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A few days had passed since the epic showdown on the high school football field, and boy, life was like a rollercoaster on steroids. PJ, oh PJ, she was unraveling faster than a cheap sweater in a hurricane."Hey, PJ, let's hit the rendezvous with the gang! Hazel's gonna give us a masterclass in crafting homemade bombs, not that I'm fully sold on the idea," Josie blurted out, bursting into PJ's lair and tossing her coat like she was the star of a Vegas magic show.PJ unleashed a sound that could only be likened to a goose facing the mother of all geese Armageddon. Josie, in return, gave her a raised eyebrow and a look that said, "Spill the beans, my friend.""What's bugging you, PJ?" Josie inquired, folding her arms, fully aware that PJ was about to embark on a soul-baring confessional."Nothing, it's just... you go on and enjoy Hazel's homemade bomb symphony. I'll just hang out here," PJ mumbled into her pillow. A pillow, mind you, with a life-sized portrait of Kristen Stewart from Charlie's Angels.Josie sighed theatrically, flopping back onto the bed. "Alright, out with it!"PJ peeked at her bestie with one eye, observing Josie's expression, that of someone who knew the gig was up but was willing to let PJ spill her drama beans in her own dramatic fashion."Look, I ain't pouring my heart out to you when you've got two perfectly functioning eyes, even if they're mildly nearsighted," PJ grumbled, seeking refuge in her pillow's ample bosom, featuring the divine Kristen.As if things weren't bonkers enough, ever since their fight club showdown on the Huntington field and that sizzling kiss in the stands, PJ and Hazel had turned into a pair of twisted stoner magnets. Think Bella and Edward in Twilight, minus the sparkling. PJ had a thing for Kristen Stewart, in case you missed it."You know, PJ, for someone who kickstarted a fight club just to smash cheerleaders, your track record with the ladies ain't exactly stellar," Josie deadpanned, provoking herself a swift pillow launch."Just 'cause you landed yourself a girlfriend doesn't make you a grandmaster of loser-dom!" PJ retorted, clearly unimpressed.Josie shook her head, thoroughly amused. "Do your thing, PJ, but Hazel will be pretty darn disappointed if you give her the cold shoulder. She turns into a kicked puppy when you flake."With a slam of the door, PJ was left to wrestle with her own pity party. Hazel, she thought, that girl was an oddball, to put it mildly. How could anyone be thrilled to see someone who'd fouled up as much as PJ had? Sure, they'd known each other since the dawn of time, but that just meant PJ had been the official jerk for eons. Wasn't there a name for this kind of mess? Stockholm syndrome, perhaps?Yet, when PJ allowed Hazel's face to dance in her mind, she felt like a doofus. Was she genuinely so starved for affection that she was starting to find Hazel—the weird, goofy Hazel Callahan—cute? With that black eye and that sassy cut at the corner of her mouth, the same cut PJ couldn't resist licking during their kisses. Good grief.PJ knew she wasn't exactly on the saintly end of the decency spectrum, but she was trying to pull off a half-decent version of herself, especially after all the fibs and fumbles with the gang, Josie, and most notably, Hazel. She reluctantly admitted that she didn't have much enthusiasm for becoming a better person, but she had to try. So, she sprang out of bed, grabbed her sweatshirt, and acknowledged that screwing things up with Hazel...again, was not an option.PJ rolled into the cafeteria parking lot fashionably late, as per usual."So, you just tape it all together, and—" Hazel began, but her speech stalled when she locked eyes with PJ. "Well, there's our elusive PJ," Hazel playfully chided, her peepers sparkling like a campfire in the night. Seriously, she was channeling puppy energy.PJ resisted the urge to drop a "I was bedding your mom" joke on Hazel. Instead, she nodded and joined the squad, getting an approving side-eye from Josie.Hazel continued her bomb-making exposé, which had Melissa on the verge of a full-blown meltdown. Josie had to step in and console her, assuring everyone that Hazel wasn't completely nuts. Typically, PJ would be rolling her eyes and giving Hazel a hard time, but today was different. She found herself softly giggling at how genuinely passionate Hazel was about the topic. It may have been about terrorism, but Hazel was serving it up with extra flair.She could feel Sylvie's laser-like gaze boring into the back of her head and prayed to the gay gods that Sylvie would keep her thoughts to herself. Fortunately, the deities took mercy on her that day."And that's a wrap for today, folks, a petite, short-range blast bomb," Hazel concluded, earning a rambunctious round of applause and squeals of admiration for her unique skills. Hazel's eyes zeroed in on PJ, waiting for her reaction. PJ took a deep breath and tried to muster a smile, which probably resembled more of a crooked grin.The squad migrated into the cafeteria, selecting a table tucked away in the back, strategically placing themselves opposite each other. Josie was naturally situated across from Isabel, Sylvie opposite Stella, Brittany had the pleasure of sitting across from Melissa, and PJ found herself in the most interesting predicament..."Hello there," Hazel greeted with a bashful smile, her gaze darting away briefly.It felt like payback, divine retribution, or some cosmic joke. PJ knew she might deserve it, but that didn't make her any less squirm-worthy."You good, PJ?" Hazel leaned in across the table, eyes probing too closely for PJ's comfort."Yeah, just slide back over to your side of the bench!" PJ blurted out, Hazel blinked for a moment, then scooted back.PJ was pretty damn sure that Hazel Callahan had a kiss that could intoxicate. It was the only plausible explanation for why PJ was so... distracted. She hadn't cracked a single lewd or cheeky joke so far, which was flat-out unnatural. Her thoughts were spinning like a roulette wheel on a winning streak, and it was driving her batty.Hoping that an ice-cold caramel milkshake might act as a mental palate cleanser, PJ promptly ordered two, paying no mind to the akward glares from the table. Stress eating was her game, and Hazel knew it well.While the gang engaged in lively banter and relished their milkshakes, Hazel was fidgeting with something on the table. PJ couldn't be bothered to investigate; she was too busy attempting to freeze her brain with the milkshake.Then, she felt a swift kick to her foot under the table. PJ was primed to unleash a flurry of obscenities on the perpetrator, but when she locked eyes with Hazel—those bright, hopeful eyes—she hesitated.Hazel slid a neatly folded napkin across the table, and PJ cautiously picked it up. Written on it were the words, "Wanna have a chat away from here?"PJ struggled to find words to respond. Part of her wanted nothing more than to bolt from that diner, while another part wished she could simply melt into her seat and vanish. Hazel took her silence as a yes, standing up and grabbing PJ's wrist, leading her out of the diner and into the moonlit parking lot.Josie pressed her lips together, eyes widened in curiosity. Sylvie was on the verge of bursting into excited, almost scandalous laughter. Isabel and Brittany exchanged knowing glances, fully aware that something juicy was unfolding.Outside the diner, Hazel gently pushed PJ against a brick wall, and PJ was still grappling with how they'd gone from the cafeteria to this unexpected rendezvous."What's the scoop, PJ?" Hazel asked softly, her voice laced with a hint of trepidation.Right now, PJ wanted to let loose on Hazel, to declare, "It's you, you dumbass! You're the whole shebang!" She wanted to revert to her classic jerk mode, the role she had mastered over the years and probably always would.However, what slipped out of her mouth was a feeble, "Nothing," delivered with a hoarse and shaky tone.Hazel could have prodded further, could have dug for answers, but instead, she backed off slightly and retrieved something from her pocket. "I made this for you."PJ's eyes fixated on an origami-folded napkin swan. It stirred a concoction of emotions within her, making her want to laugh, explode, and plant a kiss on Hazel's lips all at once. Of course, this weirdo knew how to do origami, and of course, she'd craft an origami creation for PJ to brighten her spirits without fully understanding the depth of PJ's turmoil."Hazel, I'm an asshole," PJ blurted out.Hazel simply shrugged, as if she'd expected nothing less. "I know.""Tell me, are you out there making origami napkin swans for assholes like me?" PJ raised an eyebrow, her tone a mysterious blend of banter and sincerity.Hazel grinned playfully. "Not exactly, just for the assholes I happen to like."Well, fuck. Holy moly.PJ gingerly took the origami napkin from Hazel and placed it atop the hood of a nearby car. Then, she seized Hazel by her cardigan collar and initiated a deep, impassioned kiss.Hazel emitted a contented noise deep in her throat, the sound resonating against PJ's lips, causing PJ to pull her closer by the waist. Hazel's hands rose to cup the back of PJ's head, their mouths locking in an even more fervent embrace.So what if PJ wasn't exactly a poster child for decency, and Hazel was a bona fide oddball? Not every jerk in the world received an origami swan, after all."You taste like caramel," Hazel finally managed to murmur."No shit," PJ replied, their lips still tantalizingly close.