A/N: To celebrate the National Equality March that took place in Washington DC today, I thought I'd upload a new chapter of this story. I hope you like it :)

Jasper's band rehearsed on Thursday nights in a tiny room above a takeout place. He picked me up from the mansion in his battered van with his friends peering curiously out the windows.

"Move!" He hissed, unceremoniously shoving a lanky boy into the back.

"How come the famous dude gets shotgun?" The boy huffed.

"The answer's in the question, you dork," Jasper replied, laughing at his friend's pout.

"I don't mind sitting in the back," I told him, admiring the way the sunset streaked his messy dark hair with golden light.

"Don't be stupid, you're our guest," he said, shaking his head. "My mom would kill me if she knew I mistreated a guest."

"Well, if it would make your mom happy..." I conceded, trying to conceal my grin.

I'd seen Jasper's band perform live before, but I was still amazed by their energy. Jasper was literally bouncing off the walls, the whole room shook with their noise. Every time the shop owner hammered on the ceiling, the band laughed and played louder and harder than before. Their songs were simple, frantic but powerful and immediate. I was struck by the surprising pockets of melody and for the first time, I realised the extent of Jasper's vocal range. He was definitely more talented than he gave himself credit for.

I loved watching him play. The energy radiated from his compact frame, his tanned skin pulled taut over his muscular arms and shoulders. He was beautiful, even in the dank, cramped room. Surrounded by trash and dirt, he still shone brighter than anyone I'd ever seen.

When he smiled at me between songs, over his water bottle, I smiled back with ease. It felt so natural, but unexpected, like I hadn't smiled in a long time.

"So what did you think?" he asked as we all piled into the van.

"I think you're brilliant," I admitted. "And I think you should talk to Adam about a deal."

"Yeah?"

"Keeping what you have to yourself is selfish," I told him, shrugging. "There's a lot of apathy in the scene, a lot of empty superficial music driven by money and Myspace. You could change that."

He didn't reply, but there was a spark in his eyes that made my breath catch. I could tell he was thinking very carefully about what I had said.

Everyone went back to Jasper and Joey's apartment, myself included. I was shocked by how small it was - their kitchen and living room were separated by a single work surface. The place was really clean, but everything was second hand and well used. I've always had a charmed life, even after I left school. My father's guilt paid for my first place, a cosy little house in Olympia. I'd always been well looked after, at least financially.

But Jasper was proud, everything he had, he had earned. He didn't have much, but what he did have was truly his. I respected that.

He showered and changed into a pair of torn jeans, an old AFI tee shirt and a plain black hoodie that was at least two sizes too big for him. Joey and the rest of the gang were heading to the beach for a celebration but Jasper had other plans for us.

"There's a little diner two blocks from here," he explained as I followed him down the stairs and onto the street. "Does the best veggie burger I've had since I left New Jersey."

"You're vegetarian?"

"Yeah. Gotta keep your body healthy, and the soul will follow," he said, pleased with my stunned silence. "Plus, I kinda have a soft spot for farm animals."

"Ok...that's kinda weird," I replied, laughing.

"My grandpa had a farm in Maine before he died. My mom used to take me there when I was a kid. I loved the animals, so when I found out what happened to them...it put me off meat," he said.

"That's sweet."

"I'm a sweet guy."

I glanced at him. With his hood up and his hands in his pockets, he looked just like any kid his age, but I was fast discovering there was more to him than that. I wanted to know him.

The diner was well lit and half empty. No one gave us a second look as we slid into a booth. A waitress came to take our order, asking Jasper how he was and calling him "honey". He was clearly a regular.

"I can't cook for shit," he confessed when I asked about it. "The day I learned how to make spaghetti was the happiest day of my life."

We talked a lot over dinner, but I could tell Jasper was holding back. He skirted around my questions about his home town and why he had decided to leave, when he clearly missed it. He didn't talk about his past at all, so I decided to take the lead.

"I'm sorry for all the questions. Would you like to ask me something?" I asked.

"Really? I always got the impression you were a private sort of guy."

"I am, but I trust you," I replied, smiling. "Isn't this how people get to know each other?"

"Alright. I can ask you anything?"

"Anything."

"Are your track marks ever going to heal?"

I glanced down at my arms, trying to hide my blush. I had hoped he hadn't noticed the small scars that lingered on my skin, but he obviously had. I wondered if he found them as repulsive as I did.

"I dont know," I murmured. "You know, most drug users track marks heal in time, and dont even scar. But some of mine have never faded. I went to my doctor about it, he said my skin was just sensitive."

His hand was steady as he reached across the table, ghosting his fingertips down the marked flesh of my inner arm.

"I coulda told you that, you're so pale," he breathed.

"I dont think they'll ever go away. I guess it's kinda fitting, and I deserve it," I sighed. "I'm scarred for life."

"Are you really insecure about them?"

"I guess. I don't think about them as often as I used to. Like all scars, you just kinda...learn to live with them."

"They're not ugly, Matt," he said quietly. "They give your skin character, like...they're like a map of the path you've taken, a sign of how far you've come."

He brushed his calloused fingertips down my arm one more time, his smile cautious but encouraging.

"I never thought of it that way," I said. "Thank you."

After we ate, Jasper asked if I'd like to join him and his friends at the beach. I declined, I was already a little overwhelmed by him - everything from his smile to his eyes, the way he hummed when he was thinking, it completely bowled me over. I had been prepared for awkwardness and nerves, but being around him, being myself around him, just felt right.

"Thanks for tonight," I said as we pulled up outside the mansion. Jasper had insisted on giving me a ride home before he headed to the beach.

"I had a great time," he beamed. "You're not like what I thought you'd be."

"How did you think I'd be?" I asked, bemused.

"I dunno. Self centred, maybe. A little fake. But you're...you're kind of awesome", he replied. "You have the longest eyelashes I've ever seen, do you know that?" He murmured, leaning in without ever taking his eyes off mine.

I couldn't take it, having him so close and looking at me with so much honesty in his eyes. It was like a sensory overload. I closed my eyes as he cupped my face in his warm hand. His skin was rough but his touch was so gentle I barely felt it. He traced the arch of my brow and the sweep of my lashes with his thumb before trailing a fingertip across my cheek bone. I sighed as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, leaning hesitantly into his touch. It felt strange to be so vulnerable, so obviously at someone else's mercy, but it didn't scare me. I knew I was safe with him.

The press of his lips against mine was firm and warm, but fleeting. He pulled away a little, but didnt let me go.

"I don't think I've ever met anyone as beautiful as you are," he whispered before kissing me again. I hoped the kiss returned the sentiment, I couldn't speak due to the unexpected lump in my throat.

"I should go," he said when he pulled away the second time. "But we should do this again sometime."

"Sure, I'd love to."

We made plans for lunch the next day. I watched him drive away, a smile and his kiss still on my lips.