The SecretBusterService status update: three hours ago

Dear students of Califur High,

It has come to my attention that Georgie Taylors had a little opsie daisy in gym, when he wet his pants trying to do a pull up. Now, doing a pull up is tough, but it's something else, really, to be able to claim that you exercised the piss out of yourself. In other news, Danielle Martinez, looking like a model fresh out of 'Fashion Disasters', was found making out with linebacker, Aaron Hernandez. I only have a gif for Jeremy Jones after this.

Until next time Lions,
Bond 007.

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Next time, when Daisy goes off too talk to mom, in private, I will eavesdrop no matter what it says about me.

At least then, I would have more time to fight against my parents' decision to ask me to take the tutor gig at home.

"Mom!" I yell out again, trying to think of any loophole, any way to stop this nightmare.

Daisy leans against the doorway to our parents' room, a gloating grin well placed on her face.

That little demon.

"Okay, listen," I start again, another idea forming in my head, "How about I take Daisy with me to a café or a diner, and we stay there until the session is over?"

I really do not want Daisy to meet Jeremy, but if I have to choose between letting Jeremy into my house and meeting Daisy, or just letting him meet Daisy; I would have to draw the line and compromise somewhere.

Mom came out of the room with a big handbag, her hair styled and set into a perfect bob.

"Honey, I have some really important work today, and I do not feel comfortable leaving Daisy alone. It's too dangerous with a killer on loose-"

"I doubt my presence would worry him if he sets his eyes on her," I muttered, "Oh no! It's Thomas O'Sullivan, I must bend over and wag my tail like a good dog!"

A laugh slipped out of Daisy, which she hesitantly turned to an exaggerated cough at one look from mom, who continued talking as if I hadn't opened my mouth at all.

"-And if you think a diner is a better option, then fine. As long as the two of you stay together, and in a public place with loads of witnesses, go there!" 

Win! Was it a true win?

Before I could think that over she kissed both our foreheads, and ushered us out of the house, locking the door behind.

..

"So, tell me again," Jeremy asked the third time, "We're not studying at the library?"

"Maths isn't the only thing you have trouble understanding, huh?"

He narrowed his eyes at me, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you would so openly use me to elevate your social status. It's like you're not even trying to be subtle about it. 'We'll study at Frank's Diner'," he imitated me, (and disturbingly well, too, on a second thought) "Literally everyone from school goes to Frank's, like all the time. All those people will see us together."

Social status? Ha. As if I would ever need the help of that dimwitted brain fart in the shape of a jacked human to elevate my social standing. I was elevated enough, thank you very much. 2 inches more elevated than him, that little shit.

"Damn, Jones," I whistled, however, "Those were complete, coherent statements! And all on your first try, too! Amazing progress! Should I record this moment to celebrate your achievements in the future?"

He glared right back, turning in the passenger seat of my car, "Oh, sure. Just don't forget to record the part where I beat the shit out of you."

My knuckles turned white, as I gripped the steering wheel so I hard, I thought I might just dent it.

"You've definitely climbed up the ladder, then," my words barely leaving my clenched jaw. "You don't just watch people getting beaten up now, you do it yourself. Wish I could say I'm surprised, but it seems like the only way forward, doesn't it?"

All fight left his body at my words, and he slumped in his seat. His reaction made me angrier.

"What?" I was itching for an argument. "Don't tell me you suddenly have a conscience."

He shook his head, and looked outside the window before speaking again, "I was- wait. Why are we going to a middle school? You missed the turn to Frank's place."

"I don't miss shit."

Jeremy sighed beside me, holding his palms out in front of his chest. 

Daisy was already waiting outside the school building with a few of her friends. They start giggling as soon as we stop in front of them, looking through their lashes at Jeremy. His smirk is back in place (wow, what a shocker, that one), making me roll my eyes. Two of her friends give me shy smiles, and I return a small, awkward one in return. 

They're literally kids, only in sixth grade. The only feeling I have towards them is the same protectiveness as I have for Daisy, and nothing more. 

"Daisy, come on, get in," I signal at her with a nod towards the back seat. "You girls should also go home quickly. It isn't safe to stay out for long these days, okay?"

They chorus out a symphony of yeses and okays, but I still don't drive off until I see them all leave, mostly with some family member or other. 

Finally, when the last girl leaves, I start the ignition. 

Daisy and Jeremy, in the mean time, have become more acquainted that I would like. 

"Everyone was so jealous, oh my god!" She exclaimed, beaming at Jeremy. "Most of them have a serious crush on you. I'm so glad Tom couldn't get out of bringing me with the two of you! There was a moment there when mom asked him to look out for me today, when I thought he was going to burst but-"

"That's enough, Daze."

She stuck out her tongue behind me, and I grinned, "I saw that, and maybe I'll just decide not to pay for your pizza after all."

Jeremy who had been watching our interaction with extreme interest butted in, "Don't worry, kid. You stick your tongue out as much as you like and I'll pay for whatever you want."

If I had thought she'd been beaming at Jeremy before, then she definitely turned into pure light at that unbridled support. 

"The last time I saw you, you had probably just lost your front teeth. You looked like the opposite of a bunny. We had been calling you anti-bunny," Jeremy reminisced, looking back at her. 

I remembered, of course, the time he was talking about. We had stopped talking sometime after that. The name had been Timothy's creation. Jeremy had thought it was harmless fun, but I had seen the malice in Timothy's eyes. Daisy had not liked the name at all.

She pouted at Jeremy's words; the thought of being remembered as the 'anti' of one of her most favourite animals not really sitting well with her, just like it hadn't the last time.

Jeremy clearly did not seem to realise most of these things. 

I was having a hard time believing he couldn't read all these undertones, but in all fairness, he had always been the person to keep more to himself. Apparently some things never change.

Despite the small hiccup, Daisy regained her spirit and stubbornness. This was, after all, her golden chance to talk to a 'star'.

"Jeremy?"

"Yeah?" he said without looking back.

"Your friends call you JJ, right?" She asked, leaning forward in the space between Jeremy and I. "Does Tom call you JJ, too?"

He grimaced at her questions, but recovered quickly, "Well, mostly the guys I play with call me JJ. It's not that much of a 'friend' thing."

I couldn't help myself as I added, "He likes being called Princess JJ, actually. You should never miss his title, Daze. It's rude."

She giggled and Jeremy stared daggers at me. I shrugged back, as if to say it wasn't a bad thing to be famous among middle school girls as 'Princess JJ'.

"That's how we're playing?" He asked me, crossing his arms across his chest. My eyes involuntarily went to the bulge in his biceps. Did he hit the gym right before getting in the car? What the hell?

Blissfully (and thankfully) unaware of my thoughts, he turned to face Daisy again, "Your brother does talk a lot for someone who would refuse to go anywhere without his favourite stuffed bear- Mona Lisa."

I hit the breaks too fast. "You son of-"

Whatever I had to say (most of it profanities) was drowned out by Daisy's squeaky exclamation, "Mona Lisa was your toy?! I thought it was mom's old bear. She had said it had been passed down through generations- and OH MY GOD!"

Five minutes later we arrived at the diner, Jeremy and Daisy still laughing. I felt as if my face was permanently disfigured into a scowl.

See, this is why I did not want the two of them spending time together. Okay, so maybe this wasn't the exact reason, but close enough. 

Much like Jeremy had predicted, the place wasn't entirely packed, but most of the customers were kids I recognised from school. A couple of them stared at us, as we passed. All those people fist-bumped Jeremy, while a few of them sent respectful nods in my direction. 

How were we ever going to study here?

Daisy and I started looking around for an empty booth to hog, but Jeremy quickly shut down that idea and took us to the corner of the room. 

A most glorious space- no intruders.

Being at the end of the diner, a person would have to go out of their way to come to us, and the chances of us being disturbed were almost negligible.

Daisy nodded appreciatively, threw her bag across the seat on the right, and made a dash to get her order in. She already knew what I liked and wanted, and I had a fleeting suspicion that the little stalker somehow also knew which pizza Jeremy would want to get. Middle school girls could be so creepy sometimes.

I slid on to the right side too, getting in and putting her bag beside me. Jeremy decided to take the left.

"Cool spot," I offered begrudgingly, "Did you threaten the owner to always keep it closed off for everyone but you?"

He gave me smug look, "Something like that."

The afternoon sunlight spilled in through the windows, making his hair shine and appear almost golden. His eyes looked a brighter green too, like the colour of freshly mowed grass. He looked so pure and human in that moment, so angelic really, that I averted my eyes.

Angelic? 

I understood now, why Lucifer was called the brightest star.

The Devil has to tempt you. And it's a lot easier to convince people to sin when your looks entice and invite. Daisy was going to be easily susceptible to him. 

I need to intervene before things moved ahead. For her sake.

"Jones, just to be clear about something," I looked him straight in the eye, "Daisy likes you. She seems to be comfortable around you." He nodded, confused at where I was leading with that. "If you do anything, or say anything, that would upset her even in the slightest..."

I let my threat hang.

His eyes darkened, and the moment passed. He was back to being a horror. Good. This was good. This was what I was used to, this is what I knew how to deal with.

"Listen, O'Sullivan," he leaned in, the offence taken straight to heart, "She's a good kid and I would never hurt her. And I get it, you don't like me. I can live with that. But don't you dare say that I would put her in danger on purpose. You don't know me, man."

"I know you well enough-"

"No, you don't. You haven't known shit about me for a long time. I don't enjoy hurting others for no reason."

He leaned back, his chest raising and falling quickly, but the anger fading out of him just as fast. 

He looked over at me once more, and added, "Fuck you."

I snorted, but a weird, anxious feeling spread through me.

I did not think I regretted threatening him. I never regretted taking such precautions whenever Daisy was concerned. 

Then why was I feeling so uncomfortable?

--------------

Hey y'all,

I cannot explain in words how much I liked writing this chapter (and words are literally my favourite form of communication, although recently I feel like I'm becoming more of an emoji girl) and how much I love Tom and Princess JJ's interactions. There is sooo much of tension, uff.

I certainly hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing so far.

See you soon,

Byeeeee