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The hallways of Piltover Academy were bustling with students eagerly trying to get to their lockers as the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Chatter bounced off the walls as students discussed their afternoon plans or complained about the homework they had to do.
Ekko was at his locker as his friends around him discussed their latest assignment. He packed the books he didn't need back into his locker and double checked his timetable before closing his locker as he listened to his friends make plans to study together in the library.
"Sorry guys. Miss Medarda asked me to fill in for detention today. Don't worry we'll brain storm the assignment after dinner."
"I swear all you do these days are your prefect duties! You gotta relax Ekko!"
"I don't really have that as an option but I'll take it up with Principal Heimendinger," Ekko laughed before saying goodbye and made his way through the sea of students.
The hallways emptied out quickly with students heading to their extra murals or the library and soon, only the stay sounds of laughter and footsteps. Ekko walked up the stairs to the English corridor and to the classroom before walking in. The familiar cream walls with posters of literature quotes and the white board filled with Miss Medarda's cursive handwriting from the last lesson greeted him. There were two students on cleaning duty, the one sweeping the floors and the other erasing the whiteboard. Miss Medarda looked up from her desk and gave him a smile as she closed her book.
“Ah, right on time as always. Thank you for being able to do this last minute, Ekko. I completely forgot I had a meeting with Principal Heimendinger and Mr. Talis this afternoon.” she said and he placed his bag down next to her desk.
“It’s no problem, Miss Medarda. I’ll lock up once detention is over. Who’s supposed to be here today?”
“Just the usual suspect,” she said dryly as she handed over the clipboard and his stomach tightened when he saw the name.
“Again? That’s the fourth time this week!”
Miss Medarda was about to answer him before the two students announced that were done cleaning the classroom. The teacher smiled before dismissing them and they greeted Ekko with shy smiles and he waved at them before they left the class.
“Jinx set off a stink bomb in the boy’s locker room yesterday. You know she’s been a troublemaker since last year, but I’m hoping that some of your attitude will rub off on her today. She seems to respect you more than the other students.”
Ekko could only nod, knowing that every interaction he had with Jinx was futile. She’d only laugh in his face when he’d threaten to give her detention or flirt with him until he was a flustered mess. It could be because of the crush he had on her since they were young but he was eighteen now. He should know not to let his feelings corrupt his rational thoughts.
He shouldn't let her get to his head but that didn't stop him from defending her.
"I think she just gets bored of the usual school routine. She's really smart and is almost at the top of every class."
"Almost?" Miss Medarda asked and he flushed under her gaze.
"It's mostly a tie between the two of us...she likes the competition so that's why I think she's taken a liking towards me...or at least tolerates me."
Miss Medarda nodded thoughtfully before getting up from her desk.
"While I do think it's sweet that you look for the best in people, there's no excuse as to why she threw a stink bomb in the boy's locker room. Now, the keys are here, and here's the paper she needs to write out her punishment. It was lovely to talk to you Ekko but I must get going. Please remember that Jinx needs to hand in her lines once the two hours are up."
He nodded and watched the English teacher leave the room. He heard the echo of her footsteps down the corridor and down the stairs and he sagged in Miss Medarda's chair before a familiar voice made him look up to the doorway.
"It's so sweet how you try to convince all the teachers that I'm not that bad, Boy Savior, but really, let them think I'm a menace. I enjoy it," Jinx said with a grin.
"How long have you been standing there?" he yelled and she skipped into the classroom before closing the door.
"Long enough," she said as she shrugged off her blazer, dropped her bag to the floor, and sat down at the back of the classroom.
"Jinx, you know the rules. You need to be right in front where I can see you and the door is supposed to stay open," he sighed.
“C'mon Boy Savior, just let me off the hook this one time and why does the door need to be open? The windows are open. We aren't suffering from the lack of oxygen,” she emphasised.
“Enough with the nickname, Jinx,” he grumbled and she only laughed as she got up from the desk and walked up to him and he stiffened as she pushed him back lightly against Miss Medarda's desk.
“Oh please, you like it when I call you that. Knocks down your ego a couple of pegs...humbles you,” she giggled and he tried to focus on his duties as she touched his arm.
“Humbles me?” he asked and she shrugged.
“I see how you schmooze with the topsiders. That must be exhausting. Thank God I can do whatever I want.”
“Jinx. You’re in detention for throwing a stink bomb in the boy’s locker room,” he said with a deadpan expression.
“Those boys deserved it. They were spreading horrible rumours,” she murmured, tracing shapes on his arm before laying her head on his chest.
“You don’t think they’ll expel me, right?” she asked softly.
Jinx had no boundaries for personal space but he didn't mind. He knew how she was. She trusted him enough to be like this with him even if it did feel somewhat conniving at times.
“If you were on scholarship, then maybe. But your dad is Silco and your grades are decent enough. They'd be stupid to expel one of their top achievers.”
“You know my grades? Ohhh, someone’s been sneaking around in the admin office,” she said, fluttering her eyelashes and he rolled his eyes before pushing her away.
“No, it’s basic observations. If you get a bad grade, you go quiet and analyze where you went wrong. If you get a good mark, you grin before demanding to see my marks,” he said and her eyes widened.
“So...what you’re saying is...you watch me?” Jinx purred and he felt his cheeks heat up.
“I...I mean, you usually make a big deal out of your grades and you always drag me into it so it’s hard not to notice-”
“Just admit that you like me.”
“Sit down, Jinx.”
“Fine,” she smirked and Ekko watched as she walked to the back of the classroom, collected her bag, and sat down in front. "So what am I doing today? Solving complex equations? Picking up litter around the field?"
"You're rewriting the Code of Conduct."
It was almost comical at how Jinx’s mouth dropped open in shock.
"But that's so dull and tedious!" she groaned dramatically, and he placed six sheets of exam paper in front of her as well as a copy of the school handbook.
"Maybe you should’ve thought that before stinking up the boy’s locker room. I don't make the rules, Jinx."
"But you're Head Boy. Surely you could…y'know, think of something else for me to do…?" she winked and he glared at her.
"Why are you so difficult?"
"Because if I was easy and went along with the rules, it would be boring. And I hate being boring. I'd much rather be interesting and difficult than boring and easy." Jinx leaned over the desk, her face centimeters away from his.
"You wouldn't want that, would you? You like me the way I am."
Ekko was quiet, never breaking her gaze, before tapping the handbook on her desk.
"Do your punishment Jinx. Otherwise, I'll have to schedule another detention for you and you might be stuck with a prefect that isn't as nice as me."
She rolled her eyes before sitting back down and taking out a blue pen.
"Fine. I'll do the stupid punishment," she grumbled as she took out her pencil case and he inwardly sighed in relief.
When Jinx arrived at Piltover Academy last year during their second semester, she had been unpredictable and was a frequent disruption in classes according to the grapevine. Ekko thought he would never have to interact with her because he was a grade above her, but then she skipped a grade and landed in every single class he was in, including the AP classes. He knew she was smart, but smart enough to skip a whole grade? It was almost unbelievable but he knew in his gut that she was far more intelligent behind her chaotic personality.
He also knew the entrance exams into Piltover Academy were tough and only the top one hundred students got accepted, so if Jinx had gotten accepted then there was no doubt that she was smart enough to be there.
At first, he worried that Jinx would only cause disruption and chaos in his class but she was as focused as ever. Sure, her input in discussions was a little out of the box at times, but she was learning and was engaged in the lessons. Ekko came to the conclusion that Jinx initially disrupted her classes because she wasn't being challenged enough academically. Now that she was in the advanced classes, she was focused and determined to do well.
He walked to Miss Medarda's desk and sat in her chair before pulling out his songbook from his bag and trying to wrack his brain for lyrics. He turned to the page he last wrote on and began rhyming different words together.
Ten minutes passed of complete silence before Jinx spoke up.
“You’re concentrating awfully hard over there Boy Savior. Careful not to pop a blood vessel,” she said as she looked up from her page.
“Don’t worry about me,” Ekko murmured, eyes not drifting from his page, but suddenly felt a weight on his back. “Wha- Jinx, get back to your seat!”
“Ooh, lyrics! For your music assignment?” she asked curiously, and he closed his book before pointing back to her desk.
“I’ll get back to it as soon as you tell me what you’re working on!” she said, pinching his cheek and he swatted her hand away.
“Okay yes, it’s for music. Now, back to your seat.”
“Hmmm, looks like you’re struggling with it,” Jinx said as she walked around the desk and faced him.
“Jinx-” he warned but she put her hands up in surrender.
“Look, we can help each other. I help you with your music assignment and I get a little break from my punishment.”
He looked at the clock hanging on the wall and rested his face in one hand before mumbling, “Jinx, it hasn’t even been fifteen minutes.”
“And the quicker I help you, the quicker I’ll get back to my punishment. I’m trying to help you here.”
He stared at her, juggling his options before relaxing his shoulders. He knew that Jinx wouldn't stop bugging him about his music assignment unless he showed her. That's how it went with most of their projects at least. She'd bounce off ideas if he was in a rut and sometimes he'd take her advice only to get some of his best grades. Sure, she was a distraction but he couldn't deny he made some of his best work with her. He'd offer her advice, she'd laugh and disregard it before he'd spot her handing in a project that had his recommendations. He once tried to get her to admit that she had taken his advice, but all she did was feign ignorance and laugh.
"Okay fine but no more than ten minutes then you get back to your punishment,” he said and Jinx visibly brightened before pulling up her chair next to him, their shoulders bumping together and she read his lyrics before humming the melody.
“So what's this for? Another boring charity concert that Mrs. Kiramman volunteered you for?” she asked.
"Those charity concerts for a good cause with most of those proceeds going to orphanages in Zaun," Ekko argued and Jinx rolled her eyes. "Just because Vi is dating Caitlyn doesn't mean you should be mean about Mrs. Kiramman."
"Ugh, okay...I'm sorry for being disrespectful. Now, what is this song for then?" Jinx said, motioning to his songbook.
He opened the book, careful to not let Jinx see his other songs, before showing her the lyrics.
“I…I want it to be a song that...I sing at the end of the year when we graduate...” he said bashfully.
He hadn't told his other friends yet, knowing that there would be an expectation if he broke the news to them. He just wanted to enjoy the creative process of writing the song and putting together the melody. While he loved his friends, sometimes they could be a little too excitable.
Jinx, however, was an exception.
“Damn a whole song just for graduation? That’s impressive, Boy Savior,” Jinx said, letting out a low whistle and he ignored his stomach flipping at her words.
They worked on the rhyme scheme and Jinx drummed out a beat before he added on a melody. After scratching out a few words and reworking the chorus, Ekko felt like the song was almost done. He just needed one more verse before the final chorus.
"Okay Jinx, you need to get back to your seat. Ten minutes have passed."
"But you're almost done! And it sounds great! Just a few more minutes and the song will be finished!"
“Music takes time Jinx and I think you've helped me enough. Oh, and don't tell anyone about this," he said offhandedly.
He watched Jinx's eyes fill with mirth as she smirked at him before scooting closer.
"And what if...this information got around, hmm? Then what?"
"Jinx, I'm being serious."
"Just tell me the reason and I won't tell a soul. I promise," she said and he leaned back against the chair and sighed.
"I haven’t told anyone else because it’s a lot of pressure to suddenly have expectations from everyone so I thought I’d work on it and only present the idea once it’s perfect. You know how some of my friends are...”
Jinx sat back, eyes closed before nodding, “Yeah, I understand why you’d keep it from everyone. You already do so much for the school and everyone depends on you already so I can imagine how you’d feel if someone found out.”
“You know what I do for the school?” he asked and she snorted.
“Uh, duh? You’re Head Boy. You have morning meetings every Monday in the prefect room before school, you have prefect duty at least twice every week where you walk around the field to make sure no one is smoking, you organise fundraising events with the fundraising committee and on top of that, have to be present at every single event because you represent the school,” she said simply as she balanced a pen on her lips.
“And you said I was the one watching you when it’s really the other way round!” Ekko said with a scoff.
Jinx laughed before looking at him and his mouth went dry at how close she was to him.
"I know how hard you work. It's admirable. Don't think anything of it."
"Kinda hard to not think of it knowing I've always got someone watching me," he said with a lazy smile.
"I'm watching your back, dummy. Not everyone looks out for each other here. You should know that," Jinx said as if it was the easiest thing to say but Ekko couldn't help but wince at her words.
He wanted to protest but part of him knew it would only be a lie.
Sure, he had friends and was popular amongst everyone, but some days it was so glaringly obvious who was from Piltover and who was from Zaun it made him feel sick. The discussions in class had resulted in fights between Jinx and some of their classmates before and despite Ekko being the one to break the fights up, it still hurt knowing that Zaunites would be nothing but stereotypes in some of his classmates' eyes.
"Oh, but you're different!" they would say and he would hide his discomfort under his Head Boy badge.
Part of him wanted to stand up for Zaun but another part just wanted to have peace and some days, he'd indulge himself and snap back at an ignorant topsider but Jinx was never silent, willing to go to war for Zaun.
Jinx understood his reasoning.
She knew he had a reputation to keep clean as he was on scholarship and his role as Head Boy meant constant eyes on him. She didn't mind muddying her reputation to call out their classmates when she needed to though and it was refreshing to have her in his classes. Hell, he was grateful for her and he wondered if she knew how much he cherished her presence when they had a rare moment together.
"Yeah…I get what you're saying. Like when we had that debate in history class," he said, biting his tongue at the memory, and she nodded.
"It's messed up but that's what happens. Looks like we have to be the Zaunites that prove them wrong. Like Viktor," she grinned and Ekko smiled.
"Like Viktor," he repeated.
He knew she had taken a liking to their robotics teacher, a Zaunite himself and one of the more eccentric teachers. In fact, Jinx nearly blew up his class on the first day of school but instead of punishing her, Viktor took her under his wing and made her his assistant. She prepped experiments for classes during lunch every Wednesday and it counted in Jinx's favour when other teachers would see how well behaved she was under Viktor's mentorship. It was one of the few classes she beat him in every time.
There was silence between them and Ekko realised he was staring into her grey eyes. He was about to tell her to go back to her desk to finish her punishment but watched as she was leaning in almost hesitantly, their faces getting closer and closer. He could smell her faint perfume mixed with her hair conditioner.
"Jinx…we can't do this," he said, turning his face away from hers.
"Why not?" she whispered.
"Your dad will kill me."
"He doesn't have to know," Jinx said as she raised her hand to his cheek and guided his face back to hers.
"You're supposed to be in detention right now and I'm supposed to be-" Ekko said trying desperately to come up with an excuse but his resolve was breaking too.
Every part of him wanted to kiss her but he was supposed to be doing his duty as Head Boy and she was supposed to be writing out her punishment.
"-Can you just...drop the Head Boy act for a few minutes?" Jinx asked softly and he felt his cheeks burn as her gaze dropped to his lips.
Ekko didn't have time to react as she closed the distance between them and her lips were soft against his.
He had crushed on her for so long but he never thought she'd make the first move. Sure, she flirted with him but he knew not to get his hopes up with her. Jinx was unpredictable and spontaneous, it was in her nature to confuse him. Part of him hated that she had so much influence over him. He knew that she didn't mean the kiss. She was just trying to get out of doing her punishment. He broke off the kiss, annoyed that she thought it was enough to distract him.
"Jinx…you need to write your lines. You're not distracting me with a kiss," he growled, breaking off the kiss, and she raised a brow at his words before rolling her eyes.
"Really? Do you think this is a distraction for me? Consider my feelings hurt, Boy Savior." Jinx said as she removed herself from his personal space and his jaw dropped as she walked back to her desk.
"Wait...this isn't so that you can get out of your punishment?" he asked in disbelief.
"You do the math. You're smart," Jinx said as she turned to face him, her eyes narrowed.
"I...I don't know? Why else would you want to kiss me?"
She looked at him like that was the most idiotic thing he had ever asked her before striding back to the desk and caging him with her arms.
"Jinx-"
"The Code of Conduct can wait," she whispered before she kissed him again.
His whole body froze, unable to process what was happening because this kiss felt more certain...sure...like this was something Jinx wanted. After months of teasing and flirting and having somewhat of a rivalry with her had lead to this.
He knew he should've pushed her away but tasting her cherry lip balm and the way her hands found their way around his neck felt like an anchor that he needed to hold onto. Ekko deepened the kiss, moving back on the chair he was sitting on, and guiding her to sit on his lap. She picked up his body language instantly, breaking off the kiss for a moment, and straddled him before kissing him again. His hands found her waist and he pulled her closer. Their kisses were soft and slow initially, taking their time and curiously exploring each other.
Ekko drew circles into her sides with his thumbs and she giggled, her shoulders jumping and her shirt hiking up before he gripped onto her bare skin. He watched her eyes open in surprise as she caught her breath, her eyes traveling to where his hands were.
"This okay?" he asked, savouring the feeling of her warm skin, and she paused before sliding his hand further up her side. His words caught in his throat as she stopped his hand just underneath her bra. From what he could see, it was black and lacy and he couldn't help but wonder if she was the type to have matching underwear.
"You good, Boy Savior? You seem a little shell-shocked," Jinx smirked and he forced himself to think through his desire-fogged mind.
"Yeah...yeah just...your confidence threw me...I like it though," he chuckled as he flattened his hands against her back and slid them down to her lower back.
"Good, now less talking," she said breathlessly as she pressed her lips to his once more.
He could feel Jinx's nails scratch into the nape of his neck but it was soothing as he heard her moan into the kiss.
The kiss gradually got more passionate, the swipe of her tongue against his bottom lip an invitation, and he graciously accepted. His one hand left her lower back and drifted downwards and he felt her gasp as he squeezed her butt through her skirt, but that spurred her on to remove her hands from around his neck and loosen his tie. She quickly unbuttoned his shirt and broke off their kiss only to leave a trail of kisses down his jaw to his neck. He tilted his head back and breathed deeply as she kissed his neck and then tried to control his breathing when he felt her teeth bite down on his skin. Her tongue dipped below his clavicle and she bit down hard. He hissed her name before she made her way back to his lips and apologised with a kiss.
"Imagine if Miss Medarda saw us. The Head Boy kissing the delinquent…a scandal," she murmured in between kisses and he looked into her eyes, his brain shutting down at how blown her pupils were.
"Would it really be that bad?" he managed to ask and she paused before kissing his cheek.
"No...but they'd expect me to change because I'd be with you. They think I'm some sort of loose cannon that just needs guidance but they're wrong. I'm not a Piltie. They'd expect me to obey the rules…attend assembly...I...I don't know if I could do that...it just doesn't feel like me."
"Assembly isn't that bad, Jinx."
"You know what I mean! I don't need a lecture every Monday morning on how prestigious and great our school is knowing full well how Pilties see us," she grumbled and he couldn't help but agree with her. "I just…I don't like expectations. I like being free and unpredictable."
This was the most serious their conversations had ever been since she started attending Piltover Academy and Ekko nodded in understanding.
"Then why come here? I thought Silco gave you a choice," he asked.
"I…" she shifted uncomfortably, "I liked that there were a few Zaunites here...I wouldn't be completely alone if I came here even if I didn't have any friends."
"Wait...did you come here because I was here?" he whispered, his brain connecting the dots and he looked at her for some sort of confirmation.
She shook her head but he saw her cheeks flush a deep red and he smiled widely.
"Jinx, don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying! You…you just happened to be here and I know about the scholarship program so I figured there were other Zaunites-"
"Jinx…"
"Okay fine! When I realised that there was a possibility I could see you again, I asked Silco if I could enroll! No big deal!" she huffed and he smiled before pulling her in for another kiss.
They got lost in each other and the only noises that could be heard were their moans, the birds chirping outside, and the distant shouts from the field as a sports team practiced. Ekko momentarily forgot where they were and broke off the kiss to turn his head towards the open windows and he heard Jinx laugh softly before cupping his cheek and turning his face to hers.
"We're on the second floor remember? Don't worry no one is going to see us unless they're in the trees," she grinned before kissing him again.
He sighed in relief but couldn't help but wonder if he had hurt Jinx's feelings. She had initiated the kiss and he was enjoying it but he knew if they were caught, there would be consequences. He was Head Boy. He was supposed to make sure students were following the rules and he was sure he was breaking at least four with Jinx at that moment. It wasn't that he was embarrassed to be seen with her, he just couldn't risk his reputation.
He had to know if she was okay though. It felt wrong to kiss her if she was hurt.
"Hey..." he said pulling away and she looked at him. "Did I...hurt your feelings just now?"
"What? Hurt my feelings?" she asked, confusion on her face.
"Y'know...when I checked the windows...to make sure no one was there watching us..."
She looked down and trailed a hand over his chest, "No, trust me I made sure no one would see us before I decided to kiss you. I get that your reputation matters and so does mine. Like I said before...I don't like expectations from other people. Trust me I wouldn't have kissed you if there was a chance someone could see us."
The words stung but he knew what she meant.
"Yeah with me being Head Boy and you and your...delinquent ways...guess we can't really be public," he murmured before facing her.
"Yeah...guess so," she said before dropping a caste kiss on his lips before going back to kissing his jaw.
Part of him wanted to scream that reputation didn't matter but that would only make him a hypocrite. He cared about being Head Boy and it would be stupid of him to expect Jinx do the same. There was so much he wanted to ask her because they weren't going to be in high school forever. What about after graduation? When there would no longer be eyes on him or her and they could be together? No more expectations from the teachers or rules to hold them back from each other.
Hell, what even was their relationship now?
They weren't a couple, he knew that for sure (never mind how badly he wanted that to happen), maybe friends with benefits? No...that didn't feel right either. He wasn't with anyone else other than her and he didn't see their intimacy as a benefit...they were friends but there was so much more than that too.
"What are we?" he asked suddenly and he felt regret instantly as Jinx tensed up in his arms.
She pulled away from his jaw, her expression unreadable and Ekko never thought he'd hate himself more than he did right then.
"What are we?" Jinx repeated softly.
"I'm just thinking out loud! You don't need to answer that! No expectations!" he said desperately trying to backpedal.
"Relax Little Man. You want us to put a label on this?" she asked gesturing towards the hickeys she left on his neck.
"We don't have to I just-"
"-Hey. This only works because we tell each other everything. Don't clam up on me now," she said sternly and he closed his mouth before nodding.
"I...I just I like this with you. My reputation is important and I get that you don't want to be tied down by expectations and gossip. I just...I like this...I like when we talk, joke and-"
"-Make out in detention?" she finished before grinning at him and he blushed.
"Yeah...but making out in detention that shouldn't happen again because this was risky on all sorts of levels," he said, trying to be serious as he straightened his back and placed his hands on the arm rests.
"I know you like the risk, Boy Savior. Deep down, that's why you like me so much. Cause I take you out of your comfort zone," she hummed as she flicked his nose. "But I won't deny you the opportunity to put a label on this. Hmmm, so what are we? Quick brainstorm some ideas with me."
He smiled at her, her rosy cheeks still proof of their earlier make out session but her eyes were focused, the same eyes she had when she was trying to solve a calculation in their advanced classes.
"Frisky friends?" he offered and she wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"No, that sounds stupid."
"Make out buddies."
"Make out buddies? Seriously? C'mon, you're supposed to be one of the top students and you're giving me ideas like that?"
"Friends with benefits?" he asked, cringing at the name but he had to know if Jinx saw the label the same way he did.
"Nah. It sounds so...cliché and it's definitely not creative enough. Plus whenever I think of friends with benefits I just want to curl up and scream. Friends with benefits are for friends who can't define the relationship because they're too scared to admit their true feelings."
"And...we have admitted our true feelings?" he asked, trying to remember if he missed the part where Jinx said she loved him.
"Based off my observations of you...I've come down to a conclusion," she winked and he tried to keep his cool.
"Explain your methodology," he said, playing into her game because there was no way in hell he was going to suffer through her explaining how the hell she knew he liked her.
"Nah, I wouldn't want to bore you with the details...but let's just say I have good sources," Jinx said as she stuck her tongue out. "I know you like me at least enough to make out with me in detention."
"There's no evidence in that. What if I had refused to kiss you a second time?" he asked and she sighed before leaning in close enough for their noses to touch.
"Just trust me on this okay? And for the label...how about...Ekko and Jinx? I know you and you know me. Isn't that all we need to know?"
"But...but does that mean we'd still see other people? Would we usually do stuff like this?" he asked and she laughed.
"Gosh, you really want to map out this thing don't you? Okay, since you're asking all the questions how about I ask you...what do you want?"
Ekko's mind went blank. What did he want? When last had he been asked for what he wanted? If anything, he was always doing what other people wanted as Head Boy but Jinx...it's like she knew exactly what to say to him to make him like her more without even knowing it.
He knew he wanted to be with her as a couple but with their reputations and Piltover Academy's expectations, he knew that wasn't an option. He wanted to be with her but knew it would have to be a secret thing and he while wasn't keen on secret meetings, he'd make an exception for her. Seeing other people while he was with Jinx was not something he wanted to do. It felt like he'd be cheating on her despite them not being in an official relationship. All he knew was that he wanted to be with Jinx and only Jinx.
Nothing else.
"I...I want this. I know we can't be public but I want whatever this is...with you. I want to be with you and only you."
Jinx gave him a rare genuine smile and placed her forehead on his, the sun dipping slightly outside causing a soft light to come through the windows.
"I think I can do that," she said softly and he gripped her waist before they closed the gap between them.
Ekko got lost in Jinx, the smell of her perfume and conditioner, her warm skin, the way her lips felt against his, and the warmth he felt in his chest whenever she whispered his name.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed but the rattling of the doorknob and a few knocks on the door pulled them straight out of their fantasy. Jinx nearly fell off of his lap and scrambled back to her seat. Ekko quickly buttoned up his shirt and haphazardly tried to make his tie straight. He ran to the door and waited for Jinx to make herself presentable before he unlocked the door.
"Ah, Ekko! Wonderful to see you this afternoon," exclaimed Mr. Talis, and Ekko forced a smile, praying that the hickeys Jinx left on him weren't showing.
"Afternoon sir. I hope the meeting went well with Miss Medarda and Principal Heimendinger. Apologies about the door, Jinx insisted she would work better if she couldn't hear students walking past."
"The meeting went well and don't worry about the door. I know that under your watchful eye, Jinx would get her punishment done. Good Afternoon Jinx," Mr. Talis said and Jinx looked up before nodding his way.
"Afternoon Mr. Talis," she said and Ekko had to grit his teeth to stop himself from laughing when Mr. Talis' jaw dropped at her greeting.
Jinx had a habit of calling Mr. Talis by his first name just to get on his nerves. Ekko didn't know why she did, but her addressing him as Mr. Talis clearly had the desired effect as he stumbled over his words.
"I...I came to tell you that the two hours are done. Miss Medarda just wanted me to collect your punishment as well as her handbag that she forgot."
Ekko swore inwardly. They had just spent the last good hour and a half making out. There was no way Jinx had done even a page of her punishment. She would only be in more trouble and it wasn't like he could make up an excuse for her-
"Oh, here you go," Jinx said as she handed Mr. Talis her stapled papers and Ekko stared at her in confusion.
"Thank you, Jinx. I hope you learned your lesson. No more stink bombs in any locker rooms," he warned and Jinx nodded solemnly.
"I wasted two hours when I could've been productive with other work. I've learned my lesson."
Mr. Talis beamed and clapped Ekko's shoulder, "Looks like Miss Medarda was right! Your behavior is rubbing off on her. Now let me take her bag. Goodbye, you two."
Mr. Talis said goodbye and walked out the classroom whistling a tune and Ekko sighed in relief before placing his head on the desk.
"That was way too close-!"
"That was hilarious!"
He glared at her as she zipped up her pencil case and shoved it back into her bag.
"How...how the hell did you write so much so quickly?"
"I didn't. I wrote that out last night."
"What do you mean you wrote it out last night?" he asked in disbelief.
"C'mon Head Boy. You should be able to connect the dots."
"You...you wrote it out because you knew you'd be in detention today. But…you only get told what your punishment is on the day!" he exclaimed and she shrugged her shoulders.
"Miss Medarda usually assigns the rewriting of the Code of Conduct. Mr. Talis does litter collection and Viktor does the complex equations. Once I knew I had Miss Medarda, I knew that this would be my punishment."
"What if it was all for nothing? What if you had a different teacher?"
"Then I would wait till I had Miss Medarda for detention."
"So you just plan when you get detention? Really Jinx?"
"It keeps me from attending cross country practice and I prefer wasting time over running laps any day," she mused. "I wouldn't cause so much chaos if the school didn't force me to play a sport!"
Ekko stared the girl in front of him. Of course she'd do something like throw a stink bomb in the boy's locker room to avoid any type of extra curricular.
"But...but another prefect was supposed to be here today! They would've watched you!" he said in exasperation.
"The prefect would've done their homework and would not have seen a thing. I would've spent the rest of my time doodling but with you here…guess I got more than I bargained for," she said, eyeing his neck, and he looked away in embarrassment.
"Don't worry Boy Savior, we're Ekko and Jinx now. And you got to work on your song so it wasn't a waste of time. I'm sure it'll be a hit at our graduation."
We're Ekko and Jinx now. Her words repeated in his head and it was like music to his ears.
She packed up her stuff and hoisted her bag over her shoulder before walking back to the desk and giving him one final kiss. He wanted to be mad at her because she had managed to find a loophole in the detention system but her kiss had him forgiving her immediately. When she pulled away, he gave her a smile that turned into a wide grin, unable to hide his happiness at the thought of being together, even if it wasn't something they could flaunt in public.
"See you next Tuesday," she giggled as she patted his cheek and he blinked in confusion.
Next week Tuesday? Did…did she plan to get detention on Tuesday just so that she could spend time with him?
He didn't have time to ask her as she skipped out the door and into the corridor, humming the same melody from his song, until he couldn't hear her anymore.