Just Platonic

01

Sighing Jackie sat down at the table in the lunchroom. You would think it being the last year of school that things would lessen up and she'd be able to relax in the crowded cafeteria, but no. She was already exhausted and she still had cheer-leading to attend to after school.

Collynn came up beside her with a smile on his face and threw his arm around her as he sat down in the chair next to her. He couldn't wait to get out on the field for practice. Football became his lifeline and his escape. He was able to let his feelings out in the form of running and throwing the ball. Football also took his mind off of things. When on the field he didn't have to think about school, or work. He didn't have to worry about Haily or his mom. He didn't have to think about what would happen if someone found out his secret, well more like secrets. He was able to focus on the present without worries.

"Ready for later Jack?" His chestnut eyes had a glint in them.

"Not really Lynn. I am exhausted, and we've only had four hours. You would think since it was the first day that she wouldn't have much homework, boy was she wrong.

"Well you are taking many AP classes, so" Collynn dragged out, "it's to be expected. And with the career you want? Get used to having a lot of work buttercup."

"I know," Jackie sighed.

"Look at the brighter side, this is the last year we have to balance school, clubs, sports, jobs, and maintaining a happy facade." Collynn smiled, showing the dimple on his right cheek.

"There are my two favorite love birds," Alyssa chirped as she came towards the table with a piece of greasy school pizza.

"Hey Lys," Jackie greeted with a huge smile on her face.

"Are you guys ready for Homecoming?"

Collynn rolled his eyes as he took his arm off of Jackie who's eyes were wide, filled with panic.

"Ugh," she groaned. "I forgot all about that. I have to come up with the decorations for the theme still."

"You still have a month and a half until we need them, don't fret." Alyssa dismissed Jackie's worries. "What we really need to talk about is the pink out game and the power-puff game."

"Why would you guys have to worry about those when they are a month out?" Fisher asked as he, Kendall, Smith, and Peyton sat down at the table with their trays filled with disgusting school food.

"Because we have to start getting the raffle stuff together, who's going to be in the power-puff game, who's going to be the cheerleaders, and practicing our cheers for the big game." Alyssa explained as she rolled her eyes at him.

"I still say that you guys are working too far in advance," Fisher said as he stuffed his face with the greasy food.

Lunch went by with the boys talking about some game that was on Friday and with the two girls discussing the plans for Student Council.

~*~

Jackie and Collynn shared their seventh hour together, environmental science. When they first walked into the room they sat next to each other, but as soon as Mr. Barron entered the classroom he put up the assigned seating.

Jackie sat in the front of the class next to Kyle, a kid on the debate team. Collyn was in the second to last row and sat next to some kid named Morgan who hadn't showed up. Class went by painless as they took a pre-test and received a lab safety contract they had to sign.

Collynn knew this class was going to be hard since it was a science class, but he didn't realize just how hard it was going to be for him until after he took the pre-test. He knew it didn't count against him, but he knew he would have to put more into this class to keep the grade above a D. He wanted to ask Jackie for help, but decided he would do that when he absolutely needed to.

After class they both headed to the locker rooms as they got ready for their practices. The football players were on the field and the cheerleaders were in the gym with the mats laid out.

~*~

Collynn high-fived Ava as he reached the field. Ava was their wide receiver, and she was a pretty good one at that.

"Ready for the season?" He asked her with a wink.

"Oh yes," she rolled her eyes. "I can't wait to be laughed at by the other teams and be made fun of."

"Anyone gives you problems and you let us know," Fisher instructed as he stood beside them. Ava shook her head before they all headed over to coach.

~*~

Jackie stood by Coach Mel as they waited for everyone to join them. Today they were seeing who they would put on the competitive team and who would not make the cuts.

They did all types of warm-ups, stretches, tricks, and cheers. Jackie was exhausted by the time they were done but she kept the smile on her face as she told everyone that they did a good job and rolled the mats up.

Jackie left her shorts and t-shirt on as she walked towards her car, where Collynn was waiting for her.

"Hey princess, how was practice?" he called out when she was a few feet away.

"It was an easy day, many of the freshmen didn't make it though because they weren't giving it their all."

Collynn nodded his head. "Yeah. Some freshman made a comment about Ava today. I had to hold Fisher back while Ava just walked away from practice."

"He likes her but won't admit it, and she's too hard to read. I'm surprised she didn't punch him or something."

"We all were, I think. Everyone gave the kid s**t after that, and Coach Jakson is making him and his friend who laughed do fifty suicides."

"That sucks, but they deserve it."

Collynn nodded his head. "I'll see you at mine?"

"Yeah." Jackie gave Collynn a kiss on his cheek before she entered her car, heading on over to his house to hang out for a while before their schedules became too hectic to just hang out at a reasonable hour of night.