So this had to happen. Originally I was going to do the chapter from Debbie's perspective but her actions in this episode bothered me. Plus, she doesn't actually get to see Jasmine on this day, she just whines about being a mom and not being able to date Robert.

Foolish Debbie…

Also, Daz's pursuit of Jasmine was kind of cute at first, especially in how he tries to say goodbye so I thought I'd give him an honorable mention here. Later when his obsession with her becomes more annoying I'll probably drop his bits out. I blame him for the initial Jebbie break-up because he made Jas feel all uncomfortable about being a lesbian and then she had to experiment and...ugh.

Sorry, rant over. Enjoy!

DJ

Leaving: Jasmine

Today was the day. There was no getting out of this.

"You know," Laurel told me as we forlornly ate breakfast. "If it was up to me, you could stay as long as you like."

I grinned but it lacked real depth. My heart was done getting its hopes up. "You don't have to say that, I'm used to people wanting rid of me." My parents, my mates at school, even my uncle. Everybody just wanted me to piss off and leave them alone.

"No one wants to get rid of you." Laurel assured me.

At that precise moment, Uncle Ashley wandered outside.

"All packed?" He asked me.

Wanting rid of me already.

I slammed my cup back onto its saucer. "Tell you what," I snapped, jumping to my feet. "I'll put my bags right by the door so I'm ready for a super-quick getaway."

I stormed inside and up the stairs, collapsing heavily on the empty mattress in my old room. A few of my bags that had been stacked on the bed tumbled off and to the floor but I took no notice of them.

I didn't cry, I was done crying over this. Instead I just lay there staring at the ceiling, thinking.

Laurel, to her credit had tried. I'd heard her talking with my uncle the night after I'd cried in her arms. But I think even she knew from the start that it would be a long shot. Ashley hadn't even considered her suggestion. "I'm sure she'll be fine once she gets back…"

I covered my face with my hand. I wouldn't be. As soon as I got back it would be moving in and fighting over the best beds in the dorm and competing for the best grades in classes and stealing each other's clothes and sneaking out to buy alcohol.

Some people liked that. I now realized I was sick of it.

Someone knocked on my door. "Jasmine?"

I sighed and sat up as Laurel entered.

"Sorry about Ashley." She said, by way of greeting. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you that he sometimes misses the obvious."

"Fitting that he's a vicar then…" I muttered.

Laurel chuckled and I paused. I hadn't realized that she'd heard me.

"Ashley just doesn't like confrontation." She told me, moving a suitcase to the floor so she could sit next to me on the bed. "He knows your dad will have quite the row if we take you out of boarding school and he hates fighting with his brother because he always loses."

I smirked mockingly. That was my dad: unable to be bossed around, unable to lose a fight. He was clever and slippery, knowing just how to manipulate whoever he was speaking to so that he was never in the wrong.

That was how he'd got me to agree to come here. The only time I'd ever turned out to be happy that dad won an argument.

Laurel was still talking. "Personally, I think Hotten Com is a much better school than that stuffy old place your dad insists on sending you to. I dunno why he wouldn't let us transfer you." She leaned over and picked up one of the bags that had fallen when I'd flopped down on the bed. I watched as she carefully placed it on top of the suitcase she had shifted.

Because he couldn't stand the thought of me not being where he demands.

Dear old dad. Always in control.

"You are more than welcome to come back anytime you want," Laurel continued. "Christmas, spring break, next summer, whenever you just want to get away from boarding school. Ashley's words. And mine." She hastily threw in.
"Really?"

She nodded.

I felt a genuine smile touch my face for the first time all day. "Thank you Laurel."

DJ

Well, it was time.

Ashley carried the last of my things out to the car. I followed him, trying not to sulk and probably failing. I'd been avoiding him ever since this morning, not sure how to react to his completely innocent question.

"There we go." Ashley said as he tucked my last bag into the backseat. "You sure you've got everything?"

I glanced back at the house, towards the window that had once been mine.

"No." I said.

"Jasmine…" I turned to the gentle voice of my uncle.

"I want you to know that, if it were up to me, I'd be perfectly happy, no, overjoyed to have you stay with us." He started.

I showed nothing of the feelings currently churning away somewhere between my heart and stomach. I didn't want to part on bad terms with him. But I couldn't forgive him for giving up.

Ashley chuckled uneasily. "But you know how Luke is. He cant be reasoned with once he's made up his mind."

I doubted he had even thought to call my father to plead my case. Why did no one take me seriously?

"He said boarding school was the best thing that ever happened to him as a kid and he was not going to subject his daughter to anything less."

So he had called him? I was surprised. Firstly because I honestly had not even expected Ashley to make an effort and secondly, that my dad was reachable. He barely got phone reception when he wasn't in airports.

"But give it another chance, huh?" Ashley was saying, fiddling with his car keys. "I know boarding school is exciting, certainly more so than this boring place."

Boring? Why did he keep saying that? He clearly needed to get out more. Plenty happened here if you knew where to look. And Debbie and Daz certainly did.

"And if you ever feel uncomfortable or just need some time away, call me." Ashley said.

I smiled at him. "Thanks Uncle Ashley…I will." I meant it.

He seemed relieved. "Good."

Laurel and Ethan came out of the house then and joined us make their goodbyes.

"Take care now Jasmine," Ethan said, giving me a smile and nudge on the arm. "Don't work too hard at school." I smiled in thanks. He actually turned out alright, Ethan. Once he got comfortable enough to joke around me, we'd gotten on well enough.

"If you need anything, you know where we are." Laurel reminded me. "Come on give us a cuddle!" She said, pulling me into a tight hug.

I chuckled. I'd miss Laurel. It was nice having someone to talk to who treated you like an adult, not a spoiled child.

"Thanks Laurel. For everything." I told her, rubbing her arm as we pulled apart.

"We need to get going…" Ashley said. "I don't want to be too late back." As I headed towards the car, I spotted Daz hanging out under the tree across the street. I headed over, my heart plummeting. More goodbyes.

"Will I see you later?" I heard Ashley ask Laurel uneasily behind me.

"Not if I see you first, Ashley." Laurel snapped back.

"Just a minute." I told Ashley and hurried up to Daz.

I smiled at him. He just gave me an uneasy grin.

"Debbie was gonna say goodbye and all but…" He jerked his head over his shoulder. "Cain made her go home."

I was disappointed. I'd wanted to say goodbye to Debs. But all the same, one less goodbye was always better. Debbie and I had gotten so close I don't think I'd be able to make our goodbye a casual one. At least with Daz I knew I could take it lightly.

"I'll have to make do with you then wont I?" I teased.

He looked down. "I wanted to give you sommat to remember us by." Daz said, suddenly very serious. I stared up at him. This was so unlike him, being sentimental.

"I'll never forget you Jas…" He said. He leaned down, lips parted as if to whisper in my ear.

"Jasmine!" Uncle Ashley called, making Daz pull back.

"In a minute!" I called back to him.

I turned to face Daz again. "Sorry Daz, what were you saying?"

He shuffled backwards and sat on the bench heavily. "It don't matter…" He said moodily, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"It must have been something." I urged him. I didn't want to leave without knowing what he was going to say.

"Oh yeah," He dug into his bag. "The sheep." He pulled out an absolutely adorable stuffed sheep. "I was gonna tell you I bought you a sheep." He said self-consciously, handing it to me. Daz avoided my eyes.

I took it, grinning. It was so stupid. I loved it.

"Jasmine!" Ashley called again.

I whirled around. "Right!"

Ashley wordlessly portrayed his exasperation by shrugging dramatically and getting into the car.

"Look Daz, I've got to go." I told him, he stood up, pulling his bag over his shoulder. "Thank you for the umm…" I held it up. "Sheep."

Daz just gave me a half-hearted smile and flip of his fingers. Then he walked away.

My eyes stung. I was going to miss him. And Debbie. I was going to miss this boring village so much.

As Ashley and me left the village a little while later, I spotted a lonely figure leaning against the fence. For a second, I thought it was Debbie and I sat up, hoping I'd at least get one last glance of her before leaving. But it wasn't Debbie. It was the other person I really wanted to see.

"Slow down, Ashley. Please?" I begged my uncle. He rolled his eyes but complied.

"Daz!" I called as we approached the fence. He turned around. I held up the sheep. "So long amigo!" I shouted and blew him a kiss. He grinned.

The whole way back to boarding school, I thought about the times I'd spent with him and Debbie. Days in Hotten, messing around in the woods, taking care of Sarah as we hung around the cricket pavilion or the playground, rocking out to Radiohead and Gwen Stefani. And then the other day at the festival, playing games, chasing pigs and wrestling each other on the cricket pitch. I paused at this memory, remembering how Daz had looked at me after he'd tackled me to the ground. Debbie couldn't stop dropping semi-obvious hints at how great of a couple we'd make after that. And every time she did, Daz always blushed and told her to shove it. Maybe Debbie was right. Maybe he did fancy me. The realization brought both surprised joy and a little trepidation. Joy because I'd never actually had a boy fancy me before, trepidation because, well, he was Daz. Daz was my mate, my friend. I couldn't imagine actually kissing him. We were just too well…we're mates.

I settled back for the long car trip back to hell, I mean, boarding school. But my thoughts remained on my friends. Maybe Daz did have a crush on me. Maybe it was better that I leave for awhile then. So he can get over it and we can stay mates like I like. Just Debbie, him and me, causing trouble and raising hell. Like it was supposed to be.

Four months. I couldn't wait to return.