Secrets | 5SOS

[15]

The first day of school arrived with a mix of excitement and nerves. I woke up early, the anticipation making it hard to sleep. As I got dressed, I heard the sounds of clattering pots and pans from the kitchen. Heading downstairs, I found Luke busy making breakfast.

"Morning, Bella," he greeted with a warm smile, flipping pancakes expertly. "Thought you could use a good breakfast for your first day."

I returned his smile, grateful for his effort. "Thanks, Luke. It smells amazing."

After breakfast, Luke grabbed his car keys. "Ready to go, Bella?"

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, let’s do this."

The drive to school was filled with Luke’s usual mix of jokes and brotherly advice. When we pulled up to the school, he turned to me, his expression serious. "Remember, Bella, just be yourself. You’ve got this."

I smiled, feeling a surge of confidence. "Thanks, Luke. I’ll see you later."

Stepping out of the car, I made my way into the building, my schedule clutched tightly in my hand. My first stop was homeroom. As I walked in, I scanned the room for a seat. My eyes landed on Jasper, his colorful hair unmistakable. He was sitting near the back, his expression indifferent. Gathering my courage, I walked over and took the seat next to him.

"Hey, Jasper," I said softly, hoping to start a conversation. "Remember me from the office yesterday?"

He glanced over, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "Yeah, Bella, right?"

I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yeah. Mind if I sit here?"

He shrugged. "Suit yourself."

As the teacher began taking attendance, I leaned over to whisper, "So, you’re in trouble again, huh?"

Jasper chuckled, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Story of my life. What about you? New kid in town?"

"Something like that," I admitted. "Just trying to find my way."

During a lull in the class, I tried to learn more about him, but Jasper remained elusive, his answers short and guarded.

"What do you do for fun?" I asked, hoping to break through his mysterious exterior.

"Depends," he replied, his eyes flicking away. "Mostly just... stuff."

I could tell he was holding back, and it only made me more curious. "Well, maybe we can hang out sometime. Get to know each other."

Jasper gave me a long look, as if weighing my words. "Maybe," he said finally, his tone noncommittal.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom, Jasper gave me a nod. "See you around, Bella."

"Yeah, see you," I replied, feeling a small smile tug at my lips.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of new faces and unfamiliar hallways. But through it all, I couldn’t stop thinking about Jasper. There was something about his guarded demeanor that intrigued me, a puzzle I wanted to solve.

When I finally got home, I was greeted by Calum and Michael, eager to hear about my day. As I recounted my experiences, I left out the details about Jasper, knowing Calum’s concerns. But in my heart, I knew I wanted to get to know him better, to understand the person behind the mysterious exterior.