High school was cruel.

You learnt that the hard way—even when you didn't mean to. You hadn't quite yet figured out why everyone was so mean to you, but you simply assumed it was because everything about you was just wrong. Thankfully, the one and only Jackie Taylor came in with the intentions of proving you otherwise. To this day, you still can't understand how you managed to catch her attention, yet you were definitely not complaining. 
What started as an innocent friendship quickly turned into something else—involving hidden kisses and whispered sweet-nothings—, and you were in literal heaven. Hiding your relationship provoked mixed feelings but you knew it was better that way, and she never once made you feel like she was ashamed of you.

And she never hesitated to prove her love.

Speaking up in general was an issue for you, but speaking up in class? Literal hell. Your palms started to sweat the second the teacher called your name—kindly asking you to answer the question. Everyone obviously noticed how badly your hands were trembling and how much you stuttered while talking, making you an easy target.

"Real smooth..." You heard someone mutter behind you, causing your face to immediately warm up. Just when you were ready to shrink down further in your seat, you heard the voice of an angel defend you. "Wow, hilarious." Jackie commented, shooting daggers through her eyes at the guy who previously spoke up.

She obviously didn't stop there. "Seriously. Don't you have some more jokes? Make all of us laugh while you're at it." And it made you feel secure with the way the snickers died instantly and the attention shifted off you. Later, when it was just the two of you—after jackie grabbed your hand and dragged you across the field to the empty locker room like it was the most normal thing in the world—, she shot you that soft smile she saved only for you.

"What?" She simply asked, brushing her thumb over your knuckles.