Saving Jasper: Unbroken | ✓ [COMPLETE]

Chapter 1

six years earlier...

“Can you believe we’re graduating?” I shouted to Jocelyn above the loud, reverberating noise of my graduating class cheering loudly. She grinned at me, and stepped back as a burly kid elbowed his way through, carrying his cap and diploma in his hand. He rounded up to his buddy, gave him a hard slap on the shoulder, and shook his hand in congratulations. I squeezed myself in closer to Jocelyn and took her arm in my hand, in hopes of not separating her from the craze of the rambunctious students.

She grinned at me excitedly, her pearly white teeth sparkling against her cherry-colored lips. It wasn’t hard to believe, but yet it was. Five seconds earlier, we had received our diplomas, listened to a few speeches, and watched proud parents dab at their moist eyes with handkerchiefs. The whole mob of students rose from their seats in an eager attempt to track down their close friends, before we were given the cue to throw our caps in the air; the final, closing statement of graduation.

“I’m proud of you,” a voice murmured in my ear, surprisingly clear over the noise. I smiled as Jasper slid his arms around my waist from behind, and pressed a tied-together bunch of roses into my arm.

“You took them from my room, didn’t you?” I teased him playfully, turning to plant a kiss on his cheek. His smile turned playful as well as he glared a little.

Running a hand along my cheek, he smiled again. “Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. Either way, it was thoughtful.” To prove his point, he flattened his palm against his chest and looked at me expectantly. My smile softened as I gazed up at him. Indeed, it was extremely thoughtful.

“Yes,” I agreed, “thank you.” Though I had verbally done so, I tilted my face up to kiss him, too. After all, nothing said ‘thank you’ better than a kiss.

- present time -

“Can you hand me that box?” I called up to Serena, placing my hands on my hips. Puffing out a breath, I reached up and wiped the sticky sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. Though it was early October, I was quite warm apart from the temperatures outside. I looked around, taking in the pristine nature that surrounded my cute bungalow. The exterior portrayed white walls, soft black shutters and flower boxes lining a few of the windows. It was an older-styled home, having been built a while back. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it was on the market.

Seeing as I wasn’t in college anymore, my first priority was finding a home to live in.

“Earth to Charlie,” Serena said, snapping me back into reality. She was standing up in the mover’s van, hugging a heavy-looking box to her chest. Reaching up, I steadied the positioning of my back as she lowered the cardboard box into my arms. Huffing, she brushed her autumn-colored hair back from her face. Throughout college, Serena underwent a little phase. She went hair dye crazy, and took away her hair’s natural, honey color. At the moment, she was a poppy red-head.

“Thanks,” I told her sincerely. “With Dad out of the country, and Mom taking care of Mrs. Dubai, I don’t know how I would’ve done this alone.” I grinned at her as we heaved two more boxes inside. I eased the front door open with my hip and paused a moment, roaming my eyes along the interior of my newly-bought home. Salty, fresh beach air blew in through the open windows and brushed my hair off my shoulder.

Serena budged her way past me and eyed me with curiosity. “Why the stop, pop?”

“I was just...” I shrugged, looking around again.

“I didn’t come all the way from Maine to watch you look at walls. Move!” she barked, a silly grin on her face. I rolled my eyes and shoved her to the side, ambling into the kitchen.