The Bad Boy Hero

Chapter 14

By lunch everyone seemed to be buzzing about the friendship between the 'bad boy and the nerd' I was sick of stereotypes and Jasper really wasn't that bad, sure he smoked and liked to swear but that was it, well apart from the fights... Everyone was wrong about him, I had been wrong about him. Tess was even happy with my friendship choice since she got along with Jasper, a hell of a lot more than she did with Mattie, not that I was comparing them, we had different relationships, Jasper and I were just friends. I wasn't about to go and screw that up, screwing up the only person keeping me safe wouldn’t be a good plan. 

I didn't tell Jasper about what he was still doing; I knew it would only cause him pain since... Well it was his fault it occurred. I'd stay out late with Jasper and come home smiling to find him waiting for me, like a hawk waiting for it’s pray. He hardly seemed drunk now he just wanted to cause me pain, to make the smile fall from my face night after night. "Are you sure you want to go?" Jasper asked as we stood at his door after one of our tutor sessions it was a Saturday and was late but I didn't mind it was nice seeing that Jasper got so much out of the sessions he was making good progress. He didn't light up a fag as he normally did since he was trying to 'cut down' but crossed his arms with a frown, I was beginning to worry he was suspecting it was getting worse but then he smiled "come on stay over, I have the new Johnny Depp film I know you want to see," this tempted me "And I have PopTarts," this pretty much swung it for me. I closed the door again and slipped off my shoes "I knew it," he grinned "Come on," 

I laughed softly knowing I'd get into trouble for not coming home but not actually caring. Jasper got snacks and I headed to the movie room like a routine 

"Well you aren't my brother," I turned to the door that lead to the foyer rather than the one that lead to the kitchen and blinked as Gi stood there in her posh school uniform.

"Nope, I'm Annie," I wondered for a moment if he had ever mentioned me but the look on her face told me everything I needed to know 

"Hi!" She dived gracefully over the back of the sofa until she was staring into my eyes like she was trying to see into my soul "Whoa you're gorgeous I thought Jas was exaggerating!" She was so excitable like a puppy, she began bouncing slightly as she went off on a tangent "I only came home to get a book, I wanted to lend it to my friend Lucy, so I got a taxi over! I thought I saw some different shoes at the door so I thought maybe mum was home! But this is so much better!" 

I blinked 

"Ah you get used to me," she grinned blinking her Bambi eyes at me "is your hair naturally that colour it's so nice! I wanted to dye my hair purple but the school won’t let me! Which is totally against my human rights, I googled it," 

"Down Gi, give her time to breathe," Jasper laughed as he plonked himself down on my left stretching his arms over the back of the sofa, after he threw our snacks down into the coffee table. I knew if I leant back a little it would look like we were cuddling up on the sofa. I quickly chased that thought away and zoned back into their conversation 

"I was just getting a book, I didn't mean to intrude,"

"You weren't," I smiled softly "you should stay and hang out," I wanted to get to know her more, and I knew Jasper missed her

"No I shouldn't," she said quickly with a grin

I laughed "why not?"

"Because Jas is shaking his head at me," I turned to Jasper and he grinned "See ya!" Gi disappeared and I rolled my eyes scooting over and crossing my legs as Jasper put in the movie 

"That has just reminded me," he began with a little yawn "I notice the other day that you hardly say bye to anyone," 

My cheeks burned instantly, knowing what his reaction would be to my stupid explanation he would make me give "you'll laugh,"

"No I won't," he promised I grumbled but turned to him slightly 

"I read it in a book," he began to laugh "Jas you said you would laugh!"

"I'm sorry but you don't say goodbye cause you read it in a book,"

"There was a really sweet reason why though," I promised, Jasper raised his eyebrow "I can't really remember the reason right now, but I will find you the book and will show you how sweet it is,"

"Whatever lunatic," I hit him with one of the red fluffy pillows occupying the sofa which started a pillow fight... And food fight. We never actually got to watch the film but ended up in Jasper's room giggling our heads off at nothing in particular. “Would you believe that last year we weren’t friends?” he sighed as we looked up at his ceiling

“Last year don’t you mean a couple of months ago?”

“Maybe you didn’t like me but I... admired you,” I snorted at his comment “It’s not every day someone stands up to me, and calls me a scumbag,”

I laughed knowing what was coming already “You’re going to make me feel bad about this aren’t you?”

“I’m just saying, Scumbag is a strong word Annie,”

I smirked “I’m sure you’ve called me worse,”

“Yes but its unexpected from you,” he justified

“That doesn’t make it worse,” I shook my head still laughing

“It does, it means you mean it.” I couldn’t really argue with that “I’m glad you don’t think I’m a Scumbag anymore,”

“Well that’s debateable,” a pillow flew at my face and I hadn’t realised he was sat up until it did. “I’m kidding!” I grinned. Slipping off his bed I looked around his room, nothing had changed except there were more drawings on his cork board. “Do you draw anything else?” I wondered lightly, Jasper didn’t answer and I looked over at him to see his cheeks burning “Are you blushing?” I blinked my eyes to make sure I was actually seeing right

“No,” he answered too quickly, I continued to stare at him until he sighed “Ok, I draw other stuff,” he slid off his bed unwillingly and headed over to his desk. He continued to sigh as he dug through a neat pile of work “But don’t say anything,”

I crossed my arms with a raised eyebrow “Why would I say anything?” He passed me a sketchpad and I flipped to the first page and gaped at it “Wow,” I breathed, the details sketch was beautiful, the first was of Georgia her hair curling over her shoulders and her eyes shining and coming of the page. It was only pencil but you could see her rosy cheeks and glistening locks. “This is beautiful!”

“It’s alright,” he shrugged going to sit back down again

“Jasper these are amazing,” he waved me off again and I turned another page to see Jade captured in a beautiful light in a way that I would have never seen her, with her eyes rounder lips plumper, she looked loving. Jasper really did love Jade, does love her, if she was around that is. I was almost jealous. “Has she called or anything?”

Jasper gave me a questioning look then realised who I must have meant “Ah, no, new friends, a new life and all that,” He sighed “She doesn’t need me,” I closed the pad promising myself that I’d look at the others another day.

“Of course she needs you,” I smiled “She’s probably just busy,”

“Her Facebook says otherwise,” he rubbed his face then put on a smile “don’t worry about Jade, she can do as she pleases,” I plopped myself back down on his bed tilting my head as I looked at him stretched out and looking up at the ceilings.

“Were you in love with her?” I asked

Jasper laughed “no,”

“You’re lying,” I grinned and he glanced at me “It’s not like I’ll tell anyone,”

He sighed through his nose “It doesn’t matter now, does it? I don’t anymore.” I looked at him sadly for a moment about to say something to help before he continued “I always fall for the wrong girls,” he said it more to himself than to me so I didn’t comment.