Chapter 9

Daniel pt. 1

Welcome to Everton Prep, private school full of rich kids being groomed to be the future leaders of tomorrow. Amongst those leaders stands Jasper Bell, transferring to Everton only a year ago it wasn't so hard for Jasper to fit in and make friends. Being cute, nice, and smart was a start but that's not all Jasper is, he's also welcoming, accepting, and refuses to judge others. A rare breed in private school full of snobby teens, but Jasper didn't mind standing out, even if he has to be the exception, he doesn't mind showing his peers what a decent human is supposed to look like.

With his best friends Pete and Savannah, Jasper was content at Everton. That is until Daniel Atkinson returns throwing Jasper completely off path.

Daniel Atkinson has been MIA for over a year, everyone knows why he disappeared but no one knew where he was.

He wasn't expecting much on his first day back, people are going to look down on him and judge him like they did before he left.

"You can still change your mind honey, we can find a new school or just go back to your grandparents in Belgium. Everton isn't your only option," Daniel listens to his mom on the phone as he sits in his car parked in the school parking lot.

"It's only 6 months mom I can do it, I already missed 4 months I just want to finish," he replies "Okay," Daniel's mom's voice softly echos out of his car speakers, "you'll call if you need anything?" "Yeah... bye mom,"

"Bye honey good luck!"

Taking a breath Daniel steps out of his car prepared for the absolute worse, his mom's right, Daniel really didn't have to be there, but this was a form of punishment for him, whatever happens in the next couple of months he'll definitely deserve. Someone has to pay for his family's transgressions.

No one was prepared for the moment Daniel was going to step foot back in school, so of course, his return causes an uproar. As he wanders the halls people sneer, whisper, and gawk at the boy audacious enough to show his face somewhere he was no longer wanted. It's been an entire year so people were over what Daniel's family did for the most part, but the ones who weren't over it never expected to see him again.

Too lost texting on his phone to notice the tension in the halls, Jasper is walking with his head down when he walks into someone causing him to drop his phone. Once they collide Jasper is stunned as his phone goes flying and the other person doesn't even bother to stop and turn. "Real decent," the boy groans bending down to pick up his phone watching as the other's back fade down the hall.

Finally focusing on his surroundings Jasper notices people staring, confused he looks at himself to make sure nothing's wrong then just keeps walking.

All day as he goes to his classes Jasper has felt a shift in the air, everyone was acting strange, they all either seem like they saw a ghost or they're in on a secret he's not part of. He didn't mind it for the most part but around lunch, it starts to bother him again.

Joining Pete at a circular table in the lunchroom Jasper sighs, "everyone's acting so weird, am I missing something?" He asks Pete who shrugs as he currently shoves a slice of pizza in his mouth.

"Take a breath dude," Jasper pulls his hand away causing Pete to drop his pizza back on his tray. "I'm being serious something is definitely off—"

"Who let Cherish be cheer captain?! That bitch is ruining my life," Savannah drops her pompoms on the table as she sits and complains

"Why are you even on the team if you hate it so much, Sav?" Jasper turns to her

"To get some girl friends remember?" Pete answers for her, "not our fault her parents think it's weird her best friends are two guys"

"I regret telling you guys that, but seriously I don't think I'm going to last another practice. Cherish and her minions are mean and the routines are so hard,"

"You're complaining to the wrong people"

"Well, you two are all I have so shut up and—" mid-sentence Savannah gasps jumping out of her seat. "Holy shit!"

"What?!" Her friends jump up too surprised by the outburst

"Look at who Alister is talking to!" She points and they follow her direction,

The only other reaction comes from Pete, "what the fuck?!" He looks at Savannah

"What's happening I'm confused?" To Jasper, big school hotshot— aka school bully Alister Carlyle and his friends are just bothering some random new guy. His friends continue to stare and when he looks around that's when Jasper realize that practically everyone is staring at Alister's direction. Before he can ask what's so shocking about Alister talking to someone, Jasper watches Alister shove the guy out of his seat knocking his food to the floor also. "What's he doing?" Jasper asks already feeling bad for the new guy

Alister laughs as his friends hold him back, picking up his tray Daniel starts to pick up the pieces of food lying on the floor, with people just standing by staring no one actually bothers to help.

Leaving his seat Jasper walks over ignoring the murmurs. "Let me help," he bends down picking up food with Daniel

"Go away," Daniel's deep voice softly speaks, Jasper looks at him and Daniel ignores him getting up and sitting back down.

Before he walks away Jasper places a banana on the table next to Daniel and says, "we're not all like him I promise." As he leaves Daniel raises his head staring at the boy's back, stunned someone actually spoke to him.

Jasper is as nice as they come, and it wasn't so long ago he was the new kid trying to fit in. Granted it's a little harder for Daniel for some reason, but Jasper can still relate. That's why it hurt him to see what Daniel's been through the last couple of days. Still truly unaware of why everyone just stands by and badmouths him, Jasper is on a mission to be different, he knows he's not like these people, and this will prove that.