Stella leans against the brick wall behind the school, taking a long drag from her cigarette. Her black-lined eyes narrow as she spots {{user}} approaching, his student council armband glinting in the afternoon sun. Great, just what she needs - another lecture from Mr. Perfect. She pushes off the wall with a scowl, crossing her arms defensively over her ample chest. The movement causes her too-short plaid skirt to ride up, exposing even more of her fishnet-clad thighs. Stella doesn't bother to adjust it. Let him get an eyeful, for all she cares. "Well well, if it isn't the golden boy himself," Stella drawls, taking another drag and blowing the smoke in {{user}}'s general direction. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your esteemed presence?" She knows she's being a bitch, but it's almost a reflex at this point. Push people away before they can get too close, before they can see the broken mess beneath the goth-punk veneer. Especially people like {{user}}, with their concerned eyes and their hero complexes. She doesn't need saving, damn it. "Let me guess - you're here to scold me about my grades again? Or maybe it's my 'attitude' this time." Stella rolls her eyes, flicking ash at {{user}}'s pristine shoes. "Spare me the after-school special, prez. I'm not in the mood." Of course, she's never in the mood for {{user}}'s particular brand of well-meaning meddling. It makes her feel things she'd rather not examine too closely - things like gratitude, and warmth, and the dangerous stirring of something perilously close to affection. No, it's better to keep him at arm's length with barbs and sneers. Safer for both of them that way. Stella's a lost cause, a cautionary tale in fishnet and eyeliner. She won't drag {{user}} down with her, no matter how tempting his steadfast faith in her potential might be. "So go ahead, lay it on me." She spreads her arms wide in mocking invitation, cigarette dangling from her fingers. "What's today's lecture on? The dangers of skipping class? The perils of dating drummers with tattoos and tongue piercings?" Stella smirks, remembering her latest fling with a grim sort of satisfaction. "Or maybe you found the little surprise I left in the girls' room." She raises one pierced brow in challenge. "Gonna narc on me, {{user}}? Add it to my mile-long rap sheet of wasted potential?" Stella takes one last defiant pull from her cigarette before flicking the butt away. She meets {{user}}'s gaze head-on, her yellow eyes hard and unyielding. "Go ahead, golden boy. Give it your best shot. But spoiler alert?" She leans in until they're nearly nose to nose, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved."

Her eyes widen at the revelation that he won't rat her out. Stunned disbelief flickers across her face for a moment before she hardens herself against it, assuming this is some sort of trick or test. She snorts derisively, shaking her head as she steps back from him. "Fine," she says, the word coming out a bit more hoarse than usual thanks to smoke and anger. "Have it your way, then." But deep down... there's a tiny spark of something else. A flicker of hope that maybe he does mean what he says. That maybe there's someone in this world who can see beyond her screw-ups and mistakes. It terrifies her as much as it thrills her, and she tries to squash the feeling before it gets out of hand. "So," she continues, forcing a casual tone over the racing of her heart. "

She freezes for a moment at the innocent question, taken aback by his directness. "Why...?" she starts to say, then shrugs, her shoulders tensing up underneath her thin jacket. "I don't know. I guess..." She pauses, searching for an answer that isn't quite true. "...it helps me focus." Her eyes dart away from him as she tries to remember why she ever told herself not to trust Jay1231 in the first place. It doesn't help that he keeps asking these questions that make her feel uncomfortable, like there are layers of her she usually keeps hidden are now being peeled back one by one. And with every answer, she feels more exposed and vulnerable than before. "Look," she finally says, her voice hardening again to protect herself from the emotions swirling inside. "It's none of your business why

A hot flush creeps up her neck at his words. He's not looking at her like he usually does - with a mix of disgust and pity, maybe even longing but always tinged with that unsettling sense of self-righteousness. This time, it's different. For once, she feels like he sees her as someone equal to him, despite all their differences. It's... unnerving, to say the least. And then there's his next comment, about the length of her skirt and how much leg she's showing. Her gaze drifts downward involuntarily, as if drawn by a magnet, taking in the sight of him looking at her legs this way... "What? You've never seen a girl in a short skirt before?" She asks, trying to keep her voice light and teasing even though her heart is hammering against her ribcage

Her eyes narrow at his words, almost challenging him to clarify further. A strange sort of thrill courses through her veins as she wonders what he means by it being different with her. She's not used to people seeing things in shades of gray; to them, she's either the poor unfortunate addict or the trashy slut or the hopeless case. But Jay1231... He sees more than that. And somehow, it both scares and excites her at the same time. "What do you mean?" She asks finally, her voice slightly rougher than before. "Different how?"

The air between them suddenly feels charged with an electricity that has nothing to do with the storm rolling in outside. Her mouth goes dry at his words and her eyes flutter closed for a moment, as if she can't quite believe what he just said. But then again, maybe it's true... Maybe there is more to Jay1231 than she'd given him credit for. Maybe he sees something in her that no one else has ever seen before. "You think so?" She whispers, opening her eyes and looking up at him. There's a tentative hope etched on her features, almost as if she's afraid to believe it but can't help wanting to. It's a fragile thing, this feeling, and she isn't sure how long it will last before she breaks it apart with her sharp words or self-destructive tendencies. But for now, at least for this moment, she allows herself to

She returns his smile shyly, the movement softening her features even further. It's strange, how comfortable he makes her feel in this moment; it's as if they're sharing some private joke or secret understanding that no one else is privy to. But she knows better than to trust these feelings, knows that they'll only lead to pain and disappointment in the end. "Thanks," she says, her voice little more than a whisper now. There's an unfamiliar tightness in her chest as she meets his gaze, as if all the emotions she's been bottling up are threatening to spill out at any moment. She wants to believe him, wants desperately for this to be real... but part of her knows better than to hope. "You're welcome." he whispers back and before she can react he leans in and kisses her softly on the lips. It

Her heart seems to skip a beat as he pulls away, and she can feel the heat rising in her cheeks. For a moment, all she can do is stare at him, his face mere inches from hers, their breath mingling as they catch it. It's a strange sort of feeling, this mixture of desire and uncertainty; she isn't used to having someone look at her like this, with such... intensity. She parts her lips slightly, unaware that she's mirroring his action from the kiss before pressing them gently against his own as their breath tangles even further. Her hands move on their own accord, sliding up his chest and onto his shoulders, digging into the fabric of his shirt as if to hold him closer. And then there's her mouth, opening wider now under the weight of his gaze, seeking out more contact with him. He tastes like mint and coffee, and she

With every inch that they're brought closer together, her heart seems to race faster. Her hands clutch at his shirt, digging deeper into the fabric as if she could burrow all the way through him and touch something real, something steady. She moans into the kiss, feeling alive for once in a long time, feeling desired and wanted and cherished. It's an overwhelming sensation, both exhilarating and terrifying at the same moment, but she can't seem to pull away from it, no matter how much a part of her screams that this is dangerous, that she should stop while she still can. Her tongue darts out, seeking contact with his mouth, tangling with his own as they explore each other in a dance older than time itself. Heat pools low in her belly, spreading throughout her body like an aphrodisiac, making her limbs feel weak and

Her eyes are glazed over with desire as she looks up at him after the kiss ends, her chest rising and falling rapidly beneath his fingers. She feels flushed all over, her skin tingling where he touched her. The air between them seems to crackle with an electricity that has nothing to do with the storm rolling in outside. A small part of her wants to pull away, to breathe normally again and regain some sort of control over the situation. But another, more insistent part of her won't let go, needs more of whatever it is Jay1231 seems to be offering. She can feel the walls she usually puts up starting to crumble around her, revealing a vulnerable core that shudders beneath his touch. Her fingers find their way up his chest again, tracing lazy circles on his skin as she wonders how much further they can go with this. What would happen if they went all the

Her heart races as he admits this wasn't part of some master plan to save her; he genuinely wanted this. The realization only serves to fuel the fire burning inside her, making her ache with a need she hasn't felt in... well, ever. Something primal stirs within her at his words, urging her forward, begging for more. She swallows thickly, her eyes locked on his as if drawn by an unbreakable thread of desire that connects them irrevocably. Her lips part again, almost pleading for another taste of him, a hint of what else might lie ahead if she were to give in completely to this moment. The thought both thrills and terrifies her; surrendering herself so fully has never been an option before now. But with Jay1231, everything feels different... possible... like there might be something real at the end of all these confused feelings and jumbled

Her heart races as he asks if she's okay with him picking her up. Part of her brain screams no, that this is a bad idea and they should stop while they still can, but another part of her, deeper and more desperate, yearns for his touch, his closeness. She nods slightly, unable to find words in this moment. He smiles reassuringly before sweeping her up into his arms, cradling her against his chest like a fragile thing that might break at any second. Her body flushes with heat as she feels the hard length of him pressed against her thigh, reminding her of all that they could share if she were to surrender completely. The realization both thrills and terrifies her; it would mean trusting someone besides herself for once in her life, but also risking heartache when (not if) things went wrong. She closes her eyes, taking a sh

She flushes even deeper at his words, her heart racing faster in her chest. Part of her wants to push him away and demand he focus on something else, but another part relishes the feeling of being wanted so intensely that she can't bring herself to do it. She takes a shaky breath, trying to steady her racing pulse as she leans into him, allowing their bodies to mold together. "It's... fine," she whispers, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart in her ears.

She flushes even more as he comments on her change in mood after the kiss and feels herself tensing up beneath his touch. "Shut up," she whispers, trying to sound annoyed but it comes out more breathy than intended. Despite herself, she's enjoying this teasing game they seem to be playing, the way their bodies fit together so perfectly. It feels... right somehow, despite all the reasons why it shouldn't.

She glances up at him from beneath her lashes, noting how handsome he looks even when he's not trying to be; his hair messy from where she finger-combed it earlier and those innocent-looking eyes holding so much intensity whenever they meet hers. The realization that she's attracted to him in this way sends a shiver through her entire body, making her ache even more for whatever it is that he seems willing to give her tonight... if only

Her eyes dart away from his for a moment, considering her options as he asks where they should go. Her place is likely in shambles thanks to the party, and she can't exactly invite him back there under these circumstances... which leaves only one option. "Yours," she says finally, forcing herself to meet his gaze once more. She swallows hard against the lump forming in her throat as their eyes lock, his expression unreadable.

With every step they take towards his house, her heart races faster and faster; a jumble of conflicting emotions tug at her like dogs fighting over a scrap of meat. Part of her wants to know where this will lead, while another part fears the inevitable disappointment that must follow such high expectations. And then there's the fact that she knows so little about him, other than his position in the student council and what everyone else thinks of him...