“I won’t be long, Jasper, so go take a seat in the reading room.”
“Is Kieran joining?” I ask.
“No, he’s gone for a walk.”
A walk sounds random. Most likely Senior told him I was coming, and Kieran left the house to avoid me. Good. I don’t want to see him either.
We haven’t spoken to each other since cross-country. Sometimes I’ll look at him, and he’ll return my stare with a smirk or a raised brow. I hate that.
These days, he seems to be close with Trinity, Zaina, Imogen and Kennedy. They’re a group of smart girls — Trinity and Zaina are the smartest girls in the year level, and I heard Zaina won a full scholarship to come to this school. Anyway, the five of them are always sitting together at lunchtime, either studying or talking. I hate that they’re so close.
In the reading room, Senior has left his open laptop on the coffee table. I pick it up to make space on the coffee table, and glance at the screen. It’s Easton Grammar’s grade portal.
I put the laptop away when Senior arrives with a trap carrying two teacups. “I hope you weren’t snooping,” he says as he places the tray down.
“Just clearing the table,” I say, leaning forward take my tea. “Were those Kieran’s grades?”
Senior gives me a look.
“I didn’t look closely,” I say. “You don’t have to answer. I know they weren’t mine. There were Cs all over the place.” My voice is light so Senior can’t criticise me for being rude. Besides, Cs are better than I expected for Kieran. They’re still terrible — anything less than an A is terrible — but not bad for someone like him.
My phone buzzes again.
Mum: Jasper, you know I’m overwhelmed with work. Don’t use that tone with me when I’m trying to keep up with your life.
“It’s Mum,” I tell Senior before tapping out a response.
Jasper: I’m not taking any tone with you. I’m texting you so you can’t even hear my voice.
Jasper: And what I got in a dumb race doesn’t matter.
Mum: Fine, never mind then.
Jasper: I tied for ninth place.
Mum: Good job.
I put my phone away and look at Senior. “So, did you have something specific you wanted to tell me?”
“This year’s skiing trip. Will you be able to go or will you be too busy studying?”
I turn the teacup in my hands. “Yeah, I think so. But I don’t think Juliet can. She’s been talking about how busy she is with work. She won’t shut up about it, actually.” Juliet works for the family company’s office in Easton. The only reason she’s here and not in a major city is because she has to look after me.
“A bit like your parents, eh?” Senior says. “I’ve already talked to her and she’ll be staying at home.”
“So I’m going to be by myself then.” I sound like a petulant child, but I’m already by myself a lot. Skiing alone sounds depressing, and I don’t want to ski with Senior and his friends while they laugh at jokes I don’t understand.
“I’ve thought of that,” Senior says with a smile.
I freeze. “No. Don’t tell me what I think you’re going to tell me.”
“Don’t be dramatic, Jasper. You’re acting like it’s going to kill you.”
“I’m not being dramatic,” I reply. “I’m not exaggerating when I say bringing him is the worst idea in the world.”
“I couldn’t leave him here,” Senior says.
“Because he’d steal all the spare cash you have lying around.”
