Crossing Hearts- A Maidstone Love Story

Chapter 42

The morning sun beamed through Jasper's bedroom window, waking him gently. It was the first real day of summer break, and he couldn't believe it was finally here. No more exams, no more late nights cramming. He stretched out his arms, savoring the freedom. Just as he was about to sink back into bed, his phone buzzed on his nightstand—it was a text from Alessia.

Alessia: Good morning, lazy! Up for some adventure today?

A grin spread across Jasper's face as he quickly typed back.

Jasper: Only if you're up for it! What did you have in mind?

Alessia: Meet me at the beach in an hour. Bring Casper, too. The more, the merrier!

"Casper!" Jasper called as he pulled himself out of bed and threw on a pair of swim trunks and a comfortable t-shirt. He made his way to the kitchen, where Casper was already munching on a bowl of cereal.

"Beach day?" Casper guessed, looking up with a glint of excitement in his eyes.

"Yep. Alessia invited us, so let's go make the most of it." Jasper grabbed a couple of towels, sunscreen, and a pair of helmets.

Casper's eyes lit up at the sight of the helmets. "We're taking the moped?"

Jasper grinned. "You know it. Let's ride."

They finished getting ready, strapped on their helmets, and took off down the road on Jasper's moped. The wind rushed past them as they zipped through town, enjoying the thrill of the open road. It was a beautiful, sun-drenched morning, and the anticipation of a carefree day by the beach filled them with energy.

When they arrived, Alessia and a few familiar faces were already waiting, including Myles, who was in the middle of telling a story about a concert he'd gone to recently. Alessia waved them over, flashing a bright smile.

"Hey, there they are!" she called. "Thought you two were going to sleep the day away."

"Nah, the beach called," Jasper replied, pulling her into a quick hug. "Looks like you brought the whole gang."

Myles waved at them. "You know it! Tyler and Dylan are on their way too. This summer's going to be epic."

They set up their towels and settled in, letting the hours melt away with stories, laughter, and the occasional splash fight in the waves. As the day wore on, they took a break from the sun, lounging under an umbrella and snacking on sandwiches.

Alessia leaned over to Jasper, a playful smile on her face. "So, what's the first big adventure of the summer?"

Jasper thought for a moment. "How about a camping trip? Somewhere we can really get away for a bit."

"That's not a bad idea," Casper agreed. "I could use some fresh air. Just us, a campfire, and the stars."

"Sounds like a plan!" Tyler chimed in. "We could make it a weekend thing, hike, swim, camp out. I'll bring my dad's old camping gear."

They spent the rest of the afternoon hashing out the details and making plans to camp the following weekend. Jasper felt a buzz of excitement. Summer was just beginning, and already they had something to look forward to.

The week flew by, and soon they were piling into their parents' cars, loaded down with tents, sleeping bags, and enough snacks to feed an army. Jasper and Alessia sat together, their hands intertwined as they talked about all the fun they were going to have.

"Feels like the start of something big," Jasper said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Just us, out in the world."

Their parents dropped them off at the campsite in the late afternoon, helping them unload their gear before bidding them goodbye. They set up tents and built a fire as the sun dipped low in the sky. Laughter echoed through the trees as they worked together, sharing stories and teasing one another. As darkness fell, they gathered around the fire, watching the flames dance against the night sky.

Later that evening, after the fire had died down, Jasper and Alessia sat together on the edge of their tent, gazing up at the stars.

"Thank you for making this summer unforgettable already," she whispered, looking up at him with a soft smile.

Jasper brushed a strand of hair from her face, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "It's just the beginning," he murmured. "We've got so much ahead of us."

The next big milestone came on the 20th of August: GCSE results day. Jasper woke up early, excitement and nerves mingling as he got dressed. Casper joined him, and they made their way to school together, where a crowd of students had already gathered. Alessia was there, too, her face lighting up when she saw them.

"Ready for this?" she asked, her tone filled with excitement.

Jasper took a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be."

They received their results, and Jasper let out a sigh of relief when he saw his grades. He'd passed with solid marks, even better than he'd expected. Casper's grin told him that his brother had done well too.

"Looks like we're all set!" Jasper said, high-fiving Casper. "Now we just need to sort out college applications."

They spent the rest of the morning with their friends, celebrating their success and talking about their next steps. Jasper had applied for a course in Football Media, his dream being to one day work in the industry. Casper, on the other hand, had chosen to pursue a course in Automotive Technology, aiming to become a skilled mechanic.

Alessia, however, had different plans. She'd decided not to apply to college, focusing instead on her training with Chelsea's women's reserves team. She was steadily working her way up and had her sights set on playing professionally one day.

"I'm so proud of you," Jasper said, wrapping his arm around her as they sat together on the school lawn. "You're going to be amazing."

"Same goes for you," she replied, giving his hand a squeeze. "We're both following our dreams."

The summer days passed quickly, filled with beach trips, spontaneous road trips, and plenty of time spent just hanging out with friends. Jasper and Alessia grew closer, their relationship deepening as they shared experiences, both big and small.

One evening, they found themselves sitting on the roof of Jasper's house, watching the sun set over the horizon. The sky was painted in shades of pink and orange, and Alessia turned to him, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

"Do you ever wonder what it'll be like after this summer?" she asked softly.

"All the time," he replied, a smile tugging at his lips. "But I know one thing for sure—I want you to be part of whatever comes next."

She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. They stayed that way for a while, wrapped up in each other, savouring the moment as the stars began to twinkle above.

The summer came to an end all too soon. On their last day of freedom, they gathered at Jasper's house for one final celebration. They laughed, reminisced, and made a pact to stay close, no matter where life took them. As the night drew to a close, Jasper found himself alone with Alessia once more. They sat together on the porch, the quiet of the evening surrounding them.

"Think we'll remember all this?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

Jasper nodded, pulling her close. "I think this summer will stay with us forever."

They stayed that way, wrapped in each other's arms, feeling the weight of the summer's end. It had been a season of change, growth, and love—a summer that had transformed them all in ways they couldn't yet fully understand.

And as they watched the stars blink into existence overhead, they knew that whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.