Chapter 7 (Jasmine)

"Hey you" I greeted Priscilla as she turned and smiled at me. She hugged me and even though I didn't return it her smile never faltered. "Good morning Jasmine, I can see you had a makeover she said as she touched the ends of my new silver hair" I smiled at her. " Yeah, is it okay?" I know that my mom told me it looked okay but I just wanted to hear it from another person.

We walked into the school and I saw a few people turn to look at me which made me self conscious. Priscilla noticed and rubbed my shoulder to calm me, "Your hair looks amazing don't worry".

We headed towards our lockers. She picked her books and met me at my locker. We had a few minutes before we had to go to class and as we were debating on whether to go to the library or just head to class when Jared walked to us. "Woah, who's this?" he said pretending to not recognize me which made me laugh.

Even though I went with him to dye my hair, he could see the outcome and I refused to tell him the colour I chose but from his reaction he clearly liked it. "Your hair looks so cool where did you dye it" he said exaggerating the fact that he was surprised.

"Oh please", I hit his shoulder playfully, "I went with you, remember?". He pretended to think for a while before he smiled and snapped his fingers, "Right, I did. Didn't I?" I laughed at him feigning ignorance. "I think I should also dye my hair" Priscilla said and I looked at her.

'Why?" Jared and I asked at the same time, "Well, maybe I'll get as much attention as you're getting and maybe get someone to look at me" she said the last part with a sad smile while looking at behind us. Jared and I turned to see her looking at Parker, one of our mates. "First of all" I said turning around, "You two are the only ones giving me att..." Priscilla cut me off and pointed behind me before I could finish and I noticed a couple of people were looking in our direction, "I don't like the way that guy is looking at you" Jared who stood beside me said with a frown, I hit his chest lightly, "Focus, we're talking about Priscilla not me".

"Okay, Priscilla you don't have to change your hair to get attention and about Parker, he must be blind if he hasn't noticed you yet. Everyone one in the school likes you you're such a nice person you don't need new hair trust me. Now let's go to class". I turned but then I noticed a lot of people were actually watching me.

I started to panic a little, maybe the new hair wasn't the best idea. So...so many people staring at m..me. Jared moved closer to me and bent to my level, "Don't panic we're here, nothing is going to happen" I nodded but my face didn't show any signs of relaxing.

He immediately looked in his bag and removed a bucket hat, "Here, wear this" he placed it on my head and it covered my hair. "Now let's go" he took my hand and we walked to class. Priscilla was completely shocked, I guess I have a lot to explain later.

We had English first but the teacher had some errands to run and couldn't come so I spent the class reading a book to Priscilla while Jared played games on his phone as most of the other students were doing. The time moved by so fast and in no time, the lesson was over with no teacher coming.

We quickly walked to our next class. The last class before lunch was Chemistry. We were supposed to learn preparation of gases. We put on our lab coats and went to our respective tables. I sat at the same place as I always did with Priscilla while Jared sat at the far back. I'm not complaining but I would have liked it if he sat in front of us like he always did. During the preparation I did something stupid that had me feeling weird the rest of the day.

I didn't know what gas we had prepared cause I wasn't really listening and out of excitement I placed my nose too close to the testube. The smell was too strong and I immediately placed it down but I felt weird for the rest of the day. At lunch Jared noticed that I wasn't really eating and he leaned closer. I was now used to him being around me and since he assured me that I could trust him I felt safer and more relaxed when he was near.

"Are you fine?" he asked and I just nodded as I continued to play with my food. A few minutes passed then I felt a hand grab my wrist and he pulled me to get up. He whispered to Priscilla that she could take she lead to class and dragged me out of the cafeteria. I didn't know where we were heading and he wouldn't stop so I got pulled to the rooftop of all places.

We weren't even allowed to be here. "What is really wrong?" he looked at me expectantly and I looked back at him and we were like that until he got tired. He huffed in frustration and walked closer to me, "Why Jasmine,why are you like this all of a sudden. You were so happy this morning what happened?" he looked at me with pleading eyes and I spilled.

I told him how I think it was either because of the gas I inhaled or the fact that I was scared something might happen because of how strong it was. "I know it sounds stupid but I can't help myself. Things haven't really been going good for me and I won't be surprised if I wake up sick tomorrow, honestly", I half expected him to scoff and laugh at me but he just smiled and asked me to follow him which I did.

He had already taken me to the rooftop which was like the worst place in the school what could absolutely go wrong now. I followed him to the teachers' room. Wait we're in the teachers room, I walked up to him, "What are we doing here?" he just smiled and continued looking around and started walking in the direction of one of the teachers and as we got closer I realized we were going to Mrs. Brown, the Chemistry teacher.

I tried to pull him back but he wouldn't budge. He greeted her when we got closer and she looked up at us with a smile, me still holding unto his hand from when I tried to pull him back, "Um ... Miss Brown?" he gulped and I was shocked because I have never seen him nervous but then again I haven't known him for long. " The gas we prepared today" he paused and she nodded before he gulped again and continued, " If someone mistakenly..um... inhaled a little too much of it would it affect them in anyway" she looked at him weirdly and he was quick to clarify, "Not... nothing like that happened I'm just asking out of curiosity" he smiled nervously.

"Not really maybe a headache because of the strong smell but apart from that I'm not really sure anything could happen" he smiled, thanked her and we left. The moment we stepped out of the room I burst out laughing, "Well look at you Mr. Nervous, how are you feeling now" I said in between laughs and his ears became red out of embarrassment. I looked up at him, "Cute" I covered my mouth after realizing that I said that out loud.

He looked at me with wide eyes, "I prefer hot or handsome, cute is for children Jasmine. Don't call me cute." he said in a cocky tone which caused me to roll my eyes. "Okay I can see you're better seeing how you rolled your eyes. Can we go to class now princess?" I nodded and we walked to the class we were already late for with me feeling better.

After school I walked with Priscilla to the gate and waved at her as she left and walked back into the school building. I went to my locker to get my books and I met Jared leaning against it. "Heya Nervous" I chuckled, "Hi Princess" I frowned at the name "Okay, I don't like that one. Don't call me princess" I told him, "Only if you stop calling me Nervous" he countered and I agreed, "Good, nice doing business with you madam" he said and offered a handshake which I accepted, "You too sir" I replied in the same serious voice as his and we both burst into laughter.

We calmed down soon enough and he was still standing in front of my locker. "So why are you here blocking the way to my locker?" I asked, "Oh yeah sorry, the principal asked me to get you he wants to talk to us something about the upcoming exam" he moved away and I picked my books and headed to the principal's office.

I knocked and we entered when the principal asked us to. We greeted him and he asked us to sit, "Jasmine and Jared, I call you here to talk about your extra class. So Jasmine you missed a month of school and Jared started here about three weeks ago so you are both continuing from where Jared left off right?" we both nodded and he continued, "Which means you, Jasmine have already covered that from the time when you were in school" he looked at me and I nodded again.

"The reason why I called you is that I want you, Jasmine to take Jared through the parts he missed when you were here while the teachers take you through the parts where both of you missed so that you can finish learning in time and be able to prepare for the exam which is in a few weeks from now". He then looked at me, "So, are you okay with it Jasmine". I looked at Jared and then back at the principal, " I'm okay with it sir" I smiled and he nodded and excused us.

We went into the class because we still had extra classes. Before the teacher entered, Jared turned to me, "Thank you" he looked so sincere, "For what?" I asked. "Um... agreeing to teach me" he smiled that contagious smile and I smiled back, "Don't wo..." I was cut off by the teacher entering the class. "Okay kids let's do some studying", he said and Jared turned and we both faced the board.

I looked back at him a few minutes into the lesson and when he noticed I was looking at him he winked and pointed to the board. Oh this boy is going to be the death of me I smiled and faced the board again.