Last Soul

5.

We sat in the back seat of Jasper's uncle's car. I appreciated his generosity in picking us up and buying us alcohol and cigarettes from time to time. But he was the aggressive man who had to get everything he desired. At least, that's what I've heard. I've never met him until now.

He looks different from what I'd imagined. I imagined him with dark hair, similar to Jasper's. But it was way lighter. His nose was wide and long. Small eyes with quite long eyelashes. They made him look less threatening.

"Where's the rest of your gang?" the man asked referring to Joey and Katie. I glanced at Jasper to answer the question instead of me.

"They-" Jazz began to say but his uncle shushed him raising a hand.

"No, this question was for Alice," he smirked. I glared at him.

"They went home," I reply coldly finishing Jasper's sentence. Me and Jazz shared some suspicious glances as the man chuckled.

"Ah, those two lovebirds always have to get away, don't they?" he asks and I remain quiet. Silently waiting for him to speed up and reach my house.

Jasper nods not wanting to ignore his uncle.

"What about you, Jazz?" he asked his nephew, and Jasper was left confused. I wanted to jump out of the window to escape this moment. God, I already disliked Jazz's uncle.

"What about me?" he answers rather harshly than most of the time. I started fidgeting with my hands.

"Do you have anyone to escape with? Like Joey and Katie did?" Uncle asks a rather confusing and weird question. They went home. I have no idea what he means by saying escape.

"Well, Joey and Katie didn't escape. They just went home," Jasper answers calmly stating my thoughts, probably avoiding the actual question. He raises his hand to move the hair out of his face. Silver rings on his fingers glisten in the car as the sun shines through the window.

I've never seen him take them off.

The man grips the steering wheel tighter and hums in response. We reach my neighbourhood and I scream inside out of happiness. We pull over near my house and as I'm ready to open the door, he locks it.

"Mark," Jasper growls. Mark. That's his name then. Jasper's uncle Mark turns to me with a grin on his face. He better unlock the door or I'll fucking break the window. Then his nose afterward.

"Well, Alice. I hope you don't do anything stupid," Mark says nodding. He turns around unlocking the door and I quickly exit the car. I can see Jasper visibly relax as I get out.

"Thanks for the ride," I nod at Mark trying to be polite. I wink at Jasper and he motions for me to leave.

"Anytime, darling," Mark says and shivers run through my body at the nickname. The shivers of disgust and anger. I close the car's door and start walking to my house. They speed away down the road.

I find my keys and unlock the door entering the hallway. I can hear my mom singing and cooking something in the kitchen as my dad watches the TV in the living room. I manage to quietly go upstairs to my bedroom. I drop my stuff on the ground and fall onto my bed letting out a sigh.

I lay there for a while. Staring at the ceiling which was covered in stars. The ones that glow in the dark. My dad helped me glue those there. Even though they don't glow anymore, I will probably never take them off. It's a memory I'd like
to remember and besides. I like them.

My phone starts ringing and I grab it from my pocket answering.

"Hey, Alice. You still at the house?" Joey asks and I scoff.

"No, Jasper's uncle Mark picked us up. I'm at home," I say putting a cigarette in my mouth ready to light it.

"Okay, great. I have a suggestion for you then," he says and I hear Katie giggling near.

"Spit it out," I say rolling my eyes as I inhale the smoke.

"Want to go party?" Joe says and I can tell he's smiling on the phone.

"Give me 30 minutes and I'll be ready," I say as I hang up.