Crossing Jupiter (#Wattys2015)

Chapter Nineteen

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like as an only child. How different would I be as a person? Would I be happy?
I lay on my back and stare at the ceiling. After all these months, my room is finally put together. It's cute, and has a minimalist vibe to it. When rooms are wild and crazy, I feel out of place. I enjoy small, simple things. Even when it's just a bedroom.

Jasper's music is loud and muffled through the walls. I can only imagine him, sat in the middle of his room, rocking out to his own beat. He's always riding his own wave, going his own way. I don't think I've ever seen him any other way other than himself, which is beautiful. Whenever I'm feeling down, I wonder what he'd do. I mean, it may not be the smartest thing to do, but just thinking about his happiness is enough to infect even the saddest people out there.

Bay just called, and discussed what we're going to do for the next newspaper issue. It's getting to the point to where I don't have to do much of the work anymore, because so many classmates have reached out and offered to write articles. I still write and revise, but now we have a team assigned to do other parts of it such as publishing and designing the titles. I couldn't be prouder of the progress we've made. It's something more permanent now, and I know it'll continue on once I'm gone.

The music stops and I'm soon joined by Jasper. He lays next to me and whispers, "Do you think we've done good?"

"Good when it comes to what?" I say.
"I don't know, everything. Friends, family, school. Everything."
I smile. "I think we've done great."
He grins. "Me too."

The school year is coming to an end, and then we have summer. This year seems to of flown by, like we just packed up our lives in Connecticut and moved here. Earlier I realized that I haven't even contacted my old friends ever since I've come down here. So many things have happened, they might not even know me anymore. It's strange how those things happen.
I'm a terrible friend for doing that. I should've sent a text or something. It's ironic; someone who loves to write can't even send a text.

"Any news on the wedding?" Jasper asks.
"Not a thing. Weird, right?"
"Totally."

I fumble with the edges of my shirt. Jasper turns toward me. "So have you and Bay kissed yet?"
I smirk. "Funny."
"What? You like him. He likes you. You two should date."
"Thanks for clearing the air."
He stares at me. His blonde hair falls over his eyes. "You're scared, aren't you?"
I shrug. "I mean, I guess. Relationships are a scary thing. Once you breakup, you may never speak again. You end up turning into two strangers."
"Well don't friend zone him."
"It's the most logical thing to do."

A new voice answers. "It's not."
I look up. Bay is standing in the doorway, looking into my eyes so deeply I might drown. "Sometimes you just have to jump in and take it one step at a time." He whispers.
"Bay, we're kids. High school kids. High school relationships never last." I say.

He takes a step closer to me. "It lasts if you both make it."
I roll my eyes. "Stop being so cliché."
"Look at you, always being so stereotypically 'unique.' It's okay to be like everyone else sometimes." He takes the back of my neck and pushes my lips to his. I don't really know what to do, so I just wing it. Bay smiles and kisses me again. It's a weird feeling, but a good weird. For a second, I forget Jasper is right next to me. He doesn't comment on what just happened, but instead focuses on the real questions.

"How did you get into our house?" he asks.