WHEN I ASKED WHY

( Chapter 24 )

Hello there everyone! I'm actually pretty happy about this story and it makes me happy to know you're reading!

:)

Love you all,

Enjoy!

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I pass the large bowl of Greek salad to Carl at the end of the table. At the corner of my eye I see James consuming the chicken roast like a starved child stuck in a deserted island for years and hasn't had physical contact with anyone or anything.

Carl takes the bowl from me and spoons enough for him and passes it back. I butter my bread and carefully place the bacon,  eggs, tomatoes and cheese like a professional. Proud I might say of the creation I've done since it looks and tastes very good.

"Carrie, pass me the salt please and the eggs as well. " I look over at the caveman sitting across me and hand him the eggs. He keeps tugging his shoulder-length hair back and pushing it aside. The struggle for a guy  to have long hair like this is fascinating. Like, he doesn't know what to do with it!

I look around for the salt and spot it, giving it to James. He nods as his 'thank you' because of his filled mouth. I take a bite from my  sandwich and consume it like a lady, just like how my mom taught me.

"So Caroline is it?" Carl wipes his ketchup-filled mouth and waits for me to answer.

"Yeah, but you can call me Carrie. " I give a reassuring smile to him, sipping my orange juice.

"So any plans after school?" He asks and I see James face light up,  waiting for me to respond. I myself don't know what I'm doing after school, not that I haven't thought about it but because of my mom. She has everything planned for me and we were supposed to discuss this but we never got the chance to. She said something about moving away and living with my cousin. But I don't know where, and I don't know who. A cousin? I didn't know I had any.

"Um... I haven't decided yet. " I say.

"Well I'm sure you thought about it, right?" Great, I'm the subject of the conversation and this time James has full attention to what my plans are going to be. I don't quite know why he's suddenly interested but by the looks of it, he hasn't planned as well. He stops eating like a maniac and slows down giving himself time to chew.

"I have, but my mom decides for me." I tell him which is not a complete lie, not exactly the truth but somewhere between.

"Ah, how is that beautiful Jasmine Sitle?" I raise an eyebrow. He knows her? A mechanic knows my mom? That was unexpected.  Usually a person with a suit and tie would recognise the perfectionist woman that she is, but Carl? He seems like the last person to know her.

"You know my mom?" I ask.

"Well sure! 'Course I do! That woman was something, she was a walking computer. I remember those days when she would correct every single thing I said." My eyes shoot up. We're they together? Where they a.... couple? Those words feels foreign.

How could he know? My mom only let's people close in her life for a reason. You were either an asset or a liability in her life. If you're an asset, she'd use you for good and she'd be friendly. If you're a liability, you're only considered a back up, in case you're good at something and bad at the rest and that simple good might be what she needs.

"We're you two a-a.... a... "

"A couple? Us? Nah! Sure Jasmine is beautiful and stunning but we were never a thing, she had her hopes set high." About to ask why he does know my mom, he continues. " We studied high school together."