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TWO; CONFESSIONS

     "JASMINE, WHAT DID YOU SEE?"

     The girl wasn't sure what to say. Her fingers lightly tapped on the metal table, bottom lip trembling. She was attempting to put on a strong front for Chief Swan, but the task was proving to be immensely difficult.

     "Is my mother here yet?"

     Charlie Swan sighed, lips pressed into a thin line. He folded his arms across his chest, eyebrows pulled in together. "Jasmine, I know you feel safer with your mother here-"

     "It's my right, isn't it?" She shot back. "My mother's allowed to be here if you're interrogating me, correct?"

     He frowned. "This isn't an interrogation, Jasmine. I have plenty of witnesses who can tell me what happened in the parking lot. I'm simply asking for your side of the story."

     Jasmine leaned forward. Her eyes suddenly grew desperate, and Charlie could see it. However, the door had swung open and there stood Madeline, fingers clenched around the handle of her purse. She kept her head held high, feigning innocence.

     "Chief Swan, I surely hope you're not questioning my daughter without me in the room," she said, eyebrows raised.

     Charlie took two steps back from the table and away from Jasmine. "She was just waiting for you, actually." Madeline exchanged a glance with her daughter, and Jasmine's shoulders slumped as she diverted her attention away from Charlie. "Care to tell me what you know, Miss Jones?"

     Madeline wore her signature grin. Jasmine could practically see how fake she was. "My daughter and her boyfriend got into a simple quarrel, that's all."

     "A quarrel?" Charlie repeated in disbelief. "Miss Jones, Amelie was hit by Eli in the parking lot of the school."

     "Says who?" Madeline shot back. "A group of teenagers who were too far away to actually witness the event? My daughter's statement stands — Eli has done nothing to her."

     Charlie gazed at the eldest Jones daughter, but Jasmine was looking at the metal table, fiddling her fingers. "Actually-" she mumbled, but Madeline's hand slammed down on the metal table, lips pursed.

     "Not another word, Jasmine. I believe I'm allowed to take my daughters home now, yes?"

     Charlie threw another look at the eldest Jones daughter. He sighed. "Yes."

     Madeline's fingers gripped around Jasmine's arm, hauling her from the chair and out the door. Jasmine threw Charlie another pleading gaze before she was taken from his sight.

     Charlie sighed, wondering how to deal with the situation before he saw a piece of paper sitting on the chair where Jasmine just was. He took it in his hands, unfolding it and seeing only two words written down.

     Save her.

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     Seth took a deep breath. He had already rehearsed what he was going to say to Jasmine in his head, but he knew he would forget the second he saw her eyes staring back into his.

     It had been a few days since the incident with Amelie and Eli. The whole town had been talking about what happened, but Seth tried to ignore the harsh whispers and rude comments. The only story he would believe had to come from Jasmine's own mouth.

     It was why he was standing on her doorstep, holding a fresh bouquet of yellow tulips and a small teddy bear.

     She was clearly shocked to see him when her door swung open. "Seth?" She asked, eyebrows furrowed.

     Seth simply grinned at her response, reading her facial expression as a good sign. He extended the bouquet towards her with high hopes. "Hi, Jasmine! I just wanted to come by and check in. Are you doing okay? I know it's none of my business, but-"

     "Seth, I'm doing fine."

     Despite looking a little tired and worn out, she still offered him a small smile. Seth didn't say a word about the bags under her eyes or the sluggish way she was walking. He really didn't know how bad the communication had reached in their home, so therefore, he wasn't allowed to speak anything about it.

     "You sure? You haven't been over for dinner lately, and I've gotten worried," he said with flushed cheeks, a little embarrassed by his abrupt confession.

     "Yeah, I've just been a little occupied with things at home. I'm sure you've heard all about it." Her bitter tone isn't directed towards him, but more towards herself. It only spurs on Seth's confusion.

     "Well, mom's making your favorite again tonight if you want to come by."

     There's a hint of desperation in Jasmine's eyes. "Yes, Seth, that would be great. Could I go with you now?"

     His eyes widen. Walking her back to his house was not a part of his original plan, which causes his brain to go into overdrive.

     "Yeah-yeah, that would be awesome."

     He mentally smacks himself for the poor choice of words. Jasmine asks him if she wants to stand outside or come in and wait for her to change, but Seth insists on staying outside. He knows Jasmine's mother is not the most polite person, especially after her husband's death.

     She takes his presents from his hand and leans up to press a kiss on his cheek. Seth's cheeks immediately flush a dark shade of red, but luckily, she's already inside and fails to see it. She really couldn't keep surprising him with kisses — it might just give him a heart attack in the end.

     He waits patiently for her while she changes from her pajamas, coming up with unrealistic theories as to why Jasmine kept kissing him on the cheek. She was probably just being polite, but Seth's imagination liked to think that it was something more.

     A few moments pass before he hears loud yelling inside.

     "And where do you think you're going?"

     "To the Clearwater's house. I was invited over to dinner." Seth hears Jasmine's voice. He can tell she's trying to be brave, but there's a slight falter in her voice.

     "I don't think so. I can't have you risking saying something to Charlie like you almost did at the police station. Do you know how risky that was?" He guesses that it's her mother speaking back to her, because he's surely heard Amelie's timid voice before, and that was not it.

     "So what are you planning to do? Keep me in this hellhole until I leave for college? I don't think so!" Jasmine argues back. Seth blushes, slightly guilty that he was able to hear the private conversation.

     "I sure as hell can! Get your ass back here, Jasmine!"

     The door opens. Seth feels his arm being tugged before he's whisked away from Jasmine's home. Her mother is calling out for her to return, but Jasmine is blinded by this sudden rage of fury. Seth doesn't say a word, knowing she needed some time to cool down.

     "I'm sorry you had to hear that," she finally whispers after minutes of complete silence.

     Seth shakes his head, smiling. "It's fine."

     She decides to lead the conversation elsewhere. "Did you get the invitation from Sam and Emily?"

     He nods. "Yeah. Leah's really upset over it, but mom's insisting that she be a bridesmaid. It's going to take a lot of work for Leah to actually step into that dress."

     She shrugs back. "Leah has every right to be upset, you know. Emily's her cousin, for Christ's sake."

     "Yeah, but it doesn't hurt to forgive and forget."

     She scoffs. "I don't believe in that motto, Seth, sorry." He remains quiet, and Jasmine shakes her head. "Anyways, how do you feel about entering high school?"

     "How do you feel about leaving it?"

     He doesn't say how much the words actually sting him. He doesn't say how much he's going to miss her. He simply puts on a fake smile. This was Jasmine's chance to get out — get away from whatever was holding her back at her home. He should be happy for her.

     "I don't feel any different, actually. Washington State's just a drive away, and I could come back to see Leah anytime," she mentions. Seth's heart speeds up at the thought of her coming to his house whenever she had the chance to drive down.

     "We would love to have you."

     His grin is brighter than anything now, and it makes the corner of Jasmine's lips pull up.

     They arrive at the Clearwater home, and Seth wishes that the walk was longer so he would have more time to spend with her. He wanted to prove to Jasmine that he wasn't just some kid and she should stop treating him like one. He wanted to say how he truly cared about Jasmine more than anyone else in her life.

     "Jas!"

     Sue is elated to see the girl she calls her second daughter. Jasmine offers her best smile, which looks more like a grimace. Sue envelops her into a hug, pulling back to examine her figure. Jasmine was appreciative that Sue wasn't looking at her with pity, just pure happiness.

     "Have you come for dinner? Seth begged me to make your favorite."

     "Mom!" Seth blushes at her comment, ignoring Jasmine's gaze.

     "Sorry, Seth. Well, Jas, Leah's in her room if you want to talk to her. Dinner will be in a hour, okay?" Sue squeezes her shoulders, silently saying that everything would be normal and no one would say a word about what happened with Amelie.

     "That sounds great, Sue. Thank you."

     Sue presses a kiss to her forehead before Jasmine is out of Seth's sight. He sighs when she disappears into Leah's room.

     Sue motions her son to help her in the kitchen, a knowing smile on her face. "Come help me out, Seth."

     "Did you have to embarrass me like that, mom?" He mumbles as he treads over to her.

     "Hey, if I don't, then who will?" She teases, setting a dish in the microwave to warm up. "Besides, I think it's really cute that you still have a crush on Jasmine."

     He visibly frowns. "Why would it be cute? Why can no one ever take my crush seriously?"

     Sue laughs. "Seth, Jasmine's five years older than you and headed for college. Your crush will probably be nonexistent as soon as you don't see her around anymore."

     "Don't say that, mom. It makes me upset."

     She presses a kiss to his forehead. "Alright, go clean up for dinner. I can handle it from here."

     Seth grumbles something under his breath but follows what she says. He passes by Leah's room, but ceases his footsteps when he hears the conversation between his sister and Jasmine.

     "Your brother's been super sweet, though. He brought me flowers and a teddy bear today to cheer me up," he hears Jasmine say.

     Leah chuckles dryly. "I know he did. He was pestering me all last night about what kind of flowers you like and if he should buy you a teddy bear or chocolates. That kid's whipped for you, I'm telling you."

     There's a pause, and Seth wonders if Jasmine is blushing at Leah's comment, because he surely is.

     "I don't know. It was just a nice distraction from everything that's happened lately. Your brother's like a fresh breath of air from all of this toxic waste in my life."

     "Please don't speak about Seth that way. I might vomit all over my sheets." To prove her point, Leah gags dramatically.

     Seth grins to himself at the reference Jasmine makes. He was the fresh breath of air in her life and he would surely talk about it until the end of time.

     There's moments of silence again and Seth wonders why, but his question is answered when the door swings open, hitting him right in the face. He groans, hands flinging to cover his damaged nose. He can hear Jasmine gasp in worry, but when he looks up, all he sees is the furious gaze of his sister.

     "Are you kidding me? Were you spying on us, you brat?" She hisses.

     Seth's mind searches for a plausible excuse, but he ends up saying the first thing that comes to mind. "No! I was walking by and you just hit me in the face!"

     "Sure, you creep," Leah scoffs back.

     She stalks off to the kitchen, and Seth feels a hand on his wrist. Jasmine is smiling softly at him, and his face grows a deeper hue of red.

     "Come on, let's get you an ice pack."

     They're about to enter the kitchen, but Seth suddenly gains an ounce of courage. He grabs Jasmine's wrist and she swivels back to face him, one eyebrow raised at his sudden action.

     "Did you mean what you said? That I was a fresh breath of air for you?"

     "Oh, so you were spying," she says, hands on her hips. Seth can easily detect the teasing tone in her voice. "If you really want to know, Seth, I need all of the distractions I can get these days. I don't know what you've heard or seen, but my life is insane right now and I can't be bothered to deal with it."

     Seth grinned. He intended to be Jasmine's fresh breath of air for as long as possible.

protect jasmine and amelie at all costs!! they do not deserve any of this!!