Ivana- Outnumbered fanfic [INCOMPLETE]

8- Ivana Is Absent

Monday

Ivana wasn't in on Monday. She missed double psychology in periods two and three. Jake noticed.

At break he was distracted and he totally messed up his hair with the amount of times he drove a harassed hand through it.

At lunch Joey confronted him in the music room. Matt had a lunchtime detention. It was just them. "For fucks sake, Jake, what's wrong?"

"What? Nothing?"

"Bollocks! You look like a junkie stressin' over where 'e's gonna get 'is next 'it." Jake had gotten used to the way Joey spoke, missing out all his 'h's and 't's. He'd enjoyed introducing him to his parents, who'd battled to maintain politely interested smiles as they realised Jake's friends weren't Eaton or Buckingham Palace material. "Or like 'ow Mr English looks when Callie Saunders is tryin' to flirt by pushing her tits at him like this," Joey did a brilliant impression of Callie Saunders' seductive pout and breast plumping manoeuvre. Jake even laughed.

"No, it's just..."

"Just what?!"

"I just...Can I tell you something? A secret?"

"Course you can, you twat, and 'urry up an' spit it out."

"You can't tell anyone."

"Really? Is that what a secret is? I 'ad no fuckin' clue." Joey rolled his eyes.

"Alright...well, you know I hate Ivana?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, I don't think I do any more."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's just...I made her laugh and I like it when I make her laugh. Like it makes me feel...better. Like I've achieved something. You know?"

There was a pause.

"Not really, no."

Jake's shoulders slumped. Maybe Joey wasn't the one to confess his inner turmoil to: he wasn't exactly known for his profound insights into matters of the heart...or any matters really. If it wasn't tits, Chelsea Football Club or music, Joey wasn't all that bothered.

"Well, what's your stress then?" asked Joey after a bit of thought.

"I don't know when I'm gonna get to make her laugh after we finish the project."

"Oh. Well, when do you finish?"

"We were s'pposed to finish today after school but she's not in."

"Not long then. Do you need to make her laugh? You couldn't live without it?"

"I don't know," Jake exhaled anxiously. He tugged at his hair again. "It's like getting high when I make her laugh. It makes me feel happier."

Another, longer pause.

"Sounds to me, like you love her, mate," said Joey at last.

Jake's eyes nearly popped out of his head, "Wh-what?!"

"Yeah. 'Cause they say love is like a drug, innit?"

"Nope," said Jake, shaking his head, "Nope."

He wasn't in love, was he? He'd only started liking her about two days ago. Besides, what did Joey know? Jack all!

Jake wasn't in love with Ivana. That said, he would still like to talk to her some more...make her laugh.