Complicated | Jasper Hale [OLD VERSION]

[12]

---

I sat with Charlie, waiting for Bella to arrive for dinner.

"So, anything new at school?" Charlie questioned.

"I got an A plus on my history project, the one on the Civil Rights movement," I told him, taking a sip from my drink.

"Why didn't you tell me, that's amazing," he spoke in disbelief.

"I forgot." I shrugged. "Besides, I didn't want to make a huge fuss out of it."

"It's an A plus, make a fuss out of it," he replied.

"Next time I'll make sure it's the only thing you hear about for a month," I promised, holding out my pinky finger. He quickly locked his with mine, smiling. Once I dropped my hand, Bella walked in, apologising as she sat.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Biology Project."

"I ordered you the Spam Salad. I hope that's okay," Charlie informed.

"You should order one for yourself next time. Cup-egg on a steak," Bella spoke, eyeing the unhealthy dish before sending me a quick glare.

"I tried, Bells, he's beyond persuasion," I said, holding my hands up in surrender.

"Hey, I'm as healthy as a horse," he defended. As we began to eat, the waitress, Cora approached.

"So, Chief, boys wanna know, did you find anything down by Creek Silver today?" She asked, everyone turning to face us.

"Yeah, We found a bare human footprint, but it looks like whatever that is, it's headed to east. So, Ketsap's County sheriff is gonna take over from here," he explained.

"I just hope they catch them fast," she voiced. I sent her a small smile as she walked away.

---

"Looks like your friends are flagging you," Charlie stated. "It's okay. If you wanna go, join them. I was gonna try to leave early anyway."

"Me too."

"Bella, it's Friday night. Go out," he suggested. Bella didn't reply. "Looks like the Newton boy's got a big smile for you," he continued.

"Yeah, he's a good buddy." She nodded.

"Better than any of these other yahoos in town." There was another pause. "Anybody you're interested in?"

"Dad, we're gonna talk about boys?" Bella questioned in disbelief.

"I guess not," he muttered.  "What about you, Sky?"

"You know me, always scaring them away," I lied.

"I just feel like I leave you alone too much. You should be around people," Charlie told us.

"I don't mind being alone. I guess I'm kind of like my dad in that way," Bella replied.

"I have loads of friends, they're called fictional characters," I joked. Charlie sent me a pointed look. "I'm kidding. I have real friends."

---

"Why did Mum just ring me asking if you're being safe? How would I know? You probably don't even know what a condom looks like let alone a dick," I rambled as I barged into Bella's room, Edward on the opposite side to her.

"And you do?"

"There's a thing called nudes. You don't have to have sex to see a pee pee. And besides I've never willingly looked at one but I have seen a few," I argued. "Why am I telling you this?" I paused. "Just tell Mum you're a virgin and are not planning on sex until marriage or something so she'll stop with the questions."

"I'm not having that conversation with her." I rolled my eyes at her, leaving the room.

"I'm back," I told my Mum through the phone. "She's a virgin, nothing to worry about."

"What about you?" She asked, making me almost choke on my own spit. "Any boys?"

"No," I replied shortly.

"That's a lie," she argued. "You had a boyfriend back home," she added, waiting for me to reply.

"And we broke up, end of story." I rolled my eyes.

"Is he cute? Is he smart? Is he a feminist?" She questioned, not stopping.

"Oh my God!" I exclaimed. "Mum. Stop please. If I date a guy you can grill them not me." I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard a knock at the window.

"I'm your mother, you're meant to tell me this stuff," she whined. I walked over to my window, attempting to open it with one hand.

"You sound about five right now," I retorted, smiling at Jasper who hung onto my window frame. I moved out of the way, letting him climb in.

"But you're not telling me anything, I expected this from Bella, not you," she explained. "So lets talk boys."

"I'm swamped with homework, call Bella and lecture her on safe sex or something," I replied. "Bye Mum, love you." I hung up before she could reply. I turned to Jasper, who held an amused look. "Don't look so smug, she asks that no matter what. She seems to have this idea in her head that people actually like me," I joked.

"Trust me, they do," he told me. "Edward's heard some of the things they say about you."

"Now I'm curious. Who's got beef with me?" I asked sitting on my bed, crossing my legs.

"No one, suprisingly. Although Jessica seems to be envious of you," he told me, staying where he was.

"I think she's envious of everyone." I shrugged. "I don't care, let her be. I mean I'm cool plus I'm black, which is cool so I win twice."

"You're really proud of who you are," he stated.

"I mean, yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked rhetorically. "I mean my skin colour can be a set back and a target for insults and I have to work twice as hard as other people but I can't change who I am. I can fight racism and I can protest but at the end of the day nothing will change if we're ashamed of our skin." I smiled weakly, getting up. I walked to my TV.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Turning on the TV to watch it, feel free to join," I spoke, going back to my bed, lying in it under the covers. He stayed where he was. I rolled my ryes, lifting up the other side of the covers. "Sit." He nodded, speeding over to where I was, climbing into bed with me. "See that's not so bad, is it?" I asked, rhetorically. "What do you wanna watch?"

"Whatever you want to," he replied.

"Okay," I muttered, changing the channel. "Bobs Burgers." I paused. "It's so good." We sat in silence after that, watching the show in silence.