2

"Hey, you're Jay, right?"

Jay looked over, closing his locker and turning to face Leo who had never talked to him.

He narrowed his eyes, knowing about Leo but having never spoken to him before. "I am, why?" He didn't even know how Leo knew who he was.

Leo glanced around, feeling a little out of place since Jay wasn't the type of kid he talked to. He was a nice kid but he was... a little random, not someone who spoke to many people. They were on two opposite ends of the social ladder.

Leo was worried his friends would come over and start bashing.

Leo nodded, "You're friends with Annie?"

Jay nodded, feeling skeptical. Annie had mentioned Leo coming over to her the other day which only made this interaction more worrisome for Jay because he didn't want Leo to have any bad intention with Annie and his sudden interest in her.

"I am, why?" He repeated.

Leo licked his lips, still glancing around. "What's she like?" Leo wanted to ask if she was okay because judging from the two letters he read, he was worried she had too much to deal with that might get to her and he didn't want her hurting herself. He knew he couldn't just come out and ask that though.

"She's..." Jay paused, confused and taken aback by the abrupt question. "She's a good girl. She's very nice and kind to everyone, shy though. Why are you asking?"

Leo shrugged, "I don't know. I just noticed her and am curious, she's very quiet." Leo didn't want Jay mentioning this to Annie so he tried to play it off like it was nothing.

Jay nodded but remained skeptical, "Well, she's not like all the girls you talk to so you might want to give up. You don't have a chance with her, sorry to be forward."

Leo blinked, finding it mildly amusing that Jay thought he was interested in her for those reasons. "Yeah, no worries." Leo was about to walk away when he stopped, "Hey, maybe don't mention I asked. It was nothing."

"You got it," Jay mumbled, watching as Leo walked off.

-

"What?" Amari blinked, staring at Jay in confusion. "That doesn't make any sense. What does he want now? He hasn't spoken to her little less look at her in three years that they've been going to school together so what's with the sudden interest?"

"I'm asking myself the same things," Jay shrugged. "He told me not to mention it to her so I haven't."

"Yeah... probably best not to," Amari nodded her head. "I mean, we should but Annie's only going to worry like she always does and I don't want to make her head spin anymore."

"I agree," Jay added. "It's probably best I don't say anything unless he doesn't let it go."

"I just don't want her getting hurt again," Amari sighed, leaning her head down on the palms of her hands. "She's been through enough. We all know Leo isn't a good guy so let's hope he finds a new prey to move onto and doesn't get Annie involved in any of his mess."

Jay shrugged, "I guess so."