Chapter Text
Life can be really hard sometimes, she sure as hell was well aware of that.
Sometimes, it didn't matter how much you wished or prayed for something to happen, if it wasn't meant to be, what else could you possibly do?
Anxiety had been creeping into her brain ever since she had sent her application a few months earlier, maybe even before that, maybe it had always been there. College was a topic she never let herself explore, being afraid it might be disappointing if her expectations didn't meet reality. Now though, it was different, it was real.
It’s really curious how one envelope can change the entire course of your life. For Jinx, it was amazingly unbelievable how a little piece of paper with silly words written inside can be what tells you what your future will look like.
Rain poured outside her bedroom, small droplets of water entered through the window wetting the surface of her desk. The room was silent, there was no noise except for the sound of her teeth clenching and her nails picking at the skin around them nervously.
She was sitting on her bed with her legs against her chest, forehead resting on her knees and her hands were now fiddling with the hem of her socks. Blue braids looked more like worn strings, eyes twitching slightly with dark circles underneath them. She had told herself she wasn't nervous, tried to convince her brain it was ridiculous to spiral about this nonsense.
Truth to be told, the idea of that envelope, placed carefully on top of a pillow right in front of her, saying all the wrong things was making her feel like throwing up. This could either be the start of something new or the reason she would admit herself into the nearest mental hospital she could find.
She definitely was overreacting and being dramatic.
A tiny pebble hitting her window knocked her out of her train of thoughts. Her head snapped up at the sound and she stood up so fast it made her dizzy for a second.
Once in front of the window, she glanced over at the street and saw someone holding an umbrella, their face wasn't visible but she could've recognized those shoes that peeked out even from a mile away.
She ran over to her room’s door and busted it open hard enough it hit the wall and a picture frame fell into the floor. She glanced at it but she really couldn't care less right now.
“Jinx! Everything fine? Did something break?” A distant voice asked.
“Uhh, I’m not sure, dad, I just need to get the door real quick!” She said, voice slightly more hitched than usual, while stepping down the stairs so fast she almost tripped over the last few steps.
As soon as her hand reached the door knob, she opened it, just a crack wide enough for her to peek outside. There he stood, still holding that umbrella. He was staring at his phone extremely calmed, totally opposite to the state she had been just a few minutes ago. He was wearing a green jacket with a white shirt underneath, beige cargo pants, his bag slung over one shoulder and those damn overworn shoes, the ones she had gifted him ages ago, he wore almost daily. His locks were tied into a bun and some of them were resting on his forehead framing his face in a way that made him seem so delicate and handsome.
Her tummy made a funny flip and her heart ached at the sight of him under the rain. It was for sure caused by her run downstairs, yeah, that was it.
She opened the door fully and the squeaky sound the action caused made him look her way. Once their eyes met, he smiled immediately.
“Took you long enough.”
Jinx smiled back at him while leaning on the door’s frame and asked him to come inside with a sly motion of her index finger.
“Are we waiting on someone? I do not recall hearing a knock.” Her dad’s voice said behind her back.
“Ekko’s here!” She replied, moving aside so her dad could see him.
Ekko. Her Ekko. He’d been her best friend since a few lifetimes ago, she was sure of that. There was not one single moment in her life where he wasn't by her side. The good days, the bad days, the terrible days, he was always there for her, and she was always there for him too.
Now walking towards her, he set the umbrella aside before stepping into her house. She clasped her hand around his and squeezed slightly when he got in, closing the door shut behind him, he responded with a low chuckle before squeezing back. They looked up at each other briefly before her dad cut off the moment.
“Shoes off, boy.” Silco said bitterly, staring at him up and down before returning to the living room.
“Good evening to you too, sir.”
Silco looked back at him over his shoulder and said nothing, he sat down on the couch and took the glass at the coffee table in his hands and gave it a sip.
Jinx scoffed and gave Ekko a bump on his shoulder to make him break his stare at her father. “Don’t worry about him, he’s just pissed at every person who dares to breathe near him.” She whispered into his ear
He giggled and tilted a little, balancing on one foot while taking his shoes off with his only available hand. “Yeah, right. I don't see you getting that treatment.”
“Of course not! I’m his daughter, he couldn't.” She replied in a mocking tone, batting her lashes at him.
“Got it,” -He said, now facing her- “so I just need to be his daughter or hold my breath every time he is close.”
They both laughed. He placed his shoes next to the door and Jinx tugged at his hand to drag him to her room.
It was really common for Ekko to be at her place. Ever since they were kids, they would hang out at each other’s and have sleepovers almost daily, even when she moved out of her old house, they had managed to keep it that way. It was really fun until they turned 13 and suddenly sleeping in the same bed as your male best friend was inappropriate. They never spent more than half a day apart, though. Same school, same classroom, same friend group, same interests, same hobbies, same music taste, even same dream college.
They had spent all high school being top students at all their classes and winning competitions in order to increase their chances of getting scholarships. If she was being honest, she didn't really need one, her dad had stated he would cover all the expenses and told her she didn't have to worry about it, but Ekko needed a partner for every competition and she was happy to be working with him. Besides, it wasn't as if she was studying her ass off to have excellent grades, she was a fast learner and pretty naturally brilliant, what can she say.
Both applied for the same university and decided they would open the letters together when the results came back. If they both get in, they will be together once again for at least five more years and the thought of it made Jinx all giddy and excited. She couldn't picture a life where Ekko and her were distanced for that long by being in different schools, that's why she had been so anxious before her best friend arrived.
What if she didn't get in? What if she had jinxed it? What if Ekko got caught up in school work and new friends and left her behind, all alone? She knew he would never do that, but the thought was still hanging there.
When they entered her room, she pushed the door closed with her foot and let go of his hand. Ekko dropped his bag into her chair, took his envelope out and went to sit down on her bed. He placed his letter on top of hers, but before he could get the chance to sit, Jinx took his wrist and pulled him closer. She had her back pressed against the door and her right foot still positioned against it, too.
He raised one eyebrow at her and she just pulled him in again, chests almost touching.
“I think you missed something.” She said while looking at him expectantly.
“Yeah? Mind to remind me?” He said, lowering his voice into almost a whisper. His face was so close that she could feel the ghost of his words and the warmth of his breath against her lips.
“Mhm, I will. Just this once, pretty boy. Next, I will straight up leave you standing outside.” She played with his jacket’s sleeve with a smirk. She looked down at his mouth briefly and then back at his eyes.
His breath hitched at that but he didn't falter for long. “Alright, there won't be a next time, then.” He leaned in even closer, she tried to back down on instinct but was reminded of the door behind her when her head hit it with a small and hurtless thud. “Tell me, blue, what did I miss?”
She felt her cheeks warming up and tried to dismiss it with a huff. “My hug. You missed it and now you've been here for at least 10 minutes and I still haven't hugged you. Doesn't seem fair.”
He gave her a full-teeth smile that made his cute dimples show and she couldn't help but mirror his expression.
“You are totally right,” Ekko said and placed a hand around her waist, pulling her in and closing the little space left between them. “how could I have forgotten that? I totally deserved to be left out in the rain.”
She felt the words against her hair and smiled deeper while placing her head under his chin, she circled her hands around his neck and nuzzled him with her nose.
They were used to being like this, touchy and comfortable with each other, it had never been weird. Touching, hugging, holding… all natural. Everything felt safe in the other’s embrace, sure, maybe they were a little clingy towards each other but that’s what best friends do, it’s normal for friends to feel like there was an empty void in their chests if the other wasn't close. At least that's what they told themselves.
“Don't you dare forget again, mister.” Jinx said, hugging him even more tightly than before.
“Promise,” He answered and kissed her head before putting a little distance between them to look at her eyes. “now I think we should get to business. There are some letters we need to open.”
“Yeah… about that, what if we just watched a movie instead? Maybe we could order take out and lay in bed, or perhaps just stare at the ceiling. Sounds lovely, don't you think?” The nervousness in her voice was obvious. She tried to sound calmed and relaxed but Ekko could see right through her, already knowing what was going on in her head.
“You don't have to be nervous, you know? I think we both did awesome and even if we didn't, I know we’ll figure something out, Pow. We’ll be fine.” His voice was so reassuring and kind, warmth spread all over her chest, but the doubtful feeling kept grounded.
“But what if I wasn't good enough for them? What if you got in and I didn’t and then we’d be apart for too long and you’ll forget about me and-”
“Hey, hey, stop that. How could I ever forget about you? Even if I wanted, and I definitely don't, I wouldn't be able to ever forget you. Besides,” He placed a hand on her face and caressed her cheek slowly with his thumb. “I’m pretty sure you got in, you are so smart, genius. Opening those letters is just a formality to confirm what’s obvious.” He winked and smiled fondly.
Those incredibly soothing eyes and that stupid face in general had always been enough to ground her. She hated how much she loved it. The firm presence of his palm against her cheekbone was enough for her to think that maybe, just maybe, he was right. She placed her hand over his and caressed back.
“If you say so, boy savior.” She said while playfully rolling her eyes, hiding how right his words had felt. “Okay, let’s open them before I collapse right now.”
They jumped into bed and ripped the envelopes open, read them at the same time and the room suddenly burst into tears and laughter.
Life was so silly sometimes, just a few seconds ago she was terrified and trying not to explode. Now, she was sure she did but for all the right reasons.
That moment had become one of the most precious memories that now would be engraved in her heart forever, wishing she could stay here, wrapped in this moment for eternity. Reassuring arms around her, the sound their feet made against the floor while they bounced around and the movement of his chest giggling against hers. It all felt so right. So good to be true.
She couldn't be more excited, they were going to spend their college time together and everything was going to be fine. She was with Ekko. They were together and nothing was ever going to change that.
At least for now.