Cheer up, emo kid

Who: Jessalyn and Dylan
When: Right before 6th period
Where: Halls

It had been a good day. So far. People seemed jittery, or excited, that it was Halloween. Jessalyn had seen plenty of people dressed up, some as zombies, or fairies, or horned devils. She'd had a good morning, paying attention in most of her classes, getting a brand new, pretty pink pen and - in her eyes - making a new friend. It made her wish she had worn her own costume - the little red riding cape that she'd made. But she hadn't thought about it, and it was still sitting at home on her cluttered table with her sewing machine and supplies. She was using said new, pretty pink pen as she walked to her locker before English, doodling a pink flower on her palm and lost in her thoughts. The scent of mild unhappiness caught her attention, however, and she looked up and around the hall to to try and locate the source. There were a lot of kids hanging out, most of them smiling. That didn't mean anything. Even the smiling ones could be scowling on the inside. She continued to fill in the pink petals as she walked, her gaze roaming about the familiar, and vague faces. Not that she could really do anything to fix someone's unhappiness, but she was on a mission now to find it's source, and felt she had to follow through. At least before English started.

Dylan stood by his locker with phone in hand. He had typed out a text message and added Leija's number to it but he hadn't sent it yet. It was kind of insulting, all said in anger and while he wanted to send it to her, he couldn't bring himself to do it. It wasn't her fault. Well, maybe it was. She didn't have to tell Nate how she felt about his little brother but Nate didn't have to be the one to tell said little brother. He could have just left it for Leija to do but no, he liked her too and had to make him hurt. What a mess. He finally sighed and deleted the draft. It really just wasn't worth it. Maybe he'd talk to her later, after school or something, but via texts was as cowardly as sending someone else to pass on a message.

Locking the keypad, he sighed again and looked up in time to catch a girl looking around. She looked a little lost but he kept noticing the jerk of her head towards him. Was she looking for him? Was she there to tell him he didn't need to keep trying to get Leija to like him, that there were more fish in the sea? Or worse, maybe she was going to tell him to give up and that she liked Nate instead. That would have been worse and, in his mind at least, a lot more likely. Christ, how many other people knew? He scowled a little harder and reopened his phone, pretending to distract himself with the buttons. He didn't have a class to go to yet and he didn't want to walk past in case she stopped him to tell him what she knew, what the whole school probably knew before he did. "Fucking hell," he hissed and ignored the couple of passers-by who looked up at his random outburst. He scuffed his shoe against the floor and flopped back against his locker with a loud, metallic thump.

Short of sticking her nose against people's necks to smell them, or try and catch the sound of their heart, Jessalyn was having a hard time tracking this particular person down. A group of giggling girls passed by and she was momentarily distracted by the rather pretty necklace one was wearing, when she heard the loud thump and curse. Oh! Yes, there he was. Jessalyn capped her new pen and held it in her hand before she started toward the boy with a purpose. It was that guy. He was in her English class - Dylan, she thought it was - though they had never spoken. He was the unhappy one, and the scowl on his face confirmed her suspicions. She shifted her book bag off of her shoulder and leaned back against the locker beside him before unzipping her bag and shoving her hand in to dig around. "Here... I have something for you," Jessalyn told him, shooting him a quick smile. "You're unhappy, and it's really too close to the end of the day to let it spill over, you know?"

Dylan looked up and stared at her blankly. This was the last thing he wanted, someone who knew about the situation and wanted to help. He didn't want it. He didn't even want to think about it but he struggled to get it off his mind. It didn't help that other people obviously knew before he even had a chance to. Well, he was sick of it. He was sick of wondering how many people out there knew how Leija felt before he did. His scowl deepened and he glared at the girl. "Maybe I want it to spill over," he said. He didn't talk loudly but there was definite anger there. "Maybe it's about the end of the day. Like seeing my brother. We're in English together and that's next and I'd rather just skip out home instead. So yeah, it's going to spill."

"Nobody wants to stay angry," Jessalyn countered. She was trying to catch a whiff of his scent without sticking her nose against his hair. He always sat too far away from her in English for her to do so there. "I mean, I think initially, at first you do. Because being angry is like, better than being hurt or something. So you walk around and curse, and kick things and think really bad thoughts about whatever it is you're mad about, or whoever it is you're mad at, and you feel better. Sort of." She continued to dig, talking rather absently and peering into the mess that was her book bag. "Until the anger starts to fade a bit and you just feel bad. Not guilty, well maybe guilty depending on what happened, but you feel really bad and sometimes that's a lot worse than being mad. But once you get past that, you can think clearly again, and make things better. Here." She smiled and pulled out the Tootsie Pop for him.

She was right on the ball there but Dylan wasn't going to admit it. He didn't want to talk about how he shouldn't be angry with his brother for liking the same girl he liked. He didn't want to try and make the whole mess a little bit better and easier to deal with. No, he wanted to sulk and pout and stomp and just generally stew in his anger. It was safer that way. That way he wouldn't have to think about why he was so angry, about how Leija didn't want him and it was just typical for girls to think of him as just the friend. He didn't want to address those issues. Fighting was the better way.

When Jessalyn offered him the tootsie pop, he just stared at it and wondered what the hell was wrong with this girl. He had just found out that his crush didn't want him like that and she must have known about it to just come up to him like that. She was probably just trying to be nice but he didn't want it. He didn't want friendly, he wanted angry and hateful instead. He pushed her hand away and looked away from her, over to a group of girls. They were gathered into a tight little circle and he searched for red hair but Leija wasn't there. It was probably a good thing too. He didn't know what he'd say to her if she was. He sighed and looked back at the blonde girl. "Why are you being nice to me?" As if it wasn't already obvious, she felt sorry for him, but he wanted to hear it.

She blinked once when he pushed her hand away, granted it sort of hurt her feelings, but smiled regardless, even if it was a bit weak. Jessalyn followed his gaze to the group of girls and wondered if there was one in the tight knit circle that he liked. Maybe that's why he was angry. Though she didn't think that was the case, if his brother had something to do with it. Returning her gaze back to his face at his question, Jessalyn unwrapped the sucker and popped it into her mouth for a quick taste before pulling it back out. "I don't think people need reasons to be nice to other people, but honestly? I could tell you were in a bad mood and generally when I see people in a bad mood, I like to help them, er, not be? I don't know. It doesn't always work. Most people tell me to go away." She replaced the sucker in her mouth and glanced back at the group of girls. "Why are you mad?"

Dylan rolled his eyes at her question but the more he spoke to her, the less sure he was that she had something to do with Leija. For starters, she really did seem to just have noticed he was in a bad mood and he'd never really seen her hanging out with Leija. He didn't even know her name but he was pretty sure the two girls weren't friends. Then again, he hadn't known how she really felt until Nate told him. How much else was she hiding? Still, it couldn't hurt to make friends. He needed them in this town and judging from what she had just said, he guessed she did too. He sighed a little and pushed his hair away from his eyes. "Not going to tell you to go away," he said quietly. He looked away from her again then quickly turned back again. His deep scowl softened a little. "I'm sorry, it's just... My brother is an ass, you know? He likes the same girl I like and he told me she doesn't even like me so... Whatever. Screw them both but I've got English with him next and I just don't even want to go. It's stupid, the whole thing just sucks."

Admittedly, Dylan telling her he wouldn't tell her to go away was a bit of a shock, given she fully expected him too. She paused then, the sucker halfway to her mouth when he spoke, and she felt a flurry of happy feelings at not being outright rejected. And look! The lines around his mouth were a bit softer than before, which was always a good sign that anger was dissipating. Sort of. She could still smell the unhappiness. At his explanation, she tilted her head, giving him her full attention. Two brothers who liked the same girl. Tale as old as time, right? Although, Jessalyn had never known anyone in real life with that predicament. Usually it was in movies and books! "Well... how do you know she doesn't like you? If he likes her, and he told you she didn't like you, he could just be saying that because he likes her and doesn't want you to try and go after her for yourself. Maybe she told him that she liked you, and he's upset and bitter or something and lied..." Jessalyn trailed off, deep in thought as her brows furrowed together. After a second, she snapped to and continued. "I think if she didn't say that to you herself, you should just... not believe him. It's not like your brother is the most reliable source, if he's interested in this girl too, right? But then again! Is this girl worth experiencing a falling out with your own brother? Who's more important to you? What's more important? Your happiness? Hers? His?" Jessalyn sucked on the lollipop again, talking from the side of her mouth. "Don't go to English if he'll be there and it'll upset you. Hide in one of the science rooms, or the back halls. That's where I go when I don't want to deal with something. Teachers hardly ever go back there."

Jessalyn made sense. She made a lot more of it than Dylan had expected she would when she first walked up to him and she obviously wasn't on Leija's side. Well, maybe she was. Maybe they were friends and had heard what Nate had said. Maybe Leija really did like him but couldn't say it for herself so she sent her blonde friend to tell him to keep flirting. Yeah, that made sense! "I don't know... Right now I'd pick her. Nate's being such a loser about everything and besides, I only met him like half a month ago. It's not like we're close or anything." He looked away towards the science wing and back again. "It's complicated but yeah, think I'm going to skip. You want to come with? What do you have next anyway?"

"Then you must really like her. A lot of relationships don't last, you know? So, if you and this girl got together, and then broke up, not only did you lose a girlfriend, but your brother too, if he's that upset by it. But you're not that close and you don't care, then..." Jessalyn shrugged, though she couldn't imagine ever fighting her sister for a boy. Well, her sister was a lot younger than Jess, so that would be just weird, but it was the thought of it. Jessalyn's eyes widened and she beamed happily when he asked if she wanted to skip with him. "Sure, I'll come with you." If possible, her smile grew. "I, er, have English next. We're in the same class." And she wasn't bothered by the fact that he didn't even recognize her. It wasn't surprising. Like she told Ransom, she was generally invisible in school. She doubted her science partner even knew who she was. "But I don't mind skipping. It's one of the only classes I'm actually passing. I think."

Dylan frowned a little when she put it so bluntly. Said like that, maybe Leija wasn't really worth it but then again, he was sure if they dated then they wouldn't break up. She'd be his first and only girlfriend and they'd be perfect together. She held his hand reguarly, she had to like him too! And Nate, well, Nate would get over it or they could move out of the bedroom they shared. Whatever. He would leave that up to Nate. Right now though he didn't want to think about it. It was hard not to but he tried to push the thoughts out of his mind, he could worry about them later instead. Right now Jessalyn was going to sip class with him, she was going to be his distraction from all of that worry that clouded his mind. "Oh, we're in the same class," he said. He felt bad for not recognising her but he usually sat in the back with his brother and blamed his dyslexia for being too caught up in the actual class work to notice the other students. Yeah, that sounded plausible. Still, he gave her a guilty grin and shrugged. "Sorry, I usually don't notice... It's nothing against you, I promise. You seem very nice and not someone I'd avoid so..." Another shrug and he pointed in the direction of the science wings, eager for an escape out of this awkwardness. "Lead the way then?"

"That's okay." Jessalyn was quick to assure him that she didn't take any offense, in fear that he might back out on wanting to skip with her. Not that she did take any offense. Again, she was used to it, and they had never spoken before so... no biggie at all. She pushed away from the locker and slipped the sucker back into her mouth before motioning for him to follow her. "It's always best to get where you need to be before the bell rings and a lone teacher starts wandering about. I've never been caught skipping, but I've it happen to others." Jessalyn generally heard teachers coming long before any normal kid would. She knew how to hide too. And hey! Apparently Dylan thought she seemed nice, which had her sort of bouncing along happily. Because he had been scowling and cursing before, and now he was feeling better so... she had helped! Somehow. "I'm Jessalyn, by the way... I mean, if you didn't know. Which you probably didn't, seeing how we've never spoken before, and I don't get called on much in class so..." Trailing off again, she savored the root beer flavored tootsie pop in her mouth for a few seconds. "What the girl's name? The one you like?"

Dylan followed after her but he was more cautious than Jesslyn was. He kept peeking around, looking for that one teacher who would notice what they were up to and punish them before they even got very far from the classroom they had to be in. Sure, maybe the teacher didn't come out from the walls but it didn't stop him from looking for them. When he wasn't, he kept his head down and his books crossed over his chest. He had planned to go to class and glare at his brother from across the room but then Jessalyn had come along with a better idea. Somehow the idea of utting his books back into his locker hadn't occured to him. "I'm Dylan," he said and took a couple of quicker steps to keep up with her dancing ones. "Guess you probably didn't know that either but um... Yeah, you know Leija? Red hair, pale? Yeah, I like her. And, I don't know, guess Nate does too if he's making up stories about things she said."

"Oh! You know... yes, I knew your name was Dylan. But it's nice to meet you officially anyway." She wasn't at all worried about teachers. She didn't hear any coming as they moved to the back halls. The geology room was always empty this time of day, since the teacher always worked in the teacher's lounge for his free period. And if one happened to approach them on their way, well, Jessalyn was pretty adept at playing sick, and Dylan was just her friend helping her to the nurse! If he was smart enough to go along with it. She stared at her sucker as they walked along, concentrating on the colors remaining in it while she tried to think of Leija. She snapped her gaze back to Dylan with a broad smile. "Yes, I know her. Well, not know know, but I know who she is. She's pretty. I can see why boys would like her." Jessalyn lifted a hand self conciously to her own blonde hair, currently a mess, some parts of it crimped still from her style the day before. She didn't point out that it was still a possibility Nate had been telling the truth because she knew that would probably upset Dylan again. "Are you two very good friends, then?"

Dylan was quiet as they walked and didn't bother to answer her until they had reached the science rooms. He didn't know which ones were free though so he waited for Jessalyn to pick a specific room and kept an eye out for any teachers. He kept casting nervous glances up and down the hallway, terrified that they'd be caught and his father would hear about it. Not that Frank would be likely to care but knowing how weird he could be about the whole parenting thing, it probably would be the one time he did give a shit about his youngest.

Dylan sighed a little as he stopped by one of the doors and leaned against the wall. He kept an eye out but mostly his attention was on her instead. "She's just..." Another sigh, this time it was a lot more wistful and he closed his eyes for a moment. It was long enough to imagine her, to picture Leija's sympathetic smile and remember the way her hand felt in his own... By the time he opened his eyes again, his cheeks were a little too pink. He ducked his head and let his hair fall over his face to hide it. "She's really nice to me and I don't know, I think so. I hope so. We talk a bit anyway and she gets all this stuff that I couldn't tell just anyone, like we talked about the animals on the weekend and..." He stopped. Well, he couldn't just tell any girl could he? That had been what made Leija so special, she got it. "Yeah, anyway, I don't know. She was one of my first friends here. Like, the first aside from Nate."

Jessalyn peered into the geology room quickly before opening the door and ushering Dylan in behind her. The room was empty, just as she knew it would be, and she hopped up on one of the black work tables to sit. She wondered if he was the type to get crushes on anyone who was nice to him. Jess used to be that way. Whenever a boy smiled at her, she wondered if he would be the one... but generally it didn't work out that way. For a long time she had pined after Ransom, but once she hit sophomore year, that had thankfully faded too. She was generally optimistic about a lot of things, but every now and then she was able to come to the conclusion that some things weren't meant to be. Maybe for Dylan it would work out different. "It's weird having crushes on your friends, isn't it? I mean, if you liked her before you guys became friends, but like, once your friends, it's a different feeling when other feelings start to seep in. Or something." She swayed her feet back and forth beneath her and bit into the sucker. "It's nice having someone to talk to though! I mean, someone who will listen. You can talk to a lot of people, but that doesn't mean they actually hear what you're saying. Has she done anything or said anything that makes you think she likes you?"

Dylan watched the hallway until Jessalyn had headed into the room and then he disappeared after her. He didn't really like science, it was a good subject and made more sense to him than English ever could but it still wasn't his favourite. Still, he eyed the posters curiously for a moment before he turned back around and hopped up on the table opposite his new friend. Or whatever she was, Dylan still wasn't sure what to make of her yet and a part of him still assumed she was only being nice because she knew about the situation he had going on. Oh well, whoever had told her to make friends with him hadn't done a very good job of filling her in on the details and talking about his problems helped, she was right about that, so why not? The worst that could happen would be that she spread the story around and in his head, he was sure more people knew about Nate and Leija already. He wriggled to get comfortable on his desk; his knees up on the chair in front of him and he leant forward with his elbows on his knees. He shrugged and thought about her question. "Um, I don't know. I hung out with her on Saturday and we held hands a lot. And, well, I kind of kissed her. Kind of." He blushed then and looked away from her. "Like, on the cheek. It would have been on the lips but her dad was in the next room and I was so scared he'd catch us but she didn't push me away when I did it. And we held hands forever so I don't know. I mean, you're pretty too. You wouldn't let a dweeb you hated hold your hand, would you?"

Completely oblivious to any of the thoughts going on in Dylan's head, Jessalyn finished her sucker as he talked about Leija, swaying her feet back and forth beneath her, her skirt dancing about her ankles. She didn't know Leija, and she didn't know Nate. She certainly had no intention of spreading anything around school either. "Holding hands is a good sign," Jessalyn agreed, starting to suck on the little white stick. She smiled at Dylan, giggling a bit. "And kissing is even better. Er, even if it's on the cheek, at least she didn't pull away. I would think that if she didn't like you, she wouldn't be holding your hand, or letting you do that. Or she would have told you by now that her feelings for you are only platonic, you know?" It was Jessalyn's turn to blush when he called her pretty. Not a lot of guys did that, other than Ransom, and he was just her friend so he had to say it. Well, he didn't have to, but she knew he said to make her feel better. "I'm pretty? Thanks. I don't really hold hands with guys I don't like, no... unless it's a comforting gesture? Like, they're sad or something, then I might reach over and hold their hand. But not for no reason. Luckily, I don't know many dweebs. You're not one either, I can tell. Why don't you just ask her out on a date? Like, a real one?"
Dylan fell quiet for a moment as he tried to digest the sort of information she
was offering. He also thought about Leija and how Saturday had felt really good. He hadn't been too upset then, he'd actually been relieved he had been able to tell her the truth about the werewolves and she didn't think he was nuts for it. And then he had kissed her and she hadn't pushed him away, that was a little more than the comfort thing Jessalyn suggested. "Hang on, let me show you something." He hopped off the table and moved closer to where she sat. He carefully put a finger on the corner of her mouth then paused and moved it a little higher, but not by much. "Right here. That's where I kissed her and it's almost on the mouth so..." He stepped back and shrugged. He watched her and waited for an explanation, it was obvious she would have one. She seemed good at all this stuff, maybe it was a girl thing. "I might ask her out though, if you think it's a sign or something. You know, that she let me."

She watched him when he moved closer, her back tensing for just a moment before he reached out and touched the side of her mouth. Jessalyn blinked rapidly in surprise before she realized what he was doing. Demonstrating! Right. "Yes, that's almost on the mouth," she agreed, starting to swing her feet back and forth again. "If she reacted favorably to it? Then I think that's a pretty good sign. You know, smiling and blushing?" Of course, smiles could always be used when one was feeling uncomfortable, at least that's how Jessalyn operated. "I think, that if you like her, and you get the feeling she likes you too, then you should ask her out. I mean, worst case scenario is she says no, right? And if she says no, then at least you know where you stand, without your brother telling you, and you guys can stay friends."

That was the sort of smart, girl-logic that Dylan expected her to share. It did make sense too and was probably the best option. The only other one he could think of right then was to leave the whole thing alone, to try and forget about his crush and to hope Nate did too but... He didn't like that idea very much. He smiled at Jess and nodded. "Yeah, I think I will. Like, I dunno, meet her at Mya's or whatever that place is called. I don't know, I've never been on a date before and you've probably been on, like, hundreds so..." He shrugged. "Any tips?"

Jessalyn nearly choked on her sucker, but managed to do nothing more than cough before she laughed. "I've never been on like.. a real date before." She had done other things with boys, but an actual date had never been part of the equation. "Definitely not hundreds. "Uhm, but as a girl... during a date? Don't talk about only yourself! Ask her questions, give her your full attention. Girls like to know they're the only thing you want to be focused on. Buy her food! Don't let her pay. Occasionally touching her, like on the hand or something is always nice." Jessalyn loved physical contact. It was one of her favorite things. "If she likes you, and you like her, then I think things will sort of smooth themselves out on their own, you know?" As soon as Jessalyn laughed, Dylan knew he'd said the wrong thing. "Sorry," he mumbled and he cast his eyes downward again. He didn't quite believe her or think he had a reason to apologise though. Okay, so maybe he was wrong about the hundreds but she was pretty and looked like one of the more popular girls. Surely someone had asked her out and she'd agreed, even for a pity date? He was about to tell her so when something else she said occured to him. He closed his mouth and pursed his lips into a thin line as he thought it over. "I'm talking too much about her, aren't I? Like the whole, don't talk about yourself thing? Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. Uh...So how's your day?" The last bit was tacked on lamely but he'd spent so much of their conversation mulling over his own situation that he hadn't even given a thought to anything going on in this stranger's concern. And he probably should have since she'd picked him out of the crowd to try and cheer him up. She hadn't even known him and he didn't even bother to try and find out about her in the same way? "Wow, I'm a jerk. I'm so sorry."

"What? Oh! No! You're not a jerk," Jessalyn was quick to say. "I mean, you were grouchy when I saw you, so I wanted to try and cheer you up. And sometimes talking about the problem makes you feel better, you know? So I don't mind at all." There weren't too many instances when Jessalyn talked to boys, or even some girls, that they ever asked about her and she was more than fine with it. She just wanted to make people happy - and like her. "You only curb the talking about yourself too much with the girl you like," she reminded him with a bright smile. "Besides, you seem to like to talk about her, which means you must really like her. "If you really want to know-" Which she doubted "-my day has been really good! Great, even. I don't remember why, but I'm in a good mood, so it must mean everything has gone okay."

Dylan watched her, not entirely convinced that her comment hadn't held a little bit of snark aimed at him. But hey, she seemed happy enough to move on so he could too. He relaxed his shoulders and leaned back on the desk. "Yeah, I wanted to know. And it's cool, glad you've had a good day, it would have sucked for us both to be grouchy." He smiled and studied her for a moment longer but it felt awkward to be staring at someone like that so he turned away, pretending to look over the classroom walls and displays. They were all science and maths ones, of course, things he didn't care too much about but she didn't need to know he wasn't some school nerd on the inside. He stared at them for what was probably too long but after a moment, he turned back and looked at her again. He licked his dry lips and added, "By the way, you did cheer me up so... you know, thanks and stuff."

Jessalyn hadn't intended for any of her comment to be taken as snark... since she wasn't sure she could be snarky if she tried. And sometimes she did try. She smiled at him, pleased that she had helped make him less grouchy than before. Her gaze followed his around the room, and she wondered if he found any of this stuff interesting. She did, sometimes. But she wasn't a very good student, which was a bit disappointing. There was no Ivy League school in her future. "I'm really happy you feel better. You seem really sweet, and nice... and Leija would be a fool not to like you back. I really hope things work out. And if you ever want to talk or anything, you can always come find me."

Dylan didn't quite believe everything Jessalyn told him, especially about Leija, but those things were nice to hear. Truth was arbitrary, he only wanted to hear reassuring things right then and his new friend was giving it to him. He smiled as he watched her for a moment then pushed himself off from the table he was leaning against. He took a couple of steps away from it and turned to look for the time. The blackboard was at the front of the room and above it the clock promised the period was nearly over. "I should go," he said. "I mean soon anyway. I've got gym next and it sounds dumb but I kind of hate... you know, changing there." He shrugged and looked down, his hand running across the puppy fat of his stomach then back up at her. "Whatever, you're too confident to get it or maybe it's just a guy thing. I don't know, do you get it?"

Jessalyn hopped down off the table and reached over to toss the stick from her sucker away. "It's okay... I've got to go to my locker anyway." And hope that her English teacher didn't catch sight of her. She felt guilty for ditching, but Dylan had needed cheering up, so that was more important to her at the moment. She looked over at him, her eyes drifting down to where he touched his stomach. "Do I get what? You mean, do I get not liking to change in front of people? I get that. I mean..." She lifted her shirt a little bit to reveal her stomach. "I'm skinny, but it's like... I don't like being this skinny for a couple reasons. But some of the curvier girls make fun of me for it, but I figure it's stupid to let them make me feel weird about myself. Or whatever." Jessalyn lowered her shirt and cocked her head a bit. "Is that what you mean? Are guys weird about that stuff too?"

Of course Dylan looked at her touching her stomach and of course the reasons weren't entirely for a curious, 'I'll show you yours...' thing but it didn't mean anything. Checking a girl out didn't mean anything. Not much anyway. It was just skin. He tried to tell himself that anyway but his cheeks were bright before he could even raise his eyes and look away. He turned his head and pretended to study one of the posters on the far wall but he listened and nodded. "Yeah, of course we are. Like Nate? He thinks his legs are too skinny, gets all weird about it and says he has no ass and I'm like, the opposite. I used to be kind of chubby and I don't know..." He shrugged and looked back at her, glad and disappointed at the same time when she lowered her shirt back down. "Anyway, yeah, I don't like changing with everyone else looking. And, I don't know, you're cute anyway so... Whatever, don't let those girls piss you off okay?"

Oblivious to any possible uneasiness, Jessalyn picked up her bag and slipped it over her shoulder, readjusting her shirt again after it settled comfortable. "I guess I never really thought about guys having like, body issues. Most of them seem really confident or something about themselves. Maybe they're just not as outwardly insecure as some girls are." Her cheeks flushed when he called her cute, and she smiled, clearly pleased with the compliment. "Thanks. You're cute too, and you're not at all chubby, so don't let yourself get weirded out because of the other guys. Your legs are just right, and girls like a guy with a nice butt! So you're just fine, if you ask me." She was amused at the direction the conversation had taken, and she was sure to bet that he would probably start blushing at minute now. He seemed like the blushing type.

She wasn't wrong about that, of course Dylan started to blush as soon as she returned his compliments. He could feel his cheeks getting pink and hoping Jessalyn hadn't noticed it yet, he turned back to the periodic table poster he'd been looking at a moment ago. It was probably an obvious move as to what he was trying to do but he didn't care. He didn't like going red in front of anyone and girls were still a whole new world yet! Didn't they gossip about this stuff? Not that he expected Jessalyn to do it or for Leija to listen if it did get back to her but still, it wasn't something he wanted to risk. He waited until he was sure his cheeks weren't quite so bright any more before he risked turning back to look at her. "Thanks," he mumbled. He gave her a small smile and a shrug before he bent down to pick his own backpack up. "For, like, skipping with me and everything else. You're cool, glad you stopped to cheer me up."

"You're welcome." She smiled, noting the way he blushed though she didn't say anything about it. He seemed to embarrass easily, and the last thing she wanted to do was make it worse. She led him to the door and opened it, expecting the bell to ring any second and the halls to fill with students. Jessalyn waved at him, still smiling. "Anytime you need cheering up, come find me. I'll be around. Bye, Dylan." She felt pretty good! Proud of herself too, for cheering up a mopey boy. Hopefully the girl he liked - Leija - would come around and he wouldn't need cheering up again.