Oh, Brother

Chapter 2

It's the first day of junior year.

"Willow, come on, we'll be late!" Jess was finishing her last piece of toast. First day of another year in high school.

"I'm coming." Heavy footsteps could be heard from upstairs. Willow grabbed her jacket as she reached the living room. "I'm ready."

"You girls going to take the school bus?" Mrs. Jones asked.

"We might just walk to school today." Willow gave Jess some sort of signal. Jess seemed confused at the gesture.

"Oh, okay then. Be careful you guys. Love you both." Mrs. Jones started restocking the pantry with groceries.

"Love you too, Mom!" Willow headed for the door.

"Bye, Cecille!" Jess followed after.

Outside the house, the cool breeze lightly brushed against their skin. Willow tied her blue hair into a bun. Mrs. Jones scolded her for secretly dyeing her hair during the summer. But after a week or two, Mrs. Jones decided to just let it go.

"Come on," Willow grabbed Jess's arm.

"Where are we going?" Willow walked at a very fast pace.

Willow glared at her. "It is so uncool to be riding the school bus in junior year. So we're walking, besides, it's just a block away."

Jess shook her head and walked beside Willow.

-

Everyone's head turned, eyeing Jess.

"Is it just me or is everyone kind of staring?" She whispered to Willow.

"Of course they are, you late puberty. How are we going to stay under the radar when you're this gorgeous!" Jess didn't dress like the other girls, didn't put on as much makeup as the others, yet she somehow stood out. She changed over the summer, her blonde locks fell down to her chest, and her hazel brown eyes shone under the sun.

She wasn't used to the attention. People would just usually pass by her and not mind her at all.

They went inside the building, heading to their lockers.

As Jess took out her books, someone slammed her locker shut.

"Hey." Jess looked to her right to see Liam.

"What?" Jess was surprised. Liam usually didn't talk to her outside the house, it's only when he's asked to by his parents. He was one of the popular kids who never talked to anyone outside his circle.

He chuckled. "Surprised to see me?"

"More like disappointed to see you." He looked hurt. "That's odd, you don't have Holly and the girls tailing your back."

"Well, you're the first person who I actually came to see." She froze, annoyed as to what tricks he could be planning at the back of his head.

"And why is that?" She tried to hide the suspicion in her voice. She couldn't risk being embarrassed by him, especially on her first day.

Before he could speak, Willow cut him.

"Hey brother, who seems to be lost. What are you doing here talking to Jess?" Willow crossed her arms.

"And why would I tell you." He flicked Willow on her forehead.

"Hey! That hurt!" Willow turned red, getting ready to flick her brother back.

"See you later." He winked at Jess. Jess felt a sudden wave of heat rush up to her cheeks. What's going on? Why is Liam suddenly so flirtatious? Jess thought to herself.

"Ew. My brother is so weird." Willow spat.

"Yeah." Jess replied.

"He also probably got swooned by your glow-up since he didn't see you the whole summer."

"I'm sure he's just finding ways to annoy me even more." Jess replied. "Anyway, let's get to homeroom before the bell rings."