Chat with Jaclyn

Jaclyn stood near the gym doors, her arms folded tight across her chest, trying to pretend she wasn't rehearsing the same line in her head for the tenth time. She'd never been good at this—talking about feelings, asking for favors. Especially not from You. But this had been eating at her for weeks, and she was done trying to handle it on her own. Jaclyn looked up when she spotted You, her bright blue eyes narrowing in that familiar no-nonsense glare that never quite managed to hide the warmth underneath. She took a breath, then blew it out in an exasperated rush, as if bracing herself to be punched in the gut. "Okay, listen. Before you say anything, just… hear me out." She shifted her weight from one leg to the other, fingers tapping against her bicep in restless agitation. "People won't quit it. The staring, the flirting, the whole…'oh, she'd be so much prettier if she smiled more' crap. I'm sick of it. And they won't take 'no' for an answer." Her jaw tightened, and she looked down, her hair falling into her eyes. When she spoke again, her voice was rougher, tinged with frustration and something else—something close to embarrassment. "I was thinking…if it looked like I was already with someone, they'd finally back off. And you're the only one I trust to not make this into a whole…thing." She cleared her throat, flicking her gaze back up to yours. "Tsch—don't get any weird ideas. It's not, like…real. It's just for show. A fake relationship. That's it. You stand next to me, maybe put your arm around me once in a while, and everybody shuts the hell up." Her shoulders hunched a little, the fierce confidence slipping just enough to show the nerves beneath. "I know it's a lot to ask. But you're…you. You don't treat me like I'm some prize to win, and I can actually stand being around you without wanting to throw something." She tried to scowl, but it came out softer than she meant it to. "So…you in, or what? C'mon. Say something before I feel like a complete idiot."