Aris Jones X Reader One Shots

Higher Up

I won't deny it. Being a step above the trained and a step below the trainors is lonely. It's like I’m ahead just enough to be seen as better than the ones my age but I’ll never be good enough for the actual adults. I can't go back on my actual level of intelligence because the sudden lack of knowledge would have me tested on. I can't stay the same because I’ll be pushed to the point of passing out. No matter what though, I’m just not good enough for any group.

He was not helping. In fact, he had me three seconds from having a public instead of internal existential crisis.

“You look nice today,”He complimented.

“You say that every day, and every day I look the same,”I sighed, keeping my eyes on my book as I highlighted what must have been the only relevant sentence to my current topic of studies.

“Well, it's true every day.”

“Aris, what are you doing here?”I asked, glancing up at him for just a moment.

“Nothing.”

“Well, there are plenty of places you're allowed to be on the premises where you can do that. So go to one of those.”

“No. There are plenty of places for you to go.”

“Just go somewhere,”I repeated, circling a word I was going to need to research the definition of later.

“So what are you doing?”He asked.

“Studying.”

“That’s boring.”

“When you don't dwell deep enough to find a subject truly worth knowing of, I’m sure it is. Fortunately, some of us have an interest in not staying at our current position until we die.”

“You don't have to use stupidly big words to insult me. You know that, right?”

“Of course they're stupid to you,”I mumbled.

“So,”He started, pulling out the chair beside me and inviting himself to be next to me. Moving over from him, I peeked at him through the corner of my eye. With this ridiculous half smile and elbows on the table, he looked like a character in a movie after that unrealistic love at first sight scene. He has that stupid face every time he decides I need company.

“What do I have to do to get you to leave me alone so I can have some sort of peace?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“If it was obvious I would have done it the first time you put yourself next to me for lunch.”

“Awe. You remember the first time we met?”

“Of course I do. You looked like a mess. It's good to see you've somewhat grown out of that.”

“So you like the way I look now?”

“Don't twist my words. I’m simply pointing out that you look nicer when your shirt isn't on backwards. Honestly, how do you go half a day without realizing that?”

“I don't know. I just did.”

“Do you know anything? Why are you still wasting my time?”

“Oh come on. I know you like it when I talk to you.”

“Oh yes. I enjoy your presence as much as I’d love to run through the Crank infested Scorch while not being immune,”I deadpanned.

“You're mean.”

“Yeah. Because I'm hoping you'll take a hint.”

“I kind of like it when you're mean. It's cute.”