A Poppy In The Stars

Chapter 14

My dreams were visited by Jasper that night. His blue eyes...messy hair...the smoky smell that fills my lungs whenever he wraps his hands around me....this all came across my dreams as i tossed and turned on my bed, smiling to myself.

"What?!" Someone asked from above me. "What did you say?"

I shot my eyes open and sat up straight on my bed. Eva and my mom were standing beside my bed, holding the dress I wore for the graduation ceremony.

"What are you doing in here?" I asked them, sounding very much annoyed.

A smirk spread across Eva's face. "Oh, did we disturb you? So sorry. I guess you were dreaming about....hm.... let's see....Jasper?!" She teased.

I tossed her my pillow, giggling. "Shut up, Eva!!"

My mom chuckled. "That's what you call love sick." She said to no one in particular. I blushed as Eva started laughing so hard.

"I'm not love sick, mom." I said.

She shrugged. "That's what I think. Anyways, come downstairs. It's Saturday. You've got to get your pills down that throat." She stood up and left the room.

I plopped back down onto my bed. "Curses!" I muttered.

"Come on now. If you get your pills, I'll take you to the lake for lunch. Now, come ON!" She threw the pillow back at me, and left the room laughing to herself. I stood up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and went straight to the bathroom to change.

"Did you take all of your pills?" Mom asked as I put on my jacket to go outside with Eva.

I nodded. "Yeah, mom. I never miss."

"Good. Now, be careful okay? There's going to be strangers there."

Eva went over to my mom and hugged her. "Don't scare her, little deary. I'll take good care of her."

I laughed to myself as mom swatted Eva's hand. "You be careful too, Eva."

"Oh, I will." She said and walked out of the door, waving mom goodbye. I followed her doing the same.
_____________________________

I walked on the well kept grass as a warm breeze swept past me, blowing my hair sideways. I found a shady spot for me to sit, and was glad when I saw that the area is almost empty. I went over and sat on the thick, green grass.

"Hope?" My head snapped to the side and saw Jasper standing behind me with his hands in his denim pockets. An unknown energy swept into me as I smiled and patted the grass beside me.

"Come sit down." I said.

He walked over to me and sat down. His hand immediately found mine. "What are you doing here?" He asked, his hair messier in the wind.

I shrugged and picked a lousy leaf of grass. "Just came with Eva to have some lunch." I said. "You?"

"I always come here." He smiled and turned to face the rippling waters of the lake.

"Why?"

"Well, when I was little, my grandma used to come here with me. She said it calms her. You know, the wind and the water. She believed that this place is the most wonderful place here in the town." He said and sighed.

"I agree with her." I said. He turned to me and smiled.

"You think so?"

"Yeah, why not? This place really does calm everyone and it has to be the most wonderful place in this town."

"My mom said she's crazy." He said, looking down at the grass. "She thought that my grandmother is some kind of a believer of unusual things. And she didn't mean it as a compliment."

I rested my head against his shoulder. "Well, I think your grandmother is amazing."

He kissed the top of my head and rested his chin there. "I know."

We both sat silently, hand in hand. His breath felt warm on my head as I shifted more nearer to him. He ran an arm over my shoulders and pulled me closer, his other hand glued to mine.

"Um, Hope?" Eva's voice came from above us, and I sat up, turning towards her. She was smiling at both of us. "Here, I got you something to eat. Some fries, actually." She handed me a thin paper bag. "Nice to see you, Jasper." She nodded at him and walked away.

"She's nice." Jasper said, turning back to me with a nice smile. I smiled back and nodded.

"Yeah she is." I shook the bag of chips in front of his face. "Want some?"

"Yeah, thanks." He said, dipping his hand into the bag and taking a handful of fries.

I myself filled my mouth with some oily chips. "So, tell me....your favorite movie."

He laughed at my sudden question. "Hmm, let's see. I think it has to be the Maze Runner series. Or maybe The Terminator." He answered and tipped a single fry into his mouth. "You?"

I gulped down another mouthful of food. "Um, surely it's The War Horse. I love it!"

"I've never seen it before." He said, screwing up his face. "Yeah. Definitely haven't."

"Well, you have to." I said, standing up with the empty yet oily paper bag crumpled in my hand. "I'll throw this and come."

"No, wait." He said, standing up beside me and straightening his t shirt. "I'm coming with you."

Then we started walking towards the dustbin which was near the food stalls. Suddenly, Jasper took hold of my wrist with a tight grip. I looked up at him to see his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched.

"What is it?" I followed his gaze, and my eyes fell on a group of boys in leather, tattered jackets, and piercings and tattoos. They all appeared....punk. "Who are they?"

"Nobodies." Jasper growled. His grip on my wrist felt uncomfortably tight, but I didn't move it or complain. The group of boys were walking slowly towards the food stalls, laughing loudly and patting each other's backs. The one in the very front, I noticed, looked as though he's leading the others. He ran his tattooed fingers through his mess of a blond hair, reminding me shockingly of Jasper.

"But, really, who are they?" I asked again, my eyes fixed on the gang.

"We are going. Now." Jasper demanded and started dragging towards the parking lot.

"Whoa, hey!" I protested, squiggling my hand in his tight grip. He turned to me with his eyes blazing with furious fire. I immediately stopped struggling.

"I'm sorry to drag you out of here, but you have to come with me." His calming tone didn't match with his angry eyes. "You don't know who they are and I don't want you to find out. I don't want you to get hurt, Hope. Just.... let's go home." I nodded, feeling curiosity with a mix of fear rising in me, but I didn't say a thing.

Then, he lead me to his car and drove me home.