Blood Mates

Surprise!

Jasper stood outside disoriented he was in the light of day. Desmond and him stood by his truck and for a moment Jasper thought he wanted to drag him back inside. “You don’t have to leave,” He told Desmond pausing for a moment, “I can’t force you guys to do that.” Desmond looked at the young man in front of him unguard, “But don’t you want us gone?”

 Jasper knew he should, “No.” He admitted realizing the confusing truth. No matter how lost and confused he felt right now, he didn’t want them to leave. He didn’t want to look up and never see any of them again, it’d destroy him.

But it’d especially destroy him of Alaia left. And right now, Jasper needed to figure out what that meant for him. Desmond looked down at the ground and then back at Jasper unsure, “I know you care for her, but if you can’t accept-.”

Spine straightening Jasper harshly snapped, “I never said that!” Desmond looked at Jasper surprised at the bark in his voice. Hearing it himself, Jasper checked his tone and mumbled, “I just need time.” Desmond shrugged, “She has a lot of that. But how long do you plan on making her wait?”

He couldn’t answer.

When Jasper got home, his dad was unaware he had been technically missing for three days. To him, he’d spent the first half of Christmas break skiing with Alaia and her family.

William had greeted him happily and Jasper had never hugged his dad harder. “Missed you too bud.” William said slapping his back misunderstanding the extra show of affection, “Look who stopped by.” William suddenly introduced and Jasper noticed the raven-haired woman finally.

Standing like a beautiful model in their living room, his heart pounded hard in fear. “Miss. Sammuels?” Nodding Arden carefully approached as she sweetly said, “Hi Jasper, it’s really nice to finally meet you.” No one said a thing for a moment. But then William’s phone rang in the other room and he left to go get it, nervously leaving them alone.

Arden waited until he was out of earshot before looking at Jasper sadly, “I can go.” Jasper quickly shot that idea down, “No, don’t do that.” Because even though knowing made him uneasy, his dad didn’t know, and he was happy. And while Jasper knew it was selfish since he was setting his dad up for a sucker punch he couldn’t help.

William had the life back in his eyes, and Jasper couldn’t’ see it die again.

So, until he figured this s**t out for the both of them, he pleaded with Arden, “Just…just please don’t hurt him.” Agreeing, Arden immediately assured him, “Of course. I sincerely care for him.” Jasper smiled a little at the reassurance, “Thanks.” Arden grinned.

When William came back, he nervously coughed and asked his son unsure, “So I asked Arden if she’d like to spend Christmas with us. And she said yes, is that okay with you?”

Jasper lied on the spot, “Oh actually dad, I was just saying how I’m going to drive down and surprise mom for Christmas.” William was pleasantly surprised to hear that and smiled widely, “Well then, that sounds really nice.”

Giving his son another hug, William pointed to the tree, “I’ll leave your presents under the tree. I’ll see you when you get back after New Year’s yeah?”

Jasper nodded and soon he packed a duffel of clothes and shoes. The presents he bought that he thought he was going to ship were carefully placed in a bag. On his way out, Jasper caught a glimpse of his dad and Arden laughing in the living room. Cuddled up on the couch with spiked eggnog, the nightmare before Christmas played on the plasma.

Grinning, Jasper left out feeling slightly better knowing his dad would be okay without him. Just until he got his head on straight. So, he left confident in that knowledge.

The three-hour drive was one of Indie bands trying to soothe his frazzled nerves. When he got to the reservation later, it was going on four and he was a little out of focus. Parking in front of the house, Jasper knocked on the door and Seth appeared a minute later.

Seth smiled widely seeing it was him, “Hey bro, what’s up?” Jasper shrugged, “Nothing, here to surprise mom. Where is she?” Seth waved him in eagerly, “Work. So is dad, Lucy is over Roxie’s.” Jasper went to drop off his stuff and threw himself on the couch with Seth who passed him a PS4 controller.

“Thought you weren’t ever coming back?” Seth asked confused as they began to play Call of Duty. 

Loosing himself in the virtual world, Jasper muttered, “Needed to get away, so I came here.” Seth took the bland answer for what it’s worth and then dished, “Fair. But just so you know, Lucy’s been on a war path. And mom is depressed I think, and my dad has been acting weird.”

Jasper huffed in agitation at just the thought, “Great.” Seth looked at his stepbrother and smiled, “You being here might change all that though.” Jasper didn’t think so.

But when Yasmine got home, she smelt homecooked pizza and heard two guys talking. At first her mind thought Seth and his best friend Terrance. But the second voice was a little deeper, and not the right pitch.

And when she walked into the living room, her heart almost exploded when she saw it was Jasper laughing with Seth. Playing some kind of game, both were having a ball.

Lucy came in after Yasmine with Roxie on her heels holding her stuff for the night. “Hey, what’s-.” Lucy stopped dead when she saw Jasper and rushed to him, “Hey you came back!” She said happily giving him a hug. Jasper grinned, “Sup Lucy? Still giving everyone hell?”

Smirking, Lucy taunted, “Always. And are you still being a sad boy, sad boy?”

Jasper laughed a little as he vaguely conceded, “Oh and getting sadder.” Roxie seeing the older boy, fixed her hair discreetly before she greeted Jasper casually, “Hey Jas.”

Jasper gave her a glance and a soft smile, “Hey Rox, how have you been?” Roxie smiled at the nic-name rolling off his tongue naturally, “I’m good. You?” Jasper held up his fist in victory, “Alive.”   

Yasmine wrung her hands as she tried to tamper her excitement, “What brings you here?” Jasper focused on the game as he mumbled, “You said you wanted me down here on Christmas. I felt pretty bad I blew up on you guys, so I thought surprising you would make up for it.”

Pausing the game, Jasper sprung up and shouted, “Surprise,” Kissing his momma’s cheek, Jasper flopped back down and went back to the game, “I’m here until New Year’s.” Yasmine grinned as suppressed squealing, “Oh well…okay.”

Jasper jumped as Lucy flopped down beside him and looked at him suspiciously, “Did you get me anything?” Smirking, Jasper taunted knowingly, “Were you naughty or nice?” Lucy shrugged, “Depends on the day and person.” Jasper wagged a finger at her, “Then most likely not.”

Seth beamed as he happily announced, “Well then I’m getting something because I’m always nice.” Jasper agreed whole heartedly, “Yes you are, so yes you are.” Yasmine watched Lucy protest as Jasper laughed off her words. As he passed her the controller, Lucy accepted it as she stuck her tongue out at him.

Feeling giddy, Yasmine ran to call her husband, who sat in the woods looking at chicken bones with fear.