We Meet Again (JanTom AU)

Chapter 11

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Tom couldn't keep his eyes off of Jackie as she spoke. It was like he was stuck in a trance that he couldn't break from. He subtly fixed his gaze on her as she went to sit down a few chairs away from him. She waved at him and he cheekily waved back, which didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the class.

"Ok guys, since Halloween is just around the corner, I figured we could do an exciting project to remember your last halloween as teenagers," Mrs. Jackson said, a little too excited.

"For this project, you will be able to choose what type of project it will be and here's the catch. It must have candy involved."

Quiet.

"I know some of you were some sweet tooths as a kid so this will be the perfect opportunity to go back down memory lane."

She got no reaction from the class.

She cleared her throat, obviously expected a different reaction. "Anyways, this has to be educational as well so you will need to include a 2 paragraph summary of the origin of the candy and why you picked it."

That's when everyone groaned.

"Don't worry, you will be able to work with a partner..."

Tom turned around to give Janna a cheeky smile, who in response held up her index finger and mouthed, 'wait.'

"...that I will assign myself."

His smile disappeared. Janna rolled her eyes and gave a subtle smile at his disappointed face.

She continued. "This will be due two nights before Halloween so if it's not turned in, you won't be able to go to the school's Halloween Bash."

Tom, along with the teacher, turned clueless as she received a round of snickers among the classmates.

"Anyways, these are your assigned partners..."

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Janna walked through the door followed by Tom, both tired after a long day of "learning." She got stuck with the witchest bitch of the west herself Wong for the dumb project and couldn't be more happier.

To add on to that, Janna had to deal with people's bull ever since this morning when the new girl came.

Everywhere she went, someone would ask her if she knew her or if Tom was seeing someone or if Tom and the new girl were dating. It was as if they expected her to know since they were roommates and apparently friends.

She didn't expect him to tell her either, it's only been a month since they've known each other anyways. She wasn't going to cry a river.

I have a bad feeling about this.

"So what's so funny about the Halloween dance. It sounds fun," Tom asked as he set his bag on the kitchen counter.

Oh child, you have a lot to learn.

She pulled a water bottle out of the fridge and twisted the cap. "Fun? You must mean bland fruit punch, lame music, teacher chaperones at every corner and don't forget the dollar store cheese and crackers? This school might be private, but it's still a high school."

"Pssh, please, it can't be that bad," Tom said.

She raised one brow, "Have you not seen any teen romcom movies?"

"You watch romcoms, Janna?" Tom said, with a smug look.

She took a sip, saving herself, "I only watch it for the comedy, and besides, I don't even have to watch em to know that not being able to go to the dance is a reward for everyone."

"So what are we doing then?" He asked, loosening his tie and taking off his blazer. Janna took another sip, darting her eyes away from Tom who was basically undressing himself in front of her. She had to halt herself from thinking of such sultry thoughts.

I've got to lay off of those books.

It wasn't that he wasn't attractive. He had definitely glowed up from...previous years, she'd give him that, but she was living with him and it'd be weird for her to start fantasizing about him when he's 6 feet away.

"Who's we?"

"I just figured the 4 of us would be doing something y'know. What do you guys usually do?" He asked giving her his undivided attention.

"Oh I don't do Halloween, well not anymore at least," she murmured the last part.

"No way," Tom said with a look of surprise. "Janna not liking Halloween is like me not liking...well, it's just not possible."

"That was a shitty analogy first of all. Second, it just wouldn't be the same, nothing serious," she shrugged like it was nothing even though she knew better.

"May I ask why?" He went ahead and sat on the chair next to her. He looked up at her eagerly, like it was story time with Aunt Janna.

Janna was deciding against it. She didn't want to relive a memory from her past. Just the thought of it made her skin crawl. Then again she didn't see why not, she could just alter the story a bit.

Just be subtle.

"My best friend and I used to love Halloween. It was our favorite holiday but they moved away so it's not the same anymore. The end," she said calmly. On the inside though, she was tearing up, she didn't think it would still hurt.

Oh who am I kidding, I can't even look him in the eyes.

"Well as your current best friend, I say we go trick or treating."

She glanced at his sudden choice of words. "No." She grabbed her bag and started walking to her room.

"Oh c'mon Janna, it'll be fun." He ran up in front of her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I've never gone trick-or-treating before and it'll be just like old times for you. It's a win-win."

She brushed his hands off of her, "More like a win-lose. Plus I don't even have a costume nor would I like to wear one."

"We can think of that later. Please please Janna," he urged. She wouldn't be surprised if he suddenly dropped down on his knees and begged for an answer.

Him and his stubbornness can go bury themselves.

"If it will make your life exciting, whatever-."

"Yes!"

"-But you owe me a trip to Hollywood," she said jokingly with a straight face.

"Sure thing," he went along with it.

"No but you're paying for my dinner tonight. I'm not in the mood for cafeteria food."

That, she was serious about.

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Ugh I can't wait til we get more into the book, it's hard trying not to exposing anything major.

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