Chapter 10

Leaving his first period early Jasper walks the empty halls heading towards Daniel's locker, holding a snickers bar and a note in his hand the boy has a hopeful smile that this will make a difference to

Daniel. It's crushing him to see how sad Daniel has been, how he just stays quiet while Alister and his friends push him around and call him names.

Stoping when he turns the hall to Daniel's locker, Jasper sees three boys crowding around it, they all quietly laugh to each other as they open his locker.

"Alister what the hell?!" Jasper barks rushing closer, "what are you guys doing?"

"Stole a mouse from the lab, we're setting it loose in his locker," They laugh as Alister presents the small mouse in a clear container.

"Are you insane? No!" Jasper pushes them standing in front of Daniel's locker, "go put the mouse back"

"Fuck no! Move Jasper," as they're about to yank Jasper away the bell rings causing them all to stop, "Go away or I scream for security," he says in a serious tone

Sighing Alister glares at him, and his friend JJ says, "let's go guys people are coming out of class"

Giving up they walk away as the hall slowly fills with students, turning towards the opened locker Jasper pulls out the candy bar and note, he takes a calming breath feeling nervous about doing this. Quickly setting them down Jasper shuts the locker before he regrets what he just did.

Standing at the end of the hall with the perfect view, Daniel watches as the boy places something in his locker closing it and walking away, it's been four days already and he isn't sure how much more he can take. Daniel's pretty sure that one doesn't even know him, and he already won't leave him alone. As if the banana wasn't enough, what'd the kid want with his locker?

Shaking his head Daniel walks in the crowd until he's standing in front of his locker, whatever's in there he doesn't fucking want it. Nice or mean.

After putting in the combination he pulls it open, doesn't take him even a second to find it, a snickers candy bar, and a folded piece of paper. What is this? Daniel sighs thinking, picking up the paper he unfolds it and reads:

Rough first few days only leaves room for things to get better. Find Jasper if you need someone to have lunch with.

Find Jasper

His name is Jasper?

"Jasper," Daniel mouths rereading the note, but no! It doesn't matter. Fuck Jasper and his stupid note, what's being nice ever gotten anyone? Daniel didn't need this, he's sure. Picking up the candy he shoves it and the note in his pocket, grabbing what he needs Daniel shuts his locker going about the rest of his day.

It's lunch now and Jasper's eyes are glued to the doors waiting for the moment Daniel walks in, too distracted to pay attention to his friends' conversation, they continue to talk without him. Daniel should've gotten his note by now, which means any minute he could— a small gasp escapes his mouth when Daniel pulls one of the doors open walking in. Although he's at a table pretty far away Jasper can still see him.

Walking up to a random person once he's inside the lunchroom Daniel asks, "do you know Jasper?" To which the girl just shakes her head and quickly looks back at her phone, stopping two people walking by he asks them, "do you guys know someone named Jasper?"

"No," one replies and they continue to walk.

"Oh my god it worked," Jasper says watching as Daniel walks around talking to people His friends notice his grin and fixated eyes, and Savannah asks, "what worked?"

"Earlier I left a note in Daniel Atkinson's locker inviting him to have lunch with us, and I think he's

looking for me"

"What the fuck?" Savannah reacts

"Jasper what the fuck?!" Pete practically yells, "why would you do that?!"

"Because! For some fucked up reason he keeps getting picked on and I can't just sit by you guys, the last couple of days during lunch I've seen him eating snickers bars either alone in the halls or sitting outside on the hood of his car. Is that what we want for anyone? candy bars alone?!" After ranting he turns back to Daniel at the exact moment someone points towards his table, "shit!" Jasper quickly looks away when Daniel turns to him.

"Oh my god he's coming over here," Savannah panics watching as he walks towards them and some people in the lunchroom stares,

"We're screwed," Pete adds

"Jesus just relax guys," there's really nothing to be afraid of, it was a nice gesture.

Stoping at the table all three friends stare at him but only Jasper is smiling, Daniel looks at all three but stops at Jasper who sits in the middle. Pulling the note and candy out of his pocket Daniel asks, "you Jasper?" He nods opening his mouth but not given the chance to speak, "leave me alone, all right? Don't put shit in my locker, I don't need pity," he tosses the candy and note on the table. Daniel walks off after making himself clear leaving the three dumbfounded

Embarrassed and a bit pissed Jasper stands storming off, turning to look at each other Pete says to Savannah, "this kind of feels like our fault."

"We really should have told him," Savannah sighs. Grabbing Jasper's things the friends leave the lunchroom going to find their friend.

Going around until they find the boy in the yard at a table alone, Jasper lays his head on the table arms folded underneath for support.

Sitting on the bench across they place their bags on the table and Jasper lifts his head. "I've never met someone mad at niceness before"

"It's not your fault J," Savannah says with a soft voice, "it's ours"

Jasper frowns confused, "Daniel Atkinson is not new Jasper, we all know him" Pete explains "Wait what?" Jasper is still confused

"He was here before you got here, Daniel's parents stole a bunch of money from people, including a

bunch of parents at Everton and now everyone hates him. His dad went to jail and everyone

basically ran him and his mom out of Mills Valley. It's been a whole year no one thought he'd come back."