As Jared walked back to the cafeteria, he couldn't help but feel a weight fall off his chest. He had a shot. It became his mantra, something tangible inside of him, lifting him up. He had a lot of work to do to make things right, but he knew he could do it. He really could. As he and Paul walked in, he saw Kim and Embry sitting at their table, surrounded by books and papers. Kim looked up as he approached and gave him an unsure smile.

"Hey," she said. "How are you doing?"

"I'm better now," he replied. "I just needed to clear my head."

Kim nodded. "I understand. Sometimes things get tough, but we just have to keep going."

Jared sat down across from her. "Kim, I'm really sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have taken my frustrations out on you. It was a jerk move."

She waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it, I'm used to you guys being jerks," she laughed. "No, really, I know you're going through a lot right now."

"Never mind all that now," Paul waved them off impatiently. "Who gave you two permission to turn this into a nerd table? I mean, look at this," he looked pointedly at Embry and Kim and disgustedly pushed away a textbook.

"Embry is, understandably, falling behind," Kim said calmly. "We're doing some last minute catching-up. You, too, could use some studying, we still have some time," she grinned at Paul and Jared.

"Hey, lady, the cafeteria is for eating, which is what I'm planning to do," Paul said and bit into some of their leftovers. "Studying can wait."

Jared chuckled. "Yeah, that's true. But I think I'm going to join you guys and hit the books. I need to make up for lost time."

Kim shook her head and smiled. "I don't think I'll ever understand you, Paul."

"And that's okay," Paul replied with a mouthful of food. "I don't want to be understood, I want to be loved for who I am," he added in a high-pitched voice, fanning himself with his hand and blinking rapidly.

Jared, Kim and Embry laughed, breaking whatever tension was left in the air. They started studying, but the atmosphere was lighter now, the memory of Jared's outburst dissipated. Jared was grateful for the lighthearted moment, but he couldn't shake the thought of what he wanted to say to Kim. He knew he had to ask her out again, to show her that he was serious about making things right. He kept glancing at her, trying not to be too obvious about it, but by the childish snickers he was getting from Paul and Embry, he knew he was failing miserably. Fuck it, he'd ask her now. He could do it, no big deal. Why were his hands so sweaty? Gross.

After a few significant looks to Paul and Embry, to which they just shrugged stupidly, they finally understood they needed to go away. Embry tried to excuse himself.

"Um, I'm gonna go now. I should get to my next class," he mumbled.

Kim raised an eyebrow at him. "Don't you have a free period next?"

Embry blushed as he stumbled through his lie, making Jared cover his face with his hand. "Uum, yeah, but, um, I have to go to my locker and, um, I have to, um… see a man about a horse?"

"Wait, inside your locker?" Kim asked in confusion.

"OK, bro, too much information! Bye," Jared squeezed out, becoming red in the face. Embry rushed out, practically running.

"Yeah, Imma bounce, too," Paul said, picking up his things.

"But, we all have the next class together; won't you wait for us?" Kim asked.

"It's a tough world, bro," Paul patted her shoulder. "Every man for himself. Adios," he waved at them and just left.

"What?" Kim scratched her head and looked at Jared, who just shrugged and smiled sheepishly. His pack mates were fucking idiots.

As Kim started gathering her things, still looking confused, Jared nervously fidgeted with his pen. "Kim, do you have any plans after school?" he asked, trying to keep his voice casual.

"No, not really," she replied. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I was thinking, maybe we could go grab some coffee or something?" Jared suggested, holding his breath.

Kim looked surprised. "Oh. Really?"

"I'm just really sorry about what happened earlier," Jared said quickly. "But I really want to make it up to you."

"Oh, you don't have to do that, it's ok," she said, looking a bit disappointed. Jared's mind started racing. Why was she disappointed? What did he do now? What did he fucking do?

"You don't have to feel like you owe me anything," she continued. And there it was. Another proof that he, much like his friends, was a fucking moron who had no subtlety in him whatsoever.

"No, no, Kim, that came out wrong," he tried to explain. "Sure, I'm super sorry for being a jerk, but, also… the thing is, um…" His mind was panicking, unsure what to say next. Didn't he, like, use to be cool, once upon a time? What was the deal with this new, extremely idiotic Jared? He couldn't understand it. His throat got so dry that he could barely speak. Had it been so hot there the entire time? He thought that it hadn't, but couldn't be sure. Was the heating on sauna mode, or what? What was he trying to say, again? Kim raised a confused eyebrow at him, and the words just spilled out of his mouth on their own volition. "I like you, ok? I, like, really like you. And I wanted to get to know you and, you know, if you want, we could spend some time together. No pressure, of course. And it doesn't have to be coffee, you know. I don't know why I said that, I don't even like coffee. You know, once, I tried the stuff my mom drinks every morning and I almost threw up," he gave a nervous chuckle. "And, of course, we can do whatever you want to do, that is, if you want to do it. I mean, not do it it," he blushed fiercely. "I meant you can pick whichever activity you would like to do together. If you would like to do anything. So, yeah." By the end of his speech, he was panting and he could feel that his T-shirt was drenched in sweat.

Kim stared at him for a few seconds, concentrating. "I prefer tea," she finally said.

"Oh," he said. "That's cool. Tea's good."

"Great," she nodded.

"Yeah. So, is that a yes, or…?"

"Oh, right, sorry," she blushed. "Yes."

"Cool. Real cool." He couldn't believe he was finally getting another chance with Kim. He had to make this right, to show her that he was worth a second chance. He had to do everything right. "So, I'll pick you up at… 7?"

"Deal."