you're my kryptonite -Jackson-

[GRACE HOLLADAY]

If there was ever a day for Grace to complain, it was today. She tromped into her dorm room, letting the multitude of shopping bags hit the carpet as she collapsed onto her bed. It was a Saturday, but Grace had been working; feeding hot soup to the homeless, arts and crafts with the "off the streets" program; and, finally, she had finished the day working at the toy store. Grace definitely didn't mind all this hard work. In fact, she loved it! Being able to help your fellow human beings and see the look of gratitude fill their otherwise distraught faces made Grace's heart sing. It really made her feel good to know that at least some kids would be going to sleep with a fully tummy.

Speaking of full tummies, Grace glanced at her watch: a quarter 'till seven. Oh, poo! Baum offered meals to those who wanted them (it was a boarding school, after all), but Grace was of the mindset that her friends deserved food made with love (a.k.a., from her kitchen). Grace surged up from the bed like a popped cork and put away her spoils (school supplies, cooking supplies, a few new shirts and a new toy for Mr. Mittens, her cat). Jackson would be over soon with the first three original Star Wars, cherry soda and popcorn. These movie "dates" (dates in quotations because it wasn't really a date-Grace and Jackson were just friends, after all) were always the best, and Grace had promised to make baked macaroni-and-cheese, a fan favorite. With an ever-present smile, Grace set to work while humming and occasionally dancing to the beat of 50 Cent's "In Da Club" (yes, Grace Holladay had a taste for gangster music). She cooked the noodles and prepared the thick, creamy sauce, paying careful attention to detail. After it was all ready, Grace dumped it into a casserole dish, sprinkled more cheese over the top and popping it in the oven at 350. Grace made a quick sweep of the already clean room, checked to make sure her flowers didn't need to be trimmed--they didn't--and that everything was in its proper place. All that was left was for Grace to change into movie-watching clothes--sweatpants and tie-dye tshirt--and de-friz her hair. This girl--really sweet but obviously struggling with some past emotional trauma--Kenny Hart had recommended Morrocan oil for Grace's curly tresses, and it worked like a charm.

A knock sounded at her door, and Grace's face lit up as Jackson came in with the goodies. She got the load out of his hands and set it on the table, then ran back to her curly-haired friend for a hug. "Jackson! I'm so pumped for tonight!" Grace's slight Scottish accent lilted out, her face alight with excitement. Grace Holladay was always filled with enthusiasm over everything. If you presented her with cleaning the chalk dust off of old erasers, she would find a reason to be excited.

[JACKSON HIRSCH]

Jackson had plans for this lovely Saturday night. No, he wasn't going to the club (he didn't like them anyways, too closed-in. He still had a fake I.D. from when his friends dragged him along one night.), or to the movies, or really anywhere. Of course, he was leaving his dorm, but he wasn't actually leaving campus. He was going over to the sophomore dorms to have a Star Wars marathon with his best friend in the whole world, Grace Holladay. Which was why he had spent the day working, so he could afford to rent the movies. It was a sad thing, but it was a true thing. At least it was pay day, and he got his cash payment from the florist and gotten out of there so he could stop and get everything and not be late. Normally he wouldn't care, and just be late, but this was Grace, so he cared a bit more.

Looking back into the the flower shop for a moment, he shook off whatever thoughts he had. No, he wouldn't get her a flower. That was weird and not a friend thing, right? Even though she did love flowers. So he walked back to Baum, stopping at the Blockbuster on the way and grabbing the last copy of every movie and some candy. They must have gotten more popular with the whole re-releasing in theaters and everything.

When he got to the Academy, he went straight to his dorm to change. Because his uniform was not comfy and good for movies. So he slid into what could be described as 'pajama pants' but really they were just pinstriped sweatpants (so he would say to anyone who asked him when/if he met them on the way to Grace's dorm) and his only Star Wars shirt. Making sure he had everything, he left, making his way through the junior hall and to the sophomore hall.

He was literally done knocking on Grace's door when he realized he had forgotten shoes. Well. It didn't matter, right? This was Grace, and no matter what sort of silly butterfly feeling he got whenever they were together (honestly, what even was that?), she was still Grace Holladay and his best friend and that wasn't going to change.

The sort of frown at this thought was instantly erased as Grace opened the door and grabbed the bag from him. He was smiling as he always did around Grace as she hugged him, and he hugged her back, squeezing and giving a very strong bear-type hug for someone of Jackson's build. "Me too, Hollie." Sometimes, he called her that because of her last name, which he thought was awesome. He very often made puns with her last name, too. Sniffing the air, he sighed deeply. "Whatever's cooking smells so good. Must be a holladay." See? Puns.

He was seriously just really happy and excited and basically just giddy around Grace Holladay.

OUTFIT

[GRACE HOLLADAY]

There was nothing better than hanging out with your best friend. Well, maybe Jesus. But Biblical devotions aside, Grace loved being with Jackson with a passion. A friendly, platonic passion of course. How weird would it be if there was like...a romantic passion there? Ah! The thought kind of scared Grace. She had never been successful in the whole "dating" category; guys she attracted seemed to be interested in one thing: testing Grace's boundaries and willpower. Of course, they always realized that Grace had an iron will when it came to that, and it also helped to have a best friend of the male orientation (who was very tough, in Grace's mind). No, there couldn't be anything more than a friendship between the two. Though joined at the hip, anything more would be awkward...yeah, awkward. The butterflies that would usually accompany being in the same room as Jackson Hirsch were just Grace's excitement. Because they were friends.

Yeah.

She really loved Jackson's puns, and not just because she was so easily amused. It was a thing just between them, an inside joke that never grew old. Grace tried to return his bear hug with the same force, but that was just impossible. The girl really was like a flower: sweet and delicate, easily breakable. One day, she really was going to have to start working out. Beaming at both the compliment and the pun, Grace pulled her best friend inside and shut the door. "It's mac and cheese!" Grace revealed, floating to the little oven to pull out the pan. Like so many other things, Grace forgot oven mitts and yelped when her hand went to grab the dish, pulling it away in an instant. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry Grace thought one of her many mantras, wanting to look strong and brush off the incident. She did a little jump/skip number, holding her hand, before holding it under cold water. "It's nothing," Mumbled Grace, knowing that her friend would rush over and try to help, and then that would make her tear up more and it would be a mess. No, Grace just kept her hand in the water and tried to mentally shake it off.

No big deal. Just a little burn.

[JACKSON HIRSCH]

It would probably be very awkward if there was anything non-platonic between Jackson and Grace. The hugs he gave her (which, honestly, were a little physical for a 'just friends' thing, but that wasn't his intention or to his conscious knowledge), the trips to her room to hang out and watch movies and whatnot (which he was pretty sure people talked about anyways), and just their general schtick would be all turned into something completely different and it probably wouldn't work.

Deep down, Jackson was hanging on to the fact that it was a 'probably' and not a 'definitely would not work'.

Suddenly, his mouth started to water... Because of the food, guys. Don't be so immature. "I love mac 'n' cheese!" he said, though he loved everything Hollie made, and followed her into the kitchen. When he got there, he saw too late that she had forgotten oven mitts. "Grace!" He rushed over to her, where she was putting her hand under the water. "No, it's not nothing. Come here," he said, and led her over to the fridge. Opening it up, he scanned the all-too-familiar shelves, looking for one yellow bottle... there! He grabbed it and smiled. "I know what you're thinking. 'Mustard! Now that's just silly!'" He did his best to sound like The Mad Hatter from Disney's Alice in Wonderland to try to make her feel better. He just couldn't bear to see Grace cry.

"But it really helps with burns. Here," he gently held her wrist, away from the red area of the burn, and looked at her and smiled again to assure her that it was okay. "It might sting a little. I don't remember much, but my mom used it when I got a little too close to the hearth once when I was little." Deciding it would be better than just pouring it directly on her hand, he grabbed a paper towel and poured it on that, then slowly and gently put it on the burn, looking directly at her ans wrinkling his nose. "I remember I hated the smell, though. I don't think I could ever forget that. And I had to keep the schmutz on my hand for hours."

Please, Grace Holladay, don't cry.

After he got her hand all wrapped up, he realized how close he was to her. His face was literally 6 inches from hers. Uhm. Turning his face the first direction he thought of, he realized that the oven was still open and the mac 'n' cheese was still in it. Grabbing an oven mitt, he got it out and set it on the counter to cool. This was awkward. Jackson usually wasn't this awkward. "Uhhh do you want me to plate it or anything?"

[/justify]

notes; sorry I kind of assumed things, I can rewrite it if you want ~

[GRACE HOLLADAY]

You know, when the initial panic cleared, Grace realized her hand did hurt as much as she thought. Unfortunately, it wasn't one of those overreaction things where it feels a lot better after a few moments; no, it turns out that burns suck. For the first time in a while, Grace wished her parents were with her, that she hadn't left them for New York, that she had moved to Hungary with them instead. But no, that's silly, she thought. Looking up from her hand, she remembered that she had Jackson. Oh, Jackson. He would always take care of her, wouldn't he?

Speaking of, Grace cheered up instantly when Jackson did his imitation of the Mad Hatter. That was one of her favorite Disney movies, which, of course, he would know. Giggling, Grace wiped at her eyes with her good hand, clearing the offending tears away before they could fall down her face. She smiled earnestly as Jackson tended to her hand, only flinching a little at the slight sting. It was already feeling better, thank goodness. God, Grace loved to hear Jackson talk about his mum. Even if it was just a little tidbit, Grace loved the way his eyes would light up. You know, because it was sweet. "Oh, the smell's not at all bad...and thank you, Jackie. It feels so much better..." Grace trailed up, suddenly caught in his gaze. Gosh. Grace was paralyzed, she didn't know what to do.

Jackson was the first to break the staring game, and Grace shook her head a little to clear her mind. That was...odd, to say the least. Clutching her hand, Grace waved him (and hopefully all that weirdness) away. "No no no, I'll do it. It's not a problem!" Smiling, Grace got two plates out and put a little bit on hers and a heaping load on his, only grimacing in the slightest. If there was one thing Grace could always count on, it was his appetite. "Bon appetit!" As always, Grace had bounced back; she was her normal, overly happy self again.

[JACKSON HIRSCH]

Jackson had been burned before, more times than just the one he had mentioned. There was also a time when he was cooking soup when his mom was sick and left the metal spoon with no handle in the pot to go check on her. When he came back, he grabbed it, and it hurt. Another time was when he was messing with the fireplace, he had left the ancient fire poker in the embers and went to go do whatever he did. Bam.

Moral of the story? Jackson should keep his train of thought on trac-

Okay, Grace looked especially beautiful today. Was it weird that he noticed that? Nah, friends called each other beautiful all the time. It wasn't a big deal. Besides, it's not like he had any negative intentions towards her. He loved Grace, but it was purely platonic, and he could deal with that fact. What he couldn't deal with were these realizations that kept coming up whenever he was around her, like how he referred to other girls as 'pretty' and only called Grace 'beautiful'.

Anyways.

"It's no problem, Hollie. It's what I'm here for!" Of course he knew that Alice in Wonderland was one of her favorite Disney movies. They had watched it one time during a visit like this, minus the whole burning and mustard smell that mixed with the lovely smell of macaroni and cheese. Of course she wanted to plate it herself. Immediately, Jackson knew which plate was his. Who else could eat that much food and still probably want seconds? Certainly not Grace Holladay, and she was the only other one here, so.

He was thankful that she was happy again. Hollie did bounce back after times of trouble, usually, so it was slightly expected but still appreciated just as much. Taking the plate, he plopped down on her couch, making sure not to spill any mac and chees. Not really because he didn't want to make a mess, but because he wanted to savor every noodle. Seriously. Setting it carefully down on the table, he got up and put the movie in. Yeah, Jack, putting in the movie before getting started on eating was a good idea.

[/justify]

[GRACE HOLLADAY]

In Grace's opinion, there was nothing more relaxing than comfort food and a movie with your best friend. Grace settled into the cushy couch (though it really was more of a love seat), curling her legs up under her and placing her mac and cheese in her lap. As the movie started, a comfortable silence fell over the two as they shoveled the noodles in their mouths. Pretty soon, Grace's eyes began to feel heavy. That was odd; Grace hadn't felt tired at all earlier, and she had gotten exactly eight hours of sleep the night before. She was pondering whether to get up and have a piece of candy or just stand up when, with a big ole yawn, Grace Holladay fell fast asleep on the couch next to her best friend.

---

Grace knew she was dreaming.

First of all, she was standing in front of her mirror as she got ready...for what? Her dream self seemed to know, so Grace sat back and watched as Dream Grace finished sculpting her curls, making them much tidier and frizz-free than Real Grace could ever manage. Dream Grace then gathered half of her hair and clipped it in the back in a pretty half-up, half-down kind of style. With further inspection, Real Grace realized her dream self had make-up on. It was expertly done: a light, shimmery gold was swept along her eyelids, her eyes framed with brown, that made the blue of her eyes pop. Her fair cheeks had a pink blush to them, giving her a permanent "just spotted the boy of my dreams" look. In other words, Dream Grace looked beautiful. Real Grace gasped, taking in the affect of the make-up before seeing ...the dress. It was a pale green, with a hint of shimmer to it. The dress was sleeveless, the neckline at a classy depth. The bodess was form fitting, revealing Grace's curves, and decorated with thousands of crystals. The effect was perfect: enough to catch your eye, but not obnoxious. The skirt was full and princess-like, and Grace could only imagine all the itchy tuile underneath it. All together, Dream Grace looked beautiful and regal, like she should be walking down a grand staircase into a ballroom. A knock sounded at the door, and Dream Grace squeeled. She rushed to the door and opened it to reveal a very debonair Jackson. Both Graces and Jackson gasped at the sight of each other, and before anything was said, the dream faded away.

--

Grace, now back to the real world, groaned. That had been such a nice dream. Why had it had to end? She began to stretch like she always did after waking up, then realized she was on Jackson. Her head had been resting on his shoulder, body turned toward him, and he had his arm draped around her shoulder. Deep breaths, Grace, deep breaths. Eyes wide as saucers, she shook Jackson's shoulder a little. "Wake up, Jack!" Grace whispered as she slid out from his arm, still leaning against him. It left all sorts of tingling and Grace didn't know if she liked it or not. In all honesty, she felt very confused; she was almost giddy over the situation, yet didn't know why she was. They were friends, everything was totally platonic.

Right?

On the screen, Grace watched as Qui-Jon battled Darth Maul. It was one of the coolest scenes; lightsaber fights were already awesome, but Darth Maul had a double saber. Totally cool. Grace couldn't quite concentrate on it, though, as she tried to figure out what to say to Jackson.

[JACKSON HIRSCH]

Jackson never understood why people hated Jar Jar Binks. Sure, he was annoying, and unhelpful, and kind of useless, but he was intended for comic relief, right? And that's what he provided. It was probably because he wasn't in the originals, and people had problems with hte prequels, or whatever. Jackson liked Jar Jar, so there. Jackson ate his mac and cheese and watched the movie, not even realizing that Grace had fallen asleep. Though, right about when they saved Jar Jar Binks, the long day caught up to him and he fell asleep, too.

--X--

It had to be a dream.

For one, the place looked very high-end and fancy, somewhere Jackson could never afford to go. And though he could have snuck in, he knew he didn't, this time, because there was Grace Holladay, and he would have never done anything like that with or in front of her. As he took in the surroundings, he realized that they were moving, twirling around him and Hollie. But he didn't feel sick, or dizzy. No... they were twirling, and Jackson could hear the feint sound of music. He was dancing. He was dancing with Grace. And Grace looked beautiful, more beautiful than usual, which was apparently possible. They were in the center of the ball room, and everyone was looking at them in wonder. He could make out a few faces, even. Ozzie and Andie, smiling with their arms linked. Dan, Andrea, Jay, other Grace. November with a look of 'I told you so'. Even Pascal and Mariana, not hating each other. The song ended, and Jackson wanted to keep dancing, but he knew he couldn't, because there wasn't any music. So he put his arm around Hollie and they both walked away from the center, the spectators and friends making a pathway for them, still looking. But there was something blocking the end, something dark, and huge. He couldn't tell what it was, and that scared him. All of the sudden, his friends were gone, and he was rooted to the spot, but Hollie kept going forward, and eventually went out of his reach and towards the thing. Jackson tried his hardest to move forward, but he was stuck, and he felt a prick and knew he was bleeding. He heard a deep chuckling from the thing, and could even make out words, though they didn't make much sense. Fee-fi-fo-fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman...

"WAKE UP, JACK!"

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--X--

Jackson jumped up to the whisper, almost as if it had been a shout. It sure felt like it. He looked around wildly, realizing his arm was empty, and he needed to find Hollie. He couldn't let her go towards that evil mystery thing- Oh, she was right there. They were still in her room, and Star Wars was still on. He fell back on her couch, relieved, though a bit confused. That was probably the weirdest dream he ever had. Though it was even weirder that he had it here. Whoa, wait, he just fell asleep next to Hollie. On her couch. With his arm around her.

Well then. Uh.

He went through his list of reactions, and decided to go with 'make out like it never happened and that it was nothing'. Yeah, he stole that from a song, whatever. In the movie, Qui-Gon had just been killed by Darth Maul. "Aww, I don't like this part," he said, "so sad." Yeah, distracting awkward with sadness, smooth, Jackson. Maybe she'll need your shoulder to cry on. Gaaaaaah. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[GRACE HOLLADAY]

(in which sully attempts to write for pre-graceson LOL)

You know that feeling when you just wake up? Your mind is all clouded to the point where you can't think straight to save your life and you basically have no clue what you're doing. After a minute, though, everything tends to clear up. Right? Grace was definitely feeling befuddled. Her nap, however short, had not only provided her with a dream that left things open that should have been closed but it also left her with a foggy mind. Grace didn't know much of what was going on for the first minute or two, so she did what she thought was perfectly acceptable. Rubbing at her eyes to try and get the sleep out, Grace curled right back up into Jackson's side. It was a totally platonic cuddle, of course. Best friends were close all the time! Grace even remembered having sleepovers with her guy friends back when she was five, before everyone got cooties.

So yeah, cuddling up to Jackson was the most platonic thing in the world. It made perfect sense, in Grace's mind.

"I can't believe I just passed out like that, I mean..." Grace trailed off though, watching the scene. Oh no no no, not Qui-Gon. Grace's eyes turned to saucers and her chin began to quiver. Don't cry Grace, don't cry. It was all she could do not to and Grace found herself clutching Jackson's upper arm. Nope, she couldn't sit here any longer and not cry. Nearly leaping off the couch, Grace said, "I need something to drink," before basically sprinting to the kitchen. Hmm...What to get? Grace peered into the fridge, giving a cursory glance of its contents. There was water, strawberry kiwi Koolaid, apple juice that belonged explicitly to Andie and Oh! Milk! Grace reached down and grabbed the carton, shutting the door to the fridge before moving up to the freezer. Inside there was a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough from a few days previous that would be perfect at a moment like this. "Do you want some chocolate chip cookies, Jackson?" Grace asked as she began to grab clumps of dough, rolling them into balls and placing them on a cookie sheet. She asked more out of politeness; why would a guy, especially Jackson, deny cookies? It'd be, like...the apocalypse or something.