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Jesse pulled up to the only empty space left in the school's parking lot. Homecoming. His first one, and he wasn't excited at all. While all the others were pumped and spent weeks picking out dresses and suits, doing their hair and making everything perfect, Jesse didn't even find a date. Not that he hadn't tried. He just wasn't exactly well-liked. He was a soft-spoken but temperamental 17-year-old with no passion, interest, or skill in athletics attending a highly-sports-oriented school. The school itself was okay, ranked about 16th in the nation, but for him it was unbearable. Testosterone-laden gorillas who had barely enough sentience to throw a ball and call themselves jocks, besides the other calls: Mostly insulting ones for him, and catcalls for the girls.

Jesse shrugged softly. Most of the girls were typical prom-queen types, short skirts, push-up bras, and the like. Most didn't look once, and if they did it was because he had said something in class. The ones who did look were the worst. Jesse was the shortest kid in school, relatively speaking. He was 5'7, but that was pint-sized compared to the masculine, muscular morons he found himself surrounded by.

There was one girl, though, that Jesse had fallen head-over-heels for. She was taller than him, of course, but he'd been growing, and was hopeful he'd break 5'10 by the end of the semester. Her name was Kate, though a few people nicknamed her "Sister Kate" because she was the only girl to make it senior year without fucking at least one guy. Jesse sighed, rubbing his eyes as he thought of her again. Based on looks alone, she could've passed as "less attractive", but far from unattractive. The only things people found unattractive was that she was apparently too skinny, and didn't have much in the way of tits or ass. Maybe it was the hair. Jesse knew he had a thing for short hair, and Kate sported a cute pixie-cut-like do that was about jaw-length at most. And for the five years he'd known her, he'd been obsessed with her. They'd had something once, but once they'd lost contact over a summer, only to get back together the next spring.

He'd been about to ask her out when Jake Levent had practically swept her off her feet.

Jesse felt his nails digging into his hand. The tall, handsome senior was a longtime bully of Jesse. He was smart, but lazy, and got held back to repeat senior year, something which made Jesse all the more infuriated. Jake was self-centered, arrogant, unsubtle, crude... Jesse simply poured every negative trait he could identify into describing Jake. It didn't help he was one of the more popular kids in school. Girls spread rumors that Jake was apparently the most well-endowed male in the county, and knew how to use it. That, and Jake was the running back for the school's football team, something he took great pride in. Jesse had to admit, at least Jake was a little more coherent than the other players.

Perhaps the worst part... Was that Katie had fallen for Jake so easily. So fully. She was as head-over-heels for him as Jesse was for her.

Jesse covered his eyes with shaky hands, and opened the door of the car. His little Volkswagen seemed out of place among the Chevy, Dodge, Acura, and Mercedes cars that parents were so fond of buying for their precious darlings and brilliant sons. Before he got out, he grabbed a last minute-thing from the glove box. With his iPod in hand, and earphones already in, he was ready. He knew how to lip read, and the music in the gym would probably be pretty shit anyway.

He stood outside in his Bespoke suit, gazing at the lights dancing across the ceiling through the gym windows. "Why is there no such thing as a 'dance' nowadays?" He muttered. "It's all twerking this and grinding that... Before you know it giving a blowjob is going to be a dance move."

Rolling his eyes, he hit shuffle on his iPod, and smiled. Great Escape by Cinema Staff. Appropriate, and a favorite.

Jesse tried to enter the gym without shoving the doors open, but heavy as they were, he ended up pushing a little too hard, and that got him a few glances from those standing nearby. Jesse gave them a dirty look as he passed by, heading as inconspicuously as possible to the substitute bar set up on one side. Once he'd downed a cup of store-bought fruit punch- a typical refreshment at parties, he noted- he leaned against the wall and just watched the crowd. He was for once, glad he had a pork-pie hat on in public. It semi-shielded his face, so nobody really noticed him looking at them if they passed by, meaning nobody got that prickly feeling of being watched. Some satisfaction at least.

And then he spotted her.

Kate.

Jesse's breath hitched in his throat. She was beautiful. Her hair was swept to one side for the most part, almost like a swoop but it managed to be cute and a little more 'girly' than that. Her dress was just like the photo she'd sent him. Deep blue, strapless dress up to her chest, a knee-length ruffled skirt with a sort of silky train that reached the floor. it was... Different. But it was beautiful. She was beautiful.

Jake was dancing with her, of course. He was a good three inches taller than her, four taller than Jesse, and-- that animal had his hands on her hips!

Jesse wanted to throw himself in there, and give Jake a savage beating. Five years, and he knew all of Kate's quirks, and she didn't like being grabbed like that. She faked a smile and a blush, but he could see the way her hand shook slightly when he'd grabbed her. Jesse grit his teeth. When this was all over, maybe Kate would accept that Jake wasn't the guy for her. Maybe she'd give Jesse a chance.. The chance he'd never gotten, no matter how much she'd trusted him. He shook his head. No, he wouldn't get that chance. She was happiest without him after all.

The track changed.

Omake Pfadlib. A piano song. Specifically, a slow, quiet, forlorn-sounding song. As if on cue, the dancing seemed to slow down, some people parting to get drinks.

Jake was coming. Jesse dipped his head and stared at his shoes. Dumbass! He thought. He can see the hat!

Jesse didn't need to look up. Jake's baritone voice rumbled through the gentle piano, as the music quietened and slowed down outside Jesse's bubble. "Hey, Jesse Leander, right? Didn't think you'd come!" Jesse's eye twitched and he looked up. Jake was standing there with two cups of soda, one presumably for Kate. He had a slight smile on his face. "Well, I.. I figured I might as well see what it's like, considering it's my first one." Jesse 'mumbled' over the music.

Jake ohhed and smirked. "Yeah, I remember, you didn't show up last year. You were staying home. What for? Masturbating all night?" Jesse's eye twitched again. As a matter of fact, you insufferable prick, I was helping my mom who, by the way, is finally recovering from her alcoholism, not that you'd care, he wanted to snarl, but instead he shook his head. "i was working," he mumbled again. Jake nodded. "Ah, okay, working. So, looks like fun, huh?" He was being suspiciously friendly. This was not the Jake Jesse knew and loathed. "Yeah, I guess. How are you and Kate doing?" Jake's face could've been a Christmas tree. "She's having the time of her life. Taking it nice and easy on her, like she said. I'm gonna take her to my house afterwards, and we're just gonna spend the night alone."

Jesse almost hit him. You mean to say you're going to take her to your place so you can practice your masculinity on her and ruin her life because you're going to dump her like a piece of meat? He mentally screamed.

Something must have registered on his face that Jake caught, because the borderline 19-year-old winked and strolled off. Swaggered was more appropriate, actually.

"Jake!" Jesse called. The senior turned around. Jesse pointed to the hall outside the gym, half-lit so as not to ruin the mood of the party. "I need to talk to you about something!" Jake shrugged, and handed Kate her punch. For a second Jesse thought she saw him, but banished the thought as Jake came back, following Jesse outside.

The two of them wandered down the dim corridors like old friends, chatting about pleasantries. Jake talked a lot about sports, his parents being "too hard" on him, only to praise their son for every point his team scored like the team couldn't have done it without him. They could've used anyone at all on that team and still won, Jesse thought. Eventually, Levent stopped and faced Jesse, hands in his tailored suit's pockets. "So, what did you want to ask me?" Jesse made a big show about biting his lip and asked, "I was just wondering, how big are you flaccid?"

The response was as expected. Jake burst out laughing, doubling over with his face contorted in amusement. When he could breathe enough to talk, he wiped his eyes and asked, "Why? So you can be my bitch too and suck on it? Want to get it ready for tonight for me?" Jesse didn't need to think long to figure out who the other 'bitch' was. And nobody insulted Kate in front of Jesse.

Without losing his temper externally, Jesse reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out a matte black 9mm Sig Sauer. A present from his deadbeat dad. Leveling it at Jake's crotch smoothly, he muttered, "No, I just wanted to know how big of a target I have."

In all the time it took for Jake's head to register that he was actually in danger, he did the first thing a football player knew. He ran.

Chop Suey. Cello cover. Electric and classical cellos at perfect work. How fitting, Jesse thought, in a roundabout way.

He walked after Jake calmly, flicking off the safety of his gun. He knew everything about this gun from practice and research, and he knew the school like the back of his hand. This was going to be simple game of Cat and Mouse.

Jake kept running. He ran until he couldn't hear the soft scuffing of slightly-too-long suit pants between the linoleum and shoes. He took a second to catch his breath. Not out of exhaustion, he realized, but fear. Pure, unadulterated fear. He'd never been scared before. But somehow, that short non-athletic kid with the Sig scared him more than a solid wall of muscle known as the opposition. He sank down against the wall,sweat breaking on his brow as he tried to breathe slower, to listen. There. He could hear Jesse almost crooning. "Ja-a-a-a-ake, come on out, big boy. I thought you jocks fought head-on with the enemy, not run away like bitches." At any other time, Jake would've hit Jesse for something like that. At any other time, Jesse would've been cowed. At any other time, Jake would not be hiding for his life from a psychotic gun-wielding, technically-lowerclassman kid with a thirst for blood.

"You know... I didn't want to do this, Jake." It's a trick. He wants me to come out. "I came to see her, you know. One last time." Last time? Does that fucker want to kill Kate too? Not cool. Fucking low man. "One shot. Then I wouldn't have to deal with you, and she wouldn't have to worry about me. But then you called her... What was it? Your bitch? And I figured I couldn't let you get away with that. I want to make sure she can be happy with someone who'll treat her right. She deserves better than your sorry ass."

Jesse was crouched behind a row of lockers, just a little ways from Jake. Panting like bellows, typical football player-style. Jesse found himself monologuing in a somewhat dramatic sense. Drama suited this, he supposed.

Next song. Trust, by Nero Argento. Jesse smiled. Any other day he'd sing along. The volume was down now, and one earphone was looped over Jesse's ear.

Jake's voice finally echoed from the corner of the hall. "Look! I promise! I'll be good to her! And you! Just don't do this!" Begging for mercy already? Jesse's eyebrow quirked. Standing up, he slipped his finger inside the trigger guard and approached Jake's hiding spot. Two shots then. One for him, one for me. Kate will be fine. He rounded the corner, only for Jake to man up and floor him with a body slam that nearly broke something. As it was, the gun was forced from Jesse's grip as they sturggled on the floor, attempting to get a window for a grab at the gun. Of course, Jake won out, and grabbed the gun, leveling it at Jesse now. "Ha.. Who's the tough guy now? Huh, Leander?! Not so tough now, are you?!" The other boy tossed a kick at Jesse, who merely stared at him with an impassive face and eyes that, if looks could kill, would have reduced Jake to smoke. He wasn't scared, or sad, just... Angry. So angry that it hurt him.

Jake lowered the gun slightly, and cocked his head. "What's that look for?"

Jesse leaned up slightly, prompting Jake to raise the gun again, taking a step backwards. Jesse curled his lip, and spat, "Just do it." Wait, what? Jake blinked, and lowered the gun yet again. "Wh-what do you mean?" Jesse flopped back down, and held his arms straight up, palms open to the ceiling. "I want to die. What's so surprising? You made my time here hell, you took Kate away and planned to make her another one of your admirers, likely against her will. She doesn't like being grabbed, by the way. And she gets nervous.

The more Jesse talked, the less reluctant Jake was to shoot. "How long have you known her?" Jesse's head rose slightly. "Five years." "THat long, huh? Why didn't you ask her out then?" A sneering tone crept it's way back into Jake's voice. With a surprising amount of dexterity, Jesse was on his feet and glaring. "I was going to until you came along! What's with you and her, anyway! She's not even your type! Or do you just want to fuck every girl in the school until they're all your sluts?! Is that what your idea was?! Was it?!!"

Jake stumbled backwards. There was that anger. Suddenly, running seemed like a good option. Dropping the gun, he took off, back the way they came. Jesse slid his hand around the gun as he sprinted after the jock, only to skid to a halt outside the gym doors. He could do this. He'd shoot Jake. Right there. Right... On the stage. Where Jake was heading. There was a spotlight, and Kate was on stage, her lips curved in a nervous smile as she spotted Jake coming back in looking a little ruffled. As Jake got on stage, everyone began whooping and howling.

Jesse didn't even need to guess. Homecoming King and Queen. Of course.. Jake was always Homecoming King. The one year he hadn't been was because he wasn't able to attend. Seeing Kate up there, with her nervous but excited little smile, Jesse couldn't help it. He clicked on the safety, and entered the gym, just as Jake began speaking. Kate looked up slightly hearing the doors close. Her face seemed to brighten seeing Jesse there, and her smile widened slightly. Jesse found himself smiling back, the gun suddenly weighing a hundred pounds in his pocket. Jake was still talking. This time, Jesse listened. "Kate, I know we've not been dating for long, but I just wanted to say, I.. You're beautiful. You look amazing tonight, and I have to say, for the quote-unquote 'most popular guy', I think.. I'm lucky to have met you. I think that you and I are have our differences, but we can make it work. I'm sorry, too. For any times I've upset you, or your friends--" Jake's eyes glanced at Jesse with a sincerity that made Jesse inhale sharply. He meant all this. "--And I hope you don't hold it against me. Thank you all for voting us, but, thank you, Katie, for helping me realize the kind of person I should be, and not the person I was."

The others were touched. Wild cheers and applause swept around the gym, people yelling "Bravo!" and "You the man, Jake!" Some girls tossed their corsages to Kate, which was surprising for everyone. Kate was to girls what Jesse was to the guys-- less than, generally. Kate's eyes rose and met Jesse's, shining with happy tears. Her mouth was slightly agape in a silent scream of excited joy, speechless, and Jesse could see she'd had her braces removed just in time. This is amazing! Her eyes cried out to him silently. Jesse smiled, tears stinging the corners of his eyes. She was happy. For once, she was happy. No worrying about school, or friends, or parents. No worrying about him and his argumentative tendencies that got him roughed up. She was... Happy. Can I do it? Jesse started at this mutinous thought. He'd never questioned how tonight was going to end until now. Seeing her smile like that.. Jesse knew he and Kate would be up all night talking about this on Skype. No.

Jesse sighed softly, and removed his hat, running his fingers through curly brown hair. The dance was resuming, but Jake and Kate were still up on stage for a few seconds more, before coming down to the floor.

She's happy with him. Jesse thought, plugging his earphones back in and turning to leave. There's nothing for it, then. He began walking, until he felt a small hand tug on his shoulder. He turned, and Kate threw herself in his arms, screaming, "Jesse! I'm Homecoming Queen! Queen! Me!" Jesse stumbled slightly, and hugged her back, smiling. "Y-Yeah hon.. It's.. Wow. Who'd have thought?" She looked up at him with tearful eyes, giggling and smiling. "And I didn't know Jake was so sweet! I thought he was kinda blunt but he's so sweet! Did you see the corsage he got me..."

Jesse had stopped listening. His hand came around and shoved her away almost violently, causing her to stumble backwards and fall. She lay there, legs out to the side, hurt spreading across her face. The DJ hadn't changed tracks. The music was gone, and everyone was watching them. "Jesse..." He knew she'd say. Jesse was staring at the ground, his hand falling limp to his side. The gun was burning in his jacket, over his heart, and he reached inside, and pulled it out, flicking off the safety. Kate, getting up, saw him level it at the approaching Jake, who had frozen, and stepped in front of it suddenly. Jesse's eyes widened. "K-K-Kate.. M-Move..." He stammered, hand shaking, tears trickling down his face. He was scared now. He couldn't hurt her. He couldn't. Not Kate. Kate approached him slowly, and placed her hand on the gun. "Jesse... Jesse, put it down. What's wrong, Fluffy? Come on, tell me."

The sound of her pet name for him broke something inside him. His head fell, and his hand followed, shoulders quaking as suddenly he found himself supported by the slender girl. Kate listened closely, to see if he was trying to say something. She could only make out two words. "I-I-I'm... I-I'm S-S-Sorry..." He sobbed, wiping his eyes and donning his hat. "It's okay, Fluffy. Just relax, and let it out.. You've done nothing wrong.." She whispered in his ear soothingly.

Jesse stepped back from her, swallowing hard and wiping his eyes and nose, letting out a shaky sigh, running another hand through his hair.

Next song. Hurt. Covered by Johnny Cash. The tears kept flowing.

"I will let you down." He murmured in time with the old man's singing. "I will make you hurt..."

Kate took another step forward, towards Jesse. "Jesse? What's wrong?" Jesse looked up, and his eyes met hers. I have to. I'm so sorry, love. "I.. I'm sorry, Katie." He whispered hoarsely. "I... You look beautiful. And I just wanted to wish you two luck.." Kate's gaze softened and she began approaching him again. "Fluffy, you say that like you-" "I love you." She stopped in her tracks. "You.. W-What?" She gasped softly, hand coming to her mouth in surprise. "I have for the past five years. And I'm so sorry." "Fluffy, what are you-"

Jesse's hand came back up, and in a single, fluid motion, the safety was off, and the barrel was in his mouth, Jesse's head tipped up slightly. He heard the screams, he heard Kate shriek.

"NO!"

And then everything vanished in a muted bang and the ring of white noise in Jesse's ears as his already-dying body collapsed onto the floor.

The last thing his body registered before permanent shutdown was the weight of Katie's head against his chest as she clutched onto him, the muted broken screams of her voice as she pleaded for him to come back, and the sense of tiredness overwhelming him.

A full night's sleep, at last. Sweet dreams... My love.

---

Three weeks later...

---

Kate stood at the small marble headstone where her best friend lay. Every time she came here, she felt pangs in her chest. In her heart. She wondered if these were the pangs he'd told her about when admitting his crush on her for the first time.

If so... She had been right after all. She and Jake hadn't lasted after that night. A couple of days and they'd broken up. Kate still missed Jesse, and after reading their years' worth of conversations, she'd felt those pangs stronger than before. Kate blinked a few times, and sighed softly, a breeze ruffling her crop-top jacket as she placed the bouquet of roses, lotus, and statice on the grave, before she knelt down, and kissed the headstone gently, her fingers running over Jesse's engraved name. "I'll see you tomorrow... Love." She whispered.