Star Crossed (Closed for Aussie_Wolf)

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason kept a smile upon his face as he pulled her closer, dancing to the slower beat of the music. Inside however he was seething. Damn he had been right, this had been a set up from the start. Probably a two fold prank. One it would hurt Sigma and continue their rivalry with them, and two they would then have something to hold over the freshmen until they fully joined up and became true brothers.

Jason felt sickened. He was sure the Sigma's had probably done their fair share of things over the years as well, but he was not going to be involved in something like this and he was definitely not going to see the Princesses party ruined. She seemed like a genuinely good, honest decent girl.

As the song ended he bowed to her and clutching her hand he gave it a kiss. "If you will forgive me your highness, I am sorry but this street rat has to go see a couple of people about a job. I will try to hurry back." then he thought of all the damage their pranks could cause and how she could get hurt. "Perhaps you would care to meet me on the porch at," and he glanced at the clock, "Say one o'clock. I know the traditional time is midnight but that is almost upon us," he chuckled. "Until then sweet Jasmine," he said giving her hand one last kiss before turning and rushing off into the crowd.

He had to find the other freshman and their devices and stop them. This was a disaster and not the prank fest they thought it was.

 

[papillon24]

"Until then sweet Jasmine,"

And like that he was gone with a gentle kiss on her hand. A blur in the midst of people. she moved from the center of the dance floor from where she had been left and made her way back the staircase. It was almost a dream.

"Who was that?" The voice started her from her thoughts as she stood on the bottom step of the staircase and leaned against the rail. Karen had snuck up on her. She glanced over at her friend who pranced around in a very accurate black swan costume. the painted mask had been done professionally she assumed as well as the corset being designer.

"I'm really not sure. But he was quite charming."

"Where did he go? Did your strange talk of jazz and scotch scare him off."She giggled at her friend's comment. She was an entity in this time and era. she had always though her soul was older. "He was cute."

"I'm not sure. He said something about seeing a man about a job and he would find me at one am."

"But I thought all fairy tales ended at midnight?"

"This is life Karen not a fairy tale."

"I know, but Jazzy, wouldn't it be wonderful if it was. You work so hard, both for the sorority and for your amazing grades. You deserve a little fantasy."

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason's first stop was the backroom dance floor. It was still packed with the younger members of the night and the electronic beats and sounds blaring out of the speakers would leave a ringing sound in their ears tomorrow. While Jason didn't mind this sort of music, he didn't like it played this loud or having fifty people around him doing the same swaying moves. it looked like a zombie convention to him.

Spying the handbag where he had left it he made his way over then carefully hid it once again in his sash. Then he was off again. If he remembered correctly the others were to try to get upstairs. There were three floors so he didn't have much time. He headed to the next floor and almost ran straight into Oliver twist. He smiled and gave him the thumbs up. "All done. My stuffs in place and I'm heading out." Jason didn't want the guy to get in trouble so he just patted him on the back. "Great, get out of here. We don't want to be anywhere near this place when they go off. I just have to place mine in the presidents office and I will join you." The guy scampered off and Jason quickly ran off to check the rooms he was supposed to trap. It was lucky he knew what and approximately where to look for them. He found the devices and bolted for the next floor. Time was running out and he still had a lot more to find.

 

[papillon24]

Jasmine stepped away from her friend, excusing herself t continue to run her party. The night was going perfect, but her street rat still held a place in the back of her mind.

She made her way to the kitchen. Plates of appetizers and canapés were still circulating. She checked to see what was left discovering that they had way more than they should have. That was not big deal. It always happened that way. Better to have a lot than not enough.

She stopped and looked up at the clock. It was almost midnight. Most of the administration would generally leave after midnight leaving students and the younger professors to finish out the party. Thats when the ruckus of the night would begin.

She could already begin to feel how tired he really was of the day start to set in and a yawn soon followed.

“Come on Jaz' She spoke aloud to herself. “Just a little longer”

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason was getting a little frantic. He had checked the other rooms where the devices were supposed to be hidden but had only found three more. That only accounted for one more person, leaving two more unaccounted for. He would have to check with the girls at the front to see if the others had made it in and decide if it was worth searching for the last six devices.

He quickly made his way downstairs again and approached the greeting table. He snagged a couple of champagnes and a half a tray of canapes as he did and then sat down on the edge of the table. "Hello again ladies. You look like you have been working hard and I bet no one has thought to bring anything over to you yet." He offered each of them a drink each and placed the tray between them. He knew they were probably first years like himself paying their dues working the worst jobs.

"I wonder if you could help me. I was supposed to meet a few friends here tonight but so far I have only found one. He was dressed as the Artful Dodger. The others were supposed to be a very good looking Zombie, Top cat and Tom Sawyer. You wouldn't have happened to have seen any of them come in would you?"

 

[papillon24]

She felt the heaviness of the evening bear down upon her. The day had taken a toll on her. So much worry about pulling off the perfect party. Midterms were the next week and she still was behind on her studies for her test and she had a paper due as well.

She loved planning this party. It was a wonderful way for her and the house to represent all the good that they do throughout the year and help influence how future scholarships are distributed. Her house was one of great influence. Just being a part of it opened doors and money was part of that.

To Jasmine. The money did not matter. It helped to have it for sure. But she had enjoyed earning and keeping her scholarship. The connections into the field of science were the real perk for joining this particular sorority.

The administrations began to take their leave. Women in Victorian ball gowns and men in masks and tops hats began to retire though the doors. The music on the dance floor turned from the smooth jazz from the band to something electronic that made her head hurt. She took a seat back on the staircase to keep and eye on the party from a distance

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

The girls smiled their thanks at him and sipped at their drinks and ate a few of the canape's. "Thanks for this. Your right, we are supposed to get a meal break every hour but nobody has come to relieve us all night. We have been sneaking off one at a time to get food and drink but we can't be away for too long."

Jason just smiled at them and bowed low to them. "Ahh the tragedies of being a lowly peasant. I know it well."

They laughed and then put their heads together. "We have seen a few Zombies but they have all been terrible and we definitely haven't seen a Top Cat tonight. However we are pretty sure we saw a Tom Sawyer come in about two hours ago, but he left about half an hour ago."

"Ladies you have been most helpful. I think I will tell my other friend we have been stood up and see what he wants to do. Have a good night girls." He bowed again and faded back into the crowd then raced up the stairs. He now knew where to look. The girls dorm rooms. He had less than ten minutes to find them and get out of here.

He tore through rooms like a madman trying to remember what they looked like, then spotting the first one he remembered. Plush toys in the shape of silly elephants. Some pun on never forgetting he supposed. Quickly he grabbed it and now knowing what he was looking for found the other two in less than a minute. However he had less than two to get out now and he knew it wasn't possible. Running to the window he looked out and spied the drain pipe. Perfect. He was out the window, down the window and on the ground in one minute and running full tilt for the lake. He had almost made it when his watch started going off. He had set it ten seconds early so he could make sure he got a good view of the fireworks. Now it saved his hide.

He whirled the bag around his head and threw it as hard as he could towards the lake. Just before it hit he heard timers going off and small explosions as shaving cream, confetti, smoke and the most obnoxious odors began to pour forth from it. Then it hit the lake and began to sink from sight leaving a small oily residue on the surface. Jason calmly turned around and began a slow walk back towards the Sorority house. He had a date to keep and then some investigating to do.

 

[papillon24]

Jazmine felt the evening begin to catch up with her. A long yawn escaped her lips. Her eyelids felt heavy and she was having a hard time keeping them from closing. Midnight had passed. There were not many nights she was up past this hour. It was a good thing there were no classes the next morning.

The party had gone on without a hitch. People were going to get their scholarships this year. She could feel it. More of the administration would attend next year. It was just the way things worked. Word would get around about how much people enjoyed the festivities.

Her mind wandered back to her street rat. She wondered where he could be and what had been so important that he had to leave so suddenly.

With another yawn, she stood. She was about to give up hope on this one. Jasmine turned about to head up the stairs. It had been a long time since she had found someone this interesting. Someone she had an immediate connection with from the start had never been found. Most who knew her, knew that she spent most of her time studying, or organizing charity events.

None of her sisters in the house had even seen her go out on a date let along be interested in someone.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason was tired. After everything that had gone on tonight he had walked to a public bathroom and tried to clean himself up a bit. Still after a good ten minutes he still looked dirty and messed up. Sighing he looked at himself in the mirror and then smiled. Well it actually made his costume look a bit more authentic if he thought about it. He gave his face one last wash and ran his wet fingers through his hair before he walked back up towards the sorority house.

His attempts at cleaning himself had taken longer than he thought and as he approached the house he noted how quiet the front looked. He could still hear loud music coming from it, but this just meant that the younger crowd had taken over. He assumed that a lot of the esteemed guests must have left. The good thing was there were no campus security cars around and no large milling crowds. He must have been able to get all the devices, or no one had found the results of any he had missed yet.

He looked on the porch for Jasmine not really expecting to see her, but saw her just walking back inside. He hastened up and followed her in and caught up to her just as she was about to walk up the stairs to bed he guessed.

"Well I know I did say One O'clock fair princess, but not giving me a few minutes lee way? You know a poor street rat can not afford a watch and must rely on the position of the stars and the moon. You best tell them to please run on time and stop making me late for these important meetings."

He smiled at her as he casually jumped up on the Bannister and laid on it to talk to her.

 

[papillon24]

The voice behind her startled her from the sleepy state she was in. She glanced though the window to take a peek at the clock on the wall. It was only a few moments past the time he had stated that he would be back. She was glad she had held out and not headed to bed earlier.

Slowly she turned back towards him. Her eyelids heavy and weary. He lay on the banister, casually and nonchalant as ever. His hair was even more messy than before when she had last seen him. His clothes more dingy. Still she could not help but to smile. And she smiled from her heart. He had come back as he had said. It was enough to giver her a second wind. She could feel a slight race of her heart.

"Sorry my dear street rat, The day has been a long one. And I was up late studying last night." a light yawn escaped her lips and she raised a hand in from of her mouth to hide it.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason smiled at her. There was just something about her that captivated him. Sure she was extremely pretty but her beauty also seemed to radiate from inside her body and not just be the surface kind a lot of the other girls had.

"Why then I mustn't keep you long. After all an important personage such as yourself must have so many royal duties to perform," he smiled at her to show he was joking with her. "It would be rude of me to deny you your beauty sleep, although I must say you hardly need it."

He bounded up and lightly somersaulted off the banister to land at her feet, and then took her hand in his and gently raised it to his lips and kissed it.

"Well then Princess I shall allow you to retire to your bed. This street rat will return to the twisted alley ways he knows so well and maybe dream of your beauty to keep himself warm tonight."

He backed down the steps and with a low bow and a sweep of his fez he turned and disappeared into the night, running off towards the park again.

 

[papillon24]

Jasmine stood on the steps as she watched him bound into the night. He was gone almost as quickly as he arrived. A small notion of sadness washed over her. She was not sure who he was outside of the costume, but wanted more. There had defiantly been something there. A spark she had not felt in a while, or if ever. She longed for it though and tonight she had felt it.

With a sigh she made her way back into the house stopping for a moment at the front desk. A few of the pledges were still manning it as they had every year.

"Make sure people leave by two o'clock. I'm headed to bed"

They nodded and she made her way upstairs. Her room was up on the third floor in the corner and she had a nice view of the park. Being on this side of the building kept things quite for her. She could not hear the noise of the street or of the general Greek row noise.

With a sigh, she removed the satin and sheer fabric of her costume and slipped into a School sweatshirt and a pair of pajama shorts. She turned on her IPod and let the blues rush though her room as she laid back on her bed and let her eyes drift close

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason had been going to return to the fraternity house and his room straight away. It had been a long night and he still had an early morning debriefing to attend, but something kept him hanging around in the park. He watched the Sorority house and sure enough several minutes after he had left a light went on in a corner room on the third floor. Soon he could hear the sounds of blues music faintly and he smiled. That could only be one person and as the light was turned off he waited a good half hour for the occupant to go to sleep.

During that time he wandered the park taking a flower from here and one from there, making a nice little bouquet. Then he ripped up his sash a little and tied them all together then once he was sure she would be asleep he climbed up to her window. Again it was easy. She had a corner room and the drainpipe was right beside it. He was up it in a flash and inside her window in seconds. After all, who locks a third story window?

He smiled at the neatness of her room and then went to place the flowers on her bed before he had a better idea. Pulling out the lantern he had been using as a prop he placed it on her desk and put the flowers in it. Oh yes that was perfect. Smiling as he climbed back out her window, closing it behind him and shimmying back down the drainpipe, he was soon running back home. He would love to see her expression when she woke up and saw them tomorrow but he had other things to do and an investigation to begin.

 

[papillon24]

The morning came too quickly. Jasmine woke slowly from her slumber. The music still pounded in her head as did the remnants of the whiskey.

"How is that even possible?" She questioned herself as she rubbed her eyes awake. "I didn’t even drink that much."

The light came in, a soft orange glow reflecting off the fall leaves. She could hear the campus start to wake up and get ready for its day. Not as loud as during the week, but there was still movement starting outside.

She rolled over pulling her comforter around her, reluctant to let it's release on her happen yet.

Though the haze something caught her eye. A lantern sat neatly on her desk, filled with wildflowers that grew in the park next to the sorority house. She sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, reaching out and picking up the lantern to examine it. Wrapped around the stems of the flowers was a piece of fabric. She recognized it almost instantly.

"Well, well street rat" She spoke to the flowers as if he was there. "You have many tricks up your sleeve." She smiled as she set the flowers back down, checking to see the water tightness of the lantern. It was solid and sealed and would have to do. She grabbed a bottle of water from beside her bed and poured a little water into the lantern to keep the flowers fresh for a little longer.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason woke early and was up and out before anybody else. He didn't want to see anybody just yet or discuss what had happened last night. He headed over to the science lab where he did all of his major thinking.

He walked in and checked on a few experiments he had running. Some the professor knew about, and a few he didn't. Well they weren't dangerous, okay maybe a little dangerous, but only if they got out and he had made sure they couldn't.

He sat down at his desk and began to ponder the situation. Okay his house had a feud with the girls house, why he didn't know but it had been going on for ages.

Two, the girls supposedly had a feud with his house as well. Who started it was irrelevant, the fact was it was in place.

Three, he was having definite feelings towards the girl he had only just met last night.

Four, if any one in his fraternity found out he was dead.

Yep that pretty much summed up the situation. He put his head in his hands and sighed and then remembered another point. He had sabotaged the Fraternities prank night against the Sorority. Oh yeah he was a dead man alright if any one found out.

 

[papillon24]

Quickly She got dressed, donning only a simple blue sweater and a pair of black Capri pants. It was cool outside, but not cold. She added a simple pair of black ballet flats and headed out of her room with her notebook under her arm. It was quiet in the house except for the housekeeper working in a frenzy to clean up after the party. She worked hard muttering curse words in Spanish under her breath.

"Good morning Luisa. Sorry for the extra mess. The pledges are supposed to be down in a little bit to help out so you will have some help. I left a couple extra hundred dollars in your pay envelope to make up for any trouble.

The woman smiled and got back to work eagerly, knowing she was good on her word. After the last party, Jasmine had added a three hundred dollar bonus to the woman's pay envelope from the house funds.

For a Saturday the campus was quite busy. People were still in costume. Greek row had a few extra lawn decorations this morning due to students passing out in lawns instead of in their beds. Jasmine always found this part of the day amusing.

Jasmine headed for the science hall. She wanted some time to herself and there was a small courtyard where she had like to sit and study to get away from her sisters. She was behind on her studies due to this party and knew that once the other girls woke up they would be asking her questions about last night. Who was he? How did you meet? And so on. It was the same thing whenever one of the girls was being pursued by someone. Everyone knew about everyone's relationship.

She found her courtyard and made her way over to a bench in the corner. She loved how she could see the fountain and the beautifully manicured garden. Here she felt secluded, like it was her own personal garden. Jasmine sat cross legged on the bench and took out her notebook. Soon she was lost in the world of biochemical formulas.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Well he couldn't sit around moping all day, he did have some studying to do. he grabbed a few books then glanced out the window at the small garden he liked to study in. It was hidden away and pretty quiet so normally no one was there as it was so hard to find. He was just about to go out to it when he stopped in his tracks. Someone was already out there. Someone had sneaked into his private space and was studying in his garden.

This could not go unpunished. He hurried to a side door and proceeded swiftly towards the garden and then towards the interloper. As he got closer though he began to slow down. Something about them was familiar. They were obviously female, he could tell that now he could see her body from side on, and the hairstyle looked vaguely similar to one he had seen recently. however he couldn't place it and he couldn't see her face as it was buried in a book.

He just hoped it was no one he knew. If it was someone he met last night he was safe. He had looked nothing like he did now and unless he slipped up they would be none the wiser. He coughed delicately to draw her attention. "Um excuse me may I ask just what are you doing here? This is my study spot and I am not used to sharing it."

 

[papillon24]

"Um excuse me may I ask just what are you doing here? This is my study spot and I am not used to sharing it." The voice had come out of nowhere startling her from her deep concentration and not slightly agitated at the very concept of this accusation.

She had been using this small garden as her sanctuary for months now. She had stumbled across it during the summer quarter. She remembered it clearly. The campus had been almost empty as most of the students here took the summers off and either went home or stayed in town and partied. Rarely had any of them done classes. Jasmine had decided that she wanted to get a few classes out of the way because duties at the sorority house were going to increase for her. Taking a few classes would giver a piece of mind later on.

Jasmine lowered her notebook, making sure to make more of where she was in her studies.

"I beg your pardon, but I have been spending my time studying here since summer. And besides, it is a public area." She breathed in a deep breath to calm herself before turning towards where the voice had come from

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason had a feeling about this woman. He couldn't place it but just something about her was triggering something in his memory. He had a feeling he knew her from somewhere but he just could not place her.

However as soon as she spoke he knew her. Those pleasant tones hit his eardrums like the finest of symphonies. It was Jasmine from last night and he did not even need to see her face to know it was her. He had just enough time to calm himself before she turned towards him and he again was struck by her beauty.

It was more subdued this morning but she was still gorgeous. No longer was she made up to be her princess namesake but to him she was still a princess. He actually preferred her natural beauty as it showed the real her. He had to stop himself staring at her before looking like an idiot.

"Well you are right, it is a public area, but I have had it too myself for so long that I have come to consider it my own personal area. I am sorry if I was a bit short with you. It is hard to find a pleasant, private place to study these days and this was mine. I guess we have just missed each other, though I wish I hadn't," he said smiling.

"Anyway let me start again. Hello my name is Jason, would you mind if I sat down and studied here with you?" he said smiling at her.

 

[papillon24]

Jasmine stopped as her gaze finally met his. There was something familiar about him. She felt an almost instant connection with him, but it was still mixed with a frustration of being interrupted. She caught his gaze staring back at her with and uncomfortable glare as he studied her.

He was a catch himself. Strong features and a chiseled jaw. He was what Caroline back at the house would call "a tall drink of water".

She motioned for him to join her. Yes it was a pubic place. He was welcome to be wherever he liked.

"Nice to meat you Jason," She started out, calming her voice from the annoyance of before to once of more polite conversation. Quickly a yawn came on. She did not realize how tired she was still from the chaos of yesterday. "I'm sorry I snapped. It was a long night last night and I think I'm still recovering."

She sat her book down next to her to focus on him a little more and try to be more pleasant company.

Jasmine extended her hand to shake his. "I'm Jasmine, I would love for you to join me to study."

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason couldn't believe it. Her real name was actually Jasmine. The thing was it actually suited her as well. She did have that rather exotic beauty about her and a rather intoxicating scent.

He sat down across from her and opened his books. He didn't really need them, but he was checking over some calculations in a few of his equations and was just checking his source material. He had his Advanced Chemistry and Calculus books in front of him and his note book and quickly flowed through his notes, making sense of the hastily scrawled mess on his pages.

He glanced up and tried to see what Jasmine was studying. "So what brings you here so early on this lovely day, especially after you were up so late miss Jasmine," he asked her.

 

[papillon24]

Jasmine shifter to the end of the bench giving him more room to sit down before opening her book back up to where she had left off. Monday was coming goon and she had to get the equations for her Molecular genetics midterm down. It was the only part of her midterms she was not quite ready for.

The party ad taken more of a toll on her than she had originally thought as the numbers and statistics began to blur on the page. Stopping briefly, she reached for her travel mug she had set next to the bench that was filled with coffee. As she did so she caught him looking at her

"So what brings you here so early on this lovely day, especially after you were up so late miss Jasmine,"

She took a long sip of the hot dark liquid before answering letting the full aroma fill her senses.

"Just some simple Molecular Genetics for a midterm on Monday." She stopped letting her gaze focus on him and taking a break from the dizzying facts. "My sisters and I over Sigma had our annual costume party and it took a lot of time away from my studies. Unfortunately I was in charge of a lot of it so I could not escape early."

Jasmine glanced over at his Books. "I could ask the same thing of you."

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason glanced at his books and laughed. "Oh these, no these are just here so I can check a few basic facts. I am just here to check on a few experiments I am running in the science lab. Got to keep up with the data right?"

He looked at her then at her notes and saw how the last few equations seemed to look a bit less neat than her other handwriting. "Look you seem to be having a little trouble with your studies today. How about I give you a hand and then take you out for breakfast," he glanced at his watched and smiled 'Well brunch by that time. It looks like you could use it. What do you say?"

 

[papillon24]

Jasmine took her time glancing down at her notes to see just how lost she was on her studies. The combination of the long week and the difficulty of the subject at hand were causing all the facts to become one giant blur and there was just not enough coffee in the world to fix the problem.

"Brunch sounds great, but I think I'm at a point where I need to take a break. I'm sure it will all make sense a little later. Besides, it is only this one section that is confusing me."

She closed her notebook.

"Where shall we go?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason was sorely tempted to say 'back to my room', but he knew that would not go over well. However he did know a little cafe that did a great all morning breakfast menu ranging from a hearty breakfast to the lighter variety.

"I know just the place, but it is a little bit off Campus so if you are uncomfortable with that I understand if you don't want to go. It is only five minutes though and I promise the food is excellent."

He waited for her response hoping she would say yes.