“Yeah, he’s not awful,” Trinity says. “He’s just…sometimes hard to like. I don’t think he’s even aware of the way he comes across.”
I nod as if this is all new information, though inside a part of me is vindicated that Jasper isn’t Mr Popular.
“I’m pretty sure I saw him hanging out with Fin and that outside,” Kennedy says. “You wouldn’t want to hang out with them.”
“Aren’t we sitting in Fin’s family’s library or something?” I ask, thinking of the plaque I saw.
Oh, yeah,” Kennedy replies. “This is technically the Finley-Cavendish library, but no one ever calls it that. Fin’s dad is on the school board.”
“That’s the only reason he got vice-captain,” Imogen explains.
“Anyway, Jasper hangs out with Fin and they hang out with Hudson Blythe and Aiden Pate,” Trinity says, drawing lines on the table to symbolise people.
“They’re all dicks,” Imogen says.
“Maybe we shouldn’t be slandering our peers,” Zaina says with a nervous chuckle.
“Come on, Zaina, you know that they’re assholes,” Imogen says.
“Aiden isn’t bad. He’s friends with Curtis,” Kennedy says.
“Kennedy’s talking about Curtis Claridge. He’s in your homeroom, too. Blond hair, blue eyes?” Trinity says.
I nod, knowing who she’s talking about.
“He’s sort of in their group,” Trinity continues.
“Not really,” Kennedy says. “He’s only kind of friends with Aiden and Jasper.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. We hate Curtis too. He’s Kennedy’s ex,” Imogen stage-whispers.
“Imogen,” Kennedy snaps.
I cough, feeling awkward. “Thanks for the info. I guess.”
“We can leave you alone,” Zaina says. “If we’re annoying you.”
“No,” I blurt. “I mean. I don’t mind. You can tell me more about the year level. If you want.”
“Can we?” Imogen says, looking excited. “Alright, so I like to divide our year level into five groups…”
I like listening to their voices. It’s been a long time since I had a friendly conversation with people my age. I’ve only exchanged introductions with my classmates, and Jasper doesn’t count. During most of the holidays, the only person I spoke to was Dad.
In fact, I think the last time I felt this light while having a conversation with a peer was with Michael. But that was before everything went to shit.
My heart seizes up, but I force myself to remain smiling. I’m not thinking about that. I’m not thinking about how I ruined everything in Sydney, and how I spent the weeks after getting expelled living like a zombie and never leaving the house, and how even now, when I think about it, by body feels like I’ve been sucker-punched.
I’m here now. All I need to do is keep my head down and graduate. And maybe, I think as I watch the girls laugh over a story, maybe it won’t be completely awful.
5
Jasper: The Sex Problem
“You would’ve thought by now he’d remember,” I murmur to Curtis, watching Kieran enter homeroom without a blazer. It’s Friday, which means assembly, which means compulsory blazers. “It’s been two weeks.”
I don’t share any classes with him, so the only time I see him consistently is in homeroom. Now, my eyes follow him as he ignores me, making his way to his usual seat at the back of the classroom. I haven’t talked to him since the second day of term. I haven’t visited Senior’s house either.
“Hm?” Curtis says, looking up from where he’s been staring at his school diary.
