CHAPTER THREE / assessing
modern romance

      As per instructions from Addy, the couple would meet at the library. As soon as he received the instructions, Jeff had gone out of his way to meet her as fast as he could after class. But he wondered, why couldn't they meet in the study room?

Maybe being at the library was more of a proper place to meet, instead of the cafeteria, where everyone was talking without being considerate of the people around them. The library provided a sense of peace — silence — and that's exactly what they both needed right now, a little bit of silence and only each other to listen to.

Besides, some privacy would be of some good.

Punctually, Jeff waited at one of the cubicles. He occasionally flicked his wrist, looking down at the time. He didn't know whether it was a good thing or not that he learned a new thing about Addy... she's tardy for most things.

From down the hall, Jeff noticed Addy's figure approaching the glass doors. As she passed through, Jeff couldn't help but give her a 'you're late'  look. She rolled her eyes as a response — she didn't need judgment from someone she barely knew, and she certainly didn't appreciate Jeff's response due to her tardiness.

"Calm down," She said, acknowledging his emotions, just to get it out of the way.

As she approached the cubicle beside him, she placed her black bag on the wooden surface. Jeff's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She'd made it seem urgent for them to meet, but she was taking her sweet time, even after arriving late. She stuck her hand inside, taking out two papers with scribbled words that Jeff couldn't make out, and two blue pens.

Jeff sighed, having a faint sense of what they would be doing, "Please tell me we're not doing what I think you're gonna make me do," He protested. His glare didn't bother Addy, she couldn't help but grin at his reaction.

"Oh, yeah," Addy nodded as she proceeded to hand him a pen, along with the sheet of paper.

Finally, Jeff would get the chance to figure out what this was all about.

"Questions to ask your partner." He read aloud, followed by a groan, "Are we really doing this?"

Addy replied with a firm nod, "Who am I gonna pretend to date if I don't even know the basics about them?" She questioned.

Jeff found her explanation more than reasonable. It was the truth, how could their plan progress smoothly without addressing potential obstacles along the way? This would be beneficial for the two of them. Even if Jeff wanted to fight her about it, he'd lose, terribly.

While sitting down, Jeff placed the piece of paper in front of him. Why was he nervous? It's not like he would get graded, because there were no absolute answers.

"Answer honestly," Addy instructed from the other side.

"Do I have to?" Jeff asked. Opening up wasn't his forte, and he tried to escape it while he could. But in a situation like this, it was hard to evade revealing any type of information about himself. "Maybe some things are better left unsaid," He leaned back in the chair, tilting it while he stared at Addy.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the smug grin on Jeff's face, urging her to roll her eyes.

"Whatever secrets you're so eager to share, save them for your diary," Addy quipped. "Or better yet, write them down on the damn test." She suggested with finality, pushing the top rail of his chair forward, causing it to fall back into place.

She hoped Jeff would simply take the hint and stop talking.

Jeff cleared his throat, "First question, do you have any scars?" He read aloud. "I could show you right now." He responded, instead of writing it down like he was instructed to do.

Nonetheless, he awaited her response.

"Just... write it down," Addy instructed.

In seconds, she could hear him scribbling down on paper, was there really that much history to a simple scar?

It did. That's why he wanted to share it. While writing it down, he could feel his sense of wanting to talk about it bubbling inside of him. "It has a pretty rough meaning behind it," He spoke up again, in hopes of making Addy curious enough, just to make her ask.

"I bet,"

"No, seriously. It's a tearjerker. I wouldn't be surprised if you shed a tear or two." He carried on with his insistence, which Addy could care less about at the moment. She was too focused on filing information about herself. But, unbeknownst to her, he'd been searching for the perfect opportunity to show off his body. And maybe telling a little bit of his tragic backstory would do the trick and even appeal to her.

"Shut up. I'm not joking," Addy warned, peaking over the wall that divided them. She carried on with her paper, hoping Jeff would do the same, just so they could get over with it.

Jeff scoffed, "Neither was I," He murmured.

After that, the conversation fell silent. Jeff understood that Addy wasn't joking around with the test and he didn't have any choice other than to comply. Meanwhile, there were no more comments from Jeff to annoy Addy, as they were both purely concentrated on their tests.

"Who's place do we stay in? That's easy. Mine." Jeff accidentally stated aloud, writing down his spoken response.

"And why's that?" Addy responded aloud as well. She reclined herself against the chair, her head looking in his direction, expecting to gain eye contact with him once he finished writing down his answer.

"My place is so much better than yours," Jeff declared confidently.

"And what makes you so sure? You haven't even seen my place," Addy argued.

"I don't need to see it to know," He retorted.

Addy folded her arms across her chest while her face reflected an 'oh, really?' look. How could someone be this cocky? "Uh-huh, then I better get an invitation soon to see that great apartment of yours!" She exclaimed, tone laced with sarcasm.

"Oh, you wish," Jeff mumbled as he wrote down his answers to the remaining questions.

As Addy shook her head, refusing to believe his cockiness, resuming her task.

"Done!" The woman announced.

A satisfied smile sat on her face, proud that she managed to squeeze out so many details about herself for Jeff to read about. Then, she went on to adjust her seat, pushing it back before moving it to face toward Jeff. While she did so, he mirrored her actions. The two of them are face-to-face with each other.

With a stretched-out palm, her fingers curled toward herself, beckoning Jeff to hand over his answers. And after exchanging papers, it was time to review each other's answers. Before going over them, Jeff looked around, just to see if anyone was around. But there wasn't.

His arm extended to reach for the front rail of her seat, slowly pulling it towards him, just so they could be closer. At the pull, their knees touched. Their gazes met for a split moment, making Jeff note that Addy was surprised by his action and sudden proximity.

He flashed his eyebrows, encouraging her to go on. Addy cleared her throat, placing a strand of her black hair behind her ear, one that was obstructing her view in her right eye. "I suggest you start learning every little detail I wrote,"

Jeff's gaze went over her answers while she spoke. He considered it to be a lot to take in, and he didn't exactly have a memory that retained that much, of anything.

"All this? Adelaide —" He was cut off.

Jeff's eyes were met with her index finger raised at him, ordering him to keep his mouth shut. Hadn't he heard her the first time she introduced herself to him? She would bet he was too focused on her features, rather than listening to her.

"I'll start by clarifying that I don't condone you calling me by my full name, alright?" She cocked a brow, waiting for his reply — that he understood her specifications.

"You don't "condone"?" Jeff scrunched his fingers, emphasizing the in-quotations in his sentence. "What are you? From the 1800s?" He couldn't hold back a chuckle. To him, it seemed particularly funny the way she would often use odd words in her sentences.

"Ha, ha," Addy mocked, a stoic laughter to answer his taunts. Pretending to be amused by his sarcastic remarks. "Very funny, Jeffrey," She teased.

His eyebrows furrowed. She never called him that. More like, she preferred not to address him as Jeffrey. The only way she could've known his full name, was whenever Shirley did. It was a small detail, but it bothered him nonetheless.

"God, Shirley and Craig are the only ones who call me that." He retorted.

"Ooh, Craig?" Adelaide teased with a playful jab at his abdomen, eliciting a wince from Jeff, annoyed by how she'd taken his comment. "I'll be the next then," She snickered, softening Jeff's annoyance into a light chuckle.

He didn't usually allow many people to use his full name, but maybe he needed to make some adjustments. "It doesn't seem so funny now, huh?"

"No. Not really."

"I think our relationship is gonna be so much fun," She released a satisfied sigh before standing up. As she got rid of his paper, folding it in half and keeping it inside her purse, Jeff folded the paper until it was a small square. He slid it into the right pocket in front of his jeans, making sure to keep it safe before he realized Addy had already started walking away.

He quickly followed behind her, trying to keep up with her pace. Guessing she wouldn't stop, Jeff opted to grab her attention before fully exiting the library. He wrapped his arm around her bicep, gently stepping aside, as a crowd of students began coming in. They were slowly being caught under everyone's radar — observed by all.

But he didn't want anyone to catch them unprepared for the spectacle.

"Hola, Winger." They heard someone speak from behind Jeff's tall figure.

His voice would be recognizable to anyone, especially if they had taken Spanish in the past year or so. Upon receiving no answer, whoever had spoken decided to reveal themselves to them.

Jeff slowly released his grip on Addy, "Chang..." and turned to face Chang. He let out a nervous chuckle, forcing his gaze to lower due to Chang's smaller stature.

Chang furrowed his eyebrows upon encountering the couple together. His eyes squinted at Addy, looking down upon her with slight disgust. This gesture didn't go unnoticed by her, as she took one step forward to confront Chang. However, Jeff was quick to place an arm in front of her, blocking the way and ensuring nothing escalated between them.

"Is this the chica who's going to replace me?" Chang asked, his hands resting on his hips.

Addy released a scoff-laugh, amused by Chang's straightforwardness. "Replace you? Chico, you unfortunately didn't make the cut," She shrugged unapologetically.

He gasped, "What? I thought you guys said you would think about it."

Chang couldn't help but feel betrayed by her words, especially by Jeff. He'd been pressing the study group for months about joining the group, but there was always some excuse.

"We did. And I'm sorry to inform that you've been added to our waitlist," Jeff replied with a tight-lipped smile.

At this point, Jeff didn't even know what he was saying.

He had hoped he would eventually run out of lame excuses just to avoid talking to Chang. But he knew one day he would have to come clean about it, realizing that no one else in the study group would do it. *

"You just made a big mistake, Winger! I'm going to chang your mind!" He yelled, pointing a finger at them.

"Stop using your name as a pun!" Jeff yelled back, irritated by the overuse of the joke.

Finally, Chang walked away, leaving the couple alone again. Jeff felt a sense of relief; dealing with Chang was often exhausting, and he had enough of him last semester.

"I think it's funny," Addy shrugged.

"It's not." He groaned.

𐙚

The study group, prompted by Annie's sense of urgency, called for a girls-only meeting in the student lounge. Shirley, Annie, and Britta settled onto the light brown couch near the vending machines, each positioned for discussion. With concern etched on her face, Annie initiated the conversation about Jeff's latest romantic involvement.

"It doesn't make sense." She declared, her eyebrows furrowing with uncertainty.

"Oh, I think it makes total sense," Shirley differed, "I don't see the problem with Jeff dating some Hispanic girl he just met," She stated, clutching tight onto her purse.

"I just think like it's a little premature, you know?" Annie glanced at Britta, expecting a response from her.

"I mean, sure." Britta shrugged, her tone indifferent about the situation. "I'm over Jeff. You're the only one still hung up on who he sticks his tongue into," She retorted, a little too harshly for Annie's taste — but she wasn't wrong.

Annie gasped, "And I can't believe I'm the only one who cares about what happens to him," She huffed, arms folded across her chest defensively as she shook her head. It was frustrating how they failed to see Jeff the way she did.

"That's your problem, Annie. You're always bending over backward for him, and he doesn't even care about you! He's too wrapped up with Miss Universe over there," Britta sighed.

Shirley shook her head, lips pressed in disappointment at the girls' fixation on Jeff. She found it hard to believe how much time they devoted to someone who offered so little in return.

"I think you girls care too much," She interrupted, "You people need to let that man be. He's a grown adult capable of making his own decisions," Shirley believed it was time for Britta and Annie to face reality.

They needed someone to burst the bubble of their Jeff Winger fantasy, an obsession that had consumed far too much of their attention in the last semester. Shirley refused to engage in the same melodramatic conversations, even if she occasionally found them entertaining.

However, indulging in gossip was a temptation she could no longer allow herself to enjoy.

"Oh, really? You people?" The blonde's snarl directed at Shirley ignited a surge of anger within her. Despite temptation to fight back, Shirley decided to hold herself back, her frustration with Britta still palpable.

"Guys!" Annie interjected, her voice tinged with anxiety as she fidgeted with her hands. "I just don't like where this is going." She confessed, prompting puzzled glances between Britta and Shirley, unsure of Annie's unease.

Britta gently placed a hand on Annie's shoulder, attempting to offer reassurance. "Annie, you need to calm down. Let's talk about something else." She suggested.

Annie hesitated, her trust in Britta's suggestion wavering. She often felt as though such diversions were merely traps designed to divert attention away from her own concerns and onto Britta's emotional state. Which would consist of her stalling and not admitting that she wants to talk about something, and eventually admitting to it.

Before them, the three women saw Addy and Jeff in the distance, talking with each other. Annie guessed that upon spotting them, the couple would most likely approach. After all, how could Jeff miss the opportunity to showcase his new relationship?

At the mere sight of them, Annie felt a lump for in her throat, "Oh god, they're coming this way," She murmured, fanning her face as tears threatened to well up in her eyes. The stress of the entire Jeff-Addy situation weighed heavily on her, more than she cared to admit.

Having an arm casually draped over her shoulder, Jeff conversed with Addy, oblivious of Annie's distress. Annie, however, couldn't help but notice, causing her anxiety to escalate. In an attempt to appear composed, she hastily fixed her hair and smoothed out her clothes.

She made an effort to present herself in the best possible light, masking the fact she was on the verge of a minor breakdown over a man. "Even the height difference is cute," She cried.

A new reason to dislike them even more.

"Honey, take a deep breath," Shirley urged, her gaze fixed on Annie as she gently tapped her knee, attempting to soothe her nerves. The key word being "attempted." Annie looked anything but composed. In Jeff's presence, she could barely keep her composure, and with each passing day, it only seemed to worsen.

"Hey, guys," Addy greeted the trio.

Only two of them responded positively, offering polite waves and smiles in return.

"You guys make a very cute couple," Britta complimented with a smile.

"We do?" Jeff questioned, earning a subtle stomp on his foot from Addy. Was he acting dumb on purpose? With a meaningful glance, she reminded him of their relationship status. Every given compliment had to be received. "Well, thank you, Britta," Jeff replied with a forced smile.

Behind his strained smile, he concealed the pain of Addy's stomp.

"Have you two kissed yet?" Shirley asked out of the blue.

Jeff contemplated various responses to Shirley's unexpected question. Her sudden interest in their relationship made him uneasy, and she didn't try to hide it.

Annie couldn't help but emit a scoffing laugh at Shirley's evident interest. "I'm sorry," Shirley whispered to Annie.

"Many times," Addy responded with a wide grin, trying to sound convincing.

However, Britta remained skeptical, "Oh, really? Is he a good kisser?" She pressed.

Addy leaned in, placing her hand beside her mouth so Jeff couldn't read her lips, "The best," she mouthed.

"Then why won't you two kiss right now?" Britta urged, hoping for some reassurance that Jeff was serious about this relationship. He wasn't known for commitment. He hadn't been the best with her, Slater, or Annie. Why would he be any different with Addy?

Unaware of the potential impact on Annie, Britta's curiosity about Jeff's behavior overshadowed any concern for her friend.

"Right now?" Jeff echoed, surprised by Britta's insistence.

"Yes! Right now!" Britta urged, growing impatient.

Sensing Britta's eagerness, Jeff complied, leaning in for a kiss. But as he moved closer, Addy didn't reciprocate. Instead, Jeff's lips met her cold skin, resulting an an awkward and underwhelming moment for everyone present. Confused, Jeff pulled back, while Addy giggled awkwardly and shrugged.

"Oh, he's so... affectionate," She chuckled, trying to defuse the awkwardness, but Jeff removed her hand from his chest.

Shirley frowned, "C'mon Jeffrey! Kiss her with passion!" She growled, her fist raised in front of her chest, eager to witness Jeff express his love for his girlfriend before them.

"Well..." Jeff smiled sheepishly, attempting to diffuse the tension. "I don't think this is the right moment, is it?" He shrugged, trying to evade an embarrassing moment for either of them.

His gaze shifted to Addy, their eyes locking briefly. He sought her approval, but instead he found a hesitant Adelaide, seemingly apprehensive about making the first move.

After her rejection of his previous kiss, how could he lean in for a second try without feeling utterly mortified?

Yet, as if a switch had been flipped in her mind, her eyes flickered with a faint spark. Maybe she realized that her earlier rejection was misguided, especially given her determination to put on a convincing performance for everyone. Now, it seemed, it was her turn to demonstrate their affection toward each other.

"I... don't see a problem with it," She relented, her words gentle.

Unfortunately, she knew she would remember this day very well, but for all the wrong reasons. At her disposal, Shirley shrieked, clapping excitedly. On the other hand, Britta shifted on the couch, arms folded across her chest, as she got comfortable to witness the following events. She wouldn't want to miss it for the world.

Under the eyes of their spectators, Addy swallowed her nerves, releasing a sigh before doing anything. She couldn't believe they were obligating them to kiss, not only in front of them but in sight of all the people who would casually walk by.

Eyes locked with each other, Addy waited for Jeff to make the first move. She thought she had already done enough by getting them to the cafeteria, and now it was his turn to commit to the bit.

Gulping nervously, Jeff's tall figure towering over her, he slouched slightly. Due to their height difference, he needed to place more effort into kissing Addy, actually getting to her level. Having his mouth at her eye level, Jeff opened his mouth awkwardly as he approached for the kiss.

He couldn't even bring himself to close his eyes. He wanted to ensure she would kiss him back this time.

Addy grimaced at the sight of Jeff leaning in for a kiss. She hated what her eyes were witnessing, but to escape this living nightmare, she had to kiss him back. Addy mimicked his mouth motion, her hands gently traveling to find his shoulders, holding onto them tightly, lifting herself upwards as she tiptoed to reach his lips.

From the corners of their eyes, the couple could see Shirley and Britta having wide smiles spread across their faces. Meanwhile, Annie had her palms hovering before her eyes. She decided not to torture herself by watching them kiss, but she couldn't control the impulse of doing so.

Annie's eyes were fixed on them, unable to tear herself away, even though she tried. Her fingers parted slightly, allowing her to peek through them as her stomach churned with discomfort.

As their mouths got closer, Jeff stuck his tongue out first, whimpering in the process. He could feel his neck hurting from the effort, he was flexing too much just to get to her. Addy also stretched her neck.

But, in a fleeting moment, Jeff felt one of Addy's hands reach behind his neck, forcing it forward, placing an end to the kiss. She wanted it to end.

As a result of this, Shirley cheered, complacent. Britta smugly grinned, admiring their commitment to everything. She even applauded them.

As for Annie, she released a high-pitched cry. She couldn't handle what she had seen. And, opposite to her friends, she needed some fresh air and to find something to distract her, rather than talking about it.

Annie left the room in a rush, leaving Britta and Shirley behind on the lounge's couch. Distracted with debriefing about the kiss, both Jeff and Addy turned their backs to them. Their disgust for each other caught up to them, feeling shivers run down their spine, their skin tingling, their stomachs wallowing, gagging at what they had done.

"That was... interesting," Addy murmured, evidently annoyed with the aftertaste of it all.

"Can't believe Shirley... out of all people, pressured us into kissing. Us!" Jeff expressed his discontent.

He stood in disbelief, having a hard time believing he'd given the worst kiss ever in his entire life. His kissing history had been impeccable before this, but he wouldn't be the same after this. He even felt bad for Addy, their first kiss had been horrible, and he would compensate for it with another, better, one.

However, he assumed that their disgust needed to fade, and kissing would be off the table for a while.

"See you in class!" Shirley smiled, waving at them goodbye as she stood up, having Britta's arm interlocked with hers.

Walking alongside each other, the two women left the couple to be with themselves. Pondering about what they had done, for the sake of proving that their love was real. As they watched them leave, Jeff and Addy stood in shock. They didn't know what to do with themselves after everything.

Addy pressed her lips into a thin line, finally regaining the ability for eye contact with Jeff.

"See you later?" She asked, breaking the little silence that grew between them.

"Yep," Jeff replied quickly, not wasting any time.

Looking at her felt like a chore, a painful reminder of the embarrassment that still hung in the air. It was as if a thick cloud of awkwardness enveloped them, refusing to dissipate. He assumed, perhaps, they needed some time to cleanse themselves from the awful experience.

Agreeing with a firm nod, they each made their way out of the student lounge, their movements hesitant and deliberate, avoiding unnecessary contact, their focus on returning to their respective classes.

author's note. As I edited this, I remembered the horrible writers block I got that day. To help myself cope with the struggle, I decided to watch 'The Proposal' (2009), because I had it on my watchlist for a while. And (I kid you not) the moment I finished the movie, I got a rush of inspiration and wrote what was left of the chapter.

Margaret and Andrew felt like variants of Jeff and Addy 😭😭😭