stardust|completed

fourteen|old friends

"that secret that we know. that we don't know how to tell."

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My eyes were still closed when I felt the front of the cart ram in to something hard. When I didn't hear any agonizing groans of pain or angry yelling I slowly opened one eye and was greeted by a clear freezer door filled with waffles. Shakily I turned around and saw a boy strewn across the floor with closed eyes. Orion stood a few feet behind him, gathering himself up off the beige tile floor.

Leo seemed to be alright so I quickly made my way over to the still boy and began to ramble out an apology, hoping he wasn't unconscious.  Suddenly rage filled eyes flickered towards me but once his eyes connected with my face he began to laugh. I watched the tall boy clutch his stomach as a steady stream of laughter flowed from him.

Beginning to think he might of hit his head too hard I began to slowly back away, but the boy's voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Of course you're the cause of this Nyx," he sounded amused for someone who just dodged a metal cart heading towards them at full force. Hell the poor boy could possibly have a concussion.

Then it dawned on me, he used my name.

"Do I know you?" I tried to catch a glimpse of his face but a long curtain of cooper colored hair covered his face.

His head snapped up and I was met with a pair of familiar yellow eyes, "Come on Nyx, don't tell me you've forgotten already."

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three years earlier /winter/

It was cold but then again when wasn't it? Mom and Dad had left again to god knows where and had conveniently forgot to pay the heating bill. They had been gone for a week, which made me uneasy, they were never gone for this long.

Leo was all pale skin and bones, I swear I couldn't get him to stop shaking. Every single blanket we owned was piled on my bed, we even made a small fort out of the extra sheets. Snow littered the ground outside and every time we exhaled our breaths came out in little white puffs.

Leo's lips were turning a pale blue color and I couldn't feel my toes anymore.

"We can't wait forever Leo," I had tried to get him to sleep at a friends house. But even at 9 years old he refused to leave the ice cold house in fear that we'd miss our parents return.

"J-j-just one m-m-more day," the chattering of his teeth making his words barely comprehensible.

I knew we wouldn't be able to last one more day and even if we did Leo would insist upon another. But what were our other options? If I went to the police they would take Leo & I. There was no chance in hell that I would live in a foster home and potentially get separated from my brother.

So made a split second decision & acted on it before I lost the courage.

Shoving my winter boots on I sprinted across the street and snuck up to the side of the red snow covered house. Grabbing a few pieces of frozen ice I began pelting one of the windows hoping it was the right one. After throwing a particular large ice chuck, which happened to be a rock, I heard a low grunt of pain.

A boy with cooper colored hair appeared in the open window and was clutching his eye.

"Jasper, I need your help." I hissed lowly at the lanky boy still clutching his eye.

"And why should I help you? I think you blinded my right eye."

"Stop being so dramatic and help me out." I huffed with an eye roll.

He finally stop clutching his eye and began to mull over my words. I patiently waited for his verdict but, when he passed the five minute mark I became antsy.

"I know you're sort of slow but can you speed up the thinking process. My fingers are about to fall off."

"Tsk tsk, insults won't get you what you want Nyx." Jasper looked down at me with a smirk.

I glared at him in return and started to pickup another rock.

"Alright I'll help," he yelped out when he noticed my arm pitch backwards.

"But you owe me," he called before shutting the window.

Shrugging to myself, I ran across the street to get Leo.

Owing Jasper White wouldn't be the end of the world, right?

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"Jasper?" I looked at him, still slightly skeptical that this was the 14 year old boy who used to live in the red house across the street.

Upon closer inspection I saw the small scar below his right eye.

"The one and only," he said. Once he gathered himself off the floor he gained about 4 inches on me.

His yellow eyes held the hint of mischief they always did when we were kids and his lips curled into his signature "up to no good" grin.

"What are you doing back in town?" My question came out as more of a demand and anger laced my tone.

"I came to collect that favor."

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A/N
new character! honestly I had no intention of this happening but this is the way it turned out. this story (probably) won't turn into a weird love triangle. but you never know, gotta keep you on your toes. hope you enjoyed, thank the heavens Leo won an Oscar and have a productive day.
d.c.
2/28/16