Please Don't Go

Chapter Seven

Today was the fourth of July. My parents were vacationing in Japan, with my two little brothers. They left me home alone. They wouldn't be back until next September. Jasper's parents didn't believe in holidays, Especially patriotic ones. We usually hung out during the holidays. But I didn't know if I should contact him today, after last Friday…

Jasper probably just wants to be away from me for a while. I would too if I were him. I panicked, for no reason on Friday. It was so stupid, I'm so stupid. Now I'm all feeling sorry for myself, Jesus Christ I'm selfish. I sighed and sat down on the couch, I turned on Hulu. You could have it so much worse Em, you don't have real problems. Stop being a prick. Someone knocked on the door. I didn't get up, it was probably just some missionaries. I don't need Jesus, I have Kanye West.

“Open up!” A voice yelled from outside, Jasper's voice. The knocking became more insistent. “It's cold out here!... I know you're home Emmalyn! I can hear the Ouran Highschool Host Club theme song playing!” I giggled and got up to open the door. Jasper was standing outside in a T-shirt and shorts.

“I thought you didn't get cold.” I said, squinting, he had something in his hair. It was a fluff ball thing. My hands itched to reach to take it out, things like that bothered me greatly.

“I don't usually, I miss being cold.”

“Do I need to leave you and mother nature alone for a while then?”

“I have food and fireworks.” He said, he held up two plastic bags. I quickly stepped back to let him in.

“What are you doing here?”

Jasper deflated,

“Oh, did you not want me to come over? I'm sorry, I just assumed -”

“Shut up, no, that's not what I was saying. I'm just - I'm surprised that you're here, that's all.”

“I've been coming over every year for for three years. It must take a while for things to sink in for you.”

“No- I - I mean… never mind, it's not important.”

“Now you gotta tell me.”

“Why?”

“Because now I'm curious.”

“So?”

“Tell me.”

“Fight me.”

“I will, tell me what's wrong kid.”

I sighed and stayed silent for a bit, trying to decide how to word it without making me sound attention seeking.

“I just, you saw me panic really bad last Friday.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Doesn't that freak you out, what if I panic again, what if it's worse than last time, isn't that annoying or exhausting or- or overbearing or-”

“Em, relax. I like being able to help you. It makes me glad that I can calm you down. I want to be able to calm you down when you are like that as much as I can. So stop worrying, you're fine.”

He likes helping for now. My conscience whispered, I ignored it.

“You said you had food?”

“To cook.”

“False advertising,you made me think that it was pre-made food.”

“Don’t blame me for your over eager assumptions.”

“Bite me.”

“Kay,” he leaned over and bit my neck, I squealed and ran out into the family room.

We sat in the living room and watched The Ridiculous Six and ate Chinese food, that was well worth the wait, admittedly. My legs were in his lap, I was watching the movie happily, after a while I noticed Jasper was looking over at me.

“Do I have something on my face?”

“Huh?”

“You were looking at me.”

“Oh, you just looked cute.”

I froze for a few seconds, then I licked his face, he wiped it off and shrugged and went back to the movie.

“What do you want to blow up first?” Jasper asked, we were outside in my front yard.

“Are my grades from last year an option?”

“If they were I would have blown up mine already.”

“Smoke bombs.”

“Kay,” he shrugged, lit one and threw it. I looked through the bag of fireworks Jasper had brought over, I cringed.

“You brought over sparklers?”

“They're a pretty.”

“I’m afraid to use them.”

“Why?”

“I'm always terrified that one of the sparks will fly off and hit me, or that the flame will get too close to my hand.”

“Weakling.”

“Bite me.”

“Okay,” he leaned forward.

“No!” I squeaked and jumped away.