LIBBY

***

Once classes started, the two of us got back into our routine very quickly.

Despite being in different classes - we didn't have any classes in common this time - the time still flew by. Days went by in minutes and weeks went by in hours. It was as if time was taunting us, telling us we only had a limited time together before we'd be parted for nearly a year.

Jasper and I had found an apartment quite quickly. We saw the flat just off campus on our first day, and we liked it so much we went for it without needing to see any of the others. The real estate guy said the contracts would take a week, but about four days later, we were officially holding keys and able to move in.

After the argument with his mum, it became apparent that the atmosphere between the two of them wasn't going to get any better. Although she'd apologised, she was still acting strange, and if I was being honest I wanted to be in that house less than Jasper did. She barely spoke to him, and when she did it was purely hostile. I didn't like that she was clearly holding something that wasn't even his fault over his head. That's why I thought it must have been something different... but Jasper had insisted nothing else was going on.

The place we'd moved into was a cute little place, a studio. All the rooms were in one, other than the bathroom and it was so great to have our own space. We weren't fazed by the smallness of it though; living in such close quarters didn't bother us. We'd basically lived like this since the beginning of the semester anyway, so living like this was normal for us. And it had its perks too. The rent was half of what I paid last semester, and with my student loan and Jasper's savings, we had quite a bit to spare. Not that we needed it. We didn't need much at all. So long as we had each other we knew we'd be okay.

"Hey baby!" Jasper calls when he comes through the front door. "I've got groceries in the truck."

I put down my book and smile as he comes over and drops a kiss on my forehead before dumping two paper shopping bags on the side, along with his backpack. I accompany him back down to get the rest of the them, and we unpack them before we settle on the bed to catch up about our week.

It's our third week in our flat, and we'd found that with completely different class schedules, and with one of Jasper's being at nine in the evening three times a week, the only time we could catch up properly was in the evening when he came home. I barely saw him all day, most days, but it meant by Friday and the weekend, we just don't stop talking.

"How was your quiz?" He asks, shuffling me so I'm sat between his legs on the bed. He's referring to my quiz on Wednesday. By the time he'd got home on Wednesday night I was fast asleep, then yesterday we went out with Jack and Willow.

"It was fine. I've decided I hate Spanish history though. It's not as fascinating as American history." After just three weeks I'm completely regretting taking it. But the final grade is an exam rather than essay, so I was sticking with it.

He chuckles, playing with my fingers. "Well of course it's not. I-"

He's interrupted by a loud banging at the door.

I look up at him and he looks confused as he looks at the door. Jack, Tyson and the others know where we live, but they wouldn't knock like that. The only person who would is Ziggy and I was praying it wasn't him.

He'd popped up about six times this week, asking me where we were living now, and where Jasper was. I refused to answer both questions. Firstly I didn't want him to come round to our new place, and secondly I didn't want him to mess with Jasper. From the way he was asking, he was insinuating, and I wanted to protect Jasper from him as much as I could.

When he first popped up, I thought he'd ask me about Steph. I had no idea what happened between them after they got back from Scotland during Fall Break, as we hadn't really seen them. But then I didn't want to ask either, in case he took it badly and subsequently took it out on me.

The day we landed I'd got a text from her saying she wasn't coming back. Something bad had happened with her dad over the holidays, so she was forced to drop out to look after him. He'd had another stroke, much worse than the last one, so I wasn't surprised she wanted to stay with her family. I'd be heartbroken if that had happened to my family. I would have assumed Ziggy knew about her dad, but I didn't want to say anything, just in case.

Either way, if it was him turning up at our door, it can't be good. It means he knows where we live, and that really wasn't good because Jasper says he has the tendency to turn whenever he wants. Especially early in the morning.

"Don't answer it," I plead.

"Why not?" He pushes up from behind me and goes to the door. "Might be one of the neighbours?"

I get up and go to the kitchen and cowardly hide behind the fridge door, under the ruse of looking for something for dinner.

"Hey Jasper," I hear Ziggy's voice come in through the door and my heart nearly stops. I knew it would be him.

"What's up Zig?" He's saying it cheerfully but it sounds forced to me. From here I can see he's gripping the door tight.

"Nothing. Just haven't seen you around. I went to your house to come find you, but your Mom said you didn't live there." Shit. Becca's told him where we live.

Jasper fists bunch at his sides.

"So I asked around, followed your girl, and here I am. How come you didn't tell me?"

Followed me? Jesus Christ. What the hell is Ziggy doing here. I hope to god he didn't actually follow me, and that he's just taunting Jasper. I can see how much Jasper's trying not to hit him. His knuckles are white and when he answers, his voice is extremely tight, trying not to shout.

"I shouldn't have to. I moved in with my girlfriend, why the fuck do you care? And you fucking followed her?" He looks back at me but I'm still ducked behind the fridge. "What the fuck?" He raises his voice at the last question and a sneer crosses Ziggy's greasy face.

I'm pleading with Jasper in my mind not to explode. If he explodes, Ziggy could hurt him.

"Chill bro. I didn't really. Like I said, I asked around. Where is she anyway?" He asks, looking over his shoulder to the fridge, where he knows I am. I don't want him to come in, so I shut the fridge door, wiping the fear from my face.

"Ah, there she is. The one that has JJ wrapped around her little finger." His horrible smile disappears, replaced by a cold glare at me. "Bitch, stole my boy."

Jasper shoves him hard at that comment. "Don't talk to her like that. Don't think that I won't hit you, Asshole. Watch it," he says, shoving Ziggy back again.

Ziggy sniggers and the sound is pure evil. Coming round here to find Jasper isn't an accident, and although my face is a mask at the moment, on the inside I'm a quivering mess. Jasper doesn't seem like he wants to go either, but Ziggy always gets his way. He has a plan for tonight and I know Jasper is a part of it somehow. He wouldn't be here if he wasn't. I just hoped it was just a few drinks at the beach rather than something illegal.

I walk over to Jasper and put my arms around his middle. He freezes, but then puts an arm over my shoulder, pulling me tighter, protecting me.

"Come party with us." It wasn't a question. It was a demand. He sees me move too, wanting to come with Jasper but he shakes his head. "Just you." He's actually pointing to me, and my stomach sinks like a stone as I try to swallow down my fear.

"Yeah, that's not going to fucking happen," Jasper barks through gritted teeth. "Get the fuck out, Ziggy. Leave us alone." Jasper needs to stop reacting. The more he does so, the more Ziggy pushes. And Jasper is close to flying off the handle.

"No." He steps towards us and Jasper puts me behind homes "You fucking owe me, Jasper." He points at him as I peek round his arm.

"Owe you for what?" He shouts, pulling away slightly. I grip his arm tightly as he moves forward but thankfully he doesn't lunge forward.

"You know what." Ziggy grits his teeth and raises his eyebrows. And that's when I get my answer of whether he has something over him.

Jasper stills and freezes, looking down in shame. I don't know what it is but it must be something bad if he looks like this. His face has gone the colour of our walls, and he looks ashamed. I know this is the reason Ziggy has his hooks in. And I also know that Ziggy is a arsehole of the highest order if he's using it over Jasper this way.

"Fine. I'll come." He clamps me harder to him for a second, but then he moves to let me go. "Zig, give me a minute."

He scoffs and shakes his head but moves out of the still-open door.

"Jasper you don't have to go. You don't," I clamp my hands harder onto his arms as he starts to move away from me. "Please don't go." He turns in my arms and cups the sides of my face.

"I won't be long, I promise," he whispers before leaning down to kiss me. "I won't be long." He says it again, sort of like he's promising himself and me at the same time.

As his lips capture mine, the air between us changes. It's feels as if he's kissing me like he's never going to see me again, and I'm not having that.

"Please don't go," I beg again, his lips still on mine. "Jasper, I don't want you to go."

"Lib, if I don't go now, he'll just keep coming back. I promise, after today that's it. But I have to go... I just have to show my face." Even he doesn't sound convinced but as he looks at me, I know he has to do this. And no matter how hard I beg or kiss him, he won't be able to stay.

I also know he won't be back soon. I know Ziggy has a plan. But I just hope Jasper gets out from under him. That's all I want.

Defeated, I kiss his cheek and nod.

"Baby, I love you okay. And I will be back soon."

I nod again and my smile becomes a bit more genuine.

"I'll see you soon then," I mumble.

He nods, kissing my forehead once more before leaving through the door.

I watch out the window as he descends the stairs and walks into Ziggy's open arm. He looks uncomfortable, even from here, and I just hope to god they don't make him do anything stupid.

***

I lie awake for hours waiting for him. And it's not until four in the morning that I hear him stumbling across the threshold of the front door.

I hear him swear under his breath, but I don't move as I feel him climb into the bed behind me and pull me close. His breath doesn't smell of liquor, which is something, and I can tell he's clearly shattered because he falls straight to sleep, his breath slow and steady against my neck.

I stroke my hand across his, linking our fingers, and sigh in deep relief at having him back again. And even though I know I should be getting up in three hours to get to class, I fall asleep too, finally safe in his arms.