Jasper

It's so easy to talk to Malia. I feel like I could tell her anything. Like she's a damn counselor or something. I almost don't want her to leave. I feel like I could talk to her all night.

I can't though. Blair already warned me a million times to stay the hell away from her. Not that I was interested like that anyways.

Maybe I could fight Blair until she agreed to a joint friendship. It could work. I could easily see myself being best friends with Malia. She is kind of an old soul. Much older in mind than in years. I finally understand why Blair loves her so fucking much.

I think maybe I scare her a little. Lately I've always been finding excuses to touch her and I don't really know why. It's comforting to me somehow. I guess I just feel like it comforts her too.

I remember the very first time I touched her without reason. It was a pat to her knee. It was two months ago when she got into my car looking like she was rode hard and put up wet. I refused to look at her because it would make me angry for reasons I didn't even begin to understand. Maybe it was a big brother protective kind of thing. I figured she needed some kind of comfort, so I patted her knee. Somehow it gave me comfort too.

For seven years she was just Blair's friend. I would just sit back watching her and observing. I never tried to engage unless she came to me first. I guess giving her rides this year kind of brought us close in a way. It was awkward to ride in silence, so I made light conversation and that's when I really got to know her.

I know her cues. I know when something is bothering her and that day something was bothering her.

Malia is all about secrets though. She doesn't ever reveal much about herself and it frustrates me to no end. I need to know more about what goes on behind that damn door. I need to know why her home life isn't good.

Not in a stalkerish way, but in a this is my best friend way.

I'm going to get it out of her one day. I know I will. Jasper Jacobs doesn't give up. I sigh, and get up to go to the bathroom. I really need to wash my face and take a shower. I can still smell the metallic of Cami's blood even though I can't see it anymore. The thought of it grosses me out.

Malia is walking out of the bathroom just as I cross the threshold of my room. Her long dark brown hair is cascading down her shoulders and I do a double take. I'd never seen her with it down before. She almost looks like a different person.

I brush past her, sneakily touching it as I walk by to see if it's as soft as it looks. It is. I'm overcome with the desire to run my fingers through it and play with it.

I used to do that with Blair all the time. She loved it when I played with her hair. I could sit for hours and brush it. My friends always thought it was the gayest thing in the world, until they got girlfriends.

"Malia?" I ask just as she reaches Blair's room.

"Yeah?" She turns toward me and smiles.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I speak the words I'd been thinking for the majority of the night.

"Sneak into my room when B goes to sleep." I whisper, trying to make sure my sister doesn't hear it.

Malia looks at me weirdly, then nods her head.

I flash her my best smile and for once it feels genuine. I wonder what that means.

Does deciding to be her secret friend make me happy?

I hop into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over my body and my mind drifts again back to the stories my moms tell.

It is time for change. I'm tired of the same old- same old. But what exactly kind of change am I looking for? I can't quite place my finger on it. All I know is that deep down in my heart, I'm not exactly happy. At least not all the time.

I step out of the shower fully refreshed and squirt some cologne on. I know it makes no sense since I'm just going to bed anyways, but I like to smell good.

My moms always told the story of when I was a pre-pubescent teen and I didn't take showers. It had scarred me enough that I made sure I always smelled good. I handpicked my cologne from some designer store and I've stuck with it ever sense.

I pull on my basketball shorts, embroidered with my number- number 25, in the right lower corner. It's been a year since I played basketball, but I still keep the shorts because they are comfy to sleep in.  Next, I pull a black band tee over my head and run my fingers through my messy wet hair.

When I'm satisfied with my appearance, I walk out of the bathroom.

As I walk down the hallway, I can hear Blair squealing about 'The Box of Sin' and I immediately stiffen.

Shit. Not this again.

The last party we'd played the game, I'd ended up with bruises covering half my body from trying to achieve a kickflip on the halfpipe. Needless to say, I failed and rolled down the damn ramp and everyone laughed at me. I could only imagine what kind of dare I'd get this time.

To fail your dare was like admitting defeat in our world. Yeah you could always pick truth and the question would be based off whatever item you pulled from the box, but only pussies picked truth. I was no pussy.

I stand outside her door listening, hoping like hell she doesn't somehow know and open it.

"Malia, you have to play. It's the best game of Truth or Dare ever. In fact, it's better. Because whatever you pick from the box is what determines your dare or truth if your not ballsy enough to do a dare." Blair was almost whining and I just knew Malia was frowning at her.

Over the seven years I'd known her, I had come to be able to predict what expression she would use or what she would say in answer to things. I'd spent so long observing her and making sure she was worthy of all the praise that B threw at her, that I knew her well enough to predict her every move.

I smile as I picture the frown etching across her face right this very moment. I wonder what is going on inside her mind. I wonder what she is thinking.

"What happens if you refuse to do a dare?" Malia says.

I cringe.

"Basically the emcee embarrasses the fuck out of you in front of everyone and you're labeled as a pussy- then again, that also happens if you fail." Blair says.

I can just imagine B smiling and remembering when it happened to me. I swear that was the single most best moment of her life. She still brings it up sometimes.

"Fuck." Malia says, blowing out a loud breath.

I take this as an opportunity to slink back into my room and wait for Blair to go to sleep so I can spend a little time with Malia. I kind of feel like I need to ease her mind about 'The Box of Sin' a little now. However, my ultimate goal is to get some answers to the questions swirling around in my head- by any means necessary.

Don't be afraid to play dirty Jasper.

Of course by dirty I don't mean actually dirty. That would be crossing a line that Blair would never forgive me of. However, I can use what my genes gave me to distract her enough to let her guard down.

If that will even work. She doesn't seem to even think you look that good. She doesn't gawk like most girls.

My inner thoughts are really starting to get on my nerves.

*

Just as I'm about to give up and fall asleep, Malia slips into my room. I pretend I can't see her and close my eyes. I want to see what she will do if she thinks I'm asleep.

"Jas." She whispers rather loudly.

I lay still as can be.

"Jas?" Malia whispers again. "Fuck, of course you're asleep. Damn it."

I hear the door opening and I quickly sit up.

"What?" I laugh as she turns back around and glares at me.

"Ass."

A smile spreads across my face at the word and I pat the bed beside me.

"You sure she's asleep?" I ask, afraid for my own safety if B ever finds out about this.

"She's snoring like a damn freight train. It's so loud I'm shocked you can't hear it. Pretty sure she's dead to the world."

I pat the bed again and she hesitantly sits beside me.

"Why did you want me to come in here?" She asks. "Why all of a sudden are you so interested in me these past few months? For seven years you barely even spoke to me."

Touché Malia, touché.

"I just need a friend. Tonight was a serious blow to my ego and I don't really have anyone to console me." I speak without even thinking about what I'm actually saying. I sound like a total prick.

"Jas you have a lot of friends." She presses, eyes wide and alert.

"None of them are here are they?" I say, patting the space beside me again. "Come on, just lay with me."

I feel kind of like the guy who is pressuring the girl to have sex and I don't like it at all. That's absolutely not what's happening here, but it doesn't cure the knot in my stomach.

"I don't think that's a good idea. What if I fall asleep?" She says, still hesitant.

"I promise I won't let you fall asleep. We're just gonna talk. I'd talk to James, but he's twelve. It's not like he would understand."

Malia sighs and lays down next to me. I smile and turn on my side, accidentally brushing up against her hand in the process.

I can see her cheeks turning red immediately and I wonder if she realizes that her hand was just touching my dick.

Way to make it awkward Jasper.

"I'm sorry." I say. "I swear I wasn't trying to make it awkward. This bed is so fucking small."

Malia just swallows and nods.

"Is it hot in here? Suddenly I'm really hot. Your cheeks are pretty pink, do you want me to cut on the fan?"

She says nothing and I take that as a cue to get up. As I walk towards the fan, I pull my shirt off. When I turn around she's staring.

Hmm.

I lay back down beside her, on my side,  and study her. She really does look different with her hair down. Why hadn't I ever seen her with it down before?

"What do I do about Cami?" I finally say when the air around us starts to get thick with awkwardness.

"Has she called or text you yet?" Malia asks.

"No."

I can see her trying to fight a smile and I wonder exactly why that's a good thing.

Does she not like Cami?

"You're screwed then."