jackie turned the knife over and over in her hands, the sharp silver edge gleaming temptingly from the cheap school lighting that shone like a blessing, a prayer overhead. scars spread like a damning map over *he*r forearms, one that had lead h** here.
jackie startled, nearly dropping the knife, still poised like a sword of damocles over her wrist.
marco took all this in with a glance, and the instincts inside him fixed its attention on the knife, urgency screaming in his ears.
"jackie, drop the knife." marco didnt know how he kept his voice steady, with the DANGER DANGER DANGER screeching inside him, his heart racing and body flooded with adrenaline.
jackie stared at him with eyes that used to glimmer with life, but were now filled with a dull sadness, as if she were at rock bottom and didnt see any hope of climbing back up.
so marco, as ever with jackie, said the first thing to come to mind. "because i like you. and youre important to me." marco instantly flushed, hand on the back of his neck as he bemoaned, "god, that sounded super creepy, why did i say thaaaaat."
"why... am i important?" jackie asked, and she was blinking, some of that awful distance coming out of her eyes.
marco was struck speechless for a moment. "well, because... youre jackie!" when that didnt seem to be enough, he added, "ive... ive always admired you, you always seem so cool and confident, and while that might not be the real you, id like to get to know who that person is."
the knife clattered to the floor, and jackie pulled him into a hug.
"...alright." jackie sniffed through their tears, letting out a disbelieving laugh. "though if you want to back out, after, i wouldnt blame you. im... im a mess, marco."
marco pulled back to look at him, a smile on his face. "well, my parents think im a paranoid schizophrenic, so i guess we can be messes together."
jackie gave him a smile and offered out a fist. "mess squad?"
marco laughed and bumped his fist. "mess squad."
