Survival [completed]

Family Lunch

I look around at the table, my father is at the head of the table, my mother is sitting opposite me and Jasper’s sitting next to me.

Everyone’s smiling.Happy, that’s how it should be.

My father was smiling at a joke Jasper had cracked. That made me the happiest girl on the planet. It was always like this when Jasper was here. We always had fun. My parents adored Jasper. They loved him and if they could they'd probably adopt him as a son. I liked him too. Jasper Meyer was my god brother, though he really was like a real brother to me. His parents were out of town so he was at our house for the annual day-before-first-day-of-school lunch. This was usually a tradition unless his parents were in town, then it’ll be plus them. His parents were always out of town for business. They were filthy rich though. The Meyers thought that by showering Jasper with money he'd be happy. That wasn't what Jasper wanted all he wanted was his parents with him, he loved how my parents seemed to always be there for me and care for me. If only he knew the truth. 

“So Jasper, when’s the next show?” My mother asks in between bites of steamed fish. Jasper was a professional classical dancer and he was good at it. He does other kinds of styles recreationally when we’re just hanging out but his parents loved classical so he did that. 

“I’m not sure yet, but I am planning on having a show here! So you guys must to come!” Jasper tells us beaming from ear to ear. 

I drop my fork, in surprise, “You’re kidding?” I yelp, ignoring all forms of table manners. 

“Nope. For real, I am organising it and everything.” He explains grinning at me.

I throw my arms around him “Congrats! I’m so happy for you!” I tell him. 

Jasper laughs “Yes sis, you better be.” 

“She’s right, we’re so proud of you. We’ll help in anyway we can. Just ask Jasper. Your parents must be so proud!” My father compliments. 

 “I hope they are, I haven’t heard from them about it, though their assistant said they’ll be there on show night” 

“ I’ll help out! I promise!” I volunteer, talking with my mouth full of speghetti. 

“You better, you think I was going to let you in for free?” Jasper teases me.

I pout and narrow my eyes at him. 

“I’m joking! You’ll have free back stage passes too!” He tells me grinning. 

“That’s more like it!” I say smiling.

My parents chuckle at our exchange. 

After that, the conversation returns to the normal topics: World affairs, my fathers practice, he was one of the top doctors in town. He told us about his patients and my mother spoke of her work, she was a marketing manager. When she started talking I really did try to listen without zoning out. I swear the woman had the most boring profession on planet earth. Jasper told us of his shows. I sat quietly and listened. I loved hearing them talk and being like a normal family. It sort of gave me hope. As lunch draws to a close,

“So Jasper, you’re sure it’s an ok school? Like peers wise.” My father ask concern written all over his aging face, my father wasn't that old he was only in his late thirties. So he still had some game in him. That would definitley explain the number of women patients he had. He had a clean face and blond hair. His eyes were brown but cloer to the dark side of it. He had a round face but it was a handsome one. I could see why my mother fell for him.

“Yes, Mac, all the people there are friendly and nice, you don’t have to worry. Star will be in good hands, I’ll take care of her.” Jasper reassures him. I was going to be in Jasper’s and Tristan’s school this year. I changed school a lot and this was more like a last resort. I mean how many schools can there be in one town? Jasper has been pestering them to let me go to the same school as him for ages now and they have finally relented. 

“I don’t want any trouble coming for my little girl you know?” My father tells Jasper 

“Dad…” I say embarrassed yet touched. This was the reassurance I needed and got every time Jasper came over. He looks at me sternly yet the look was so quick, you wouldn’t have noticed it if you weren’t watching him closely. I was. I always watched him, I had to be prepared. His look silences me. 

“Of course, don’t worry. I’ll help her out.” Jasper says throwing an arm over my shoulder. I grin at my parents. As my heart begins to race at the look I caught my father giving me

 “Okay, enough talking, dishes, now.” My father commands to me.I stand up promptly and collect the plates. 

 “I’ll help. Jasper says. 

 “No, Jaz, Star can manage” my mother insists on my behalf. 

 “No, you guys cooked, the least I can do is clean.” Jasper says taking the big dishes. 

 We head into the kitchen and Jasper takes the dishes and I do the packing. I put the left overs in containers and place them in the refrigerator. Then, I join Jasper to wipe the dishes. We had a smooth flow to it. He washed I dried. 

 “So, you nervous?” He asks me. 

 “For?” 

 “School, what else?”

 “I don’t know, I guess it’ll just be the same as all the other times. People stare then they move on. I just have to wait out the staring.” I shrug. 

 “You can come hang with Tristan and me during lunch. That’ll boost your rep. New girl has lunch with the hottest boys in the senior and Junior class. That’ll be a good rumour.” Jasper shares. 

I laugh. I want to stay inconspicuous. Not become the one everyone watches and points daggers at. Tristan Shaw was my neighbour and best-friend, he and Jasper had met through me. Jasper was right, both him and Tristan were good looking. Tristan more then Jasper in my opinion. The thought of Tristan, made my lips curl upwards in a goofy grin. Tristan was my best friend in the whole wide world….he was my only friend come to think of it. We practically grew up together. He has always been in my life, like Jasper. We have basically gone through every thing together. We always stuck by each other. 

“Stop dreaming about your prince charming!” Jasper teases. He had this theory that Tristan and I were meant to be. 

 Bullshit. That was what I thought. “Shut up!” I say swatting him with the towel. 

“You really don’t want to start this” Jasper says scooping water in his hands. 

 I retreat, “Yeah, ok, you win. Sorry.” I say raising my hands up in surrender. 

“You leaving after this?” I asked upset. 

“Yeah, I’ve got a party to go to.” Jasper explains. 

I smile at him, the ever popular Jasper Meyer. I realise then how much he has grown, gone were the curly blond locks that covered his head. They were cut straight to fit his structured face. His brown eyes filled his face and he looked cute. No longer did he wear those ugly glasses that filled face. Though when he was sleeping over at my place I see him with those glasses. Now it’s the geek glasses, he looks even cuter with it. It was a wonder what puberty had done with him. 

Jasper heads into the hall to say good-bye to my parents and he leaves. I walk with him to the door and we hug goodbye. “See you soon.” He says kissing my cheek. 

“Yeah.” I say as I watch him leave, it feels as though all the happiness from lunch leaves with him.

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Hey guys! This is something I've been working on, I'll update the next few chapters soon. Hope you like reading it :) Feel free to leave your comments!