Secrets

Rudimentary Encounter

His laugh broke through the loudness of the room. He stood from his chair, tall and blond, hands on his hips as he stared down the class from his seat. The entire classroom looked at him, including the boy with the glasses and dark hair. The fair-haired athlete eyed the class, who had been disparaging the black-haired teen.

"Okay, now that we're quiet," he began, "what's the use of all these words towards the little one?"

The teacher had not entered the class as of yet; he had left at the beginning to copy papers. The teen with the glasses, a boy named Jasper, looked down at his paper, beginning to write again as the fair-haired one, Calvin, spoke to the class in humored disgust.

"Do I really have to play adult with you guys? Haven't you picked on the poor geek enough? Do I have to speak to you like kids?" He walked towards Jasper's desk as he continued. "I suppose your grades aren't the best, right? You're jealous, hm? Or you're just so pathetic a group of people that you decided to make yourselves feel better by making fun of the kid?"

He straightened his jacket over his shoulders, slamming his hand on his desk. He gripped his button-up shirt in a fist and pulled him up. "You don't like this, do you? Makes you feel intimidated?" Jasper nodded, averting his eyes. He let him go and patted his head with a smile.

"The intimidation of being held by your shirt is the same as cussing him out and being an asshole to him. Anyone who has a problem with this nerd has a problem with me, got it?" The class shifted in discomfort. "Good."

Calvin heard a very small voice as he walked back to his desk. "Thanks..." He clapped Jasper gently on the back, encouraging him.

Calvin was one of the more popular kids in school; he was the star track runner, his girlfriend was the head cheerleader, better grades than most. He knew everyone, and was, the majority of the time, somewhat of a jerk. He was either feared or looked up to by most. His bright blue eyes and honey-blond hair made him look like a nice guy, but he could really throw his weight around if he so chose. He was strong, smart, and charming despite his rudeness. It was quite the event and shock that he took the side of Jasper.

Jasper, on the other hand, was most likely to be voted into the position of president of the united nerdom. He wasn't strong, he was scrawny and fairly short (but not too short), he had no chance of getting a girlfriend, and he maintained a phenomenal, perfect 4.0 GPA three fourths of the time in school. His dark black hair and hazel-brown eyes made him look like a shadow. He was quiet and didn't have many friends, just a few acquaintances both online and in school. He was neither feared nor looked up to, just the kid that people would ask for notes from. Jasper never made fun of anyone, never said a rude thing, and never wanted to in the first place. It was a true shock to him that Calvin would take his side.

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It was after school that Calvin stepped beside the shorter and nearly inferior Jasper. He was walking home after the club he was signed into, and Calvin was walking home after a track meet. He smelled of cologne and sweat, and Jasper continued his gait with a straightened back and tight lips.

"Hey," Calvin started, "you okay from earlier?" He shifted his backpack to the side. "Sorry for grabbing your shirt, I just needed to make a point."

Jasper nodded and kept silent as they walked on. Calvin continued, "You sure?"

"I am," he replied quietly.

"You're not very talkative, are you, Jas?" he joked, chuckling lightly. "Guess it can't be helped. Say, enjoy any sports?"

"Not particularly," answered Jasper. "I'm more interested in academia."

"I've noticed... Why not join track, eh? You're wiry enough to do it." He punched his arm in jest. "With enough practice you'd do good."