A Poppy In The Stars

Chapter 11

My stomach did a backflip as I remembered the last night's incident. I loved the way I felt in Jasper's hands, but I still feel nervous. I've never been in a situation like this before. I've never been in a relationship. It's all new to me, but I do love him. Yes. I love him very much. The way he kissed me, the way he looked in my eyes.... it all sent a shiver down my spine.
Maybe I'm feeling nervous because this is new to me. Maybe because I still have a little anxiety left in me.
I sighed and turned the TV off to go to the kitchen.

"You look pale!" Mom said and walked over to me as I entered the kitchen. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I said, brushing her palm away from my forehead.

"Are you sure, Hope?" She sounded worried, so I smiled.

"Yeah, I am." I said and sat on the table. Robby came bouncing towards me with his tongue out. I scratched his head and tried to straighten his golden curls.

"What do you want to eat, hon?" Mom asked, putting a pan on the cooker.

I shrugged. "Just something simple."

"I got some bread and pasta here."

"That sounds good." I mumbled, still scratching Robby's head.

"How was the carnival last night?" She suddenly asked.

I gulped. "Um, fun. It's okay." I said.

"You met anyone new?"

What is she asking about? "Met some good people, yeah."

"Well, I was just asking because Mr. Alby dropped by this morning while you were asleep."

I almost fall over the chair I was sitting. "Jasper?" My voice squeaked.

"Hmm." She said as she came over to me with a hot plate of pasta.

"What did he want?"

"Nothing. Just wanted to see you." She said, sitting in front of me and loading my plate with food.

"What did you say?"

She looked up at me and smiled. "I told him the truth. That you're sleeping." She said. "Why?"

I cleared my throat. "Nothing."

"Is there something I should know about?" She handed me the plate.

I took it from her and dug in. "Um, well, we...um..."

"You two started dating?"

My fork fell onto the side of my plate. I looked at mom with wide eyes. "How did you know?"

"Well, I'm not inexperienced, now am I? I've been there, done that. So I know. I could tell." She said while running her fork through her plate of pasta. She looked up at me. "The only thing that surprised me was the fact that you started dating just after you got out! It's been only a week or so!"

I smiled. "Well, I was surprised too, but I'm happy about it. I love it, mom."

"Yeah I can tell. But all I'm asking from you is to be safe! I don't want to loose you after all this time." She sounded worried.

"Oh come on, mom! I'm not going to go away from you. I'll never leave you. So, don't worry about loosing me. I promise, I'll be careful." I stuffed my mouth with pasta.

She smiled and nodded. "I know you will."
__________________________
A knock on the door. I groaned and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
"Who's it?" I asked sleepily.

"Who else?" Mom's voice "it's me, your mother."

I got down from the bed, my blanket still wrapped around me. I yawned as I opened the door to let her in.

"What is it this early?" I stretched my arms and asked, walking back to the bed.

"Early?" She asked, closing the door behind her. "Look at the time, young lady. It's almost eight in the morning."

"And you call it, what? Late?" I asked back, plopping back down on the pillow.

"Well, no. But you used wake up at this time of the day!" She said and sat on the foot of the mattress.

"Yeah, that was before I got out. Now I'm out, I have good dreams to dream about."

"Like Jasper?" She teased.

I blushed. "Mom!" I said, rolling over.

She laughed. "Okay, okay." She said. "I'm here to give this to you." She handed me a letter.

"What is this?"

"Well, I don't know. It's addressed to you, from Jasper." She said and stood up.

I immediately sat up on the bed and started ripping the cover. Somehow, my sleepiness has disappeared.

"Whoa there, Hope." Mom chuckled. "Don't rip the letter. If he knows how excited you are to receive a letter from him, he'll be so glad."

"Mom!!"

"Okay fine!" She raised her hands in surrender. "I'm going. Come downstairs to have some breakfast."

I only heard her closing the door as she exited. I took the letter out from the ripped cover and unfolded it. I started reading immediately.

*Dear Hope,

Our bright student Mr. Alby of The Wisdom High kindly requests your company at the graduation ceremony, 2019. We hope you will accompany our student with pleasure.
As a guest, please wear formal clothing for the event.
Thank you. *

My heart started beating rapidly, and my breath quickened. The letter sat silently in my arms, but the words echoed in my head over and over again. I kept the letter on the bedside table and took my phone instead. I dialed Jasper's number so swiftly, even though my fingers shook.
He answered much sooner than I expected. "Hey, Hope." He greeted.

"Hi. Hey." I said in a very tiny voice.

"Is everything okay?"

"Um, well, I got your invitation." I said so simply, eyeing the letter.

He chuckled. "Oh, okay. Are you coming?"

"Well, I don't know. I've never been to something like this before."

"Don't sound so nervous." He tried to calm me. "I will be with you soon after I receive my certificate."

"But.... I'm..."

"Stop!" He said. His voice somehow soothed me, but my heart still thumped hard against me. "You'll do just fine."

"It's not that, Jasper!" I said impatiently. "Are you sure that you want to invite me?" I asked, fearing his choice.

He laughed softly. "If not you, who else? You are coming to the graduation, that's it."

"But think about this again, Jas. Please. We just met-"

"Yes, and I love you. That's what matters. Well, except for the fact that you called me Jas." He pointed out. I blushed, feeling glad that he cannot see me. "Now, stop worrying about this, okay?"

"Okay....but what am I going to wear? I've never worn formally." I said.

"Well, some kind of a dress, maybe? You'll look beautiful in anything, and you'll be just fine. So, don't over think this."

"Okay."

"Okay. Now, I got to go back to sleep before work out. See you soon. Bye."

"Bye." I smiled to myself and said.
It feels nice to have someone like Jasper around me, I secretly thought.