Chapter 12

She shrugs, "he says he's not threatened by two gay guys,"

"Yeah— Wait—" Pete stops causing his friends to stop, "Carlos thinks I'm gay? Wait— do people think I'm gay?"

"Your friends are a gay guy and a girl," Jasper answers, "it's not that hard to assume." "I seriously need to get a girlfriend," they continue to walk

"You guys are coming to the game tonight right?" They both nod, "ok good I have to go find the

team, I'll see you guys after the pep rally."

"Later." Savannah turns down a different hall leaving Pete and Jasper to continue forward alone, "I can't believe people think I'm gay"

"It's ok buddy, you'll find a girlfriend and prove them wrong."

It's pep rally time and all of Everton high is in the gym flooding the bleachers waiting for it to start. As he's sitting next to Pete, Jasper's phone vibrates

J help! I forgot my hair ribbon in my locker and apparently, we're not in unison without it. Could you please run to my locker and grab it for me? Meet me by the girl's locker room

"Sav forgot her ribbon in her locker and needs me to go get it for her," "Ok I'll save your seat," Pete replies and Jasper gets up leaving the gym.

With everyone in the gym the halls are practically empty, one hall, in particular, was completely

empty with four boys standing in it. The closer he walks the clearer Jasper can see Alister pinning Daniel against a wall while his friends stand around egging him on.

"Got nothing to say, bitch?" JJ asks behind Alister "Maybe this'll make him talk," Alister raises a fist

"ALISTER STOP!" Jasper screams rushing towards them before he can hit Daniel, "what the fuck is wrong with you guys? Let him go!" Jasper

tries to shove Alister off but he doesn't budge, "let him go Alister you need to be better than this!" "Fuck off Jasper you don't even know him!"

"I don't care let him go!" Jasper holds the arm pressing Daniel into the wall, "get off!" He barks one last time and Alister finally listens

"What the fuck is your problem?!" He turns to Jasper, "stop standing up for that piece of shit" "Stop being such an asshole and I won't have to!"

As they're arguing Jasper doesn't notice Daniel trying to get away but someone else does, "yeah keep walking bitch its all you can do," JJ says before raising the styrofoam cup in his hand

"JJ don't!" But it was too late for jasper to stop him, next thing he knows chocolate milkshake drips down Daniel's back causing him to stop walking.

"That seemed to work, got something to say now?" They wait for Daniel to react but he doesn't, he just keeps walking.

"So fucking childish, you guys need to grow the fuck up!" Jasper shoves Alister before walking away. Rushing to the nearest boy's bathroom, Jasper walks in to find Daniel cleaning his uniform, jacket

under the faucet. He stays by the door and asks, "are you ok?" Daniel ignores the questions keeping

his focus on getting as much of the stain off, "you can get a clean one at the school shop, or you can just change into your gym uniform—"

"He listens to you... why?" Daniel finally speaks

"Alister? No, he doesn't," Jasper denies. Looking over from his jacket Daniel gives Jasper a look, "we used to date when I first got here," he admits, "didn't really last because he wasn't the right guy for me. I never knew he was this bad though." Jasper stops talking and just watches as Daniel finishes cleaning his jacket, once he's done Daniel turns off the water and rings out his jacket before grabbing his bag.

Jasper's heart beats faster as Daniel starts taking steps towards him, he stops right in front of the nervous boy. The closeness finally gives Jasper a chance to get a closer look at Daniel, his eyes a mix of green and hazel, brown hair in a messy quaff, and the sharpest jawline he's ever seen. Daniel was attractive and Jasper would be blind not to notice— but that's beside the point, he doesn't care about the looks he just wants to be a friend. Daniel continues to stand in front of him so Jasper just stays quiet

"Excuse me," he finally says and Jasper realizes he's standing in front of the exit, stepping aside he lets Daniel out leaving him there alone.

At least this interaction wasn't as bad as the last one he thinks as his phone vibrates

HELLO?! Where's my ribbon? We're going out in five

Remembering he had something to do Jasper rushes out of the bathroom.

After a very shitty day, Daniel was ready to go home, it's the middle of his second week and the boy was already spent. He didn't think people would get physical with him, gossip and disgusted stares he expected, but after over a year they still hated him as if he never left.

Walking out to his car Daniel stops dropping everything when he sees his windshield.

Standing a distance away, Jasper is with Pete and some other friends trying to figure out if they should leave and come back for the game, or just stay until it starts. As they talk Jasper's gaze scans the parking lot stopping when they catch Daniel. Fixating Jasper watches as the boy place both hands in his hair staring at his car continuously, he looks upset... angry almost. He continues to stare as Daniel takes out his phone calling someone.

Picking up his things the boy angrily stomps back inside the school walking past Jasper, whose eyes follows him in. Curious about the car Jasper leaves his friends walking towards it, when he's close enough he goes where Daniel was standing and sees it too. Written in big bold white letters on the windshield