2. Jasper

Watching the news these days is like watching the world implode before your eyes, every single day. Vemore is going to hell, and I hate seeing it but can't stop myself from watching the news every night. It's just a ritual now. Something I do every day despite hating it. It's torture like going to the gym, which is my other ritual that I do every day right after I watch the news at 7 pm.

Tonight"s news isn't really anything new, something else in our screwed up city going up in flames. But what strikes me is amidst the footage of the petrol station bursting into flames is my cousin's car driving away.

Tidus is a badass but stupid, clearly.

I pick up my phone and dial him.

"Cuz…" he greets me.

I don't reply with the same tone, blurting out, "Did you do it, Tidus?"

He chuckles in that annoying way that grates on my nerves.

"Do what, cuz?"

"Set the Mobil alight?"

"Can't say, cuz. Ears are listening."

I scoff, annoyed at him because it's certain he did something, had something to do with it and as usual he's hiding something.

"That tells me everything, Tidus."

"Not everything dear cousin."

"What are you trying to hide?"

"Our enemy was there. Trying to steal from us, even though he's richer than us."

I wrack my brain, trying to piece together what enemy he's referring to. Our only enemies in Vemore are the Montserrat's and most of the time they don't venture onto our side of the city.

"A Montserrat?" I question, my mind wondering if he's talking about my high school nemesis, the Reece Montserrat. The stares he'd give me–like he was stripping me naked in the corridors–sent me retreating to the library where I could hide away from him. Reece's stare made me feel odd, icky even.

"Yes, a Montserrat. Reece."

I gasp, "Oh."

Tidus laughs. "You still crushing on him?"

"I never was. I've only got eyes for Rebekah."

"Well do something about it, dear cousin. She just broke up with her boyfriend."

"Um, yep…maybe at the frat ball," I stammer, my shyness showing through in my tone and words.

"When are you moving into the dorms?"

"Next week," I tell my cousin.

He chuckles again, inhaling as though he's taking a drag of a cigarette.

"You'll forget all about the sweet Rebekah when surrounded by girls in the dorm."

"Not a chance, Tidus," I respond without conviction. I haven't told Tidus, but I'm honestly no longer interested in Rebekah. I just want to get on with uni and forget about relationships of any kind. Tidus has always pushed me to explore sexually, but I haven't done anything except kiss a girl who was hiding out in the library one day. I didn't even know her name and kissing her wasn't that thrilling, so I haven't sought out to kiss anyone else or explore sex since.

"I beg to differ, cuz. Gotta go."

He hangs up without another word, and I flick the news off, sighing and standing from the bed. I haul my gym bag back onto the bed and continue to pack in my belongings that I want to take from my room to the dorms. A tear falls down my cheek when I pick up the photo of Grandpa Capullo. I miss him so much. And I hate the Montserrat's for taking him away from us.

Thankfully Montserrat's are not welcome at Valley View University. It's Capullo territory and one of the only buildings still standing from before the feud between our families began. But if Reece is impeding on our side of the city, I'm sure something dangerous is afoot. And I'm a little worried–scared–about that prospect. But I'm equally intrigued to see Reece again. He was the epitome of a bad boy, and had started covering his body in tattoo's when we were only sixteen. The thought of tattoos has always intrigued me, art on the skin, but I haven't marred my skin with them for fear of dad's wrath if I tarnish myself–my skin–for my future wife.

Tidus' dad is nowhere near as strict as mine, and I've not told him that I'm looking down the barrel of an arranged marriage which is another reason I haven't pursued Rebekah or any other sexual escapades. I'm too afraid of the wrath of Giuseppe Capullo.

Going to uni for an art degree is enough of a rebellion, and he's letting me do that if I promise to marry whoever he chooses fit. It's my duty as the only son–the only child–to continue the Capullo name. A legacy that I really don't want to be a part of.