Crossing Hearts- A Maidstone Love Story

Chapter 57

Jasper's car hummed along the road as he made the familiar drive back to Chichester University, the scenery blurring by as he left behind his family's home and the cozy holiday memories. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions, but he was ready to get back into the swing of things, especially with the fresh start of a new year. As the campus came into view, he felt a mixture of excitement and nervous energy settling in his chest.

When he pulled up to his accommodation, he grabbed his bags and headed inside. Jasper wasn't surprised to find his roommates in the common room, huddled around the TV and laughing at something ridiculous on the screen. Chris noticed him first and jumped up, giving him a grin.

"Hey! Look who's back!" Chris greeted with a chuckle. "You miss us, or were you too busy with family and... other commitments?"

Jasper smirked and set his bags down. "Of course I missed you guys. What are we watching?"

He settled down on the sofa next to Chris, who filled him in on the latest episode of their favourite comedy show. The group burst into laughter at a particularly funny scene, and Jasper felt some of his tension melting away. The evening had a comforting rhythm, the laughter and easy chatter making him feel like he was finally back in his element.

After a few episodes, Chris nudged him. "Come on, let's go catch up properly in my room. I want all the details on your holiday."

Jasper rolled his eyes, but he followed Chris to his room. They settled in, and Chris leaned back in his chair, eyeing him expectantly.

"So, spill. How was Christmas? Anything interesting happen?"

Jasper laughed. "Nothing you wouldn't expect. Spent time with family, saw Alessia, celebrated New Year's. It was good to be home, but I'm glad to be back here too."

Chris nodded, giving him a knowing look. "Sounds like the usual. You and Alessia doing okay?"

Jasper's smile softened. "Yeah, better than ever, actually. We had a bit of a rough patch, but we sorted things out."

"Good to hear, mate. Long distance isn't easy, but you two seem to handle it better than most."

They continued catching up on holiday stories, laughing about family quirks and comparing Christmas gifts, until they both started yawning.

"Alright," Chris said, stretching. "We better call it a night if we're going to survive classes tomorrow."

The next day, Jasper found himself weaving through campus, greeting familiar faces as he made his way to his first class of the new year. As he walked into the lecture hall, he spotted a few classmates and waved before settling into a seat.

A friend, Ben, slid into the seat next to him. "Happy New Year, mate! Ready to dive back into studying?"

Jasper chuckled. "Define 'ready.' I think I left all my motivation back at home."

Ben laughed. "Fair point. Well, here's hoping today isn't too brutal."

The lecturer, Professor Clarke, entered the room, immediately commanding everyone's attention as he launched into an introduction of the semester's curriculum. Jasper found himself absorbed, the familiar academic rhythm easing him back into the mindset of university life. He scribbled down notes, catching up with Ben during brief breaks to compare what they'd done over the holidays.

After the lecture, Jasper met up with a few other friends who were waiting outside the hall.

"Back to the grind, eh?" one of them, Tom, joked, stretching his arms above his head.

"Tell me about it," Jasper replied with a grin. "Feels like I've been on vacation forever."

Their conversations continued as they walked across campus, comparing schedules and discussing their expectations for the semester. By the time Jasper returned to his accommodation that evening, he felt that familiar ache of tired satisfaction, as if he'd already fully immersed himself back into university life.

Later that night, as he relaxed in the common room, Chris approached him, raising an eyebrow. "Fancy a trip to the pub with the guys tonight?"

Jasper considered it for a moment before replying, "Sure, but I'm sticking to soft drinks tonight. Taking a break from the heavy stuff."

Chris nodded approvingly. "Fair enough. Let's go."

They met up with some of their other roommates and headed to the pub, where laughter filled the air and people crowded around tables, their voices overlapping in the warm, lively atmosphere. The group settled into a booth, each of them ordering their drinks, and Jasper stuck to his promise with a glass of soda.

As they chatted, the conversation quickly shifted to football, with each of them taking sides on their favourite teams' latest performances.

"Jasper, you're still holding out for Arsenal?" one of his friends teased, chuckling.

He grinned, rolling his eyes. "Don't you start. I've been through enough with them. Just waiting for our time to come back around."

They moved on to talk about their course, swapping complaints about the workload and speculating on upcoming exams. Jasper found himself relaxing into the conversation, enjoying the camaraderie of being with friends who understood the challenges of university life.

As the night wound down, they all agreed to call it an early night, and Jasper headed back to his room with a contented smile. Once he was settled in bed, he pulled out his phone and dialled Alessia's number. She picked up after a few rings, her voice bright and familiar.

"Hey, Jas!" she greeted, sounding genuinely happy to hear from him.

"Hey, Princess," he replied, a smile spreading across his face. "How's your first week back?"

"It's been good! Classes are already intense, but I'm getting back into the swing of things. How about you?"

"Pretty much the same. It was actually a good first day. Saw a lot of familiar faces, got back into class mode. I even went to the pub with the guys tonight – only had a soft drink, though," he added with a laugh.

Alessia chuckled. "Look at you, behaving yourself. I'm proud."

Jasper hesitated before speaking. "It's worth it, you know. I want to be better for us, Less."

Her voice softened. "I know. And I appreciate it more than you know."

They talked about their day-to-day lives, sharing stories from their classes and updates on mutual friends. Jasper told her about Chris's reaction to the holidays, while she recounted a funny incident with Lotte at UNC.

"You know, sometimes it feels like I'm right there with you," Alessia said wistfully.

"Me too. Summer's not that far off," Jasper reminded her gently.

There was a pause, then she replied, "Can't wait."

They exchanged a few more good-natured teases and promises to text during the week. Finally, they said goodnight, and Jasper lay back, a sense of peace settling over him as he thought about their conversation.

The next morning dawned with the promise of routine, and Jasper welcomed it. This year felt different somehow; even the simplest parts of his day, like classes and banter with friends, felt charged with new purpose. He went through his classes, determined to keep focused, keeping Alessia's voice in his mind.

Back at his accommodation that evening, he found Chris and their other friends still buzzing about the pub trip, already suggesting another outing.

"Maybe we can make it a weekly thing?" Chris suggested, nudging Jasper.

Jasper laughed. "I'll go, but I'm sticking to soft drinks."

The rest of the night passed in easy chatter, everyone unwinding from the first week back. Jasper couldn't help but think that this was the start of a new rhythm—one that might finally help him find balance between university, friends, and his long-distance relationship with Alessia.

He went to bed that night feeling hopeful and at peace, his focus firmly set on the future.

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Hi all,

I have just published the Prologue to my new book Red vs White: The Williamson Rivalry.

A/N