Author's Notes: Finally! Here it is, guys! The runner up for the Live-journal votes. Though I know many readers want to attack me since this isn't the story they were expecting, but with this done, I can post the 1st place voted story.
This was intended to be a one-shot, but I got carried away (this is a habit, I'm noticing) and have split it into two parts. The first part being in Seth's POV and the second in Jasper's.
Disclaimer: Major fluff. Seth brattiness. Jasper charm. Characters are not my own.
Sun-kissed Skin and a Dimpled Smile
It was like riding a rollercoaster. The anticipation before I knew I would see him. The excitement would build up, my nerves climbing, then he'd be in my view or step into a room and my stomach would drop. The world would become a blur and the hours we'd spend together would twist and curve, rise and plummet and my breath would be taken away.
And before I knew it, it was over.
And I wanted to experience the feeling again.
I was addicted to it and I just couldn't help myself. It was wrong, I knew. It was inappropriate and a waste of time. I shouldn't have been in love with him. I should have spared myself the heartbreak. But I couldn't help how I felt.
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Seth POV
"You've been hiding here for the last 5 minutes." My heart nearly jumped out of my throat when I heard his rumbling voice.
They were the first words he had ever said to me.
"I-I-I," I couldn't speak. I really couldn't speak. My tongue was heavy like lead, my mouth dry like cement. What was I going to say to this wavy haired, dimpled rockstar? He had been standing in front of the U.S. History section, thumbing through the new Civil War pictured book with intense interest.
And I had been watching him like some sort of stalker.
But he was beautiful, a beautiful that was hard to describe. It wasn't just the silky, golden hair and the baby blue peepers. The beauty was in the way he forgotten where he was as he beheld the pictures, his thumb tracing pages in awe. It was the way his brows furrowed and how his teeth dug into his bottom lip before he suckled on it in concentration. As much as the outside was great to look at, it was his inside that I saw.
Call me crazy, but I thought I may have-
"Hey," He whispered gently, "it's okay. I'm not mad or anything. I know I've been standing there for about a half hour. Probably bringin' a lot of attention to myself." There was a hint of an accent on his tongue, but I was too brain dead to figure out what exactly it was.
"Hablas ingles?" he asked and that snapped me out of my haze.
I felt a frown forming as something of a growl came from my chest, "I speak perfect English, thank you. I'm not Mexican." Something about the people of Arizona confusing Natives with Mexicans always had me reeling. It would have been nice if some of them opened a book once in their lives.
I would have expected different from him...
And then he smiled, his dimples appearing on his face. I thought I had melted, "I knew that would get you speakin'." He chuckled.
"Wait," I stammered, "what?"
"Not too bright, are ya?" He teased. I felt annoyance flair up in my chest.
Whatever. He wasn't that beautiful.
As I made to turn, I felt his hand on my shoulder, "Wait, I'm sorry." He still had the grin on his face, "I like to push buttons, but I don't mean no harm."
I sniffed, crossing my arms, "Yeah, no problem."
He wasn't convinced, "Don't be that way."
"What way?" I shrugged, "I'm not being any way."
This must have been amusing to him because he chuckled again. I couldn't help but get lost in those damn blue eyes. And they twinkled! "You must be in high school." He said it like it was some sort of drag to not be old.
"Is that a problem?" It would have been a bit of an understatement to say I was a little insulted.
Holding a palm up to let me know he meant nothing by it, he spoke, "No. Not at all," As if we had been speaking for an hour, he asked where I went.
I cocked my head in the general direction of where the school was down the street, "Marcos." I muttered.
"Home of the Padres, huh?" He nodded, "My senior year I went to Corona-" I scowled at the name, "Yeah, I didn't like it there either."
"Where did you go before Corona?" I asked.
"Some nowhere school back in Texas." He shrugged. So it was Texas he was from.
A cowboy.
"If you're thinking I'm some sort of cowboy, cut that shit out." He growled with narrowed eyes, "If I'm a cowboy, you're an old, Republican man."
Was that the first thing people thought about when they heard 'Arizona'? "Gross."
"So, have I been acting suspicious?" His eyes were searching mine intently. I had to bite my tongue to keep from moaning. God, I could see right into that Texas soul of his, "Or were you just stalking me?" That surely had me spiraling back to reality.
"I-I-I," Here we go again.
He laughed, "I was kidding."
Gesturing towards the book, I responded with, "I was wondering why you were reading that." Not exactly the truth, but it was close enough.
The twinkle in his eyes dimmed a bit as if he was reminded of something bleak, "Oh." He said and lifted it between us, "I'm starting my Civil War course. The professor recommended some optional books. I figured I'd come here first before Barnes & Noble. I'm all for indie bookstores." Of course. That must have meant he was in college.
"You go to ASU?"
"Guilty as charged." He smiled, "Figured I'd stay in state for a year or two. Tired of moving around and to be honest, Arizona's weather differs very little from home." He looked so comfortable, standing there before me speaking as if we had known each other longer than five minutes.
Over time, I began to learn that was just how Jasper was.
Jasper.
When he told me that was his name, I couldn't think of anything more suited. It was rare and yet so organic and natural, just like him. I think I swooned.
When we got pass the names and school information, we moved on to heavier topics like friends and family and soon passions we were into. The hours flew by before I realized that I literally had been standing and speaking to a stranger for 4 damn hours. My shift was almost over and I had spent most of it enjoying myself. In comparison, any other work day before this one was a waste.
Jasper didn't let me go so easily. When he learned I had no ride of my own, he offered me one home. And, Lord, he asked me for my number when he had pulled his car in front of my house.
"You're a cool kid," He spoke with a dimpled grin, "Far more cool than the clones at ASU."
"I'm not a kid." I snapped, though that only made him laugh. I think I was having heart palpitations. In fact, I was sure there was going to be some cardiac conditions I'd develop if I kept in his company any longer. We traded numbers and good lordy, I was very close to leaning over the stick shift and pressing my lips against his pink ones. This felt more like a date than anything else. We had chemistry, even if he thought it was me being a cool kid. There was definitely something there. Perhaps for him, it was a potential good friend, but for me, I could easily see a lover.
But of course, I was always known for my romantic heart.
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Over the next two semesters, Jasper and I only got closer. In his fourth semester in college, he had become more comfortable with his courses, which only meant that we could actually hang out. Our usual routine was him over at Changing Hands at 5 –when my shift started- studying or working on his own papers until afterwards, where we either went out for dinner or called it a night as he dropped me off at home.
My mom was instantly smitten with Jasper the day she met him. All it took was that twinkle in his eyes and the smile on his face for her to be sold. And that's saying a lot. Ever since dad passing away when I was 13, mom had become quite territorial and worried about the company I kept. It was rather annoying bringing over a friend or a study partner and her giving them the look over as if expecting a sign of their bad influence. Any suspicion she may have had of Jasper was eradicated. I supposed his charms worked on everyone. He soon became another part of our household, staying for dinner and on occasion, joining my mother and me on errands. He was told to keep a watchful eye on me when her job demanded more of her time. He was even encouraged to spend as much time with us as possible when she learned of his family moving back to Texas right when he entered college. Mom was a bit theatrical when it came to family.
It wasn't a surprise when she invited him to accompany me to prom. I could say I was a bit too shy to ever ask anyone, seeing how I was gay and not interested in the limited options there were. I had told her and Jasper over dinner one night that I just wasn't going.
"It wouldn't matter anyway." I shrugged, avoiding my mom's glare, "They play bad music and I'm not really into dancing to YMCA in a tux."
Jasper watched me with a relaxed smile. Over time, I got used to the way his eyes sparkled when we were in each other's company or how he never seemed to let anything distract him from having his attention directly on me. With his arms crossed casually over his chest, he spoke up, "I heard they were having it at the Phoenix Science Center. Nothin' more fun than dancing and having a laser show afterwards."
"It's better than that ranch prom they had when your sister graduated." My mom scowled, "And wouldn't you want to hang out with your friends? Replying with 'What friends?' would have been inappropriate. I had mostly AP courses at school, so any acquaintances I had were either too pretentious or spent entirely too much time studying. The few I did bring over never quite made it pass my mother's disconcerting eye. Other than Jasper, the only person to re-visit again –though it was once –was Edward, my Chemistry partner Junior year. He was nice enough, I guess. And cute.
I realized both were waiting for me to answer, "Um, I don't really have that many friends mom. Jasper is the only one you'll let in the house anyway." At that, Jasper snorted.
"Well, what about that Tyler kid?" She started.
"You said I shouldn't associate with him. He used too much profanity."
"How about Jacob? He was a smart boy." She went on as if she had nothing to do with my lack of visitors.
"He had a motorcycle, which you didn't approve of. And you said he gave me…the eyes." I said, not masking my annoyance. I had met Jacob sophomore year. He was really cute, funny and tutored me in Biology. I also had a crippling crush on him. He was my first kiss, but that's as far as it got. We still had some classes together and talked, though he was much more occupied with sports and work these days.
With all the thinking, I almost missed the questioning raised eyebrow from Jasper. I didn't want to explain –I couldn't really –so I shrugged. Jasper was super unaware of my orientation. 8 months of knowing him and we barely ever spoke of relationships, though I did know he had a girlfriend back in Texas. I tried to avoid talking about her, mainly because I wanted to claw her eyes out.
"Jacob, eh?" Jasper didn't sound all too approving of the motorcycle either. I sighed, only to accompany it with a pout. He always took my mother's side. One look to her and I knew she approved of his response as well, shooting me a smug smirk before winking.
"Then why don't you take Jasper, dear?"
"W-what?" I sputtered, looking between them. As usual, Jasper appeared unfazed. Did they secretly operate as a team when I wasn't around? "He'll keep a good eye on you."
"I don't need a babysitter. I'm almost an adult." My pout became more pronounced. There was probably some lip trembling action.
"It'll be fun, kiddo!" He teased, leaning over the table to ruffle my hair. His touch was always welcomed, even if I wanted to gnaw off his arm for using that endearment. I glared at him and his eyes widened, "Easy, squirt! I just want to meet your friends and dance. That doesn't sound like fun?"
"It sounds like fun to me." My mother gave me a pointed look. The do as I say look.
"I have no choice in this, do I?"
My mom merely sipped her iced tea, "They start selling the tickets, soon, right? Get the couple tickets and we'll look for a nice tux this weekend." I looked over to Jasper, hoping that he'd side with me after her statement. Couple tickets? He had to be against that, right? We were going to the prom as a couple! Being seen with him wasn't a problem since some students were aware of my orientation because of Jacob. It wouldn't be a shock, but I was concerned about Jasper. I didn't know where his comforts were. It was really hard to tell when he was looking so cool just sitting there.
"You don't have to go." I tried to whisper surreptitiously, so my mom wouldn't spot me. I was actually surprised to see Jasper's cool falter a bit.
"You don't want me to go?" He asked.
I shook my head violently. I would have loved to be anywhere with him. Just staring at him made me happy, it didn't matter where we were, but even I knew there were limitations. Jasper and I were friends and I didn't want to push his comfort, "I know going to prom with you would be great, but if it's something you don't want to do…" I trailed off.
He shrugged, "Prom was never my thing. I didn't even go to mine, but if you're there, I'm sure we'll have a great time." He elbowed me with a devious cackle, "We can be dates!"
I shot my mom a look, only to see her lips twitch before she stood up, gathering our plates, "You two. Dishes. Now." She barked the usual order.
Jasper shot to his feet with enthusiasm, "Yes, ma 'am!"
I watched as they carried on like it was any normal dinner. This wouldn't be as bad as I thought it could be, right?
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April's decent weather melted away to the death hell heat of May. Both Jasper and I hadn't spoken about prom much due to the increasing stress of his finals and my last run-arounds with signing up for classes at ASU and paying for my graduation gown and the ever exhausting preparation for out of town family. I, of course, bought our tickets. I stared at them every night before going to bed, wondering how I could play off the building excitement in my gut. A date! Oh lordy, Jasper said it was a date! Even though I was aware he was totally kidding, I couldn't help the smile that was plastered on my face the second he left that night. It felt like I had been smiling ever since.
It wasn't until the week before our date that Jasper called bringing prom back up. He mentioned getting his tux, threatening that I'd better match. My heart did something weird in my chest.
"What, need me to wear a canary yellow to your royal, pimp purple?" I teased, "Let me guess, you bought a cane too?"
"Ha. Ha. Smartass." He retorted, "Actually my look is a bit classier. A simple black and red." He sounded proud of himself.
"Putting some effort into this, aren't ya?" I laughed.
"Of course I am." I felt my laugh stutter to a halt at the sincerity in his voice, "Kiddo, this is your prom. It should be special, right?"
"Right." My voice had dropped a few octaves, matching his soft tone. I had no idea he was doing this as a favor. I always thought it was more of an adventure, something fun to do. Jasper was all about having a good time, teasing and fooling around. It would have never crossed my mind that he was coming just so the night would be memorable.
"Plus, we need to look snazzy. Make all the suckers there jealous." He added with a crafty little chuckle, "So stay in the color zone, damnit."
Prom night came quicker than I was prepared for. I was all suited up in my black tuxedo, blood red dress shirt and black bowtie. I stood at the foot of my stairs, getting fussed over as my mom adjusted the invisible wrinkles and rubbed the nonexistent smudge on my cheek.
"My baby…" She cooed, getting an eye roll from me which of course she caught and swatted my head in disapproval. The doorbell rang and my heart jumped to my throat.
My mother literally giggled, before practically skipping to the door. I had only ever seen her like this when Leah came home sporting a big fat ring on Christmas saying she was engaged to her boyfriend Sam. Jasper had been over to witness the sheer horror of my mother and sister hopping around the living room like 10 year old girls at a slumber party, high on pixie stix.
I knew it was Jasper when my mother squealed, "Ma'am." I heard his gentle greeting before he was escorted to the back of the house where I was shaking in my dress shoes. He turned the corner and my breath caught. His tall, lean body was covered in a fitted, black tux. My eyes worked up pass the dark red vest and matching handkerchief to the clean shaven jaw and –oh my lordy –the long waves tucked back into a ponytail at the base of his skull. There wasn't a word between us. I was certain he was waiting for me to say something, but working my way up to his eyes I realized he was checking out my tux to see if I matched. I knew he approved when his dimples came through on his cheeks. With an uncharacteristically shy smile, he finally spoke.
"Someone is all grown up." His voice was husky as if he hadn't spoken for days. I rolled my eyes, making a show of crossing my arms over my chest before glaring at him, "Okay, maybe not." He teased gently, "Oh, before I forget." I hadn't noticed his hands tucked behind his back until they moved. My eyes widened at the sight of the little clear plastic box before they narrowed.
"What is that?" I growled. I knew exactly what it was. I just wanted him to say it.
"A corsage." He mumbled. I felt my jaw drop. Mom had to have put him up to this.
"I'm not a girl!" Jasper had the nerve to laugh.
"I know that!" He smirked making sure to let his eyes travel my body. I suddenly felt self-conscious, "It's for guys. We pin it on the tux. It won't go on your wrist, I promise." He held up the box for me to see, "And see, it's not that big. I have the same one in the car."
"Well, alright." I grumbled. It was actually pretty. A single, red rose. My arms suddenly felt heavy and my chest was humming. It was romantic, even for best friend standards, "Thank you." It was more than just for the flower. It was being there that day at that particular spot reading that Civil War book. It was for being charming enough to get my mother's approval. It was for making my last moments in high school memorable.
God, I was in love with Jasper Whitlock.
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He may have made romantic gestures, but in the end he was my best friend. And of course, Jasper will be Jasper. We drove to the prom in his dirt covered truck, though thankfully the insides were cleaner than usual.
"McKy D's?" He suggested for dinner. I laughed and gave him a nod, "Of course it's on me. You're my date." He said softly, throwing his arm around the back of the passenger seat. I knew I was blushing.
We ordered inside and ate our mcnuggets and milkshakes in front of curious patrons before we drove the 20 minute journey into Phoenix. Before turning on the freeway, Jasper turned on his playlist to get us into the mood of dancing. Good ol' 90s dance tunes.
"Ten bucks they play the Macarena within the first hour we're there." He challenged.
"You're on."
We arrived to a full parking lot and a dance already in swing. Jasper pinned his corsage on in a hurry before rushing us out of the car, making some noise about missing the fruit punch and finger foods. We were running a little late, only because my mother would not let us out of the house without filling the damn memory on her camera. I cringed. Every damn pose and angle imaginable was used.
We showed up at the ticket desk, smiling innocently, exposing our ticket stubs. Both women –one whom I recognized as the school librarian, and the other, the vice principal –gave Jasper a hard glare. It was within rules that our dates be from other schools, but they had to be minors. Jasper could easily be mistaken for someone of drinking age. He had the demeanor and smug look about him, so it was difficult to prove otherwise. He also arrived as my partner. Though my classmates tended to be less interested in my orientation, the teachers damn sure didn't like any type of intimacy between students, especially two guys. But as expected, Jasper used his charm, commenting on the librarian's tacky glasses –the kind that need to be secured on a damn string –and made some comment about how our prom location was way more creative than Corona's. That won them over in the end.
We were welcomed by some thumping pop music and the smell of food. A gaggle of girls ran by us giggling in their puffy, short dresses and hair-sprayed do's, holding their high heels in their hands. I followed the trail from where they came, "Guess they left the exhibits open for us to check out." I said to Jasper. He was like me, enjoyed a good education with some fun.
"Looking forward to it." He smirked, checking out the decorations. I was spotted by a few teachers before we had a chance to check out the science exhibits they had opened. I introduced Mr. Laudry and Mrs. Berg to Jasper. Both were teachers I interacted with more than a normal student would, but it was nearly a requirement when taking AP course. Like everyone else, they were smitten by Jasper, Mrs. Berg especially when Jasper began speaking to her about the Tet Offensive. Apparently, Jasper's interest in history expanded past the Reconstruction of the south.
We were finally able to slip away when Mrs. Berg's assistance was needed to track some students who had a suspicious paper bag. There weren't much people around the science exhibits, so we were able to get the area all to ourselves. There was something about examining the size of insect brains and testing gravity that was thrilling. We laughed, tripping over ourselves in glee as we ran from one gadget to the next, testing our knowledge with toys and joking around. We had lost track of time, but I didn't care. This was what I enjoyed, being this way with Jasper. He was comfortable, beautiful and perfect. I had done so well keeping my attraction to him hidden, but watching his eyes light up as he trailed his fingers along the electric globe, I knew my time was running out. I was 'kiddo' or 'squirt'. We worked great as this, but what happens when I went to college, when I had more freedom? What happens when he sees me for what I truly am or even worse figures out how I feel? Or what if I wasn't the 'cool kid' anymore? Would Jasper lose interest in me if we spend more time together? We never really talked about what would happen after I went to ASU. He never suggested we share a dorm or go to those frat parties to school seemed to have a lot of. No talks about playing pool between classes or having lunch together. What if this was it? What if after graduation he wouldn't want to be my friend anymore? What if prom was his way of saying goodbye?
I think I was having a panic attack.
"See? What did I say? Macarena!" Jasper clapped in triumph, oblivious to my racing mind, "You owe me ten bucks." He tossed over his shoulder, before doing a double take. I'm sure he noticed the way my hand gripped the edges of my tux.
"Seth!" His hands held my shoulders "Are you okay?"
"I think…I'm having…" I panted. I didn't have to finish. He knew.
There had only been one other time I had a panic attack in front of Jasper and that was after I explained why it was only mom and I at home. Reliving the most painful years of my life without dad had been awful. I hated the vulnerability and the stress of money and looking out for mom. I hated seeing her so broken for the first few years. Just the thought of it made the anxiety peak. Like a professional, Jasper instructed me to breathe, explaining that he was there, that my mom was okay and that everything would be fine. I had panic attacks before meeting him, but by far that was the quickest recovery I'd had. Having him there made everything better and now….
"Okay, Seth, breathe for me, okay?" He instructed, "Deep breaths." He gently pressed on my back, silently telling me to bend over. I did so, expanding my lungs and letting out the air slowly, "I'm right here, Seth." He cooed softly. It helped so much to hear it. I ignored the nagging fear that he'd leave me and listened as he continued to bring me down with gentle words. When the tightness in my chest was gone, I stood up straight, afraid to meet his eye. He must have thought something was wrong with me when we were having such a good time.
"I know prom seems like the end." He said, rubbing my back in small circles, "This is around the time I knew things were going to change for me. I was scared shitless, but you're more prepared than I was. You're smart and focused, Seth. Not much will change for you once this part of your life is over." I leaned in to his touch, taking in his words like medicine. He was right, college wouldn't be a big deal, but he had no idea how different life could be without him. He opened up my mind and personality, showed me that life existed outside the safe confines of school, work and home.
"I say, let's dance!" Jasper threw up his hands as if suddenly overtaken by the urge to jump about, "You're my date and I haven't even offered you my hand," He dramatically swayed with dismay, "How dare I forget my manners." He took my hand –and my breath –away as he walked with purpose to the source of the thumping dance music. I couldn't help the smile that graced my lips. How the hell did he make me forget everything?
We were fools, dancing like little kids to the electric slide, bumping into other people, snorting when we missed a step. After two more obnoxious instructive dance songs, a current pop beat came on. With a wipe to the brow, Jasper exclaimed that he was parched and decided to grab us both a drink. I nodded and watched him trail off, his wheat curls disappearing behind a throng of people. I was so lost in following his departure I nearly jumped out my skin when I felt the tap on my shoulder. I turned in surprise, only to be greeted by green eyes and a shy smile.
"Hey Seth." The soft spoken voice was barely audible over the music.
"Edward!" I exclaimed with surprise. I never expected him to come to prom. He was so shy and quiet, much like how I was at school before I met Jasper. We got along so well, even though he had only stopped by my house twice for school. I think at the time both of us were too shy to invite each other over after our Chemistry class, "I haven't spoken to you since-"
"Chemistry class." He finished for me.
"I really wish we could have hung out more." I said honestly, "Where are you going to school?" He was pretty smart, in fact, our class's valedictorian. He was invested in clubs and academics, which contributed to the lack of seeing him around. I was sure he'd be going to somewhere Ivy League-ish.
"Arizona State." He answered with a wide smile.
I felt my eyes bug, "But you're a genius!" I exclaimed like a fool. Edward looked away briefly, his cheeks tinted pink. It was pretty adorable.
"No I'm not." He shrugged, "I didn't want to leave home and plus it's a free ride, so you know…" His voice trailed off, "Where are you going?"
"ASU for me too!" I exclaimed proudly.
"But you're a genius." He didn't say it with enthusiasm, rather a small smirk on his lips.
"You're funny." I deadpanned. At that he laughed. The song changed to something that had the whole dance floor screaming with cheers. Puffy dresses and fruit punch was about everywhere, but the electricity and excitement was potent. This was prom night, these were people I would mostly never see again and we were here to share one last thrill.
"Wanna dance?" I asked, not sure why I offered. There was a look of brief shock across Edward's face before he finally nodded. It didn't even cross my mind that he could be straight, but it didn't matter, because we were feeding off the energy of the night, getting lost in the moment. Bodies knocked into us, pressing us together. We both laughed, not minding the closeness. I watched Edward with surprise. He was a pretty good dancer for an introvert and quite hot too. After the song wound down to some popular ballad, we broke apart, completely conscious of our close proximity.
"You still have my number, right?" He asked nervously. His breath came out in pants against my cheek. I guess we didn't separate that much.
"I do." I replied.
"Don't want to waste another opportunity to hang, right?" I nodded in agreement, "We should get to know the campus together next year." I wasn't an expert on flirting, but this seemed to be exactly what he was doing.
I nodded again, "I wouldn't want to waste it." I didn't mean for it to sound all flirt-like, but it did. Edward gave me a brilliant smile before pulling away, disappearing into the crowd. When my mind cleared, I realized just how long Jasper was gone. Searching the crowd, I walked off the dance floor only to spot him at the tables, his shoulders slouched with two red cups in front of him.
"Jas?" I asked. I wanted so badly to pet his waves, stroke his cheek, but I knew that wouldn't be a good idea, "Hey, where'd you go?"
Lifting his head, he gave me a wan smile, "Just tired. You youngins' have all that energy." His smile was half-hearted. I knew he had to really be tired. I remembered him telling me his last final kicked his ass. Maybe he was stressed out about his results.
"Do you want to leave?"
"No." He shook his head, "You deserve to have a complete prom. You can dance with your friend." He finished bitterly. He really must have been tired.
"Me and Edward only had one dance. We can leave now if you want." It wasn't a big deal. I did all I needed to do. What really mattered was that he was here with me.
"Edward, huh?" He said darkly.
It must have been a bad test.
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I stood in front of the mirror, maroon cap on and matching gown donned. I didn't feel like a high school graduate. I didn't feel like an adult. I felt like a lost child. No calls from Jasper since Prom night. He couldn't have been busy, since his last exam was before Prom and it couldn't have been work since he chose to focus on just school this semester. What was he doing? Why wasn't he answering my calls? I felt lost and utterly alone. I wanted him by my side when my family showed up. I wanted him to charm my grandmother who was about as icy as the Arctic tundra. I wanted him to officially meet Leah. He never had the chance to speak to her one-on-one during Christmas because of the whole wedding excitement. I wanted him to be by my side. I wanted him to hold me and k-
Well, I shouldn't get carried away with myself. But I missed Jasper and it had only been 7 days. How was I going to survive college then? I had been right. Prom was our goodbye.
"Knock, knock." I heard the rapping on the door as she made her presence known, "Everyone is waiting for you downstairs."
"Okay." I wasn't ready, but the ceremony wasn't going to wait for me too.
"Hmm," She was scrutinizing me, I knew it. The click of the door closing told me she knew something was up, "Okay, you should be ecstatic. You're going to college finally and you won't have to look at those schmucks again. You saw me the night of graduation. I was smiling. And how often do I do that for extensive periods of time?" She arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow at me. This was one thing I hated about Leah. She was so damn perceptive and persistent. At least mom left me alone when she noticed something was wrong. Leah was like a spoiled child, she wouldn't shut up until she got what she wanted.
"I am excited." I answered flatly.
"Once more, with feeling." She wasn't convinced, "And where's Jasper with all this enthusiasm or lack thereof? Your mouth must get stuck open when he's around. You never stop grinning at him."
I let out a heavy sigh.
"Ah ha." She grinned, "I guess that answers two questions." She crossed her arms over her chest, eyes narrowing. If there was anyone that could give mom a run for her money, it was Leah. She was viciously aggressive and had on more than one occasion made boys eat dirt for picking on me in school. The most recent was her literally knocking a senior over with her book laden backpack after hearing him call me a fag. I was almost certain he had a concussion. She had also been extremely harsh with Jacob. The night she picked me up from his house, she knew something had happened because of the permanent blush on my cheeks. She literally forced him out of the house and threatened if he had gotten too handsy, she would personally castrate him.
Leah never expressed an opinion about Jasper though. She was uncharacteristically quiet about him. She brought him up in conversation, asking how he was or if we were doing anything that day, but overall, Leah hadn't said anything.
Well, until now.
"Did he hurt you?"
I whipped my head around, "What?" I exclaimed in shock.
"Did you find him kissing someone else or is he one of those boys who can't stomach being intimate in public. The pussy." She hissed. Leah, with the assumptions.
"Leah, he is not my boyfriend!" I argued, but she clearly didn't believe me.
"You don't have to lie, Seth. I know you're gay. I didn't forget about that cute one with the motorcycle. What happened to him anyway?" She snickered, causing me to growl in annoyance.
"Jasper is my best friend."
"You sure about that?" She said skeptically, "Well, from what mom told me-" And like that, her mouth snapped shut and she cleared her throat.
I felt my eyes narrow in suspicion, "What did she tell you?"
Feigning innocence, Leah shrugged, "Nothing." She wiped her hands together as if ridding them of something dirty, "Well, come on. You know how grandma gets when she waits." She strutted to the door, wiggling her hand with the very impressive engagement ring, "You're going to admit that you're in love with him before you tell me what's got you so upset." She tossed over her shoulder before leaving the room.
Sometimes I was really glad my sister went to school out of state.
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There were so many people. Gold and maroon clashing together. I always hated our school colors. Poop and Pee. Great, now I had to go to the bathroom. My leg jumped impatiently as I sat in the uncomfortable metal chair. Graduation practice was exhausting with the heat. All that walking in straight lines and listening to the teachers instruct us to our destined rows. Now here we were, 2 hours later, a crowd of on-lookers with flashing cameras and proud smiles. There was only one smile I was looking for. The familiar soft, melodic voice filled the speakers. I turned my head momentarily to hear Edward's speech. It was simple, encouraging and moving, just what our class needed to hear. I watched his pink lips move, saw his eyes flicker to mine on more than one occasion. He had an energy about him that reminded me of Jasper. Though his was more reserved, I could tell there was more to Edward than he let on.
Finally after the speeches and the squirming in our seats, our names were called. I did the practiced walk on the stage, grabbed my diploma and shook the principal's hand, thankful that this was the last time I'd ever have to stand in this open football field in this gown. Once we were told we were graduates, I tossed my hat into the air along with my class and booked it to the track where my family was waiting. I got a thundering welcome. Mom was the first one to grip me into a hug, followed by Leah and my aunts and uncles. I was surrounded by words of praise and cheer, along with the many voices around us, yet I could easily hear his husky twang.
"Congrats, kiddo." My heart hammered in my ears. My family was temporarily forgotten as I turned on my heels to see him. There he stood as calm as ever, those dimples fixed on his cheeks.
"You came!" I wanted to be mad. He hadn't answered any of my calls or texts for 7 days. But hell, it didn't matter, because I was just glad to see him.
"Of course I came." His eyes were sparkling and attentive, just as I remembered.
"Oh, he is such a looker!" I heard the squeal before it registered there was someone standing beside him, "Jasper, you didn't tell me how cute he was!"
And there I noticed the hour glass figured girl, only about half a foot shorter than Jasper and I. Long black locks ran down the length of her shoulders and dark brown eyes blinked up at me, "Seth, this is Maria." I could hear his voice, but it wasn't registering in my mind what he could be saying, because right there in front of my face, I noticed. They were holding hands.
So this was why he wouldn't answer my calls.
"Hi." It was a weird croak, but she didn't seem to notice.
"So nice to finally meet you, Seth." She elbowed Jasper, "It's taken him forever to introduce us. He talks about you a lot."
I never even heard about her.
"Oh, so he shows." If there was anything to make this situation worse, it would be my dear sister, "Nice to see you again, Jasper. I was beginning to believe you'd miss Seth's special day."
"I wouldn't ever." He said with conviction, his eyes never leaving mine. It was as if he was trying to convey something to me.
"Sorry about being late." Maria spoke up. Her head fell comfortably on Jasper's shoulder. I could feel my fists clench at my sides, "But it was my fault Jasper was running late." There was a giggle that followed. My ears were ringing.
"That's nice, honey," My sister said with a lace of condescending in her tone, "Join us for dinner, Jasper?" I had completely forgotten I was here with my family, that my day wasn't over. We had reservations to some restaurant in Scottsdale. I really wasn't in the mood for forced smiles and laughter. Seeing Jasper with her, their hands weaved together was…heartbreaking. My insides were crumbling. I could barely hold my place before them. I knew we would never be anything, but all those thoughts of touching him, kissing those enticing dimples, telling him how important he was to me all seemed to melt away.
"We would love to come." Maria spoke up.
"Sorry, honey. The place is reserved for 9 only." She averted her attention to Jasper, "We kept a seat open in case Jasper decided to come." I knew Leah. This was her subtle way of calling Jasper a dick. Though I knew he hurt me, I was certain he was unaware. It wasn't his fault.
"Don't worry about it, Jasper." I couldn't look him straight in the eye, "It's just dinner."
"Jasper!" I heard my mom exclaim behind me, "Where have you been?" The noise of the background seemed to swallow the conversation. I saw moving mouths, Jasper motioning to Maria who proudly waved at my family members. I saw smiles and balloons, blurs of maroon and gold. This was it. This was the beginning of adulthood. With a heartbreak.
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AN: I'd like to know what you guys think. It's a nice change from some of my previous stuff this year and I'm really curious. Jasper's POV should be posted in a few days. We can see his insight and just what the heck is going on with him and this Maria chick.