Crossing Hearts- A Maidstone Love Story

Chapter 36

It was now the summer holidays, a time Jasper had been looking forward to for months. The school year had been a whirlwind, with ups and downs, but now, with long, sunny days ahead, he felt a sense of excitement. He thought back to March 21st, when he and Alessia had celebrated their six-month anniversary—a day that felt like both a milestone and a fresh beginning for their relationship.

The day of their anniversary had been perfect. Jasper had planned something special, knowing that Alessia loved small, thoughtful gestures. They met at the park where they'd spent so many afternoons together.

"I can't believe it's been six months already," Jasper said, smiling as they walked hand in hand.

"I know," Alessia replied, her eyes twinkling. "It feels like it's flown by, but at the same time, it feels like we've known each other forever."

Jasper had surprised her with a small gift—a silver locket with their initials engraved on the inside. "Happy six months, princess," he said, handing it to her.

Alessia opened the locket, her face lighting up with happiness. "It's beautiful, Jasper. I love it."

They spent the rest of the day talking, laughing, and reminiscing about the past six months. The bond between them felt stronger than ever.

But, of course, the months that followed weren't without challenges. Jasper had been suspended from school twice in the following months, incidents that had caused some tension. The first suspension came after a fight with one of the older boys who had been teasing him about his injury and inability to play football anymore.

"I'm not proud of it," Jasper had admitted to Alessia after the suspension, his voice tinged with frustration. "But I couldn't just let him keep going on about it. He said I wasn't a 'real footballer' anymore, that I'd never be good enough."

Alessia had understood his frustration, though she gently reminded him, "Next time, just walk away. It's not worth getting suspended over."

The second suspension was for skipping class. Jasper had been struggling with accepting that he'd never play football again, and in a moment of rebellion, he had decided to ditch a few lessons. His physiotherapy was coming to an end, but the final word from the doctors confirmed that he would never play at a professional or even school level again. Despite that, he found solace in a new passion: sports media studies. It gave him a way to stay connected to the world of sports, even if he couldn't physically play anymore.

Alessia had been his rock through it all. And now, they were about to embark on a much-needed vacation.

At the start of July, Jasper completed his physiotherapy. His doctors had been right about football, but by that point, he had come to terms with it. He realised that sometimes life had other plans, and he was determined to make the best of it.

The Russo family had invited Jasper and his family to join them on their annual summer trip to Italy, where they would be staying in a villa near Alessia's dad's family. Jasper couldn't believe his luck. Italy? It felt like a dream come true. He couldn't wait to spend time with Alessia in such a beautiful place.

It was 3:00 a.m., and the Harrisons were finally packed, standing by the door with their suitcases. Jasper yawned, leaning against the wall, waiting for the Russos to arrive.

"Why do we always leave packing until the last minute?" Kirsty groaned, zipping up her suitcase.

Jasper shrugged, rubbing his eyes. "We've got everything we need, right? That's all that matters."

Casper nodded in agreement, though he looked half asleep already. "I'm just ready to get on that plane."

The sound of a car pulling up outside signalled the Russos' arrival. Matthew opened the door, greeting Mario with a tired smile.

"Morning," Mario said, his voice far too cheerful for the early hour. "You guys ready for an adventure?"

"Ready as we'll ever be," Kirsty replied, chuckling.

They loaded their suitcases into the minibus taxi's boot and piled into the vehicle. Jasper sat next to Alessia, who looked equally exhausted but excited. She leaned her head on his shoulder, holding his hand.

"Thanks for coming with us," she murmured, her eyes half-closed. "It's going to be amazing."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Jasper said, squeezing her hand.

The ride to the airport passed in a blur of quiet conversation and drowsy heads nodding off. By the time they arrived, the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft glow over the terminal.

After checking in their bags, they made their way through security. The lines were long, but Jasper didn't mind. He was too excited about the trip to care.

When it was his turn to walk through the body scanner, however, the machine beeped loudly, drawing the attention of the security staff. Jasper winced, knowing exactly what had triggered the alarm.

One of the staff members approached with a handheld metal detector. "It's probably the metal rod in my leg," Jasper explained, lifting his pant leg slightly to show the scar from his injury.

The staff member nodded and scanned his leg, confirming his explanation. After a brief check, Jasper was waved through.

"Well, that's one way to get attention at the airport," Alessia teased as they headed toward the food court.

"Hey, at least it wasn't something worse," Jasper laughed, relieved that it had been a minor issue.

They grabbed breakfast together, settling down at a table to eat while they waited for their flight to be called. Jasper felt the buzz of excitement growing again as they talked about the villa, the beaches, and everything they wanted to do in Italy.

An hour later, their flight was called, and they made their way to the gate. After passing through passport control, they boarded the plane and found their seats. Jasper and Alessia sat next to each other, while their families took up the rest of the row.

As the plane took off, Jasper couldn't help but glance out of the window, watching as the ground disappeared beneath them. He felt Alessia's hand slip into his, and he turned to her with a smile.

"This is going to be the best summer ever," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Two hours and thirty minutes later, they landed in Italy. The air was warmer, the sun brighter, and the atmosphere buzzing with the sounds of a new country. They went through the same procedures as in England, collecting their bags and heading through customs.

Once they had their suitcases, a minibus taxi was waiting to take them to the villa. The drive through the Italian countryside was stunning, with rolling hills, olive trees, and the distant shimmer of the sea on the horizon. Jasper couldn't stop staring out of the window, taking it all in.

When they arrived at the villa, everyone piled out of the taxi and began exploring their temporary home. It was a beautiful, spacious villa with a large pool in the back, surrounded by lush gardens. Jasper and Casper decided to share a room, which had a balcony overlooking the pool.

"This place is amazing," Casper said, dropping his suitcase on the bed.

"Yeah," Jasper agreed, feeling a sense of awe as he looked around. "We're definitely going to have a good time here."

The rest of the day was spent settling in. Jasper and his friends jumped into the pool, splashing around and enjoying the cool water under the hot Italian sun. Kirsty and Matthew lounged by the pool, sipping cold drinks and soaking up the sun.

As evening approached, Mario took charge of dinner, cooking up a traditional Italian feast. The smell of fresh pasta, tomato sauce, and herbs filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.

"This is the real deal," Jasper said, taking a bite of his pasta. "I could get used to this."

After dinner, Jasper decided to go for one last swim before bed. The pool was quiet, the water reflecting the soft glow of the villa's lights. He swam a few laps, enjoying the peacefulness of the night.

When he finally climbed out, he dried off and headed to bed, feeling a deep sense of contentment. This was going to be a summer he'd never forget.