✖ excessively tender-hearted.

Jasmine Thompson | XIX | Law Student ❝I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.❞

[jasminexthompson]

TRUTH OR DARE | Gabriel & Jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza

Gabriel had heard enough horror tales from his teammates to fear Courtney making a scene, but thankfully that didn’t happen. She was actually quite calm and collected about it, which was surprising. He wasn’t sure he would have been if he’d ended up being rejected the way she just had. Then again, he couldn’t actually remember the last time he had been rejected when liking a girl. Maybe he’d just been lucky so far. He also wasn’t the best at putting himself out there, which was why Jasmine had absolutely no clue that he was interested in her. In his mind, he just couldn’t imagine someone like her liking someone like him. Jasmine was beautiful and intelligent and the nicest human being he had ever met, and he was just… not. He shouldn’t even have been at this school in the first place. 

“Oh, uhm, Jasmine asked me,” he said with a small shrug, as if that explained everything. And to him, it did. She could have asked him to go to a math conference with her, which sounded like the worst possible place on Earth, and he still would have said yes. As long as he got to spend time with her, it was worth it. Or at least that’s what he’d thought. Now he couldn’t help but start worrying about whether or not she would still be there when the seven minutes were up, and if she’d found herself another guy. Pulled back to reality, Gabriel looked over at Courtney as he started to realise he might be giving her information a little too easy. “No,” he was quick to say, shaking his head a couple of times to emphasise his point. “She’s not here. Nope.” He couldn’t look at Courtney while saying that, however, because Gabriel was perhaps the worst liar on the planet. That’s why he’d also started fidgeting, playing with the hem of his shirt in an attempt to keep calm. If he admitted to her actually being her, as was the truth, it would be too easy to figure out who it was. After all, Jasmine was the only one he really knew here. 

As Jasmine finished her drink, wrinkling her nose slightly every time she took a sip, she could feel Taz’s gaze on her which he hadn’t taken off her ever since he handed her that drink. “Ready to talk about it now, princess? Or are we going to keep ignoring your little crush on that gorgeous football player who looks like one of those Greek statues?” Taz asked with a tilt of his head and Jasmine would have been caught off guard by his blatant disregard for her wishes if she hadn’t been used to it by now. And the worst thing about it was that usually him pushing her past her comfort zone left her feeling better about herself and the situation that kept bothering her not too long ago. So she couldn’t even really complain ... “There is nothing to talk about ...” she sighed and averted her gaze, a slight frown gracing her features before she added, “He doesn’t like me like that.” No, he probably wasn’t even thinking of her anymore now that he was alone with Courtney. “Oh, dear, the good news is that he is a clueless and awkward as you. If you ask me you two would be a match made in heaven.” he returned, clearly amused by her apparent oblivion as well as Gabriel’s. If it just wasn’t so tragic to watch at times. It was clear to most people around them that they had a crush on each other, just they didn’t seem to realize that the feelings were mutual. And apparently no one planned on telling them either.

In the other room Courtney was raising an eyebrow at his quick response. Too quick, if someone asked her. She noticed the way he got nervous and kept her eyes on him in a way to make him understand that she wouldn’t give in so easily. “So, maybe I should ask Jasmine about the girl you like then, huh?” Courtney wondered, smiling mischievously before taking a look at her watch. “Or you just spill the tea, considering we still got more than five minutes left in here. Unless you wanna make out after all?” the blonde added with a grin, quite enjoying the sight of him as he turned into a ball of nerves, trying to dodge any and all questions she’d possibly throw his way. The decision was his as to how this would go. Gossip or making out – to Courtney both options were equally exciting.

[gabrielxmendoza]

get your head in the game | gabriel & jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

Gabriel just sat silently looking up at the stars for a while, feeling more at peace than he had in a long time. His mind kept drifting, to the past, to now, to what would happen in the future. Most often, however, he found his thoughts ending up on Jasmine. He never could have predicted how much she would change his life, and if he was honest with himself, he was so glad she had. That he’d texted that number and she’d been the one to show up. He had no idea how he was supposed to manage without her, not just with her making sure he was alright because of the headache, but with his school and everything else as well. She’d become such a huge part of his life in such a short amount of time, and Gabriel found himself wishing it wouldn’t change. He would be happy to have her in his life, for however long she wanted to stay. 

A hint of a smile crossed his lips when she spoke up again, though he didn’t turn his head to look at her. He wondered if she thought it was easier to admit to things, too, when she didn’t have to look him in the eye. Almost as if it was a secret. Gabriel didn’t ask, of course, not at all minding the silence settling over them. It lasted for a little while longer before he decided he was ready to  start walking again, the headache and nausea not as bad as it had been a couple minutes earlier. Before he could get up or say anything, however, a faint touch drew him to a stop. It took a couple seconds, but eventually he realised it was Jasmine’s hand reaching for his. Her hand felt soft against his own, and as cliché as it was, he couldn’t help but think it fit perfectly against his own. Almost as if it was meant to be right there. Gabriel sat still for a little while before he eventually laced his fingers through her, enjoying every single second of their hands touching. He realised they couldn’t stay at the bench forever, on the other hand, so he reluctantly pushed himself up to his feet. “Alright, I think I’m ready to go back,” he announced, turning to face Jasmine. He still hadn’t let go of her hand, clinging to it and to her touch more than he wanted to admit. 

Jasmine felt her heart beat at a rapid pace and for the faintest moment she actually considered pulling back, wanting to scold herself for making things even more complicated than she felt they already were. Especially since she still hadn’t quite figured out what it was that she felt for Gabriel. The second her skin touched his, however, all those doubts and concerns were erased from her mind as she dwelled in the sensation of this warmth. She kept looking up to the stars, warmth rising to her cheeks when his fingers eventually intertwined with hers. And even though she couldn’t pinpoint her feelings for him, she knew that much – it wasn’t just friendship. Peeking at their hands, she allowed a soft smile to tug on the corners of her lips before he finally started to move and stood up.

For a moment she felt uncertain, expecting him to let go of her hand, but when he didn’t she actually met his gaze, noticing the hint of a smile that graced his features and that caused her own smile to grow a little brighter. She nodded in agreement, still holding on to his hand when she finally began to take a few tentative steps to ensure that he really was good to go. “Good call, it’s getting cold.” she commented before looking up at the clear sky one more time. The days were still warm but the nights could get that much colder, especially without any clouds to hold back the cold. Jasmine continued to walk, knowing the way to his dorm by heart, given the many times she had been to it. They still held hands, still didn’t address the gesture with words. And Jasmine wouldn’t have wanted it any other way since the longer they held hands and the longer they stayed quiet, the clearer her thoughts got. A very welcoming development, considering how blurry her mind could get whenever the thought of him crossed it.

[jasminexthompson]

TRUTH OR DARE | Gabriel & Jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

Gabriel was nervous, and clearly she could tell. It wasn’t often he was alone with attractive girls like her — with the exception of Jasmine, of course, because they were alone all the time, although not like this. Even worse, for once he was pretty sure he was reading the clues she was giving out right, and if he was, that meant the two of them had very different ideas of what was about to happen. Because even though he was alone with a pretty girl that seemed keen on getting to know him, probably more than that too, all he could think of was Jasmine. Was she looking for another guy to spend her time with? Did she even care that he was in here with one of her housemates? He had no idea, and he didn’t like it. 

“No. Uh, I mean, yes, a little, but not like that.” He was rambling, and whenever he was rambling he seemed to have trouble getting to the point quickly enough. Courtney had already managed to close the distance between them, and before he could even open his mouth to say another word, she sat down in his lap, one foot on either side of his body. “It’s okay if you’re nervous,” she said, the glint of mischief still in her eyes, a wide smile on her lips as she leaned towards him. “Look, I’m very sorry but I think I might have given you the wrong idea. I’m not, uh, interested like that. And it has nothing to do with you, I promise! You’re very pretty and I’m sure there’s a ton of guys out there for you, for whatever, uh, you might want them for. I just thought I should let you know that that’s not me, before things got awkward.” Gabriel might be a little too late for that, unfortunately. By the time he finally managed to get to his point, despite leaning as far away from Courtney as he could, her lips had already made it to his jaw, planting a firm kiss there. He found himself praying she wasn’t wearing lipstick, because for some reason, he really didn’t want anyone — or rather, Jasmine — thinking something was going on between him and Courtney. 

Because it really wasn’t. As soon as his words registered, the girl moved away from his lap, sitting down as far away from him on the bed as possible. Gabriel felt bad, so he continued speaking, hoping she wouldn’t feel bad if he explained the situation. “You see, the thing is, I actually already kinda like someone.” He hadn’t really wanted to admit it to himself, but it was true, and he knew it. Gabriel liked Jasmine whether he wanted to or not, and when he first had his eye on someone, he couldn’t look at any other girl the same way. Not wanting to admit it, he certainly hadn’t told Jasmine, and he wasn’t sure if he would, either. He didn’t want to risk ruining their friendship or her helping him out, and he had no clue if she felt the same way. She probably didn’t, and he didn’t feel like being rejected. 

Courtney was convinced that she could remedy his nervousness by simply keeping him from getting too much into his head. And what better way was there to achieve that than by making out? With that thought in mind she stepped closer before joining him on the bed, straddling him before he could object. Soon after her lips found his jaw and the girl closed her eyes, sighing softly as he kept rambling on. It was cute and she couldn’t help but smile in amusement as her lips kept wandering along his jaw. At first, she barely registered his words, too invested in making him understand that she was really into him which she hoped would erase the tension that she could still feel coming from him. But when he mentioned that he wasn’t interested, she realized her mistake, pulling back slowly at first to meet his gaze before realizing that he meant it. She had been with enough guys and none of them had ever looked at her the way he did. He was being honest and very much to her confusion ... he didn’t want her. Her confusion didn’t come from arrogance or an unhealthy portion of confidence. She just had never met a guy who wouldn’t take her up on such a very blatant offer.

She climbed off his lap and got enough distance between them to hopefully make him at least a little more comfortable in her company. Even though she knew that she might have ruined those chances given her rather forward advances. A slight frown appeared on her features as she eyed him, waiting for him to elaborate a little once he admitted to already liking someone. Which apparently he didn’t plan to. “Then what are you even doing here? Surrounded by a bunch of girls, half of which would have done anything to end up in here with you? That’s just a recipe for disaster.” she returned, now too invested to find out who he was crushing on as well as finding out why he apparently hadn’t made a move yet. After all he already told her quite a bit and she hadn’t even been asking up until now. “Unless ... she is here. Or he. Them?” she wondered, clarifying that any choice was fine with her.

[jasminexthompson]

TRUTH OR DARE | Gabriel & Jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

Gabriel wasn’t really paying attention to the bottle, too busy trying to catch Jasmine’s gaze so he could find someone to find solace in. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t meet his eye. Before he could come up with a different plan than simply staring at her, a bunch of cheers and someone bumping his shoulder drew his attention to the middle of the table, where the bottle was conveniently pointing straight at him. “Oh, uh, well, I don’t know about this…” he started, but once again he was completely drowned out by the rest of the people present. In fact, was it just him or had some of the girls peaked up, looking more than a little excited as one of them moved to spin the bottle once more, thus sealing the fate of who he was supposed to spend seven minutes in heaven with. Almost immediately his gaze travelled to Jasmine again, a foolish part of him hoping the bottle might land on her. He wasn’t sure if she felt the same way, and certainly not when she so clearly refused to meet his gaze. She still wasn’t looking at him, and once again he was forced to look away when another round of cheering pulled him out of his thoughts. 

He barely had time to connect the pointing bottle and the girl that was picked out before the girl from before practically shooed the two chosen ones into an empty room nearby. It all happened so fast he didn’t even have time to glance back at Jasmine one last time, though he supposed it wouldn’t matter. She probably wasn’t looking at him anymore now than she had before. God, what if she was happy to be rid of him? Maybe she’d go find someone else to spend the evening with now that he wasn’t there anymore. The thought didn’t sit well with him at all. 

“I’m Courtney,” the girl said, flashing him a pearly, almost seductive smile as she closed — and locked — the door behind her. Glancing around Gabriel couldn’t help but notice it was a bedroom, of course, and it didn’t help that it was dimly lit. “Oh, that’s a nice name,” Gabriel said, subconsciously taking a few steps back as Courtney started advancing towards him. Unfortunately he forgot that the bed was almost right behind him, which meant he ended up practically crashing into it. Having walked a little faster than he probably should have, the force on impact made him fall back so that his back almost immediately hit the bed. It was meant as an attempt to retreat and put some space between them, but it might have come off as wanting to reach the bed as fast as possible, ready for her to join him on the bed. “I’m Gabriel,” he added as he started pushing himself into a sitting position, unable to handle any kind of silence at the moment. 

Jasmine and Courtney got along pretty well. Certainly well enough for Courtney to confide into Jasmine, admitting how she had a crush on Gabriel, asking Jas if she could introduce them. Somehow Jas had managed to avoid doing so on several occasions and a part of her felt quite bad about it. Because ... why didn’t she want to introduce Gabriel and Courtney? Why did the idea of them spending time together gnaw on her in such a way that it left a stinging pain in her chest? Why was it that despite thinking so highly of Courtney she didn’t think that she deserved him? And why was it that she got the impression that she did none of this for his sake but her own? Jealousy was an ugly thing ... Jasmine still averted her gaze when Courtney and Gabriel were led into a vacant room, knowing that they’d get to meet after all. Probably do even more than that. They’d make a pretty couple ... that’s what their friends had said. And Jasmine couldn’t deny it. She also didn’t want to think about it though.

“Be right back.” she murmured to the person next to her before getting up and heading for the kitchen. She didn’t plan to stick around, waiting for them to come back when she didn’t even know how to handle the idea of them being together. It was ridiculous and the rational part of her brain had no qualms to tell her as much. Why being jealous when there really was no reason to? She tutored him, they were friends ... but that was it. She didn’t even have a right to be jealous, especially since she didn’t have the guts to tell him how she felt. There was no one to blame but herself but that insight only intensified that sinking feeling in her stomach. Regret ... Probably the worst feeling of them all.

A full cup was put on the counter in front of her and Jasmine looked up. Taz. “You look like you could use a drink.” he said and nodded at the cup which Jasmine reached for in return and took a sip from. She didn’t know what to expect only that she these days she trusted Taz to know what she needed better than she did herself, considering that he always kept going on about her refusal to acknowledge the feelings she apparently had for Gabriel. And yet the burning sensation that the drink left down her throat caused her to cough. “Disgusting, I know. But it gets better.” he said and grinned at her. Jasmine didn’t need to ask what he thought would get better nor did she want to point out that encouraging alcoholism wasn’t really a solution. She knew what he meant and she had to admit that it actually got better when the knot in her stomach began to loosen a little. “I don’t want to talk about it right now ...” she merely said before looking down. “I know. Hence, the drink. Besides, I am not the one you should talk to.” he returned, causing Jasmine to look up at him once more. He was right, but that didn’t make her freak out any less.

In the meantime, Courtney was chuckling when she spotted Gabriel stumbling back and onto the bed. He was nervous which she considered to be a good sign. Maybe Jasmine had mentioned her to him after all and he simply hadn’t mustered up the courage to talk to her. Which seemed very much possible, considering that he didn’t possess of the arrogance and overflowing ego that some guys sported and very much unjustified so. He, on the other hand, was sweet and nice and he always treated Jasmine and the other girls in their friend group with respect. Courtney had a tendency to fall for the guys that weren’t good for her, but with him she had a feeling that maybe she finally turned things around. “Do I make you nervous?” she asked, smiling at him with a glint of mischief in her gaze as she stepped closer in an attempt to erase the remaining distance between them.

[gabrielxmendoza]

get your head in the game | gabriel & jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza

Gabriel was afraid she might say something about his obvious need to take a breather, but she didn’t. She pretended like she needed a break instead, which he knew was bullshit, but didn’t call her out on. Quite frankly, he had more than enough just focusing on himself in that moment. Slowing his breathing, squeezing his eyes shut, willing away his pounding head. Forgetting about the nausea. It took some time, but eventually his breathing technique seemed to do the trick. The nausea passed, and a couple of seconds later, he managed to lift his head without immediately wanting to drop to the ground. To say he wasn’t still dead tired would be a lie, though, so against all odds — and his will — he slumped down on the bench next to Jasmine. He didn’t look over at her, however, too afraid he would see pity or maybe even disgust on her face. He wasn’t sure he could handle that coming from her. Not tonight.

They sat in silence for a little while before she eventually broke the silence, and her comment made him groan. “Oh God, please no math and numbers tonight,” he complained, though he was mostly saying it as a joke. Mostly. Her comment did cause him to look up, however, taking in the stars adorning the sky. It was still dark enough that the few burning lights didn’t cause him any more pain than he was already in. Looking up at the night sky, he felt oddly calm. At peace, even. “I always loved stars and constellations as a kid,” Gabriel eventually admitted, searching the sky until he found what he was looking for. “I used to beg my grandparents to change my name, actually. Orion sounded so much cooler than Gabriel.” Thinking back, he closed his eyes, swallowing hard. After pitching the idea to his grandfather for the first time, he’d been ridiculed and yelled at for an hour straight. He hadn’t changed his mind, though, not for a long time.

His reaction was one to be expected, especially give the circumstances. He already didn’t like anything math-related and she assumed that passionate loathing only intensified in a moment such as this. Yet she couldn’t help but chuckle at his objection. “I’m sorry. Old habits. Won’t happen again.” she said apologetically and looked at him, smiling warmly before her gaze lifted to the night sky again. It was nice, just sitting there and watching the stars, far away from all the hectic and loud environment they were usually surrounded by. Jasmine couldn’t even remember the last time when she was just sitting on a bench, doing nothing in particular. It felt like she didn’t have a worry in the world. She could only hope that he felt the same serenity that was currently consuming her and that it helped with the headache she was sure he was struggling with.

His words pulled her out of her thoughts. She didn’t take her eyes off the sky, listening closely as he revealed a piece of his past while they both just sat there. “I like Gabriel ...” she said under her breath, feeling her cheeks warm up a little while she was still staring at the stars. She wanted to ask him so many questions, wanted to find out more about how he was raised, where his parents fit into the picture, what else he was interested in. Anything really. But she was grateful that he shared anything at all and didn’t want him to feel like she was prying nor make his headache worse. Which was why she didn’t ask and remained quiet, instead allowing her fingers to move closer to his, feeling the overwhelming urge to erase that distance between them. She didn’t know if it was for the stars and how looking up at them made her a little dizzy or the fact that they were surrounded by nothing but silence. All she knew was that she didn’t want this moment to end when her hand finally reached his, holding it gently as her gaze remained trained on the sky.

[gabrielxmendoza]

get your head in the game | gabriel & jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza

Although Gabriel had more than enough with himself right then, he could tell Jasmine was holding back and slowing down because of him, and it bothered him more than he wanted to let on. It seemed that was all she did whenever she was around him — having to sink to his level. Either it was physically walking right now, or literally having to dumb things down for him to understand whenever she helped him study. She was so out of his league it wasn’t even funny, and even though he’d known it all along, he’d hoped that maybe it didn’t matter. Right now, however, he couldn’t help but think that it did. Most likely she was only walking him home because she felt bad for him. Perhaps that was the only reason why she ever hung out with him. After all, who could like a guy like Gabriel, whose only shot at attending college was a scholarship? 

“I don’t know,” he mumbled, stopping briefly to shut his eyes, once again trying to will away the pain. “I’m sure Mason will get it.” Even if he didn’t, Gabriel couldn’t think of anything he needed. His phone was still in the locker room, but he didn’t really care. The doctor had told him to avoid all bright screens for a couple days anyways, which included his phone. Honestly, he didn’t really use it that much anyways. Taking a deep breath, he pulled himself together enough to continue walking again. It was a slow and painful process, but at least he was moving forwards, and moving towards the sanctuary of his own room. About halfway there, Gabriel was starting to realise he might have pushed himself too hard in trying to walk as fast and painless as possible to keep up appearances with Jasmine. Moving his head a little too quickly caused the now familiar wave of nausea to roll over him, and this time it was too strong to continue on as if he didn’t feel it. Thankfully there was a bench close by, so without thinking twice, Gabriel turned towards it. He supported himself against it, crouching down slightly and dipping his head forward, his eyes now squeezed shut. You’re not gonna vomit in front of Jasmine, he told himself, over and over again. Just hold on a little longer. 

Jasmine made sure to adjust her pace to his, not wanting to give him the impression that he had to hurry. And yet she couldn’t help but notice that he seemed to push himself, not slowing down when she offered it as he kept heading for his dorm, determined yet out of balance. Still, she made sure to stay by his side even if only to let him know that she was there if he needed her. Until he suddenly stopped near a bench that gave him with stability for the time being which apparently he didn’t want her to provide for him. “I think we should sit down. I could use a break.” she tried, hoping her poor attempt would allow him to give in to her suggestion. It was clear that he wanted to get to his place as soon as possible, but they still had a little left to go and she knew she wouldn’t be able to get him there if he ended up passing out after all.

So instead of giving him a chance to argue – if that was what he decided he wanted to do – she sat down on the bench, smiling at him encouragingly as she waited for him to follow her lead. Her gaze lifted up to the sky, it was dark by now and even though they were in the city she still managed to make out a bunch of stars that decorated the darkness that hung over them. In a not gloomy or foreshadowing way. It was beautiful and it actually helped to mute her thoughts for a moment. At least the thoughts that revolved around Gabriel and how she’d probably never find the courage to tell him how she felt. All other thoughts were still very much fair game. “Did you know that there are about 10 billion galaxies in the observable universe? The number of stars in a galaxy varies, but assuming an average of 100 billion stars per galaxy means that there are about 1 billion trillion stars in the observable universe.” she said absentmindedly as she kept looking up.

[jasminexthompson]

TRUTH OR DARE | Gabriel & Jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

“Just don’t tell me I didn’t warn you,” was all Gabriel said in reply, a faint grin on his lips as he shook his head. In his own personal opinion, he didn’t think he was half as bad as many of his other teammates. He might be slightly messier than a lot of them, though, when he thought about it. Cleaning was one of his least favourite activities, and apparently turning his room into a shitstorm seemed to be one of his favourite things to do. Those didn’t combine very well, unfortunately. “Oh, I can imagine,” he grinned. He was glad he only did football, and that he didn’t drink much. He couldn’t imagine much worse than spinning when being hungover. 

He’d just taken another sip of his beer when someone suddenly grabbed his wrist, and before he knew it, both he and Jasmine were pulled along. Sharing a look with Jasmine, he wasn’t sure exactly what he was in for, but judging by the apologetic look on her face, he had a feeling it couldn’t be good. Exactly what game they were roped into he wasn’t sure. Spotting the bottle in the middle of the table made an almost uneasy feeling spread through his stomach, and soon after it was confirmed. Seven minutes in heaven. It was a childish game, really, and one he hadn’t played in who knew how long. “You know, I really don’t think—” Gabriel started, about to object and chicken out, but he never got the words out with all the people moving around and getting ready. Jasmine was pulled away from him too, and before he could wrap his mind around what was happening, the girl to his left had pulled him down next to her, another girl soon following on his right. “Okay, okay, stop bickering and let’s get started!” another girl spoke up. Gabriel was still tempted to run away, but things moved too quickly and suddenly the bottle was spinning. He hadn’t even seen who spun it, but all he could think was Please don’t land on me. There was only one girl in this room he wanted to be paired up with — his gaze drifted to Jasmine just as the thought entered his mind — and the likelihood of that happening probably wasn’t very big. Then again, it wasn’t like he was great at math. Maybe things would finally work out for him for once. 

When the bottle landed on Gabriel, Jasmine was convinced that some higher entity was trying to mock her. And she couldn’t even claim that it wasn’t working when all of a sudden her blood began to drum in her ears and at such a high volume that it even drowned out the cheers of some of the girls at this more or less lucky coincidence. Jasmine couldn’t even bring herself to look up at Gabriel, instead fixing her gaze on the bottle, not wanting to see that he was maybe just as excited about the outcome as some of her housemates. The girls that participated in their game were all gorgeous and she was certain that he must have noticed by now that pretty much all of them had their eyes on him. Which was why they talked her into inviting him. So did Taz. For different reasons, sure, being foolish enough to believe that he’d want to come here because of her. But what if he actually liked one of her friends. The idea itself wasn’t farfetched. They had way more experience than her, they knew what boys liked and most importantly they knew what they wanted and went for it. To Jasmine, on the other hand, all this was uncharted territory.

“Now, this got interesting pretty fast.” Jessica announced, already quite excited, even though she knew that Gabriel wasn’t reason for it as she prided herself to be a gold-star lesbian, a term Jasmine actually had to look up first time Jess shared that tidbit about herself. She was the one to spin the bottle another time while Jasmine still didn’t date to look up and meet his gaze. A part of her hoped it would land on her, no matter how ridiculous that sounded. They’d just end up talking for seven minutes – and there was nothing wrong with that, if she wasn’t sure that with any other girl he probably would go a step further ... Which somehow frustrated her beyond belief. Another round of cheering pulled her out of her thoughts and Jasmine saw that the bottle had landed on Courtney, another girl of her friend group and one she actually was closest with. Even if no one could come close to the friendship she had with Taz. She looked at the other girl and swallowed past the lump that had made its way to her throat. And before she could do or say anything, let alone look at Gabriel, Jessica already got up to usher the two of them into an empty room nearby.

[gabrielxmendoza]

get your head in the game | gabriel & jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

Jasmine didn’t take no for an answer, and Gabriel was too tired to argue with her. He merely sighed in defeat, figuring it wouldn’t be too bad if she walked with him. At least he knew she would help if something happened. On the other hand, that also meant he had to make more of an effort to look like he didn’t feel as shitty as he did. He wasn’t entirely sure why he was so set on making sure she didn’t see him at such a low point, but he was. He wanted her to think he was doing okay, that he could handle a small hit without fainting. Well, technically he had blacked out for a little while after the hit, but she didn’t know that, nor did she need to find out. 

He’d already given up the fight, which was a good thing. There was no way he would have gotten rid of her when she’d apparently cleared her schedule for the night. Normally he would have smiled at the thought of her cancelling any other plans she might have had to come watch him play and spend time with him, but tonight was a rare day in which he couldn’t find it in him to lift the corners of his lips. “I’m good,” Gabriel announced, nodding a couple times. It was more to reassure himself than to reassure her, really. I can do this, he thought to himself, finally pushing himself from the wall to stand straight. It took a couple of seconds to find his balance, but once he had, he started heading for the exit. He kept his head down, shying away from all bright lights, trying to dispel the headache that seemed to refuse to let go. He wasn’t about to let that stop him, however. The sooner he made it back to his dorm, the better. Despite his wish to hurry, it took a painfully long time to reach the door and exit the building, and even though he’d taken some pills, he didn’t feel a whole lot better than he had. 

She noticed that her decision didn’t sit too well with him for some reason. And yet, contrary to her usual behavior, she didn’t back off even if she risked getting on his nerves by not letting him shake her off. That was the thing though; she simply couldn’t. She had been so worried ever since she saw him laying on the field, his teammates surrounding him while he wouldn’t move and it had been a scary sight. One she hoped she wouldn’t have to witness again, even though she knew how unlikely that was. It also made her realize something else, which was probably the great revelation of the night even if she had suspected it for quite some time now ... Jasmine Thompson had feelings for one Gabriel Mendoza and it messed with her head big time. It was something she still hadn’t quite come to terms with, which was no fault of his – but hers. For the first time, she didn’t have all the answers. She had no experience with that sort of thing ... with boys. And right now was the worst possible moment to even indulge in this newfound insight. Which was why she did what she always did when she didn’t want to deal with something at the time. She pushed it back into the depths of her brain to be dealt with when she was on her own, and she did so just in time to notice him push himself off the wall and set in motion.

Jasmine waited patiently, giving him as much time as he needed to steady himself before she aligned her steps with his, always careful and attentive to provide him with support in case he needed it. “Do you need me to get your stuff from the locker room or is Mason taking care of it?” she asked just as they had left the building, only to make sure he didn’t leave anything here that he might need later.

[jasminexthompson]

Pocketful Of Sunshine | Gabriel & Jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

As much as Gabriel hated the thought of doing homework and laundry, the idea of chocolate was more than a little enticing. And besides, Jasmine would be there the whole time, and everything was easier with her there. Even if he did hate coming off like the stupidest guy on the planet around her. “Fine, we have a deal,” he agreed, unable to hide a smile of his own seeing those pearly whites of her. “But I think we should start with the chocolate. Napping is tiring and I need some sugar in my body.” That, and he wanted to put off the actual work a little longer. Had it been up to him they wouldn’t have been doing work at all, and not just because he disliked anything school-related. Spending time with Jasmine was actually fun, and he wished they’d get a chance to hang out without the studying hanging over them. If that was something she wanted, of course. Gabriel wasn’t very good at reading people. 

Walking along towards Jasmine’s place, he couldn’t help but shake his head and roll his eyes at her teasing comment. He was tempted to admit that spending so much of his time with a smart, gorgeous her wasn’t a chore at all, but he kept it to himself. The last thing he wanted was to make things awkward. “I don’t remember saying anything about stealing, or complaining,” he said instead, shrugging innocently and giving her a grin. He always looked forward to seeing her again, even if he’d kinda forgotten about it today thanks to his very long, unplanned nap. “That’s when I get my inspiration,” he teased, even though it was partly true. It seemed like his body found a hidden container of energy right around the time he was to lay down and sleep, and that had to mean getting rid of the energy somehow. Raising a brow, he eyed her skeptically. “I’m not sure you would want to, because I swear I’m not very good. But if you absolutely insist.” Shrugging, he grinned again, knowing there was no way he could ever say no to her. “Oh, but I think I deserve a reward after, no matter how you feel about my performance. It’s not easy giving up my talents, and I won’t do it for free,” he added teasingly. 

“I wasn’t born yesterday, you know?” Jasmine returned in response to his cheeky suggestion. She knew where this would be going if she allowed him to have it his way. He’d most likely claim to be in a food coma or some other ridiculous excuse only to get out of studying at all. But she knew all the tricks, despite never having used any of them, and she refused to let him fool her. More for his sake, than her own. “We’ll put your laundry into the washer, start studying and once the laundry is done you’ll get our chocolate fix. So you have to stick around and study or else no clean clothes and no chocolate.” she laughed, knowing that the latter would probably bother him more than the prospect of unwashed clothes.

Jasmine couldn’t help herself but to smile at his response, glad that he didn’t mind them spending so much time lately, even if it was mostly in order to study. Today was a little different though as they walked to her place, knowing that there were more exciting plans on their agenda in their near future than just studying. Namely, chocolate. Lots of it. And truth be told, Jasmine looked forward to it as much as Gabriel probably did. “You know what? I can actually relate to that. When I was still living at home I sometimes stayed up until late at night to write or even compose some brief harmonies on the piano. Nothing that related to school, just things that I felt inspired to do. Maybe that’s because it is quieter at night. Maybe it allows another part of your brain to express itself, the part that’s creative opposed to the part that’s supposed to work like a sponge. Especially during SATs.” she said, smiling warmly as they kept walking before finally making it to the sorority house. “A reward? And what exactly were you thinking of?” she wondered, still smiling, not quite sure what he’d propose but catching herself quite intrigued nonetheless as she rummaged in her bag until she finally found her keys and unlocked the door so they could enter.

[jasminexthompson]

TRUTH OR DARE | Gabriel & Jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

Gabriel couldn’t hold back a small chuckle at her proposition, shaking his head with a grin on his face.”Enter at your own risk, is all I’m saying. I think they could use some female company down in that basement every now and then, and it would be even better if they got their asses kicked. Most of them would be alright losing to you. I think.” They took video games a lot more serious than he did. Maybe Jasmine being there would mean them toning down their abrasive behaviour at least a little. Last time things didn’t go the quarterback’s way, he ended up breaking a vase that wasn’t his. Accidentally, of course, but still. It was always just the guys playing — Gabriel didn’t think the girlfriends of some of his teammates were interested in video games. He was a little surprised that Jasmine was. Not that she was his girlfriend or anything. 

A laugh escaped his lips at the thought of being hungover and doing a pirouette, which he had finally learned was something spinning. “That sounds like a recipe for disaster,” he agreed, watching her take a sip of his beer. A grin broke out at her frown, clearly not liking the contents of his cup. “It’s really not that bad,” he started, though he was suddenly too distracted to finish what he’d been planning to say. His gaze was drawn to Jasmine tracing a finger along her lips, which made him realise just how soft and kissable they looked, and how much he wanted to find out if he was right. Quickly averting his gaze once it dawned on him that he was staring, he took a rather large sip of his beer, expelling those thoughts from his mind. Trying to, at least. “It’s really not that bad,” he repeated, shaking his head a couple times. “But I guess it’s something you have to get used to. Do you know what is bad, though? Pure vodka. I still don’t understand how some people just drop the mixers and go straight for the vodka. That shouldn’t be legal.” 

“You keep saying that, yet you seem to have forgotten that I have already been to your place and didn’t run for the hills screaming. I think I’ll be fine.” Jasmine said teasingly even though her amused smile gave her away. This time she took a sip from her own cup, preferring the taste of water over beer at any day even if some of her friends liked to argue that water didn’t taste of anything. Something she’d deny vehemently. At his words Jasmine laughed, nodding. “Oh, it is, believe me. Because, unlike me, Taz lives life to its fullest and apparently he likes to combine tequila with pirouettes. It rarely ends well.” Jasmine confirmed before taking another sip of her cup, still trying to get rid of the stale taste of his beer. “You’re right … it’s worse.” she complained playfully before spotting the stain that the traces of her lipstick had left on his cup.

She was about to say something when a familiar voice suddenly pulled her out of her thoughts, followed by a hand that didn’t just reach for her wrist but also Gabriel’s. “You guys! We’re playing a game and you should totally join us!” Jessica – one of the girls she shared this house with – said as she pulled them both with her. She was nice, always quite bubbly and especially attached after a few drinks. It was actually really sweet and Jasmine was convinced that Jess didn’t have a single bad bone in her body. Jasmine smiled at Gabriel apologetically before they finally reached a group of people that was sitting in a circle on the various sofas and arm chairs the living space comprised. She spotted a bottle in the middle of the table they were all sitting around of. “What kind of game are we talking here?” Jas wondered before Sarah, another girl of their group, confirmed her initial concerns. “Seven minutes in heaven! And we’re in dire need of boys to decrease my chances of being paired up with Jess. Which means, you,” she pointed at Gabriel, “have to join us!” Jasmine was too dumbstruck to say anything, merely glancing at Gabriel before she was pulled away by Jess. “Hey! I am a great kisser. You’d be lucky to be paired up with me!” Jessica complained, feigning to be hurt by Sarah’s comment, but everyone who knew them was aware that they were best friends who also happened to bicker like an old married couple.

[gabrielxmendoza]

get your head in the game | gabriel & jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

Gabriel only managed to weakly shake his head at her comment, letting it slide without saying anything else. Tonight hadn’t been his best game, but an okay-ish performance was now completely overshadowed by that hit. How could he have been so stupid? He should have known better than to reach for the football in that moment, should have paid better attention to his surroundings. Ending up with a concussion from the hit was his own fault for not protecting himself better. It still sucked, of course. He’d actually really been looking forwards to Jasmine getting to see him play, and then spending time with her after. 

Expecting her to just let him walk on home on his own, Gabriel couldn’t stop himself from looking up when that wasn’t what happened at all. He glanced over at Jasmine in confusion, not even cracking a smile at her joke because he was more than a little busy trying to figure out if she was actually being sincere. Judging by the look on her face, it seemed like she meant it. But why would she sacrifice her evening to walk him home? “I’ll be fine,” he insisted. Would he make it home eventually? Of that he was sure, but he wasn’t sure how the trip would be. If he had to guess it would take ten times as long as usual, and not without a few bumps in the road. But really, it wasn’t a big deal. He could do it. “I’m sure you have other things you’d rather be doing, and really, I don’t mind going by myself. You know my dorm isn’t too far from here.” Most of the football guys had dorms fairly close to the stadium, and tonight Gabriel was especially thankful for that. If he’d had to walk all the way across campus he wasn’t sure he’d make it. Honestly, the thought of walking all the way back to his own dorm seemed intimidating enough at the moment. Everything would have been a lot easier if his head hadn’t been ringing, and if the nausea just disappeared. 

Jasmine merely smiled at him. “I’m sure you’ll be, but I’d still feel better about it if I just walked with you. So, no back talk.” she decided, not leaving any more room for objections. Part of her decision sprung from selfish need to ensure that he’d arrive in his dorm safely which would surely keep her from tossing and turning in her bed as she kept wondering if he made it home alright. Especially considering his bad texting habits which would prevent him from letting her know that he was home. So, accompanying him was a safe bet. The other reason was that she wanted to be there for him. He obviously felt bad, not only because of the pain he was most likely feeling, but also for how the happenings of the evening had unfolded. Unnecessarily so, of course, but she doubted that he’d believe her, considering that she had already told him that it wasn’t his fault. He didn’t seem to understand that she still wanted to spend time with him, that she cared enough to ensure that he was taken care of when he needed it. These things came naturally to her, she had always been surrounded by a loving and caring environment. To her, this was normal. However, she realized that she didn’t know him well enough to be sure that the same applied to him.

“And as a matter of fact, I don’t. I didn’t know how long the game would be so I cleared my schedule for tonight. Which means that you won’t get rid of me that easy.” the girl clarified with a soft smile before she nodded at the door. “Do you think you’re good to go? Or shall we sit down and wait a little?” she asked, not wanting to rush him and risk his condition getting worse. She had spotted the little container of meds that the doctor had apparently given him and didn’t know how long they’d need to kick in. The last thing she wanted was for him to overexert himself.

[gabrielxmendoza]

get your head in the game | gabriel & jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

Gabriel wasn’t entirely sure he wasn’t hallucinating until he felt her hand on his arm and felt the familiar rush of warmth. No dream could ever come close to what it felt like to be near her, which was the only reason he actually believed she was there. A million questions came out of her mouth at once, and in his rather hazy state, they all blurred together until it was nothing but a mess he couldn’t seem to figure out. It certainly didn’t help his still ringing headache that didn’t seem to be going away any time soon. “I’m fine,” he insisted, though he couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eye while saying it. Maybe deep down he knew it was a lie. He did attempt a smile, though, but it didn’t feel very convincing. “I’m fine,” he repeated. “It’s really nothing. We take hits like that all the time.” Except they didn’t end up momentarily blacking out, or unable to get up on your feet when it was a non-dangerous hit. He selectively kept that information to himself. 

Lifting his head to look over at Jasmine, the movement turned out to be a little too sudden. The sharp light in the hallway burned his eyes, making his head pound even harder, if that was even possible. The nausea still hadn’t subsided either, and he found himself reaching out to lean agains the wall to keep himself standing, not even noticing it himself. Subconsciously inching away from the light, Gabriel glanced over at Jasmine instead. “I’m really sorry I dragged you all the way out here tonight for nothing.” It had probably been better if she didn’t come to the game tonight — he’d barely even been out on the field at all before the incident. “They’re not letting me play anymore tonight and I don’t particularly wanna stick around, so I’m just gonna be heading home. But, uh, I’ll see you next week, yeah?” For now, all he wanted to do was go back to his dorm and get some sleep. Maybe pop some more painkillers. It sucked that he couldn’t spend more time with Jasmine, but he knew he couldn’t go anywhere in his state. It would just make everything worse.

His words didn’t ease her concerns but she didn’t object, assuming that the last thing he needed right now was to be made aware of his condition. He knew, no need for a reminder. “Okay ...” she merely returned, her voice soft and lower in volume now since she could only imagine how badly his head was probably hurting from the hit. She looked down, nibbling on her lower lip once spotting his poor attempt to smile which only had her worry more. Because Gabriel always smiled and it was always genuine ... contagious even. But right now it didn’t even reach his eyes and Jasmine knew that he tried to conceal just how hurt he was. That’s when she noticed his stance and how he had ended up leaning against the wall, apparently unable to properly steady himself. She shook her head, smiling at him softly. “Nothing? What are you talking about? You were amazing out there and how things ended up wasn’t your fault. So, please don’t apologize. I had fun up until the moment you got blindsided by a bunch of guys.” Jasmine clarified, actually wondering if their ganging up against him was against the rules or not. She didn’t ask though, not wanting to bother him with more questions when he really needed to get some rest.

Next week? Did he really think she’d let him walk home by himself after everything that had happened tonight? “No.” she said, frowning slightly because even he had to see how ridiculous his assumption was. “I am going with you, of course. Can’t let you go by yourself and possibly pass out in the middle of nowhere.” she added, attempting to joke even if only to lighten the mood a little. However, truth was, that she also would have wanted to go with him even if he had been good to go by himself.

[gabrielxmendoza]

get your head in the game | gabriel & jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza

When Gabriel couldn’t even convince himself he was okay, he definitely didn’t convince the team’s head doctor. That meant more tests and questions, and this time he only weakly protested before complying. It didn’t take the doctor long to determine that Gabriel had a concussion, and a bad one at that. He’d known it himself, but his heart still sank in his chest. They were strict about concussions here, so who knew when he’d be back on the field? He couldn’t afford to fall behind. His entire being at the school depended on football and the scholarship, and if he couldn’t play, he wouldn’t be able to stay. “How long till I’m back out there?” Gabriel pushed when the doctor had failed to answer his question three times in a row. “I’ve played with a concussion before, it’s really not that big of a deal.” Except it was, and judging by the doctor’s reaction, he was taking this far less serious than everyone else. “Do you even know how lucky you are? I’ve seen people end up paraplegic taking hits like that, end up hospitalised for months, and you got away with a concussion. Now, until that concussion is gone, I don’t want to hear another word about you wanting to play. Take your medicine and go home. That’s all you can do right now.” 

Swallowing down another complaint, Gabriel took the prescribed medicine and got up from his seat. He’d already swallowed a couple of pills, but he was tempted to take a couple more. Standing up had a wave of nausea rush through him, the entire world spinning for a good couple of second. He had to grip the chair he’d been standing on to keep his balance, and walking by himself took even more effort. In fact, he had to put all his focus on that one task, which meant he completely missed the doctor’s comment about how someone was waiting for him outside. Because of that, he wasn’t expecting anyone to be outside in the hall, and certainly not a familiar face. Gabriel had just managed to drag himself out of the room when he lifted his head and spotted Jasmine a couple feet further down the hall. “Jasmine?” Surprise, maybe even confusion, was evident in his voice, along with the lingering traces of pain as the pills hadn’t kicked in just yet. For a brief moment, he was convinced it was his mind playing tricks on him and that he was somehow hallucinating her presence. After not being able to spot her in the stands before the game, he was sure she’d cancelled, maybe finally realised she could spend her time with a lot more interesting guys than him. 

Jasmine didn’t know how long she had been sitting in the waiting area of the medical sector. All she knew was that with every passing moment her concerns doubled while her mind kept showing her the scene of how he was laying on the field on repeat. She swallowed hard, trying to breath past the lump in her throat as she kept waiting. She knew that his sport could be dangerous but how bad could his injuries be that it took them so long to check him out. Maybe they were already done but wanted him to stay the night to monitor him. After all he was notorious for his carefree ways which probably discouraged them to discharge him just yet. Yes, that was probably it. She stood up, letting out a deep breath as she started walking from one end of the room to the other, repeatedly, ... restlessly. Someone surely would come soon so they could confirm that he was fine. Because he was. He had to be.

When more time passed with no news about his condition, Jasmine was ready to go in and inquire about it herself. It wasn’t really her place, considering that his friend had only gotten her in here with telling a lie, but it wasn’t like they’d be doing life-saving surgery on him, right? She released another breath and stared up at the clock that hung on the wall. It had been at least half an hour with no one going in or out and Jasmine was too focused on the torturous slow movements of the watch hands that she didn’t even hear the approaching steps.

Only the sound of her name being called out succeeded in pulling her out of her thoughts and she spun around to face him. Her eyes widened at the sight of him and she could tell by his posture that he was in pain as well as the fact that his signature smile didn’t tug on the corners of his lips. She rushed forward, feeling the overwhelming urge to hug him, but stopping herself in the last second when she realized that she’d probably just hurt him more. Instead she placed her hands on his arm, gently and with care as she gave him a soft smile. “Are you alright? Are they sending you home already? Shouldn’t you lie down and get some rest?” Jasmine couldn’t keep herself from asking, not even giving him time to answer properly. For once it was her who couldn’t stop talking. She swallowed hard before averting her gaze for a moment, feeling how relief washed through her even though he had still gotten hurt. “That looked really scary.” she finally added before meeting his gaze again, a slight frown darkening her usually soft features as she expressed her concerns.

[jasminexthompson]

TRUTH OR DARE | Gabriel & Jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

Gabriel merely shrugged, his brows raised and an innocent grin on his lips. Fine, so maybe that wasn’t entirely correct. If anyone of them had problems concentrating and paying attention, it was definitely him. Hell, he was pretty sure every single person at this party was better at paying attention than he was, because unlike him, most people attending this school was still smart. He still remembered the shock that had gone through his family when they found out that Gabriel, with the shortest attention span alive, hadn’t just managed to get into college as the first guy in his family, but that he was also going to Harvard. They thought it was a joke. Honestly, some part of him still thought so, too. That he’d just suddenly wake up and realise it was all just a dream. 

He hoped that would never happen, of course, and especially as he followed Jasmine to the kitchen to get another drink. Letting her pour the drink into the sink, he gladly accepted a new one, sniffing it a couple times to confirm his suspicions. Beer. He could handle beer. “Oh, I don’t go all out,” he was quick to say, shaking his head a couple times. Normal Gabriel was enough Gabriel for a whole house. Drunk Gabriel? He could be a little too much. Taking a small sip, his gaze rested on Jasmine as she spoke up again. Her question caused him to shrug slightly, because actually, he did have plans when she texted him. “It sounded more fun to come here and spend time with you than drinking and playing Fortnite in a small basement with twenty other guys. I don’t know if you’re aware, but athletes tend to have quite a competitive streak,” he grinned, shaking his head with a small laugh. Actually, he did like spending time with the other guys, but he would rather hang out with Jasmine tonight. “Besides, everyone’s a little jittery about tomorrow. We have a big game and apparently it didn’t go very well against them last season. So sorry to disappoint, but I won’t be drinking much tonight,” he added with a small smile. Not that he normally did. “I don’t see why you’re not drinking, though.” Raising a brow, he held out his cup towards her. 

“Fortnite, hmm? Can’t say that I ever played it but contrary to popular belief, I am quite competitive myself. And a quick learner on top of it. Maybe next time we can spend time with your friends, unless you guys are scared of getting your butt kicked by a girl. I mean, I’d get it.” she teased him as she leaned in slightly in a way that was meant to challenge him. So far, the guys she had met from his team were actually really nice but she couldn’t deny that she was curious to watch them in a more competitive setting that wasn’t the playing field.

Jasmine watched him with an amused smile when he sniffed on his drink to figure out what it was before apparently deciding that he didn’t mind his cup’s content. She took an empty cup herself and took a few steps towards the refrigerator where she stored some water. There was no way she’d drink when she knew that most of her housemates would be too hungover tomorrow to bother cleaning up. Besides ... she had never really drank but for the occasional sip of wine or prosecco when she attended events. She didn’t like the taste of beer. And even though she had proven in the past that she could stomach a shot or two, she didn’t want to risk it, considering that for some reason alcohol really loosened her tongue and made her admit to things she’d never say out loud while sober. It was a minefield she’d much rather not set foot on.

“Neither should I, to be honest. “I have ballet practice tomorrow and I doubt that alcohol and pirouettes mix well together.” the girl laughed before looking at the cup and taking it despite her words. One sip couldn’t hurt, right? Maybe beer had magically changed its stale taste and had actually gotten delicious. She took a small sip, meeting his gaze as she drank before frowning slightly and handing him back his cup. “I don’t know how you can drink that.” she commented with a chuckle before tracing her fingers along her lips. And even though she had wiped off her lipstick earlier it still left a faint stain on the edge of the cup where her lips had just been.

[jasminexthompson]

Pocketful Of Sunshine | Gabriel & Jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza

Gabriel perked up at the mention of chocolate, even though he didn’t know what a soufflé was. As long as it contained chocolate, he wasn’t about to complain. “I would eat chocolate all day every day if I could, so I would say that sounds very good,” he admitted with a wide grin. Suddenly he didn’t mind the idea of doing math just as much. Funny how she always seemed to find the right things to day and do. “I’m gonna take that as a compliment,” he replied with a cheeky grin. He might be a slob and a basket case, but somehow she was still here, so he had to be doing something right, right? “And hey, at least I’m doing laundry now, right? You have to give me some credit for at least starting to do it last night, even though I forgot about it.” 

He didn’t know what to say about her surprisingly warm comment, so all she got in return was a “Your funeral” and a shrug. He was convinced she would end up growing tired of him sooner or later, even if she didn’t necessarily think so herself. Fortunately she hadn’t done so yet, and he was gonna enjoy spending time with her while he could. Even if she was starting to make him reevaluate everything he’d done in his life. Had he left a bunch of broken hearts along the way? Gabriel had no idea, and he wasn’t about to revisit the past. Even talking about books and reading intrigued him more, which said something considering the fact that he absolutely loathed reading. It took too much time and focus, and he ended up getting bored way too easily. Besides, he wasn’t even sure if he’d have time. “I don’t really have much spare time…” he said with a small frown. “Football, classes and now you take up most of my time, and outside of that I usually just hang out with the guys. Or sleep. Oh! But I did start learning the guitar,” he added, an excited grin crossing his lips. “I don’t think my neighbours like it very much, though. Musical talent is not part of my genes, and I have a tendency to practice at three am, so I’m pretty sure I’ve turned into the most hated guy in my building.” 

Jasmine bit down on her lower lip to keep herself from giggling when she noticed his apparent interest once she mentioned chocolate. For some reason she had expected to get a reaction like this and it was refreshing to see that she had been correct. “I am not sure if your coach would appreciate you binging on chocolate but a soufflé every now and then won’t hurt. So, do we have a deal?” Jasmine asked, pearly whites revealing themselves as she flashed him a bright smile. He had that effect on her as she assumed he did on every person he encountered. Being with Gabriel always felt easy and carefree and as such a relief from her usually strict and clocked daily routine. She was getting out as much of their tutoring sessions as he did, probably even more. “As you should. It was meant as one.” she added and her smile softened as she peeked at him from the corner of her eyes once pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. He really was something else.

They kept walking and after Jasmine got her things from his room they continued on their way to her place. Most of her housemates would probably be out and about with the occasional girl roaming the house before heading out to some party or gathering on the campus. “Are you accusing me of stealing the little spare time you got left? Because if I remember correctly, you were the one calling me for help.” she teased him playfully but didn’t expect him to answer. Somehow she felt as if they both enjoyed each other’s company and even though they only met up to study, it never felt like a responsibility or chore – at least not to her. “It’s no wonder that you sleep through the day if you are still up at that time.” she laughed and shook her head in amusement before eyeing him again. “Maybe you could play something for me next time? I doubt you’re as bad as claim to be.” she added before pulling on the shoulder strap of her back so it wouldn’t slip off.

[gabrielxmendoza]

get your head in the game | gabriel & jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

Gabriel had been tackled before — it was all part of the game — but not like this. He supposed he’d been lucky, in a way. You didn’t make it to college football without injuries, but he’d only had a couple concussions and a twisted ankle in high school, which was probably the least amount of injuries out of anyone aiming to make something out of themselves. Part of him had hoped it would continue like that, that he’d somehow make it without getting hurt, but clearly fate seemed to have something else in store for him. 

“Gabriel? Can you hear me? Gabriel? Tell me where it hurts.” By the time he finally came to again, he could tell by the amount of voices that he was surrounded by the team’s medical personnel. Familiar curses meant his coach was also there, and the coach never walked out on the field unless it was serious. The second thing he noticed was the throbbing in his head, pain unlike anything he’d ever felt before. He didn’t need a doctor to tell he had a concussion, and probably a bad one. If that wasn’t clue enough, he saw nothing but stars and spots as he carefully opened his eyes, the light immediately blinding him. “My head,” he groaned, his eyes falling shut again. It hurt too much keeping them open, and staying awake was no easier task. Moving was out of the question, so he remained exactly where he was, without moving an inch. Part of Gabriel registered that they were asking him more questions, trying to figure out how badly he was hurt, but he didn’t remember answering. In fact, it was all pretty much just a blurry haze after waking up — being put on a stretcher, carried off the field, entering the medical office right inside the building next to it. By then he was coming back to himself, however, and as long as he laid still and kept his eyes closed and shielded from the light, he felt fine. Or he would be, as soon as he got an Advil or two. Or six. “I’m fine,” he tried, to which he could quite literally feel the burning stare of the team’s chief of medical. It would have sounded convincing if it hadn’t been for the fact that his voice was clearly laced with pain. And that he wouldn’t open his eyes because of the light.

Gabriel was still not moving when everyone rushed to his side, surrounding him and shielding him from curious eyes that kept wondering how badly his condition was. Jasmine, however, wasn’t curious … she was scared. The guys that had tackled him had been huge and she could only imagine the force with which they had run into him. And hearing his couch curse or the nervous chatter that filled the area by now, did nothing to ease her worries.

She watched him being carried off the field on a stretched and felt her heart sink. Her eyes took in the scene, pulse rushing as she tried to keep calm, even if only so she could help if needed. Which was absurd given the amount of medical staff that was in attendance. Still, panicking now wouldn’t help anyone. “Hey! Can you tell me if he is alright?” she called out to one of the paramedics that stood nearby, leaning over the barrier in an attempt to get his attention. “Please, stay behind the barrier. The doctor will take care of him.” he returned, his voice firm and Jasmine could have sworn that she spotted him rolling his eyes. Which was when she realized that it wasn’t really her place to be here, that this guy probably thought that she was one of those college girls that only attended this match for one reason and it didn’t revolve around sports. She took a step back from the barrier and averted her gaze, biting down on the inside of her cheek before someone tall suddenly stood next to her. “Let her through. She’s his girlfriend.” she heard someone say, causing her to look up. She recognized the boy – Mason – who was grinning at her encouragingly, followed by a boyish wink once the security staff let her through. She followed him quickly, not daring to say a word while the security and paramedics where still nearby, in fear they’d detect his lie. Not that she could deny that the word girlfriend had left a tingling sensation in her stomach. “Thank you ...” she said finally as they entered the building where they had carried Gabriel into. “Don’t mention it. Besides I am pretty sure he’d be happy to see you. You seem like better company than the coach.” Mason returned with a smile. “Just wait here. I gotta go back but once they’re done checking him out you should be able to see him.” he added before returning to the playing field, but not without saying the following words first though – “I totally get what he sees in you!” And with that he was gone, leaving Jasmine more confused than he had found her.

[gabrielxmendoza]

get your head in the game | gabriel & jasmine

[jasminexthompson]

gabrielxmendoza‌

Jogging up and down the sideline to warm up before the game, Gabriel was scanning the crowd in search of a specific person. She’d told him she’d be at the game tonight, but thanks to his phone dying and not sounding off the alarm like it was supposed to, his short twenty minute power nap had turned into a two hour long one, which made him late for the game. Unfortunately that meant he didn’t have time to go see Jasmine first, instead having to jump into his gear and getting warmed up for the first quarter. Despite it being his first year here, he’d already made starter, which he was more than a little proud over. College football was a lot harder than high school, but he loved the challenge, and he still managed to do well. 

“Gabriel! Get your ass out on the field, now!” Coach Brown’s voice pulled him back to reality, and giving up his search for Jasmine, he sprinted out on the field for kickoff. It didn’t take long before he forgot all about her, and everything else. When he was playing football, that was all he could concentrate on, and he absolutely loved it. There was nothing quite like the adrenaline surging through his body as his hands locked around the ball, his body moving so fast down the field that none of the other players stood a chance at catching him, the crowd and his teammates screaming in joy as he scored a touchdown. Gabriel lived for it, loved it, and today was no different. It was a rough game, though, with more tackles and dirty words thrown around than usual. There was a tension in the air, and everyone knew something was bound to go wrong sooner or later. It finally happened with just a minute left of the second quarter, and unfortunately, Gabriel was the one getting the brunt of it. They were up by one point and the other team seemed determined not to let them score before halftime, so when the football came flying for Gabriel and he reached for it, at least four of the opposing team’s defence ganged up on him, tackling him hard to the ground. He barely had time to register the sharp pain in his head before everything went black for a few long seconds, and when the defence rolled off him and got up on their feet, he didn’t move. 

She spotted him the second he set foot onto the field, seeing the lettering on the back of his shirt that spelled his last name and number as he made his way further into the middle of the field to get in position. Jasmine had to admit that she didn’t know all that much about football, only that it was rough and that depending on your role in the game a player might get more heat than others. It was pretty violent compared to other sports but she could appreciate its strategics. In a way it was like a dance performance, an ensemble of players following a choreography. That much she was able to figure out as the teams’ coaches yelled order across the field which the players followed suit. There was more order in the entire game plan than one might assume.

Jasmine followed the players as best as she could with her gaze moving over to Gabriel more often than she felt comfortable to admit. He played well, just as she had expected him to, knowing that after all the school must have had a reason to give him a scholarship in the first place. Her teeth pillowed against her lower lip as she kept watching, noticing how the crowd got louder and even more restless than they were at the beginning of the game. Same seemed to apply for the players. More often than not players were tackled to the ground by others, sometimes resulting in little brawls which were soon broken up by those supervising the game. Still, it all left Jasmine on the edge of her seat, looking up to peek at the time, knowing that there’d soon be a break. But it didn’t come to that. She heard the crowd scream obscenities, followed by loud booing as some of them jumped off their seats. She stood up, not quite sure what had happened before she saw him. Her eyes widened and without being able to fight it she felt panic built up inside of her. She pushed herself through the crowd, not even bothering to apologize as she made her way through the insane amount of people, until she finally reached the stairs and ran down. And when she made it to the end of the stairs, reaching the barrier that separated the audience from the players, she was forced to realize that he was still not moving.