Chapter 10

I have no sighed of message from Jasper. I wondered how he was doing in Arizona, repeating the same thought to console my sentiment. Not to worry about Jasper, consoled that he was busying with the stuffs to a new home, and new school. He will text me soon, I guess.

The days seem even longer without Jasper. I assure myself that I haven’t adapted my life without him, and I would probably got paralyze the whole day or maybe for a long long time. I’m incapable of to concentrate on the curriculum, even the coming test. Every minutes passed by were just tearing me into pieces; evidence my life expectancy decreasing.

Jen grasped my hand in a sudden and broke into my thought.

“Raven, are you okay?” Jen looked worry and she sat beside me closely. I didn’t answered her question but nodded.

“You miss him huh?” I frowned and looked at her.

“Jasper, I mean. I can see how much you miss him.” Jennifer grinned and looked serious.

“Jen, how did you…” This was the first thing I ever said on the day.

“He’s my cousin, Ray.” I was completely astonished by her words.

“You’re Jasper’s cousin?” She nodded and looked shocked.

“Didn’t Jasper tell you that? He’s a bad cousin. I don’t like him.” She looked angry and sighed.

“He didn’t tell me anything about you.” I asked as I started feels there’s a little strength in my body. When I can finally talk about Jasper with his ‘relatives’. I hoped I can get some news from Jen about Jasper, hopefully.

“We have a big understanding between, when we’re young. We don’t really see each other after that, till he met me here. Still, he never stopped bullying me, that’s the reason why I hated him so much. He used to pull my hair and messed my things up. He’s really bad but he got mature now. I wondered what grown him up.” Jen chuckled and continued “And soon I found out that the five of you grown him up, especially you, Raven. He came to apologized and we’re fine now.” She smiled and holds my hand. She squeezed a paper into my palm and grinned.

“What’s this?” she didn’t wait for a second and whispered in my ear as Mr. Werner stepped into the lab. “Address” Jen said softly. I wondered what addressed was, probably was Jasper’s Arizona home address, I thought. I putted the paper into my bag and focused on my work. I felt a lot better after talking to Jen. Maybe she’s the first person I talked to, today. After class, Jen and I went to the cafeteria. I went and sat on the chair, which I used to sit on. My sight was completely distracted by the empty sit beside me but a snap distracted my sight. It was Zach. I think he’s the one who really took care about me after Jasper left.

“You need to talk.” Zach grinned and brought me back to the conversation with the others.

“Thanks. You two left without telling me.” I did a grimace towards Eddy and Tiff.

“We wanted to but Zach asked us not to disturb your own ‘meditation.’” Eddy blurted out the truth. I stared at Zach and he smiled.

“Nice excuse huh” I assumed that wasn’t the truth.

“Aren’t you taking your lunch?” Zach asked and I shook my head.

“Hi guys!” Jen never loss her smile whenever she was with us. She brought her lunch and sat down. They really did enjoy their lunch and conversation but I didn’t. I sat there for minutes but I couldn’t think of anything to do. They waved to me when they realized I decided to leave. I went to restroom and change for my physical education class. Suddenly, I realized that I didn’t get to see Ken in the class during the first period and lunch period. I knew there was some time for me to look for Ken, so I went around the school to track him down. I gave up finding him, as I will meet him during the P.E class, so I sat in the gym hall to wait.

Just when the bell rang, somebody just patted my backside and I stared up. A tall, slender guy stood in front of me, Ken.

“Hi” I said politely.

“Are you okay? You looked sick.” He frowned and grinned. He pulled me up from the ground and I stood unstably for a minute. Ken grabbed my wrist when he knew I was going to fall backwards.

“Thanks. I didn’t saw you during Algebra and lunch.” I finally found my hub to stand steadily.

“Oh, I was late today. I slept overtime.” He giggled and released my wrist. I nodded my head lightly as I knew there’s nothing bad happened on him.

“Can you borrow your notes to me?”

“Sure.” I squatted down to my bag to search for my notes.

“Thanks Raven. You really sick, aren’t you?” He squeezed for a smile while frowned for my look.

“No, I think I just didn’t slept well last night.” I sighed and he nodded. The class started normally and ended up normally. Amanda came to me after the class, her hand crossed into my hand and we walked towards the restroom together.

“You looked sick, Raven.” She was holding me, like a nurse and a patient. I knew I wasn’t sick at all.

“I’m fine.” I answered inability.

“Go home and take some rest. I’ll inform the teacher who in charge for today’s study period.” She smiled and sighed.

“Thank you but I like to stay today. I have nothing to do when I was home.” I grinned and she released my hand when we reached the restroom. We went to the hall and study for our coming tests. Amanda was nervous for the coming exam but I’m not. I’m over nonchalance for the tests because I felt that I wouldn’t be that hard for me. I spent the whole period on teaching Amanda the technic of answering the question in Biology.

I went home straight after school. It was the first time that I didn’t skip any classes during school hours. On the way home, I was surprised that I didn’t think about anything of Jasper. I enjoyed the song that was broadcasting on the radio ‘payphone’. Very soon, I arrived in front of my house. I stepped out of my car and just then my phone rang. I searched for my phone in my bag and picked up the phone before the ringing tone halted.

“Hello.” I said pantingly.

“Hello.” The sound seems familiar to me and I quickly took the phone out and glanced through the name –Jasper. I couldn’t speak up when I saw his name. He’s calling in such timing that would made me panicked.

“Hello, Ray? You there?” Jasper asked twice and I immediately responded.

“Yes. Yes.” I couldn’t believe he called me.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.” I grabbed my keys with the other hand and went into the house. I walked up to my bedroom to calm down my mood so that it would be a lot easier to talk with Jasper.

“Oh. I just finish unpacking the stuffs over here. I’ve tried to call you as soon as possible.” He sounded tired when he was talking.

“How’s everything going?”

“Emm, everything’s fine, its fine.” He chuckled “So, what you’re doing?”

“That’s great. I just came back from school. It’s kind of rushing that you called at this timing.” I still can feel that panting in my voice.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t notice what the time was.” I hated him to apologized while I was really glad to receive his call.

“It’s okay. Everything had been settled down now.” My panting finally began to calm in my voice. The phone was muted in a sudden and all I could hear was my breathing.

“I miss you…” I couldn’t believe I said it out. I can hear Jasper smiled when he heard I said it.

“I miss you too.” Jasper always wouldn’t be shy on saying this sort of things to me but I will. It’s really sweet to hear Jasper’s voice and that he was missing me.

“Jasper…” We spent an hour talking to each other. We talked a lot; it probably was the first time that Jasper and I were having a conversation without seeing each other. Glorious time always passed speedily, it’s time to say goodbye again.

“Let’s make a deal. No matter what happen, you shouldn’t disappear in my life.” Jasper wanted me to make a promise and I did promised.

“I have to go now.” Jasper said reluctantly.

“Okay, we’ll talk later. Bye.” I wasn’t happy at all when he decided to leave the call.

“Bye. I miss you.” He hung up the phone and I hung up the phone after.

The time became longer once I hung up the phone.  The peaceful atmosphere in my room had always existed. I slept soundly the whole afternoon. It’s been a long time which I couldn’t sleep well, thanks to Jasper. It would be great for me if I get enough sleep to recharge my energy for being consuming much on thinking about Jasper.

I woke up lately in the evening, but I was still able to feel the tiredness in my mind when I awoke. I took a glance through the clock beside me. It was accurately pointing at 6.30 in the evening. I had to prepare dinner for my dad and me. I’m probably late, but I think my dad will forgive me. I grinned to myself and I was suddenly shocked by the loud smack of the door which spread from the downstairs. There’s no hesitate for me, I went down straightly to find out what was happening.

“Dad? Are you back?” There’s no respond after I’m asking a few times. “Dad?” I asked again. 

I went down to the front door and decided to take a look where my dad used to park his car but somebody just grabbed my shoulder hardly. I swerved instantaneously when I felt the pain on my shoulder that made me feel extremely painful. I can feel something just smacked on the back of my head. The harm drove my head into a sudden pain, and I can feel my head was spinning seriously and it turned black... I could hardly see who’s the person was but the dizziness I can feel.