New Arrival

2041 Words
Jasper Wynter loved the rain, he loved the snow, and he especially loved both together. He got it from his mother, so his dad claimed. It was the way it sounded against the roof as it pounded down from the heavens. The smell of it on a cool breeze. The way it felt on his skin when it came in unexpected. He never complained about an unexpecting rainstorm, and in the town of Devil’s Horns, Washington they were always hit with weird weather. They got their rain whenever nature saw fit, snow came in the winter early and spring pops up just as quick. Summer days were hot and the nights cool, Jasper honestly loved everything about his town’s weather. But he hated the people that lived in it. “So son,” Jasper looked up as Molly Bright, the town’s librarian asked him, “How’s your daddy?” Jasper was shopping in the piggly wiggly for dinner and had been cornered by the usual gossip hounds. “He’s fine. Still working on that project at the Fallen house.” Molly looked at her friend Susan Ho who shook her head in sympathy, “It’s just awful what he’s gone through.” Looking at Jasper as he grimaced in agreement, Susan cattily asked, “Any word from her?” Jasper forced himself to be polite, “Not a peep, but with God’s grace she’s fine.” Both women of course pretended to agree and Jasper quickly took that as his time to leave. He hurried out of the frozen food’s section and ran to the counter grabbing odds and ends he knew they needed. It was after being rung up by Sandy Brian, a girl who’d graduated a year before him that brought a smile to his face. The black nailed, eyebrow pierced, baddie looked at Jasper as she softly said, “Ignore them Jas, they’re just bored.” Jasper chuckled a little as he paid for the groceries. “I’ve gotten use to it.” Which was sadly the truth. Since his mom split town, Jasper had to get use to the pity looks he was getting from everyone. He had to deal with the questions, the scrutiny, and the drama the small-town festered in. And that’s one of the reasons he hated Devil’s Horns, not the town itself did it. But the small town never slept, and when someone went through anything, it was known. And good or bad, it was talked about.  Jasper got into his old school Chevy and drove home with a trunk full of groceries. He got home twenty minutes later and when he pulled up to the nice two-story pale blue house on the corner, Jasper pulled into the muddy driveway. Pulling his truck around the back of the house so no one could see he was home, he parked beside his dad’s larger Ford 250. Climbing out, Jasper unlocked the house’s back door before beginning to unload the food. After getting everything out of the truck, Jasper put everything where it was supposed to be before starting breakfast. It was only five in the morning going on six, but since he had gotten out of his tutoring sessions late with one of his more difficult students, Jasper was late catching the store last night. Which meant he had to get up twice as early to go shopping or he and his dad would have been stuck eating instant mash potatoes. Cleaning as he cooked, Jasper was dishing up breakfast when his dad came lumbering down the stairs. William Wynter, a tall man still in his prime as he shuffled in the kitchen, stood in his regular form of dirty blue jeans and some plaid shirt. His boots knocking dirt on the floor Jasper had mopped as he flopped into a chair. Jasper sat his dad down his coffee and plate to which his dad bashfully thanked him, “Thanks son, I appreciate it.” William gruffly thanked him as he picked up the syrup for his pancakes. Jasper shrugged it off, “No problem.” Grabbing the stack of bills, Jasper sat them down, “Lights, Water, Cable, Internet, and Gas are paid. But you still need to pay the insurance on both our trucks and the guy for materials down in Beckem called for you this morning. Twice.” William nodded as he looked over the bills to see them so caught up and actually ahead in payments. “Oh wow…thanks son.” Jasper didn’t respond as he scarfed down his eggs and chugged some orange juice. “How’s the project coming along?” Jasper asked as his dad finished up his breakfast and looked over blueprints. William was an architect/ construction worker. Not only could he design a house, but he could build it himself from the ground up. He was a good man who worked hard, and at almost forty, he and Jasper got along like two peas in a pod. Both the same in their strong, silent type, Jasper was different for thousands of ways that he got from his mom. But there were some that came from personality alone. And that was how they were making it without the person who usually kept things going. Jasper quickly washed up their plates and after a moment of rinsing them, he looked up and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Ash-blonde hair he’d gotten from his mother was in abundance of wild curls on his head. His jaw was cut sharp like his dad’s, and with the grey eyes his grandfather has passed to the both, Jasper was a handsome seventeen-year-old young man. But he looked tired, his bags had bags. And with pale skin, a dry sense of humor, and no social life, Jasper reeked of an adult already.  And he hadn’t even turned eighteen yet. Swallowing hard, Jasper looked away as his dad told him, “The house itself was in fine condition considering. Luckily, the people moving in didn’t want to start over from scratch. Just a few repairs and updating a few things and we’ll be done.” Jasper looked at his dad who was still looking at the blueprints, “And the people buying it? Is it a family moving in?” William nodded slowly as he finished his coffee and his son poured him another cup, “Thanks. And yeah actually, six people from my knowledge. A mother, father, son, daughter in law, a daughter, and an Uncle.” Jasper whistled, “No wonder they needed such a big house.” William chuckled, “Yeah,” Standing and groaning as he popped his back, William slouched for a moment before walking to his son, “But luckily all we have is me and you.” Putting a hand on his son’s shoulder, William thankfully admitted, “And I couldn’t ask for a better son.” Jasper smiled at his dad appreciating the recognition, “Back at ya old man.” William left out a minute later and Jasper soon followed behind him. They both took the main road out, but William turned down the street leading to the Fallen House and Jasper kept going straight to school. As a senior in high school, Jasper was on the catalyst of supposedly the best year of his life. But in all honesty, while Jasper was good at school and made a killing tutoring, he couldn’t see where he’d be in twenty years. And didn’t think he’d be looking back at his high school yearbook like he caught his dad once or twice missing it. Pulling into the school’s parking lot and strolling past the football players, Jasper greeted them familiarly even though he wasn’t a player. But he had spent the majority of his time making sure they didn’t fail so they could play. Which of course earned him the cred of being a friend to the team. He was smart, and with all the teachers in his back pocket, Jasper had never had an issue at school. Until his mom split, and everyone had something to say in his life. Not to mention the sucky ass situation he found himself in last year. Snapping out of the turbulent thoughts, Jasper walked up the stones steps to the front of the school.  Going into the warm building, it was only October, but the autumn chill had a frosty bite to it. Walking to his locker, Jasper ditched the books for later classes and was greeted by his best friend. AJ, or Alvin Jenkins, was a tall beast of a boy who was going to take their lacrosse team to state, or so it was being predicted. Slapping a hand on Jasper’s shoulder, AJ looked Jasper over, “Dude you look like death warmed up. Did you get any sleep last night?” Jasper rolled his eyes, “I was tutoring Judith Foster’s kid Benji on a math final. But all he wanted to do was whine and pout.” AJ scoffed as he nudged his friend, “Should have karate chopped him in the neck. That would have gotten his ass in line.” Laughing, Jasper reminded AJ, “And arrested for assaulting a minor. Who’s daddy is the sheriff.”  AJ smirked, “But I bet he would have paid more attention to you.” Both looked up suddenly seeing a few girls from the bible club whispering about him. AJ started to flip them off for him, but Jasper warned him not to. The last thing he needed was them telling their mothers. It’d lead to another unwanted call from the pastor and that’s the last thing Jasper needed. As they started down the hall to homeroom, Jasper mumbled put out, “Don’t I get enough attention already?” AJ frowned slapping his friend’s shoulder, “Yes and it sucks, but screw them! What I need from you is to stop with the mooning and angsty looks and start smiling. You’re scaring away the potential Ms. Wynter.” Jasper laughed shoving his mountain-sized friend, “Haha, you’re hilarious. Are you going to debut this new act on Comedy Central? It’s gold.” Sitting in the back of the class, AJ looked over at Jasper as he whispered, “Don’t be a smartass! And why aren’t you dating anyone right now? You’ve been single since-.” Suddenly the bell rung loud thankfully cutting AJ off from his sentence. Ms. Tolman took attendance and then sat back down at her desk. It was twenty minutes into class, Jasper was almost done with the homework he couldn’t do last night when the door opened. A slight breeze blew into the room and then Principal Marana was standing there. His shiny bald head glistened under the light as he came in his usual suit. Smiling his Colgate white smile, he looked at the class, “Students, please meet your new classmate Alaia Knight. She’s joining us from overseas, so please make her feel welcomed.” He then waved in the new girl and everyone’s attention zoned in on her. Honey brown hair was done up in huge curls that bounced around her as she walked. With smooth brown sugar colored skin, Alaia Knight wore a black skirt, a cute blue top, and a leather jacket. She didn’t meet anyone’s eyes as Ms. Tolman welcomed her, but as she drifted down the aisle to her seat, Alaia’s eyes slowly came up and Jasper was surprised to see the gorgeous green eyes burning with nerves and uncomfortableness. Jasper gave her a warm smile and reached into his jacket pocket. Giving her a blow pop, Cherry flavored, he smiled, “Welcome to Devil’s Horns.” Alaia slowly accepted the candy and smiled back as he went back to his homework. Five minutes later, they all stood and headed down the hall. Alaia started to ask Jasper to give walk her to her next class. He seemed nice and not at all gawkish like the others. But he was up and out of his seat surprisingly fast followed by his friend. So Alaia was left to be cornered by the student body president, and the ever so perky Olive talked a mile a minute as she snatched Alaia’s schedule and proceeded to drag her to her class. As Alaia followed behind her, she glanced over her shoulder and watched Jasper laugh as his friend shoved his back. Smiling curiously, Alaia turned and followed Olive who was still talking and wasn’t taking a break. Hesitantly following, Alaia's gaze kept turning back as she wondered curiously about the blonde boy. 
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