A Boy Named Jasper {Wattpad Featured Novel}

<Callie> A Girl Who Keeps Him Grounded

Chapter 20

<Callie Stevens>

I press the 'end call' button on my phone and smile at my reflection in the mirror. He actually needs me. I grab my jacket and house keys before practically running down the stairs. I find my mom in the kitchen, feeding Henry and trying to talk on the phone at the same time.

"Yes, I can have those ready by Monday." My mom says to the person over the phone as she puts a bite of peas into my baby brother's mouth.

I take the spoon from her and dip it back into the peas. She gives me a grateful look as she finishes her phone call. Henry, on the other hand, looks disgusted, but I force the peas into his mouth anyway. He grudgingly swallows and gives me a little glare. I chuckle, kiss the top of his head and stand up.

"Thanks, Callie." My mom smiles and tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. "Are you off somewhere?"

"Yeah, I'm going to go help a friend with something." I reply, praying she won't ask too many questions.

"Is this friend Jasper?" She asks with a smirk.

"Maybe..." My voice trails off as I tap my fingertips on the table.

"Well, you're not leavin' this house until I get a definite answer." She grins, knowing full-well that she has me trapped.

"Fine, it is; may I go now?" I stick out my bottom lip and then slowly make my way towards the front door.

"Okay, okay, I love you. You have your phone, right?"

I nod, my hand hovering over the door knob.

"Have fun, sweetie; just be home before dark." My mom chuckles and then finally lets me leave.

I start off down the sidewalk, following the usual route I take home from the train tracks. I continue walking, the sun shining and my feet crunching in the leaves that have started to fall. Kids are playing in their front yards' and parents are watching distractedly from the front porch, their noses' buried in books or magazines. I take a left at the end of my street and continue across an empty field that the county thankfully hasn't bought up yet. The train tracks run parallel over the far edge of the field and disappear into the forest, much like they do at Jasper's house. After a few more minutes, I reach Jasper's spot and continue on to his house.

I walk around the property and then up the creaky wooden steps up to his front door. I knock lightly and wait for the his dad's yelling and screaming that usually accompanies any visits from the outside world. The house remains eerily calm and silent as I wait for someone to open up the door. There's a slight shuffling of footsteps and then the door is pulled back, revealing a smiling Jasper.

He pulls me over the threshold and holds me in his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me. We stand like this for a few minutes before releasing each other and laughing awkwardly. I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear and take in my new surroundings. I've never been inside of Jasper's house and the first thing I notice is that it's much bigger than I originally thought. It's also much messier than I thought; it's almost as if the people living here didn't really have time to sit around and organize things. Jasper leads me down the hallway that has peeling wallpaper and some dusty picture frames nailed to it. I catch sight of Jasper and his mom as well as someone who closely resembles Jasper, just a few years older.

"That's Charlie, my brother. He was killed last year." Jasper admits solemnly, noticing my interest in the picture.

"I'm so sorry. You must really miss him." I say and bite my lip. I don't want to upset him.