You and Me... (BWWM)

7

Seven

LUCAS AND I FINISHED OUR RESEARCH WITHIN AN HOUR AND A HALF. We did it without the help of my still sleeping friend Alex, and were done around 8:35, meaning we still had a lot of time to hang out prior to him unfortunately having to leave.

Upon finishing, I closed my laptop and looked over at Lucas who had his head on my shoulder. "What you doin', Simpson?"

He lifted his head and smiled sheepishly. "Do you realize how soft your shoulder is?"

I raised an eyebrow. "No, I did not realize that fact. You're the first person to acknowledge it."

"Fantastic," Lucas sat up fully and crossed his arms. "So, about that moment between you and your dad..."

I tensed. "What about it?"

"If you don't feel comfortable talking about it, I understand, but I could tell that it bothered you."

"No, it's fine," I sighed, and willed myself to be able to talk without getting upset. "Okay, so the main reason why my dad wouldn't let you stay over is simply because of my well-being due to something that has occurred in the past, and how my parents thought they could trust someone, especially considering that someone was family, and they were wrong."

Lucas looked as if he understood but seemed to be trying to figure out what I meant. I didn't even know if I should tell him. Like my dad said, I only have known him for a very small amount of time, but for some reason, I wanted to tell Lucas. He was the first person in forever other than Alex, that has actually wanted to get to know me or actually recognized the fact that I existed, and that made me automatically trust him. Now, I know that sounds very naive, but at the same time, I'm not as naive as I was in that situation.

"Do you want me to tell you the whole story?" I asked him quietly.

"Jasmine, you don't have you to if you don't want to," Lucas said, and I could tell that he was concerned about me by the tone of his voice.

"I have to relive that night at one point," I said, and took a deep breath. "I was in eighth grade when it happened. I think it was two weeks after my birthday, because it was after Halloween but before Thanksgiving. I was at home with my cousin Justin..."

Lucas cut me off. "I apologize for interrupting, but whoever did this to you was your cousin?"

"Yes, hence making it even harder to believe that it actually happened," I said, falling into a flashback of that night.

(FLASHBACK)

Justin had come over all the time when I was younger. He was three years older than me and had my back. We were really close, like two peas in a pod. He was my favorite cousin by far, unlike his brother, Jamari, who teased me all the time.

That night, we were over my house alone; my parents asked him to watch me since they were going Christmas shopping. Asia was over a friend's house doing a project. We were chilling in the den, watching television, but so busy talking we wouldn't have even realized what was on. I was talking to him about my school, and how I didn't have many friends. Justin had already known this, but still listened to me rant.

"I seriously can't stand them, Jus," I said his nickname. "They're so mean to everyone, especially Alex. They tease me for being friends with such a different guy. I don't get it."

"Jazz, they're just jealous of you," He said with his dimpled smile. "They're mad because not only are you smart, but you're sweet, funny, and a great person."

"You're just saying that," I rolled my eyes and pouted.

"I am not," Justin looked at me sincerely. "You're my favorite person in the world."