Work Text:
If Mona could count on her fingers just how many times she has wanted to bash her head in a wall in this class, she would be sent to the government for scientific testing. She hated pre-calculus, it was probably the worst class ever created. Why would she need it? She’s going into art, for God's sake!
Ironic, the girl with the name Mona going into art. Sometimes she wishes that her parents were normal to name her something a bit less lame and easy to make fun of, like “Gabriella” or something. If it had to be along the lines of art, at least something like “Frida.” It’s prettier than freaking “Mona Lisa Aetos,” rolls off the tongue better.
Didn’t make it any better that she was a total art freak herself. She gets that from her mom, her mother works backstage for theatre and musicals. Like, huge, big deal musicals. It’s where her parents met, on their high school stage while her father was working the lights before a show. They met when they were sixteen. Mona Lisa is an eighteen-year-old senior in high school and has yet to find something like her parents had. Hell, she has like three friends! And one of them is literally sitting next to her asleep! Talk about useless.
“Mona,” the teacher’s firm ( and, quite frankly, annoying) voice pierced through her thoughts like an unwelcome alarm, “I don’t think those drawings on your paper are a part of the problem on the board. Since you’re so confident in yourself, why don’t give me the answer to this problem?” Mona had to fight the urge to roll her eyes and scoff— which she didn’t completely, but at least she held back the scoff. Her teacher pointed to what was probably the easiest problem on the board, and with the way she had a smug smirk on her face, Mona was starting to think that her teacher thought that she was the stupidest person ever, which she was. “x=3, that is like, literally an Algebra I level question, Mrs. Toonbury. No offense.” Full offense. The way that Mona cocked her head and gave a scrunched up smile sent that message clearly. Especially with the way that Mrs. Toonbutt scoffed like a child and just semi-angerily went along with her day.
Grumpy old hag.
Mona heard a soft snicker next to her on her right, and rolled her eyes. Though, not as aggressively this time, she had a subtle pang of amusement at the grin on the face of the boy next to her. Jaime Matthews, her best friend, and one of her only friends. She wasn’t too proud of that fact, but whatever. It wasn’t her fault that they were both “theatre freaks.” Neither of them even like theatre, she does backstage and he does costumes just for college!
“You really need to learn your manners, Missy,” Jaime whispered. Or, attempted to whisper, he’s a really bad whisperer when he’s laughing. He’s also a huge tease. It’s like that was his life mission, to annoy and tease Mona just enough where she won’t want to bash his head into a wall, but still throw a pencil at him from time to time.
“She had it coming. She’s always a jerk to me, Jaime.”
“Everyone's a jerk to you, you freakish loser.”
“At least I don’t look like I belong in the Walking Dead!”
The two burst out into laughter, which was rewarded with a shush from Mrs. Toonbury and a threat to separate them if they don’t keep down. Jaime still had that devilish grin on his face, and Mona still had a hand over her mouth. She always laughed with her mouth covered. And smiled that way too, it was weird. Jaime always found her weird, but she’s not a bad weird! She’s a “him” weird, whatever that means, so he sticks around.
“Why do you always cover your mouth when you smile? It’s weird.” Okay, so just because he was friends with her doesn’t mean he can’t be honest. He’s just curious!
Mona raised an eyebrow slightly amused at his stupid question. “It’s just a habit. Why? Worried my smile would end my charm?”
“I’m worried that blocking your smile is restraining it, Mona Lisa.”
Mona is really glad that she has a lot of hair, because she would hate it if Jaime was able to see the way that his comment got her ears and neck all hot and flustered. Sometimes she forgets about his flirtatiousness towards her until he actually does something. She guessed that’s why she likes it so much, because he didn’t make her feel like he was a creep. Kept her on her toes just enough to keep her interested.
“C’moooonnn, Mona Lisa! Don’t tell me you’re going to start acting like your namesake too. All frownsville and not a single rainbow in that brain.” Goodness, he was still annoying. No amount of flirtation could hide how pushy he can be.
Mona liked that too. He entertained her. So when she felt herself smiling again at his stupid antics, she forced herself to keep her hand down this time. With Jaime, she felt no reason to hide anything from someone who already knew her better than she knows herself.