Chapter 3

"Did the asshole not stop to help?" Alister asks and it's a question Jasper isn't expecting, a question that's already its own answer.

"No," Jasper lies and immediately feels bad

"Did you see the car at least? The cops will get that fucker," "Yeah," Jasper nods, "I told them everything."

"Good," still with his hand tightly around Jasper's waist, Alister continues, "you know this wouldn't

have happened if I was still driving you to school."

"Why would you still be driving me, Alister? We broke up,"

"You broke up with me Jasper, there's a difference." Jasper did, they weren't right for each other.

Almost to the lunchroom Jasper and Alister turn into the next hall, waiting by the lunchroom

entrance is Daniel who looks up from his phone to see Jasper and Alister walking arm in arm. Jasper sees him and stops walking, quickly letting Alister go Jasper takes the boy's arm off his waist. "I can go in by myself," Jasper reaches out taking his bag "Worried what your boyfriend thinks?"

"Nope, just don't want to be seen with you."

"You can be such an asshole, Jasper," Alister shakes his head walking away

"And you're a model citizen!" Jasper replies after him, as Alister walks by Daniel side-eyeing him. Daniel steps closer scanning down until he's looking at Jasper's leg, "are you ok?"

"Not really," he answers a little peeved, "Pete stole my scooter and my leg's starting to hurt."

"Oh... kind of glad I got the crutches now, want me to go get them?" Jasper nods, "ok don't move." Jasper smiles knowing he said that as a joke

Daniel walks past him walking away but Jasper turns, "hey?" He calls out and Daniel stops turning back to him, "take me with you," Jasper decides. Confused Daniel walks back unsure what Jasper means, "I don't think I can handle another person telling me how sorry they are about my leg, the cafeteria is filled with them."

"How does a snickers bar in my car sounds?"

"Like a better option," they smile to each other and Daniel walks over standing next to Jasper offering his arm. Helping the boy outside, they sneak around until they get to Daniel's car and Jasper starts, "I'm really glad my body didn't dent your precious car"

"Yeah, I would've sued you," Daniel responds unlocking his car opening the back door, loosening his tie he takes it off, and throws his bag in the back seat. Walking closer to Jasper who's too busy

staring at the front of the car, not waiting Daniel reaches for his bag startling Jasper with his touch. Jasper turns to him as Daniel takes the bag, and he just lets him.

Walking to the back of the car, Daniel opens the trunk pulling out the crutches, he secretly spent hours choosing which ones he thought Jasper would like. Shutting the back Daniel walks back to the boy waiting, they look at each other, Daniel's about to hand him the crutches when he stops and says, "I could give you these and we go back in there in 40 minutes, or we could go get some real food." Daniel suggests, "and some pain meds for you leg,"

"I already have the meds, just need some water," Jasper answers

"Then we'll find you some water, what do you say?" Daniel waits, he can already tell Jasper's a skeptic, but that only means he's good, and Daniel likes that.

"You want to skip school?" Jasper questions "It's ok if you don't, it was just an idea—"

"No, I'm in, I just need things spelled out for me because I'm an idiot," Jasper jokes making Daniel

snort. Opening the passenger door for Jasper, Daniel lets him do the rest himself and walks over to get in the driver seat.

They leave school and as Daniel drives Jasper takes out his phone texting his friends, Daniel looks over at the phone in his hands and says, "you might want to turn that off, the school will probably call your mom when they notice you're gone, and she'll probably go crazy."

"They're gonna call her?" Jasper turns to Daniel who sees the slight panic in the boy's eyes "Yeah, they always—" he cuts himself off, "have you never skipped before?"

"No... not really," Jasper admits

Letting out a sigh Daniel starts to slow down pulling over at the side of the street, "we should go back, let's go back."

"What? No! Why?" Jasper pulls his hand from the wheel before Daniel could turn it, "I don't want to go back,"

"I don't want to keep fucking your life up Jasper, that's all I'm good for—"

"That's not true, you haven't fucked up anything and me skipping once isn't the end of the world." Daniel looks at him with a frown, he doesn't want to be a bad influence for Jasper but that's what he is, he can't help it. But Jasper's no kid he can decide for himself, and he's decided that he wanted this. Whatever this is. "It's fine, all right? Keep going"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Jasper nods, "I promise." Daniel continues driving.

—

Despite his friends and his brother's reservations, Jasper grew closer to Daniel in the next couple of weeks, maybe it isn't about being there for him anymore. Jasper was learning so much about Daniel, things he'd never get to see if he had listened and treated Daniel like everyone else does. Daniel was so much kinder than he was credited, he likes taking care of others even though no one reciprocates.

Daniel loves his mom more than anything and would do anything for her, and Jasper liked that, he liked watching Daniel taking care of his mom.

Maybe Jasper will be that lucky someday to find someone who's as caring towards him. Sitting at his desk doing homework Jasper hears his mom's voice at his door, "hey honey—"