Harmonies of the Heart | 🧡 Jailey 💙 | The Music Freaks

Chapter 2: Body Doubling

Biology had been going well for Jake ever since he paired up with Hailey. Of course, it was better than the alternate by default, considering the outside-of-class circumstances. But not only did Hailey, y'know, not hate Jake, but she was patient, and kind. When Jake didn't understand what was being asked, Hailey explained it to him. If he made a mistake, it was okay; she could help him learn from it. He was no longer pushed to be perfect - he could just be himself.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Jake looked up to see Hailey packing up her things for the end of class. Her teal hair was pulled up into a messy ponytail that day, her fringe falling over her face.
She brushed it out of the way as she walked over. "Hey!" she smiled. "Ready to go?"
Jake was, so they left the classroom together and started down the hallway.

Hailey looked up at Jake, who was a little quiet. His brow was furrowed and he chewed on his lip. "What's up?" she asked.
Jake groaned slightly. "It's nothing... I'm just definitely not ready for that assessment we have coming up. I'm really behind on my bio notes, and since I've been catching up on them in class, I'm not a hundred per cent sure about the content." he gave a sheepish laugh.
"Really? Why didn't you tell me?" Hailey's wide eyes gazed up at him. "I thought you were doing so well."
"Well, I felt like I was, kind of... But once again, it's kind of spiralled."
Hailey smiled sympathetically. "I've been there."
"Yeah. It's just so hard to complete my work alone, because honestly," Jake chuckled, "I have no self-control. I always end up going on my phone. If I don't have anyone around to watch me then I can't get anything done."
He went quiet, thinking it over. If he could only study around other people, then he supposed that was just what he'd have to do. He needed a friend to work with.

He spoke up. "Hey Hailey, since things are going so well for us in bio, could you maybe be my study partner?"

The question caught Hailey off-guard. Being Jake's study partner? Hanging out with him, working alongside him and helping with his schoolwork, several days a week? Hailey wasn't sure if that much proximity was a good idea, especially if he was still interested in Daisy. They were bound to get into some kind of trouble if she agreed...

"That's a great idea Jake, I'd love to!"

But who cares about that? That's a problem for future Hailey.

🎵

Jake hastily threw some of the papers on his desk into a messy pile. He and Hailey had agreed it would be a good idea to meet up at one of their houses after school, just to establish what they needed to go over before getting started. So Hailey was coming over that afternoon, and so he needed to make his bedroom spotless. Well, those were his mum's words, but he agreed that he didn't want his best friend to walk in on such a wreck of a room.

After he threw some semi-clean clothes back in his wardrobe, Jake grabbed his schoolbag and ran out the door. "See you this afternoon!" he called to his family before leaving to catch the school bus.

The day went by quickly - Jake had some of his favourite classes throughout the day, like English and theatre studies, in which the students had been working on original plays. Jake was in a group with Luke, and more recently, Lia.

"Have any plans for this afternoon, Jake?" asked Lia (notably out of genuine interest), as the students packed up at the end of theatre.
Jake smiled, appreciative of the new dynamic between them. "Yeah, actually, Hailey and I are going to study together."
"Ah, I see! That's lovely." And she actually meant it. It had been surprisingly easy to overcome her feelings for Jake, and, secretly, she was quite enjoying watching the relationship between him and her middle school best friend blossom. They were admittedly a cute pair.