Last Soul

7.

I sit on the bench in the backyard. The music is still loud as my head spins. I light up a cigarette. My eyes close as I exhale in pleasure.

"You got one?" a familiar voice asks. I open my eyes to see Jasper. He looks... sober. I hand him a cigarette and he sits down next to me. His cologne reaches my nose. I inhale the smell I've grown to like.

"Not feeling the party, huh?" he asks tiredly glancing at me. I shake my head and hug myself as the cold wind sends shivers down my spine. I am dressed like a slut and I am cold.

"Did you drink?" I ask weakly as I struggle to keep my eyes open. It feels like someone has taken away my energy. Drained every last drop from me. Jasper puts out his cigarette when he finishes it and shakes his head.

"Smoked anything other than cigarettes?" I question. The sound of his laugh makes me smile slightly.

"What is this? Some sort of a police investigation?" he chuckles and stands up reaching a hand towards me. I hesitate. I felt too weak to even stand up.

"Come on. I'll drive you home," Jasper mumbles softly. It's like he read my mind. Only now I notice the way his eyes sparkle in the dim light. I take his hand standing up. We walk to his dad's car and he opens the door for me. If I had the energy, I would make a snarky remark. I didn't. I plop down into the seat and shiver.

"Here," Jasper lends me his hoodie as he starts the car. Our hands brush through each other as I take the hoodie. I put it on immediately feeling warmer. The car's engine roars to life as we drive far from the loud house. We both remain silent as Jasper rests his hands on the wheel, occasionally tapping it out of boredom with his fingers.

***

I fall on my bed as Jasper walks into my room. He takes a look around admiring the pictures that hung above my bed. He traces some cracks in the walls.

"I've tried to cover them by painting on top," I say as he investigates my childish drawings. "It didn't work," I add shrugging and he smiles slightly. He looks up at the stars and I look at him.

"Why aren't you with Joey?" I ask curiously. He could've stayed at the party having fun with others. Instead, he left with me. Even though, I think he dislikes Katie too. We never talked about it. I just think it's rude so I've never brought it up.

"Katie was all over Joe. So, I went to find you," he shrugged and I nodded in response. He walked to my desk taking my notebook. Jazz gave me a look of questioning if he could read it. I nodded in agreement.

"All the places and buildings we've visited," I say as he sits down next to me reading the names and analyzing the pictures. I stand up remembering the house we were in. I printed the picture of the pentagram and glued it into the book.

He lets out a soft chuckle with a smile on his face.

"Why did you keep track of everything?" he asks putting the book down and looking up at me. I shrug slowly trying to find the words.

"I guess, I enjoyed being there," I say thinking and he nods flipping the pages.

The old bridge not far from my house. I think I loved that place too much. I still come there from time to time. Analyse every little drawing and saying. It was me and Joey back then. It might not seem like it but I am glad Jasper and Katie has joined us.