AN: I own nothing that is recognizable within books.
Warning this is a boy/boy story, don't like don't read. Rated M for future chapters and just to be safe.
This chapter has been beta'd by RockinThatAfroPic!
Chapter 7
Jasper POV-
Quietly, I leave my room, praying I don't run into this 'Edward' guy. I slowly amble my way downstairs, my eyes constantly shifting around with every step. It's critical to familiarize myself with this foreign house and to remain alert of my surroundings. I have no idea what to expect.
The house isn't sinister by any means; it's actually nicely decorated and well lit by the natural light coming in through the windows. Obviously whoever lives here has money, and loads of it. Still, I can't let my guard down.
I can see the living room to my left once I reach the bottom of the stairs. Everything appears to be in order, immaculate even, that is until I notice the pieces of broken glass littering the floor in front of a broken window. In the middle of the room there is an abandoned knapsack with items spilling out of it.
Were they recently robbed?
Doesn't my dad have that same bag?
Is he responsible for this?
What happened here?
I wonder as the delicious scents of oregano, basil, and tomato sauce assault my senses drawing me towards the kitchen, and away from the mystery in the living room. My stomach immediately rumbles in response to the mouth-watering aromas.
I can't remember the last time I had homemade spaghetti.
"Hello Jasper, I'm Emily" a beautiful toffee colored woman with shoulder length black hair greets me as I enter the kitchen.
"Please take a seat" she smiles kindly.
She too looks familiar.
"When will I meet Edward?" I ask as I tentatively take a seat. Maybe it will calm my nerves if I at least have an idea when this mysterious stranger will make his appearance rather than having him pop out of nowhere and take me by surprise.
"You'll probably meet him later tonight. He's a bit of a night owl" Emily says as she brings over two bowls of pasta. "Well eat up, I'll grab us some water."
All conversation dies once we begin eating; the only sounds are the scraping of silverware against the ceramic bowls and the occasional gulp of water. I can tell that sitting here is just as awkward for her as it is for me.
Here I am in a creepy house out in the middle of nowhere with a woman I don't even know, her husband, and a man named Edward who's lurking around here somewhere or sleeping until later tonight.
God only knows what will happen tonight when I finally meet this 'Edward' guy!
"Jasper, does it taste ok?" Emily asks, breaking me out of my thoughts making me realize I had stopped eating.
"Um, Yes Emily, I'm sorry I just don't feel hungry, can I go to my room?" A slight frown appears on her face, causing me to become nervous.
What if I said the wrong thing?
"Sure Jasper, but if you get hungry please help yourself to anything in the fridge or cabinets. Dinner will be at 7 tonight." I don't even thank her as I swiftly stand and rush back to my room. There is no stopping my tears as I close the door, but I'm both surprised and thankful when I notice it locks, from the inside.
This is a new luxury, privacy.
Wait, what if 'Edward' has the key!
What did I do to deserve this? I wonder as I make my way over to the bed. I mean I always attended school and received top grades; I even skipped a year and got a full academic scholarship to Princeton. The only thing holding me back was my father, he wouldn't let me go. I couldn't enroll in the university without his signature, because I was a minor at the time, to verify that I had his permission to leave home. He's gone out of his way to keep me trapped in this town, a prisoner in his miserable house. So it's weird that he just suddenly decides he wants me out.
Sucks, doesn't even describe what this is.
Edward POV-
Jasper Whitlock, he hasn't even met the new me yet. Sam had called me ten minutes after he had left for work to tell me that our agreement stands and that I must meet Jasper tonight. I've tried going to sleep, but just knowing that Jasper's in the same house as me is making it hard to relax. I've tried chamomile tea, classical music, and even boring talk news radio, but nothing seems to put me to sleep.
I will never actually admit this to neither Sam nor Emily, though they're probably smart enough to figure it out for themselves, but I'm actually really excited he's here. One of the reasons why I want him to stay here is so he's protected from that so called father of his, but my main reason is much more selfish. Yes, I've changed over the years as I spent all my time isolated from the rest of the town and my 'friends', but as lame as it sounds, I just really want a friend. That drunken idiot presented me with a golden opportunity to make one.
My mind is full of memories of how my 'friends' and I made it our personal mission to harass Jasper, and we were relentless against the poor loner with no friends. Who would have thought that years down the road I would be the one desperate for his companionship?
Time has been good to him, he's absolutely beautiful. Thinking of him brings a goofy smile to my face. Over the years he's grown and packed on a little more muscle, he hardly looks like the young boy of sixteen. Then there is his hair, good God, I am dying to run my fingers through it, perhaps even pull and tug on it. It's so long, thick, and wavy. I bet it probably looks like a glowing halo on top of his head in the sunlight, giving him the look of an angel.
Why would this gorgeous being want anything to do with me?
This thought immediately crushes my spirit. Who am I kidding, what do I have to offer him? He's pure perfection! On the one hand my face alone is enough to shatter mirrors and make children cry. On the other if he knew I was 'Anthony', the 'Anthony' who made his life a living hell in High School and treated him like dirt, then he would surely leave. I'm ugly both inside and out, I would do nothing but taint Jasper Whitlock.
Happiness long forgotten, as a few tears slip from my eyes.
Forever alone.
I can't resist the urge to see him any longer, so I reach for my mirror.
"Show me Jasper" I whisper as the glass fills with his bedroom, Jasper quickly coming into view.
He is lying on top of his bed; limbs sprawled out every which way as if he had just flung himself down. I can tell he is crying, as his hands keep reaching up to wipe his eyes.
My heart aches as I long to go to him, to assure him that everything would be alright and that he would come to no harm because of me. As much as I want him to stay here, I also feel the need to tell him that he's not a prisoner here and that if he wants to leave Sam will make sure he gets to wherever he wants to go.
But I don't go to him, I don't even move as I watch Jasper cry himself to sleep.
AN: Thanks for reading.