Mr Mysterious [boyxboy]

03.

Jasper likes Brad. The two get along, at least they do after their strange self introduction and awkward first impressions. Jasper is overly conscious of how he might have appeared slightly mental to Brad, but he hopes their interactions since have stopped Brad from basing his opinion on one encounter. By the end of their double gym period, Brad is slapping him on the back and claiming they’ll see each other tomorrow before saying goodbye, so Jasper is sure his hope isn’t in vain. However after his argument with Ty when school has finished, he can’t find himself smiling about much, even the prospect of new friends.

He is walking towards the school gates slowly when someone steps in his path. “Ready?” Alexis hitched her bag up a little and smiles widely at Jasper.

It takes him a moment before he remembers that he agreed to let her show him around. He really isn’t up for it, but for the same reason he said yes, he plasters on a smile and nods. “Where to?”

~

“Where are we going?” Tamara asks as Brad swings his free arm around her shoulders – the other is weighed down by his guitar.

“I just had Phys Ed.”

To anyone else, the comment might seem out of context, but to Tamara it makes perfect sense. “So, pizza?”

He presses his lips to her temple, “And this is why I love you.”

“How’s everything with Tyler?” Tamara asks, brushing off his affection as they walk.

Brad sighs and kicks a rock along the footpath. It rolls along on an angle, and when they reach it again, Tamara kicks it back into his path. She has come to know that while Brad talks about his brother he needs something to focus on. Usually he will pick something up and start to pull it apart. Or if they are sitting he will tap his fingers in a rhythm or pull up grass.

“He is being his temperamental self.”

This doesn’t surprise Tamara – she has never known Tyler herself, but she see’s the way he walks around and hears the way he speaks in public. “I didn’t even know you guys lived together until this summer. I mean, I know why now, but it can’t be easier for him than it is for you. You just need to untangle the lines of communication.”

“He’s my brother, Tammy. But only at home. At school… He’s just Ty.”

“Right.” Tamara nods, but she isn’t buying it, not for a second.

~

Stan can’t help himself. He is stealing glance after glance at Brooke. He still cannot fathom that they never knew each other. If they shared classes, and she has been around for so long, how have their paths simply never crossed? They walk down the main street together, but Stan is careful not to get too close, even though it is almost physically painful to hold himself back.

“What do you want to do?” He asks, he has been trying to get conversation out of Brooke for the last twenty minutes, but since they left school she has been rather unresponsive.

Brooke merely shrugs. She hates herself for being so boring but her hands are shaking and she is too nervous to speak. She is sure she will only embarrass herself with whatever nonsense finds its way out from between her lips.

Stan takes two quick steps to get in front of Brooke before he turns on her. She bumps into his chest and stumbles back a little before he grabs her gently. “Are you okay?”