Chapter 2
You arrive at class again. Your partner still hadn't sat next to you. You seriously didn't know what you did—but you didn't mind the loss since she always would want to breeze through labs and cut corners.
Jinx slides into the seat next to you, just to see the look on Caitlyn's face when she noticed her there.
You look over at Jinx. "Oh, so I guess we're partners now?" You say, a little irritated. Not at Jinx, but at your partner for leaving without even a discussion. You hated miscommunication more than anything.
"S'pose so. If Ekko had just listened to me and taken this class, we could have been partners. But, here I am with you."
"If you dislike me so much you could always just sit somewhere else."
Jinx looks at your, reading your expression. She didn't know if you were stressed or something, but she defintiely didn't mean to upset you.
"Um, did I strike a nerve or something?" Jinx asks, and you shake your head.
"No, it's fine. Let's just do the work. I don't want Caitlyn to scold me." You take out your notebook and pencil case, beginning to take notes using fancy markers, pencils and highlighters.
"That looks like it takes forever." Jinx says, watching as you write the topic of class in fancy script.
You glance at Jinx's notebook - a crumpled mess of loose papers with scribbled formulas and doodles in the margins. "At least I can read my notes later."
"Hey, I can read mine just fine." Jinx pulls out a paper covered in what looks like chicken scratch. "See? That's the stabilizer core calculation from last week."
You squint at the paper. "That's... definitely not what that says."
"Okay, maybe you've got a point." Jinx reaches up to run her fingers through hair that isn't there anymore, then drops her hand with a frown. "But I remember most of it anyway."
The lecture starts, and you fall into your usual rhythm of color-coding and organizing. Every few minutes, you catch Jinx stealing glances at your notes. She's barely writing anything down herself, just tapping her pen against the desk in an irregular pattern.
"Can you stop that?" you whisper. "I'm trying to focus."
"Sorry." She switches to bouncing her leg instead.
Caitlyn walks past your row, checking on students' progress. Her eyes narrow when she spots Jinx, but she doesn't say anything. Jinx responds by giving her the most innocent smile possible.
"You know," you say after Caitlyn moves on, "if you actually took notes, maybe she wouldn't give you such a hard time."
"Where's the fun in that?" Jinx leans back in her chair. "Besides, I've got you now, right? Partner?"
You roll your eyes, but can't help smiling a little. "I'm not sharing my notes with you."
"We'll see about that." Jinx grabs one of your highlighters - the pink one - and starts doodling little explosions in the corner of her paper.
"That's not what those are for."
"Everything's more fun with color." She adds a tiny stick figure running from the explosions. "See? Now it's art."
After class, Caitlyn stops you before you can leave.
"Y/N, you know you're a brilliant girl, right? Even the professor agrees." She says, and you sigh.
"I know I've been hanging out with Jinx and you're against it. I don't know why. She may lack 'discipline' but she really is talented. I mean, she's won first place twice now in those competitions."
"Are you still entering?" Caitlyn asks, ignoring your previous statements.
"Yes, I am. But if she wins, I won't hate that outcome either."
Caitlyn hums. "I won't either. I'm just saying..it would make me and your parents happy. So work hard and don't get distracted okay?"
"I'm not distracted, don't worry."
"We'll see. See you Wednesday, Y/N." Caitlyn says as you leave the lecture room.
You go to your next classes before returning back to your dorm, exhausted. You were lucky to have a single room all to yourself when you pull off your jacket and toss it somewhere along with your shoes and bag, flopping onto the bed.
Your phone buzzes from the floor and you groan, expecting a freind. But when you fish it out of your jacket pocket you see it's an unknown number.
"I know who you are" the text reads. You raise a concerned eyebrow.
"Wtf? Who is this?" They reply back with a bunch of laughing emojis.
"It's jinx" they reply and you sigh. You felt stupid now for not catching on. You save her number before texting back.
Y/N: "Of course it's you"
J: "can i please see ur notes plzz theres a quiz next week"
Y/N: "No, I told you to take your own"
J: "its your fault for distracting me"
Y/N: "With what exactly? You were doing all the distracting"
J: "you calling me hot, toots?"
You feel your face heat up at her text. Your thumbs hover over the keyboard, unsure how to respond.
J: "cat got ur tongue? ;)"
Y/N: "How did you even get my number?"
J: "ekko knows everyone. also ur easy to find on social media"
Y/N: "That's creepy"
J: "nah what's creepy is how many pics u have with that stuffed penguin"
You bolt upright in bed. How far back had she scrolled? The penguin photos were from your senior year of high school.
Y/N: "Are you stalking me?"
J: "research. gotta know who im partnered with right?"
You roll onto your stomach, kicking your feet against the mattress in frustration. This girl was impossible.
Y/N: "Fine. I'll share ONE set of notes. But you have to actually pay attention in class next time"
J: "deal. ur the best. sending u something in return"
Before you can ask what she means, a photo pops up. It's a detailed sketch of the stabilizer core modification she made to your project, complete with measurements and calculations in her messy handwriting.
Y/N: "Did you draw this just now?"
J: "maybe. or maybe i drew it in class instead of taking notes"
Y/N: "...you're ridiculous"
J: "u love it"
You stare at your phone, heart beating faster. Was she flirting? Or just being her usual chaotic self? You type and delete several responses before settling on something safe.
Y/N: "I'll send the notes tomorrow. Goodnight Jinx"
J: "night nerd <3"
You toss your phone aside and bury your face in your pillow, trying to ignore the way your stomach flips at that stupid heart emoji.
The next morning you actually have time to eat breakfast so you get up early, take a shower and get dressed. You were walking down the hall to the staircase, wishing you had an elevator like the other buildings before you spot Jinx leaving her room.
She looks up from her phone, eyebrows raised.
"Oh, hey toots. Almost forgot we live on the same floor. Next time instead of sending me pictures you can just lend me your notebook." Jinx hums, and you scoff.
"Who said there would be a next time? I told you to take your own notes." You mumble.
"Yeah, you did. But nothing's promised, right?" Jinx nudges you before opening the door to the stairwell, you quickly following behind.
You shake your head as you follow her down the stairs, trying to match her quick pace. "Um, by the way. Thanks for writing those blueprints for me. You didn't have to do that. Actually, I get the feeling you do like me but you're just scared to admit it." You say, feeling more bold as you speak.
"Scared?" Jinx scoffs. "What would happen really if I did admit that? Caitlyn would scold me?"
"I don't know, you tell me." You mumble.
"Well, for starters, I'm not scared. And just because I wrote you some cute little blueprints doesn't mean I like you, if that's the 'like' you're implying."
Your eyes widen. "I didn't mean that like!"
"Sure you didn't." Jinx stops at the bottom of the stairs, turning to face you with a smirk. "Your face is all red right now."
You touch your cheeks, feeling the heat beneath your fingers. "It's hot in here."
"In the stairwell?" She leans against the wall, blocking your path. "Want to know what I think?"
"Not really." You try to step around her, but she shifts to stay in your way.
"I think you're the one who's scared." Jinx's eyes lock onto yours. "Scared of admitting you might actually enjoy having me around. I can tell not many people talk to you."
"I-" You purse your lips. "We should get to breakfast. And lots of people talk to me."
"See? Deflecting." She pushes off the wall but doesn't move aside. "It's cute though. The way you get all flustered."
"I do not get flustered." Your voice cracks on the last word.
Jinx laughs, the sound echoing in the enclosed space. "Right. And I'm a straight-A student who never causes trouble."
"Can I please just go eat? I'm hungry." You attempt to sound annoyed, but it comes out more desperate than anything.
"Fine, fine." She finally steps aside, gesturing dramatically toward the door. "After you, nerd."
You hurry past her, pretending not to notice how your arm brushes against hers or how your heart skips at the contact. The morning air hits your face as you exit the building, cooling your burning cheeks.
"By the way," Jinx calls from behind you. "I never said I didn't like you."
You nearly trip over your own feet. You continue walking to the dining hall, but for some reason Jinx follows.
"I would imagine you have class?" You ask, and she shakes her head.
"Not for the next 15 minutes."
"But then you'll be late?" You say, before shaking your head. "Whatever. I'm sure you don't care anyways."
"You know me so well, toots."
She sits across from you at a table, you had a few peices of toast and a bowl of fruit and she had bacon, eggs, sausage and whatever else looked interesting.
"Are you really going to eat all that?" You ask.
"You fatshaming me or something?" Jinx asks, and you shake your head.
"No! What the hell? You're making me sound mean. I'm just saying, you're kind of tiny."
"Yeah, so are you. But probably because you're having toast and some fruit."
"I like lunch more, so what?" You argue back before pinching the bridge of your nose. "Anyways..I have a question."
"That's not good." Jinx says as she takes a bite of eggs. You narrow your eyes at her before continuing.
"Do you usually..like people?" You ask, and she raises her eyebrows.
"Do you like asking people if they like other people? Or am I just special?"
"Stop answering my questions with questions. It's stupid." You snap.
"Okay, fine. Like in what way? Like freinds? Because I have those, if you're trying to call me lonely." She leans back in her chair and crosses her arms.
"I'm not calling you lonely. I didn't mean in the..freindly way," You take a bite of toast.
Jinx hums. "Well, I don't care for relationships. Too much work, for one. Secondly, dissapointing people..I always happen to do that somehow. So I just stick to hooking up and flirting. Does that go against your Piltie morals?
"I'm not from Piltover originally," you say, pushing fruit around your bowl. "And I don't judge people for how they live their lives."
"Could've fooled me with all those fancy notes and color-coding." Jinx takes another bite of eggs. "You've got that whole perfect student vibe going on."
"Being organized doesn't make me judgmental." You stab a piece of melon with more force than necessary. "And maybe I just haven't found the right person yet."
"Oh?" Jinx leans forward, resting her chin on her hand. "So you're a romantic then? Waiting for your soulmate or whatever?"
"I didn't say that either." The fruit suddenly tastes bland in your mouth. "I just think there's more to life than...hooking up."
"Like what? Getting married? Having kids? Living in some fancy Piltover penthouse?" She waves her fork dismissively. "Sounds boring as hell to me."
"That's not-" You cut yourself off, realizing you're getting defensive. "Never mind. It doesn't matter anyway."
"Aw, did I hurt your feelings?" Jinx's teasing tone has an edge to it now. "Look, I'm just being honest. People always want more than I can give them. This way's easier."
"I didn't ask for anything from you." You gather your dishes, ready to leave. "And I'm not trying to change you either."
Jinx sighs, getting up with you and grabbing your wrist. "You Pilties are all so dramatic. I didn't mean to upset you."
"I'm not upset." You say but Jinx still doesn't let go of you.
"Okay, so why are you leaving?"
"Because I have class…" You mumble, but even you know it's a lie. You don't have class until twelve noon.
"We both know that's a lie." Jinx's grip on your wrist loosens but doesn't let go. Her thumb traces small circles on your skin. "Look, maybe I'm being a jerk. I just... people usually want something from me."
"I don't want anything," you say quietly. "I just wanted breakfast."
"Then sit back down and finish your fruit." Her voice softens. "Please?"
"Fine." You sigh, sitting back down. "Can't say I'd ever expect to hear you saying please though."
"Just shut up and eat the fruit."