Crossing Hearts- A Maidstone Love Story

Chapter 1

The first day of Year 10 dawned with a crispness in the air that hinted at the approach of autumn. The sky was a dull blue, streaked with wisps of grey clouds, and the smell of freshly mown grass lingered in the air as students filed into St. Simon Stock Catholic Secondary. The school buzzed with the nervous energy of a new term—new classes, new teachers, and for some, new opportunities to either shine or slip through the cracks.

Jasper Harrison strolled through the gates with his usual swagger, a smirk playing on his lips. His group of friends trailed behind him, laughing and joking, already plotting the mischief they would stir up. Year 10 was supposed to be serious—the beginning of the countdown to GCSEs—but that wasn't how Jasper saw it. For him, it was just another year to push boundaries and see how far he could bend the rules before they snapped.

As they made their way to form, the hallway hummed with the sound of chattering students, lockers slamming, and teachers calling out greetings. Jasper and his friends moved as a unit, effortlessly cutting through the sea of students. They entered their form room just as the final bell rang, signalling the start of the school day.

"Morning, lads," Mr. Tucker, their form tutor, greeted them without looking up from his register. He was an older man, well past his prime, with a grey beard and a perpetual air of weariness. He had long since given up trying to control Jasper and his crew, opting instead for the path of least resistance.

Jasper slumped into his chair at the back of the room, barely acknowledging the teacher's greeting. His friends followed suit, taking up their usual spots around him. As Mr. Tucker called out names, Jasper let his mind drift, already planning the day ahead.

When Mr. Tucker finished the register, he cleared his throat. "Alright, everyone, time for assembly. Make sure you've got everything, we'll be heading back here after."

Jasper and his friends exchanged glances. Assembly was a bore, but it was also the perfect opportunity for some low-key disruption. As the class filed out, they lagged behind, shoving each other playfully and laughing at their own jokes.

The assembly hall was a large, cavernous room with rows of wooden chairs lined up in front of a stage. The ceiling was high, and the acoustics were terrible, which made it hard for even the most captivating speakers to hold the students' attention. Jasper and his friends took seats near the back, where they could muck about without being too obvious.

As the rest of the year group filed in, Jasper's eyes landed on Alessia Russo and her friends. They were sitting a few rows ahead, their backs straight, already the picture of perfect students. Jasper felt a grin spread across his face—this was too easy.

"Watch this," he whispered to his mate, Dylan, who was sitting next to him. Dylan, a stocky lad with a perpetual grin, looked at him expectantly.

Without a word, Jasper leaned forward and gave the back of Alessia's chair a sharp kick. It wasn't hard enough to really hurt, just enough to annoy. Alessia turned her head slightly, her brow furrowing, but she didn't say anything. Satisfied, Jasper did it again, this time getting Dylan to join in.

Alessia shot them a glare over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing. "Grow up, Jasper," she hissed, just loud enough for him to hear.

Jasper chuckled. "Why don't you make me, Russo?"

Alessia turned back around, clearly deciding he wasn't worth the trouble, but her friends exchanged irritated looks. Jasper caught the eye of Emily, one of Alessia's closest friends, and gave her a wink. She rolled her eyes in response and muttered something to Alessia, who shook her head slightly, trying to ignore them.

The assembly dragged on, with the headteacher droning about the importance of focusing on their studies this year. Jasper barely listened, too busy nudging Dylan and making faces at the back of Alessia's head. When the assembly finally ended, he felt a sense of triumph—he had succeeded in getting under their skin, if only a little.