Fighting Fate (Moonlight Trials Series #2)

Chapter 14 – Familiarity.

Chapter 14 – Familiarity.

Ivys POV



I asked about the football game in the most terrible way. I knew Jasper was confused as his feelings were always written on his face. His stupid face. I thought bitterly. He always seemed to look like a lost puppy, even when he was angry or laughing, there was a look about his that suggested he didn’t really know what was happening all the time. I don’t know why, but he irked me, for numerous reasons.

One, he reminded me so, so much of ‘my’ Jasper. Which was stupid, and I think my young brain only thought about the similarity because they had the same name, but as I got older, I could swear they did similar things. Wolf jasper would huff and growl at certain things, such as when I talked about human Jasper in a bad light or when I talked about crushes. Human Jasper did the same, even when I wasn’t talking near him.

Two, he was so overprotective of everyone, even when they didn’t want or need it. However, he didn’t seem to know he was doing it. He had stood up to the bullies in high school constantly but also mistook normal arguments for bullying and would get involved. I knew deep down he meant well, but it was so annoying.

Three, he said what he thought, even if it was hurtful. It was like he had never been taught any tact or manners.

Four, he was good at everything! Everything! Despite his grades dropping drastically over the last 3 years, it had taken no time at all for him to claw his way back to the top. It seemed like he barely did anything, and I worked so hard to get to where I was. There was a bitterness in this thought, and I knew it, but it annoyed me.

Five, every single girl in the school that I knew, liked him in one way or another. Sure, he was tall and muscular. Sure, he worked out a lot and took care of his looks, but I didn’t get it. A voice in my head chuckled, sure. I shook my head, ignoring my conscience.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by ‘my’ Jasper picking me up as usual. He yipped at me in confusion, and I couldn’t help but look at him closely. Even human Jasper's eyes were similar to Wolf Jasper. I shook my head again, getting rid of those thoughts. I was looking for patterns, wasn’t I? Apophenia at its best, like when we heard different words in songs to suit our narrative, or when we find faces in wallpaper or on a tree.

I moved towards Jasper and crouched down, looking into his eyes. He looked straight back at me. There it was again, a sadness and lost puppy dog look, just like human Jasper. I pulled Jasper’s head towards me and cuddled him, loving the feeling of the fur against my face. The only difference was that wolf Jasper genuinely was a lost ‘puppy’. I chuckled, and he pulled back to look at me, his tongue rolling out of the side of his mouth. I was always scared that Jasper would eventually leave me, trying to find a mate or his lost wolf pack, and when we had heard that howl a few months ago, I did see his attention shift. However, I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

I sighed and got up, signaling Jasper that we would walk home. He walked at the side of me and occasionally put his nose against my hand, telling me he was still there. I smiled, and we headed home, so I could revise for my history test tomorrow.

The next day, I arrived at history class to find Jasper, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. We still had a few minutes until the bell rang to signify the start of class. I walked towards him but left a distance between us. Most of my friends and classmates had headed down to the football field to watch the team practice and I wondered why Jasper wasn’t there with them, aside from the fact he hated most of them.

“Hi” I said, knowing I was breaking one of my rules, but no one was about, all still being outside in the heat or being down at the training field. Jasper opened one eye and huffed at me, just like wolf Jasper.

“What happened to not talking to you in school?” He asked, closing his eye again. I got angry at this, even though I knew he was right.

“I just wondered what you were doing here instead of being at practice.” I huffed back, folding my arms and leaning against the wall where I was. I knew I was glaring at the wall, but he always elicited this response from me. I had no idea why.

“Someone told me to ‘actually try’ when it came to my schoolwork. So here I am, going over things in my head before the test.” I don’t know why but this made me blush. He was listening to me. He’d tried harder than I genuinely thought he would when Mrs White asked me to tutor him in math, and he was doing so well.

“Oh” was all I could answer, but I knew I wanted to say so much more. My heartbeat was going faster than normal and for some reason it did it a lot around Jasper. It was stupid. He made me feel everything so much more than anyone else. Everything was heightened. I looked towards him, allowing myself to take in his full features whilst he had his eyes closed. His sandy hair was swept back, as if he had run his hand through it. His demeanor seemed calm, serene almost. His clothes, although still very grungy, seemed to be crisper than they had been when he was younger. The black t-shirt he wore seemed ironed and his faded black jeans weren’t always dirty. Even his black leather jacket seemed to suit him now. He looked nice. If you took away the attitude of superiority, then he wasn’t bad to look at. Ew, had I seriously just thought that. I actually gagged out loud and Jaspers's eyes were on me.

“Are you OK?” He asked, worriedly. Turning slightly to look at me.

“Yeah…” I said, not looking at him. Suddenly, I felt a puff of air against me and realised he was stood at the side of me, and that air was his breath. I stiffened.

“You need a drink; it sounded like you either coughed or were going to be sick…” He said, concern in his voice.

“I’m OK, it's nothing.” But he insisted. I checked my watch; the nearest water fountain was only at the bottom of the hall. I had time and at least it would get me away from him for a few minutes. “Fine, I’m going!” However, to my disdain, he walked along side me. I tried to keep looking forwards, but I knew he was there and kept stealing glances. He had a smile on his face. Not something I saw very often.

Suddenly, he brushed his little finger against my hand. It made me jump a little, but I acted like Id not felt it. Then a few steps more and he did it again. I tried to take a step away from him, but he kept up the pace with me. When we got to the water fountain he stood at the side of me, his arms folded as I drank.

“Better?” I couldn’t trust myself to speak and nodded before he walked me back to class. Yet again he brushed his little finger against my hand every few moments as we walked. Yet another similarity to wolf Jasper who would press his nose against my hand to tell me he was still at the side of me.

“Jasper…” I started.

“Yes?” He asked eagerly. His smile was still evident on his face.

“Oh…” I don’t know why it took me aback, but his face was so sweet and soft when he smiled. His smile genuinely reached his eyes. Yet again wolf Jasper’s face entered my mind, his smile with his tongue hanging out. “Well…” I was being stupid. What I was thinking wasn’t real, wasn’t true, and I would absolutely be laughed out of school. I bit my lip. “Never mind.” I heard him huff as the bell rang, and Mr Night opened the door for history class. Jasper entered, but I hung back, waiting for some friends before I went in.