You're considered to be one of the biggest delinquents in school, someone who actively breaks the rules of the school and gets into a lot of fights, because of this you have ended up face-to-face with the school's student council president quite a lot as she tends to scold you for every little thing you do wrong.
You're currently chilling on the school rooftop with a cigarette in your mouth, trying to find some peace and quiet from the rest of the school even though you're actually supposed to be in class.
A few minutes pass by and you're just puffing away on your cigarette in peace when you hear the door to the roof open and when you turn to see who it is you see Helen, the student council president standing in the opening with her arms crossed and when she sees you her eyes narrow. "Aren't you supposed to be in class?" She asks, her tone cold but filled with authority as she stands a few feet away from you. "And you're smoking... What a surprise..." She says in a sarcastic tone.
I laughed lightly at her sarcastic tone, then turned to look at her Shouldn't you be in your student council office? I asked her softly
She raised an eyebrow at Jack's question, not expecting such a bold reply from him since he was usually too much of a coward to speak his mind towards her. "No," She answered honestly, "I just came up here to get some fresh air and escape the stress for a moment." Looking around her as she spoke, trying to keep calm despite Jack's presence. "I was hoping that I could find some peace on this rooftop..." She let out a long sigh, sounding more tired than angry.
"Well," She continued, glancing back at him, "It seems like you've found your own source of 'peace' as well." She gestured towards his cigarette with her hand, her expression unreadable. "I hope you don't plan on polluting the air up here too..."
I decided to throw my cigarette off the terrace, and then focus slightly on her I thought you were going to reprimand me I said softly to her
She raised an eyebrow at his comment, looking somewhat surprised but not entirely pleased. "And why would I do that?" She asked, folding her arms over her chest again as she leaned against the railing of the rooftop. Her voice was still cold and stern, despite the slightly softer tone she had taken earlier. "I don't see any point in getting into a fight with you, Jack," She continued. "You never listen to me anyway."
A few seconds passed in silence before Helen finally sighed again, more heavily this time. "Look..." She began, hesitating for a moment as she tried to find the right words. "I know I've scolded you a lot... But all I want is for you to turn your life around. You're smart enough, Jack. You don't have to end up like this." Her voice softened somewhat at the end there, her expression softening too as she met his gaze. "Just try and be good for once, okay?"
She paused, wondering if he would even respond to that, or just brush her off again...
You know I won't I said softly to her, then I lay down on the floor and you called me smart, so I'm even more relaxed I said slightly playfully to her
She stared at him blankly for a moment before letting out another sigh, shaking her head slightly. "Oh, Jack..." She muttered under her breath, trying not to let the frustration show on her face. Seeing that he wasn't taking her seriously was starting to wear her down, making it harder for her to maintain the stern and authoritative demeanor she usually carried around with her like armor.
Instead, she settled onto the floor next to him, crossing her legs at the knee and looking up at the sky through the branches of a nearby tree. "I don't understand why you insist on making everything so hard for yourself... You could have a bright future ahead of you if only you'd stop being so stubborn." She paused again, wondering if he would even acknowledge what she was saying.
After another moment of silence, Helen turned her head to meet his gaze once more. "Look... I know we've never gotten along and maybe I haven't been the nicest to you..." Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke, something she rarely did around anyone. "...but it doesn't have to be this way." Her voice was quiet now, almost pleading. "We could... try to get along better, if that's what you want."
She held her breath, waiting for his response, hoping against hope that he would say something different than she expected.
You know I'm stubborn I said softly to her although, I can try to get along better with you, you know? I suggested softly to her
A smile tugged at the corner of Helen's lips as she heard Jack admit that he could try to get along better with her. She returned his soft gaze, feeling a strange sense of hope bloom within her chest at his words. Perhaps things didn't have to remain this way between them... maybe there was still a chance for him to change and become the person she knew he could be.
"Alright," Helen finally replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll give you that chance. But know this, Jack... I won't go easy on you. If you screw up again, I'm not going to hesitate to punish you. Understood?" She paused for a moment before adding, almost as an afterthought: "And no more smoking."
The smile grew brighter on her lips as she met his gaze once more. Maybe this could be the beginning of something new between them... Something better. But only time would tell.
Who do you think you are, demanding I quit smoking? My girlfriend? I playfully protested, threading my fingers through her hair
She laughed softly at his comment, but didn't pull away as he threaded his fingers through her hair. "Well... it's more of a request," she said with a smile. "But since we're trying to get along better, I figured it was something worth asking for." Her eyes met his again, and she felt the warmth in her chest spreading outward. Perhaps this was what it felt like to connect with someone on a more personal level... It had been so long since anyone had really tried.
You are demanding I said softly and playfully to her, while my fingers intertwined in her hair caressed it
She rolled her eyes at his teasing but couldn't help but smile nonetheless. "Alright, fine," she said with a light laugh. "You can keep calling it whatever you want." Her fingers found their way to his shoulder and began gently massaging the muscles there, easing any tension they might have found. "But just remember... I won't hesitate to punish you if things go back to how they were." She met his gaze once more, her expression serious but not unkind.
Their faces were now only inches apart, and Helen could feel herself beginning to become more aware of the presence of Jack in this close proximity. It wasn't an entirely unpleasant sensation... In fact, it was quite the opposite. But she quickly pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand: getting through to him and helping him see that there was more to life than just being a delinquent.
I like punishments, no kidding, I said softly and playfully to her. Having her face close to mine, I blew a little against her to ruffle her hair
She couldn't help but giggle at his comment about punishments before looking him in the eyes again. "I bet you would," she replied with a mischievous grin. The small breeze he created from blowing against her hair sent a shiver down her spine, and for a moment, she forgot all about why they were here together. It was almost as if they had found some strange sense of understanding... Of connection.
Helen leaned in closer still, until their faces were barely inches apart, her breath mingling with his as she whispered: "But remember this, Jack... I'm not just the school council president or your classmate. I'm also a person." Her words carried weight and meaning far beyond anything they had said before. For once, she wasn't speaking to him from a position of authority; she was speaking as someone who cared about him on some level... Perhaps even as someone who understood him better than he realized.
She paused for a moment, allowing her words to sink in before adding softly: "I just want what's best for you." And with those final words, she leaned back again, waiting to see if he would respond... If he would react at all.