Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Two weeks later...

Exams started a week ago and I can't claim to be doing well so far. I try my best though but I'm a little distracted by the issues around me. Lima is missing the session altogether, including the external exams! Jasper is likely to miss it too owing to the fact that he’s grounded for life. Right now, I'm headed for the football field to find someone before the bell is rung for closing hour.

I walk up the stairs towards Ousman. He's seated on the highest bleacher in the football field, reading a book and I'm grateful for that because that way, I can easily ignore the stares and whispers of other students scattered across the field.

They won't only talk because I'm speaking with Ousman, but also because I'm friends with Lima. I sigh. Her mistake has automatically tagged our squad 'sluts' and 'hypocrites'. They think we only act decent in school while outside, we are sluts. No one needs to tell me before I know. Diana has made sure of that.

I clear my throat, gaining Ousman's attention. We've hardly talked ever since we broke up.

"Hi," I say, my voice coming out a little too low.

He scoffs. "You don't have to sound like you murdered my entire family, Isabella." I laugh genuinely at his comment and he does the same.

"Can I sit?" I ask and he nods.

"I'll be straight. I'm sorry. Really," I state, now facing the large piece of land, dotted with students, in front of us. He leans back and sighs.

"It's fine."

"Really?" I ask just to be sure.

He looks at me. "Jasper was right."

I'm taken aback by his statement. "What?"

"You ask too many questions." I laugh at this and he smiles.

"Was just making sure."

We face the field again, a comfortable silence falling over us.

About a minute later, "I really appreciate your friendship. And I wouldn't want to lose that because of some crazy relationship matter," Ousman breaks the silence, making me look at him.

I smile and place my head on his shoulder.

"How is Halima?" he asks and I raise my head.

"She's okay. She's fretting about the whole thing. Her parents came back last week but some-crazy-how, they didn't notice. I think they focus too much on how to make money. Although, it isn't really obvious yet," I reply.

"Has she told him?"

I shake my head. "No."

"She needs to."

"I know." I heave a heavy sigh and he looks at me. "Everyone thinks bad about us now. They think we just pretend in school. I don't even know how Diana found out."

He chuckles, looking forward. "Anyone who's bent on destroying your life, goes the extra mile to find something implicating. Besides, the pregnancy could never stay hidden for long."

"That's true," I agree, biting my lower lip. My lips curl up, a thought coming to mind. "I wonder what my mum will do if she finds out about this. I just hope she doesn't conduct a virginity test on me." We both throw our heads back and laugh, a few students turning to look at us as the sound of my voice is the loudest.

‘Oh please, you guys should not focus on other people's affairs for once!’

"Seriously, considering the fact that she knows about Jasper's situation, she may have me go for a test to be sure I'm not into drugs and pregnant too!" Another round of laughter erupts making me keel over, grabbing my tummy.

By the time the laughter dies down, I'm close to tears.

‘Gee, I haven't laughed this much in a long time!’

"Gosh, I'm a terrible person. I haven't visited Jasper," Ousman says, sighing.

"Um, you might want to map out a plan for that." He sends me a confused look and I shrug. "I mean, I know I said I visited him thrice but I had to sneak. Who knows, his dad might accuse his friends of partaking or encouraging him."

A thoughtful look appears on his face. "So, what do I do? Do I need to sneak too?"

"Well, maybe. Or, you could send your regards."

"So who do I leave the message with?"

"Me." I grin.

"Okay. Tell him I'll come visiting."

I smile. "You might be tagged the leader of the gang in West's high you know?"

He smirks. The bell goes off.

***

"Hey mum," Nes and I chirp at once as we enter the kitchen.

"Hey! How was school?" she asks cheerily.

I shrug. Nes does not answer as she goes straight for the cupcakes on the counter. I stretch my hand and she passes me one.

"Two young ladies are really hungry today. And I can only attribute that to Maths," mum teases and we chuckle at once.

"I need to sleep," Nes declares walking off. Mum shakes her head, smiling.

"Was it that bad?"

"I wouldn't know. Mine was horrifying but I attempted all questions," I shrug and she passes me a sceptical nod.

"Alex might come soon," mum announces as she goes to pick a cupcake for herself.

My head perks up. "Really? Wait till Nes hears this!" Mum smiles, showing intense joy that her son is finally fine. I smile in return.

‘I've missed that troublemaker.’

After a brief moment of silence, mum speaks. "I can't believe Jasper may not graduate this year." I listen with apt attention. "His mum is really worried and it's unimaginable how his father hardly cares. I wish your dad was here. I would have made sure he talked to that man. Eda herself surprises me. I wouldn't let anyone stop me from helping my child." Mum heaves a sigh of resignation. "I really don't know how I can help."

"I wish there was a way," I say and she looks at me.

‘Uh...I wish there was a way. Nothing implicating in that. I'm sure I didn't mistakenly say ‘ oh, Jasper’s such a good kisser!’ so...

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing. Just need you to be careful what you do and who you associate with."

"Mum, I don't think Jasper is a terrible person. He just got influenced by the wrong people." The moment I say this, I regret it.

‘She wasn't talking about Jasper, birdbrain.’

"I wasn't referring to Jasper. I mean, I don't want you to let yourself get influenced by the wrong people, just like it happened with him." She pauses. "But―"

"I hear you, mum. Thanks for the advice," I cut in. She's visibly surprised and...suspicious.

‘Whoops...’

"Bella?"

"Mum?" I begin to shift on my stool. What is she suspecting?

‘Don't tell me I'm truly going to undergo that test!’

"Oh my gosh, do you like him?"

My eyes almost fall out of their sockets. "Um." I clear my throat when my voice comes out squeaky. "No, I..." I trail off.

"Honey, I told you before, you can tell me all these things. I'm here to guide you," she coaxes, wearing her weird smile. I almost grimace.

"Well, promise you won't fry me in a pan," I say, making her burst into a fit of laughter. I try to keep a straight face but fail as I join her.

"Fine, I think I like him. Please don't tell dad. I'm sure he wouldn't want me to like a guy until I'm thirty." Mum looks perplexed by my statement.

"Your dad doesn't want that," she chuckles. "You know he's just being protective. But, you need to be careful with the decisions you make."

"I know. Thanks." I beam at her.

‘Phew!’

***

"Hi," I greet as I meet Luke at the back of our house.

"Hey," he returns, stretching his arm for a handshake.

I take it and smile. We settle, facing each other, on the two recliners and I exhale loudly. I called him earlier to meet me here because I decided I've had enough of the suspense from Jasper. The questions won't leave my head until I get my answers and the only days I was able to see Jasper, we spent talking about his wellbeing and what not.

"How's Alexa doing?" I ask, starting from a subtle and regular angle.

"She's doing fine. She made me meet her mum before letting me come home," he tells me and we both laugh. Silence envelopes us for a while before I decide to talk.

"How's Jasper?" I finally introduce my true reasons for this whole meeting.

"He's okay," he replies.

"You sure?" I query, my voice laced with scepticism.

"No. He's been in a terrible state for the past one week. He practically begs for it," he finally admits and I feel my stomach clench.

"But, I thought he still took the―" I shut myself up abruptly. Luke's eyes linger on me for a bit before he speaks.

"You mean the drugs?"

"You knew?" I ask in surprise.

He shrugs, looking around. "The least I could do was let him continue. He wasn't getting any help from anyone. But the drugs are finished."

"So what are you guys going to do? Can I help in any way?"

"It's okay. Dave, our older brother―the one I told you about―came home with his fiancée. He wasn't even aware of the whole thing until two days ago." He takes in a deep breath while I wait anxiously to hear the rest of the story.

"He insists that Jasper gets help whether or not our dad agrees to it." My heart swells at this.

‘Thank God.’

Luke continues. "If our mum has the same courage as Dave, things might have started to fall into place by now. If I had the money, I would have helped him a long time ago."

"I know how you feel," I utter lowly.

He smiles, giving me a picture of Jasper.

‘I miss him.’

I purse my lips thoughtfully until I form a sentence in my head. "I was wondering," I start, gaining his full attention. "Is there a problem between Jasper and your dad? Don't mean to pry; just asking."

He shakes his head, assuring me it's okay. "Jasper himself, wonders about that a lot. But I confronted my dad one day and he told me."

"He did?" I ask curiously and he nods in affirmation.

"According to him, Jasper reminds him of his father," he tells me but I'm even more confused.

‘Why would anyone treat another badly just because he sees his father in that person?’

I realize I unintentionally voiced this out when he smiles.

‘Ouch.’

"His father was reckless, to say the least. During his stay with my dad's mother, he not only drank and took drugs, he treated her badly. When she had had enough, she took my dad and his siblings to stay with her family in Australia."

"She was Australian?" I ask in puzzlement.

"Yes. His dad was Nigerian, though." I nod, urging him to proceed. "So, he grew up there and took on his mother's family name, Lawrence. He has hated his father ever since and now, Jasper seems to have his character and he's bent on fixing him in any way he can."

A brief moment of silence takes over as I digest the information. Luke speaks again.

"He sometimes tells Jasper that he doesn't deserve his middle name because he's the opposite of his mother's father."

"Really? What's the name?"

"Lawrence." He states.

"Wait, Jasper's middle name is Lawrence?"

"Yeah, he was actually named after our mum's dad. He was alive then and he insisted that he be named after him even though it was already part of his name."

"That's weird," I laugh and he nods, smiling.

"Jasper is stubborn―insanely stubborn―but he's not a bad person. My dad has refused to see the good in him and help nurture it."

I remember the first time I met Mr. Lawrence. He looked really calm and nice.

"Thanks," I mutter after a few seconds. He bobs his head.

Another question that has been bugging me pops up in my head and I blurt it out without thinking twice.

"Who's Audrey?"

Luke remains quiet, just staring at me.

"Who's Audrey?" I ask again.

"I don't think I should be the one to tell you about that. You should ask Jasper himself."

I shake my head. "I did but he wouldn't tell me. And I don't want to bug him right now. Please just tell me. I've been in enough suspense now," I urge but he doesn't look like he's going to budge.

"Luke, please. I know you don't want to be the one to tell me something so personal about Jasper but I need to know."

He sighs. "How did you know about Audrey?"

"Jasper calls me that." He looks perplexed by my answer.

"That boy is really crazy," he mutters, shaking his head. "Well, Audrey was his first girlfriend."

‘Ouch! That hurt.’

"He was crazy about her. Geez, he always talked about her and I got so tired of being around him." He chuckles at the memory. I can't help clearing my throat.

‘Focus Luke, don't rub it in.’

He smiles knowingly and I look away. "Sorry. Anyway, like we've established, Jasper is insanely stubborn so, he took my dad's car without his consent and went to take her for a ride. I feel guilty, thinking about that day. I knew what he was doing yet I didn't stop him. He picked her up and unfortunately, they were in an accident." I wince, my stomach tightening even more at the thought that come to mind.

"She died."

"Oh my God!" I exclaim. For more than a week, I've been jealous and angry at whoever this Audrey girl is for getting Jasper's attention so much but right now, I feel nothing but guilt and sadness. She was just a young girl who didn't deserve to die so early. She didn't get to achieve her goals and live her dreams!

Luke sucks in a deep breath. "Our dad almost killed Jasper. He blamed him for so long and I'm sure that's why Jasper still wishes he died that day too."

‘Okay, that thought is out of bounds, Jasper! Don't you dare die.’

"Our dad antagonizes him every chance he gets. Our mum and I were his only strength at that time cause I'm sure on his own, he would've done something stupid. It was when we came to Nigeria that he became lively again and I'm guessing it was because of the drugs. I'm surprised he calls you Audrey. After he was forbidden from attending her funeral, he wouldn't even call her name."

"Then why call me Audrey?"

"I have a feeling he's finally coming to terms with the fact that she's gone and he has to move on."

I raise a confused brow and he goes on to expatiate. "Well, he met you. Though he tried to hide it and keep his distance, he couldn't help it. So maybe, him calling you Audrey is his way of getting over her and accepting his feelings for you."

‘Oh gosh, I hope I don't look like a tomato right now.’

I give a flustered smile and he chuckles.

"So Jasper's gonna get help?" I ask, diverting the attention.

"Yeah. And he might be able to take his external exams if we meet the right people. Dave is taking everything up," he says, much to my satisfaction.

I go over everything we just discussed and come up with only one thought; one I've never thought about anyone.

I think I'm in love with Jasper.