Thank you for alerting and favoriting this story, and for your reviews! Knowing you're out there reading what I've written and hearing from you are my greatest inspirations!

Hey sweet harritwifan, happy birthday again and again, lol.

Song inspiration - Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds and Boom Clap by Charli XCX.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. This is slash… two boys are in the process of falling madly in love. It's some beautiful shit. I don't see how you could disagree. But whatever. You've been warned.

Ch. 2 - Call My Name

Love's strange, so real in the dark.

Think of the tender things that we were working on.

Slow change may pull us apart,

when the light gets into your heart, baby.

Epov

I look away, he looks away. I look back, he looks back. Over and over. It's making me dizzy.

Until… suddenly, I feel the force of a table hit me across my thighs. I guess that's what I get for paying attention to everything Jasper Whitlock instead of where I'm going. My backpack hits the ground and my sunglasses go flying. I'm helpless to move, to retrieve either - because my eyes remain glued to Jasper, to his eyes looking back at me, but I no longer have sunglasses hiding my fucked-up face. I can only hope he's far enough away to not see, but he's staring - and I swear to God, he's scrutinizing.

I jerk and turn partially away from his inquisitive stare, continuing to glance side-ways at him, because I simply can't keep from it. I kind-of like the way he's blatantly studying me. I know there's no possible way he can see my black eye from this angle. It's just me looking back at him, so I decide to bask in the warmth of his gaze. I feel his eyes on me almost as if he's touching me and it's making my skin crawl, in a good way. But it isn't helping the little problem in my pants - or should I say big problem… yeah, it's a pretty damned big problem, if I do say so myself. Jasper's sinful eyes move down my body, taking notice of my not so little problem before making a slow ascent back up to my face, again. The fire in his eyes steals my breath because I see want and need burning there. Want and need that rivals my own.

"Mornin', Masen. Is that a calculator in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

His cocky greeting accompanied by his signature combination smirk with a wink contradicts the huskiness in his voice.

Fuck me.

My problem twitches in my jeans. It has to be noticeable because it more like jumps with excitement at Jasper's words, and at the sexy tenor of which they tumbled from his fuckable mouth, and the sigh he lets out just after licking his lips. God damned! I can't get his words or his voice out of my head, my big one or my not-so-little one.

So he's flirting with me now… blatantly flirting? He does allot of staring, but I never can be sure what he's thinking. He usually doesn't say anything to me, and now he's flirting? I'm pretty sure this is most definitely what one could interpret as flirting!

Jasper grunts, a sound that contradicts the moment we've just been sharing – or atleast I think it was a moment… it sure as hell felt like a moment to me, but I can't be sure. He could've just been fucking with me, but he doesn't usually just fuck with people. Therefore, I know it was a moment, it had to have been, but now I remember his grunt. Add in the current look of disdain he wears directed just past my left shoulder and I'm pulled from my thoughts. I've been standing here staring at him for who knows how long, but now someone is standing behind me.

"Out of my way, geek," I hear from directly behind me.

Shit, just what I fucking need… McCarty.

Before I can get the fuck out of his way like I've learned to do, he pushes me, laying me out on the table so that he can pass by. Rosalie Hale sashays along behind him, nose up in the air as usual, impeccably dressed in what I imagine to be designer clothes, every long blond hair on her obnoxious head perfectly in its place. She's such a stuck up bitch. The perfect girl for Emmett.

Just as I've about got my bearings, shy Bella Swan scurries past, dressed in her usual oversized black clothes, her head down, long scraggly brown hair hanging in her face. Poor girl has even less self-confidence than me. Man, that's one fucked up chic.

I stand up and gather what little dignity I have left, making my way to the table in the back, as far away from everyone as I can get. Jasper catches my eye, again. I've studied him enough to know the expression he wears is that of danger when he glances Emmett's way. Conflicting emotions war for dominance over Jasper's face… concern and tenderness when he looks at me, hate and pure fury when he looks at the back of Emmett's head, who has unwisely chosen to sit at the table directly in front of Jasper. Emmett has balls, if nothing else. Though he has allot else, considering he's the captain of the football team and he dates the most popular girl in school, though I wouldn't touch her with a ten foot pole. But I wouldn't touch any female with any length pole, especially not my own.

I hope his popular status and top of the line arm candy are worth it, considering he traded his friendship with me for all of that.

Jasper meets my gaze and his expression immediately softens. He narrows his eyes while looking at me, but in a good way, I think. He's blatantly staring at me, as a matter of fact, as if he's trying to tell me something. And then the spell is broken when his eyes dart toward Emmett, again. Jasper's posture visibly stiffens; I swear I see him white knuckling the edge of the table, like he has to hold himself back with great effort.

It's all just too confusing, so I try to ignore him and everyone else. I begin taking my books out of my backpack, but I can't be so lucky as to just be left the fuck alone. Why can't Emmett just leave me the fuck alone? I can't believe he's the same boy who was my best friend for all those years.

"What the fuck are you doing in here, Masen?" He used to call me Eddie. "Are you lost? Aren't you supposed to be at a Mathletes competition or some other nerd shit like that?" He glances at Rosie for approval. She giggles and bats her eyelashes at him in return. It's some fucked up shit, if you ask me.

I don't reply, or acknowledge his latest jibe. I never do. Instead, I try to concentrate on my book. It's pure coincidence I'm reading Oliver twist, the book Jasper carries a worn copy of everywhere he goes. Another thing he thinks he hides from everyone. But he doesn't hide it from me.

There's no use trying to get along with Emmett. I gave up on that a long time ago, in middle school, when he became the jock and I remained the geek.

"Masen, I'm talking to you…"

"Leave him the fuck alone!"

All eyes snap toward Jasper. We're used to hearing Emmett pick on people, particularly me - but no one, including myself, is used to hearing Jasper shout, or so much as speak most of the time.

"You talking to me, Whitlock?" Emmett stands and puffs out his chest, as if he'll stand up to Jasper if it comes to that. Everyone knows Emmett is all bark and no bite. And everyone, including Emmett, is afraid to test the rumors about Jasper.

Jasper stands suddenly, knocking his chair across the room – Ugh… like I said, he's so damned strong. And did I mention sexy?

Distracted by him again, I don't immediately catch on that he's looking at me, but no longer in a good way. He looks horrified and pissed, with his mouth hanging open, because he sees. Shit, he sees the fucked up mess that is my eye. Why didn't I put my sunglasses back on?!

Before I register what he's doing, that he's coming my way - he's kneeling beside me, ghosting his fingers across my cheek, just under my eye and the bruise I still feel there. It's all in slow motion, like the world around me has been put on mute, yet I see it and feel it with perfect clarity.

Nobody has ever looked at me the way he is right now. Nobody, not even him. And now Jasper Whitlock is touching my face, tenderly. I can see the concern in his eyes, the sad frown on his perfect mouth.

"Who did this to you, Edward? Tell me who?" His voice sounds gravelly and full of emotion, and I can't find my own voice to answer.

For some reason I choose this moment to glance toward Emmett who is looking at me all pissed and horrified-like , too. I immediately wish I hadn't because I realize I've accidently insinuated he had something to do with the current state of my face. That's all it takes, and Jasper is leaping over the table as if he's in the mother-fucking ballet or some shit. He gets right up in Emmett's face, grabbing and twisting much bigger Em's jersey, somehow lifting him up off the ground, if that's even fucking possible. Venom drips from every syllable of every word as Jasper hisses in a very scared looking Em's face.

Why I'm referring to him as Em again, is beyond me. It's only ever going to be Emmett or McCarty. It's not like he'll ever want to be referred to as Em by me, and considering all the shit he's put me through, I think I'll just call him asshole for the rest of my life.

"What the fuck, McCarty? You better not have had anything to do with whatever it is that happened to our boy's face!"

Everything is in slow motion. Jasper continues to hold Emmett up off the ground, now while looking at me, like some kind of super hero. And then he's looking back, up at Emmett. He's seething and fucking scary as he continues to question Emmett with a voice that speaks of contained anger and disgust boiling just under the surface. I want to tell him that Emmett had nothing to do with my face, but I can't speak because I'm paralyzed and shocked. And rock fucking hard, again.

"No, you didn't do that to Edward's face… did you? We both know you'd never really hurt him, well not physically, atleast. So what the fuck happened? Where were you? How could've let anything like that happen to him."

What the hell is Jasper talking about, how could Emmett have let anything happen to me? I mean, nobody fucks with me except Emmett, come to think of it; and some of the other guys get it worse from some of the other jocks, but I'm having a hard time computing what I think Jasper is insinuating.

"I don't fucking know!" Emmett yells, defensively. He actually has the nerve to push Jasper off, almost knocking Rosalie down in the process seeing as she's about to attack Jasper, coming to Emmett's defense and all. I didn't know she had it in her; she looks like a possessed mad woman. And then there's Bella, pulling on Rosalie like she's just grown a back bone. What the fuck has gotten into everyone today? Are we in the Twilight-fucking-zone, or what!

Suddenly, Emmett backs away with his hands in the air, yelling with his booming captain-of-the-football-team voice. "Just calm the fuck down, people!" He looks over at me with… is that concern in his eyes? It sure as hell looks like concern, but my mind can't catch up since he's been such an asshole to me for so long. He starts pacing around the room, looking like he's about to hit something, or somebody. But he doesn't seem pissed at Jasper for getting in his face. No, instead he keeps looking at my face with some sort of a tortured expression on his, opening his mouth as if he wants to say something. He never says anything nice, but right now it really looks like he wants to; his signature asshole smirk is missing, too. I swear I recognize the sweet and open expression that always greeted me when we were kids, but I can't be sure. I must be hallucinating. And then he finally speaks.

"Edward? Who did that to your face, bro?"

Suddenly, I grow a pair - a huge pair to match my huge dick, because I'm sick of everyone and everything and he sure the fuck is not my bro. He hasn't been my brosince he deserted my sorry ass for the football team and cheerleaders, for the cool table in the lunch room and high fives all up and down the motherfucking hall all-day every-day like some sort of high-five spaz. I didn't know it was possible to high five as much as he does, seriously! I think he may have some rare condition that causes him to high-five anyone he deems worthy every fucking time he sees them. Every time! It's weird and I'd like to think I'm not the only person who thinks so.

I yell at him; yes, I do. In a relatively loud voice like I'm pissed and like I mean it. "What the fuck do you care? You haven't cared about me since you became all cool and shit, so fuck off McCarty, not Em or Emmett… you'll forever be McCarty or asshole to me. And don't you forget, it's by your choice that my face and everything else about me is no longer your concern!"

Damn!

Emmett is temporarily in shock, stepping back as if I've hit him or something. I've never talked to him like that, him or anyone besides Mr. Prick of a Shop Teacher, just yesterday. What the hell has gotten into me, anyway? I don't fucking know, but I like it. This shit called aggression and assertiveness feels kind-of good.

But then, for some reason, Jasper grabs Emmett, again. He holds him down on a table, yelling about why he let this happen to me and where the fuck was he. Some of what he says is inaudible. Emmett is yelling back, "Where the fuck were you, Loverboy? You're his god-damned shadow all the fucking time! Where were you?"

I hear someone else screaming, so loud that both Emmett and Jasper stop their shouting at each other and look… at me. Because I realize too late that it's me screaming at them that they are both fucking insane.

Now I've got Jasper and Emmett looking at me, questioning me. Add Rosalie and Bella to the mix, staring like they might actually give a shit, and I wish I could crawl under the table and hide from them all. Maybe I'll do just that.

Before I can start to actually get under the table, because I truly intend to, Mr. Malina clears his throat, startling us all. Who knows how long he's been leaning against the librarians desk - how much of this scene he has witnessed?

"Jasper. May I have a word with you, please?"

Jasper begrudgingly lets Emmet off the table he still has him tackled against, and follows Mr. Malina to the corner of the room. Though he attempts to talk in hushed tones, I hear every word he says to Jasper. He tells him to control himself. That he'll have to give Jasper a real Saturday detention if he physically accosts Emmett, again.

As they return to the group, he adds with a wink, "You don't want to spend another day locked in the broom closet, now do you?"

What the hell? Another day in the broom closet? Visions of what Jasper and I might do if we were locked in a closet together for a day temporarily cloud my vision. Hello, again, problem in my pants. It's been a while… like what? Five minutes or maybe six? Enough already!

Jasper sort of chuckles at Mr. Malina's broom closet comment as he takes his seat, distracting me from my vivid imagination for the moment, thank god. Bringing me back to the moment from wondering what the story is with the broom closet and Jasper and if he was locked in there by accident or as punishment. I can't ponder my broom closet questions and visions any longer, because he's looking at me again, questioning with his expressive, beautiful eyes. I bury my face in my arms, slumping on the table to hide from him and his questions and concerns and the heat under the surface of his stare, if just for a little while. It's barely 9am for fuck's sake, and I'm absolutely exhausted.

Thankfully, Mr. Malina begins what I imagine to be his opening detention speech. His assertive yet friendly voice momentarily calms my nerves and gives me something to concentrate on besides the sexy bad-boy blond and all the other fucked up shit that has just transpired, for a moment or two, atleast. "All right... so you've all decided to spend your Saturday with me? I see a couple new faces in here... Rosalie? Edward? I know you're all good kids - that goes for my regulars, too." He pauses to give a pointed look at Jasper and Bella, with a small smile he doesn't conceal well. "So... here's how your Saturday will play out. You need to spend the next eight hours studying or reading. No Ipods or Iphones or Ipads, or any other Idevices or technology... you know what I mean. No sleeping. I'll be in my office so conveniently directly across the hall. I'll be peaking my head in to check on you periodically. Ask before you use the restroom. I will tell you when it's time to eat lunch. Other than that, if I don't hear you, I'll assume you're doing what you're supposed to be doing. You may sit anywhere in the library you wish, and use the books, just put them back. In the correct place… Emmett. Any questions?"

Noone does, ofcourse – so he disappears out of the library, across the hall to where his office is conveniently located. Maybe that's why he gets stuck with Saturday detention duty? I don't fucking know. I do know that my arms are feeling cozy and I'm so fucking tired, I think I might actually doze off. He said no sleeping, but I don't think I can help it or particularly give a shit, right now. I think about what a rebel I've become as things go fuzzy and the darkness seeps in.

Jasper pov

Things have settled down, thank god. We're a half hour in. We won't see Mr. Malina again until lunch. I won't even think about the damned near friend he's become since my sorry ass landed in this boring town. Boring and safe, lulling me into what I know must be a false sense of security. Too many people are getting too close. I know I have to do something about that damned soon, to protect myself. Just a little longer, though I've been telling myself that for months since I've felt myself caring for Alice, and dare I say Carlisle and Esme, too. Maybe even Bella a little bit, and now a teacher? And Edward-fucking-Masen? I'm so screwed.

Everyone is quiet and studying, or doodling. Of course, leave it to McCarty to sit and doodle instead of utilizing his time. What an idiot. Except for Edward, because he still has his head down on his table. Fuck!

For the life of me, I can't figure out what has gotten into me. First, with the blatant flirting with Edward, and then coming so close to pummeling McCarty over what I know he had nothing to do with. That's what pisses me off the most, because I see how twisted Emmett is. He picks on Edward just enough for no one to suspect that he cares, while simultaneously watching over him like a hawk. Watching out for him. I don't know what the story is between them, but it's a helluva lot deeper that a jock bullying a geek, I can tell you that much.

Seeing Edward like that… knowing that someone must've hit him, that someone has hurt him - just FUCK! It makes my blood boil. It makes me want to open myself up just a little, enough to keep him close so that I can protect him from anyone ever hurting him, again.

Snap the fuck out of it Whitlock!

That's bullshit and you know it. You can't let him in. You don't dare. And just the fact that you're momentarily entertaining such fantastical nonsense, tells you that you need to get the fuck out of dodge as soon as possible. That boy short circuits your brain, your common sense that's kept you going in this fucked up world. And he warms your heart. And the fact that you're now referring to yourself in second-person, tells you… fuck, me - that it is time to go.

But where in the hell do I have to go?

As soon as the thought takes form, I'm on my feet and knocking on Mr. Malina's office door. He's not surprised to see me, thinking I'm done with my usual charade and here to grade papers for him, despite the other students in detention today. But that's not what I want. What I need is a place to go for a few minutes, or hours, maybe for the rest of this day, until Edward Masen is far enough away that I can't see him, and smell him. That my need for him isn't so fucking overwhelming.

I need solitude and confinement. Which means I can't go home where my family is.

Home? Fucking family? Did I really just refer to my current residence – number fifteen in so many years - as my home? To the people who take money from the state to let me live with them as my family?!

Oh, no. Oh, fuck no! No, no, no, no, no. That can't be. It just can't. I won't allow it.

Let me rephrase… I can't go to the house I'm temporarily allowed to crash at where my foster family lives - always so nice and attentive. Where Alice will insist on snuggling on the couch and watching movies all day, eating popcorn – fuck, I love popcorn - endearing me to her even more than the little imp already has. Where Carlisle and Esme will be patiently waiting, with their concerned faces and loving voices, coaxing me to let them in. But to what end? To allow them to fool me like the others, only to eventually turn me out like an unwanted stray dog?

Fuck no. I think I'll pass. Been there, done that, and I'm not falling for it, this time.

"So Mr. Malina, about that broom closet..."

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