The summer we turned thirteen (Re-releasing 2025)

Chapter fifty-eight: Moving on maturely

James

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I stood frozen in the water.

Jasper and Mike both looked like pushing me into it was the least they wanted to do. If Hyland hadn't been sitting there, I almost bet they'd have tried to drown me in it.

I observed Jasper's eye had healed, and I felt relieved about that. As much as I hated the guy, I didn't want him to have to start eighth grade with a swollen eye.

Standing there in the water, I observed something else, but it was about myself.

I realized the sudden rush of fear that usually accompanied an encounter with Mike and Jasper didn't come.

In fact, I actually felt like I had the upper hand on them for the first time ever.

I swam back over to where Hyland and I'd been sitting and pulled myself out of the water. Then I stood tall just like I had at the bonfire.

If he thought he was going to intimidate me the way he used to, he had another thought coming.

"Is there something you wanted to say to me?" I said, shaking the water out of my hair. Some drops splashed onto Jasper and Mike, and this only made Mike glower at me harder.

"Punch him," I heard Mike whisper,

"Aren't you going to hit him after what he did?"

Jasper just stood there staring at me, wearing an emotion I could only identify as awe.

It seemed I'd rendered the mighty Jasper speechless.

A feat I never imagined I'd accomplish.

When he finally did speak, I felt even more proud of myself because of what he said.

"So you aren't a wimp anymore huh," he stated, sounding both disappointed and stunned.

Mike continued shooting daggers at me, but Jasper wasn't being hostile.

"What changed? Why'd you decide to stop being such a punk?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

My mind searched for a response to that.

I knew the reason why; I just didn't know if Jasper would scoff at it.

I glanced around at my friends.

Evan and Rachel had stopped splashing one another to observe the stand-off. And Hyland was staring at me with worry glinting in her hazel eyes.

I gave her a reassuring smile then looked back at Jasper.

"It doesn't matter why, Jasper," I said, not wanting to delve into my emotional journey of the summer with him, "All that matters is that you know I don't regret standing up to you."

He shifted uncomfortably when I finished with, "And I'll do it again if I have to."

The fear I'd seen flash through his eyes at the bonfire returned.

Mike's jaw was hanging open like he couldn't believe what was going on.

Truthfully, I couldn't either.

I never thought I'd see the day when Jasper Collins cowered in fear before me.

It didn't last long, though.

Regardless, I knew I'd remember it forever.

After a second, Jasper regained his composure and spoke,

"Well, now that you're not a wimp anymore, are we supposed to just stop fighting all the time?"

Mike found his voice then too.

"Yeah, you think we're going to stop picking on you or something?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know. That's up to you. But if you want to try getting along..." I hesitated a moment then held my hand out for Jasper to shake it.

Mike looked like I'd just pulled a snake out at him.

Jasper, however, seemed to be thinking it over.

"Why should I try getting along with you?" Jasper asked, his usual hateful tone returning.

I raised my eyebrows at him. "Maybe, because we've hated one another since the fourth grade, and next year we'll be in high school?"

"Maybe, because nothing good can come from holding a grudge," Hyland pointed out.

Jasper looked at her, then turned back to me.

"Yeah, well, maybe, I don't care about any of that," he said defiantly.

I shrugged my shoulders and dropped my hand. "Your choice, your problem, but if you change your mind..." I didn't finish my sentence; just let my words ring in the air.

I walked around over to the left side of Hyland and grabbed my towel to dry myself off. When I removed the towel from my face, Jasper was holding his hand out to me.

Mike didn't seem too happy with the decision he'd come to, but I certainly was. It felt liberating to try and leave the past behind us, and I think Jasper had realized this too.

"I still don't like you," Jasper said to me.

The feeling was definitely mutual there too.

We certainly were never going to be friends or anything.

I shook his hand and held back a laugh saying, "Same."