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Jolene...
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
You’d known Jolene since elementary. The new student in your class, a foreign girl from the states who didn’t speak a word of Japanese. And yet, of an entire class of first year students, she chose the shy and quiet girl at the back of the class to befriend. You could remember when she plopped down in the seat beside yours with a bright smile. “Jolene.” She pointed a finger to her chest. “Y/n.” You had mimicked her gesture. From that day, Jolene was your best friend. The girl was a fast learner who picked up the language within months of living in the country. By the next year, she was nearly fluent. As the years passed, the two of you did everything together. Come junior high, your dynamic duo became a trio with the addition of a pink haired girl named Mina Ashido. You were a powerful and seemingly unbreakable triangle. Both Mina and Jolene were talented and exuberant while you were the quiet balance that kept the two in check. When their two energies collided, Mina and Jolene would fight but you were always there to mediate the situation. Jolene was always kind to you, but there were times when the girl could have been a better friend. She was never afraid to step into the light even if it meant casting you into the shadows. You never minded much. You would follow Jolene and Mina everywhere, their quiet and trusty little sidekick. You even followed them to U.A. High School. That was when things began to change.
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
The first day of class your eyes fell on an ash blonde haired boy with striking vermillion eyes and an explosive personality. If the saying “opposites attract” was ever to apply, it was now. You instantly developed a massive crush on the boy. He was ostentatious, lively and passionate. Sure, he had obvious faults, such as his violent temper and abhorrence for the green haired boy named Midoriya, but there was more to him than that. You could see it in him even then, but you weren’t the only one. “Oh my gosh, that guy is so hot!” Jolene giggled and she fanned her face dramatically. Mina shrugged. “I swear, Jolene. It’s like you put on blinders when it comes to boys.” Your pink friend huffed.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
You hid your blush from them as your eyes followed him down the hallway. “Hey! It’s not just me.” Jolene retorted sharply. There was a moment of silence before you turned to look and discovered both your friends with their eyes set on you. Mina’s expression held surprise while Jolene looked positively devious. “Y/n was ogling him all day too.” Jolene announced with a smirk. You felt your face grow hot and dropped your chin to your chest in embarrassment. “W-Well…he is really cute…” You mumbled. “Awww.” Jolene cooed wheeling you down the hall. “You do like him, don’t you?” She purred in your ear. “Jolene? What…what are you doing?” You asked as you tried vainly to dig your heels into the floor. “Hey now, let y/n go.” Mina called, jogging to catch up with the two of you. Jolene was relentless. “I’m going to get him to talk to you.” Jolene beamed, carrying on despite your and Mina’s protests.
Please don't take him just because you can
By getting him to talk to you, she apparently meant she and Bakugo would talk while you stood there next to her. She effortlessly struck up a conversation with him, working skillfully around his initial annoyance at her disruption until the tension eased from his posture. You never once got a single word in the whole time.
Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
Jolene demanded attention wherever she went. She drew praise from the teachers, and worship from the eyes of the students who watched her pass in the hallways, a torrent of hushed whispers followed behind her. It didn’t seem to matter who was speaking or what the conversation was about. Once Jolene entered the room, everyone hung on her each and every word.
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene
“Hi, um, Bakugo. I was, um I was...” You stumbled over your words, lacing and unlacing your fingers as nerves compromised you composure. “Just spit it out already.” The blonde barked at you impatiently. You jumped at the sound then nodded. “I was just wondering if you-” Something brushed your shoulder and Bakugo’s eyes left your face instantly. “Oi, Jolene!” He twisted around in his seat to greet her with a dazzling smirk. “Hey, Bakugo.” She winked back at him sashaying over to her own desk. “Bakugo?” You said softly. His crimson eyes trailed over her form. “What were you on about?” He muttered without facing you. You felt disappointment settle deep into your stomach. “I was just…never mind.” You ducked your head and retreated to you seat beside your other friend. Mina threw a disgruntled look in Jolene’s direction before turning her sympathetic eyes to you. “I’m sorry.” She said with a soft frown. You shrugged, dropping you head into your hand. “Don’t be.” You should have known better.
He talks about you in his sleep
When it came to competing against Jolene, you were never even a contender. For anything partner related, Jolene always got there first. Bakugo didn’t seem to mind her incessant advances, but rather welcomed them. All you could do was watch from the sidelines, an observer rather than an active participant. What little connection you had miraculously established the hot headed boy was gradually drowned out by her overwhelming presence.
And there's nothing I can do to keep
Her hands were clasped together in awe as she babbled dozens of compliments which he soaked in like sun rays. You could see the satisfaction in his eyes over her apparent admiration. It didn’t seem to matter that her words were shallow and empty. Surface level statements that didn’t contain any real substance. And yet somehow, it worked every time. To unfocused eyes, it would seem she was wrapped around his finger, but it was truly the other way around. Crimson eyes sought out a head of auburn hair in the crowd. The name that his lips formed didn’t belong to you. As you always did, you tired to mimic Jolene’s actions in the hopes of achieving a similar result. “That’s an awesome move, Bakugo! How’d you figure out to do that?” You asked him after he won in a sparing brawl against Kirishima during training. A smug smirk possessed his lips. “Obviously, I used-” His eyes drifted beyond you.
From crying when he calls your name, Jolene
“Oi, Jolene! Did you see my kickass moves back there?” He brushed past you and jogged off in her direction. You felt that familiar sense of crushing disappointment. Nothing seemed to succeed, no matter what you tried. You watched the way he gestured and grinned maniacally as she batted her eyes at him. In his eyes, you simply didn’t register. Next to her, you became a ghost, a pale vesper that got passed over. When had it become a competition? When had your best friend become your foe? And why had you begun to question your self-worth over this? “L/n.” Aizawa’s voice called impatiently. “Sorry, sensei! I’m coming.” You tore your eyes away from the pair and hurried to your spot in the center of the gym.
And I can easily understand
During lunch, you stopped sitting with Jolene. You had grown tired of skipping meals. Watching the two of them made you sick with envy, nausea at the terrible feeling hindering your appetite. You never wanted to feel the presence of the twisted creature again. The best way to avoid it was to remove its source from your sight. You found a home at a new table with Midoriya, Ochaco, Todoroki, Iida, and Asui. You could feel Mina’s sad eyes watching you from across the lunchroom. Looking up from your rice bowl, you saw her mouth the words, “Why did you leave?” You offered only a shake of your head and an apologetic smile before you turned back to face Iida again as he talked about his dream to live up to his brother Ingenium’s glory.
How you could easily take my man
Of course, you couldn’t escape them completely given that you had class with the two every day. Only now, as Jolene giggled with her palm was pressed up flat against Bakugo’s as they compared the sizes of their hands, you turned your back on them and struck up a conversation with Aoyama about his fashionable hero costume. When Jolene gushed about Bakugo’s greatness, your ears were preoccupied listening to Todoroki explain his favorite cold Soba recipe. When Bakugo’s arm was around her waist walking in the hall, you didn’t even notice it because you were too busy racing Kaminari to class and getting yelled at by Iida for running in the halls.
But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene
Still, it hurt when her name was ever present in his mouth while you held only the label of “extra.” There was still a pang in your heart when he passed in front of your desk without so much as a glance at you. To be invisible stung, but you learned to live with the subtle throb. It reminded you that there were more important things in life than a cute boy and the girl you used to think of as a friend. You rose in class ranking both in the classroom and in the gym, your mastery of your quirk only growing. A friendly rivalry developed between you and your classmates as you forced them to acknowledge you and your abilities as a worthy contender for the title of being the best.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
As seasons changed and semesters passed, you forgot about Jolene and Bakugo. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you were aware that they had become a couple at some point. Your eyes failed to linger when ash blonde or auburn hair passed through your view. You no longer cared to vie for attention. You simply didn’t need to. You had already succeeded in claiming the pride in Aizawa’s eyes when you passed the provisional license exam with flying colors, the glee in Mina’s voice when she congratulated you for earning the top score on the midterm exam, the scald of the vermillion eyes glaring when you took the boy down during sparring practice. A heavy hand clapped on your back as you matched Kirishima’s shark-toothed grin. Jirou’s flat voice as the two of you discussed the pros and cons of acoustic versus electric guitar. The fluff of Koda’s pet rabbit beneath your fingers. Tired violet eyes as your new classmate introduced himself.
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
The sound of an argument passed floated into your ears as you sat on the bench waiting for the afternoon train. “Oh, please. Don’t even try to deny it Kat! You were practically drooling over her today!” Jolene’s high pitched voice shrieked. You turned your head to spot the girl standing in front of Bakugo a dozen meters down the sidewalk. “I don’t drool, Jolene.” Bakugo barked back. “I won’t tolerate you checking out other girl’s in front of me!” She snapped. Bakugo let out an exasperated sigh. “Then don’t.” He turned and began to walk away from her. “Where do you think you’re going?” The redhead squawked. “I’m tired of you bitching at me all the time. Wear this not that, eat this not that, talk to you not her, look at Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.” Bakugo growled, gesturing disgustedly. “You think everything is about you and I’m sick of it!” He snapped, wrenching an arm free from her hold. You felt your eyes widen. Wow, that was a lot coming from Bakugo Katsuki, the king of “eyes on me.”
Please don't take him just because you can
“Kat! Katsuki! Get back here!” Jolene stomped a foot on the ground. He waved a dismissive hand at her and strolled away down the street. You could hear her unsteady breathing even from this distance as her shoulders rose up and down. Then she marched away in the opposite direction from him, not even spotting you on the bench. There was no satisfaction in your heart as you witnessed that calamity. It didn’t make you happy to watch Bakugo finally realize what type of girl she was, or to watch Jolene lose the prize she had fervently campaigned to win. She passed by in a whirlwind of anger. The screech of metal on metal hailed the arrival of your train. You stepped inside the train car and claimed an empty seat as the doors slid shut. Jolene was no longer your concern. She had lost that position when she decided that winning a fight over a boy was more important than years of friendship.
You could have your choice of men
High school gossip spreads like wildfire, even within the walls of U.A. High School. Jolene fell from her pedestal. The whispers were no longer about her beauty and grace, but her possessiveness and narcissism. Voices no longer hushed when she walked in the room, and eyes no longer followed her as she strode down the halls. For the first time, insecurity shone in her eyes. It was heartbreaking. You knew that karma was at work, but it still hurt to see your ex-friend experiencing such a world-shattering change. All her life she had been confident and had whatever she desired within reach. Now, that privilege had been torn away. She was just like everybody else. Her goals were something she had to work for now.
But I could never love again
“Oi, l/n!” The voice that called to you was familiar, but the sound of your name in his mouth was not. You paused on your way to the cafeteria and turned towards the sound. Bakugo shoved his way through the crowd of students, a few insults at the “extras” blocking his path flowing past his lips. “Hello, Bakugo.” You greeted quietly when he planted himself in front of you. “Why don’t you join me for lunch today?” He asked, eyes glittering with self assurance. He believed you would say yes. In your first year, you followed him like a lost puppy. He wasn’t aware that time had allowed things to change. “Oh, that’s really nice of you Bakugo but I…” You eyes moved beyond him as your voice trailed off. Confused at the loss of your attention, Bakugo looked over his shoulder to seek out what was more important than him.
He's the only one for me, Jolene
You were focused on a head of untamed indigo hair. Dark violet eyes regarded Bakugo with disdain as the boy stopped at your side and casually slung an arm around your shoulders. “Looks like I won’t have to steal you away from your buddies today after all.” His voice murmured. Bakugo eyes stared at the rosy flush of your cheeks as you giggled at the words. “Hi Hitoshi.” You greeted, your hand taking its place resting on his lower back. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me. What did you ask me again, Bakugo?”
I had to have this talk with you
“Forget about it.” He said gruffly, roughly shouldering his way past you and Shinso.
My happiness depends on you
You sat with you leg pressed against Shinso’s at the lunch table, fingers interlaced as you scooped udon noodles into your mouth, nearly choking as you laughed at Kirishima and Testutestu trying to arm wrestle each other. Hitoshi’s tired eyes rested on your flushed face as you coughed into a napkin. His hand rubbed gentle circles on your back. “You okay, kitten?” He asked. “I’m fine.” You grinned back at him, before letting out another soft cough. “I’ll grab you some water.” Yaoyorozu rose from her seat beside Kendo. “Thanks, Yaomomo.” You offered a grateful smile. “Jeez, kill her with comedy why don’t you.” Mina punched Kirishima in the arm. The table erupted into laughter. Vermillion and emerald eyes alike gazed at you from a distance. Looking up, your gaze met Jolene’s. If not for Jolene, you never would have learned to stand up for yourself. You wouldn’t have been inspired to strive to be the best. You wouldn’t have made so many friends. You wouldn’t have ended up with Shinso. You wouldn’t be this happy. You smiled at her.
And whatever you decide to do, Jolene
She hadn’t reached out to you since she and Bakugo had broken up a few months ago. That was okay with you. Not all friends stay by your side forever. She had made you understand that you could only cherish the happy memories you had made with them and then let them go. Sometimes, the only direction for growth was apart from one another. And that was okay too.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Jolene looked away.
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
You accepted Bakugo as your friend in your third year at U.A. after a team-up between the agencies the two of you had work studies at. Bakugo had learned to tame that temper of his for the most part. He had stopped referring to everyone else as “extras.”
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
You had jokingly admitted that you used to have a big ol’ crush on him back during the first year but you were glad that nothing ever happened. You realized that he wasn’t the one for you and never had been.
Please don't take him even though you can
Two years after graduation, you ran into Jolene again. She was different from the shallow and competitive girl you had known back in high school. She didn’t pursue hero work after all. She had become a teacher at the very same Junior High you had attended back in the day. She was kinder, more mature. You found out she had ended up dating a girl from the general studies course right towards the end of your third year. You were happy for her. Flashing the silver band on your left hand, you told her that you and Shinso were still going strong, and in the spring, he would be your husband. She was invited, that is, if she wanted to come. Your past friendship was rekindled and found new life. There was no more competition between the two of you. She was your plus one at a hero gala you attended. The look in Ground Zero’s eyes when he spotted the two of you waltzing around on the dance floor was priceless. Of course, Mina was tearing it up all on her own. By the end of the night, the three of you were doubled over laughing the way you did so many years before. There were tears of joy in her emerald eyes as you stood in front of the altar across from the indigo love of your life. At the wedding reception, you sought out one person. The one person who had pushed you through the door to the rest of your life. The one person who had made you happy, then bitter, then joyous all in succession. The one person that you wanted to thank wholeheartedly for the man on your arm and the friends moving about the hall.
Jolene, Jolene