42. Reece

The past week without Jasper by my side has been absolutely crucifying. I'm empty without him and my head is filled with words of anguish. The dickhead who said love was beautiful was a liar. The only thing that made this week bearable was Malyk and Bartholomew being discharged from the hospital. They'd both suffered bullet wounds, but their surgery removed the bullets and thankfully hadn't done any damage to internal organs. Malyk had lost his spleen but a small price to pay for him being alive. No one even knows what the fuck a spleen is for anyway. I'm sure he won't miss it.

Other than seeing them both when they got discharged, I've kept to myself to wallow in self-pity of being unable to see Jasper. I'd tried to sneak into Valley View a few times, but there were now armed fucking guards everywhere, stalking around the campus like they were protecting royalty.

I'm definitely on edge, and worried about Jasper. Not being able to see him just makes me uneasy. And I can't get out of my head. I'm also ignoring my father, not willing to do his damn bidding anymore. I'm not that man anymore. I don't care if I never see him again. I won't be so lucky, but it's nice to think about.

To escape I'm at the furthest beach from the Capullo side of the city, as I can be. Velum Beach is pristine white sand and has some of the biggest waves of any beach in Vemore.

Sitting on the sand with my open journal in my lap, I'm staring at the blank page in front of me. I've hardly used it since being with Jasper, because my pretty boy has been my vice and my escape when I've needed to get out of my head. But now I feel like casting it aside and running into the ocean to drown myself. Living without Jasper causes a deep emptiness within me. I don't move though, instead I scrawl words across the page.

Emptiness. Crushed. Loveless. Shattered.

The words I've written break my heart more. I love Jasper, but we're being forced to be absent from each other's lives because our parents can't accept our love and get over a feud that doesn't involve us, or them quite frankly. There's no reason for our families to still be feuding, years later.

Slamming my journal closed, I wipe an arm across my cheeks to wipe away the tears on my cheeks. I can't believe I'm crying, but I've truly never felt such heartbreak. We didn't break up–per se–but it feels as though we have.

Standing from the sand, I'm shocked to find Blaise running towards me frantically.

"Reece! I…fucked up!" he calls out, stopping in front of me, and scuffing his feet in the sand.

"How? What did you do dickhead?"

"I think something has happened to Jasper."

"How in the hell would you know that? And what the fuck do you mean, Blaise?"

"Well, you know I'm going to Valley Views as I am not of feuding family blood, and well…"

I grab the front of his shirt and tug him closer. "What does your attendance there have to do with Jasper?"

"I know about you guys." I can feel the blood fall from my face. I'm not ashamed of my being with Jasper, but if Blaise knows then we haven't hidden our love from anyone.

"Ok, still doesn't explain the current situation of you seeking me out."

"Well, I um…gave him something to take the edge off."

"You gave him drugs?"

"Yeah, he sought me out and asked for Xanax and strong painkillers."

"And you gave him them?"

"Sold them to him. How is this news to you?"

"I had my suspicions about you dealing, but had no confirmation so you've not been unlucky enough to grace my hit list."

He gulps audibly, mumbling, "I might be now."

"What did you do, Blaise? Tell me now or I'll shoot you right here on the beach for bats to devour."

"I just got word from my source that the pills were laced."

I shove him away, my heart pounding with apprehension.

"With what?"

Blaise drops his gaze to the sand, again mumbling, "with rat poison."

I scream, shoving Blaise to the ground and stomping towards my car. He stumbles over, yanking the door open with strength I didn't know he had. I'd give anything to have my Bugatti right now. He wouldn't have been able to get into that without my letting him, but all I've got is a shitty nineteen eighties Audi a5 that my father had stashed in the garage as though it was a prize relic of a car. It's older than me, and sputters as though it has smokers lungs when you start it. I don't say a word to Blaise as I drive off with him gripping the dashboard for dear life.

I speed into Vemore, stopping just outside of town.

"Get out of the car, Blaise."

He stares at me blankly. "I'm sorry, Reece. I didn't know."

"I don't give a fucking shit Blaise. If Jasper dies, it's on you."

His cheeks pale, again I request, "Get out of my car." He nods, obeying this time and opening the door. He leans in the open door. "I'm sorry. Let me know if he's ok."

"Not likely," I snap, adding snidely, "And don"t follow me."

He slams my door shut, stepping around the bonnet of my car to walk away. I shouldn't even consider what I'm about to do, but I'm pressing my foot down on the accelerator before I can think otherwise, causing Blaise to tumble to the ground with a bellowing scream and shrieking words that I can't understand. My breathing has kicked up a notch, coming out in panting, raspy, ragged breaths. Again I press down on the accelerator, this time driving straight over Blaise's body on the ground. I hear the crunch and crack of his breaking bones as I'm running him over, but I don't give a fuck.

All that matters now is getting to Jasper. My heart is constricting. If Jasper is dead I can only hope there's still some pills left for me.

Arrivingat Valley View university I drive straight into the courtyard, through the gates at breakneck speed, not giving a fuck that the guards that are protecting my man are forced to scramble away. Cutting the engine, I get out of the car, and run towards the dorms, leaping over the tables and seats in my path. I can sense the guards on my tail, but I ignore them. Crashing through the double doors into the dorms I race down the hallway, shoving anyone in my path aside without a care. There's chaos all around me, yelling voices that are most definitely my name but all I care about is getting to Jasper's room. Reaching it, I knock loudly until my knuckles hurt whilst screaming his name at the top of my lungs. But there's no response.

Taking a step back I extend my leg, and kick the door right at the lock to bust it. Thankfully it's weak and gives way easily, allowing me to push the door open to enter the room.

I don't even close the door behind me, my mouth falling open as I take in the sight in front of me. Jasper is sprawled out across his bed, his arm and leg hanging over the edge and he's only in paint covered grey sweatpants. There's an empty vodka bottle on the floor beside the bed–as though he's just dropped it from his grip–and there's ziplock bags between his spread legs on the duvet. I kneel on the floor by the bed, touching the back of my hand to his forehead. His skin is clammy and cold. Gripping his hips, I shake him to force him to rouse. "Jasp, baby, wake up."

He doesn't even move, and makes no sound. I'm beginning to panic. Leaning over I put my head down over his heart, and take a sigh of relief that it's still beating, although slowly. He's unconscious but still alive, breathing shallowly but still taking in some breaths.

Again I give him a shake, lifting him up into a sitting position which is too easy. He's floppy, and practically weightless in my arms. "Jasper, please, wake up," I plead, but still he's unresponsive. I put him back on the bed, and turn to the door that has someone unfamiliar stumbling in.

He stalks towards me. "You need to get out!"

I stand, and face the stranger. "No! You need to call a damn ambulance. I'm not leaving his side. If he dies I'll be right there beside the man I love when he takes his last breath."

He looks towards Jasper lying lifeless on the bed. "An ambulance?"

"Yes, he's unconscious you idiot, and taken drugs that have been laced with rat poison."

"Oh gosh," the man says, rushing into the room and staring down at him.

Again I seethe, "Call the fucking ambulance, you idiot."

He pulls a phone out of his pocket and dials emergency. I hear his responses to the questions, sitting back down next to Jasper and taking his hand in mine. I lean over and kiss his forehead, whispering, "I love you, Jasper Capullo. You're going to be ok, baby. It's you and me for evermore."

I stay there, laying down next to him and cradling him in my arms until it's a rush of activity with the ambulance officers rushing in and pulling him onto a stretcher. I follow them out and climb into the back of the ambulance. No one dares question my presence on the way to the hospital. I intend to stay by his side until he wakes up, or until he takes his last breath. His last breath would be my last breath. Jasper Capullo is my whole world, my whole heart is his and if he survives this he'll be mine completely, in spite of our families. Jasper is the only one who matters.