Jasper loved Tuesdays, the half-day contrasted against the long dull Mondays was a blessing. The day was designed for them to go out and take photos around the city, using what they had learnt on the Monday and incorporating it into their photos, be it a skill or technique or composition style. At 2pm, they then had to go in and develop their photos, which would then be critiqued.
Jasper decided this week he would focus more on depth of field, as usual, he decided his location would be The Castro, which was nearby. Jasper liked to photograph the contrasting vibrant gay part of SF against the rest of the bleak city. Jasper decided to use Castro Street as the focus on this Tuesday; he aligned the street down a 3rd of the frame and then put the lens to the widest aperture to ensure a shallow depth of field, he then focussed on the theatre again using his knowledge to ensure the surrounding buildings were out of focus.
With a couple of shots taken that Jasper was sure he felt happy with, he decided to call it a day and go into uni to develop the photos. He had just packed up his camera gear when Alec walked round the corner, Jasper jumped at the sight of him, not expecting to see Alec in the area. "Hey Jasper, I was using the time to tour parts of SF so I don't get lost again, oh and take photos of course… I wasn't expecting to bump into you" Alec called out as he walked towards Jasper.
Jasper remained silent for a few moments, his brain still catching up; he finally spoke in a rushed and embarrassed way "H... hi Alec, I… I wasn't expecting to see you here either, especially as this is The Castro". An awkward silence followed between the two before Alec burst out laughing, Jaspers face dropped "What is it? What is so funny? Was it something I said?" Jasper annoyance showing through, Alec at this point nearly doubled up still laughing. Jasper started to get very angry; he hated it when people laughed at him, especially people he had only just met, "I don't like it when people laugh at me, so I'll give you another chance, what is so funny?" he said heatedly.
Alec still didn't relent what he found hilarious. Jasper's patience snapped, within a split second he had Alec up against the wall, his face inches from Alec's "WHAT IS SO FUCKING FUNNY, HUH? ARE YOU GOING TELL ME OR DO I NEED TO BEAT IT FROM YOU!" Alec stopped laughing abruptly and sagged, cowering beneath Jasper, he replied timidly "I didn't exactly plan on telling people this way but… I know it's the Castro… I'm gay"
Jasper dropped Alec and bolted, leaving his camera gear behind and leaving Alec in a daze. He headed in the direction of his house, tears streaming down his face. The first time he had a conversation with Alec and he had got angry, threatened him and found out he was gay, life was not fair, he just wanted it to all be over and go away, Alec would never want to talk to him again. He hadn't meant to snap but he couldn't help it, when people made him angry his emotions took hold very strongly and he no longer made logical and rational decisions.
Jasper flung open the door of the house and ran upstairs, slamming his bedroom door behind him. He fell onto the bed and began to sob loudly into the sheets, before long he was wailing to himself "Why?" he screamed over and over again, the pain of his earlier encounter still fresh.
Just that moment, Alice walked in the front door carrying some shopping; she heard the wailing coming from Jaspers room and dropped the shopping before racing up the stairs and into his room. She jumped onto Jasper not caring if he didn't want to see her or what was wrong. She hugged him as tightly as she could, not letting go until Jasper finally started to quieten down and complain for her to get off.
"Alice go the fuck away, I want to be alone" Jasper said through his slowing tears, "Not going to happen Jas so you are just going to deal with it you big cry baby". Jasper was about to scream at Alice for being so insensitive but he saw the grin on her face. "Damn you Alice, why do you always know how to shut me up and calm me down, winding me up really shouldn't be that effective…"
Alice looked at Jasper with a serious expression and said "Jas I've known you forever give me some credit on what to do when you are wailing like a small child (jeez did you hear how loud you were…). Why does it work, well because you hate being wound up so your brain starts thinking of a snarky comeback and so your heart stops feeling so broken and miserable because your brain is telling it to shut up so it can get the next sentence in, can I prove that, yes because it always works. I know you Jasper Cullen, inside and out like a good book"
Jasper sat up and wiped his tear-streaked face in his sleeve, he was being such a drama queen and he knew it, but he had managed to mess up his one and only encounter with Alec and now he wouldn't be surprised if Alec never wanted to have anything to do with him again.
Jasper thought his life was over, why should he bother going into uni tomorrow…