Mismatched

Cutest Senior Couple

"I'm gonna have to stop you right there, Jacquelyn," Mom said, putting a hand up to stop her. "If your father knew Hera was going to come over for that playdate, why did you have to lie to get back at Jason?!"

"Because he was acting like a complete douche earlier!" Jackie said.

But neither Mom nor Dad were buying it. Hera and I both knew what was coming. I was about to win this argument!

Mom just shrugged, but Dad said: "You know what? You're grounded, Jacquelyn Davis, effective immediately."

"But...but..."

"Not another word, Jacquelyn," Dad interrupted. "Go to your room now. And don't even think about coming out until I say so!"

Serves her right, trying to break us up...

But just as a fuming Jackie left for her room, Mom turned to me. "I know you told your father about this," she said, "but why didn't you tell me first? A heads-up would be necessary, Jason, Jr."

"Sorry, Mom. I really thought Dad would have let you know about it," I said, pointing toward him. "Evidently, he didn't."

"Wha...! Don't look at me, babe!" Dad seethed. "He's the dumbass that didn't tell you!"

Mom ignored his ass.

"By the way, I did secretly hear what was going on up there," Mom said. "Were you guys...chewing on each other's faces?"

Where the hell does that quote come from?

"We were kissing, Mrs. Davis," Hera told her, rolling her eyes. She must've known what that meant. And don't ask how she knows; I don't even watch that show, 'cause it blows.

I just shook my head with a smile.

***

So the month of April rolls in, right? And we're already paying for our yearbooks. Yeah, I paid for mine, too, 'cause it's gonna be an heirloom later.

Anyway, something very shocking happened during the yearbook voting session. There was a section in which we were to vote for the Cutest Couple, and guess what I saw? I saw that my name, alongside Hera's, clear as day, was on that ballot!

And of course, I voted for me and Hera, secretly hoping and praying that we would become the cutest couple of our class.

I decided to tell Hera the surprising news as soon as that bell rang for us to pass to our next classes.

"Hera!" I yelled. "Guess what!"

"What is it, JJ?" Hera asked.

I was smiling ear to ear. "We got nominated for Cutest Couple of our Senior class!"

"I'm sorry, what? We're actually a Cutest Couple nominee?"

I nodded.

"But...how?" Hera said in obvious confusion. "We're literally a mismatched couple!"

"Hera," I said, shaking my head, "that's a mystery we're gonna have to solve on our own. And by the way, it was a bumpy road for us as a budding couple after all."

***

The next week, during Science, the intercom clicked on, and the voice of Principal O'Hara said: "Jason Davis and Hera Nguyen, please report to the main office. I repeat, Jason Davis and Hera Nguyen, please report to the main office."

Oh, shit... What did we do this time?

After leaving the classroom I was in, I made a quick sprint to the office. And who do I find already there? It's good ol' Hera! She waved at me with a nervous smile.