Nidalee and Rengar on the first day, yeah? They've been dating for half a year. Not too shabby."

"Cat lady is weird," Jinx shrugged, wincing as Ekko pulled through a particularly painful knot. "And that cat guy has creepy eyes."

Ekko snorted. "Judgmental, I see. Anyway, I believe you saw Diana with Varus and Aatrox with Kayle," he raised an eyebrow, causing Jinx to mutter, "It was just some fun eavesdropping!"

Ekko reached the last clump of tangled hair.

"And, there's Shen and Akali. They're known for being the emotionless ninjas, but I guess not. Speaking of ninjas, Zed, a guy who used to be real good friends with Shen, started going out with Syndra during sophomore year."

Jinx wrinkled her nose as Ekko brushed her now smooth locks. "These are weird names."

Ekko shrugged, "They all come from Ionia."

Jinx rolled her eyes, twisting to face him. "Mmhm. Well, I wanna go to sleep now."

She heaved herself up and flopped onto the bed.

"Night, Ekko."

"Night, Jinx."