The Knight

Seven

Getting changed in the bathroom, Pandora was freaking out. 

Her mind couldn't wrap itself around the thought of her and JJ sharing a bed. She knew it was a purely platonic thing for JJ, but she has had feelings for the boy since eighth grade. 

She tried so hard not to let her feelings win over her hatred for him, but when eighth grade rolled around and he was put in the seat directly behind hers at the back of the class, it was too late. 

Whispering in her ear "good morning" at the start of everyday, taking her hair in his hands and trying to learn to braid it, and leaning over her shoulder every time there was a test to peak at her answers, nearly guaranteed she would fall for him. 

But now two and a half years later, her feelings have lessened to a point where she could comfortably go on a date with someone else. Even if she never ended up liking those people as much as she did JJ. 

Pandora changed into the clothes JJ had brought her and paused as she looked in the dirty mirror. 

She would have to remind herself to clean the house up a little in the morning. 

But what had her pause was the hoodie JJ had lent her. She knew it was his because he's had the same one since eighth grade when she bought it for him. 

It was his birthday and she had noticed his clothes were growing a little worn. She had also noticed how much he shivered when he was in school. 

So, on August 12th of eighth grade she came to school with a xxl plain black hoodie. At the time, she wanted to pay for JJ's gift all by herself. 

Her dad wanted to spot her the money, but Pandora refused and so she saved up for months to get him the hoodie, but when she got to the store, they only had xxl's. 

The store was closing in five minutes, and she was so dead set on that hoodie that she panicked and got it for him anyways. 

When JJ got to his locker that morning, he was pleasantly surprised to see a small gift bag lying on the shelf. He knew it had to be one of the Pouges. They were the only ones he gave his locker combination too. 

He was ready for something to jump out at him when he saw the handwritten note sitting atop the hoodie. 

The handwriting was slightly messy but also very nice at the same time. Definitely better than any of the Pouges. Well, John B's was actually kind of nice, still, this handwriting wasn't one of theirs. 

Dear JJ, 

Happy birthday! Sorry I got the wrong size. It wasn't on purpose.

-Pan

P.S. I'm really sorry if I made it seem like you were fat. I promise I don't think that, you're actually pretty thin, which is slightly worrying. Should I be worried?

JJ walked into class that day wearing a hoodie two times his size. 

Pandora's eyes went wide. She had completely forgotten about that. That was the first time she realized her feelings for JJ. 

Not wanting to dwell on it she was quick to brush her teeth with the spare toothbrush she forced John B to keep there. 

Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, she opened the creaky bedroom door before gently shutting it, waiting to hear the quiet, 'click' of the lock. 

When she turned around, JJ was already lying on the left side of the bed, leaving her closest to the wall. 

She couldn't sleep if she was on the outside. She never felt safe enough to fall asleep on the outside.