The next morning, Jenna arrived at school with Jake’s jacket carefully draped over her arm. The incident from the previous day still lingered in her mind, but she was determined to move forward. As soon as she spotted Jake near the lockers, she approached him.

“Hey, Jake,” Jenna said, trying to sound casual. “I wanted to give you back your jacket.”

Jake looked up, a grin spreading across his face as he took the jacket from her. “Thanks. You didn’t have to. I was just trying to help.”

Jenna offered a small smile. “I appreciate it. I’m sorry about yesterday.”

Jake waved her apology away. “No worries. It was just a dumb prank. I didn’t mean for it to be such a big deal.”

Before Jenna could respond, the school bell rang, signaling the start of class. Jake glanced at his watch, then at Jenna. “Looks like we’re late.”

They both rushed to their respective classrooms but arrived just as the door closed behind them. The teacher, a stern-faced woman, shook her head. “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to wait until the next period.”

Jake shrugged nonchalantly, clearly unfazed by the situation. “Looks like we’ve got some free time. Let’s just hang out.”

Jenna hesitated but nodded. As they wandered the hallways, Jenna felt a mix of anxiety and curiosity. She was trying to adjust to this new world, and Jake, despite his provocations, seemed to be one of the few constants.

After a few minutes of aimless wandering, Jake stopped by a less-trafficked corner of the school. He pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a practiced flick of his lighter. The faint scent of tobacco began to fill the air.

Jenna’s eyes widened in shock. “Are you crazy? What are you doing?”

Jake took a drag from his cigarette, his expression relaxed. “Relax, princess. It’s just a smoke. It helps me think.”

Jenna looked at him, torn between disbelief and concern. “You can’t smoke here! It’s against the rules, and it’s really unhealthy.”

Jake exhaled a cloud of smoke, his gaze steady on her. “It’s not like anyone’s gonna catch us here. And it’s not that big of a deal. Besides, it’s my way of dealing with things.”

Jenna crossed her arms, feeling a mix of frustration and worry. “You shouldn’t be smoking at all, Jake. There are better ways to handle stress.”

Jake raised an eyebrow, amused by her concern. “Well, not everyone has the same coping mechanisms. But hey, if you’re so worried, you can always be the responsible one and keep me out of trouble.”

Jenna shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. “I don’t think that’s going to work. I’m still trying to figure out how to fit in here, and dealing with your bad habits isn’t exactly on my to-do list.”

Jake laughed softly, the sound surprisingly genuine. “Fair enough. But you’ve got to admit, it’s kind of nice having someone around who actually cares.”

Jenna’s smile grew a bit wider, despite herself. “I suppose it is. Just don’t make a habit of it, okay?”

Jake nodded, stubbing out the cigarette. “Deal. Let’s head back before we get in more trouble.”

As they walked back to the main part of the school, Jenna couldn’t help but feel a bit more at ease. Despite the unusual circumstances, Jake’s presence had a way of making her feel less isolated. She still had a lot to figure out, but for now, having someone like Jake around made the adjustment a little bit easier.

As they reentered the bustling halls, the tension of the day seemed to ease, if only slightly. Jenna and Jake shared a brief but genuine moment of camaraderie, and Jenna realized that, perhaps, amidst all the challenges, there was a chance for something unexpected—maybe even a hint of friendship.