Bart. POV

I ran towards the door, the continuous violent banging was obviously a sign of

impatience. As I pulled the door open, I saw the one person I had desperately

hoped it wasn't. Carl Costello.

"Look Jasmine doesn't want to see you right now," I told him beginning to shut

the door in his face.

He blocked the closure with his foot "It's not Jasmine I'm here to see," He

announced

"Well then what do you want?" I asked him confused

"I have a proposition for you Bart," He answered

"A proposition?"

"Yes,"

"Go on,"

"How about we talk about this over at the pub?"

"Fine," I replied shutting the door silently behind me, it was a Saturday morning,

and Jasmine was still asleep upstairs, she wouldn't notice if I disappeared for an

hour.

We walked silently through the village and over to The Dog In The Pond. As we

entered the pub Carl turned to me.

"You know Bart, when I received that call from your Aunt telling me that Jasmine

was staying with you for a while due to her finding the situations at home

difficult, I instantly blamed you for my daughter's departure," Carl informed me

his voice eerily calm

"I'm not the reason she ran away, I'm the one she ran too," I declared

"I know that, now, and thus my proposition,"

"What is it?"

"Bart I'm challenging you to a game of pool, if you win you are free to keep seeing

Jasmine, no strings attached, but if I win, Jasmine returns home and you must

leave her alone, for good,"

"I'm intrigued," I informed him

"Good, so you accept?"

"Yes, the idea of be able to be with Jasmine without you interfering is very

tempting,"

"You haven't won just yet,"

I walked over to the pool table, "We'll see about that," I told him throwing him a

pool cue….

Half an hour later it was over,

"No!" Carl seethed

"Remember Carl this was your idea," I smirked, I had just won by a landslide , the

old man was loosing his touch.

"But…" Carl began his rage beginning to shine through.

"We had a deal, and you're going to stick to your word," I told him, I wasn't going

to let some dodgy ex footballer ruin the best relationship I'd ever been in.

"Fine, Now go home," Carl said through gritted teeth, a fake smile forming on his

face, I left the pub as soon as the words had left his mouth, I didn't want to be

around when he exploded with rage.

Entering my front door, I was greeted by a sleepy Jasmine coming down the

stairs.

"Where have you been?" She asked rubbing her eyes and smiling at me.

"I just went out for some fresh air," I said choosing not to tell her about what just

went down between her father and me.

"Well I'm glad you're back, I was lonely upstairs without you," she said biting her

lip.

I chuckled and pulled her into a hug, "Come on, I'll make you some breakfast,"

"Bart McQueen cooks?" She asked jokingly taking my hand and leading me into the kitchen.

"I have many talents, like for example I'm an excellent pool player," I smirked, If only Carl Costello had know that he would have challenged me to a game of

something else.