The past two weeks had been the greatest weeks of Jeno's life.

He got accepted to his top choice college with half the tuition paid (which his parents were extremely happy to hear), and as a senior with the much desired 'accepted' status he basically wasn't doing school work anymore. Of course he did it enough to maintain decent grades, he wasn't an animal, but school didn't quite have the same sting it used to.

He also found himself feeling happier. I mean the boy was still shy as hell. Shy to the point that even ordering his drink gave him anxiety, but there was still something different about him. Besides, his friends never minded ordering his drink for him.

Being friends with Jaemin was one of the best things that ever happened to Jeno, Jaemin seems more supportive and caring than any other friend he had before.

"Are you gonna answer my question or are you just gonna zone out all day?"

Jeno turned away from the window to look at his Jaemin who had an unimpressed expression on his face.

"ON-velope" Jeno said, smirking when Jaemin gasped dramatically.

"Dude who says that? You pronounce it EHN-velope!" Jaemin was a bit too loud causing the teacher to look at him.

"Mr. Na Jaemin anything you would like to share with the class?"

Jeno snickered, Jaemin wouldn't let him get away that easily.

"Actually Jeno was just telling me about your fashion evaluating skills Mr. Suh." Jaemin said with a smirk. The whole class mentally prepared for what came next.

"You don't say? Well I'm glad Jeno here appreciates the finer things. Actually, why don't you come up here Mr. Lee? It's been awhile since I could use my fashion skills to help a lost case."

"What do you mean a lost case!?" Jeno whisper yelled, but still got up to go to the front. Meanwhile Jaemin was getting high fives and thumbs up from everyone.

Johnny preceded to obsess over how Jeno ties his laces and how he needs to choose darker clothes to contrast his lighter skin. The whole while Jeno was looking at Jaemin like he wanted to kill him. Jaemin knew what was good for him so when the bell rang signaling that it was the end of the day, Jaemin bolted from his seat and dashed to the exit of the school, followed by a very pissed Jeno.

Jaemin rushed to the gates to the building where their other friends had been waiting for them. The friends were surprised to see Jaemin charging towards them. Just twenty feet before Jaemin got to their circle, he was tackled to the ground and feebly hit in the chest by a very angry little uwu.

"You jerk! That was the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me in his class, oh my god how will I face him tomorrow!?" Jaemin tried to keep his giggles in but he couldn't. When Jeno was dramatic it was funnier than memes.

Jaemin eventually locked Jeno's wrists in one hand so Jeno just sat there straddling Jaemin who was still lying on the ground. Their awkward position got them a few looks from students passing by.

"Jeno calm down! Everyone will have forgotten about it by tomorrow. Besides, if anyone gives you shit about it then I guess I will just have to protect you."

Jeno sighed feeling defeated he got off Jaemin's chest to let the boy get up too. He dusted himself off and the others in their group come to join them. They didn't bother to ask what just happened, at that point they were used to it.

"Home!" Chenle squealed grabbing Jaemin's arm and dragging him away from the school.

"Heachan, did you hear back from the modeling agency yet?" Jeno fell in line behind the group to talk with a rather pale faced Haechan.

"Yeah Mark hyung and I got it..." Haechan muttered under his breath.

"That's great!....Isn't it?" Jeno questioned now kunfused.

"It's a good thing, money will be good at least."

"Haechannie, what's wrong?"

Haechan looked up at Jeno. His lips were jutted out with a pouty expression and his eyes were looking glassy. "Jeno remember when we were young? Before Mark hung transferred here?"

Jeno nodded solemnly. He and Hyuck had been bestfriends since before Mark was in the picture, though Jeno was incredibly thankful he was. It broke Jeno's heart when people used to bully his best friend just for being tanner than the rest. He was too weak to defend his friend, but when Mark got there and started dating Haechan, he wasn't having it. By the end of their sophomore year Haechan was voted as one of the sexiest boys in the grade.

"I'm doing okay now that Mark hyung is here, but he can't be there when my picture goes up on a magazine. What if the bullying starts again? What if it happens again and this time it's even worse and it never stops? What if-"

"Hey." Jeno said grabbing his friend's hand. Jeno could be the most supportive and loyal friend when the time was right, "It won't happen again, and even if it does fuck them. They don't know you. We know you and we all think you deserve to be a model. You have us."

Donghyuck looked up into Jeno's eyes and smiled a little. He lightly squeezed Jeno's smaller paler hand making Jeno smile back.

Unfortunately Jaemin happened to look back at the two only to see them holding hands and smiling at each other. He frowned when he felt a slight twinge of jealousy in his gut.

Eventually the boys arrived at the gates to the modeling agency. Mark walked to the back of the group and grabbed his boyfriend's hand gently pulling him along to the agency. Haechan looked back at Jeno who gave him an encouraging smile and a thumbs up. Jaemin noticed this whole thing and slung his arms over Jeno's shoulders shooting Haechan a 'back off' glare. Haechan luckily didn't notice and just turned back to go inside the building.

"Home!" Chenle screamed excitedly making Jisung look at I'm adoringly while Renjun pinched his thumb and forefinger together and pushed in between his eyebrows.

Jisung, Renjun, and Chenle had all been partnered together for a Spanish project. Chenle and Jisung were having the time of their lives while Renjun found himself needing to take advil more often than usual.

Chenle and Jisung started to skip in the direction where Jisung's house is while Renjun followed slowly behind, already feeling a headache come on. He turned and lazily waved a goodbye at Jaemin and Jeno who waved back.

Jaemin removed his arm from Jeno's shoulders leaving Jeno feeling cold. He turned back to him and smiled.

"Want to go get some boba?"

-------

"Strawberry slushie for the short one and iced black tea for the muscular one." The tired looking barista set the drinks down in front of the two boys.

Jeno played with his straw while avoiding Jaemins eyes but he was used to that. He knew Jeno was shy and when talking one on one it was up to him to initiate the conversation.

"Jeno....." Jeno looked up.

"I was just wondering......well what's your deal with Jackson? I mean he's mean to everyone but what's his deal with you?"

Jeno was unfortunately one of Jackson's frequently harassed victims. Jaemin, being Jeno's friend had prevented Jackson from bothering Jeno once or twice. He just didn't know why he had to do that.

Honestly Jeno wasn't sure if he could trust Jamein but he figured it was time to take a chance again; "Oh...well Jackson and I used to date. It didn't end well and now he's bothering me about it."

"Oh....." Jamein didn't really know what to say to that, "I'm sorry Jeno. Was that recent?"

"Pretty recent yeah."

"Well I hope you're coping well."

"To tell the truth I'm not really. I just don't feel as free as I used to."

Jaemin pondered that for a second. Jeno couldn't help but notice how cute he looked when he was thinking deeply about something.

"It sounds like you need a confidence booster. Have you dated since your breakup?"

"No."

Jaemin went back to thinking for a second before an idea finally came to him.

"I know," he said while leaning closer to Jeno who was looking at him with curiosity while sipping his strawberry slush, "Why don't I be your fake-boyfriend just for a bit? You can get a feel for what it's like to be in a healthy relationship while also building confidence. Once you feel good about yourself then we'll cut the 'relationship' off and you can get back out there!"

Jeno brightened up at the idea. He knew getting a new boyfriend would get Jackson off his back for good and he really wanted to try being in a healthy relationship but was also scared of commitment. This was perfect.

Not to mention the fact that he would be 'dating' a really cute boy.

"I'd love that Jamein thank you." He smiled at Jaemin who could barely hide his excitement. Although he didn't show it much he adored Jeno and thought he was the coolest person he's ever met. He couldn't wait for this boy to gain some confidence.

"Great! Well I guess I should ask you out then." Jaemin smiled triumphantly when Jeno blushed at that.

"Lee Jeno, handsome, sweet, smart af, Jeno, do you want to see the new Star Wars movie with me on Saturday?"

Jeno looked at Jamein with a hint of uncertainty. Jaemin realized Jeno wanted to know the proper way to accept a date. Damn poor boy's too scared to even accept a date offer by himself.

"This is the part where you blush and hide your face behind your hand for a second before you accept." Jaemin urged him on.

Jeno did blush, but he resisted the urge to hide his face behind his hands. "I'd love to go on a date with you." He said.

"Then it's settled, I will take you out on Saturday." The two boys exchanged warm smiles before turning back to their drinks.

-------

Heachan was the first to notice weird little smile Jeno had on his face when he waited outside the building of the modeling agency.

"Hey guys!" Jeno smiled at Mark and Donghyuck when they exited the building. Their modeling gig had just finished. "How did your first day go?"

"Someone's in a good mood." Mark commented.

"Too good." Donghyuck narrowed his eyebrows at Jeno who just kept looking at him innocently. "Something happened and I'd like to know what."

"Well..." Jeno started while they started walking home together "Something did happen."

"What is it?" Mark was now interested too.

"I got asked out."

"Really!?" Mark and Haechan looked at Jeno then at each other in surprise. Then they exchanged a similar expression to one another. Was it Jaemin who finally stepped up?

"Okay I didn't exactly get asked out. Someone offered to be a fake boyfriend for me mostly just to get Jackson off my back." Jeno quickly explained. Mark and Heachan dreaded the next question but it must be said.

"Who was it Jeno?"

"Jaemin."

Mark and Haechan had gotten pretty close and could effectively communicate just by looking at each other like on How I met your mother. They put this skill to use today by shooting each other glances behind Jeno's back until they were both on the same page.

They were going to show Nomin how whipped they were for each other.

A/n: Thanks for 1k reads y'all. Honestly it blows my mind that so many people want to read my stuff. Seriously thank u all.

-also side note: WHOEVER THE FUCK IS HARASSING MY BABY JENO BITCH U BETTER BE PREPARED TO CATCH THESE HANDS!!😡✊😤

seriously tho I know we call them idols but they're ppl. Respect their privacy.

Anyways that's all for today folks hope u enjoyed, leave a comment or two and I'll c u in the next chapter byeeeeee!