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Shauna had stopped making eye contact with others when she was thirteen. It wasn’t some grand conscious decision. It was a slow, dragging process that unfolded while watching her parents fall out of love. They had finally settled their divorce and proven that not all soulmates worked out in the end, while Shauna had an up-close view of the wreckage. She had watched her parents become different people—angry and aching and hurting. She had watched her dad leave. She had watched her mom try to pick up the remaining pieces of her heart and their family. And at some point along the way, Shauna decided she had seen enough.
They moved to Wiskayok when Shauna was sixteen. Her mom found a better paying job at the nearby hospital. They were finally able to move out of the small apartment they had been living in and into a two-bedroom home. It was overall way cheaper than living in the city, and there were far fewer people in Wiskayok which gave Shauna some peace of mind. Every time she accidentally caught someone’s eye in the city she would freeze in a panic, dreading that feeling that her mom had told her about. Like everything sliding into place.
Shauna kept her head down in Wiskayok—literally. She hid herself in her oversized flannels and always kept to the outskirts. Her hair found its place in front of her face, an extra layer between her and everyone else. She just wanted to go to school, do her work, then go home.
People tried to get to know her at first. Everyone was always intrigued by the mysterious new girl, but most lost interest after Shauna refused to give them time of day. There was really only Taissa, who was in most of her classes and recognized Shauna’s intelligence, and Lottie, who was happy enough to sit next to Shauna at lunch and sometimes chat.
Then, there was Jackie Taylor. Shauna had pegged her as the obvious Queen Bee—or, Yellowjacket—on her very first day. Jackie was…interesting, if Shauna had to choose a word. Vibrant. Contradictory. Unexpected. Preppy. Shauna was used to feeling eyes on her—people always gave her odd looks—but Jackie’s gaze drilled into Shauna, like it was begging to be returned.
The first time they’d met, Shauna had been at her locker grabbing her bag to go home when she felt a presence walk up to her. Usually, when Shauna ignored someone for long enough they went away. They waited there expectantly for a few moments. When Shauna didn’t pay any attention, a throat cleared.
“Hi! I’m Jackie. You’re new, right?” Jackie leaned against the locker next to her. Shauna could feel her eyes scanning across the side of her face then settling, waiting and urging for just the briefest glance. Shauna nodded, staring into the locker in front of her.
“Shauna,” she introduced herself then closed her locker, turning to head outside to the bus lot, keeping her eyes on her converse and the linoleum floor of the hallway. Jackie hurried after, walking alongside her. The entire time she hadn’t stopped looking at Shauna.
“Do you ever look at anyone?” The question came abruptly, but Shauna was used to it.
“Not really.” She couldn’t help but notice that the feet in the hall parted around them, which, more than anything, told her that people paid attention to Jackie.
“Was that insensitive?” Jackie wondered aloud, as if she hadn’t even considered it before asking.
Shauna snorted a laugh. “Do you ever stop looking at everyone?”
“Not really.” And Shauna could tell that was true. “You never know who your soulmate might be,” Jackie said hopefully.
“Exactly,” Shauna groused.
“Jackie!” Some boy called out from down the hall. Shauna felt Jackie’s eyes leave her for a brief moment before returning.
“I should go…see you around, Shauna.” She could hear the smile in Jackie’s voice then the blessed relief of Jackie’s gaze leaving her as she retreated. Shauna let out a breath. Her shoulders relaxed. She was suddenly aware of how tense she had gotten. Without any further delay, she boarded the bus and headed home, wondering if Jackie Taylor was as pretty as she sounded.
Jackie only really talked to her in passing from then on out, but she could always feel when Jackie looked at her. There was a tingling—a poking, prodding sensation whenever she did. It happened at least twice a day, usually in the hallway or at lunch, and somehow Shauna was still never prepared for it.
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Two years sped by and suddenly Shauna was a senior getting ready to apply early decision at Brown University. She had a few people she actually considered as friends now—Tai, Lottie, and Nat, who was also a bit of a loner around school. None of them ever expected anything more of Shauna. They were fine just hanging out and never tried to force eye contact.
There were a few losers who would try to get Shauna to look at them by throwing things or trying to fall into her line of sight. When Shauna knew who had done it, she always made sure to get them back by tripping them up or shoulder checking them into their locker. Randy Walsh had tried it once, squatting down suddenly to try and meet her gaze, but a shoe wedged harshly into his side, kicking him over in the hall and sending him sprawling.
“Knock it off,” Jackie warned him harshly. Shauna paused. She thought about thanking Jackie but decided against it. Shauna didn’t need anyone sticking up for her. She continued on to class with the weight of Jackie’s stare against her back.
Still, every day like a siren’s call she felt Jackie’s gaze on her, beckoning her to just take the risk and look. One glance wouldn’t hurt her, surely. On days where Shauna was feeling particularly risky, she would try to glimpse Jackie from the corner of her eye while she looked through her locker. The most Shauna had garnered from that was that Jackie was dirty blonde—or maybe brunette? She kept herself from turning her head further.
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The day started like any other day the fall of her senior year. She took the bus to school (she still hadn’t learned to drive because she didn’t want to risk eye contact), got her things from her locker, and went to class. Most of her classes were already talking about AP test prep. She took notes and answered questions when prompted; the teachers had long since stopped trying to get her to look up during class.
By the end of the day, Shauna was more than ready to go home. She had two tests to study for that week, and she’d rather get a head start than cram. Shouldering on her backpack but keeping the few notebooks that didn’t fit in hand, Shauna closed her locker and started to weave through the crowd heading out of school. She stuck to the outskirts as much as possible to have some breathing room amid the mass exodus of her peers.
—WHAM!
Shauna staggered backwards, her shoulder flung to the side, wrenching her books from her arms as someone collided with her. Anger bubbled inside of her—just because she didn’t look at people didn't mean she was invisible!
“Shit! Sorry, Shauna,” Jackie scrambled with an apology, “I was in a rush to get to practice—wasn’t watching where I was going.”
The anger dissipated almost immediately. Instinctively she knew Jackie wouldn’t do such a thing to her on purpose. Instead of picking a fight, she knelt down to start to pick up her scattered notebooks and papers.
“Here, let me help,” Jackie offered, dropping to her knees across from Shauna, hastily gathering up paper.
“It’s fine, I’ve got it,” Shauna murmured, glancing up at Jackie.
Everything froze.
Shauna hadn’t even thought about it, she’d just looked. For the first time in five years, Shauna had looked at someone other than her mom, and now she couldn’t look away. Her heartbeat thudded in her ears as a profound feeling of rightness settled in her body, like a warm blanket wrapping around her. It was a feeling of comfort and home. Of sitting safe inside by the fire as the snow fell outside.
Deep, brown eyes stared into wide, hazel eyes. In a split second, Shauna had cataloged Jackie’s entire face. The freckles dotting across her cheeks. The cute upturn of the tip of her nose. The way her mouth was dropped open in surprise. Shauna’s pondering thoughts over the past two years had been right. Jackie was really—
“Pretty,” her own quiet voice startled her back to the present. She blinked rapidly, only now registering that she was looking at Jackie, who looked somewhere between awestruck and dumbfounded. This couldn’t be happening. Shauna picked up whatever she could—the papers still in Jackie’s hand she had already written off as a lost cause—and took off sprinting.
“Wait!” Jackie called after her, desperately. She did not.
Her backpack slammed roughly against her back, impacting against her shoulder blades with each step as she sped off. She’d probably have a couple bruises from the corners of textbooks digging into muscle. She didn’t slow her pace.
They needed to move again. It would suck to do it during senior year, but there was no other way. They had to move across the country and probably change their names just to be safe. Jackie seemed like the tenacious type.
The bus was only a few yards away when her body was yanked backward by a tug on her backpack. She fell back into another body, arms wrapping around her shoulders from behind. “Absolutely not,” Jackie gasped out against Shauna’s ear as she tried to catch her breath. Shauna froze again at the feeling of Jackie’s warm breath against her ear.
“Sorry! We forgot something, we’ll catch a ride with someone!” Jackie called out to the bus driver who didn’t even respond. The doors of the bus closed, sealing Shauna’s fate. Jackie was smart; she lowered one arm to hook through Shauna’s before completely letting go from her shoulder hold.
“C’mon,” Jackie urged, pulling Shauna back toward the school. Shauna let herself be led, hearing her bus drive off. They were headed toward the outdoor courtyard. Really, it was just a few benches and tables placed on wood chips in front of the school that seniors “had the privilege" to choose to eat lunch at.
“Don’t you have soccer practice?” A last ditch attempt at not having to deal with the situation. Literally digging her heels into the ground would be a bit too drastic, but the urge to force grooves into the pavement was there.
“They can deal—by the way, have you ever considered playing? We could definitely use someone with your speed.” Jackie’s arm squeezed around Shauna’s.
“Sports usually require a large use of hand-or-foot-eye coordination.”
“But now you don’t have to worry about that anymore—right?” There was a hopeful edge to Jackie’s voice.
“I—I don’t…I mean,” Shauna trailed off, uncertain. She had a point. Abruptly, Jackie pulled them both down to sit at one of the benches.
“I felt it, and I know you felt it too,” Jackie pleaded.
“...I wish I hadn’t,” Shauna blurted her first thought, still reeling from the entire situation. Jackie tensed. The hold on her arm slackened, and Shauna immediately regretted her words at the loss.
“You don’t like me?” Jackie’s voice was impossibly small and sounded right on the edge of cracking from holding back emotion.
“No!” Shauna rushed to correct her. Jackie inhaled sharply at her outburst, a small sob hiccuping from her chest. “No—not, no!” She dug herself a deeper hole. Jackie didn't seem any less upset. Something within Shauna ached at the knowledge that she had made Jackie feel that way. It was the same something that always urged her to look at Jackie. A constant tugging and beckoning toward the other girl.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Shauna looked up. Jackie’s eyes were wrenched shut. Her face screwed up into heartbreak as some tears started to fall down her cheeks. Reaching out, she cupped Jackie’s face with her free hand. Jackie froze. As gently as she possibly could, Shauna wiped Jackie’s tears away.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” she reassured. One hazel eye peeked open, quickly followed by the other once they made eye contact. Jackie’s eyes flitted all across her face, not staying in the same place for more than a moment, but always returning to her eyes.
“How did you mean it, then?” Jackie rasped. Shauna sighed, twisting her lips off to the side as she thought about what to say. Maybe if Shauna explained, then they could just figure out how to move past this whole soulmate situation.
“My parents were soulmates, but it still didn’t work out for them...I saw what that does to a person. It would’ve been better if they’d never found each other in the first place,” Shauna presented the truth.
For a moment, Jackie just stared at her. She blinked, processing what Shauna had said, which was good. She could take some time to realize they would never work out and—Jackie shook her head and scoffed, “that’s stupid.”
She continued on before Shauna could even register her response to get offended. “If they had never found each other you wouldn’t be here.” Jackie mirrored Shauna, pushing her hair back behind her ear and cupping her cheek. Her eyelids fluttered at the touch, unused to it.
“You barely know me.” If Jackie knew her, really knew her, she’d be disappointed. Shauna doubted she was the soulmate Jackie had obviously been longing for, no matter what her body and soul were telling her.
“I know you’re smart—neck-and-neck with Tai for valedictorian. You always pick up any trash you see on the floor. You’re ambidextrous, which is pretty cool. Even when you aren’t called on, you mumble the answers to questions to yourself. You helped Lottie study French even though you don’t take it. You’re always reading one book or another. You’re very fast when you want to be. You have the prettiest brown eyes…and I’d really like to get to know you more.”
By the time Jackie finished, a shy smile grew against Shauna’s lips. It was becoming increasingly difficult to deny Jackie and her wide, pleading eyes. Still, she couldn’t help but tease her a little bit. “Have you been watching me?”
At this, Jackie actually turned bashful, her cheeks blooming. She glanced away, and Shauna immediately felt the loss. “I can’t help it. There was always something about you,” Jackie looked back with a cheeky smile, “now I know why.”
The pull that Jackie alluded to was still there even now, and Shauna was finding it harder and harder to find reasons to resist it. Shauna found her eyes flicking down to Jackie’s lips. When she caught herself and hurriedly looked back up, she found Jackie doing the same.
“Can I kiss you?”
“I’ve never…” Shauna trailed off, hoping Jackie would fill in the blanks so she didn’t embarrass herself. Her hand dropped away from Jackie’s cheek to fidget nervously in her lap.
“That’s okay,” Jackie mumbled as she scooched closer on the bench.
With a small gulp, Shauna nodded, leaning toward Jackie who wasted no more time. She leaned forward, eliminating the rest of the space between them and slotted their lips together softly. Their bodies let out a tandem sigh of relief; they had finally found each other.
Jackie’s lips were soft and tasted slightly of cherries. It fit her perfectly. Her thumb gently caressed against Shauna’s cheek. Instinctively, Shauna reached out, finding Jackie’s other hand with her own and threading their fingers together. Maybe they could make it work. She hummed as Jackie deepened this kiss. Neither of them heard the school door open behind them.
“Ho-ly shit,” Tai said in utter disbelief at what she was seeing. They separated at the interruption. Shauna immediately looked down in her lap, while Jackie looked sheepishly over at Tai. “Coach sent me to find you…you’re late for practice,” Tai explained herself, but she sounded distracted.
“Shit—sorry, Tai. Just, um—“ Jackie turned back to Shauna, squeezing her hands. “If you want, you can stay and watch us practice, and I can drive you home after?—or, I mean, you don’t have to watch if that’s too much too soon. You could just study in the bleachers or something.” The nervous over-explaining was stupidly charming, and Shauna couldn’t help but huff in laughter.
“Sure,” Shauna decided, looking back up at Jackie, “I’ll wait for you.” The grin she got in return was reward enough, but Jackie sweetened the deal by pulling her in for another kiss.
“Jackie,” Tai complained, separating them once more.
“Right, sorry.” She stood, heading back toward the school, dragging Shauna along with her by the hand. “You really should consider joining the team, Shauna.”
“Okay, what is happening?” Tai finally asked as they walked down the main hallway.
“Well, um…” Jackie squeezed Shauna’s hand as she trailed off. Shauna looked at her, catching her glance. It was obvious that Jackie really wanted to tell Tai with the way she was practically bouncing on her toes.
“We’re soulmates,” Shauna supplied, looking over at Tai. Tai’s eyes widened at Shauna’s action, and Shauna quickly looked back at Jackie only to be dazzled by the expression on her face. She looked as if Shauna had just fulfilled her life’s dream.
Jackie leaned forward again, but was pushed back by Tai.
“Nuh-uh, heart eyes. Practice first. You’ll have all the time in the world for that later.”
Jackie pouted, but continued toward the gym. It made Shauna chuckle, which in turn made Jackie smile.
“You’re going to be insufferable now, aren’t you?” Tai’s question was rhetorical, but Jackie gave an answering nod anyway.
When they actually made it out to the field, Jackie reluctantly separated from her as Tai dragged her into warm-ups. She heard the team start to murmur as she made her way up the bleachers.
“What’s Shauna doing here?”
“I didn’t know she and Jackie were friends.”
“She can’t really watch practice right?” Mari snarked and was promptly elbowed in the side, “Ow!”
She occupied herself with getting some homework done. For the next hour, she sat hunched over a textbook, scribbling down notes in her notebook. She was actually getting a decent amount done, and the fresh air was nice. Maybe she’d have to do this more often. She’d even gotten used to the intermittent whistles and yelling from the field. She zoned in and out of listening to what the team was doing, but for the most part it was just various drills. Nothing too exciting.
“Shauna!!” Jackie yelled. It was already becoming instinctive at this point to look up at Jackie. She didn’t even register the gasps or the fact that everyone stopped moving at the interaction. All she was focused on was the large grin on Jackie’s face. Shauna raised an eyebrow in silent question.
Instead of answering verbally, Jackie took a few steps back, tapped the tip of her cleats into the grass a few times, and ran forward, shooting the ball right into the top left corner of the goal, grazing off of the tips of Van’s gloves. She spun back to Shauna excitedly, checking to see if Shauna had seen her score. Shauna couldn’t help the small smile at how ridiculous she was. She clapped a few times in a way that could probably come off as condescending, but Jackie didn’t seem to take it that way.
“Wait, is Shipman actually kind of…hot?” Mari questioned. There were murmurs of agreement until Jackie glared at them. Shauna’s cheeks burned. She buried herself back in her textbook, having seen enough.
She got so caught up in her work that she didn’t realize their practice had finished until a shadow fell over her book.
“So what’d you think?” Jackie stood over Shauna. Shauna squinted up at her.
“You’re very good at kicking a ball,” Shauna said dryly, but Jackie practically preened at the compliment. She took a seat next to her, idly kicking her feet.
“Thanks for staying and watching.”
Shauna shrugged, blushing at the attention. “It was a nice change of pace…plus, I didn’t mind the view.” She glanced at Jackie who grinned.
“Mine was pretty great, too.” Jackie leaned into Shauna, bumping shoulders. “I just have to change, and then I can drop you at yours, but I was thinking…” Jackie trailed off.
Shauna started collecting her things. “Hm?”
“Maybe I could pick you up for school tomorrow?”
Shauna paused while she was halfway through zippering her backpack. Arriving at school together would be quite the statement.
“Or not,” Jackie immediately backtracked, “it was just a thought. Maybe that’s too soon.” She waved it away.
Shauna thought for a moment. Was it too soon? Probably, but nothing with Jackie actually felt ‘too soon’. Everything felt right. They had already spent two years orbiting each other, how could tomorrow be ‘too soon’?
“Sure, I’d like that,” Shauna finally answered, zipping her backpack up the rest of the way. Jackie’s head snapped to her.
“Wait, really?” She asked in barely concealed excitement.
“Really,” Shauna smiled and stood.
“Yes!” Jackie jumped to her feet, taking Shauna’s hand in hers. She led her down the bleachers excitedly.
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The next morning, Shauna waited on her porch for Jackie. They had spent the entire car ride yesterday talking and getting to know each other, and Shauna found herself actually excited for Jackie to show up. A few minutes later, Shauna watched Jackie’s Jeep pull up to the curb. It was still such a foreign feeling to her—watching things outside her house. It didn’t feel scary when it was Jackie, though.
Shauna made her way across her yard, and Jackie watched her the entire way. She climbed into the car, setting her bag at her feet, then turned to greet Jackie.
“Hey,” Shauna’s lips curled into a smile.
“Hi,” Jackie grinned. She turned thoughtful for a moment, then leaned forward to brush her lips against Shauna’s cheek. “Morning.”
Shauna took a shaky breath, but reached out to hold Jackie’s hand after she shifted the car into drive.
Throughout the drive, Jackie steered most of the conversation. Shauna responded when prompted and to show she was listening, but she spent most of the drive watching the town pass by through the window. She’d never really been able to do that before.
It wasn’t much to look at, just boring one story businesses in strip malls and houses with nice yards, but Shauna couldn’t stop watching it all. So much of her home for the past two years that she had never known about.
“We should try that sushi place some time,” Shauna blurted out as they drove past the restaurant.
“It’s a date,” Jackie confirmed happily, squeezing Shauna’s hand.
By the time they pulled into the school parking lot, Shauna had gone from finally relaxed back to nervous. Her eyes instinctively found her lap. Jackie killed the engine and turned toward Shauna.
“I’ll be right there with you,” she tried to assure.
“I think that’ll only bring more attention.” Shauna leaned her head back against the head rest and peered at Jackie from the corner of her eyes with a small, wry smile. Jackie’s expression dimmed, obviously taking Shauna’s statement as a rejection. Well, shit. She had to fix that.
“Fuck it,” Shauna popped the door open, a surge of determination building through her, “let’s do this.”
Above all, she never wanted to see that expression on Jackie’s face. Jackie scrambled out of the car after Shauna and met her at the back.
“You’re sure…?”
“I’ll just keep my eyes on you,” Shauna shrugged, taking Jackie’s hand. That brought Jackie’s smile back full force. She swung their hands between them and led them toward the school. Shauna watched people stop in their tracks and stare at them from her peripheral vision.
“So along with sushi,” Jackie brought Shauna’s attention back to her. “I’m thinking a movie—oh! Or maybe mini-golf, what do you think?” Jackie spun in front of Shauna, walking backwards down the hall with an easy confidence that came from years of everyone parting ways for her.
“Mini-golf sounds fun,” Shauna nodded, keeping her eyes on Jackie and right behind her to make sure she didn’t run into anyone.
Without even looking, Jackie came to a stop in front of her locker. “Are you free this weekend?” She turned to her locker and popped it open. Shauna did a sweeping glance across the hall, making sure she never stopped on anyone in particular. It seemed like everyone was talking about them.
“Yeah, I should be. I just have to study.”
Jackie closed her locker with a happy hum. The sound drew Shauna’s attention back to her. “Friday night then, after our game—which you’re coming to, right?”
“I don’t know…” Shauna drawled, leaning against the locker, “you were so impressive yesterday. Do you think you can top that?”
Jackie hummed in thought, leaning forward and pinching Shauna’s flannel between her fingers and tugging lightly. “I think I could top a lot of things if I set my mind to it.”
Shauna immediately flushed at the image that entered her mind. She hadn’t expected her teasing to backfire. She cleared her throat. “Yeah, I’ll come,” then winced at the euphemism.
Jackie laughed. There was a dangerous glint in her eye, but thankfully she had mercy on Shauna. In a flash of movement, Jackie leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Shauna’s cheek before leaning back. “You’re adorable.”
Over Jackie’s shoulder Shauna saw Randy fall to his knees in the hallway.
They continued on talking and walking to Shauna’s locker. Every time Shauna’s focus drifted away from Jackie for too long or dropped down to her feet, Jackie would say or do something to gain it back. Eventually the warning bell rang. Jackie groaned.
“I’ll see you at lunch?” Shauna asked hopefully. Jackie pouted.
“I guess I can wait til then, but…” She tugged at Shauna’s flannel again, “I might need something to tide me over.”
Shauna rolled her eyes, immediately leaning in to give Jackie a kiss. She was already wrapped around her finger. It was hard pulling away, but she didn’t want to be late for class. Jackie hummed, satisfied as they separated.
“See you later,” Shauna headed off to her class.
“I’ll be waiting,” Jackie called after her.
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On her own, Shauna still mostly kept her head down. She glanced at Tai a few times while they talked in class, but for the most part she ignored everyone else and their questions and whispers.
At lunch, Jackie joined her table with Lottie and Nat. Most of the Yellowjackets naturally joined after—if they saw more than two of them together they tended to swarm to see what was going on. Shauna felt a bit out of place with the entire team around her, but Jackie focused mostly on her. Any time she did look away to talk to someone else she played with Shauna’s fingers in her lap.
The week carried on like that, and Shauna got more used to keeping her head up, though she still only really looked at Jackie.
On Friday, Shauna found herself sitting in the bleachers among her peers, watching the Yellowjackets warm up. Jackie was stretching, talking to Van about something that made her grin. Shauna traced the shape of her smile with her eyes, committing it to memory. Jackie laughed, pushing Van on the shoulder, then glanced at the bleachers, directly at Shauna. She perked up even further, waving at Shauna.
Shauna could feel the heads turn to her to see who Jackie had been waving at, but she ignored them. She quickly waved back then crossed her arms, her shoulders hiking up to cover her ears. Jackie was dragged back into warm-ups by her teammates, forcing her attention back on the game.
Once the game started, Shauna followed Jackie’s every movement across the field. After her first goal, she turned to find Shauna, pointing at her with a raised eyebrow as if to say “I told you so”. Shauna laughed and cheered with the crowd as Jackie ran back to center field. After her second she got cheeky, blowing Shauna a kiss. Shauna blinked at the action, her cheeks reddening. Jackie pouted. Shauna’s head tilted in confusion.
The game was a runaway, so Jackie managed a hat trick. After the third goal, she blew Shauna a kiss again.
“You have to catch it!” She shouted across the field. There were a few giggles around her. Shauna sighed in surrender. She considered not doing anything until she spotted another hand reach up. The speed with which she slapped the offending hand down could rival any quick draw. She reached up to grab the kiss out of the air then placed it against her red cheek. It was worth it to see Jackie giddy.
By the time the ref blew the final whistle the score was 5-0 with Nat and Tai scoring the other goals. The team huddled at the goal while the coaches stood over them, discussing the game. The bleachers started to clear out, and Shauna made her way to the fence right behind the bench.
“Buzz, Buzz, Buzz!!” The team chanted in their huddle before dispersing.
Jackie turned and immediately jogged back to the bench once she saw Shauna waiting there. She ignored the bench entirely to stand right in front of Shauna. “We’re still on for sushi and mini-golf, right?” She asked, slightly breathless from the game still.
“If you’re not too tired,” Shauna nodded. Jackie waved away the thought.
“That was nothing, I wouldn’t miss tonight for anything.”
“You played well.” It was the objective truth, but Jackie still preened at the compliment.
“Thanks,” Jackie leaned over the fence, giving Shauna a quick kiss.
“Get a room!” Nat yelled from the bench. Jackie flipped her off without even turning around.
“She’s just jealous!” Jackie emphasized the word back at Nat. “Wait for me outside of the locker room?”
“I’ll be there,” Shauna confirmed. She leaned back over the fence, pulling Jackie in for a longer kiss.
“Better hurry,” she mumbled against Jackie’s lips as she pulled away, motioning with her head to the rest of the team already halfway to the locker room. Jackie made a sound of alarm. She vaulted over the bench, grabbing her bag, then took off after the rest of the team.
Shauna laughed at Jackie and started the walk to the school.
She was actually looking forward to it.