Beating Heart

Jaspers P.O.V

"Dad why are you so happy?" I ask.

"It feels like one of those days." He laughs, then turns serious. "I talked to your mom today." Dad informs Zayn.

"What'd she say?" Zayn asks, quietly.

"She said she made you move out because you were becoming a pest. You wouldn't do your chores." Dad chuckles.

"Oh, yeah." Zayn let's out a small laugh.

"It's fine with me. Jasper doesn't do many of her chores either." Dad laughs.

"Dad!" I whine. They both laugh.

"Well, I'm taking Jolynn out to meet a new lady friend of mine and Jayson is going to a friends house, so it looks like you have the house yourself." He says. The only thing that stood out to me was new lady friend. He has a girlfriend. It sort of breaks my heart. If they get married I'm not going to call her mom.

"Okay." I say, weakly.

"Chaplin, come back!" Jolynn calls to the cat that is now running into the wood. Zayn and I take off after the stupid cat.

"Chaplin, come here." I say, when I've finally gotten about arms length away from him. I quickly pick him up and tumble on the ground. I can't help but laugh.

"You alright?" Zayn asks, helping me onto my feet.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I say, then notice that we are right next to the pond. The pond where I first saw Zayn here. "If it weren't for my brother I wouldn't know about you or this place." I stare into his eyes.

"Yep." He says, then placing a gentle kiss on my lips. Chaplin squirms in my arms.

"Let's get this little stupid cat inside the house." I laugh. Zayns arm stays around me the whole time we walk to the house. When we get back to the backyard, Jolynn and Dad are gone and Jayson is just skipping rocks.

"Jay! You still going to your friends?" I ask him, opening the sliding glass door and dropping Chaplin in. He scurries away into the house.

"No instead Cody's coming here." He says, staring at Zayn. "We're camping out here."
"Okay." I say, intertwining my fingers with Zayns. He kisses my temple.

"Jayson! Jazz! Umm..." Cody runs up to us. We've known Cody since we moved here so I allowed to call me Jazz.

"This is Zayn." I laugh.

"Oh, I've heard of you. You were on the track team." Cody says. I look confused because I've never noticed Zayn ever at school. Was he just wandering around in the shadows?

///

"Um, Zayn, we need some help with the tent!" Jayson calls for Zayn. Zayn runs over to them and helps them put it together. While they do that, I turn on some music.

"Jazz, turn that crap down!" Jayson responds to 'Pumpin Blood' by NONONO. I laugh and turn it down a notch.

"Party pooper." I joke and grab my phone out of my pocket.

"You know Jazz, I don't think the neighbors appreciate the loud music." Cody says. I roll my eyes and scoff. "Hey just saying." He shrugs.

"Zayn, you done yet?" I whine while asking.

"Yeah, we're done." Jayson says. I grab Zayns hand and lead him inside.

Notes