Mismatched

Officially Official

"I know," Hera replied. "But have you ever considered it now?"

"I really don't know, Hera..." I answered. "I–I just need some time to myself to think about this. I really want what we have now—a friendship—to develop into something more, but I just don't know if I can do it, provided I've been such an asshole towards you."

Hera and Skyler both sighed in disappointment.

"There he goes dwelling on the past again," Hera said to Skyler, shaking her head. She walked up to me and—you guessed it—flicked me in my forehead yet again.

"Quit living in the fuckin' past, JJ!" she roared. "I know you've been a total asshat towards me before, but this is never going to work if you keep acting like this and constantly doubt us. Have more faith in yourself."

Whoa! Now THERE'S something I haven't heard from her before.

Nonetheless, I needed to get to my first class before that late bell rang.

"Now, can the two of you please get out of my way?" I asked. "I really need to get everything I need for my first class."

"Okay, okay, we'll move!" Skyler said. "Don't get your panties in a twist!"

"SKYLER!!" Hera yelled.

"What? I was just kidding!"

I kept a calm attitude and sighed, saying: "Skyler, don't push me. It's gonna take a helluva lot more than that to make me mad."

Hera was shocked at me for what I had just said. "What have you done to the Jason I used to know?" she inquired with a giggle.

I simply answered: "He died. See ya later, Hera."

And with that, Hera and Skyler finally moved, and I was able to get into my locker and prepare for my first class.

***

When second period was over, and after making sure none of the weaks were watching or listening, I went over to Hera.

"JJ?" Hera said, a bit surprised. "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be–?"

I shushed her, not wanting us to be too loud. So much for trying to be discreet about everything.

"Meet me in the South stairwell after sixth period, okay?" I whispered.

"Why?"

"I just wanna...tell you something," I answered.

Hera was a bit sketched out about what I just said because she thought that I was going to trick her again. Usual same-ol' nerd...

"Just do it, okay?" I said sternly.

Hera was a bit hesitant, but answered: "Okay, if you really want to..."

"Good. Then it's settled. Later, Hera."

"Later, JJ-boy," she replied.

And I sprinted off to my next class, not wanting to be late for the umpteenth time. Gotta admit, though, that nickname ain't ever gonna get old...

***

When sixth period finally ended, I headed immediately to the South stairwell to talk to Hera about my decision.

Come on, Hera, hurry up! I anxiously thought. I can't afford to be late again for class.

Just then, Hera came through the door of the stairwell. Right on cue.

I was hella nervous about what I was going to say to the beautiful nerd in front of me. Come on, J-man, you got this!

"Listen, Hera, I've been thinking long and hard about this," I murmured, "and now I've made my decision about our relationship."

"Lay it on me, nerd," Hera retorted with a chuckle. "I'm ready."

"First off, don't call me 'nerd,'" I replied, a bit disgusted. "Second, strangely enough, you're the only one I want to be with; I don't want to be with anyone but you. You're the only one who makes me happy."

"Uh, oh... I smell a 'but' coming," Hera retorted.

Now it was my turn to have doubts about us. "But what good is gonna come out of this?" I croaked. "I mean, what if this ends up failing? I just don't wanna end up hurting you again! I just—"

Hera put a finger to my lips as I was just about to say something else, hushing me up.

"I don't want to hear another negative word about us, JJ," she consoled. "Like I said earlier, have more faith in us and yourself. If you keep self-doubting yourself right now, there'll be nothing good that's gonna come out of this. Just don't think like that anymore; I can't stand that shit, dude!"

Is this nerd for real right now?

"I hate to be the one admitting this right now, but I really do love you, JJ."

I was a bit confounded at what she had just said. "Wait a minute, you actually...do love me?"

"Ugh, do I have to repeat myself, JJ?" Hera retorted. "I love you so damn much, it's unimaginable."

"I–I love you, too, Hera," I replied. "Now tilt your head up a bit?"

Hera was a bit hesitant.

"Just do it, Hera..."

Hera heaved a heavy sigh. "Fine," she said, reluctantly doing so.

"Can I..."

I placed a hand on her cheek, brushing a few strands of hair out of her face. Mine was visibly better than hers, but I was completely willing to look past it. That's how I knew I truly liked her.

"What are you...?" Hera said. "A–Are you trying to kiss me?" She noticed that my eyes were staring at her lips.

"Y–"

Before I could answer, she threw me down the steps with the force of a thousand men. Holy shit, that lunatic is strong! She could probably bench me easily.

She slowly stepped down the stairs toward me with a grin on her face.

"Oops! Force of habit. Anyway..." She grabbed my face and kissed me, throwing my head back after only two seconds. Talk about romantic, eh?

She sat by me as I grabbed my head, which was now pounding.

"Why did you want to do that?" she asked.

"What, be thrown down the stairs? Because I fucking didn't—"

She flicked my forehead yet again. "No. Why'd you wanna kiss me?"

I shrugged. "I felt like I needed to, Hera," I answered, "to prove that I care about you, and that I wasn't joking about what I said." I paused and shook my head. "But if I knew I'd get flung like a fucking ragdoll, maybe I wouldn't have."

She only laughed. "Chill, infant. It just means I like you. And you can't complain; remember when you shoved me to the ground?" she asked, making my face go red with guilt. "Yeah. Just getting my revenge, my little Deku." She kissed me on the cheek, then walked away.

Now I was red for a completely different reason. That girl would probably kill me one day, but eh, who cares.

The more important thing here is that it was officially official. Hera and I had become a really-for-real couple now.