Jack Kelly x Reader

Chapter Seven

(y/n)'s POV

I knew today was the day that Kath was planning on getting the plot moving a little more. I didn't know when, but there was going to be a time where she was gonna push me onto him, and probably hard enough to make us both fall, or at least stumble backward.

"Hey, (y/n), can I ask you something?" I heard as there was a light tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Davey with a concerned look on his face. I nodded and raised an eyebrow, gesturing for him to continue.

"Are you and some of the guys plotting to make Jack fall in love with you or something?" I gasped a bit, faltering before regaining my composure. How the hell did he know?

"I can't lie to you, can I," I asked flatly, pretending I didn't just have a mini heart attack. Davey shook his head and this time he was the one silently urging me to continue.

"Yeah, don't tell Jack, okay?"

"Why exactly are you doing it? It seems kind of strange and immature, don't you think?"

"It's a long story," I rolled my eyes when I thought back on it.

"I have some time," he said, his eyes digging deep into my soul as he stared at me, a serious expression etched onto his face.

"Well, it all started because Race and Albert made a bet on who Jack likes. Albert said Kath, Race said me. Race, because he knew Jack doesn't like anyone, came to me and begged me to make him like me so he could get the $50 from the stupid bet. I reluctantly agreed, and then Kath joined in because she was angry at Albert for betting on her. And Crutchie joined for whatever reason. We weren't even supposed to tell you, so don't tell anybody, okay?" I explained, and he nodded along at my longwinded explanation.

"Just don't hurt him, okay? You guys have potential, I can picture him liking you. And thank you, for being honest. I've gotta get to class," he walked off, and I continued on my way when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Kath was telling me to meet her by the entrance to the gym. It was weird, but not completely out of the ordinary for her.

I decided to do it, since it was either an emergency I needed to tend to or her plan being set in motion. I didn't particularly want it to be either, but it's always been the first one, and Kath had given me a heads up that the second was today.

I was almost there when I saw Kath hiding in the doorway, which surely was weird, the bell had rung by now, but no teachers ever hung out here.

And then, I heard a voice behind me.

"(y/n), have you seen Kath, she told me to meet her-" Jack started to say, before I was knocked to the ground on top of him, coming as little surprise to me. His arms reflexively wrapped around my waist in a protective hug, which was comfortable and nice. He was... surprisingly warm.

But wait, since when were his eyes this green?

And since when was his face so... sculpted? And pretty, did I mention he was really pretty close up?

His eyes were wide, and his cheeks were flushed with a bit of pink. We stared at each other for a minute before I realized something.

"Oh my good I was putting my whole weight on you I'm so sorry Kath must've-" I apologized, climbing off him and offering him a hand. He took it and stood up, still breathless.

"Hey, it's okay. It's not your fault, you were in as much shock as me. And you're light anyway, it's fine," he pressed a finger to my lips and I glanced down at it, face heating up.

What the hell was this? This scheme was for Jack to get all protective and fall helplessly in love but... now I was the one who was all flustered.

It must've been embarrassment, yeah, that was it. Nothing besides that, Jack was just my friend that I was tricking into liking me.

But then why did I have the slight urge to pull him into a hug and just feel his body against mine, or to kiss him softly and make him adorably flustered?

"No I... I'm sorry," I whispered, still looking up to him. I didn't realize how close together we were standing until now, and I didn't mind it, actually. It felt natural, comfortable even.

"No need to apologize. Now, why exactly are you down here?" He matched my volume, eyes flitting around my face.

"Kath texted me and told me to meet her here, you?"

"She said that she needed help with somethin', and to meet her down here," he answered quietly, and I almost heard a bit of nervousness in his voice. That couldn't be it, could it? Jack was never nervous, he was always so confident and sure of himself.

"So it was some plan of hers..." I muttered softly, pretending I had no association with any of her scheming, when in fact I knew about it from the start.

"Yeah," he whispered. I had looked away after I had spoken, but I still felt his eyes on my face. I looked, in earnest, for her but she seemed to have disappeared. I looked back to his face, and he pretended to have not been staring.

"Let's not ask her about this, alright? The confrontation will probably be pretty awkward, and if she does more stuff then we can ask. You know I hate confrontation," I told him, taking a step back. His face fell a bit, but he quickly recovered and nodded.

"We should probably get ready to go to class. I'll walk ya to your locker," he offered and I nodded, giving him a gentle smile and wordlessly started on my way, with him not far behind.

Jack's POV

I didn't really know what mix of feelings I was having, besides the strange combo of giddiness and disappointment.

As in, I was giddy that she had been so close to me and looking at me the way she was, and disappointed that she stepped away.

I surpressed the biggest grin my face could manage as I walked her to her locker, basking in the silence. One thing I liked about her was that she knew when to leave it be, and that I could be around her without needing to talk.

We had totally just had a moment, right? When I wrapped my arms around her and she loosely held my shoulders, like it was a subconscious reflex and she didn't even know she was doing it. When the weight of her body pressed against mine, and her face was so close to mine I could have easily kissed her if I wanted.

And not to mention her beautiful (e/c) eyes going so wide and her lips parting in shock as I could feel her breathing. She looked so surprised, and her face went red only a second after we fell. Knowing I could have that effect on her was... amazing, for lack of a better word.

(1220 words)