Love and Fight

Jasper or Jay?

As soon as I enter the house after the ride with that guy, Jasper, the messages start pouring in. Alex and Lydia were worried about not finding me amidst the chaos and asked in the online group (which I just got added to) to make sure I'm okay. I smile knowing that they already care about me, and give them a brief account of how a really cute guy brought me home. They seem a bit skeptical about the story, but they're glad to know that I'm safe. As for my dad, I simply told him I wasn't feeling well and came back early. There's no point in worrying him about what happened.

I go to bed unable to stop thinking about the adorable Jasper. He was undeniably handsome with his messy black hair contrasting with his light blue eyes, ripped jeans, and tattoos. And those muscles, of course! Even in the midst of all the turmoil, it's hard not to notice when a guy like that is standing in front of you.

Unconsciously, I fall asleep wondering if I'll run into him at school tomorrow or any other day.

The next morning, as soon as Alex, Lydia, and Maya see me in the hallway, they bombard me with thousands of questions about the nice guy who helped me yesterday. What was he like? What did he do? Why did he do it? What did you do to catch his attention? And, of course, the most disturbing question of all: did anything happen between you two after he dropped you off at your house?

Well, that last question comes from Vanessa, who clearly doesn't believe there's a single guy at school who would do something like that.

"I mean." She argues indignantly as we walk towards the cafeteria. "The guy had a motorcycle and a spare helmet. It's obvious he wanted to score. So why would he take you straight to your house without trying anything?"

"I don't know." I respond, already unsure of how to make them believe me. "I think he saw how scared I was and just wanted to be kind to me."

"I understand, and I swear I'm not doubting you." Lydia interjects. "But it doesn't make any sense for one of the guys at our school to act like that. They're not like that. They just want to get lucky!" I shrug, not knowing what else to say.

"What was his name again?" Maya asks.

"Jasper." I reply, disheartened by all the disbelief. Damn, it's like they think I hallucinated meeting this guy.

"I can't remember a single 'Jasper' in our entire school." Vanessa says as we enter the cafeteria and join the lunch line. Everyone falls into thought, trying to figure out who this mysteriously kind guy was that helped me yesterday.

"I swear I'm not lying." I explain as a last-ditch effort to make them believe me. "A really cute guy saved me at the bar last night, gave me a ride on his motorcycle, and didn't try anything with me. You have to believe me!"

"Hey, calm down, sweetheart." Alex says tenderly. "It's not that we don't believe you, it just doesn't make much sense considering the type of guys we know at our school. But that doesn't mean it didn't happen."

"Yeah." Lydia agrees excitedly as we walk towards a table. "I'm just glad that the mysterious guy was your personal hero last night."

"Of course." Vanessa adds with heavy sarcasm. "It's just a shame that he didn't seem too interested in you." Everyone exclaims disapproval, and she continues. "Hold on. I'm just saying that maybe you weren't his type."

Lydia lets out a sarcastic "uh-huh," and before we even start eating, we're interrupted by a cheerful male voice behind me, calling my name. I turn around, smiling, recognizing Jasper's voice, and barely notice the expressions of extreme surprise on my classmates' faces.

"Hey! Looks like we ended up running into each other after all!" I say enthusiastically, greeting Jasper and his equally handsome two friends. Only now, in the daylight, do I notice that he has a cut on his lower lip and some bruises on his tattooed arms, but I return my gaze to his eyes as he speaks again.

“I admit I wandered around the cafeteria for a while to find you." He smiles in an adorable, and maybe even a bit... shy way? He really is cute. "So... I noticed that you kind of owe me for saving you yesterday, and... I think we could call it even if, let's say, you buy me at least an ice cream?

Now it's me who awkwardly smiles. I've just arrived in a completely new town. I need to settle in properly and think about helping my dad before thinking about boys.

"I would love to hang out, but it's only my second day here. I need to catch up on my schoolwork before spending a day out, you know."

"Oh. Are you sure? It could be on a weekend if you prefer." His voice sounds somewhat disappointed.

"Thank you so much." I say, trying to be as kind as possible. "But I think it's better to take some time before going out and about."

And now he looks extremely disappointed. But he doesn't seem like the type to give up easily.

"Alright." He says, reaching over me to grab my phone from the table and handing it back to me after turning it on. He looks at me expectantly as he waits for me to enter the password. I type in the numbers, and he takes the device back, pressing a few buttons until he shows me the screen again, now with his contact saved. "There you go." He says, smiling proudly. "Now you have my number, and you can let me know as soon as you have some free study time to hang out, okay?"

I probably smile like an i***t when all I can manage to reply is. "Okay."

"I'll be waiting for you to call, then." He pauses, confidently stepping away without breaking eye contact. "Jade." He says my name as if savoring it on his lips, and I seem to melt for a moment as he turns with his friends and goes to another table.

The feeling only lasts for a second because as soon as I take my eyes off him, I realize that almost everyone nearby is looking at me with curiosity. I quickly turn to my friends at the table and notice that they too are staring at me with disbelief, and I almost die of embarrassment from receiving so much attention like this.

"What's wrong?" I say desperately wanting to understand what's going on. And after a moment of silence, it's Vanessa who starts incredulously.

"Jay? The guy who saved you yesterday was just Jay?" I'm lost and almost stutter as I try to respond to the accusatory tone.

"But... He said his name was Jasper..." I grab my phone and show them the name of the contact he added to prove it. "See... It's Jasper..."

"No, sweetheart." Alex says ironically. "That's definitely the champion fighter, better known as Jay."

"Wait. What?" I'm completely confused. "It can't be. This Jay guy seems very violent and a spoiled bad boy from what you've said. Jasper isn't like that. He was sweet to me the whole time, it can't be..."

"Yeah." Lydia interrupts, also in confusion. "He really doesn't behave like that. And I've never seen him talking to a girl like that."

"Are you kidding me??" Vanessa says, already seeming extremely irritated and avoiding looking at me at all costs, from what I can tell. "You're the one who should give him your number, for him to decide whether he wants to talk to you or not! He doesn't go around giving out his personal number, damn it!"

"Looks like someone's jealous, Nessa." Maya says with a provocatively smile on her face.

"Shut up, Maya!" She retorts, anger escalating. "If it really was Jay, he didn't even want to be with her! I have absolutely nothing to worry about!"

"Okay, Nessa, enough!" Lydia asserts, also losing patience. "We don't know what happened, but yes, Jay was nice to the new girl and didn't take advantage of the situation. Just accept that and stop taking it out on Jade, damn it!"

Vanessa seems even more bothered, and for a few seconds, she glares at me with hatred before smiling venomously:

"You know what? You're right. She really is the innocent and fragile new girl. He probably just wants to conquer the prudish one until he can take her to bed. Then he'll go back to being the Jay we all know."

Everyone at the table complains to Vanessa while I just look at her, motionless, not knowing how to react to what she said.

"That's just how the guys from Bronwveen act, and you know it." She replies, her anger now more restrained. "Jay is violent, rough, and even a jerk sometimes. He's not the nice guy she described." She looks at me again, serious. "I'm just saying it's better not to get your hopes up, sweetheart. Just wait and see."

Vanessa grabs her tray and leaves the table, leaving everyone completely silent, not knowing how to contradict her. Perhaps because they know she's right, and that I'm an i***t.