never think.

Is that JACKSON KING? Wow, they do look a lot like GREGG SULKIN. I hear HE is a NINETEEN year old FRESHMEN who are studying GRAPHIC DESIGN at Luxor University. Word is they are a REGULAR student who is AGAINST The Unhinged. You should watch out because they can be SELF-PITYING and ESCAPIST, but on the bright side they can also be COMPASSIONATE and RESILIENT. Ultimately, you’ll get to see it all for yourself.

As their kiss continued after the replacement of his hand, Maia felt her body getting warmer as she had the desire to kiss him deeper, with more intensity. She took the chance to let her tongue pass his lips in exploration, wanting to feel every part of him through the kiss. Her hand coming around from his neck and bringing it into his hair, feeling the soft strands trace against the skin on the back of her hand. A sigh escaping her as she felt his hand release hers and bring it around to pull her closer to him, feeling her body pressed against his, his warmth spreading and transferring to her. Bringing her now free hand to the back of his neck as she deepened the kiss, feeling a sort of desperation creep through her body, a sense of yearning for more as the kiss progressed. However, in spite of that, she kept kissing him as she was, her fingers gently and leisurely exploring his brown locks.

The emotion that Jackson was outpouring to Maia through the kiss was almost overwhelming, feeling everything around them melt away. No concern or worries for the fact that they weren’t exactly in private. It wasn’t a thing on her mind. The only thing on her mind was how without fail, after all this time, Jackson still had this effect on her, to make her flutter, to make her heart race. The love she felt for him never subdued but on the contrary was only growing more and more for him. Another sigh escaped her as she felt her emotions begin to overflow with their intimacy, feeling every movement of his lips as their pace remained steady and slow. As she felt Jackson increase the intensity, Maia happily obliged, letting her lips part as she continued the kiss, leaning her body against his and holding onto his hand even tighter. Feeling herself wanting to do nothing more than just be in this moment for as long as they could. Once she felt his hand being firmly placed on her hips, Maia found herself to be distracted as the memory of her being tickled came to the surface. A gentle laugh escaping her against him before she lowered her hand from his cheek to rest on top of the hand that was on her waist, gripping it gently before moving it around to her back and pulling herself closer in the same moment, her body completely pressed against his as she continued the kiss. After a moment, Maia brought her hand to the side of his face, her thumb rest before his ear while her remaining fingers wrapped around his neck.

Maia peered at him after her last words left her lips, awaiting his reaction, observing him. Spotting the look in his eyes as they spoke about Sicily, feeling his imagination around the whole ordeal with their honeymoon to Italy. Only prompting her to fantasize herself, what it would be like to be just married and spending their time alone, in a beautiful space like Sicily. Feeling her heart race at the idea itself, she kept her eyes on him as her thoughts ran wild with the images flooding through her head of what that would be like, what it would feel like to have that experience with him. Suddenly finding herself wanting it more than she ever imagined. 

At his reaction her vows to him, she felt her eyes getting damp just watching his pained expressed. Feeling her heart swell with how much she loved him, how much she purely adored him. Her eyes softening a bit as she continued to take in his reaction to her words. It was unexpected, for them to be having this conversation. It felt surreal, that her and Jackson were talking about getting married. Reflecting on only a year ago where the thought wasn’t even on her mind and now it’s something that had suddenly felt so real, so possible. Maia watched silently as he leaned in closer to her, bringing his lips to hers. She let her eyes flutter shut as her lips welcomed his own returning the kiss with a sigh escaping her lips. Bringing her free hand up to gently rest against his cheek as they kissed.

Maia halted in her tracks as soon as Jackson did, wondering if he was about to attack again as she kept her wide eyes open as she kept her guard up, waiting if she should take another step back. However, when he insisted that he wouldn’t tickle her again, she let herself rest a bit as she observed his expression trying to see if there was any hint of mischief in it. Looking down at his hand as he extended it out to her, she looked back up at him and down to his hand again as she considered the offer. Taking a step closer to him, she lifted her hand and placed it in his. “I’m choosing to trust you.” She said with a narrow of her eyes quickly before she took her place beside him as they continued walking, feeling a sort of relief to be making physical contact with him once more. “I more than like it…” Maia responded in the same tone as she mirrored his smirk.

Maia thought about them honeymooning in Sicily, liking the idea as she let her eyes look up a bit at the thought, nodding her head shortly after before looking back at him as he turned his back against the door, stepping in closer to him with their hands still together. “Sicily sounds nice.” She hummed in response. Suddenly wondering if he wasn’t sure about Sicily as he spoke again, Maia found herself being surprised by his following words along with his tone. Feeling her breath leave her, she let a soft smile take her expression as her eyes beamed at him. Staying silent for a moment as she let his words linger in the air between them, her fingers interlacing with his as she took a small step closer to him, the space between them only a few inches now as she lifted her head slightly to look at him. “Then… we could stay there.” She said. “Till death do us part is what they say, right?” She said, feeling her heart pick up its pace at the proximity of them but also at the words that left her, feeling the reality of them getting married at some point causing her excitement. 

He felt a certain warmth when Maia finally took his hand, truthfully relieved that the game of cat and mouse they had been playing had finally come to an end. Especially because a part of him still wanted to perhaps celebrate in a way for how easily they were able to come together in the midst of someone targeting their relationship in what seemed to be a meaningful way. Or perhaps celebrate his personal lack of intimidation by anything that Levi had said in the process. “Well, the Bahamas it is then.” He said, unable to get it out completely without a slight giggle making its way out with it.

Jackson simply grinned when Maia agreed in his choice of Sicily. Although, he was already convinced that they could decide to be anywhere and he would have been more than happy with it. If it hadn’t been for Maia’s beaming gaze, Jackson would have felt a sheepishness creep over him through the silence following his confession. His gentle grin rested on his lips and he peered at her, feeling fluttery even from her reaction. Allowing their fingers to lace, Jackson tightened his grip on her hand slightly and found himself straightening his posture a little when Maia took a small step closer to him. Their variance in height becoming conscious for him for a fleeting moment, offering him a feeling of protection over her for just an instant. He peered down at her through his lashes, peacefully anticipating what she would end up saying.

“I’m serious.” Maia pleaded with a giggle escaping her lips as she spoke, not really selling the whole serious thing. Maia really wanted to make sure to get the message across, all she wanted was to be closer to him but the worry was in the back of her mind so she needed some insurance that it was clear to go. As he mentioned the nice weather in the Bahamas, she pressed her lips together to hold back the laugh at his words. “Really nice… yeah.” She trailed off as her mind went to the day in the Bahamas, feeling her body heat up at the memory. “So… I guess we’re gonna get married in the Bahamas then?” She asked, finding amusement in the location pick.

“Yeah, I got most of my work done, I don’t need to do anything tomorrow really. I can fit in a wedding or whatever.” She said as she bit down on her lip momentarily to resist the chuckle that was on the verge of coming out. “Italy? Where in Italy are you thinking? The coast? Puglia?” She trailed off before listing another. “Scilla?” She suggested another one as they reached the door of his dorm.

It took absolutely nothing to get Jackson intoxicated with the sound of Maia’s giggling; a dreamy sort of expression coming over his features despite her attempts at being serious. He pulled his lip into his mouth for a moment before stopping in his tracks and turning back to look at her again. “I won’t tickle you. I’ve learned my lesson.” He insisted more seriously, the leftover dreaminess still pulling at his eyes, making them appear softened as he peered at her. He extended a hand for her to take, quirking a brow a little, knowing that it was a bold offer but hoping she would take it. He nodded with her question. “If you like that idea...” he said, humour coming over his smirk now but also kind of excitement at the idea that they would choose the Bahamas for their wedding; his mind immediately occupied with the memory of kissing in the water before their eventual trip back to her room.

Watching Jackson as he turned and continued his path to the boys’ wing, she quickened her pace to catch up with him but still keeping a space between them. She was definitely in arms length at this point but still far enough to run if she needs to. “Better not.” She said, hoping he’d keep to his word as she slowly warmed up to being closer to him. “Or you won’t see me.” She promised. Her smirk turned into a giddy grin at him saying our marriage, a grin that appeared against her will. Feeling her heart flutter over the words even said as a joke. A light chuckle escaping her when he mentioned the date. “I’m not against it. When did I say I was? I think it’s the perfect date.” She said in defense. 

With Jackson saying he’s good for tomorrow, Maia felt her stomach swarm with butterflies as she looked at the floor before her for a moment, another laugh escaping her. Her eyes moving back to the back of his head, she shrugged. “I mean… I think I’m free tomorrow.” She said, finding humor in making it seem like it was something that would happen due to her free time in her schedule. 

Another small snicker escaped when Maia insisted that he wouldn’t be seeing her if he did it again and Jackson shook his head a little. “You got it.” He agreed, thinking it to be too funny considering he only really needed to do it once to get his kicks. But of course he wouldn’t reveal any further evidence of having ever enjoyed it in the first place. Having Maia deny that she was ever against the April date made sense. It was something Jackson had really only made up on the spot when deciding to flaunt around an inside joke with her in front of Levi. And although it did make sense, the very prospect of them actually choosing the first of April for their wedding date flooded him with even more butterflies. He exhaled a quick laugh. “You’re right. Well, I’m glad we can agree... The weather’s really nice around that time of the year, especially in the Bahamas.” He said a little distantly, smirking with his words.

Maia watched as he continued to walk although she had stopped, wondering how much more he was going to keep going as she kept her feed in place. Once he stopped, Maia observed his playful grin wondering if he was actually going to confess or not. She wasn’t too sure of it given how he was in complete denial and so when he began speaking, she felt a sense of victory flow through her. A smirk filled with a sense of smugness appeared on her features. A light giggle bubbled past her lips as he apologized in his dramatic way, finding her eyes light up at him overdoing it but finding it endearing all in the same manner. She listened as he continued with his apology, both her brows raising as she wasn’t expecting him to bring up their previous conversation with Levi about their wedding. Letting him finishing speaking before she let a hum escape her as she let his statement linger in her mind. “Apology accepted.” She said as she uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on her waist. “You know, I’m starting to think that you tickled me as an excuse to post-pone it.” She said as she raised a brow questionably. “If you don’t want the wedding we can just cancel it.” She said with nonchalant shrug as she teased him with a hint of a smirk playing on her features, finding humor in cancelling something that was just discussed not long ago. 

Seeing Maia’s reaction to his mention of the wedding, the humour that had bubbled up with it continued. He felt triumphant in some way. Going from having some mean-spirited kid make some snide and jealous comment about when their wedding was, to being able to joke with Maia about it within an hour. It was a similar feeling that came up when the pair of them had joked about it right in front of him... only now the subject was theirs.

At the mention of Jackson being intrigued by the idea of Maia manhandling him, Maia raised her brows wondering what it was that he had in mind but didn’t press on it. Instead, she straightened her posture and inhaled. “Sorry to break it to you but I will not be coming near you to manhandle you. I don’t think I need to explain why because apparently you don’t remember.” She said, already figuring he would deny it once more. With the sudden motion of Jackson turning around to walk backwards, Maia knitted her brows together in alarm and confused as she slowed her steps down. Making sure that she was far out of arms reach. “I don’t remember green lighting this.” She said as she slowed her steps down. “Jackson…” She warned as she drew out the N in his name, feeling mostly alarmed herself, causing her grin to spread as she felt like she was ready to start running. Even with his reassuring look, she didn’t buy it at all.

Maia noticed his quickening of pace and she let out a side, the more nurturing side of her bubbling up. However his words were a sort of distraction for her. Feeling her cheeks heat up with her heart beat increasing, she parted her lips to say something along the lines of getting him to stop with his flattery considering how flustered she was getting but before she could he was already speaking again. The restlessness Maia felt not long ago was almost making her lightheaded at this point. Or was that the drink from Levi’s glass? Without consciously realizing it, Maia let her lower lip slip under her teeth, biting on her gently as if to stop herself from grinning like a fool at his flirting. Her cheeks turning a scarlet as they were only getting warmer, her eyes looking down to her feet as she walked briefly and sheepishly before she brought them back to him as he waited for further instructions. Releasing her lip from her teeth, she cleared her throat and crossed her arms over her chest before she stopped walking. “First, stop walking backwards. You’re going to fall. And second… admit to what you did. I want a formal confession.” She demanded. 

A string of gentle laughter escaped when she revealed that she wouldn’t be coming near enough to him to manhandle him. He simply allowed the comments about it to pass, despite his mind still lingering around the idea in order to wring out any remaining amusement he felt around it. She hadn’t green lighted the sudden change but all he could do in response was widen his eyes playfully at her, shooting his brows up for a second at the mention of it, his smirk growing. Hearing her drag out his name in a warning only caused a certain thrill to swarm his stomach momentarily. He found himself mirroring her grin, feeling how chaotic the energy between them felt for that split second. Somehow swearing he could feel her impulse to take off down the hall without any real indication that she felt it herself.

While his unwavering attention had been on her through this entire exchange, Jackson’s eyes narrowed in on her even more, watching up close and personally as his very words rendered her speechless for a second. Witnessing Maia fight back a smile had Jackson feeling restlessly eager, unable to stop his own smirk from resurfacing. His gaze took itself over the colour peeking out on her cheeks and a self-satisfaction rested in his eyes. The mere reaction encouraging him to dial up, preparing to continue. As per usual, he couldn’t get enough of seeing Maia blush. He would go all night if she allowed it.

Maia pursed her lips, holding back the giddy smile that threatened to spill over her lips, as Jackson looked back her, catching the flirtatious glint he had in his expression. The urge to close the space between them and embrace him was only growing, a restless sigh escaping her lips as she also felt the hesitance around approaching him when she fully believed he would tickle her again. It wasn’t a fun position to be in. “Why’d you say it like that?” She asked as she continued to follow him. “Are you threatening me with your hands being out in the open?” She asked, clearly not happy with anything that he’s doing right now. Pockets or no pockets, both felt dangerous. 

Maia took her steps carefully, fully expecting to suddenly stop and attack her at any given second. It was in the moment that Jackson repeated the mention of her wild card that Maia regretted bringing it up. A long, drawn out groan of frustration escaped her as she dropped her shoulders in defeat. “What if you hate it? Are you sure you want to take that risk? Just because you’re so desperate to be innocent?” She questioned while simultaneously trying to think of what the wild card would be.

“Threatening you?” He echoed, repeating her words in a very similar tone that he had used when repeating her accusation a few minutes before. “I’m just... really into this idea of you manhandling me, to be honest...” he revealed, a hummed laughter bubbling up amid his emphasis. Despite the humoured tone, he was fairly serious about his interest. Still making his way down the hall, arms still held in their elevated place, Jackson hopped once to turn back in her direction, walking backwards once he did. A playfully dark laughter escaping him at his anticipation to her apprehension around his new position. He offered a reassuring look, having no real intentions of actually tickling her again, having been able to milk out a long enough reaction for doing it even once. Though, he already knew that she would be wary regardless of any reassurance he tried to offer.

“ what can i say? i used to be a rebel before coming to this…, ” gelly voice trails off as she looks toward the hallowed halls, the aisles filled with polo clad classmates, khakis – it was living in an episode of gossip girl. shaking her head, she feels herself snap back to the conversation as her eyes focus back into jackson’s direction. “ let’s just say – a few years ago i was a completely different person and now – well now, i’m sleeping in libraries yelling out my high school mishaps while completely humiliated in front of a cute boy, ” gelly murmurs, a hand swinging to point into his direction.  “ anyway, all of this to say, don’t steal badgers. ”

Maia followed Jackson as he continued to laugh, simply listening to his laughter as she let out a humorous sigh at his giggles. She realized they were headed to the boys dorms. She then began to realize that she’s heading towards his dorm… which meant an enclosed space with him… which meant very limited places to run and hide. However, her thoughts were interrupted with Jackson being dramatic as he lifted his hands up higher. Maia lifted her hand as she held it palm up as if she was displaying a soft of foul play. “I didn’t tell you to put your arms up!” She defended as she dropped her hand with a scoff. “Put your arms down before I put them down for you… or keep them up but don’t act like I made you do it.” She lectured, the playfulness still in her tone as she followed him with a careful distance. “But keep them out of your pockets.” She said in a lower tone. 

Maia let out a “HA.” As he went back on his word, suddenly acting like she was doing this because he breathed. “I think you should really start to come to terms why you’re arrested.” She said as she used air quotes under the word, even though he couldn’t see her. “Because it wasn’t because you breathed. I suggest you do it soon, or I’m going to pull out my wild card Jackson, and I don’t wanna do it.” She threatened, although she had not a clue what her wild card was.

Lifting his brows a little when Maia insisted that she didn’t tell him to put his arms up, he felt a sort of self-amusement fill him now. Finding a certain appreciation for his own ability to bring an added flair to the scene Maia had already set up for him. He tossed a quick flirtatious look at her over his shoulder when she demanded he put his arms down before she put his arms down for him. A smirk tugging at his lips and his eyes narrowing suggestively at her at the thought. “Don’t threaten me with a good time.” He muttered, keeping his eyes on her for another second before turning them ahead again. “They’ll be staying waaay outta my pockets.” He said, shaking them a little as they remained hovered above his head. “Exactly as you wish.”

Dawn smiled at the other’s laughter, head shaking while she replied, “Some people love to argue.” And she knew that from the personal experience of picking fights with her mom on purpose, just for fun. Still, though, there was a big difference between expelling excess energy and emotions through a shouting match with a loved one and actually having to hold a civilized debate. Civilized being the keyword there. “But for me? I just love to talk.” She shrugged, leaving it as plain and simple as could be. Jackson offered some decent advice, Dawn’s head tilting in thought before she hummed. “Theater might also be a little too structured for me… Maybe eventually, if I get to be any good at improv, but not yet. – Are you in any clubs? Or other extracurriculars?”

☆ﾟ*·ﾟTAKING A DEEP breath, Avery shook her head. Jackson was one of the few people that with a simple question, could calm down the fire inside her. She dropped the scissors onto the table and ran her hands through her hair before dropping her head onto the table. For a moment, she mumbled to herself before lifting her head up and looking at her friend. “No, no. I’m just stressed and more… I don’t know, on edge lately.” She wanted nothing more than to let out a painstaking scream, just to scare those poor defenseless kids sitting in study hall with them. But she couldn’t do that. Not today. No, she’d promised Jackson that she’d help him out, and that she was going to do, even if that meant holding off on clobbering someone or cutting up all of their homework out of nothing but annoyance. 

She picked up another piece of origami paper and continued cutting the paper, trying not to think about what the other person had said. It wasn’t worth it and she really didn’t need to make anything harder that day. Not only did she need to focus on this project she’d agreed to, but she needed to do it for her friend. “So what’s the ultimate goal of this project?”

Through the few seconds of altercation, his preparation of the paper came to a gentle halt; almost feeling as though he should be keeping his guard up, prepared to scramble to his feet if things got too out of hand. One would think that with how much turmoil he had been repressing since his re-exposé, that witnessing any conflict outside of himself might feel as though he had been brought back to some kind of equilibrium. Instead there was a feeling of relief when Avery spoke again. He couldn’t blame her for feeling on edge lately, the confession feeling almost neutral with what had been expected of everyone at campus anymore.

Maia narrowed her eyes as she slightly shook her head with him saying he didn’t know what she was talking about, in disbelief at his insistence to really act aloof about it. However, she couldn’t keep the expression up for long as a smile broke through almost immediately after, a laugh escaping her. “My God,” she muttered in disbelief amongst her laugh. She was speechless, didn’t really know what to say in response to him. What could she say when he isn’t even acknowledging it? 

Maia simply watched as he reacted to her request… or more like a demand. Her lips parting as he turned around, finding amusement in his response to her as she let out a few breaths, laughing in disbelief at him playfully rolling his eyes. “Uh, yeah.” She said as if it was obvious that he did really do it. “What’s the correlation?” Maia asked as he recalled her words from moments ago. “Just because you’re the best thing ever doesn’t give you the right to put my life in danger.” She said, dramatically. Then again, it really did feel like she was in danger of dying from laughing when being tickled… so was it really dramatically? “Wait… what exactly are you getting away with? I thought you didn’t know what I was talking about.” She said after a moment, realizing that he had somewhat admitted it. 

Jackson’s laughter seemed to continue unwittingly with the sound of Maia’s incredulous laugh and with her pressing in on his response about having really done it. When asked for the correlation, Jackson simply continued to giggle through the very notion that he could do whatever he wanted now; really taking the time to find an immense humour in the countless ideas that came to mind, and finding it to be hilarious to picture Maia justifying all of it.

Continuing ahead, Jackson led their way down the hall, already turning to take the shorter path to head to the boy’s dorms. And if one thing was increasingly clear, it was that he had found Maia’s limits fairly quickly, for what she would be able to justify. He only laughed again with her suggestion that he had put her life in danger. The exaggeration sounding particularly intriguing to him coming from Maia, as Jackson had always been the one for the theatrics of the two of them. He felt his insides swell with infatuation.