Chapter 17 (Knowing him more)

"Yes it is." She said not moving her head away from her drink and pausing her thoughts.

"Coke? Are you sure?" he said pointing at her drink.

God what is the problem with people? Can't they see I'm having my drink? Do they see anyone pointing a gun at me and forcing me to drink coke instead of their usual alcohol? Jasmine was at the verge of swearing.

"No, I'd like a glass of milk. Could you bring that please?" she said it with an annoyed tone and ended her saying with a fake smile.

There was no way there could be milk in a youths party.

"Woho... chill, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry." He said and sat on the chair beside Jazz.

"A coke for me too please," he said to the bartender.

"Weren't you the same person who was shocked looking at me drink coke? So what's up with you having one too?... Trying to stand out?"

"More like trying to BLEND in," he winked at her. "And btw, don't you think you are too direct when talking to me like that miss? We're still strangers." 

"As far as I remember Mr. Stranger, you were the one who started the conversation and yeah, winked too. Is that your usual?" She had the maintained the annoyed tone in her voice.

"Okay, I give up." He said raising his hand up in surrender. "Hi I'm Caleb," he brought his hand forward for a handshake.

Jazz didn't reply and she had a question mark written all over her face.

"What?... I'm introducing myself so that we no longer would have to talk like strangers." He explained.

"I'm Jasmine. But I'm not doing any handshakes with you because of the way you behaved earlier."

He clucked at her childish behavior.

"Fair enough." He took a sip of his drink and turned his attention back to Jasmine. "So, what's the thing that's been bothering you? As far as I've noticed you want to sit alone, away from everyone. What's the matter?"

"Well since you are so genius and you've figured that I want to be left alone then why are you bothering me?"

"Let's say, I don't like to see sad faces especially if that face is this beautiful." He winked again.

"God... get your eyes checked. And you are what a clown who can't stand sad faces?"

"I am not, but... I can be that for you." He said and dipped his index finger in a ketchup bowl and painted it on his nose as he started making weird faces. "Hello beautiful, my name is Mr. Laughter and I make people laugh." He said it in a childish tone.

"Oh really, but I though your name was Caleb." Jazz replied playing along.

"Oh no, I am not Caleb. He disturbs people who want to be left alone but ME, I am Mr. Laughter people enjoy my company."

"Oh really?"

"Yes." He said it continuing the same innocent tone in his voice. "Shall I tell you a joke?"

"Please go on."

"Once there was an old man who died at a very young age hahaha..." He ended his short joke with his own laughter

Hearing that she burst out into a huge laughter following his. The music in the apartment saved them from being caught. He told her some more jokes lightning up her mood.

Why are they sitting so close to each other? Stefen clenched his fist as he had been watching Jasmine and Caleb since the minute he was dragged by Alison. He was filled with an indescribable feeling in his heart. Whether it was jealousy or something else, he had no idea. All he knew was he did not like the way they looked so close and comfortable. Them doing high-five every now and then and laughing out loud as if they'd known each other for their whole life was not something Stefen's eyes could stand looking at. Stefen liked none of it. She was his to take care of at least until Jasmine herself denies it. He moved a bit closer to them to hear them.

Stefen eavesdropping is not a good thing. He was reminding himself. But it is Jazz we are taking about. And everything is fair in Lov... whatever I am listening. Stefen was debating with his inner thoughts.

"Are you serious? You have never heard any of these jokes before?" Caleb said looking amused at Jasmine.

"Nope why, are they so common ones?"

"Yeah most of them are. Were you living in North Pole till now Jasmine?"

"Jazz, you can call me Jazz. All my friends do..." she replied normally.

If Stefen was angry earlier when he saw them, he was burning now. It took me two days to be her friend and it took Caleb just an hour. He cursed Caleb.

"... and no Caleb I was not living in North Pole, I just had not been told these jokes before which I think is completely normal."

"Sure, everything that you say is right." He took another sip of his drink. "Stefen? Hey buddy how have you been?" Caleb said as he noticed Stefen a bit far from Jasmine and stood up to hug him. Jasmine turned her head around and was shocked to see him stand close yet she had no idea of his presence.

"Hey Caleb." He said replying to his hug.

"Why were you standing there? Come join us."

"No it's okay. I didn't want to disturb you both." He replied looking towards Jasmine who looked somewhere else after meeting his eyes not wanting to see what those eyes held.

"That's okay come I'll introduce you to Jas..." but Caleb was interrupted.

"Jasmine, I know her," Stefen completed it.

"You two know each other? That is great. Come man." Caleb dragged Stefen to sit on one side and he himself sat in between them.

"So, buddy how is your internship going? I am sure you are working hard as you did back in the high-school. You know Jazz he is the topper of our batch and also the captain of our football team." Caleb said in a proud tone as if he was his dad.

Jasmine was amused to hear that. She had known Stefen for days now but still he was a stranger to her. She knew very few things about him, she heard most of the them from Jack and few from Alice. He was like a closed book that she didn't have the access to. It internally pinched her not knowing why?

"Oh Stefen where were you? I've been searching for you for so long." Alison came out of nowhere and spoke with her extra-sweet voice.  She slid her hands under Stefen's arm from behind and she rested her face on his shoulder.

Anger filled Jasmine's eyes and heart as she saw how close Alison was to Stefen. Her soft side for Stefen had flown to Jupiter.