Disclaimer: The plot belongs to EstrellaGrace the rest is Stephanie Meyer's.
There is abuse in this story so if you are not comfortable….STOP READING!
Thank you strongwolfprincess for proofreading this.
JPOV
The weekend passed nicely and I didn't see Mike at all. Not until Monday morning. He showed up on the first day of school wearing nice, almost church-going clothes, that stuck out like a sore thumb.
I walked over to the bench where he was sitting all alone and wrap my arm around his shoulder."Hey man, long time no sees," I said.
"Ha ha, maybe for you Jasper but for me, I saw heaven this weekend." Mike wiggled his eyebrows up and down and I just found my opening to bring up the cocaine incident.
"That's awesome, Mike. You saw heaven and I saw a doctor." I raised one eyebrow and took my arm off of his shoulder, pushing him a little.
"Yeah, sorry about that, Jasper. I was too drunk. Just make sure not to take another drink from me when I'm drunk again and you should be good for all of eternity." What was the point of being mad at him? Mike really was 100 percent grade A jock. "You missed the Cullens. They came to the party, too. When I went around looking for you, everyone said you had left or they hadn't seen you. Dude those two girls you were talking about are smokin' hot and you were right, that one guy is huge!" Mike uses his arms to exaggerate what he is saying while I just nodded along.
"Oh, I saw them alright. Edward Cullen, the one with red hair, was the one who tricked me. He took me to see his doctor of a dad. Then, I passed out at their place. Then afterward, I went home early that morning."
"That's awesome." Hand it to Mike to not get it. "They're all a little weird, aren't they? The big guy, Emmett, told me that they were all foster kids. Some of them are siblings. And get this, they are all together which is kind of like incest right? Well, a roundabout way incest."
"Yeah, roundabout way, I guess." Every one of them looked the same with their golden eyes and alabaster skin. Something tugged at the back of my mind. Something familiar that set me on edge a little. They all look like models off of some fashion magazine. "Which ones are the siblings?" I asked. And here I was thinking that I was going to be the one telling him about the Cullens.
"Edward and Alice are siblings, and the rest of them are all adopted or something. We have seriously got to get some of them on the football team, we would win state if we had them!"
"You say that like we aren't going to win if we don't have them." Mike shrugged in response. "Yo, and where did you get those clothes for the first day of school? I know we were supposed to be a little dressed up but I know that you didn't bring anything with you except for the clothes on your back."
He chuckles. "Remember Jessica's older brother who went off to college?" I nod. "His parents still have some clothes in his old room for when he comes to visit, but you know he isn't coming back anytime soon." Looks like Mike has all the company he needs over at Jessica's house. I feel a little jealous, but then I remember that this is a good thing, for Mike at least.
The bell rings and we all head to the gymnasium. It was time for the idiot principal to talk to us about how this year is going to be great. How we are going to love our teachers and welcome the new students.
He is right about one thing, this year is going to be great…. for the football team! I have been killing it in practice and I know that I will rock all of my games.
Principal Greene dismissed us and we all head out to our different classes. I look down at my schedule that I had picked up earlier this morning from Ms. Cope, and groan when I see that I have Spanish and then English Literature. English is my hardest subject, but since I get along really well with the teacher, Ms. Owens, who has a bit of a crush on me, I usually slide through her class easily with a few winks thrown her way. Spanish is almost just as hard as English, but luckily I am in the lower Spanish class where everything is repeated over and over again so I never really have to listen.
"Hola Bonitos." Señora Roof says to the grumbling class. I sit in the middle of my personal squad of football players. The team has become my click and we always stick together. Spanish class is a bore, but it passes quickly. Easy to do when all you do is talk to your friends, so before I know it, the bell rings and I go to my locker to switch out my books.
Waiting for me is Edward. He is leaning against my locker, trying to look like he belongs in this school when that couldn't be farther from the truth.
He belongs on the front of a magazine.
When he sees me, he immediately straightens up and flashes me a pearly white smile that could make a blind man cry. I do a two-finger wave, undo my lock, and get into my locker. I take out my English stuff while I say, "What's up?" to Edward.
"Where is English Class? I'm having a little trouble finding some classes. I was wondering if you could help me here. Please." He said this as a question as if I wouldn't help a friend out.
"Why don't you just use your map of the school? I know that you have one because I got one last year too." I think I see a little panic go across his face but it is gone so quick that I doubted it was even there in the first place. Maybe he lost his map.
"I did have one, but I lost it when a stupid girl named Lauren fell on me and I had to catch her." I laughed.
"You should have just let her fall, I say." Edward grins widely at my comment. "What is your next class again?"
Without looking down at his schedule he says, "English."
"Great, that's my class too. Sit by me." We fist bump and I feel the shock again.
English is the only class where none of my football friends are in the class with me. That means I am virtually alone, and to make matters worse, it's my worst subject. Mike isn't even in the class with me which, double sucks.
It's better now, I have Edward, so I can deal with it. It's nice to get out of that group once in a while. Sometimes anyway. Most of the jocks are just idiots and it's hard to hold a conversation with them, but Edward is different. I was surprised, he was a really smart guy. In him, I saw a kindred spirit and the potential for friendship.
EPOV
I knew it!
I had felt the mating bond with Jasper. I was only suspicious before, but when we fist bumped, I got that electric feeling again. Just like when our hands had touched my home. I had been drawn to him, ever since we had followed him to that party on Friday night. I never thought of myself as attracted to men but I had felt the bond form and I don't regret.
The only problem is my family. Alice must have already seen this happening, but nobody else in the family knows. I would like to keep it that way. As long as I'm able.
Growing up, my family life had very restricted Christian values. Meaning they all grew up homophobic because being gay was scandalous back in my time. That was the way I was raised.
It's is not like I could just ignore my attraction for him. I'll have to talk to Alice later about this. If she were to tell Vee, and then Emmett found out too soon, that could lead to horrible consequences for me in the middle of it.
Jasper sat down at his table and I take the seat next to him. I study all of the little white scars that cover him and growl lowly. He must have heard me since he turned his head to me and asks, "Did you say something?"
"No." I didn't mean for him to hear me. But I did want to talk to him. "But I was just wondering if you would like to, um, hang out on Saturday? We could go bowling or to the movies or something," I asked. Did that really sound that bad? Yes. I didn't want him to think I was suggesting a date, oh no….What did I just do? I was worried about him rejecting me. I had to remind myself that this was not a date. Nice idea, but I did not want to be rejected before he got to know me.
"Sorry, but I have football practice on Saturday. Maybe you could come to that and show some school spirit, eh?" He nudges me on the shoulder and does a little adorable laugh that I can't help but smile at.
"Yeah, I'll come." I see the corner his mouth turn up with a hint of a smile.
Mr. Banner comes in and bangs his hand on his desk until the class is quiet. He starts talking about how we are going to be reading over his syllabus as partners today then hands out our papers and leaves us to it. Jasper holds his syllabus up in front of him and watches me.
"Take a picture and it'll last longer," I say with a goofy grin and he chuckles.
"Oh, no. I was just waiting for you to read it" Well that's kind of odd. I looked around to see if every group is reading it aloud to each other. Many of them are doing this. I guess it isn't that odd.
"We can switch off in the middle then," I said and Jasper looked a little flustered.
"Why don't you just read it all. I listen better when somebody else is speaking than I do by myself." Auditory learner, I see. I wanted to know everything about this man. He wasn't going to make it easy.
I start reading and Jasper watches his paper but his eyes are unfocused. He nods every once in awhile so I know he's listening, but I doubt that he really is. It is infuriating how hard it is to hear his thoughts. Like he didn't think in words.
"Jasper," Mr. Banner calls from his desk. "Will you come over here for a moment?" Shamelessly I eavesdropped on what they are saying. I needed to know everything that is going on with my mate. I disturbed myself by how possessive I wanted to be. This was a foreign feeling "Mr. Whitlock, have you fixed that little problem that we had last school year?" Mr. Banner takes off his glasses with one hand and looks at my mate intensely.
"Sir, I promise I'm going to fix it, I-I just need a little more time. I have gotten so much better, I swear." Jasper stutters.
"You have been saying that for a while now and we are just getting started with your Junior year now. I don't like to see our football team lose any more than you do, but if you don't get help on this matter, then I will have no choice but to pull you from the team so you can work more on your grades. I do not want to do this Mr. Whitlock, but you have forced my hand at this point. This cannot go on. I suggest that you get a tutor to help you out and if you can't find one then I am sure that the school might be able to help you out. This is something that everybody needs to learn, Jasper. You can't just procrastinate on something so vital."
Jasper sighs, "Yes, sir." and walks back to his seat. He puts his head in his hands and I barely remember to pretend like I don't know what Mr. Banner was just saying.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Nothing new. Mr. Banner told me that I need to get a tutor. It's nothing really." His face was red as flames and I am immensely curious about what the problem is about.
"So then what's the problem? All you have to do is get a tutor." It seems really easy to me.
"Well, my schedule is not very easy to work around. I have school, obviously, and then immediately after I have football practice until seven o'clock and then I've gotta eat something and by then it's nighttime. I just don't have the time on the weekends and even then I have games every other weekend." I had an idea.
"Hey, I'm a really good tutor. I can teach you just about everything." I have taken almost everything. I knew I would be able to tutor him. "I know you said you're busy every day after school but that just means that we will have to do it in the morning." I lite up at the thought of spending more time with him. It was even voluntary, I wanted to do it. That way he would be with me because he wants to.
Jasper's head lifted up and his mood became more somber from my words. His thoughts were heavily laced with emotions. That made it very hard to read. I couldn't help but feel melancholy that I was the one to put that look on his face. "Edward, I don't think that you could teach me this. Just drop it, I'll figure something out." I can't have him thinking that about me! Finally a clear thought.
"Oh…. all right, Jasper." If I push too hard, he may close down and shut me out. "I am confident that I could help so…. just give me a call if you change your mind." He seems really embarrassed, but I really hoped that he did call me. It didn't even have to be school related. Writing down my cell phone number, I give it to him with a smile.
I really wish I knew what he was thinking, everything was fuzzy. It was so frustrating not to know what is going on in his head.
On the outside, he was cool and calm. On the inside, every thought had a blur of high emotion. H wasn't blocking me. It was like he was slightly out of tune. I suspected a gift. I really want to ask Carlisle for advice about this. He had walked this earth longer than me.
"Thanks for the offer dude, but I gotta admit, I'm not going to call about the tutoring deal." I feel a little sad but I think Jasper notices because he immediately brightens up at my expression with faux happiness.
"Hey, but I'll text you about our first game whenever I find out. See you later, pal." He taps my shoulder as he goes to leave. Being friendly. I absolutely love the connection between us. I feel like we can make it work if we just try hard enough but there is still one part of this puzzle I still don't have figured out. How am I supposed to make Jasper like me like that?
JPOV
That was really nice of him to say that, but I didn't want to rope the new guy into tutoring some idiot on the football team. If Edward knew what he would be volunteering for, he would probably take back the offer anyway. If I am going to get somebody to help me, then it is going to be a professional. That way, nobody at school will find out and I won't become a social pariah.
Lunch is here quicker than I thought it would be and all of my stress has made me into one hungry man. I got to lunch a little late because I had gone to Mr. Banner to tell him that I had a plan. Meaning the school didn't need to hook me up with a tutor.
I walked in and hurried to the lunch line for my food. Like always, people part for me to go to the front of the line. Sitting at my table, Mike on one side and Tyler on the other, we talk football, like always, but this time I get a little bored. It's all we ever talk about, football this and football that.
I wished I could be talking to Edward. I quickly shake that thought out of my head. Tyler and Mike have been my friends longer than Edward so I shouldn't wish for that kind of stuff. I caught myself feeling like a girl.
"Jasper wake up dude. You've been out of it for like, five minutes. We were going over the starting line up for the game on Saturday." Tyler says while waving a hand in front of my face.
I hear clicking sounds behind me and I turn to see Lauren Mallory in her high heels walking straight at me. That is if you call swaying your hips walking. I am surprised that the school lets her wear what she does. She is wearing a leather mini skirt that shows the bottom of her ass and a lace shirt where you can see the outline of her nipples through it. The first day of school and I'm sure that she is already starting a high school brothel.
"Hey Jazzy poo," ugh...Lauren says as she sits in my lap, "I was wondering if you might wanna….meet up after school to study our chemistry." She does this every once in awhile, every other week, and I would get Mike to go to her for me because I don't wanna have sex with that skank, but now that Mike and Jessica are together, I have no other choice but to tell her no.
"Look, Lauren, I don't like you like that. Not interested, babe." You're really not my type.
"Oh come on, you know it'll be fun with just you and me, and maybe I'll even bring one of my girlfriends too." I decide to play with her a bit.
"Oh, well then count me in." You wish. "Your house at 7:30 and I'm in baby." I give her a Whitlock smirk that flows through the family and she goes to give me a kiss. I turn my head at the last second and the kiss lands on my cheek. She jumps up and trots back to her table with a skip in her step.
She just got me, Jasper Whitlock, to agree to have sex with her and you can tell that will be the highlight of her week. If I were to show up that is. You see, I don't do that kind of stuff with the girls here, or anywhere for that matter. It's not that I don't like them, it's just that all the ones I meet are premature prostitutes, so now Lauren thinks that she is going to be the first one to catch me.
I can see the whole table of Cullens watching me. I roll my eyes and turn back in my seat to eat my long-awaited lunch. Creepy.
Lunch is done when I hear the bell and I head out to Government class. Then it is on to precalculus. I love percal because numbers are my favorite types of words, I get along a lot more with numbers than I do letters because when you speak numbers, you always know the right answer. English teachers want opinions, math teachers want right answers. Opinions are a lot harder to say and then be told if your opinion is right or wrong. Not like I do anything in either class other than talk with my friends, but I still hate English.
Physical Education comes quickly and I find that I have that class with Edward too. We play football and coach say that we are doing it this time of year because it is football season, but everybody knows that it is only because he wants the football team to get as much practice in as they can before the first game comes up. So we throw and throw, and we even do a scrimmage for the ones who want to play.
I was disappointed when I notice that Edward was sitting with most of the girls. He was watching. He seemed to be watching with interest but no want to play. I guess I won't be the one to persuade him to play on the team if he won't even play in P.E. He looks like he has a really good throwing arm though so I make a mental note to ask him about playing later, even if he is likely to turn me down.
We are all dismissed at three o'clock. We head down to the locker room to change into our practice gear for football, and regular clothes for the people who don't play football. Eric Yorkie decides to twist his shirt up and smack me across the thigh with it. It turns into an all-out free for all in the boys' locker room. Sometime during the war, Edward had slipped out and I had missed my chance to ask him to try out for the team.
There is always tomorrow, I guess.
After school, practice goes by as well as it always does and I am improving by the day. Coach pulls me aside to remind me of that school problem and I tell him that I have it all under control, and I do…. almost. I make sure to mention that I am trying to get Edward to join the team and Coach says that I should try to get all of those Cullens to show up to practice one day. But I doubt that is going to happen.
After practice, Mike and I start to head home. When we get there, he is inside long enough to get a few thing and then runs back out. He tells me to drop him back off at Jessica's house again, now that he has a new change of clothes.
I am a little disappointed that I haven't been getting to spend much time with Mike these past few days. But I'm sure that he will come back soon enough. I really am happy for Mike now that he has Jessica, but now it leaves me alone with myself. I am not good company for my own mind.
So I decide to break out that Sunday paper that we got yesterday and do the puzzles. The jumbles are the hardest. They are the most confusing. I enjoy looking at the comics before I go to bed. I remember doing the paper with my grandpa every morning when I was a little boy. Before I was taken away from him.
After a while of laying in my bed, I did drift off to sleep. I am happy that I don't have a nightmare because Mr. and Mrs. Newton hate it when I wake up yelling. My nightmares always end up waking the whole house along with me, but usually, Mike is here to calm me down. I really do hope that Mike and Jessica don't do this every night just in case I need a friend to calm me down. I focus on what I have to do tomorrow to take my mind off bad thoughts.
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