Crossfire

Chapter 2

"Jesus Christ," Xander sighed and he slumped his cheeks in his hands as his elbows rested on the table. "You still don't pay attention in class. At this rate, you'll never finish these problems."

I put my pencil down and narrowed my eyes at the impatient boy across from me. "I'm trying," I said. "Maybe if someone would help a little more, I could finish faster."

Xander sighed again and tilted the paper to get a better look at it. He began to explain the steps to me and boy, did I try to listen to what he was saying. But he could've been speaking another language for all I knew.

"Alright?" he asked, tapping the paper with his finger. "Now do it."

"s**t," I whispered to myself as I looked down at my impossible homework. My hand slowly began to write numbers down under the problems. What numbers you may ask?

Random ones.

I didn't have enough pride within myself to tell Xander I again, hadn't listened to his directions.

My palm began to sweat as I continued to scribble nonsense onto my homework and Xander pulled out his phone, oblivious to the absolute struggle I was going through.

I was relieved from the horrendous math displayed in front of me when Xander spoke up again.

"Have you finished yet?" he asked, his eyes peering over to my side of the table.

"Uh," I said, sliding my hand over the unfinished section on the bottom. "Yeah, I'm done."

I quickly swiped away the page and shoved it into my folder before zipping my backpack closed.

"Good," Xander said as he grinned, standing up from his chair. "Let's go."

I followed his broad back out of the library and questioned him on our destination. He refused to tell me though, and lead me to his car. I didn't particularly care where we were going, rather, I was glad that we were spending time together.

Xander reached over to the radio once he began to drive and changed the station. I glanced down at my phone and noticed I had a missed call from my hopeless roommate.

I pressed on his contact name and turned down the volume in Xander's car as he raised one eyebrow before returning his focus back to the road.

After a few rings, Drey picked up.

"Jasp," he breathed into the phone. "I need-"

"Is it May?" I asked, grinning.

"How'd you know?" Drey asked, breathing heavily.

"Looks like I'm the new god of love," I joked as Drey had used that phrase in the past.

"I wouldn't doubt it," he replied. "But, you gotta help me, Jasp. She's coming over."

Xander snickered as he was able to hear the phone call since I had put it on speaker.

"To our dorm?" I asked.

"Yes," Drey replied. "What should I do?"

"You'd better not pull out those books, Drey," I warned. "Make her feel welcomed and just be natural. You'll be fine."

"Aren't you coming back soon?" he asked.

Suddenly, I felt my phone ripped out of my hand and Xander held it with one of his.

"Jasper won't be coming back tonight," Xander said into the phone. "Have fun with May."

And with that, he hung up the phone and tossed it back to me. I fumbled to grab it and looked over at him.

"I won't be going back to my dorm tonight?" I asked.

"Nah," Xander replied. "You're supposed to be Drey's wingman, you know."

I frowned. "And where do you suppose I stay? Unless I call up Hay-"

"That won't be necessary," he cut me off. "Just stay over my place."

My face immediately felt hot and Xander laughed.

"O-okay," I stammered, instantly regretting it. "But when are you going to tell me where we're going now?"

Xander took a right turn and pulled into a parking lot in front of a bar. He unbuckled his seat belt and I did the same, wondering why he had brought us here.

"Why are we at Winston's?" I asked as we climbed out of his car.

"You ask too many questions, Jasper," Xander said as he smiled down at me. He brushed his shoulder lightly against mine and held the door open once we reached the entrance to the bar.

"Just let loose tonight," Xander told me. "It's rare that we get to enjoy ourselves."

Xander was right. With all the chaos of final exams, assignments, and studying, none of us were able to cut back. Even if it was for one night, I was glad to get away from the typical college stress.

We walked into the bar as music blared from the speakers and it pounded in my chest as I squinted in the dimmed area. Xander glanced around as if he was looking for something and I grabbed his elbow.

Standing on my toes, I said in his ear, "What are you looking for?"

Xander looked at me, his face inches from mine, and replied. "I'm meeting up with some friends from high school."

"What?" I asked though I had heard him clearly. "Then why did you bring me?"

Xander smiled, his green eyes shining, and he said, "Because I wanted to spend time with you."

I couldn't argue with him because of that statement and I sighed. I wasn't terribly good in social situations outside of my own friend group and now I had to interact with Xander's old friends.

"Xander!" I heard someone yell across the room and I spun around to find the owner of the voice.

A group of guys stood around a pool table and while some played, others held alcohol in their hands and conversed, occasionally sparing a few laughs. Xander nodded his head in their direction and once we arrived, a guy with light-blonde hair playfully slapped him on the back.

"It's been a while, man," Blondie said to Xander, offering a warm smile. His hair was short but it was curly on the top and he had an earring similar to the one Xander wore.

"I know, Cason," Xander replied as I awkwardly stood behind him.

Peering around Xander, Cason's blue eyes found my own and he raised an eyebrow.

"Who's this?" Cason asked Xander, placing his beer on the table. Xander stepped to the side allowing me to become visible to the group of his friends before he answered.

"Jasper," Xander said and grinned widely.

"My boyfriend."