A/N: And here we go ;)
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Disclaimer: I don't own IDDI and I'm only using the characters to entertain!
Sighing, Jasmine dragged her feet out of her Thursday evening lecture, cracking her neck for the thousandth time. Sitting in that dark, heated classroom, hunched over writing twelve words per second for two hours was very exhausting. She knew it was her own fault for choosing that course in the first place, but she couldn't help it. She liked to pack her schedule full with a few electives here and there to challenge herself and get the most out of her schooling. She was starting to regret choosing Astronomy though. Don't get her wrong, the subject was interesting, but there was so much information that needed to be learned and the class being held at night tended to fatigue her before the day was even finished. It wasn't even eight yet, but she already felt like she wanted to curl up under her blanket and sleep the night away.
But she still had to eat dinner. And she knew neither Delia nor Lindy–the lazy bitches– would make anything so she'd have to figure out what to eat on her own time.
Bidding goodnight to a couple friends in the class, she strolled out into the chilly air, checking her phone to see how much time she would have before the dining hall would close. She had three minutes to get to the hall. No time. At least she'd have plenty of time to grab something quick and small like a sandwich and some chips at the Snack Shack. No doubt she wouldn't make it to the dining hall in time and at least the Shack was open 24 hours. If she couldn't have dinner, then something like lunch for dinner would suffice.
She saw she received a text from Lindy from earlier.
Hey. I know you get out of class at 7:50 but Garrett, Deels, Logan, and I are heading to Cabeza Loca for dinner. Meet us at our usual table near the bull's severed head.
And then a text from Garrett.
Please hurry up and get here soon! Lindy won't let us order anything until you arrive. We've been here for two hours now! I came straight from practice, I'm dirty, and I want a shower, and I'm hungry!
And then Logan.
My sister is acting crazy! Skip class and get over here!
And then Delia.
Three words: C rating. Diarrhea. RUN.
Jasmine's nose wrinkled in slight disgust. She wasn't really in the mood for cheap Tex Mex, and after that whole scandal about the toe in that girl's taco a while back, Jasmine wasn't sure she'd be able to stomach any of the food anymore. But she was hungry, and she knew if Lindy found out she ditched, she would never hear the end of it. She would just order a cookie or something. Maybe some nachos.
Sighing in resignation, Jasmine tightened her jacket around herself and rushed through the dark to get to the mini restaurant slightly off campus. She would stop by a vending machine later that night and pick up some cheap snacks to fill her stomach.
~.~.~
"Before we eat," Lindy announced, raising her glass of water, "I would like to make a toast to our long lasting friendships, to our camaraderie, to the time we can spend with each other reminiscing and creating new, wonderful memories and—"
"Lindy shut up!"
They said, rolling their eyes in exasperation.
Lindy scoffed, setting the glass down with a pout, "What? Can't I be happy that we can all eat out together?"
"Be happy in your mind." Delia groused, "I'm hungry!"
"Fine…" Lindy grumbled.
Jasmine laughed and took a bite of a tortilla chip loaded with gooey cheese, deciding it was arguably better than the sandwich she was going to grab. Greasy, unhealthy food for the win. Aside from Garrett's borderline green face, everyone else's thoughts seemed to be in much the same place. She was just happy she could finally have something to eat. Her stomach had been growling and grumbling in class all evening and though she had ignored it and pretended to not care, her neck had felt hot with embarrassment.
"What's new with you guys? Just wanted to say I had a great date this week and a sequel is in the works." Lindy almost squealed, smiling brightly, "It's been so long since we had time to all sit together and chat like this."
"We all went out to dinner literally last week, Lindy…" Logan pointed out.
"You know what I mean. We don't really have all that much time to hang out together."
Garrett shrugged, "We're all busy with midterms. I've got a lot of practices. It's understandable."
"Logan and Jasmine have been spending a lot of time together though." Delia stated slyly with a touch of singsonginess.
Garrett rolled his eyes, "That's only because Jasmine is trying to hi–"
Lindy's foot went careening into Garrett's shin quickly, and he cried out, bending down to check the offended limb.
Jasmine stared Garrett down, mid chip, knowing his loose lips had almost been about to mess up her hard work. "That's only because Logan and I are looking for his mystery girl. Right Garrett?"
Logan's lips quirked up, "But you can't lie that it's been pretty fun hanging out."
Jasmine glanced at him and let her face relax into a teasing smile, "Yeah, when you're not being an idiot. And you're slow at finding the people."
"Who's slow? I've found more people than you!"
"Ha! There's no way."
"Yeah. I have!" he grinned, "We can count them tonight, and you'll see. I am so beating you. Especially since you took Wednesday off."
"We are definitely betting on this."
"If you lose, I'm making you clean my room and do my laundry."
"That's horrible! It should at least be half way decent." Jasmine laughed, "If you're going with a bet like that, then if I win, I'm making you wear my tiny maid costume from last year–accessories and all– around campus all day!"
He leaned slightly across the table, a lethal grin on his face, "You sure you want to make this bet? It's not too late to back out, Jaz."
Jasmine leaned forward as well, lips curled up in a sneer, "Oh I'm sure, Logan. Bring it on."
"Yeesh…" Delia rolled her eyes, fake gagging, "I get that you want to rip each other's clothes off, but can't you wait until you're in the privacy of your own room?"
"Preferably in Jasmine's?" Garrett slipped in, quietly.
"Hush Garrett." Delia drawled, throwing ice at him. It collided with his forehead, and he yipped, frantically pulling out a sanitary facial wipe and wiping his face in disgust.
Logan grew silent, eyebrows raised in confusion as if he hadn't realized what he had been doing. Jasmine couldn't help the flush that flew across her face. She hadn't even realized the others were staring at Logan and her as they had conversed animatedly. She felt like she was on the spot now, "What?! We do not want to rip each other's clothes off!"
"Could have fooled me…" Lindy mumbled under her breath, popping a piece of chicken in her mouth.
"You okay there Jasmine?" Delia drawled. "You're looking pretty red in the face there…"
"Anyone would if you made a comment like that!"
"Or if they want to rip off each other's clothes." Delia pressed, gaze glittering in amusement.
"We do not want to rip each other's clothes off!" Jasmine adamantly refused, avoiding Logan's gaze. Her face felt hot, and she knew she must have been blushing badly.
"Hmmm…" Delia hummed, sipping her soda nonchalantly.
"Cut it out Delia." Lindy finally said, giving Jasmine a sympathetic look. She looked like she wanted to crawl in a hole and hide.
Garrett stared at Delia and Lindy, realizing what was happening here. Lindy and Delia both knew Jasmine slept with Logan. She had probably told them. And so did he, due to his superiour deductive capabilities. But Jasmine was pretending to Logan that it was some other girl who Logan was running around chasing. But Logan had told Garrett that he knew Garrett had slept with Jasmine. Garrett had been so taken aback that he hadn't been able to deny it fast enough. Apparently, Logan had told Lindy and Delia that Garrett and Jasmine had slept together. And in order to keep Logan from knowing, Jasmine was leading him on a wild goose chase though she liked him while letting him think she had slept with Garrett even though she slept with Logan. Delia was sabotaging, for whatever reason. What the heck was going on? If this mess got any more convoluted, Garrett wasn't sure he'd be able to keep up.
"Just making conversation Lindy." She smiled sweetly.
"I'm sure you are…" Lindy rolled her eyes, "Anyway! We need to think about what we're doing for Halloween. I was thinking since we're, you know, almost twenty one and all–"
"I'm already twenty one." Garrett cut in.
"–we should go trick or treating to commemorate our last year before official adulthood with all the priviledges."
"I would like to point out again that I am already twenty one." Garrett said. They ignored him.
Jasmine rose a brow, "Lindy, we love you, but c'mon. Everyone knows the frats are the place to be on Halloween."
"Yeah. Why go trick or treating when you can party all night?" Logan scoffed.
"With booze!" Delia added, smiling widely.
"Hells to the yeah!" Jasmine whooped.
They three way high fived, and Lindy rolled her eyes. "Gross… after Saturday night, I never want to drink again. Being hungover is so not worth it."
"That's what you said two weeks ago." Garrett pointed out. They ignored him.
"You guys suck." He pouted, eating his enchiladas quietly.
"Oh c'mon Lindy. You know you have a lot of fun." Jasmine nudged her softly, "They'll have candy at the parties. We can do frat hopping trick or treating. There'll be cute boys~"
Although she tried to keep a poker face, a smile erupted on Lindy's face at the encouraging of her friends.
"Alright fine. Let's go party."
"So it's settled!" Logan declared, "We're going trick or treating with the Greeks!"
"Here, here!" Garrett hooted.
They all cheered and hurrahed before continuing to eat in comfortable silence. Delia watched them discreetly, wanting some entertainment. There wasn't much going on in their lives that was all that fun, but the Jasmine/Logan accidental hookup was creating some great amusing moments for her. And she would be stupid to leave the issue alone without some teasing. The more riled up and worried Jasmine got, the more fun for her. Delia looked up and caught Garrett's eye, nodding her head slightly. He returned the nod and then averted his gaze. Rile Jasmine Up Alliance Activated.
"So Logan," Delia asked after a while, a slight mischievous gleam in her eyes, "Figured out who the mystery girl is yet?"
"Not yet. There are too many people to search for on campus, and not enough time to find them. Jasmine and I found literally five people on the list today."
"Sounds like a lot of effort was put into something that's a lost cause…" Lindy said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at Delia, who only smiled behind a forkful of rice and guacamole.
"All I'm saying is," Delia continued, undeterred by Lindy's expression, "Maybe you're just not looking in the right place. Like… I dunno… In this restaurant? I can help you look you know."
"Why in this restaurant?" Logan asked, confused.
Jasmine stopped chewing on her chip and shot Delia a dirty glare at the same time as Lindy did. She knew exactly what Delia was doing, and this was not okay.
'Whose side are you on anyway?!' Jasmine mentally communicated.
'I'm on the side of the most fun.' Delia's eyes seemed to be saying through their playful gleam.
"We have our own system, Deels." Jasmine snapped, trying to talk nonchalantly. "Butt out."
"Well that's not very nice." Garrett shrugged, "We want to help you guys too. Why don't you give us some of the list? We can help you search for some of these girls."
"That's a great idea!"
"That's a terrible idea!"
Logan and Jasmine exclaimed at the same time.
Logan frowned and gave Jasmine a confused look, "Why? Wouldn't it be a faster way to cover some ground? If all of us work together, we can find more people."
"Yeah, Jasmine." Garrett stated, looking entirely too smug, "Why can't we help you?"
Sniffing in annoyance, Jasmine drove her heel onto his toes, and he yelped, jolting in his seat and dropping his fork with a clatter onto his plate.
"Because Garrett." She snarled, turning and speaking directly into his ear. "It would be such a shame if you got hurt looking for the girls. Or exposed."
Garrett looked down at his plate and quieted, picking at his food. The last sentence had been said under her breath, only loud enough for Garrett to hear, but everyone got the gist of it. Clearly Jasmine had something over Garrett by the way he was cowering under the force of her glare. Logan watched their exchange without an expression, his jaw clenched a bit more tightly than normal. A secretive little grin appeared on Delia's face at that, and Lindy frowned, as a realization came upon her.
Lindy poked Jasmine. "Hey, Jaz? Can we go to the bathroom really quickly?"
Jasmine gave her a look, "Go yourself. What am I supposed to do? Stand there and listen to you pee?"
Logan and Delia snorted, and Lindy rose a brow suggestively.
"Oh! Right." Jasmine recognized their official 'We need to talk' code and stood up quickly, following Lindy to the bathroom.
When they reached the hallway to the bathroom, Lindy stopped and spun around, crossing her arms around her chest.
"Jasmine. You're kind of making obvious that you're hiding something. Tone down the scratching out of the eyeballs."
"I can't help it Lindy! Delia and Garrett are trying to get me caught. On purpose."
"I get that you're peeved, but honestly, your severe retaliation to Delia's idea is kind of unjustified. Or at least, it doesn't make a lot of sense if you think about it from Logan's perspective."
"Logan's?"
"He thinks you want to search for the girls as much as possible. So if you deny anyone's help, it sounds a little contradictory to your plan."
Jasmine frowned, "I guess I should chill. I just don't want to get discovered."
"Well…" Lindy started, rubbing her chin in thought, "You not wanting Delia's help doesn't make sense. But your aversion to Garrett helping actually might work out…"
"What do you mean?"
"I noticed, while you were arguing with Garrett, Logan looked pretty annoyed. From his standpoint, he thinks you hate Garrett because you slept with him, right? So you not wanting Garrett to help might look from a distance like you don't want to be near him after your accidental 'hook-up'."
"So what? I should play it up?"
"I wouldn't say that exactly… But one thing's for sure, it's definitely working."
"But why did Logan look annoyed?"
Lindy shrugged, "Beats me. Nobody knows what goes on in the head of that brother of mine."
Jasmine sighed, "Fine. I get it. Let's just go get this dinner finished before I actually strangle Garrett."
Jasmine and Lindy left the little hallway leading to the restrooms and headed on their way back to their table. When they were in view of their table, she heard it.
"JK! Hey! JK!"
She froze, stiffening at the sound and mentally reciting every Korean curse word in existence that she knew. There was only one person who called her JK regularly, and he was about to blow everything she'd hidden! Lindy lifted an eyebrow at her and gestured behind her. Jasmine smiled tightly and faced Brian Rutter as he approached with his drink.
"Oh hey Brian… How can I help you?" she drawled, casting a worried glance towards their table. Her friends were staring at them, watching the exchange, and Jasmine chewed her lip in worry. Did Logan hear Brian's nickname for her?
"I was just wondering how the test went for you yesterday. I talked to May, and she didn't understand some of the cases."
"Oh well… It was fine." She responded quickly, wanting to just end the conversation before he called her JK again. So she could leave and do damage control like nobody's business if Logan heard him. "Nothing too bad."
"Well a couple of us want to work on the next assignment together. Like a study group thing. You want in?"
"Uh sure." She gave him a small smile and backed away, "See ya. I gotta go."
Jasmine spun on her heels and pulled Lindy along with her and away from a confused Brian as she tried to apologize for Jasmine's hasty exit. She hurried back to their table and sat in her seat, mentally hoping and wishing Logan hadn't heard him call her JK. This was starting to be too stressful on her heart. She wouldn't last until thirty if these close calls kept happening.
"One of your nerd friends Jaz?" Delia drawled, taking a sip of her soda.
"They're not nerds. They're just really intelligent people." Jasmine tried to avoid Logan's stare and stabbed at ice in her cup with her straw. "And you are so one to talk, President of Nerds R Us."
"What was that all about?" Logan asked, his expression not exactly pleased.
"What was what all about?" Jasmine feigned ignorance, nudging Lindy discreetly under the table for help.
"Brian Rutter talking to you." He continued, undeterred.
Lindy rolled her eyes, "He was asking about her test, Logan. No need to get jealous."
Jasmine released a sigh of relief and gave Lindy a grateful look. At least Lindy had her back, especially against Dangerous Delia. She owed her.
"What?" Logan scoffed, "I'm not jealous. I'm looking out for her. Brian is a notorious playboy, right Garrett?"
"Brian the Brain? There's no way he's a–"
Logan jabbed Garrett in the ribs harshly, and Garrett cried out in pain, taken off guard.
"Ow! Will you guys stop hitting me with things?! I'm fragile!"
They laughed at his misfortune and his expression of irritation. Jasmine felt a weight lift off her shoulders and relaxed further into her seat when the previous conversation disintegrated. She hadn't been discovered, Logan didn't seem to be suspicious, and everything was working out just fine. Dinner had been slightly rough towards the end, but at least the world was turning properly on its axis once again.
At least…
Until one tall, leggy brunette walked up to their table tentatively. Jasmine's smile slowly slid off her face as she looked up at one Tracy Connors.
"Hey Logan?" she said, as everybody's laughter died, and they stared up at her. "Can we talk?"
Logan gave her an uninterested look, "What about?"
Lindy looked like she was a cat about to rip her claws into the girl. She'd always disliked her for hurting her brother. It would have been amusing, had Jasmine not been feeling apprehensive about the appearance of Logan's ex-girlfriend.
Delia sat back and watched the drama unfold. This was going to be good. The perfect monkey wrench in Jasmine's already hectic plan. Oh man, she was really having the week of her life. And it was only going to get better from there.
"Us. Our relationship…" Tracy reached out and gently squeezed his shoulder, smiling sweetly, "I just want to talk."
"Then talk." Garrett said, crossing his arms across his chest. He'd never liked Tracy. She always left all her stuff all over their living room and helped herself to a lot of their food. And worst of all, she never cleaned up after herself! Unforgiveable.
"I was kind of hoping I could talk to him alone?" She looked exasperated.
"Whatever you need to say to him, you can say in front of all of us." Garrett repeated, fulfilling the role of dutiful best friend perfectly. Jasmine nodded in agreement, clenching the table harder.
"Guys it's cool. I'll be right back." Logan stood up and followed Tracy around the corner, toward the front of the restaurant where no one was particularly situated or seated.
Jasmine watched them like a hawk, her nerves on edge. Why did Tracy have to come back now of all times? Sure, she would be the perfect distraction for Logan to stop trying to find the hairbrush girl, but Jasmine didn't want him distracted this way. It was just hard watching him date other people. Regardless of whether or not she wanted to date him. If only she could hear what they were talking about. She really wanted to know. Delia snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Aren't you going to follow them?"
"What?"
Garrett shrugged, "I mean, we all want to know what they're talking about. You probably more than us."
Hiding her embarrassment at being read so easily, she hurriedly rushed out of her seat and snuck over to the corner near the front door, crouching behind the fern where she had direct sighting of the two. A part timer walked by her, giving her a strange look, like she was crazy.
"Oh what? Like you've never tried to eavesdrop on people before? Nothing to see here. Move along."
Jasmine narrowed her eyes at him, and he shrugged and walked along. She turned her attention back to the two conversing. They were speaking a little more quietly than she would have liked, and she craned her neck to better hear them.
"…Why are you asking me this?" Logan asked dubiously.
"I just… I really miss you Logie Bear." Tracy sighed. Jasmine mouthed 'Logie Bear' incredulously in disgust. "I want to get back together. As a real couple this time. Exclusive couple."
Logan's eyebrows rose slightly, "Exclusive? Why now of all times? And how do I know you won't pull the same crap you've always pulled?"
"I can't convince you how sincere I am. I can only show you, if you give me another chance." She batted her eyelashes and looked up at him through them.
Jasmine chewed her thumb nail in annoyance. She knew what a sucker Logan was for cute girls doing cute things. And batting eyelashes was always a killer.
"Why should I?" he crossed his arms in front of his chest, "You were never a good girlfriend."
Jasmine pumped her fist, applauding Logan's resistance.
"Don't you miss it?" Tracy nearly purred. Jasmine fake gagged. She had the charm turned full on. "How much fun we used to have? How great our relationship was when we weren't fighting? We could have that again."
He was silent for a while, contemplating what she told him, "Tracy. I'll think about it. But I've got a lot going on right now, and I'm not sure I want to jump back into this crazy relationship with you."
Tracy placed her hand on his bicep, rubbing his arm lightly with a look of remorse, "I understand. Think about it Logie. You have my number."
She left the restaurant, and Jasmine grit her teeth in annoyance at the slightly fond look he was sporting as he watched her leave. Was he seriously considering getting back together with her?
"It's not nice to listen in on other people's conversations, Jaz."
She yelped and fell out from behind the plant, accidentally knocking it over in surprise that he had known she was there. Logan laughed and watched her scramble to set the plant back upright. Her hair was in total disarray, and her cheeks were tinged pink from people watching the crazy girl in heels fumbling around with a fake potted plant.
"How the heck did you know I was listening in?" she sighed, slumping on the ground against the plant once she finally rearranged it.
"You're a pretty loud breather. Here." He reached down and helped Jasmine stand. She tried to ignore the tingle that shot up her arm when their hands connected. "Don't ever become a detective…"
"So are you going to tell her?" Jasmine asked as they walked back to their table, "About mystery girl?"
"Why would I?"
"Well… Because if you get back together, she'd definitely want to know that you're pining after some chick you slept with."
"It's not like I'd be looking for the girl to screw again." He shrugged, glancing at Jasmine.
"Still… I don't think Tracy would be happy with you going after another girl." Jasmine pondered, "You'd have to end the search…"
And Jasmine tapered off when she realized what she had said. It was true. If Logan got back together with Tracy, she would definitely force him to stop looking for the girl. Otherwise he would be emotionally cheating on her.
And if Logan stopped searching for the owner of the brush, he wouldn't actively think about it, and Jasmine would be in the clear. She wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. Soon enough, Logan would stop caring, and she could easily snatch the brush and end the problem for good.
On the one hand, Logan could be single, and she'd have all the time in the world to hang out with him, but she would have to be alert at all times and cautious not to reveal what had happened. On the other, he could get back with Tracy, but Jasmine wouldn't get to spend as much time with him, though he'd no longer be trying to find mystery woman.
Conflicted, Jasmine gnawed on her nail, realizing that perhaps Logan getting back with Tracy was Jasmine's best bet in ensuring he never found out what transpired between them. But the more Jasmine thought about Logan having his girlfriend again, the more her stomach clenched in displeasure.