A Thousand Miles Away

Chapter One

Jasper!! ^^^^

"Jasper!" My eyes shot open and I picked my head up from the desk.

"Sorry Mrs. McKinstry." I mumbled, rubbing my face. She just rolled her eyes and went back to teaching. I couldn't focus, it was just impossible. Her moaning about dumb shit chemistry was killing me.

"Damn Jasper just pay attention" my best friend Mike said, elbowing me. I smirked at him and shook my head.

  "I can't stand this fucking place. Get. Me. Out." He laughed quietly and turned back. I could never distract him for too long. He was fourth in our entire grade. He loved this stuff while I loathed it. I somehow made it through the day and soon Mike and I were walking out of the prison. He threw his arm around me and smiled over to me.

  "You apply to any colleges yet?" I rolled my eyes because he asked me every day.

  "No Mikey I still haven't applied.

  "Why?! There's literally like a month left of high school." He spun around. I just shrugged.

  "I just, I don't know. It doesn't feel right."

  "Four more years of school never feels right but we all have to do it. I just sighed and nodded.

  "I'll do it tonight."

  "Alright cool! Let me know if you need help! You do know that you can't be applying for the fall semester anymore right?"

"Ya I know. I'm going to keep working to save a bit of money. Less loans equals happiness."

"Okay. See ya!" He said giving me a hug when we got to my car. He kissed my cheek before hurrying over to his. I just smiled and shook my head at him. Mike and I tried dating once. It didn't work out too well though. Our personalities clashed and we decided to just be friends. Since then we've been known as he two gay kids of the school. Not that anyone picks on us. They don't dare because they know we'd bully them right back.

  But on another note, I was confused. Everyone had already turned in their applications and most have gotten their acceptance letters. I missed that train. My application sucked. A fourth grader probably could've written a better one. My GPA was borderline with the requirements. I was pretty much losing hope with the whole college thing. I made my way home, driving a lot faster than I should've been. Shaun was there with my mom and dad. He was wearing his camo and it clicked. Military. You need good grades but not great grades. It'd be perfect.

  "Shaun!" I yelled.

  "Jasper!" He yelled back.

  "What was your GPA?" He thought for a minute before saying,

  "Like a 2.7. Why?" I smiled and said,

  "I should join the military!"

  "What why?!" They all asked at once.

  "Because my GPA is like a 2.8, I have no idea what I want to do with my life, and I can serve my country!"

  "Jasper, this is a pretty big decision...the military is a huge change to your everyday life. Plus being gay in the military isn't always the best. I think you should try thinking about it for a little longer." Shaun said causing me to frown.

  "What does me being gay have anything to do with it?" Shaun wasn't always the most understanding when it came to that. He sighed.

  "Jasper you know I didn't mean it like that."

  "Ya you never mean it like that,"  I mumbled. Shaun was my older brother. He was three years older than me and sometimes we didn't get along great. It was probably just brotherly fights, but my younger brother Alex and I never fought like it.

  "God Jasper why do you have to be so difficult sometimes?!" He yelled. I glared at him.

  "Alright boys, let's calm down. Jasper why don't you come help me change the oil in the car." Dad suggested. I huffed.

  "Why don't you have the masculine son do it. I'm just your gay one!" I yelled. I know I was being a little over the top, but I was just really stressed out and sometimes I cope with anger. He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the garage.

  "Why do you have to do this Jasper." My dad sighed as he yanked out his grease towel.

"Do what?" I grumbled and crossed my arms.

"Cause problems with your brother. You know he cares for you so why do you have to fight with him? We don't have long until he has to leave again. I just want you guys to get along. Can you do it? For me?" He looked sad. I knew it was hard to see his two oldest fight all the time, so I nodded. "Now come on and help me." We changed the oil right up until we heard the bus pull up to the house. I wiped my hands on the towel and went back into the house just as Alex walked through the door. He hurried over to Shaun and I and pulled us into a group hug.

"Hey guys!" He said in his usual upbeat voice.

"Hi Alex. How was school?" I asked.

"Oh you know. Seventh grade was as great as ever." He said in a sarcastic voice. We smiled and went to hang out on the couch. Alex brought us all together somehow. I think it was just his personality. He told us about his day and we told him about ours. Shaun was going back to base in California in a month so we were all spending as much time with him as we could.

The day went by fast and soon it was the next day. As I was walking to my locker at the end of school I heard a familiar voice tell my name from down the hall.

  "Oh Jasper!" I turned to see Mike with a look on his face. A look that usually meant I wasn't going to like what he was going to say next.

  "Yes Mike?" I leaned against my locker.

  "Guess what we're doing tonight?" He asked leaning his hand next to my head on the locker.

  "This can't be good," I muttered.

  "Alright since you won't guess, we're going to  a party!" I didn't say anything making him roll his eyes. "At least look a little excited! This will be good for you. You've been holed up in that house for days, moping about how you still haven't applied to college."

  "Fine we can go." I groaned, not putting up too much of a fight.

  "Woo!" He yelled jumping up and down. "I'll be at your house in an hour to get ready. Party starts at 9!" He yelled before hurrying down the hall. I just rolled my eyes at him. While I seem underwhelmed about going, I was actually pretty excited. He was right. I haven't really done anything recently. I haven't even been hanging out with him that much. This was sure to be interesting.

A/N
Hey guys! I'm so excited to write about Jasper and Josh! I fell in love with them while writing I'll Swim You Play Your Football. If you haven't read it you should! I hope you guys liked the chapter! Vote and comment to let me know what you think! Love you guys ♥️