Crossing Hearts- A Maidstone Love Story

Chapter 22

The Christmas break had flown by in a blur of celebrations, laughter, and memories. Now, the first day back at school loomed ahead, bringing with it the return to routine, homework, and the looming pressure of upcoming exams. Jasper and Casper stood at the school gate, scanning the familiar faces of their classmates as they trickled in, some looking bleary-eyed from the early morning start.

"Feels weird being back, doesn't it?" Casper remarked, adjusting the strap of his backpack.

"Yeah, but it's good to see everyone again," Jasper replied, spotting a group of his friends heading toward them.

Tyler, Myles, and Dylan soon joined them, all of them bundled up against the January chill. "Hey, how was everyone's Christmas?" Tyler asked, pulling his hat down over his ears.

"Pretty good," Myles replied, his breath visible in the cold air. "Lots of food, lots of family stuff. What about you guys?"

"Same," Dylan said with a smile. "We went skiing in France, so that was fun."

Jasper exchanged a glance with Casper before grinning. "Well, I've got some news. Alessia and I finally said 'I love you' to each other."

Tyler's eyebrows shot up, a grin spreading across his face. "Finally! Took you long enough, mate."

Myles nudged Jasper playfully. "That's so sweet! I'm happy for you two."

Casper rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "Yeah, yeah, you're all grown up now, Jas."

Jasper chuckled, feeling a swell of pride and happiness. It felt good to share the news with his friends, and their reactions made it even better. As they continued chatting about their holidays, the bell rang, signalling the start of the school day.

"Better get to form before Mr. Tucker starts wondering where we are," Tyler said, leading the way into the building.

They made their way to their form room, where Mr. Tucker was already at his desk, sipping his coffee and preparing for the day. He looked up as they entered, offering them a nod and a small smile. "Morning, boys and girls. Welcome back. How were your holidays?"

"Great, sir," Jasper replied as they all took their seats. "Yours?"

"Peaceful, thank you," Mr. Tucker said, his smile widening a fraction. "But it's good to have you all back."

They settled in for the usual morning routine, checking their timetables and catching up on any announcements. Before long, it was time for assembly. Jasper and his friends filed into the hall, finding seats near the back. Alessia was already there with her friends, and Jasper made his way over to sit next to her.

"Hey," she greeted him with a warm smile. "How's your morning been?"

"Good so far," Jasper replied, leaning in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Glad to see you."

As the assembly started, Jasper and Tyler, bored out of their minds, began to entertain themselves. They noticed a group of Year 7s seated in front of them, their small stature making them an easy target for mischief. Jasper nudged Tyler and whispered, "Watch this."

He subtly pushed the back of the Year 7s' chairs closer to the Year 11s sitting in front of them. The Year 11s, already in a grumpy mood, turned around, glaring at the unsuspecting younger students.

"Stop fucking breathing down my neck, will you?" one of the Year 11s snapped, causing the Year 7s to flinch.

Jasper and Tyler stifled their laughter as the Year 7s started to tear up, clearly intimidated by the older students. The sight of the younger kids' wide-eyed expressions and trembling lips only made them laugh harder, though they tried to keep it quiet.