Chapter 14

School's back that way," Jasper gives a cold shoulder going back to his bike "You alright?" Daniel musters up the courage to ask

"As if you care," Jasper retorts "It's just a question"

Standing up Jasper looks at him and the blank look on his face, does he actually care? The boy can't tell but he answers anyway, "the chain on my bike snapped"

"Why don't you drive like a normal person?"

"Trying to maintain a low carbon footprint, so people like you can drive your gas guzzlers and not feel bad about it," he hints at Daniel's car. "Also what kind of teenager drives a G-wagon? Are you a middle-aged housewife?"

"Whatever forget it," Daniel turns walking away

"I tried so hard to be nice to you!" Jasper barks causing him to stop and turn back, "but I'm not sure you were even worth it"

"Again I never fucking asked you to, it would've been easier to leave me alone like I actually asked" "Sorry, that's not in my nature."

"It's easy, just follow what everyone else is doing," "Why would I do that? You didn't steal my money" "I didn't steal anyone's money," Daniel corrects

"Right that was just your parents." Jasper realizes how awful that sounds as soon as he says it

But Daniel doesn't give him a chance to take it back, "don't ever talk about my family"

"I didn't mean—" Daniel storms off going back to his car, "Daniel wait I didn't—" Jasper tries to follow but Daniel just gets in his car driving away.

Friday rolls around and as they're walking to lunch, Savannah notices how quiet and distant Jasper is, "what's wrong with him?" She whispers to Pete

"Don't know he's been like that all morning," Pete shrugs answering

"Jasper?" Savannah places her hand on the boy's shoulder snapping him out of his thought, "what's going on?"

"I said something mean to Daniel Atkinson," he admits "What'd you say?" She asks

"Basically called his family thieves," "But that's what they are," Pete says

"He doesn't think so, he got so angry at me for saying it." Jasper hates that he said it, "I know I shouldn't care since he's been a jerk every time I try to talk to him, but I still feel bad." And he

spends the rest of the day feeling bad, should he apologize? Or should he just listen to Daniel and actually leave him alone? Being unsure of the right thing to do is bringing Jasper down even more

"Still pouting?" Savannah asks seeing Jasper's frown after school outside the building, "people say mean shit to Daniel all the time, I'm sure he's forgotten about it by now." Jasper still can't help feeling bad, there was no reason for him to say that but he did anyway.

"I know what'll make you feel better," Pete says with a grin "What?" Jasper looks at him

"Forza... race you home and play?"

"That's not fair you drive,"

"But you live closer... come on we haven't played in days" "Fine... go!" Jasper takes off running towards the bike racks "Oh shit!" Pete runs towards his car

"They did not just ditch me to race home and play video games," Savannah shakes her head, "I

seriously need girl friends," she walks away.

As he's driving home Daniel's phone starts to ring, pressing a button on his wheel he answers in the car. "Hey, Danny are you on your way

home?" It's Marsha "Yeah everything ok?"

"It's your mom, this is the second day she's locked herself in her room and refuses to eat anything I

bring her. I'm worried and I don't know what else to do," Daniel gulps trying time stay calm, his mom is not handling being back like he thought she would, and it's his fault. He begged for them to come back and now his mom is miserable.

"Just give her some space, I'll be home soon and I'll try to talk to her," "Okay."

Picking up his phone and trying to simultaneously keep his eyes on the road, Daniel goes to his and his mom's texts. Starting a voice note the boy brings the phone to his lips and starts, "I really don't know what the right thing to do is, but if it's all too much then we don't have to stay. Let's get rid of it all and just leave, I'll try harder in Brussels I promise."

Quickly looking at his phone to send the note and put it down Daniel's eyes were off the road for maybe 5 seconds, but that's all it took.

Daniel breaks as fast as he can but it's not enough, because he watches Jasper fly right off his bike.

"So your medial tibial condyle in your left leg is fractured," the doctor puts Jasper's X-ray on the projector and points to his kneecap. "But good news is this can easily be fixed with a leg brace, no need for a cast." Jasper nods taking all the information in, "we'll get your leg in there in a minute. How does it feel?"

"I think the meds are working because I can't really feel anything," jasper answers

"That's good, the nurse will be back in a second for measurements, then we'll set you up with a brace. Sound good?" Jasper nods, "great you boys hang tight I'll be right back." The doctor leaves the room and it falls silent.

Turning to look at Daniel who's sitting with his head in his palms Jasper says, "gonna sit there the whole time without saying anything?"

Picking his head up Daniel looks at Jasper and as soon as their eyes meet he turns looking away, he is too guilt-ridden with nothing of value to say. "I can't believe I hit you with my car," he sighs standing up walking to the window, "What the fuck is wrong with me?"

"It wasn't your fault, I shouldn't have stopped in the middle of the street. I thought I had fixed my bike but I guess I was wrong."

"I don't need you to take the blame for me,"

"I'm not taking anything I'm saying it was my fault, not yours. Can you stop being so self-defeating for a second? Can't you see where we are? You're still going to treat me like shit after practically breaking my leg?"