swapped | markson

T W E N T Y - T W O

"Thanks for helping me out today," Jackson shot Mark a grin, "I know it's tough handling all the work."

"It's okay. This has always been my dream job. It's really an experience, you know?" Mark turned off the lights and opened the door, holding it so that Jackson could walk out first.

"Yeah, and before I forget, I ran into your highschool classmate at the café."

"My highschool classmate?" Mark met Jackson's glance with a confused look. Highschool, as in his highschool in LA? Or the one here?

"Yup, here's her number. She said to keep in contact." He handed Mark the crumpled-up napkin.

"Oh. What's her name?"

"I think it was Irene." Jackson took note that Mark's smile faltered at the mention of her name. "You know her?"

"Yeah," Mark frowned, "I know her...I'm going to head home now. I guess i'll see you later?"

"Yeah, later." Jackson waved at the older before making his way to the bus stop.

Once Jackson was out of sight, Mark gripped the napkin as tightly as he could. His hand trembled in anger.

He placed both hands at the center of the napkin, and in one swift motion, he ripped it. He repeated the action over and over again until it was torn to shreds and barely comprehensive.

Irene.
—
"I really like you. Will you go out with me?" Mark asked the girl, determined to get a positive response out of her. Failure wasn't an option. He stood right in front of half the school, and rejection would definitely take a toll on him.

Before Irene could respond, Mark pulled out a rose.

When the girl grabbed the rose from him, Mark took it as a good sign, like things were looking up in the situation. Boy, was he wrong.

Irene simply dropped the rose to the ground and placed her heel on the petals, grinding and grinding on them until they were nothing but scraps.

She looked at the boy without any expression, "Don't mistake my kindness for interest. Sorry, did I lead you on?" She let a smirk slip by.
—
She had humiliated him. A simple rejection would've been enough. Mark was too blinded to have realized that she just used him to get her work done. He was the smartest kid in their grade, after all.

Mark sighed. His day was going pretty well, but Irene ruined it.

Then again, she seemed to ruin most things.