West Ark High

I'll Admit, You're Not a Dick

Jasper paused and inhaled deeply as he stepped out onto the field.

The last game had been canceled due to dangerous weather and the game before that he had missed for a doctor's appointment so it felt good to be back on the grass in his somewhat smelly jersey and cleats. He got much too antsy whenever he missed a game and missing two made him even more restless.

Most of the other players were already performing warm-ups; some were running drills around orange cones while others did stretches and breathing exercises. Sterling juggled the ball like a professional for a solid minute before the ball bounced away.

Jasper glanced around the field, keeping his eyes open for a perky brunette, but Octavia wasn't to be found at all. He did, however, spot Clarke sitting up in the bleachers several rows up from Bellamy who was sitting closer to the fence line. It was kind of weird because Jasper had been pretty sure that the two were making headway in their friendship, especially now that Finn proved himself to be a two-timing twat.

Who Jasper hadn't be expecting among the faces in the spectator crowd was Monty; his friend was standing at the fence, almost directly below Bellamy, and he had a panicked expression. His knuckles were gripping the bars.

What was Monty doing here? It wasn't uncommon for him to stay for soccer games after school, but it was a Saturday morning! Something bad must have happened to have dragged him out at the crack of dawn on a weekend. Scenarios of nuclear apocalypse and warriors spearing him through the chest flashed through Jasper's brain as he jogged over to the fence.

"Dude," he greeted once he was in earshot. "What's up? What's happened?"

Monty's grip on the fence loosened a smidge, but his expression remained intense. "You never answer your phone."

Guilt clawed at Jasper's stomach. He had been pretty horrible at responding to texts ever since he started hanging out with Octavia. "Yeah, sorry about that, man. I lost my charger."

The lie came off smoothly, and even though he hated lying, it was a more legitimate excuse than what the truth offered. Monty focused in on Jasper, making him wonder if he bought the lie. Probably not; he seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to things like this.

Jasper swept his curls to the side, clearing his throat in the process. "So, what did you have to tell me buddy?"

"Regionals for the robotics competition is this coming friday and we haven't gotten anything done," Monty deadpanned. His grip on the fence tightened once more.

Slight panic creeped into Jasper's stomach, pushing away the guilt he felt earlier. Now he understood why Monty had been looking a shade paler earlier. "Why didn't you warn me sooner?"

Monty scowled at him, making Jasper furrow his eyebrows in surprise. "I have!" Monty exclaimed, angry. "I've reminded you everyday for the last two weeks! But you never answer your phone! And every time I mention it to you in person, you happen to be busy with something else!"

Jasper frowned. He knew that he might have been a little busy, but Monty should have gone to a further extent to try to get his attention. "Okay. I'm sorry," he conceded. Even if he wasn't at fault, it was better to give the apology and just move on—Monty was the stubborn type and Jasper didn't have time for arguing with the game about to start. "I have some notes and stuff that I've been working on solo."

"Me too."

"Did you want to stay after school on Monday in the physics lab and put together a kick ass robot?"

Monty cracked a smile. "I was hoping to hear you ask that."

Jasper grinned, clapping Monty on the shoulder playfully. "Great. I'll see if Octavia can—"