"32..." I muttered to myself as I strained to reach my locker's lock. Why'd they assign me a top locker? Like seriously, I'm probably the shortest senior ever t exist (okay, maybe I'm exaggerating). All of a sudden, a familiar, deep voice spoke behind me.
"Shorty," the voice grunted in my ear. Shivers shot down my spine as I jumped into the way taller, bulkier body behind me.
"Dammit Jasper!" I squealed, slapping him weakly on the arm. I looked up to his beautiful tanned face, only to find a pleased smirk plastered onto it.
"Ouch," he whined.
I let out a huff. "I hate you," I said, turning around to finish opening my locker. I finally got it open, only to have my finger almost slammed in the door as Jasper smacked it shut and slid in front of me.
"Oh. My. GOD!"
The pantie-melting grin never left his face. "You love me," he smirked, which could've been flirtatiously, if I weren't me. I don't get flirts, and if I do, they're empty. Although I couldn't disagree with him, I mean I've had a crush on this kid since the seventh grade, when we sat next to each other in Social Studies class, and he always got this good girl into trouble. I wasn't the only one who had a crush on him. He's gone through girls like video games ever since I've known him, and me? I'm just the best friend. I've never been anything more, ever. I have to watch every agonizing second of every one of his relationships, because he insists on double dates with one of his random friends, but I only pay attention to him and whatever girl he's with. I would kill for his kisses, to catch him staring, his arms around me...
"Jo?"
"Fuck you! I'm gonna be late!" I screamed, punching him hard.
"Chill out, I'll open the damn locker okay?" He booty-bumped me to the side as he muttered "feisty pants," and I rolled my eyes as a hand flew to my hip, impatiently tapping my foot as he fumbled with the lock. Just as it swung open, his current girlfriend - Veronica I think - strutted up and kissed him wetly on the cheek.
"Hey baby," she cooed, grabbing his arm. I studied his face. Was he annoyed? Did he just roll his eyes?
"Hey Vee," he shot me a look as she wrapped her arms around his waist, causing him to smile. What the hell? I was so confused, but this wasn't moving or stopping, and the more my heart ripped apart for the zillionth time, the more the lump in my throat grew. They need to leave.
"Kay, well, I gotta get to my locker, so excuse me," I choked, another gag daring to escape my dry lips. I grabbed my books and a pink lip gloss. Jasper closed my locker, Veronica still latched onto him like a leach. Our eyes met, and a weird look swept across his face. He leaned in deathly close to me.
"Are you okay?" He asked, his intense brown eyes darting all over my face, trying to find answers. I felt my hands shaking, so I gripped my books until my knuckles turned white, and looked away from him to Veronica, who was shooting me a hateful glare.
No, I love you, dammit. Love me back you prick.
"Yeah? I'm.. fine?" I returned my gaze to him, confused as to why he was just now noticing my reaction to his show of affection to other girls. Damn, I must be slacking on my ability to hide my feelings.
He straightened up and turned to Veronica. "Hey babe? We need to talk about.. homework. I'll catch up, okay love?"
"Okay," she said, kissing him again on the cheek. I looked away this time.
Before I knew it, he was back in my face, and all I wanted to do was kiss his perfectly shaped lips, and run my hands through his soft, black hair.
"You look like you're literally about to start sobbing, and you never cry about anything stupid," he said lowly, causing shivers to explode in my neck, sending chills down my body.
"Don't worry about me, okay?" I said quietly, clutching my books even harder to myself, avoiding eye contact. "It's honestly nothing I've ever felt before.." My eyes flew wide open and I quickly spun towards my homeroom. I sped off, knowing he would catch up with his mile-long legs which you guessed it- they were perfect and tan and muscular just like the rest of him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He said, grabbing my arm with a strong, concerned grip, causing me to jerk back.
"It means that I-" I cut myself off. I wasn't going t let my sass get the best of me. I flushed a cherry red, knowing I couldn't save it. "It's really nothing, okay? I um, are you sitting with?-"
"No," he said, worry drowning his beautiful chocolaty eyes. "She only talks about her stupid Gucci or whatever collection anyways. I'm sitting next to you, Jolie. This conversation is definitely not over."
I shuddered. He barely ever said my whole name, and it made butterflies explode inside of my stomach. I looked down at his hand, which had slid from my forearm down to my wrist. He must've looked too, because our eyes slowly slipped from that point up to each others eyes, and he stepped a step closer, looking at me intensely. I thought he was going to kiss me, and I was about to go along with it. Instead, he threw an arm over my shoulders and brought me to his chest for a quick hug. His familiar, comforting scent washed over every one of my senses, and tears stung my eyes as he pulled away.
"Please be okay," he added quietly, slipping his giant hand over my small one, squeezing it before he turned around and strode to homeroom just as the bell rang.
I was not about to tell him everything I had felt for the past four years. My love for him was my best kept secret.
