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"Hey six! Where's your nine?" Natalie approached Shauna in the crowded school cafeteria. Smirking cheekily as she made her way around to her seat at the yellowjackets' designated lunch table.
It wasn't often that either of them were the first to the lunch room. Normally Shauna met up with Jackie and then they'd make their way together but Jackie had been acting so fucking weird recently.
"Fuck off," Shauna huffed with an eye roll, her right cheek leaning gently against her fist as she stared at the food in front of her.
"Damn, you're extra pissy today. What? Your girlfriend not talking to you?" Nat always liked doing this, annoying them when they were visibly deflated or irritated. Maybe she was trying to cheer them up in her own way, (or maybe she was just being an asshole) but Shauna was in no mood to banter.
"Can you just fuck off, Natalie?" Shauna spat shoving her lunch tray forward, scattering her mystery meat sandwich across the table.
"What crawled up your ass today, Shipman?" Shauna could hear Nat calling after her as she exited the cafeteria, tone exasperated.
Shauna could make out a couple of the girls on their way to the lunch room during her hasty retreat but Jackie wasn't among them, so she didn't care. What was up with her recently? It wasn't unusual that Jackie got into moods every now and then (fucking constantly) but the silent treatment wasn't really her thing, it was Shauna's. And her "moods" really only happened after a spat with Jeff or Shauna.
As far as Shauna knew, Jackie and Jeff were as happy as swimming fish, or whatever, unfortunately. And Shauna hasn't had a fight with Jackie in ages because she's been avoiding her.
So, Shauna can deduce Jackie hasn't been ditching her to spend time with Jeff recently either, she's just been awol. Missing practice and having her ass chewed out by coach Martinez, being extremely careful not to change in front of anyone whenever she did show up. Tai's been on her ass about missing practice too, with them being so close to Nationals. But for the first time in her 17 years of existence Jackie didn’t even try to stand up for herself. Just muttered a weak, "I'm sorry" or an unconvincing "I'll do better," as she practically limped out of the locker room.
This was just like Jackie. She always insisted that Shauna tell her how she felt but when it came down to it she never told Shauna anything either. Only ever smiled and teased, "You worried about me, Shipman?" With that stupid (gorgeous) fucking smile. Couldn't she see that Shauna was just worried about her?
Shauna scoffed quietly as she walked (stomped) over to her locker. Yeah, right. Jackie Taylor thinking about anyone but herself? And pigs fly. Shauna peeled her eyes away from the school's sticky, polished floor and speak of the devil.
Jackie's locker was across from hers, three lockers down. She'd wanted her and Shauna to finally have lockers next to each other because it was their last year but it hadn’t worked out, (un)fortunately. Her back was turned and her hair looked a bit wild (like a lion's mane) sticking up in the back. At school. Jackie’s hair looked out of place, at school. If Shauna didn't suspect something before, she definitely did now.
Her shoulders looked a bit slumped, contrary to how high she usually held them in public. Back straight, Jacqueline! She'd heard Mrs. Taylor say it so much that Shauna's back unconsciously straightened as she imagined her saying it.
Jackie was in her Letterman, with her black jeans, the ones that had little orange flowers splayed across the back pockets. Which was the only reason Shauna looked. Obviously. That thought shaked her enough that she realized she had been standing in the middle the hallway staring at Jackie for more than 3 minutes, like a freak. Jackie still hadn't turned around.
"Hey, Jax," Shauna called out softly, careful not to make her voice too loud, at the risk of it echoing through the hallway.
Jackie startled, as if she'd forgotten where she was, turning around. It was only then that Shauna realized Jackie had been wearing her "summer shades" (Yes, Jackie was uptight enough that she had designated sunglasses for different seasons and outfits. Yes, she kept them lined up on a designated shelf in her closet in alphabetical order. Yes, she looked immaculate in every single one.) they were huge, large enough that they covered almost the entire top half of her face.
"What's up, Shipman?" Jackie smiled calmly, as she made her way to Shauna's locker. Calmly, as if Shauna hadn't seen her jump out of her skin a moment ago. As if she weren't wearing her summer shades in mid fucking April.
"Are you...okay?" Shauna asked quietly, trying not to draw attention to them. But they were in the middle of the hallway and she was Jackie Taylor.
"Can we maybe, go talk somewhere? I feel like I haven't seen you in ages," This was so embarrassing, it felt like she was begging for Jackie's attention like some emotionally neglected pomeranian.
"I'm fine, Shipman!" Jackie answered in the flamboyant way she always did. Everything was always a fucking joke to her. Shauna's jaw clenched, her cheeks burned. That smile. The perfect prom queen, fake smile that she used to lure everyone into her orbit. She didn't usually use it with Shauna.
Shauna's eyes narrowed, she wished jackie didn't have those ridiculously huge and tinted glasses on so she could look her in the eye. It had been so long since she'd gotten to look into those beautiful eyes uninterrupted. When Jackie decided to avoid her, that obviously included their weekend sleepovers. (Those were Shauna's favourite days because they were hers. Hers and Jackie's. Not even Jeff got to intrude on them. Their days, where Jackie didn't have to care about what anyone else thought, be what anyone else wanted. She could just let loose and be. She looked her most gorgeous then. It had been so fucking long.)
It was like Jackie didn't even care that they weren't spending time together anymore. Shauna's eyes burned at the thought. Humiliating.
"Whatever Jackie," Shauna voice cracked quietly as she moved around her and made her way to the nearest exit, no real destination in mind.
"Shipm- Shauna wait," Jackie sounded distraught now. What she said next was drowned out by the sound of the school's back exit slamming behind Shauna, leading her to the yellowjackets' locker room. Why does she even bother. Jackie doesn't care about her. Doesn't care about what she does affecting anyone but herself. Shauna could feel the warmth of tears burning her retinas. Didn't she know Shauna just wanted to protect her? Be with her? Why did it always feel like she was begging for scraps of Jackie’s affection.
The familiar squeak of the door opening and shutting behind her echoed through the otherwise empty locker room as Shauna dropped herself onto one of the benches opposite their lockers. The scent of old sweat and mold had long since settled into the locker room's walls and it wasn't any different now.
Shauna let her now pounding head be cradled by her palms as she bent forward at the waist, eyes squeezed tight, determined not to let any tears through.
However, she was interrupted by the sound of the door opening and closing once more. Please, anyone but Jackie. Anyone but Jackie, please.
"Shauna," Jackie started, her tone quiet and hesitant as she took slow steps further into the locker room. No doubt looking at Shauna hunched on the bench. Of course it was Jackie. When Shauna actually wanted to talk to her, wanted to be with her, she was nowhere in sight but now that she actually wanted a moment to herself here she was. Of fucking course.
"I'm...sorry, okay?" Shauna's head hurt.
"Why." Shauna demanded, she was practically squeezing her head now, not giving Jackie the satisfaction of looking up at her, of yielding and forgiving her like always.
"What?" Jackie replied, almost startled. Her voice was lower than usual and it had that tired quality that seemed to be Jackie's norm these days.
"Why are you sorry, Jax?" Shauna's voice was strained, her throat doing that annoying thing it did when she wanted to cry. She wouldn't.
"I don't know, Shauna. You're...mad at me? So, i'm sorry?" She acted like it was fucking question. Shauna could hear the creak of the locker as Jackie leaned against it lightly, she assumed she was leaning on it, staring at her. Shauna seethed.
"Is that a fucking question?"
"No- I just-" She sounded panicked suddenly. Good. Jackie never could take it when Shauna was mad at her, or anyone for that matter, but Shauna especially.
"Where have you been these last few weeks Jax?" Shauna cut her off as she finally, finally looked at her. Really took her in for the first time in weeks. She looked awful. Well, as awful as Jackie Taylor could look. Her radiant, golden tan nowhere in sight, her skin had instead taken on a duller, almost sickly look. She shoulders looked stronger but she looked thinner too (somehow). Her hair was a mess of honey waves that frizzed as though she'd woken up and hadn't even attempted to pat her hair down, brushing or combing aside. The rugged look suited her. Shauna just wished she could see her eyes.
"I've been here-" Jackie lied. She lied.
"Don't lie to me Jackie!" Shauna's voice pitched higher. She was sure she looked a mess right now, eyes bloodshot the way they always got when she cried, hair a mess after she'd dragged her fingers through it and squeezed.
Jackie stayed mercifully silent, her jaw clenched. She leaned her head back into the lockers, her hand shoved into the pockets of her Letterman, seemingly giving Shauna her undivided attention.
"You've been skipping practice, you- you stopped wearing your dresses, you've been canceling our sleepovers and fucking avoiding me-"
"I haven't been-"
"And!" Shauna steamrolled over her, "And you're wearing your summer shades in fucking APRIL!" Shauna screeched
"I like these sunglasses Shauna! Maybe I just wanted to wear them!" Jackie raised her voice now too, arms crossed and sounding defensive.
"Bullshit! I know you're hiding something from me! Is it your mom again? You can tell me, Jax," Shauna tried to soften her voice at the end to somehow make it seem as though she wasn't ambushing Jackie about one of the things she was most sensitive about.
"My fucking mom? Are you kidding?" It didn't work.
Jackie pushed herself off the locker she'd been leaning on and hastily sped five steps to where Shauna had been sitting, just as she leaped up from the bench.
"I don't know what else it could be Jackie! So, why don't you tell me! Maybe try by taking those stupid fucking glasses off," Shauna yelled at her, even though they were nose to nose by now.
"It's nothing, okay?! I'm fine," Jackie screamed back, her voice was grating. She was so infuriating.
"You know what, Jackie? You're such a fucking hypocrite. You go on and on about me not telling you things, but you're exactly the same. You don't care about how I feel-" Shauna cut herself off with a harsh swallow. She could feel her throat closing up, her eyes burning. Why could she never hold onto that vicious anger she always seemed to carry around with her when her and Jackie were face to face.
It made Jackie soften on instinct, stepping impossibly closer unconsciously.
"Shipman, I care, okay? Of course I fucking care but I can't-" Jackie paused briefly, presumably to listen for anyone else entering the locker room before taking another step. She bumped her forehead lightly against Shauna's before resting it there, her palms finding Shauna's warm cheeks as she used her thumbs to sweep them softly.
"Ow," Shauna quietly complained as Jackie’s sunglasses bumped against the bridge of her nose.
"Sorry," Jackie whispered, with a quiet sigh.
They stayed there for a minute, breathing each other in. Shauna practically huffed the scent of Jackie's hair as they shared every breath, lips slightly parted, the tips of their noses brushing. Shauna didn't even care about how uncomfortable the sunglasses felt anymore.
"Mi dispiace tesoro," Jackie started, her voice barely above a whisper. Shauna let the words wash over her. They sounded beautiful on Jackie's tongue. Since when did Jackie speak fluent fucking Italian? What else had Shauna missed.
"There is something going on and I was avoiding you. I'm sorry. But it's only because I wanted to tell you so fucking badly and I promised I wouldn't. Okay? I promised. I have a good reason, okay? Fidati di me, per favore," Her voice sounded shaky and wet. Her hands shook slightly as they tried valiantly to soothe Shauna. What were those last words she said? Seriously what was with the fucking Italian.
"I'm worried about you, Jax," a few tears slipped down Shauna's cheeks which Jackie quickly swept away. "Is someone hurting you? Has someone hurt you?" Shauna would fucking kill them.
"Not exactly?"
""Not exactly?" What does that even mean?"
Okay, so, Shauna wouldn't know this but almost 3 and a half weeks ago, Jackie sat down to have a conversation with her parents. Usually, serious discussions took place within the four walls of her father's study but this was special occasion apparently.
She'd always hated going in there, her father's study. He had made it a rule from the moment Jackie could coherently speak and understand the English language (and somewhat understand Italian) that she was forbidden from it. Which in itself was a new concept. Forbidden? Jackie? It was such a foreign concept to her at that point. This may come as a shock but certain people may insinuate, perhaps, that Jackie was a little spoiled. It's not like it was her fault though!
At the time her father had never been a strict authoritarian figure, not like her mom. He had always been her indulgent "papà" that bent to her every whim. She was his piccola principessa. Their miracle baby after they'd been trying to get pregnant for years.
That changed as she got older though, when her father seemingly had no interest in her other than to repeat the rehearsed words of reprimand her mother had him memorize.
It started in the fourth grade, the talks. With her getting a B+ rather than her usual stellar A grade. (Jackie remembered her knees shaking so badly after their talk that she could barely make it to the door, he had been so disappointed in her), about her wanting to play soccer (she knew for sure her mother had put him up to that one) and again when she'd broken up with Jeff the first time (Jackie had never been more scared of her father than she had been in that moment. When he'd asked "Did he do something to you, miracolo?" His face gave away nothing he felt. His hazel eyes that mirrored her own were cold and his square jaw was set. Was he unsatisfied with the way she conducted herself? Was he worried? Jackie still didn't think he believed her when she said no. He'd looked like he wanted to kill someone.)
Jackie had never considered her father a bad man. Intimidating, of course, with his six foot frame, pristine suits and the fact that he was so fucking quiet all the time. Scary, sometimes. His cold hazel eyes staring at her from the other side of his mahogany desk, he always waited at least 10 minutes in silence. Just staring at her. It always felt like he was waiting for her to confess to something. Jackie almost wanted to, to get the encounter over with. They didn't spend much time together, just the two of them. Not since Jackie was 11 years old, not since he'd started to become more busy with work. (He never elaborated on what that work was, though. Jackie knew her father managed and owned different businesses across the country, one of them being "Taylor Furniture Store" right there in Wiskayok but she'd caught a few sketchy looking guys leaving his study a couple times in the dead of night. She'd never told anyone about that. Not even Shauna.)
Anyway. The weirdness, had started about four weeks ago.
Jackie had walked into her cold, lonely home after Shauna had dropped her off, and was met with the faint, hushed whispers of her parents. She could barely hear what they were saying but she caught a few words. Jackie inched closer to the dinning room where they presumably sat.
"She needs to know now-" her mother.
"È ancora troppo giovane, she isn't ready" her father. Giovane? Was that juvenile or young?
"E di che è la colpa, Richard?" her mother hissed. Jackie could make out the word "fault" in there somewhere.
"We should have told her ages ago but you-" she continued.
"Mamma? Papà? Is everything okay?" Jackie cut in sharply. As weird as it may sound, she didn't call them that often. It was always "mom" and "dad" (or daddy when she wanted a new outfit or to go out with Shauna while grounded.) The words, like any from her second language always sounded weird on her tongue. Too practiced. Too awkward. She really only knew some words and even then she only spoke them when they went to visit Nonna for Santo Stephano or All Saints' Day (which also happened to be Jackie's birthday, November 1st)
"Miracolo-"
"Sweetheart-" Their voices overlapped.
"What did we say about eavesdropping Tesorina?" Her mother said in that strict tone of voice that made Jackie's heart rate increase and shoulders slump instinctively.
"Sorry, I wasn't trying to. I just- is everything...okay?" Jackie's voice was tentative, hesitant. She caught her father's eyes. He stayed silent.
"Of course it is, Jacqueline." She answered as though Jackie were crazy for thinking that everything weren't okay.
"Your father and I just have something we need to talk to you about-"
"Marilena-"
"Riccardo."
Technically their names were Marilyn and Richard.
"Have a seat, Miracolo," Her mother gestured to the seat in front of her.
Jackie's heart was in her ass. She definitely fucked up somehow. Did her mother somehow find out that she had snuck Shauna into her room to have a sleepover two nights ago, on a school night? Did she walk in on them spooning during the night again? Did she see the way Jackie looked at her? Jackie's wiped her sweaty palms on her jean skirt, she was sure they could see the stain it left behind. She felt nauseous.
Jackie's right leg bounced up and down erratically under the table (she hoped they couldn't see) as she tried (and failed) to keep a neutral look on her face.
"Am I...in trouble?" Jackie tried to joke weakly, her smile strained. She could feel the all too familiar tightening of her chest and throat as she tried to get a handle on her breathing. It felt like she'd just run a marathon. She felt dizzy.
"Should you be?" Her mother responded, suspicious. She always did this. Tried to drag answers out of Jackie she couldn't even formulate herself.
"No," Jackie squeezed her hands together on her lap and averted her eyes so her mother wouldn't see. That was a lie. She should be. She should be in trouble. She was sick and wrong and so sorry. Jackie could hear the beat of her racing heart in her ears now. It was so loud. Could they hear it?
"Marilyn," Jackie's father cut in sharply.
"No, you're not in trouble Jacqueline. Your mother and I just think it's time we fill you in on some things. You're old enough now,"
She had no idea what he was going on about but at least she would live to be a pervert another day? Yay?
Of all the things Jackie thought her father was going to say, the fact that they were apparently a mob family was not one of them. Like, that wasn't even in the top 100 things. Like, she laughed in their faces when they'd said it because she thought they were joking. They weren't. Sure, they lived in a huge house even though the furniture store barely had any customers (oh my gosh is it a front) but her father owned other businesses, didn't he? And sure sometimes there were a bunch of weird guys at their family reunions that she had never seen before but that's just extended family! And okay, maybe her dad's work associates calling him Don and Capo was a bit odd, but she just thought that was an old man sign of respect of something!
There's no way. There's actually no way. Her head felt heavy as she made her way up the stairs to her bedroom. Her parents were criminals? And she was a criminal by association because she'd been happily using their dirty money for, Jackie started counting on her fingers, her entire life.
She's going to jail. Jackie slid her back down on her closed bedroom door. She'd die in there. She wouldn't be able to use her cherry lip gloss so her lips would get chapped and gross, she'd be forced to get a prison wife because her arms were too weak to throw a proper punch no matter how valiantly Shauna tried to show her. And Shauna.
Jackie's breath hitched, she'd never see Shauna again. She wouldn't get to smell her natural musk after a soccer game or be held in her strong arms or-
Jackie could sob at the thought. She wanted to call Shauna right now, wanted to go to her house and be held by her. She wanted Shauna to tell her they'd figure it out together but her parents said that it was a secret. She couldn't tell anyone, including Shauna. And Jeff, or whatever. Jackie would break up- have a talk with him later about the potential continuance of their existing relationship.
Jackie let out a pathetic groan as she tossed herself dramatically onto her bed. She tried to remember what else her parents had said. There was a "brushing up on your Italian" thrown in there along with a "sworn oath of secrecy" and something about training? Wait. Jackie raised her head so quickly she got a crink in her neck. Training? What did that even mean?
Unfortunately, what it meant was Jackie's father dragging her to some weird dingy bar on the bad side of town everyday after school, so she could get her ass handed to her by people twice her size as he watched. He had her waking up at four every fucking morning so they could go for runs together, had her doing a minimum of 12 laps in their pool every other day and doing fucking push-ups like it was fucking booty camp or some shit.
Jackie took back every horrible thing she'd ever said or thought about coach Martinez.
She tried to balance it all in the beginning but it was hard being heiress to a criminal empire and captain of her soccer team and spend time with Shauna. So, Jackie did the most logical thing she could think of, she broke up with Jeff. On the phone this time because she was too tired to do it in person. She didn't even have time to tell Shauna, her and Jeff broke up, so they could have their ice-cream movie marathon. Speaking of, this mob shit was seriously cutting into her Shauna time.
"What do you mean you can't come over this weekend?" Shauna voice was soothing even when she was angry. Jackie couldn't help but lean her head harder against the phone's speaker. She missed her. Her eyes welled at the thought.
"I just can't, Shipman. I've got a thing,"
"A thing? You've got a thing?" She sounded furious, she sounded hurt. Jackie squeezed her eyes shut and let her forehead fall roughly against the cool wall. Her parents weren't home but her dad would be soon to take her to "The Cabin". Jackie hated that stupid fucking bar. Her ribs hurt and she feels as though she hasn't slept in months.
"Yeah, a thing. I'm sorry honey, I'll make it up to you, I promise,"
"Whatever, Jackie. Love you."
"I-" The dial tone rung out. Shauna hadn't expected her to respond. Jackie let out a wet sigh and dug her palms into her eyes.
"Fuck."
During the course of what Jackie would consider the worst month of her life, on account of all the physical violence, exercise (at the very least her abs look amazing) and no Shauna, Jackie has had to; hold an actual gun (it was cold and heavy), she's inhaled so much cigar smoke that she's pretty sure she has lung cancer, and she's on the best terms with her dad she's been since she was eleven years old.
The people at the bar were rugged and intimidating but they were decent people. They called her Giovane Capo and there was a girl who looked to be around two or three years older than her, that had taken to calling her Bambina Riccardo, which was nice. She kind of reminded Jackie of Shauna. With her brown hair and soft brown eyes, she was really nice too. Rubbing Jackie's arms and bringing her water after training. Sometimes she would place it on Jackie's forehead for her, like Shauna sometimes did after practice was particularly trying for Jackie. All in all, the people were dandy. Jackie still fucking hated that place though.
The bruises on her body were a constant, (Jackie hated looking at herself in the mirror, even more so than usual because of it) it's why she's had to avoid Shauna. This may come as a surprise because of how sweet Shauna is, but she could be a tad bit protective. If she saw Jackie's bruised ribs or back (they hurt like a bitch by the way, thank goodness for her mom's collection of downers and thank goodness for Natalie Scatorccio's weed), she'd probably kill someone.
She's also had to forego changing in the locker room altogether so her teammates wouldn't think she was being abused or some shit. And she was all sluggish during practice so Martinez and Tai wouldn't get off her ass. Coach Scott wouldn't stop bothering her about if she was okay and Natalie of all people kept staring at her with something that could almost be concern, on her face. Jackie always avoided her before she could come too close.
After a particularly rigorous training session, Jackie got a little (a lot) too overconfident which resulted in her being clipped in eye. It hurt so fucking badly that she wasn't even embarrassed when a few tears slipped through in front of everyone (there were three people there, including her dad). Her father ended training early then, his face distraught. She could feel him stealing glances at her on the drive home but he stayed silent, so she did too.
At that moment she hated him. Hated him even more when she saw her reflection in her bathroom mirror, her eye was practically swollen shut, an angry dark red/purple. Jackie let out a sharp hiss as she tried to touch her left cheek. Her head was pounding and both her eyes were bloodshot. She wanted Shauna.
She was interrupted from what would have been another embarrassing crying session in the span of 20 minutes by three short, quiet knocks on her bedroom door. It sounded faint. (Was she losing her hearing? Fuck you, Elio.) Probably her dad. Hopefully to apologize and tell her all this bullshit was some big prank.
Not even Jackie believed that.
It took her way too long to get to the door in her dizzied state, her legs felt uncoordinated. She was so tired.
"Mom?" Jackie didn't mean to sound so surprised but she honestly would have expected the Waters' family parrot from across the street to swoop through her window and comfort her before her mom did. And he was evil.
"Aw, il mio bambina," Her mother placed her left palm on Jackie's uninjured cheek, her thumb swiping back and forth.
Jackie was frozen in place, arms glued to her sides.
"Papà told me what happened. I'm sorry baby," Her mouth formed a sympathetic pout, eyes sincere and clearer than they had been in a while. Her palm was soft, warm.
Jackie jaw trembled as she clenched it, her eyes stung and it hurt. A tear slipped out of her uninjured eye, which her mother swiped away. If this were any other time, Jackie liked to think she would've at least tried to appear stronger but she was exhausted. She let her cheek lean against her mother's palm as her lips trembled softly.
The next day Jackie had to wear her Summer shades (even though it was the middle of fucking April) because they were the only ones big enough to cover her eye as well as the faint discoloration of her cheek. It made her feel...out of place? Or maybe that wasn't the exact right wording. It made her skin tingle uncomfortably. Like that one time her uncle had come over for dinner unexpectedly (which was bad enough) and he brought takeout with him that her mother insisted they eat to be polite. It was fettuccine al ragù night. So, instead the meal, which had already been made, had to be refrigerated for the next day. That was supposed to be eggplant coponata night. It made Jackie feel off the entire week, spacey (and bitchy). She could tell her dad felt the same way.
Anyway. One minute Jackie was spaced out at her locker rehearsing her inevitable apology to Shauna, the next she was being grilled by Shauna in the yellowjackets' locker room.
"I took an oath, Shauna,"
"An oath? Like, in a church?" Shauna's face screwed up as she pulled her head back from Jackie's.
"No-" Jackie mourned the contact.
"Because that doesn't help me realize what the hell is going on here Jacqueline," Shauna practically spat at her.
Jackie felt like as though her heart paused for several seconds with how winded she suddenly felt. Not, Jacqueline. Shauna only called her that when she was seriously pissed at her.
"Shipman," Jackie whined, hopelessly.
"Either you tell me what's going on right fucking now...or i'm walking out of here right now and- and we're done," She was bluffing. Of course she was fucking bluffing but it didn't feel any less life or death than when Shauna had threatened her with the same thing three months ago or when Jackie had threatened Shauna with it four months ago.
"Still not gonna tell me?" Shauna eyed Jackie but Jackie's gaze stayed resolutely glued to the floor.
"Okay," Shauna moved to the exit and-
"I'm in the mob!" Jackie said, way too fucking loudly. Sorry Papà.
"Or-or the mafia? Whatever."
Saying Shauna looked positively flabbergasted would be an understatement.
"Jackie, what the fuc-"
"Okay? My-my dad is a-a fucking mob boss, which i didn't even know until like three and a half fucking weeks ago and he's been training me to be his mob heiress or something- making me learn more Italian and other stuff and that's why i've been all flaky," Jackie rushed through her sentence without a breath. She was was sure no one would be able to decipher what she was saying.
"What other stuff?" But Shauna wasn't no one.
"What?"
"You said Italian and other stuff. What other stuff Jackie?!" Shauna sounded hysterical, her eyes were as wide as dinner plates.
"Did he put a hit out on someone and make you do the dirty work? Do you have to hide a body?! I'll help you don't worry-" It was Shauna's turn to ramble her way through a sentence it seemed.
"What?! No! What do you mean help me? And lower your fucking voice," Jackie hissed at her.
"Nothing!" Shauna said quickly.
"Other stuff as in self defense training. Not assassinations. That's how I got this shiner," Jackie slowly and carefully dragged the sunglasses off her face.
"Don't i look tough, honey?" Jackie grinned, her real one. It scrunched her nose and made her dimple pop out.
"You look hurt," Shauna's voice cracked as she came to closer once more, her palm finding Jackie's cheek, thumb tentatively gliding on Jackie's discolored cheekbone.
Jackie let out a soft hiss, her eyes closing at the faint pain.
"Sorry! I'm sorry, sweetie," Shauna pressed feather light kisses across Jackie's cheekbone, the bridge of her nose, wherever she could reach.
"I wanted to tell you as soon as it happened, I swear, baby, but-"
"You promised. It's okay, Jax. This is some really heavy shit."
"Tell me about it," Jackie let out an airy giggle, it sounded a little hysterical.
"I'm in the fucking mafia,"
"We'll figure something out, okay?" Shauna pulled back to look Jackie in the eye.
"Yeah, okay," Jackie instinctively believed her. After all, when had Shauna ever lied to her?
"We should probably get out of here now though, we're definitely late for class," Shauna sounded so defeated at the thought. Adorable.
"Maybe, we could-"
"No."
"But I didn't even-"
"We're not skipping, Jax," Shauna rolled her eyes as she dragged a reluctant Jackie to the exit.
"Please Shipman? I'm injured and I feel like I haven't slept in years," Jackie pouted. Not that Shauna could see. The tone in Jackie's voice was enough though.
Shauna spun around just as they got to the door, staring at Jackie intently.
"Maybe we should take the rest of the day," Jackie couldn't believe her ears.
"Shipman. I think I have a concussion, we should go to the emergency room," Jackie's eyes were dead serious.
"Shut up asshole," Shauna shoved at her shoulder softly, rolling her eyes.
"We can just have a quick nap in the back of your huge ass truck or talk for a while or something. I've missed you, Jax." Shauna scratched at her neck, avoiding Jackie’s eyes. Fucking adorable.
"Yeah, okay," Jackie responded, her tone quiet but her eyes shine with fondness for the girl in front of her.
The squeak of the door sounded out as Shauna gestured for Jackie to go through before her.
"And you can tell me who the fuck gave you that black eye."