React and Interact
Pair: Jonny and Sarah (romance)
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They had bonded under unusual circumstances, to say the least. It was Jonny's final year of high school and Sarah's first and it had all started in the guidance counselor's office.
After three years of carrying Plank around in his backpack, a teacher had finally seen Jonny holding an animated, two-sided conversation with the piece of wood and suggested he start seeing the school guidance counselor. This of course being a polite way to say, "you're a freaky kid and you need help."
After just one week of high school, it became apparent to several teachers that Sarah was a very… fierce individual. The principal, himself, suggested she begin sessions with the school guidance counselor. This of course being a polite way to say, "you're damn scary and if you don't get help, we'll expel you."
Thus, the two of them met up for the counselor's first group session of the year (a chance for teens to be open and share). Being so early in the year, Sarah and Jonny were the only two victims- members, that is- and were assigned to be 'mental health buddies.' In other words, they were meant to keep an eye on each other and rat the other out if something seemed off.
At first, there was a lot of awkward silence (on Jonny's part) and a lot of yelling (on Sarah's part) and a lot of general irritation on both parts. However, one day Jonny finally asked, quietly and with absolutely no accusation, why Sarah was shouting all the time. And, for the first time in quite a long time, Sarah actually thought about it.
After that, there was only so much 'sharing and caring' the two could do without becoming friends of sorts. Then, one day in mid-September as Sarah was grumbling about her lack of a date to Homecoming, Jonny presented her with a ticket and an invitation on a date.
When Jonny arrived in the evening to pick her up and take her to dinner and Plank was nowhere to be seen, Sarah decided this may be something worthwhile. When Sarah made it through the night without once raising her voice in anger, Jonny decided the same thing. And he didn't even feel compelled to share the information with Plank when he got home.
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Words: 383
Author's Note: Muuuuush! Now you can all see how sappy I really am (and it'll only get worse).