Jasper's voice was like waiting for rain during a drought. You got excited when the clouds went grey, hoping the sky would open and quench your thirst. Even a cool breeze felt like a tease. Every time Jasper opened his mouth it was the same one sing...
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"She gave me extra calculus homework."
I was beyond frustrated, mountains worth of work and only a short amount of time. I poked at my lunch tray as if it were some slimy science experiment.
Nani was fixing her makeup, and Bee was struggling to turn a page in her English Literature textbook because of her nails.
"You're never gonna complete that shit," Bee muttered, still trying to flip the page.
I dropped my spork and turned it for her. "Thanks for the positive feedback," I said sarcastically.
While the other tables around us buzzed with laughter and chatter, ours was unusually quiet today. I guess we had all had a rough morning. Normally, we were the loud ones, cracking jokes, the table everyone secretly envied. We were an exclusive group of three girls and two douchebags.
And, as expected, those two douchebags were on their way over.
I was still mad at Lucas, and from the scowl I gave him, he knew it. I wasn't going to explain my attitude, I'd rather just let it show. He gave me those sad puppy-dog eyes.
Zane sat down next to Nani, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. His dark brown curls bounced as he leaned in close. They were night and day, but somehow, they just worked, her golden hair and shining smile, his dark curls and quiet, misty aura.
I never go into much detail about Zane. He's the quiet type, truly a man of few words. He had opinions, sure, but they were never as loud or flamboyant as Lucas's. Honestly, it's still a mystery how those two are even friends.
Zane's the cool, calm, and collected bad boy. His locs brushed his ears and sat messily on his head. His eyes were dark, sharp, and narrow. He didn't talk much; most of our conversations were made up of grunts, shoulder shrugs, or a simple nod.
That didn't stop him from talking to Nani, though. It's like they had their own language. Every now and then, I'd catch him whispering something in her ear that made her eyes light up like Christmas lights. She'd giggle softly and push his shoulder in that playful way she always did.
It was a quiet kind of love, with a crazy backstory about how Nani and Zane used to be sworn enemies. She was the preppy Miss Perfect, and he was the infamous Zane Lawrence, the kind of guy with anything but a perfect record.
Then again, maybe they weren't enemies at all. Maybe it was just that opposites attract, more Romeo and Juliet than enemies to lovers. But I guess their story's for another day.
"So," Lucas started, "what are you girls talking about?"
I scowled at him and stabbed my chicken-fried steak a little too aggressively.
"Kinsley was just telling us about her hot-ass tutor," Bee said, eyes still glued to her book.
"You were serious about that Jasper kid tutoring you?" Zane asked.
Lucas gave me an unsure look before speaking. "But he's—"
"Hot," Bee interrupted flatly, flipping a page.
Lucas rolled his eyes. "No, deaf."
And just like that, the whole table let out a fake gasp.
"What? Really?" Bee said, dripping sarcasm. "I had no idea." Her tone earned a laugh from the group.
"Did you know, Nani?" she teased.
"Of course not! I mean, after going to school with him for six years, how could I possibly have known?" Nani replied, playing along.
"Ha-ha. Real funny, guys," Lucas grumbled.
"Please restrain from making dumb statements, Lucas," I muttered. "They make you look like an even bigger idiot."
I had told myself I wouldn't acknowledge him, but his idiotic presence was impossible to ignore. I gave him a cold look and took a sip of my soda through a straw, careful not to ruin the gloss on my lips.
"It wasn't dumb," he shot back. "How's he gonna tutor you if he can't talk?"
"He can talk," I replied, like a preschooler.
"Can not."
"Can too."
"Can not."
We went back and forth, a battle of volume and pride.
I scoffed. "Just because people choose not to waste their breath speaking to you, Lucas, doesn't mean they're mute."
Something about Lucas always got under my skin. People said we argued like an old married couple, but I could never see it.
By now, we were both standing, glaring at each other across the table.
"Quiet back there!" a lunch lady hollered.
Lucas leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Prove it."
My fingers dug into the table. It was always those words, those exact words, that made me do the craziest things.
"Fine."
I stomped out of the cafeteria, my friends pressing their faces against the glass to watch. The outside eating area was filled with people who hadn't moved fast enough to get seats inside. For most, that was true.
But not for Jasper.
He sat under a large tree, doing what he always did, writing in one of his notebooks.
I took a deep breath and walked toward him. As if sensing me, he looked up.
"Come sit with us," I said bluntly, catching him off guard.
He looked past me toward my friends. They waved enthusiastically, which only made the whole thing feel creepier. He shook his head.
"No?" I asked.
He nodded.
"So... yes?"
He shook his head again.
"So yes, you're not coming?"
He nodded, turning back to his notebook.
I huffed, disappointed. "Why not?"
His lips parted like he might speak, but didn't. I frowned.
"Did I do something?"
He sighed, turned the page, and began to write.
Because I like to be alone.
I rolled my eyes at his neat handwriting. "That's not true. No one likes to be alone."
I do.
I snatched his notebook and pen, making him jump.
NOT, I scribbled beneath his words in my messy chicken scratch. I tossed it back to him.
"Well then," I said, folding my arms, "either come sit with me, or I'll just sit with you."
I laid my denim jacket on the grass and plopped down in front of him. He shifted his long legs to make space. His cheeks flushed as he looked back down at his notebook, pretending to write.
"Why aren't you talking—"
"You little bitch! I can't believe you ditched us!"
My head snapped toward the voice I knew all too well.
"Shit," I muttered.
And just like that, not one, not two, but three people sat beside me. I could feel Jasper's discomfort radiating off him.
"Well, Kinny," Bee grinned, "you gonna introduce us to your friend?"
