Harmless Things (Jean Hobbs AU)

Part ten

Jack P.O.V.

Before today, I had never been grateful for having maths on a Monday. But when Sunday dragged by and I was woken up the next day, I jumped up and got ready for school, my alarm clock not having to warn me twice. 8:45am couldn't come fast enough, and so when the bell rang to signal form time was over, I ignored my friends and hurried to room 304, finding that I was the first one to maths and my enthusiasm hadn't paid off.

I sat down in my seat and checked my phone, smiling as I scrolled through the text conversation I had with Dean the night before. Talking to him had satisfied me enough when I missed him, but it was nothing compared to having him in my arms where I could tease him about his hair and he'd playfully shove me in response and his cheeks would turn pink. I had made a fool of myself in these texts because I knew it made him laugh, and I'd bend over backwards to see Dean happy.

Dean's punctuality was a lot better recently since he now knew roughly where all his classes were, and when he sat down next to me and I could sense something was wrong, I knew I'd have to work extra hard today to either cheer him up or get him to talk about what was upsetting him. He didn't seem to register I was there and instead stared forward blankly, chewing on his lip looking worried.

"Dean?"

"Hmm?" He snapped back to reality and looked me confused for a moment then smiled a little but it didn't convince me.

"What's wrong?"

"Usually you ask me how I am, then I reply with how I'm feeling, then if I said I was sad then you'd ask me that. I'm fine thanks Jack, how are you?"

"You're lying to me."

"I am not lying..."

"You're not fine; just tell me what's wrong."

"You're the problem now!" I glared at him, shutting up when the teacher slammed his things down on the desk and glanced over to our argument. I noticed Dean went back into dazed state and I put my head on the desk, deciding to pay attention to the lesson this time since Dean wasn't going to do it for me. I lost focus anyway, not thinking of anything in particular, feeling at ease now I was in Dean's presence.

"Now I want you all to complete all six questions..." the teacher was finished explaining already? I looked at the clock at the back of the classroom, smirking at the wave of bored faces I could see when I turned around. "Jack Howard, since you look so eager to start, you and Dean Dobbs can hand out the textbooks. They're in the cupboard," I sighed and walked over to where they were located, Dean following close behind. I handed him half the pile and seeing that he struggling with it all, took a few books from him and added it to my pile.

"Thanks Jack..." he mumbled embarrassed, turning a shade of red.

"Don't mention it," I picked up the books and started giving out the books on the opposite side of the room where Dean had started. I reached the back of room to where Felix, Matt and Jason were sitting and they stared at me accusingly. "What are the looks for?"

"You ditched me!" Felix whined.

"I was told to sit there."

"So? Ditch the fag and come sit back here Jack!"

"Dean, his name's Dean."

"Whatever, just come back here, the teacher won't notice," I rolled my eyes and turned my back to give out the rest of the textbooks and returned to my seat in case I let it slip that I wanted to stay with Dean and they got the wrong idea. I opened the textbook that Dean had neatly placed onto our table then after quickly skimming over the questions, sighed and looked at Dean who was miles away with his thoughts again.