Chapter 2

~JASMINE'S POV~

I wake up to the sound of the TV still playing meaning we must have all fallen asleep towards the end of the movie.

I get up and climb up the stairs to go and shower meeting Jer along the way dressed in his Jersey and a pair of shorts his hair all shaggy and wet. He is in a hurry as he notices me pecking my cheek and shouting,' Love you Jas I don't want to be late for practice.'

'Love you too and don't miss me too much,' I tell him a smirk playing on my lips.

I shower quickly wearing my usual deciding to take an apple for breakfast. Dad seems to have left early as I find a note on the fridge saying that he would be working overnight and that we needn't wait up for him.

I quickly get out of the house beginning my walk to school. I can't help but recall yesterday's events with Aiden looking forward to seeing him today which if you ask me is quite weird. Something about him being there for me yesterday somehow warmed up my heart slightly towards him making me feel some sense of security.

I arrive at school heading straight to my locker where I find Roly who has a big wide grin on her face before she lets out a squeal. First of all the day has just started and the girl is already all in her feels. I am just about to ask her what's up when I spot one of Aiden's friends whose name is Tyler from what I have heard walking towards us his eyes solely fixed on my best friend.

The first thing he does is pull in Roly for a hug his hands lingering on her waist my mouth dropping in surprise when suddenly I put two and two together. I squeal like a child who just won candy earning both their attention Roly's cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson Tyler just smirking in return.

' Where is Aiden this morning?' I ask Tyler surprised to see them not walking together like they normally do.

' I haven't seen him today,' he says as I give him a sheepish smile.

' Omg my girl is all grown up,' says Roly smiling like a proud mom wiping away imaginary tears from her eyes.

I raise my left brow at her as she goes on,' You and Aid...'

' No, no, no, no, no don't even go there,' I interrupt her not letting her finish her statement waving my hands in the air like a psychopath.

'Oh yes I am,' she says laughing like it's funny earning an eye roll from me this whole time Tyler watching our exchange with a smile on his lips. 

The bell rings as I make my way for Calculus once I tell Roly and Tyler bye. I am partly excited to see Aiden in class but that excitement deems down when I do not spot him sitted at his usual spot in class. I sigh taking my seat as the lesson begins.

In between classes, Aiden walks in not bothering to excuse himself his face void of any emotion as he gives me a side glance when he walks past me frowning before he looks away.

Well, that was weird since his behaviour for one seemed quite off but I shrugged away my thoughts and concentrated on what the teacher was saying not letting his odd behaviour bother me.

The rest of the day was quite boring with no Aiden around to bug me as usual, no Roly to catch up with since she was busy in the library doing her Biology project with Tyler and worst of all I was out of candy to give me energy for the remaining part of the day.

The bell rings again signalling the end of Physics class as I pick up my bag and make my way to the cafeteria. I find Roly sitted alone waiting for me her eyes lighting up when she sees me and I offer her a weak smile.

"I am giving myself the benefit of the doubt that you were eagerly waiting for me, "I say as I sit down next to her and she pulls me into a hug saying, "Yes, yes of course it is you who else."

"Oh, I do not know Tyler?"I mutter out as we pull apart and she laughs saying, "No need to worry babe nobody comes between us.' I smile at her sentence genuinely proud to call her my best friend as we catch up eating our lunch.

"So is there anything going on between you and Tyler?"I ask Roly stuffing fries into my mouth.

"No not really why?" asks Roly and I shrug my shoulders saying, "Oh I don't know you two just seem to be fond of each other."

"He is charming, I will give him that but not my type babe," says Roly and I hum in response knowing how well that statement is most of the time a scum.

"Mind telling me why you are not as enthusiastic today?" asks Roly and I can tell she has already read me between the lines like she always does.

Oh you know yesterday Aiden and I had a moment which probably meant nothing and I got an anxiety attack immediately after you left and Aiden was quick to save me from my worst nightmare.

Oh yeah, and he even went ahead and gave me his jacket.

Well, would you look at that?

Then I come to school today hoping to at least see him only to find that boom the guy is non-existent what if the dude died in his fucking sleep?

"Ummm earth to Jas," comes Roly's voice drawing me out of my daze as I shake my head and sigh saying, "Nothing. I guess today is just not one of my favourite school days."

Roly nods in understanding not prying any further when suddenly the cafeteria goes above with chatter as Aiden and his group of friends walk through the cafeteria doors being the centre of attention. Aiden puts on a cold front his eyes hiding any form of emotions as they walk past our table not even sparing me a glance.

"Rude," shouts Roly not afraid to voice her emotions and I note the way Tyler gives us a small smile of an apology as they make their way to their table with all the cheerleaders waiting for them. I notice the way Trish smirks at me as if staking her claim on Aiden as he takes his seat she joins sitting next to him. I don't know but being on the receiving end of Aiden's cold demeanour causes a surge of pain to flow through me not forgetting a dash of anger.

What did you think Jas? That one day of him being slightly nice to you would end up with you two being besties? You know better than to even go there, this is Aiden we are talking about. I hear their table fill with laughter Trish's laughter is the loudest and I do not bother to spare their table a glance.

I can feel anger begin to bubble within me because he does not get to treat me like trash whenever he feels like it. I find the courage to stand up ignoring the attention of people on me as I make my way to their table my bestie cheers me on, "Go Babe you show them, girl"

"He is quick to sense my presence whipping his intense gaze to meet mine and I do not cower under his watch.

"What do you want?" asks Aiden blankly and I clench my fists at my side saying, "Can I talk to you?"

"There is nothing to talk about," he says dismissing me disrespectfully.

I remain rooted to the ground stunned at his newfound behaviour when I hear Trish's voice, "You heard him there is nothing to talk about now leave"

I notice the way Aiden shoots Trish a glare enough to shut her up and I say, "It will not take long just spare me a few minutes."

Aiden suddenly bangs his fists on the table startling me and everyone else as he yells, "I said leave it Jasmine there is nothing for you and me to talk about."

"Aiden," says Tyler in a warning voice as though to calm him down as tears sting my eyes and I feel Roly beside me in a couple of seconds screaming at the jerk for daring to yell at me but I do not stay to listen running out of the cafeteria.

I hold my tears back not giving him the satisfaction of seeing me cry because of him. I run towards the girl's washroom tears blurring my vision but never falling. I cannot believe I was a fool to think that Aiden of all people was human with a heart but it turns out I was wrong.

I remain in the washroom pondering over my thoughts when I hear Aiden's voice from outside the washroom, "Muffin"

I do not respond to him not being in the mood to talk to him after the stunt he just pulled intone the intonation.

"Muffin I know you in there. Don't make me come and get you because I will come in," comes his voice and he genuinely sounds exhausted but me being hot-headed as I usually am I remain quiet not moving when he says, "You asked for it."

I squeal in shock as Aiden shows his face in the girl's washroom trapping me in the corner.

"You cannot be here this is an only girl's washroom, "I scowl at him and he smirks saying, "I am quite aware of which gender's washroom this is."

"Then get out, "I say icily not in the mood to have a conversation with him.

"Look Muffin I am sorry," he sighs surprising me with an apology which he never does well according to what I have heard in the shadows.

"It is Jasmine to you and no you are not forgiven, "I say trying to walk past him but he is quick to cage me between his arms.

"I already asked if we could talk and you shut me out so that train left the station hours ago, "I sigh glaring at him.

"I had a lot to do today morning one of the reasons I missed most of today's morning classes. I fought with my dad in the morning hence the sour mood and God muffin I did not mean to unleash all my anger on you," he sighs genuinely looking sorry and tired.

"Did you sleep last night?"I ask noticing the way he leans his head on the wall his breaths fanning my ear and from a distance, someone could assume that we were making out.

I can feel his body warmth radiating to mine as I try my best to ignore the erupting butterflies in my stomach.

"Barely," he says lowly I nearly miss it and I say, "Never yell at me again."

He nods his head in agreement saying yes when I swear I feel him kiss my hair as light as a feather pulling away and composing himself.

I am pretty sure my cheeks turn a deep shade of red which he notices giving me a small smile and saying, "You should blush more you look cute"

"Oh shut up, "I mutter and we are back to our bantering selves which brings a slight smile to my face.

"I just wanted to thank you for yesterday," I say and he says, "No need to thank me muffin it is no problem."

"But...."I say trailing off and he stares and me asking, "But?"

"But you cannot tell Roly what happened yesterday she does not know about my Ombrophobia at all and I would like it to stay that way, "I rush out suddenly feeling nervous and fidgeting with my fingers.

"And why does she not know yet she is your best friend?" he asks and I say, "So what are you now a cop?"

"Relax Muffin I will not tell her and I will stay out of it just tell her when you're ready so she does not feel like you do not trust her," says Aiden his hands going into his trouser pockets.

"Sure," I say as we leave the girls' washroom and by now lunch is over students are roaming the hallways.

I notice the way students stare at us in shock as Aiden walks out of the girls' washroom together with me but Aiden being Aiden does not care never sparing them a glance as we make it just in time for the remaining classes of the day.