Your Sketchbook ✱ jack x katherine - jackrine

[three]

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"Oh—uh—hey," Jack greeted to the female skidding to a halt in front of him. Katherine held the sketchbook out in offering to him, which he quickly took ahold and hid behind his back. "Thank you."

"No problem," she responded with a nod of her head. "You're very talented." Jack thanked her again, tugging at his cap. It was a nervous habit of his, especially when he didn't know what to do with his hands. "There were—uh—a few drawings in there that caught my eye."

"Oh, yeah," Jack responded. "I just drew da first thing I saw, and you was sittin' right across from me's..."

"It's... fine," Katherine breathed, swinging her arms awkwardly. "You're a really good artist. It's no wonder people say you're the most talented Illustration major."

"Oh... thank you," Jack said awkwardly. "If you ever needs me ta draw somethin' for ya, I'm free ta do it."

"I might actually take you up on that," Katherine said. "Anyways, thanks for the drawings, Kelly."

Katherine left down the sidewalk in the direction of the girls' dorm. She grinned to herself, knowing she might just take the boy's offer. Mainly, she just wanted to know if there was a further truth behind the sketches. The famous Jack Kelly had a secret, and that secret included her. She was determined to find out what was really put into that sketchbook.

She opened the door to her dorm, finding her roommate, Hannah, attempting to shut her suitcase. Hannah was a junior at the school, with curly red hair and glasses that made her look a decade older. Hannah was often misjudged for an uncivilized Marketing student, but Katherine knew Hannah was quite the opposite.

"Oh, Katherine!" Hannah greeted, "Could you—um—help me?" She motioned to the overpacked suitcase, the zipper nowhere close to being completely zipped.

Katherine laughed softly, going over to sit on top of the suitcase. "Leaving for Christmas?"

"Yeah. And you? You goin' to visit your folks?" Hannah grunted as she tried to jerk the zipper to a close.

"Not sure," Katherine sighed. "I don't even know if the Pulitzer family is going to have a celebration for the holidays this year."

"How come?"

Katherine shrugged, "I guess since this is the first year none of the children are home now that I've moved out. Besides, Ralph and Edith are both in St. Louis. If anything, it'd just be a gathering of those still in New York."

"Still, it's your family," Hannah insisted, tugging harshly on the zipper. "You should at least visit them."

"I've told you a million times before, Hannah," Katherine bit her bottom lip, "When you're the youngest of seven children, your family couldn't care less if they see you. Especially when the other six have much more successful lives."

"But you're pretty successful! You're a double major that somehow manages to maintain the best grades of the class!"

"It's not that simple, Hannah." Katherine slid off of the suitcase when it was finally fully closed. "Grades don't matter to my parents. It's what you do with your life that matters. To them, all their children must keep the Pulitzer legacy alive."

"Well that's exactly what you're going to do. You're an amazing writer," Hannah said. "Speaking of which, my professor for Entrepreneurship is letting me redo my essay and I could really use your help."

"First piece of advice: don't try to sound impressive; try to sound reasonable," Katherine tossed herself onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. "When you sound reasonable, they'll truly be impressed."

"Got it," Hannah nodded, shoving the suitcase into the corner of the room by her own bed. "Anyways, you were out later than usual. Something interesting happen at the cafe?"

Katherine shook her head, lying her way out of the interrogation, "I just lost track of time. The Shays Rebellion is an interesting point in history, I couldn't stop writing." It wasn't entirely a lie, there was a lot for her to write, but she ended her session earlier than she expected.

"You're such a history nerd."

"Is that supposed to be an insult?"

"I hate you," Hannah shook her head, a grin playing on her lips.

Katherine sat up with a soft chuckle, "Whatever you say." She threw her legs over the side of the bed, standing and changing into her sleepwear. "I have a question."

"Hm?" Hannah hummed, scrolling through social media on her phone.

"What do you know about Jack Kelly?"

"Jack Kelly? Why are you askin' about that... kid?"

"Nothing," Katherine responded. "I'm just a bit curious, I guess?"

Hannah smirked, setting her phone down, "Something happened between you two."

"Wha—no, nothing happ—where'd you get that assumption?" Katherine stumbled over her words, biting the inside of her cheek.

"Oh, maybe because I remember you saying he was a cocky, narcissistic sod and suddenly you're 'curious' about him." Hannah leaned forward, resting her head in her hands. "I know a bit. What do you wish to know?"

"What does he usually like to draw?"

Hannah shrugged, "Well, I don't know the answer to that. But I do know that he paints the backdrops for Ms. Medda and the theatre department. A lot of the other girls who had their shots with him say he's obsessed with New Mexico, so he often draws Santa Fe and other places out west."

"What does he want to be, a cowboy?" Katherine joked, closing her wardrobe and seating herself back on her bed.

"Precisely," Hannah responded, earning a soft 'oh' out of Katherine. "My class knows a lot about him, but not everything. He used to have a thing for one of the girls in the Film department, and she told a few of us some interesting things."

"Such as?"

Hannah smirked, "I'm afraid I can't say it out loud. Why don't you find out for yourself?" She winked, and Katherine knew what she was hinting towards.

"Hannah, you are truly disgusting!"