𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊, jasper hale

𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄

┏━━━━⋆⭒˚｡⋆☾⋆⭒˚｡⋆━━━━┓

KNUCKLES

IN MATTEO'S OPINION, THE SCHOOL GYM UNIFORM SUCKED MAJOR ASS.

It was beyond scratchy, the muted red and grey tones not doing the pieces of apparel any favours. Matteo was looking at his reflection in the locker room mirror with his nose scrunched up, not pleased by his mandatory attire at all.

He was just thankful that the period went by as quickly as it came because soon enough, he was posted up by his sister's locker before the sound of the lunch bell could be heard. Its blaring that bounced off the walls made him wince only slightly, tapping his foot against the floor as he waited.

The eyes of those who were passing by were grating on his nerves, and each time he felt the sensation he tried to match their stares with increased ferocity.

JC's voice was ringing in his ear, like it always did as of late. If you scare others first, chances are they won't scare you back.

Solid advice.

Ultimately, though, when ten minutes passed by and there was still no sign of his sister, Matteo felt his stomach squeezing at the thought of having to ask someone for directions to the cafeteria.

He scanned the trickle of students that were still emerging from elsewhere in the main building, trying to pinpoint someone who likely wouldn't make his head pound even worse than it already had been all day. Matteo spotted a brunette from his gym block, one he had paid extra attention to while she conversed with his sister, and pointedly intercepted her.

"Do you know where the cafeteria is?" he asked the girl, using his body to stop her from moving any further down the hall unless she wanted to bump into him.

She observed him for a second, an overly bright smile morphing onto her face. "You're Matteo, right?"

"Yeah," he grit out before trying to reiterate his question again, "do you know where the cafeteria is?"

Matteo wasn't prepared to have the girl wrap her warm hands around his wrist, already tugging him in the direction he was seeking. "I'll be your tour guide, don't even worry," she babbled on, and the Swan boy simply watched as her high ponytail swished back and forth as she walked with a bounce in her steps, "I'm Jessica— Jess, by the way. I saw you during PE; you're totally good at basketball. Did you play for your old school?"

"No," he replied shortly, and he assumed it was too heated of a response due to the way her eyes flinched away. He took his bottom lip between his teeth before he tried to lessen the tension. "I'm more of a football guy."

At that little piece of him he begrudgingly shared, her smile once again met her eyes. "If your skills are as good as the ones I saw in the gym, you should join the team in the fall."

"Maybe," he offered, her grip on his wrist starting to burn into his skin agonizingly. He couldn't pull away without making a scene, and he'd promised Bella he wouldn't stir up any kind of trouble on their first day— no matter how much his knuckles ached and pleaded with him to unleash his annoyance in the only way he knew how. 

Had it been their second day, however, he would've snapped at the girl the moment she even stepped forward to grab at his hand. Alas, luck was never on his side, especially when the pair pushed through the double doors to the cafeteria, only to be greeted by everyone's astute attention.

Jess dragged him over to a table where he saw the familiar face of his sister, seated next to a blond boy he recognized from their PE class as well. "Look who I found!" she cheered, mimicking the motion of jazz hands with her one free hand— the other very much still holding onto the uncomfortable looking boy's wrist.