The boy who fell in love

Chapter One: The Boy He Couldn't Forget

Back at Ohio High, everyone seemed to know Jasper.

With his dyed black hair, silver piercings, and effortless charm, he had somehow become one of the most popular students in school. Teachers liked him, classmates admired him, and strangers seemed drawn to his easy smile.

Everyone liked Jasper.

Well, almost everyone.

There was one exception.

Eran .

Eran was everything Jasper wasn't.

Where Jasper was slim and approachable, Eran was broad-shouldered and intimidating. Dark circles permanently shadowed his eyes, making him look exhausted—or dangerous. He rarely smiled, rarely spoke, and always carried an expression that suggested he was one bad day away from punching a hole through a wall.

Most students avoided him.

Jasper couldn't stop thinking about him.

They only spoke once during their sophomore year when a teacher assigned them to the same group project. It wasn't a memorable conversation. In fact, Eran barely said more than a few words the entire time.

But for Jasper, that was enough.

Something about Eran fascinated him.

After the project ended, Jasper found himself searching for him online. First it was curiosity. Then it became routine.

He followed every social media account Eran had.

Facebook.

Twitter.

Instagram.

Anywhere Eran appeared, Jasper was there too—just hidden behind fake profiles. He never wanted Eran to know he was watching.

The only thing that unsettled him was Eran's intense stare. Every photo looked like it belonged on a wanted poster.

Still, Jasper couldn't look away.

After the project, they rarely spoke. Whenever they did, Jasper was always the one to start the conversation.

Eran never seemed interested.

That didn't stop him from trying.

Two Years Later – Manhattan

A lot could change in two years.

Unfortunately for Jasper, his feelings hadn't.

He hadn't spoken to Eran in months, but that didn't stop him from thinking about him almost every day.

So when he learned Eran had moved to Manhattan, Jasper made a decision that most people would call insane.

He decided to surprise him.

By breaking into his house.

Jasper spent nearly an hour sneaking through an unlocked window before realizing Eran wasn't even home.

After wandering around the empty house, he eventually gave up and left.

Eran never knew he had been there.

A few weeks later, life took an unexpected turn.

Both Jasper and Eran received official letters informing them they had been accepted into military training.

Though they were assigned to different stations, Jasper couldn't help feeling excited knowing they were at least sharing the same path.

That excitement didn't last long.