Jojo's Problem Pt. 8

  Mary Jane. So, THAT’S her name. Jojo nodded and smiled.
  “Call me MJ.” She added.
  “That’s funny; you look more like a girlie girl. And MJ isn’t really a girlie girl name.” Jojo chuckled nervously. Maybe he shouldn’t have said that.
  “You know, your sister, Holly, is one of my closest friends.” She pointed to Holly.
  “I know, she said that.” Jojo blushed.
  Just then, MJ’s boyfriend, Derek came from behind Jojo. “Hey, what’s goin’ on?”
  Jojo looked up to see Derek, an extremely tall boy with shaggy hair and a T-shirt that said ‘SKATING IS MY LIFE’. He was wearing old baggy blue jeans and held a lunch tray in his hands. On the tray were about five slices of pizza and two soda cans. He’s a total skate punk.
  “Oh, hey Derek.” MJ stood up and hugged him. Jojo’s eye twitched. “This is Jojo, he mayor’s son.” She gestured to Jojo.
  “Oh, hey, dude.” Derek nodded. His voice was kind of deep. Maybe he’s just going through puberty or something. Well, he defiantly had his growth spurt. It’s funny MJ would fall for a guy like this.
  “So, are you going to sit with us?” MJ asked Jojo as she sat down.
  “Oh, I don’t want to interrupt anything.” Jojo chuckled nervously as he backed up a little.
  “Don’t be silly, I need to know more about you anyway.” MJ insisted.
  “Well, okay.” Jojo smiled and sat down.
  “So, you’re the mayor’s son, huh?” Derek nodded as he sat down next to MJ.
  Jojo stared across the table at the couple. What does she see in him? Yes, he seems cute to the girls, but he just looks… bored.
  “Yes.” Jojo replied.
  “Must have a lot of money, huh?” Derek’s eyebrow went up as he smirked.
  “I- I guess so.” Jojo shrugged, smiling.
  “Derek, it’s rude to talk about other people’s money.” MJ looked at her boyfriend.
  Derek just stared at her. Finally, he scoffed and rolled his eyes.
  “So, who here likes the band ‘Who Am I?’?” Jojo tried to brighten the mood and clapped his hands together. “I hear they’re going to be great.” He chuckled.
  “You know what, Derek?” MJ stood up.
  “What?” Derek looked up at her. Jojo did, too. Derek didn’t look too frightened, but Jojo did.
  “I don’t think you’re boyfriend material.” She crossed her arms.
  Just then, Holly jogged over to Jojo’s side and kneeled down next to him, watching them.
  “Maybe you’re just being paranoid.” Derek stood up, and this time, he was taller than her.
  “Maybe I’m not. Maybe I’m just not the girl for you.” MJ shook her head.
  Jojo and Holly looked at each other for a second and looked back at the fighting couple.
  “Maybe you’re not.” Derek sighed.
  MJ said nothing as she grabbed Holly’s arm and pulled her out of the cafeteria in a hurry.
  Jojo and Derek watched as they ran out of the room. When they were out of sight, Jojo slowly turned his head to Derek, waiting for a reply.
  “I’m really sorry.” Jojo whispered to him. Jojo didn’t notice all the kids in the cafeteria looked at them. They must’ve heard MJ’s yelling.
  Derek just shook his head and walked away.
  Jojo took another glance at the silent kids and decided to run to Holly and MJ.

  As Jojo ran through the hallways, he heard some crying. He stopped on his tracks and followed the noise. It was MJ, of course.
  Jojo heard the crying from the girls’ restroom. He thought about it at first, but just shook his head and barged into the restroom.
  Jojo saw MJ and Holly sitting on the floor. MJ was rocking back and forth in a fetal position, tears streaming down her cheeks while Holly kneeled on her knees, trying to calm MJ down. They looked up at him at the same time. Holly looked at him as if he was crazy, coming into the girls’ restroom like that. But MJ just stared at him.
  “Jojo, this is a girl thing.” Holly hinted.
  “I just want to comfort her.” Jojo kneeled in front of the girls.
  MJ looked at Holly. “Why is he always like that?” She asked, about to cry again. “Sure, we had a few bumps in the road, but I’ve given him so many chances.” She shook her head.
  “Don’t worry; he wasn’t boyfriend material, anyway.” Holly said in a calm voice and nodded.
  “You’ll be alright.” Jojo smiled warmly at her.
  She sniffed and looked up at Jojo. “You think so?”
  “I know so.”
  MJ smiled back at him.
  Holly looked back and forth at the smiling kids and smirked deviously. “Hey, MJ…? Jojo is boyfriend material.” She put her arm around MJ.
  As MJ looked at Holly, Jojo gave Holly the ‘don’t you dare’ look.
  “I’m sure she’s not quite ready yet for another boyfriend.” Jojo said sternly.
  “Oh, come on, Jojo!” Holly almost yelled. “She’s so sweet, how can you NOT fall in love with this girl?”
  “I- I guess I’ll give it another… try.” MJ blushed and looked down.
  Jojo’s eyes widened in awe and looked at Holly. Holly just smirked and shrugged. She knows she’s awesome.
  “So… we’re going out?” Jojo chuckled nervously.
  “I- I guess so…” She smiled.
  Jojo smiled and took her hand and held it. It’s about time.


TO BE CONTINUED……………………… (It’s not over yet!)