everlong| hocus pocus

001. new kid's number

   JASPER WEISS YAWNED in class, her gaze drifting lazily to the window where autumn leaves fluttered from twisted branches, waiting for the clock to strike 3:00. Halloween had never really been the top of her holiday list; Thanksgiving even held more appeal. Each year felt like a chore spent at her friend Allison Watts's house, a routine they planned to break this time by sneaking out. "Excited for tonight?" Allison's wink pulled Jasper from her thoughts, prompting a half-hearted smile.
      "If we get caught and I'm stuck at your place all night, I might just kill myself," Jasper replied dryly, her disdain for Halloween clear. Allison glanced towards Max Dennison, the infamous, intriguing new kid.
     "Well, looks like Hollywood thinks the same." Allison remarked with a smirk, earning simultaneous eye rolls from Jasper and Max. The classroom was droned on with familiar tales Jasper had long tired of hearing.
   "Poor Thackary Binx. Neither his father, his mother, nor anyone else...ever knew what became of him...those 300 years ago," the class had heard this song and dance before. Since the third grade and yet Jasper was the only one who was tired of hearing the same old story. "and so the Sanderson Sisters were hanged by the Salem townsfolk. Now, there are those who say that on Halloween night...a black cat still guards the old Sanderson house, warning off any who might make the witches...come back to life!" the teacher tossed her black ribbon at one of Allison and Jasper's friend, Peter. He let out a quick yelp, sounding like a girl as the class erupted in laughter.
"Gimmie a break," a voice muttered, silencing the class. All eyes turned to Max, who usually doodled mini hurricanes and robots on his tests. He had been sitting next to Allison and had been taking glances at her every moment he got. Jasper wasn't surprised; everyone liked Allison—rich, gorgeous, and refreshingly genuine, unlike the typical wealthy girls Jasper knew. Allison was real.
The teacher seized this moment.  "Aha," the teacher started. "we seem to have a skeptic in our midst. Mr. Dennison would you care to share your California-laid back-tie-dyed point of view?" The class snickered as Max leaned forward, his blue eyes gleaming with confidence.
"Okay," he sat up, clearing his throat. "granted that, uh, you guys here in Salem are all into these, uh, black cats and witches and stuff..."
     "Stuff?" The teacher repeated in shock as the class followed along with groans and mean glares towards Max in disgust. They clearly didn't like him.
     "Fine! But everyone here knows that Halloween was invented by the candy companies," Max quipped, triggering a wave of protest and scoffs. The teacher sighs, turning away to her blackboard. The kids once more begin to yell. "It's a conspiracy!" the brown-eyed jock sitting next to him in the corner scoffed, ready to chirp in.
Allison, ever defending Halloween's honor, interjected, prompting a silence within the classroom. "It just so happens that Halloween is based on the ancient feast called All Hallows' Eve." Max's eyes widened as he turned slowly to face Allison. Max still stared in utter confusion; as a fifteen-year-old boy usually does. Allison groaned, eyeing Jasper. She sighed, unwilling to continue, but for Salem's sake, she had no choice.
"It's based on All Hallows' Eve, the only night spirits of the dead can return to Earth," Jasper broke eye contact, leaning back into her chair, completely embarrassed at what she had just said. The jocks in the back to the class whooped in the back loudly; also what fifteen-year-old-boys usually do.
The teacher praised them, leaving Jasper uncomfortable under the unexpected attention. She was known as Allison Watts's friend, not much else. The scent of detergent and way too much hair product interrupted Jasper's thoughts, drawing her gaze to Max, now casually chatting with Allison. His laid-back-tie-dyed demeanor clashed with Allison's composed presence, but Jasper knew appearances could be deceiving. "Well in case Jimi Hendrix shows up tonight...here my number." the new boy passed the paper with his two fingers. Allison stared, unimpressed, taking the paper from his fingers, opening it then looking up at his dopey smile. The curly-headed blonde scoffed, collecting her books and waited for Allison by the doorframe.
Jasper didn't hate Allison; it was just hard seeing someone effortlessly get everything because of their looks. Allison was smart, kind, and popular—the quintessential girl-next-door. Jasper, on the other hand, navigated her own path, known but not as adored as Allison. She hadn't even had a boyfriend before; well one if middle school counts.
Max lingered near Allison's desk, seemingly uncertain of his place. "Max...fat chance." Taunted popular football jock, Dan Miller, whipping his corduroy brown backpack behind him. Max's smile weakened, now playing with the cuffs of his sleeves. "Try dating someone else. Someone like Allison's friend." He gestured toward Jasper and Allison.
"Screw you, Miller!" She replied sharply. Allison quickly diffused the tension, taking the girl by the arm before the situation escalated. As Allison tugged Jasper towards the classroom door, Jasper's eyes briefly locked with Max's, their eyes quickly catching each other's before they were pulled apart by Allison's insistent grip.