summary: four times jay asks y/n to dance + one time someone asks him
requested? yes by carnationworld
word count: 3250
warnings: none
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One
You meet in second grade. Having just moved to Chicago for your father's work, you join in the middle of the school year, adding to your already-existent anxiety. Being the new kid always sucks, especially when you're young and still discovering your personality, likes, dislikes. After about a week straight of eating lunch all alone and sitting by yourself with a book during recess, he comes up to you during lunch. Jay Halstead. He's an adorable kid, with freckles littering his skin and a comforting smile always on his face. Everyone loves him, so when he walks up to you with a brown paper bag in hand, you can't hide the shock on your face as arguably one of the most popular kids in your grade sits on the bench across from you.
"Can I sit here, or are you saving it?" Jay asks with a friendly grin. You both know you aren't saving it – you have no friends – but the fact he asked anyway brings a broad smile to your face.
The friendship blooms after that, Jay introducing you to his other friends and making an effort to include you in their games during recess, inviting you to sit at their table during the free time between math and science. You have play dates at each other's houses, playing sports and video games with his older brother Will and telling each other your deepest, darkest secrets. Planning the animal shelter you'll start together, you as the vet and Jay as the one in charge. You'd be best friends forever; nothing will ever tear you apart.
The friendship sticks through elementary school, even when you cry before the first day of fourth grade when you learn you won't be in the same class. He comforts you, giving you a tight hug and promising that you'll see each other at lunch and recess, and nothing will change. It makes it easier when you aren't in the same fifth-grade class either, knowing that you'll still spend all your free time with each other. When the end of the year comes around, the school hosts a fifth-grade graduation ceremony and dance. You think it's kind of ridiculous, to be honest, because you are only going to middle school; it's not that big of a deal. But then Jay jokes about becoming teenagers and makes you pinky promise to save him a dance, and an unfamiliar feeling flutters deep in your stomach.
Sure enough, you find yourself giggling with your girlfriends over punch and chips, talking about all the things you'll be able to do now that you'll be 'almost grown-ups.' Getting cell phones, having sleepovers, going to the movies without parents. A semi-slow song comes on over the speakers in the gym that you barely notice until Jay saunters up to your table, classic grin on his face.
"May I have this dance, m'lady?" he asks in a fake British accent, making a show of holding out his hand.
You're thankful for the dimmed lights when you feel a deep blush take over your cheeks, taking his hand as the girls giggle and whisper to each other, gossiping about the fact that you are actually going to dance with a boy. And Jay, of all boys – the boy that nearly every girl in your grade has a crush on.
