Chapter Text
Jasper sat at his desk, waiting for the bell to ring for class to start.
It’s Friday. Weeks almost over. Thank fucking God.
Well. He would be happy about that if he wasn’t about to be assigned weekend homework.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class.
“Good afternoon, class.” The teacher started, “You may remember me saying you will be assigned a project to do over the weekend. What I did not say is that it will be a duo project.”
Jasper sunk in his seat. You have to be kidding.
“The duos are assigned.”
Jasper sighed, running a hand through his hair. What fucking ever, man.
The teacher read out of duos, Jasper wasn’t listening. He does not care.”
“Jasper Reed and Tanner Powell.”
Jasper shot up in his seat. He looked at the teacher like he wasn’t even real.
He raised his hand, “Is it possible to switch partners?”
“No, Jasper. It is not.”
Jasper looked around the class, Tanner wasn’t even here yet. It’d be shocking if he showed up at all.
Good. He better not show up. Jasper would probably kill himself if he had to work with Tanner.
Speak of the devil. Tanner walked into the classroom, like he wasn’t 10 minutes away from being put in detention again.
“Tanner. We have a duo project over the weekend. You are paired with Jasper Reed.”
“You’re fucking kidding me. Reed?” Tanner grumbled, walking over to his desk and sitting down.
“Language, Tanner. Jasper already asked to switch partners. Quit being babies about it, take it as bonding time.”
“Quit being babies about it, take it as bonding time!!” Tanner mocked the teacher, crossing his arms.
—
The end of the day bell rang, Jasper stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
Tanner stopped him outside of the classroom's door, leaning against the wall, “Reed.”
Jasper frowned, “What.”
“No need to be mean, just talkin’.”
“Yeah, and I’m not interested.” Jasper started walking.
Tanner grabbed his bag, turning Jasper to face him.
“That sucks. I think we have a project to work on. And by we, I mean you.
“Yeah. I assumed it’d only be me. What do you think I was going home to do?”
Tanner let go of Jasper's bag, stuffing his hands in his pockets, “Well, I’m going with you. How do i know you aren’t gonna fuck it up on purpose just so I get a bad grade. Sabotoger.”
“...Why would I do that if it’d affect my grade too.”
Tanner opened his mouth to speak, then closed it.
“Exactly. If you’re so worried about me fucking it up on purpose then just fucking come over or something and watch me work on it.”
“You askin’ me out, Reed?”
“No. I’m not gay, thanks. Kill yourself, okay?”
“Bitch.”
“And proud.” Jasper deadpanned, “So are you coming over or not.”
Tanner let out a long, drawed out sigh. “Fiiiine. Do you have food?”
“Yeah. Not for you, though.”
Jasper walked out of the school, Tanner following.
“You’re a dick. Do you actually walk home, isn’t that like an hour walk?”
“You do not need to walk home with me.”
“Fuck… True… But it’s pissing you off, yeah? I think that’s funny.”
“I think you should hang yourself.”
“You have so much kindness in your heart, huh, Reed?”
“Yeah. Just not for you.”
“Whatever.”
The rest of the walk, Jasper would hit Tanner in the side whenever he tried to talk.
Jasper opened the door to his house, “Mom? I’m home!”
His mom peeked in through the kitchen door, “Oh! Hi, hon! You brought a friend?”
Jasper set his bag down next to the door, “Not a friend. I have to work on a project with him.”
“Project? On the weekend?” His mother questioned.
“Yeah, dumb I know. That’s what I get for having Mr. Matthews for Science.”
“Well, I'm cooking dinner right now! Is uh..” She looked at Tanner.
“Tanner.” He spoke up.
Mrs. Reed clapped her hands together. “Tanner! Alright. Are you hungry?”
Jasper scowled, earning a grin from Tanner.
“I could have a snack.”
She motioned for Tanner to come into the kitchen, showing him all the different snacks they had.
Jasper looked through the fridge, pulling out a can of soda.
Tanner decided on chips.
—
Jasper stood in front of his bedroom door, holding the handle. “If you say some bullshit or touch anything I’m kicking you out.”
“Bitch. I’d just cry to your mom, I think she likes me.”
“Slit.”
He opened his door, kicking his shoes off and setting them in his closet.
Tanner looked around, a lot of musical posters, this looked so fucking gay.
And, “Is that a fucking investigation wall?”
Jasper looked up from inside his closet, looking where Tanner was looking.
“Oh. That’s.. Me piecing together those weird premonition incidents. I think they’re cool.”
“You’re a freak.”
Jasper rolled his eyes, “You’re a dick.”
Tanner sat on the edge of Jasper's bed, shrugging.
“Get the hell off my bed.”
“What? Where am I supposed to sit? I’m a guest here, I’ll have you know.”
Jasper groaned, pulling out the chair in front of his desk and sitting down. “Fine. Whatever.”
“Score!!” Tanner laid back, Jasper's bed was insanely comfortable.
He opened his bag of chips, not really caring if he got crumbs on Jasper's bed.
Jasper didn’t say anything about that. He didn’t even care at this point. He’ll clean his bed when Tanner leaves.
“...’kay. So.” Jasper pulled the papers from science out of his bag, “Diagram of the solar system, little descriptions of the planets.”
“Cool. You like space junk, you got it.”
Jasper ran a hand over his face, he was gonna kill Tanner.
“Jesus fucking christ. You should at least draw the circles for the planets.”
Tanner turned onto his side, holding his head up with his hand, “I could, but do I want to?”
“Yeah. You do. Or I’m telling my mom you can’t stay for dinner.”
Tanner sat up immediately, “We don’t have to go there. Fine, fine. I’ll draw your stupid fucking circles.”
He went over to the desk, standing next to Jasper, leaning against the desk with one hand.
“Do you even know the sizes of the planets…”
“Yes I fucking do, I’m not retarded!”
“Sensitive.”
“Fuck off.”
Jasper rolled his eyes, sliding the paper over to Tanner, handing him a pencil.
Tanner was uncomfortably close to him. Did he have to lean so close? Good grief.
“Venus is bigger than Mars.”
“Suck a dick, Reed.”
Jasper laughed, leaning back in his chair. Tanner finished drawing the circles, he labeled what planets they were underneath. Jasper had to check to make sure they're in the right order.
“Mercury…Jupiter…Neptune..” He muttered out the planets to himself, sliding his finger over the paper while he checked.
“Cool. You aren’t dumb.”
“I know. I don’t need you to tell me.” Tanner glared at Jasper.
Jasper hummed, taking out his colored pencils.
Tanner watched Jasper color, tapping his finger on the desk.
Would he stop tapping his fucking finger.
“Fucking cut that out, Tanner!”
“I’m bored as shit, dude. Can’t help it.”
“Cool. I don’t care. You’re in my room. My room, my rules.”
“Yeah, you like being able to order me around, huh.”
Jasper dropped the colored pencil he was holding, side eyeing Tanner.
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Struck a nerve.”
“No. And would you fucking get away from me? You do not need to be that close to me, faggot.”
“Faggot? Watch your fucking mouth, Reed.” Tanner pushed himself away from Jasper's desk, sitting back on his bed.
Jasper went back to coloring in the planets, it was uncomfortably quiet.
—
Jasper's mom called the boys down for dinner, causing Tanner to sit up and literally run down the stairs.
“Don’t fucking trip, Tanner!” Jasper called out, he didn’t really care if Tanner tripped or not, though.
By the time Jasper got down stairs Tanner was already at the table, and Mrs. Reed was putting food on his plate. That boy is so spoiled.
“Don’t give him too much food mama, you’ll make him wanna come back.” He said, sitting in his chair.
“I don’t mind that one bit! He’s a nice kid.”
Jasper looked at his mother like she was crazy, “You’re kidding!” He paused, “You’re kidding.”
“Haha! You’re mom loves me!”
“Shut your mouth, Tanner.”
Jasper's mom sat down, setting the rest of the food on the table for Jasper and her to grab.
Jasper put a fuck ton of mashed potatoes on his plate. Nothing else.
“What the fuck.”
Jasper looked up, shoving potatoes into his mouth “Mh?”
“Put some actual food on your plate, what the hell??”
“I’m not big like you.”
“Jasper! Be nice.” His mom spoke up, earning a groan from Jasper, who went back to eating.
“So, Tanner. What do you like to do? Jaspers never talked about you!”
“That sucks. I just work out, really.”
“Ohh! I see. That’s cool, love!”
Tanner leaned over to Jasper, “I’m gonna be your dad soon, Reed.”
Jasper elbowed him in the side.
“...Uh. Nadia’s coming over tomorrow, mom.”
His mom looked up and smiled, “That’s amazing. I haven't seen her in so long!”
Tanner made a confused look, “You hang out with Nadia?”
“...She’s my girlfriend?”
“You’re STRAIGHT?”
“Yes…?”
“Oh!” Mrs. Reed spoke up.
Jasper looked at his mom, puzzled.
“I will admit.. I also thought you were queer.”
“What?! Mom!”
“I thought Nadia was just a good friend! I’m sorry, hon.”
“Fuck my stupid chud life, dude.” Jasper put his head in his hands. He is going to kill himself in front of Tanner and his mother one day.
—
Jasper sat back at his desk in his room, he looked over at the clock. 5:34 PM.
“Tanner, You’re leaving my house by 9.”
Tanner, who was back on Jasper's bed, shrugged. “Kay.”
“...I don’t know why we didn’t just get assigned this in class. It’s… really easy.” Jasper spoke up.
“Because he hates our class.”
“Right.”
Tanner is so fucking hard to talk to it’s driving Jasper insane. Whatever. Just get the project done. Then Jasper won’t have to talk to Tanner ever again.
Hopefully.
The next few hours were spent working on the project, on Jaspers behalf, and Tanner sleeping on his fucking bed like he owns the place.
Eventually, Tanner had to go home, thank God. Jasper walked Tanner to the door, not bothering to say goodbye.