06 — Shameless

I look around in a startle, fearing that someone has heard the explicit and loud — really loud — words Jasper used to refer to last night. I'm so frightened that my heart is beating frantically in my chest, threatening to rip it open and jump out.

“H- Hey, shut up!” I grit my teeth, pointing my finger in his direction. “Aren't you ashamed to say… those things?”

“Those things were truths, and you did all of them…. I must say, you did them so well that it's etched in my mind.”

“Then make an effort to forget them.” I'm harsh, and I know my tone has caused him a certain amount of displeasure, but I don't care.

All I want, what I really hope for the most, is to forget what happened yesterday… Forget seeing Bryan with Alice, and the fact that I lost my virginity with a complete stranger. At least, I wish it was really just a stranger, instead of the new student who just transferred into my class.

Argh! How unlucky can one person be?

“Forget?” He laughs low and leans toward me, causing me to flinch and lean my back against the chair. “I won't forget… because I don't want to forget.”

“You don't want to?” I ask, completely dumbfounded.

“It would be a waste to forget…” Jasper props his arms crossed on the table, leaning even closer toward me. “I mean, don't you think we're really a match in bed?”

“Wait-”

“Maybe I'm really bewitched. Even if I wanted to forget last night, Reddy, I don't think I could. I mean, the things you did to me…”

I quickly rise from my seat, leaning toward him, covering his mouth with my two trembling hands. The way his eyes sparkle with amusement makes me feel flushed. And somehow, I know he's smiling behind my hand…

However, I immediately freeze when feel something slip through my palm, leaving a wet trail.

Can't. Believe.

He just licked my hand!

“Jasper-”

“What the hell is this?” I hear a deep, incredibly angry voice slice through my words like a sharp razor.

And a shiver runs through my body, as I pull my hand away from Jasper's lips and immediately wilt, fearing to look at the owner of the voice and find him…

But it's in vain because, once again, his voice repeats harshly, “What does this mean?”

My eyes inevitably find him standing beside the table, with a rigid expression on his face and teeth clenched. It's Bryan. A furious Bryan.

“I asked what the hell this means, Scarlett.” Bryan asks rudely, looking at me with displeasure and a certain disgust. This makes me angry because if there's anyone who should be displeased, angry or disgusted here, it's me.

“That's not your problem anymore, Bryan.” I reply annoyed, sitting back in my chair again, wishing it was actually a portal to take me to another world. “It was you who cheated on me first… Or are you having a hard time remembering things?”

I watch as Bryan's face reddens, and I realize that we're still in a public place, with many people around. And if Jasper's shameless words about our fling didn't reach the ears or pique the interest of the students in the restaurant, Bryan's appearance and abruptness certainly did.

People are whispering and, thanks to my great hearing, I can understand a few words. They say things like, did Bryan had a thing with Scarlett Davis? But he's not Alice's boyfriend? Didn't Scarlett hit on Bryan?

Well, maybe he's unable to hear so precisely, but Bryan can guess what they're saying because his voice is quick to add with a sarcastic laugh, “I cheated on you? What are you talking about? My girlfriend is Alice, I have nothing to do with you!”

I feel my blood bubbling because he's with that cynical expression on his face. His voice is quivering, saying absurdities that I wouldn't want to hear to just hurt myself more — yet I can't forbid his next words from entering my ears with absurd clearness:

“Everyone knows that you tried to seduce me last night, at the club… And I thought I was being clear when I said that I wanted nothing to do with you.”

“How can you be so shameless, Bryan?” I slam my hand on the table and stand up, furious, feeling tears on the edge of my eyes, threatening to roll down my face along with all the resentment that, I know, is shining in my eyes.

I open my lips to throw truths in his face… to hurt him and make him feel at least some of the pain he's making me feel. But the words just won't come out. Just like me, they're too proud to give themselves away like this.

We used to be happy in the past. At least, that's what I thought. Seeing the way he lies so easily, how he doesn't mind hurting me like this, tarnishing my honor, making me look like a slut… It's narrowing my throat… It's making me almost drown in those unspoken words.

“I don't know why I felt sorry for you when the video of your shameless act was posted on the campus forum. I even said that you probably did what you did because you were drunk. But I see that you're really what they say… Only one day has passed, and you're already trying to seduce another man? Really, what a whore-”

“Hey, shut your mouth.” Jasper's voice sounds high and low, reverberating through my ears and bringing a sudden discomfort in my chest.

“What did you say?” Bryan gives a sarcastic laugh, “Are you really going to defend this slut?”

“Bryan…” I don't have the strength to call him louder because my chest is aching, so tight that I seem unable to breathe. I flinch, feeling my legs weaken, but my pride won't allow me to sit up again.

“Who do you think you are, to get yourself into this?” Bryan crosses his arms so that his muscles bulge at his shirt… a way to show off, to maybe intimidate Jasper….

However, this doesn't work because Jasper also stands up, leaning one hand on the table, proving himself to be at least eight inches (20cms) taller than Bryan. His astonishing height of almost 6'3 feet (2 m) isn't the only thing that makes him stand out, but his broad back and arms are much bigger and stronger than Bryan's.

Still, Bryan doesn't seem intimidated… and well, I can understand why. He has always been very assured in his physique and the agility that makes him good at sports. But Jasper… he seems really intimidating. There's something about his presence that makes him menacing, more than the appearance and the expression on his face…. I can't explain it.

“Hah, you really think you're badass, don't you?” Bryan gives an incredulous laugh, then stretches his arm towards me, hooking his fingers around my arm and pulling me towards him abruptly, while saying, “Stay out of it, newbie, this is between me and this bitch…”

“DON'T TOUCH HER!” Jasper shouts… no, he growls — a growl from deep in his throat, hoarse, almost beastly, that reverberates through my skin and makes my legs finally weaken, making me sit up in the chair, completely stunned…

I hold the air in my lungs, feeling my heart beating frantically in my chest.

I saw his face become that of a beast — it was so quick that I doubted my eyes. Still, the image is seared into my mind; the shape of the long snout, the black fur and pointed ears, with intense yellow eyes and teeth so sharp that seemed to be no end at the gaping mouth.

Jasper…

Did I just see a wolf face on Jasper?