Work Text:
1983
It was the second week of kindergarten when Jeff first noticed her, a girl with dark brown hair and round brown eyes reading a book under the slide. He thinks her name is Sh… Sasha? Yeah Sasha. Jeff spends the whole of recess sitting under a tree watching her read. He can’t help but be amazed with the way she ignores everything around her. The other kids stomping their way up and down the side, balls flying from every direction.
He almost jumped when her head snapped up to glare at something across the playground. Jeff follows her gaze to see two other girls, Hillary and Chloe he’s pretty sure, standing over another girl a very small girl actually, smaller than everyone else in their year. The small blonde girl is looking up at Chloe and Hillary from the ground with trembling lips and wide eyes. Hillary says something Jeff can’t hear, Chloe laughs and the small girl flinches.
Jeff sighs annoyed and turns his head to look back at Sasha… who’s not there anymore. Her book lays abandoned on the floor where she once was.
“Hey!” A squeaky voice yells.
Jeff whips his head around towards the voice to see Sasha marching towards the three girls.
“Leave her alone.” She says firmly stepping between the three of them.
Jeff being interested, crawls closer.
“Why should we?” Chloe sneers her nasally voice grating on Jeff’s ears.
“Because you’re being mean,” Sasha’s hands twist at her side, “and if you don’t stop I’ll—I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” Hillary asks crossing her arms.
“I’ll… push you into the sand box!”
Jeff snorts. She’s not very good at being scary.
“Whatever.” Chloe squeaks, grabbing Hillary’s arm and pulling her away.
The blonde girl looks up at Sasha with awe in her big hazel eyes. Sasha turns to her with a smile and holds out her hand.
“Hi I’m Shauna.”
Oh, Jeff thinks dumbly, her names Shauna.
The small girl takes Shauna’s hand. “Hi.” She mumbles. “My name’s Jacqueline.” She wipes at her red cheeks.
Shauna’s face scrunches up. “Hmm that’s too long,” she shakes her head. “I’m just gonna call you Jackie.” Shauna chirps and a grin breaks out on Jackie’s face.
Jackie and Shauna, Jeff thinks as he watches them trot off to the slide.
1988
Jeff turned ten last week which means he’s started to notice things, things like girls. Well at least one girl in particular Jacqueline Taylor or Jackie as she likes to go by. Randy was thrilled when Jeff told him, Randy’s parents kept him out of school for an extra year so he’s a year older than Jeff which mean Randy was ahead of him and had started having a crush on a girl last year. Shauna. Which was perfect since Shauna is Jackie’s best friend. And since Randy liked Shauna, he was meant to like Jackie, right?
Jeff tunes out Mrs Kane’s voice explaining what the class is meant to do and focuses on the two girls sitting in front of him and Randy. Jackie and Shauna. Jackie whispers excitedly to Shauna who’s gaze never leaves the front of the class watching the teacher with interest while also nodding along to whatever Jackie’s whispering about.
“Class I have to talk to Mr Collin’s in the hallway make sure to continue the worksheet.” Mrs Kane says walking out of the room.
As soon as the doors closed the class erupts with chatter. Randy continues to draw on the desk while Jeff continues to watch the girls. Shauna turns to Jackie with a soft smile on her face. Jackie’s whispered rambling never wavered.
“—And did you know that your nose gets warmer when you lie and—”
“Who told you that Jax?” Shauna’s squeaky voice interrupts Jackie with a laugh.
Jackie’s cheeks go a little pink. “Lottie.” She mumbles.
Shauna frowns. “That doesn’t sound true maybe Lottie was lying.”
Jackie huffs and crosses her arms. “You always say Lottie’s lying.”
“Why do you listen to her anyway?” Shauna pouts.
Jeff rolls his eyes. They always get weird when they talk about their other friends.
Jackie returns Shauna’s pout. “Because she’s my friend.”
Jeff leans forward on his chair and reaches across his desk to tug on Jackie’s pigtails. “Hi.”
Jackie yelps, her hand going to the back of her head.
“Hey!” Shauna shoves his hand away with an angry pout. “What do think you’re doing?”
Jeff shrugs. “Just playing.”
Jackie looks at him with shiny eyes and a frown.
Jeff feels a little bad, but they should know that’s what boys do when they like you. Randy said so himself.
“Hi Shauna.” Randy says while wiping snot on his sleeve.
Jackie scrunches her face up in disgust and Shauna ignores him.
“Leave Jackie alone.” Shauna glares at Jeff.
When Mrs Kane gets back she has Misty and Lottie handout the worksheets. Lottie hands them to Jackie and Shauna. Jeff watches as Shauna rips it out of Lottie’s hands with an angry huff.
1989
Once they got to middle school everything changed, the girls that Jeff had once watched bully Jackie are suddenly praising her every move. Which means everyone’s eyes are on Jackie. It’s like she’s a princess and their all her subjects. Jeff honestly wouldn’t mind this if it didn’t mean that almost every boy in their grade is now fawning over Jackie.
It sucked. And what sucked even worse is that Jackie didn’t even seem to care. She never acknowledged the boys who’d come up to her not even him. The only person Jackie ever gave the time of day was Shauna Shipman. Which Jeff guesses is fair, he thinks Shauna’s pretty cool but she’s definitely not cooler than Jeff.
1993
Jeff’s stuck in history which fucking sucks. History’s boring enough by it’s self but it’s even worse without Randy. Which means he’s stuck in this boring ass class while the teacher drones on about the Civil War or whatever. And well Jeff may not be in the best mood which isn’t helping with his hatred for history.
See Valentine’s Day is this Sunday and Jeff doesn’t have a date and most of his friends do. It’s no fault of its own really, he hadn’t been able to work up the courage to ask Jackie out after watching Shauna brutally turn down Randy.
He glances over at Jackie who’s sitting diagonal from him. She’s resting her cheek in her left hand hiding a giddy smile into her palm while scribbling something in her book with her glittery pink pen.
She’s so pretty, in a way that’s effortless which makes her even more pretty. Jeff wishes he had asked her. She’s probably already got a date since every guy in school likes her.
Jackie lets out a quiet girlish giggle as her cheeks go a little pink. Jeff leans closer, not enough for her to notice him but just enough for him to get a glimpse of what she’s writing.
His eyes go wide when he sees the page, it’s covered in the initials J.S varying in size, small hearts filling in spaces between each of them and right in the middle of the page Mrs Jackie S.
Jackie S.
S as in Sadecki.
It’s not impossible, not many of the boys in their grade have last names starting with S and most of the ones who do are way less cooler than Jeff. She has to be talking about him.
Jeff bites his lip to stop himself from smiling.
Maybe he does still have a chance.
As soon as school finishes he goes straight to Jackie’s locker. Not unprepared of course, he still has the chocolates from when he first thought to ask her out. Hopefully they aren’t melted from sitting in his locker for a week.
When Jeff gets to her locker Jackie’s still putting her books. He leans up on the locker next to hers, hiding the chocolate box behind his back.
“Hey Jackie.”
She startles a little at his voice, putting a hand to her chest. “Oh, hi Jeff.” A small smile dances on her lips. “What’s up?”
“Well, I may have saw your notebook in history earlier.” He winks at her.
Her smile falls and her eyes widen. “Y-you saw that?”
“Mhm, yeah I did.” He fights back a grin, knowing he’s about to make her day. “And I was thinking and well why don’t you let me take you out to lunch on Valentine’s Day.” He brings out the box of chocolates holding it out in front of her.
Jackie blinks at him. “You’re asking me out?”
The way she says it is cute like she just can’t believe the Jeff Sadecki is asking her out. He almost laughs. It’s like she doesn’t know she’s the most popular girl in their grade.
“Yeah.” He smirks. “I know it’s a little late but when I saw you writing my last name as yours I knew I had to get over my nerves and just ask.”
“Your last name,” Jackie almost gasps. “Right.” She smiles shyly.
“Is that a yes?” Of course, it is she looks over the moon but still he has to hear it.
“Yeah, yeah Jeff I-I’d love to.” She takes the chocolates.
1994
Since being Jackie’s boyfriend Jeff’s spent a lot of time around Shauna, which of course he has Jackie never wants to be alone with him it’s always about Shauna Shauna Shauna with her. But the further they’d gotten into their relationship and the more time he’d spent with the two of them Jeff realised he didn’t mind it. He likes hanging with Shauna and Jackie always acts like a decent girlfriend after. It’s nice since Jeff’s an amazing boyfriend himself. He holds her hand in school, kisses her like all the time and well hand stuff obviously. See he’s an awesome boyfriend so yeah he’s happy he’s finally getting something in return.
Though one time he made the mistake of saying this out loud to Jackie. She didn’t take it well.
“What the fuck does that mean Jeff?” She growls at him.
Jeff holds his hands out in front of him, stammering, “W-well I just meant that it’s nice when you return the favour that’s all.”
“’Return the favour’!?” Jackie yells in disgust. “Do you think dating’s just about fucking sex?!”
“Obviously no!” Jeff scoffs. “But you know it would be nice to do that with my girlfriend!” He shouts. “Instead, she spends all her time with her stupid best friend!”
Jackie’s face goes red at that, Jeff knows for sure that it they were in a cartoon there would be steam coming out of her ears.
And yeah he knows bringing up Shauna in an argument is the quickest way to send them down the no return road. Which always ends up being a month at max, so he guesses there is a return road.
“Are you fucking serious right now?!” She fumes.
Jeff violently shrugs his shoulders. “Maybe I don’t want to be with someone who won’t have sex with me!”
Wait fuck why’d he say that, it’s true but still she’s the hottest girl in their grade.
“Yeah well maybe I don’t want to be with someone who thinks like that!” Jackie turns to walk away.
Jeff goes after her. “What Jackie wait come on I don’t want to break up.”
“Yeah well maybe you should since I’m such a shitty girlfriend!” She yells not turning around.
“What about the party tonight?!”
“Just go alone I’m sure you’ll find someone willing to do whatever the fuck you want!” Jackie storms out of the house not sparing him a glance.
Jeff spends the entirety of the party drinking and nursing his wounds. He barely even paid attention to Randy. All he could see was Jackie hanging off Shauna and being jealous that she could be so happy with Shauna after breaking up with him. And she’s not just hanging off Shauna Jackie’s all over Shauna she’s sitting in her lap whispering in her ear, dragging her hand down Shauna’s arm and giggling whenever Shauna said something. Making Shauna laugh.
And not one of those quiet laughs she usually does when she’s around people an actual laugh where her pretty smile is on display.
It’s not that he cares that Jackie’s all over Shauna he’s upset about the breakup. Obviously.
At some point during the night on of the neighbours must have called the cops because everyone was grabbing their shit and yelling, “Cops are coming scram!”
Jeff through his half full solo cup in the sink and made a break to the front door. He spotted Shauna in the living room grabbing a letterman.
“What are you doing?” He hisses at her.
“I was just—” she gets cut off by the sirens getting louder.
“Come on.” He grabs her wrist and drags her out the back door.
They jump over the small fence and run hand in hand through the woods together. They only stop when they can no longer hear the sirens.
Jeff leans back against a tree and starts laughing. “I can’t believe we just did that.”
“Yeah.” Shauna pants next to him. “I’ve never been at a party when the cops are called.”
“Thanks, by the way.” Shauna kicks at the dirt with the front of her heel, refusing to meet his eye. “I probably would’ve been stuck there if you hadn’t gotten me.”
“It’s fine.” He waves her off. “Um why weren’t you with Jackie?”
“We were getting in someone’s car,” Shauna huffs. “But she forgot her jacket, so I had to go back and get it.”
“Wait she made you go back and get it?” What a dick fucking move.
“Well, no,” Shauna pauses her body going still. “She didn’t tell me to, but I knew she’d bitch and moan and somehow make it my fault that she’d forgotten it.”
Jeff nods dumbly. In his opinion that doesn’t sound like something Jackie would do, well at least not to her precious Shauna.
But Jeff’s feeling a little too bitter to point that out right now.
“Yeah she gets like that sometimes.”
Shauna looks up at him through her eye lashes, “Right.”
When did she get that close to him?
“Right.” Jeff echoes.
“Jackie told me you guys broke up.” She stares at him.
“Yeah,” Jeff doesn’t look away from her deep dark brown eyes. “I think it might stick this time.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.” Her words slur together a little and Jeff realises she must be drunk.
“I don’t know Shauna I messed up.”
“You probably didn’t you know how dramatic Jackie gets sometimes.”
Something dark flashes in Shauna’s eyes when she says it and before Jeff knows it her lips are on his and he doesn’t want it to stop.
1995
Jackie and Shauna had a huge fight at the party tonight he’s not sure what happened, but they had gone to the bathroom and Shauna had stormed out in a fit of rage leaving the party entirely while Jackie came out sulking and drinking herself into oblivion.
Which lead to Jeff helping a shitfaced Jackie up the stairs toward her bedroom. Thankfully Mr and Mrs Taylor are away on a business trip, so they hadn’t heard them loudly stumbling into the house minutes earlier.
“Come on Jackie just a couple more steps just work with me here.”
Jackie groans and mumbles something under her breath.
Jeff sighs, trying his best not to get annoyed with her.
Jeff’s been doing a lot lately to try and be a better boyfriend cause of the whole cheating with her best friend thing, but Jackie’s been making it hard she’s been more distant and hesitant than usual.
“Jackie come on.” Jeff grunts roughly pulling her up the stairs.
Jackie’s foot gets caught on the step and she trips into Jeff’s side.
“’M sorry.” Jackie slurs.
“It’s fine Jackie,” Jeff sighs.
She shakes her head. “Sorry Shauna ‘m sorry.”
Of course, she was saying it to Shauna of course. Why apologize to the boyfriend who had to give up his fun night to take care of you because you got so drunk you could barely walk when you can apologize to your best friend who isn’t even fucking here.
Jeff drags her the rest of the way to her bedroom not caring to stop when she stumbles over her feet.
Jackie flops onto her bed as soon as it’s in her sight. Jeff slips off her heels and helps her get under the covers.
“Shauna.” Jackie slurs snuggling into her pillow.
Jeff rolls his eyes. “Yeah I know you want Shauna, but she’s not here is she.” He mutters bitterly.
“Shauna I love you I’m sorry.” Jackie mumbles miserably.
Jeff wants to yell at her. It’s all about Shauna even when she isn’t around. He knows he probably shouldn't leave her alone when she’s this drunk, but he does anyway.
he’s home for twenty minutes before he gets a call from Shauna.
Jeff feels like a hypocrite the entire drive to her house.
1996
Jeff was devasted when he heard that the plane crashed he’d been eating pancakes in front of the tv flicking through the channels when the headline had caught his attention New Jersey girls’ soccer teams plane crashes.
Jeff listens to the announcement for approximately one minute before running to the bathroom and throwing up in the sink.
Jeff stays home from school the first couple days after the crash, but his mom eventually forces him to go and even though he’s sad about Shauna and Jackie he let’s Randy take him to school and try to cheer him up.
Everyone one stares at him in pity, and he wants to punch a hole through the wall.
A dark thought filters through his head that he knows will send him to hell, at least I don’t have to deal with Jackie finding out.
Randy convinces him to go to prom.
“Come man it’ll make you feel better.” He playfully punches Jeff’s shoulder. “Maybe you can get some action.” Randy wiggles his eyebrows.
So, Jeff laughs, puts on a suit and goes.
He gets voted prom king and dance with some girl from the team substituting for Jackie as queen. Jeff thinks her name was… Annie?
They ended up hooking up in the school bathroom after the dance.
When Jeff had gone to college he mostly forgot about the two girls he was in love with. Everyone one had given up hope they’d been coming home after three months of them missing.